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Background/Objectives: This study explores the impact of QMAC-DST, a rapid, fully automated phenotypic drug susceptibility test (pDST), on the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients. Methods: This pre–post comparative study, respectively, included pulmonary TB patients who began TB treatment between 1 December 2020 and
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Background/Objectives: This study explores the impact of QMAC-DST, a rapid, fully automated phenotypic drug susceptibility test (pDST), on the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients. Methods: This pre–post comparative study, respectively, included pulmonary TB patients who began TB treatment between 1 December 2020 and 31 October 2021 (pre-period; pDST using the Löwenstein–Jensen (LJ) DST (M-kit DST)) and between 1 November 2021 and 30 September 2022 (post-period; pDST using the QMAC-DST) in five university-affiliated tertiary care hospitals in South Korea. We compared the turnaround times (TATs) of pDSTs and the time to appropriate treatment for patients whose anti-TB drugs were changed based on these tests between the groups. All patients were permitted to use molecular DSTs (mDSTs). Results: A total of 182 patients (135 in the M-kit DST group and 47 in the QMAC-DST group) were included. The median TAT was 36 days for M-kit DST (interquartile range (IQR), 30–39) and 12 days for QMAC-DST (IQR, 9–15), with the latter being significantly shorter (p < 0.001). Of the total patients, 10 (5.5%) changed their anti-TB drugs based on the mDST or pDST results after initiating TB treatment (8 in the M-kit DST group and 2 in the QMAC-DST group). In the M-kit DST group, three (37.5%) patients changed anti-TB drugs based on the pDST results. In the QMAC-DST group, all changes were due to mDST results; therefore, calculating the time to appropriate treatment for patients whose anti-TB drugs were changed based on pDST results was not feasible. In the QMAC-DST group, 46.8% of patients underwent the first-line line probe assay compared to 100.0% in the M-kit DST group (p < 0.001), indicating that rapid QMAC-DST results provide quicker assurance of the ongoing treatment by confirming susceptibility to the current anti-TB drugs. Conclusions: QMAC-DST delivers pDST results more rapidly than LJ-DST, ensuring faster confirmation for the current treatment regimen.
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The hepatobiliary system is vital for the biotransformation and disposition of endogenous molecules. Any impairment in the normal functioning of the hepatobiliary system leads to a spectrum of hepatobiliary diseases (HBDs), such as liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, biliary dyskinesia, gallbladder cancer, etc. Especially
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The hepatobiliary system is vital for the biotransformation and disposition of endogenous molecules. Any impairment in the normal functioning of the hepatobiliary system leads to a spectrum of hepatobiliary diseases (HBDs), such as liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, biliary dyskinesia, gallbladder cancer, etc. Especially in pregnancy, HBD may result in increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Maternal HBD is a burden to the fetus’s growth, complicates fetal development, and risks the mother’s life. In fetal programming, the maternal mechanism is significantly disturbed by multiple factors (especially diet) that influence the development of the fetus and increase the frequency of metabolic diseases later in life. Additionally, maternal under-nutrition or over-nutrition (especially in high-fat, high-carbohydrate, or protein-rich diets) lead to dysregulation in gut hormones (CCK, GLP-1, etc.), microbiota metabolite production (SCFA, LPS, TMA, etc.), neurotransmitters (POMC, NPY, etc.), and hepatobiliary signaling (insulin resistance, TNF-a, SREBPs, etc.), which significantly impact fetal programming. Recently, biotherapeutics have provided a new horizon for treating HBD during fetal programming to save the lives of the mother and fetus. This review focuses on how maternal impaired hepatobiliary metabolic signaling leads to disease transmission to the fetus mediated through the gut–brain axis.
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Over the last decade, researchers have developed a variety of new analytical and clinical diagnostic devices. These devices are predominantly based on microfluidic technologies, where biological samples can be processed and manipulated for the collection and detection of important biomolecules. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is
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Over the last decade, researchers have developed a variety of new analytical and clinical diagnostic devices. These devices are predominantly based on microfluidic technologies, where biological samples can be processed and manipulated for the collection and detection of important biomolecules. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the most commonly used material in the fabrication of these microfluidic devices. However, it has a hydrophobic nature (contact angle with water of 110°), leading to poor wetting behavior and issues related to the mixing of fluids, difficulties in obtaining uniform coatings, and reduced efficiency in processes such as plasma separation and molecule detection (protein adsorption). This work aimed to consider the fabrication aspects of PDMS microfluidic devices for biological applications, such as surface modification methods. Therefore, we studied and characterized two methods for obtaining hydrophilic PDMS surfaces: surface modification by bulk mixture and the surface immersion method. To modify the PDMS surface properties, three different surfactants were used in both methods (Pluronic® F127, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyethylene oxide (PEO)) at different percentages. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements were performed to evaluate the surface wettability. Additionally, capillary flow studies were performed with microchannel molds, which were produced using stereolithography combined with PDMS double casting and replica molding procedures. A PDMS microfluidic device for blood plasma separation was also fabricated by soft lithography with PDMS modified by PEO surfactant at 2.5% (v/v), which proved to be the best method for making the PDMS hydrophilic, as the WCA was lower than 50° for several days without compromising the PDMS’s optical properties. Thus, this study indicates that PDMS surface modification shows great potential for enhancing blood plasma separation efficiency in microfluidic devices, as it facilitates fluid flow, reduces cell aggregations and the trapping of air bubbles, and achieves higher levels of sample purity.
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Antibodies play a central role in the adaptive immune response of vertebrates through the specific recognition of exogenous or endogenous antigens. The rational design of antibodies has a wide range of biotechnological and medical applications, such as in disease diagnosis and treatment. However,
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Antibodies play a central role in the adaptive immune response of vertebrates through the specific recognition of exogenous or endogenous antigens. The rational design of antibodies has a wide range of biotechnological and medical applications, such as in disease diagnosis and treatment. However, there are currently no reliable methods for predicting the antibodies that recognize a specific antigen region (or epitope) and, conversely, epitopes that recognize the binding region of a given antibody (or paratope). To fill this gap, we developed ImaPEp, a machine learning-based tool for predicting the binding probability of paratope–epitope pairs, where the epitope and paratope patches were simplified into interacting two-dimensional patches, which were colored according to the values of selected features, and pixelated. The specific recognition of an epitope image by a paratope image was achieved by using a convolutional neural network-based model, which was trained on a set of two-dimensional paratope–epitope images derived from experimental structures of antibody–antigen complexes. Our method achieves good performances in terms of cross-validation with a balanced accuracy of 0.8. Finally, we showcase examples of application of ImaPep, including extensive screening of large libraries to identify paratope candidates that bind to a selected epitope, and rescoring and refining antibody–antigen docking poses.
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Dry-aged beef has been long favored by people due to its unique flavor and taste. However, the inner relationship between its overall quality formation and microbial changes during dry aging has not yet received much attention and research. To deeply reveal the forming
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Dry-aged beef has been long favored by people due to its unique flavor and taste. However, the inner relationship between its overall quality formation and microbial changes during dry aging has not yet received much attention and research. To deeply reveal the forming mechanism of the unique flavor and taste of dry-aged beef, correlations between its three main quality indicators, i.e., texture, free amino acids (FAAs), volatile flavor compounds (VFCs), and microbial succession were analyzed in this study. The results showed that Staphylococcus spp. and Macrococcus spp. were key strains that influenced the total quality of dry-aged beef and strongly correlated with chewiness, hardness, and sweet FAAs (Ala), providing beef with unique palatability and taste. Additionally, among VFCs, Staphylococcus spp. and Macrococcus spp. showed a strong correlation with octanal and heptanal, and meanwhile, those highly correlated with nonanal, pentanol, and oct-1-en-3-ol were Debaryomyces spp., Psychrobacter spp., and Brochothrix spp., respectively, providing beef with a unique flavor. Staphylococcus spp. was proposed to be the dominant genus for dry-aged beef. This study provides valuable reference for the understanding of the role of microorganisms involved in dry aging.
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In this study, we develop a comprehensive mathematical model to analyze the dynamics of epidemic cholera, characterized by acute diarrhea due to pathogen overabundance in the human body. The model is first developed from a deterministic point of view, and then it is
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In this study, we develop a comprehensive mathematical model to analyze the dynamics of epidemic cholera, characterized by acute diarrhea due to pathogen overabundance in the human body. The model is first developed from a deterministic point of view, and then it is modified to include the randomness by stochastic differential equations. The study selected Lévy noise above other well-known types of noise, emphasizing its importance in epidemic modeling. Besides presenting a biological justification for the stochastic system, we demonstrate that the equivalent deterministic model exhibits possible equilibria. The introduction is followed by theoretical analysis of the model. Through rigorous analysis, we establish that the stochastic model ensures a unique global solution. Lyapunov function theory is applied to construct necessary conditions, which on average, guarantee the model’s stability for . Our findings suggest the likelihood of eradicating the disease when is below one, a significant insight supported by graphical simulations of the model. Graphical illustrations were generated from simulating the model in order to increase the analytical results’ robustness. This work provides a strong theoretical framework for a thorough comprehension of a range of such diseases. This research not only provides a deeper understanding of cholera dynamics but also offers a robust theoretical framework applicable to a range of similar diseases, alongside a novel approach for constructing Lyapunov functions for nonlinear models with random disturbances.
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This study presents the successful synthesis of a cesium–nickel–vanadium fluoride (CsNiVF6) pyrochlore nano-sheet catalyst via solid-phase synthesis and its electrochemical performance in green hydrogen production through urea electrolysis in alkaline media. The physicochemical characterizations revealed that the CsNiVF6 exhibits a
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This study presents the successful synthesis of a cesium–nickel–vanadium fluoride (CsNiVF6) pyrochlore nano-sheet catalyst via solid-phase synthesis and its electrochemical performance in green hydrogen production through urea electrolysis in alkaline media. The physicochemical characterizations revealed that the CsNiVF6 exhibits a pyrochlore-type structure consisting of a disordered cubic corner-shared (Ni, V)F6 octahedra structure and nano-sheet morphology with a thickness ranging from 10 to 20 nm. Using the CsNiVF6 catalyst, the electrochemical analysis, conducted through cyclic voltammetry, demonstrates a current mass activity of ~1500 mA mg−1, recorded at 1.8 V vs. RHE, along with low-resistance (3.25 ohm) charge transfer and good long-term stability for 0.33 M urea oxidation in an alkaline solution. Moreover, the volumetric hydrogen production rate at the cathode (bare nickel foam) is increased from 12.25 to 39.15 µmol/min upon the addition of 0.33 M urea to a 1.0 KOH solution and at a bias potential of 2.0 V. The addition of urea to the electrolyte solution enhances hydrogen production at the cathode, especially at lower voltages, surpassing the volumes produced in pure 1.0 M KOH solution. This utilization of a CsNiVF6 pyrochlore nano-sheet catalyst and renewable urea as a feedstock contributes to the development of a green and sustainable hydrogen economy. Overall, this research underscores the potential use of CsNiVF6 as a cost-effective nickel-based pyrochlore electrocatalyst for advancing renewable and sustainable urea electrolysis processes toward green hydrogen production.
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This paper introduces an algorithm to tackle the boundary condition (BC) problem, which has long persisted in the numerical and computational treatment of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Central to the BC problem is a need for an effective method to reconcile a numerical
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This paper introduces an algorithm to tackle the boundary condition (BC) problem, which has long persisted in the numerical and computational treatment of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Central to the BC problem is a need for an effective method to reconcile a numerical representation of particles with 2D or 3D geometry. We describe and evaluate an algorithmic solution—boundary SPH (BSPH)—drawn from a novel twist on the mesh-based boundary method, allowing SPH particles to interact (directly and implicitly) with either convex or concave 3D meshes. The method draws inspiration from existing works in graphics, particularly discrete signed distance fields, to determine whether particles are intersecting or submerged with mesh triangles. We evaluate the efficacy of BSPH through application to several simulation environments of varying mesh complexity, showing practical real-time implementation in Unity3D and its high-level shader language (HLSL), which we test in the parallelization of particle operations. To examine robustness, we portray slip and no-slip conditions in simulation, and we separately evaluate convex and concave meshes. To demonstrate empirical utility, we show pressure gradients as measured in simulated still water tank implementations of hydrodynamics. Our results identify that BSPH, despite producing irregular pressure values among particles close to the boundary manifolds of the meshes, successfully prevents particles from intersecting or submerging into the boundary manifold. Average FPS calculations for each simulation scenario show that the mesh boundary method can still be used effectively with simple simulation scenarios. We additionally point the reader to future works that could investigate the effect of simulation parameters and scene complexity on simulation performance, resolve abnormal pressure values along the mesh boundary, and test the method’s robustness on a wider variety of simulation environments.
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Nowadays, there are many studies with a significant focus on affordable housing. The relevance of this theme, which is usually the central object of public housing policies, requires an updated review of the problems and challenges to be overcome, especially in terms of
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Nowadays, there are many studies with a significant focus on affordable housing. The relevance of this theme, which is usually the central object of public housing policies, requires an updated review of the problems and challenges to be overcome, especially in terms of sustainability, in favor of an improvement in the quality of products delivered to beneficiaries. This research concentrates on applying the sustainability concept to affordable housing, emphasizing technical, social, and governance aspects. A novel classification framework is introduced, encompassing these aspects in the context of sustainability integrated with affordable housing. A systematic literature review is conducted and more than 100 articles are examined based on bibliometric and bibliographic analyses to highlight the main dimensions and topics involved in the housing public policy sphere. The study has been elaborated based on collecting relevant materials, building a descriptive analysis of the literature examined, highlighting the classification structure that categorizes the studies examined, and evaluating the material identified based on the classification structure. The outcomes aim to spotlight the diverse dimensions of sustainable affordable housing and associated research themes. Furthermore, the research outlines deficiencies in current approaches and outlines a future research agenda for implementing sustainability in affordable housing. It establishes a strong connection between technical, social, and governance aspects of affordable housing and sustainability, considering anticipated approaches, techniques, and challenges.
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: This study theoretically investigates the temperature and velocity spatial distributions in the flow of a copper–water nanofluid induced by a rotating rigid disk in a porous medium. Unlike previous work on similar systems, we assume that the disk surface is well polished
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: This study theoretically investigates the temperature and velocity spatial distributions in the flow of a copper–water nanofluid induced by a rotating rigid disk in a porous medium. Unlike previous work on similar systems, we assume that the disk surface is well polished (coated); therefore, there are velocity and temperature slips between the nanofluid and the disk surface. The importance of considering slip conditions in modeling nanofluids comes from practical applications where rotating parts of machines may be coated. Additionally, this study examines the influence of heat generation on the temperature distribution within the flow. By transforming the original Navier–Stokes partial differential equations (PDEs) into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), numerical solutions are obtained. The boundary conditions for velocity and temperature slips are formulated using the effective viscosity and thermal conductivity of the copper–water nanofluid. The dependence of the velocity and temperature fields in the nanofluid flow on key parameters is investigated. The major findings of the study are that the nanoparticle volume fraction significantly impacts the temperature distribution, particularly in the presence of a heat source. Furthermore, polishing the disk surface enhances velocity slips, reducing stresses at the disk surface, while a pronounced velocity slip leads to distinct changes in the radial, azimuthal, and axial velocity components. The study highlights the influence of slip conditions on fluid velocity as compared to previously considered non-slip conditions. This suggests that accounting for slip conditions for coated rotating disks would yield more accurate predictions in assessing heat transfer, which would be potentially important for the practical design of various devices using nanofluids.
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The environmental crisis, growing levels of social inequalities and rising levels of noncommunicable diseases are all symptoms of economic systems that are failing to generate wellbeing. There is increasing support for the notion that addressing these crises requires shifting the focus from economic
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The environmental crisis, growing levels of social inequalities and rising levels of noncommunicable diseases are all symptoms of economic systems that are failing to generate wellbeing. There is increasing support for the notion that addressing these crises requires shifting the focus from economic growth to a broader range of measures that reflect wellbeing, through more comprehensive, consistent and integrated policy approaches to deliver this. In 2019, the EU Finnish Council Presidency Council Conclusions called amongst other things for the development of a new long-term, post-2020 strategy to provide the framework for horizontal assessment and cross-sectoral collaboration, in particular through the European Semester process. This article contextualises this call and explores its follow-up. It draws from key policy documents to explore what Economies of Wellbeing are, why and how the concept has emerged and how they can be put in place. It then explores to what extent this concept is being applied at the EU level, by tracking changes in some of the EU’s key policies and strategies over the past 10 years and in the Semester process, as a mechanism to implement them. It concludes that while progress towards more comprehensive, consistent and integrated policy approaches has been made in the context of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy, underpinning the Semester processes, it is limited by the continuing emphasis on economic, over other policy, areas. It also argues that the process needs to be broadened even further, to include other dimensions of wellbeing, which intersect with the economy and impact wellbeing. To strengthen the European Semester process to achieve Economies of Wellbeing, it should be put at the service of an even more consistent and comprehensive EU Strategy that enables policy sectors to deliver wellbeing objectives in a more integrated and coordinated manner. This paper ends with recommendations for action.
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Organic agriculture based on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) is frequently touted as a tool for improving ecosystem sustainability and self-reliance and for alleviating the poverty of smallholder farmers in Thailand. However, specific criteria must be fulfilled for products to be certified organic.
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Organic agriculture based on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) is frequently touted as a tool for improving ecosystem sustainability and self-reliance and for alleviating the poverty of smallholder farmers in Thailand. However, specific criteria must be fulfilled for products to be certified organic. In this paper, we investigate the similarities and differences between three cases of organic agricultural production (based on the participatory guarantee system) in four provinces in northeastern Thailand: Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, and Nakhon Ratchasima. A total of 135 smallholder farmers were selected to act as informants, and semi-structured interviews were held. The participatory guarantee system was utilized, considering the farmers’ diverse agricultural backgrounds and socio-economic conditions. For agriculture to be adapted with the ultimate aim of sustainability, policy support will be necessary in the form of financial measures and capacity building.
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The aim of the study was to characterize effects of a multi-strain synbiotic in patients with moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of all stool form types. A total of 202 adult IBS patients were randomized (1:1) and after a four-week treatment-free
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The aim of the study was to characterize effects of a multi-strain synbiotic in patients with moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of all stool form types. A total of 202 adult IBS patients were randomized (1:1) and after a four-week treatment-free run-in phase and were treated either with the synbiotic or a placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were the assessment of the severity of IBS symptoms (IBS-SSS) and the improvement of IBS global symptoms (IBS-GIS). Secondary endpoints comprised adequate relief (IBS-AR scale), stool form type (Bristol Stool Form Scale), bowel movements, severity of abdominal pain and bloating, stool pressure, feeling of incomplete stool evacuation, and adverse events. A total of 201 patients completed the study. Synbiotic treatment, in comparison to placebo, significantly improved IBS-SSS and IBS-GIS scores. At the end of the treatment, 70% of patients in the synbiotic group achieved adequate relief. After 12 weeks of treatment, the secondary endpoints were favorably differentiated in the synbiotic group when compared with the placebo group. Two patients in the synbiotic group reported transient adverse events (headache). The results indicate that treatment of IBS patients with the synbiotic significantly improved all major symptoms of IBS and was well-tolerated. The ClinicalTrials.gov registration was NCT05731232.
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by
Stefano Botticini, Elisabetta Comini, Salvatore Dello Iacono, Alessandra Flammini, Luigi Gaioni, Andrea Galliani, Luca Ghislotti, Paolo Lazzaroni, Valerio Re, Emiliano Sisinni, Matteo Verzeroli and Dario Zappa
Sensors2024, 24(10), 3170; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103170 (registering DOI) - 16 May 2024
Light and active mobility, as well as multimodal mobility, could significantly contribute to decarbonization. Air quality is a key parameter to monitor the environment in terms of health and leisure benefits. In a possible scenario, wearables and recharge stations could supply information about
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Light and active mobility, as well as multimodal mobility, could significantly contribute to decarbonization. Air quality is a key parameter to monitor the environment in terms of health and leisure benefits. In a possible scenario, wearables and recharge stations could supply information about a distributed monitoring system of air quality. The availability of low-power, smart, low-cost, compact embedded systems, such as Arduino Nicla Sense ME, based on BME688 by Bosch, Reutlingen, Germany, and powered by suitable software tools, can provide the hardware to be easily integrated into wearables as well as in solar-powered EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) for scooters and e-bikes. In this way, each e-vehicle, bike, or EVSE can contribute to a distributed monitoring network providing real-time information about micro-climate and pollution. This work experimentally investigates the capability of the BME688 environmental sensor to provide useful and detailed information about air quality. Initial experimental results from measurements in non-controlled and controlled environments show that BME688 is suited to detect the human-perceived air quality. CO2 readout can also be significant for other gas (e.g., CO), while IAQ (Index for Air Quality, from 0 to 500) is heavily affected by relative humidity, and its significance below 250 is quite low for an outdoor uncontrolled environment.
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Navigation systems are extensively used in everyday life, but the conventional A* algorithm has several limitations in path planning applications within these systems, such as low degrees of freedom in path planning, inadequate consideration of the effects of special regions, and excessive nodes
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Navigation systems are extensively used in everyday life, but the conventional A* algorithm has several limitations in path planning applications within these systems, such as low degrees of freedom in path planning, inadequate consideration of the effects of special regions, and excessive nodes and turns. Addressing these limitations, an enhanced A* algorithm was proposed using regular hexagonal grid mapping. First, the approach to map modeling using hexagonal grids was described. Subsequently, the A* algorithm was refined by optimizing the calculation of movement costs, thus allowing the algorithm to integrate environmental data more effectively and flexibly adjust node costs while ensuring path optimality. A quantitative method was also introduced to assess map complexity and adaptive heuristics that decrease the number of traversed nodes and increase the search speed. Moreover, a turning penalty measure was implemented to minimize unnecessary turns on the planned paths. Simulation results confirmed that the improved A* algorithm exhibits superior performance, which can dynamically adjust movement costs, enhance search efficiency, reduce turns, improve overall path planning quality, and solve critical path planning issues in navigation systems, greatly aiding the development and design of these systems and making them better suited to meet modern navigation requirements.
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This paper presents a thorough examination of methane capture from Polish coal mines, contextualized within the framework of the European Union’s (EU) climate policy objectives. Through a strategic analysis encompassing the interior of coal mines, the surrounding environment, and the macro environment, this
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This paper presents a thorough examination of methane capture from Polish coal mines, contextualized within the framework of the European Union’s (EU) climate policy objectives. Through a strategic analysis encompassing the interior of coal mines, the surrounding environment, and the macro environment, this study elucidates the complex dynamics involved in methane emissions and capture initiatives. The key findings include a declining trend in absolute methane emissions since 2008, despite fluctuations in coal extraction volumes, and a relatively stable level of methane capture exceeding 300 million m3/year since 2014. The analysis underscores the critical role of government support, both in terms of financial incentives and streamlined regulatory processes, to facilitate the integration of methane capture technologies into coal mining operations. Collaboration through partnerships and stakeholder engagement emerges as essential for overcoming resource competition and ensuring the long-term success of methane capture projects. This paper also highlights the economic and environmental opportunities presented by methane reserves, emphasizing the importance of investment in efficient extraction technologies. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly regarding the low efficiency of current de-methanation technologies. Recommendations for modernization and technological innovation are proposed to enhance methane capture efficiency and utilization.
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Glass waste products represent a significant environmental concern, with an estimated 1.4 billion tons being landfilled globally and 200 million tons annually. This results in a significant use of land resources. Therefore, it would be highly advantageous to develop a new method for
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Glass waste products represent a significant environmental concern, with an estimated 1.4 billion tons being landfilled globally and 200 million tons annually. This results in a significant use of land resources. Therefore, it would be highly advantageous to develop a new method for disposing of waste glass. Waste glass can be recycled and ground into waste glass powder (WGP) for use in solidified soil applications as a sustainable resource. This study is based on solidified soil research, wherein NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and Na2SO4 were incorporated as activators to enhance the reactivity of WGP. The optimal solidified soil group was determined based on unconfined compressive strength tests, which involved varying the activator concentrations and WGP content in combination with cement. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to study the composition of solidified soil samples. Microscopic pore characteristics were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the Image J software was employed to quantify the number and size of pores. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to examine the activation effect of waste glass powder. This study investigated the solidification mechanism and porosity changes. The results demonstrate that the addition of activated WGP to solidified soil enhances its strength, with a notable 12% increase in strength achieved using a 6% Ca(OH)2 solution. The use of 2% concentration of Na2SO4 and NaOH also shows an increase in strength of 7.6% and 8.6%, respectively, compared to the sample without WGP. The XRD and SEM analyses indicate that activated WGP enhances the content of hydrates, reduces porosity, and fosters the formation of a more densely packed solidified soil structure.
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Recently, community detection has emerged as a prominent research area in the analysis of complex network structures. Community detection models based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) are shallow and fail to fully discover the internal structure of complex networks. Thus, this article introduces
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Recently, community detection has emerged as a prominent research area in the analysis of complex network structures. Community detection models based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) are shallow and fail to fully discover the internal structure of complex networks. Thus, this article introduces a novel constrained symmetric non-negative matrix factorization with deep autoencoders (CSDNMF) as a solution to this issue. The model possesses the following advantages: (1) By integrating a deep autoencoder to discern the latent attributes bridging the original network and community assignments, it adeptly captures hierarchical information. (2) Introducing a graph regularizer facilitates a thorough comprehension of the community structure inherent within the target network. (3) By integrating a symmetry regularizer, the model’s capacity to learn undirected networks is augmented, thereby facilitating the precise detection of symmetry within the target network. The proposed CSDNMF model exhibits superior performance in community detection when compared to state-of-the-art models, as demonstrated by eight experimental results conducted on real-world networks.
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The development of offshore wind farms requires robust bonding solutions that can withstand harsh marine conditions for the easy integration of secondary structures. This paper investigates the durability performance of two adhesives: Sikadur 30 epoxy resin and Loctite UK 1351 B25 urethane-based adhesive
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The development of offshore wind farms requires robust bonding solutions that can withstand harsh marine conditions for the easy integration of secondary structures. This paper investigates the durability performance of two adhesives: Sikadur 30 epoxy resin and Loctite UK 1351 B25 urethane-based adhesive for use in offshore wind environments. Tensile tests on adhesive samples and accelerated aging tests were carried out under a variety of temperatures and environmental conditions, including both dry and wet conditions. The long-term effects of aging on adhesive integrity are investigated by simulating the operational life of offshore installations. The evolution of mechanical properties, studied under accelerated aging conditions, provides an important indication of the longevity of structures under normal conditions. The results show significant differences in performance between the two adhesives, highlighting their suitability for specific operating parameters. It should also be noted that for both adhesives, their exposure to different environments (seawater, distilled water, humid climate) over a prolonged period showed that (i) Loctite adhesive has a slightly faster initial uptake than Sikadur adhesive, but the latter reaches an asymptotic plateau with a lower maximum absorption rate than Loctite adhesive; and (ii) a progressive deterioration in the tensile properties occurred following an exponential function. Therefore, aging behavior results showed a clear correlation with the Arrhenius law, providing a predictive tool for the aging process and the aging process of the two adhesives followed Arrhenius kinetics. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this study is intended to inform best practice in the use of adhesives, thereby improving the reliability and sustainability of the offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
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Periodontitis is an inflammatory process that starts with soft tissue inflammation caused by the intervention of oral bacteria. By modulating local immunity, it is possible to supplement or replace current therapeutic methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of
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Periodontitis is an inflammatory process that starts with soft tissue inflammation caused by the intervention of oral bacteria. By modulating local immunity, it is possible to supplement or replace current therapeutic methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an immunostimulatory treatment with the antibiotherapy usually applied to periodontitis patients. On a model of periodontitis induced in 30 rats (divided into three equal groups) with bacterial strains selected from the human oral microbiome (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus oralis), we administered antibiotics, bacterial lysates and saline for 10 days. Clinically, no significant lesions were observed between the groups, but hematologically, we detected a decrease in lymphocyte and neutrophil counts in both the antibiotic and lysate-treated groups. Immunologically, IL-6 remained elevated compared to the saline group, denoting the body’s effort to compensate for bone loss due to bacterial action. Histopathologically, the results show more pronounced oral tissue regeneration in the antibiotic group and a reduced inflammatory reaction in the lysate group. We can conclude that the proposed bacterial lysate has similar effects to antibiotic therapy and can be considered an option in treating periodontitis, thus eliminating the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
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Accurate wind power forecasting (WPF) is critical in optimizing grid operations and efficiently managing wind energy resources. Challenges arise from the inherent volatility and non-stationarity of wind data, particularly in short-to-medium-term WPF, which extends to longer forecast horizons. To address these challenges, this
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Accurate wind power forecasting (WPF) is critical in optimizing grid operations and efficiently managing wind energy resources. Challenges arise from the inherent volatility and non-stationarity of wind data, particularly in short-to-medium-term WPF, which extends to longer forecast horizons. To address these challenges, this study introduces a novel model that integrates Improved Empirical Mode Decomposition (IEMD) with an enhanced Transformer called TransIEMD. TransIEMD begins by decomposing the wind speed into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) using IEMD, transforming the scalar wind speed into a vector form that enriches the input data to reveal hidden temporal dynamics. Each IMF is then processed with channel attention, embedding, and positional encoding to prepare inputs for an enhanced Transformer. The Direct Embedding Module (DEM) provides an alternative viewpoint on the input data. The distinctive perspectives of IEMD and DEM offer interaction through cross-attention within the encoder, significantly enhancing the ability to capture dynamic wind patterns. By combining cross-attention and self-attention within the encoder–decoder structure, TransIEMD demonstrates enhanced proficiency in detecting and leveraging long-range dependencies and dynamic wind patterns, improving the forecasting precision. Extensive evaluations on a publicly available dataset from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) demonstrate that TransIEMD significantly improves the forecasting accuracy across multiple horizons of 4, 8, 16, and 24 h. Specifically, at the 24 h forecast horizon, TransIEMD achieves reductions in the normalized mean absolute error and root mean square error of 4.24% and 4.37%, respectively, compared to the traditional Transformer. These results confirm the efficacy of integrating IEMD with attention mechanisms to enhance the accuracy of WPF.
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An electroceutical is a medical device that uses electrical signals to control biological functions. It can be inserted into the human body as an implant and has several crucial advantages over conventional medicines for certain diseases. This research develops a new vagus nerve
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An electroceutical is a medical device that uses electrical signals to control biological functions. It can be inserted into the human body as an implant and has several crucial advantages over conventional medicines for certain diseases. This research develops a new vagus nerve simulation (VNS) electroceutical through an innovative approach to overcome the communication limitations of existing devices. A phased array antenna with a better communication performance was developed and applied to the electroceutical prototype. In order to effectively respond to changes in communication signals, we developed the steering algorithm and firmware, and designed the smart communication protocol that operates at a low power that is safe for the patients. This protocol is intended to improve a communication sensitivity related to the transmission and reception distance. Based on this technical approach, the heightened effectiveness and safety of the prototype have been ascertained, with the actual clinical tests using live animals. We confirmed the signal attenuation performance to be excellent, and a smooth communication was achieved even at a distance of 7 m. The prototype showed a much wider communication range than any other existing products. Through this, it is conceivable that various problems due to space constraints can be resolved, hence presenting many benefits to the patients whose last resort to the disease is the VNS electroceutical.
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Based on the quasi-six-degree-of-freedom flight dynamic equations, considering the changes in the elevation angle caused by an increase in the rolling angle during maneuvering turns, which leads to a rise in the radar cross-section. A computational model for the radar detection probability of
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Based on the quasi-six-degree-of-freedom flight dynamic equations, considering the changes in the elevation angle caused by an increase in the rolling angle during maneuvering turns, which leads to a rise in the radar cross-section. A computational model for the radar detection probability of aircraft in complex environments was constructed. By comprehensively considering flight parameters such as turning angle, rolling angle, Mach number, and radar power factor, this study quantitatively analyzed the influence of these factors on the radar detection probability. It revealed the variation patterns of radar detection probability under different flight conditions. The results provide theoretical support for the Radar Valley Radius and Turning Maneuver Method (RVR-TM) based on decision trees, and lay the foundation for the development of subsequent intelligent decision-making models. To further optimize the trajectory selection of aircraft in complex environments, this study combines theoretical analysis with reinforcement learning algorithms to establish an intelligent decision-making model. This model is trained using the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm, and through precisely defining the state space and reward functions, it accomplishes intelligent trajectory planning for stealth aircraft under radar threat scenarios.
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