In the paper, the authors introduce two notions, the normalized remainders, or say, the normalized tails, of the Maclaurin power series expansions of the sine and cosine functions, derive two integral representations of the normalized tails, prove the nonnegativity, positivity, decreasing property, and concavity of the normalized tails, compute several special values of the Young function, the Lommel function, and a generalized hypergeometric function, recover two inequalities for the tails of the Maclaurin power series expansions of the sine and cosine functions, propose three open problems about the nonnegativity, positivity, decreasing property, and concavity of a newly introduced function which is a generalization of the normalized tails of the Maclaurin power series expansions of the sine and cosine functions. These results are related to the Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals. Full article

The study of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) has witnessed an impressive increase during the last decades. The need to explore this area is determined by the growing request for design and the optimization of more and more engineering problems in society, such as highway construction processes, food and agri-technologies processes, resource allocation problems, logistics and transportation systems, microarchitectures, suspension systems optimal design, etc. All of these matters refer to specific highly computational problems with a huge design space, hence the obvious need for evolutionary algorithms and frameworks, or platforms that allow for the implementing and testing of such algorithms and methods. This paper aims to comparatively analyze the existing software platforms and state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization algorithms and make a review of what features exist and what features might be included next as further developments in such tools, from a researcher’s perspective. Additionally, it is essential for a framework to be easily extendable with new types of problems and optimization algorithms, metrics and quality indicators, genetic operators or specific solution representations and results analysis and comparison features. After presenting the most relevant existing features in these types of platforms, we suggest some future steps and the developments we have been working on. Full article

We prepared AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with GaN cap thicknesses of 0, 1, 3, and 5 nm and compared the material characteristics and device performances. It was found that the surface morphology of the epitaxial layer was effectively improved after the introduction of the GaN cap layer. With the increase of the GaN cap thickness, the carrier concentration (n_s) decreased and the carrier mobility (μ_H) increased. Although the drain saturation current (I_dSat) of the device decreased with the increasing GaN cap thickness, the excessively thin GaN layer was not suitable for the cap layer. The thicker GaN layer not only improved the surface topography of the epitaxial layer but also effectively improved the off-state characteristics of the device. The optimal cap thickness was determined to be 3 nm. With the introduction of the 3 nm GaN cap, the I_dSat was not significantly reduced. However, both the off-state gate leakage current (I_gLeak) and the off-state leakage current (I_dLeak) decreased by about two orders of magnitude, and the breakdown voltage (BV) increased by about 70 V. Full article

There is a scarcity of published studies on the occurrence of Staphylococcus spp. Among dogs in South Africa. The objective of the study was to characterise the Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from dog samples submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in South Africa in terms of time, place, and person. This study utilised a dataset of 1627 positive Staphylococcus isolates obtained from a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in South Africa from 2012 to 2017. Out of the 1627 confirmed isolates, 10 different species of Staphylococcus were identified. Among these, 92.0% were classified as coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS), 6.0% were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and 3.0% were coagulase-variable. Male dogs contributed just over half (53.2%) of the Staphylococcus isolates, while female dogs contributed the remaining 46.8%. The largest proportion of isolates (23.2%) were obtained from dogs aged ≥ 9 years, with the highest number of isolates originating from KwaZulu-Natal Province (45.0%) and the least from Northern Cape Province (0.1%). Out of the total samples included in the records, the majority (46.0%) were skin specimens. The number of Staphylococcus isolates recorded showed limited variation between the seasons (24.3% in autumn, 26.3% in winter, 26.0% in spring, and 24.0% in summer). This study highlighted the diversity of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from dogs, and the burden of staphylococcal carriage among dogs in South Africa. Further research is required to examine the factors that contribute to the observed discrepancies in the proportions of Staphylococcus spp. between the provinces. Full article

Most world countries are experiencing a remarkable aging process. Meanwhile, 50 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementia and there is an increasing trend in the incidence of these major health problems. In order to address these, the increasing evidence suggesting the protective effect of dietary interventions against cognitive decline during aging may suggest a response to this challenge. There are nutrients with a neuroprotective effect. However, Western diets are poor in healthy n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), iodine (I), and other nutrients that may protect against cognitive aging. Given DHA richness in chub mackerel (Scomber colias), high vitamin B9 levels in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), and I abundance in the seaweed Saccorhiza polyschides, a functional hamburger rich in these nutrients by using these ingredients was developed and its formulation was optimized in preliminary testing. The effects of culinary treatment (steaming, roasting, and grilling vs. raw) and digestion on bioaccessibility were evaluated. The hamburgers had high levels of n-3 PUFAs in the range of 42.0–46.4% and low levels of n-6 PUFAs (6.6–6.9%), resulting in high n-3/n-6 ratios (>6). Bioaccessibility studies showed that the hamburgers could provide the daily requirements of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + DHA with 19.6 g raw, 18.6 g steamed, 18.9 g roasted, or 15.1 g grilled hamburgers. Polyphenol enrichment by the seaweed and antioxidant activity were limited. The hamburgers contained high levels of Se and I at 48–61 μg/100 g ww and 221–255 μg/100 g ww, respectively. Selenium (Se) and I bioaccessibility levels were 70–85% and 57–70%, respectively, which can be considered high levels. Nonetheless, for reaching dietary requirements, considering the influence of culinary treatment and bioaccessibility, 152.2–184.2 g would be necessary to ensure daily Se requirements and 92.0–118.1 g for I needs. Full article

This article presents the results of an investigation of the proposed method and the influence of a modified additive on foam concrete properties. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the modified additive has a variable mineralogical composition, and the joint use of the components contributes to the synergistic effect, improving the processes of cement hydration. Microscopy of the foam concrete samples showed the presence of microcracks and micropores in samples both with and without the additive. However, the use of the additive significantly reduced their number and size, which indicates an improvement in the structure of the material. The strength values showed that the samples with the additive have high strength. In particular, the strength values of samples of type 3 at different stages of curing exceed those of samples of type 1 by 1.32–1.51 times and samples of type 2 by 1.07–1.10 times. The obtained strength values are 2.82–3.21 MPa for type 1, 3.64–4.04 MPa for type 2, and 4.39–4.84 MPa for type 3, which corresponds to grade D600. The evaluation of water absorption also confirmed the advantages of the proposed method and the additive, significantly reducing the water absorption of the samples and increasing their hydrophobicity. The obtained values of water absorption are 13.8–16.6% for type 1, 13.7–16.1% for type 2, and 9.5–11.2% for type 3. Full article

This paper discusses the role of the discrete wavelet transform algorithm in processing error signals present in the input quantities of the algorithm. In considering the error model of the measurement chain, the parameters of the error signals in the input quantities of the wavelet transform algorithm are estimated. Subsequently, in accounting for the algorithm’s properties, the parameters of its output values are determined, and the resulting uncertainty values of the output quantities of the measurement chain are estimated. The interval reduction arithmetic method is employed in the calculations for estimating the expanded uncertainty. All findings were validated through measurements conducted using the implemented measurement chain. Full article

Myoelectric hands are beneficial tools in the daily activities of people with upper-limb deficiencies. Because traditional myoelectric hands rely on detecting muscle activity in residual limbs, they are not suitable for individuals with short stumps or paralyzed limbs. Therefore, we developed a novel electric prosthetic hand that functions without myoelectricity, utilizing wearable wireless sensor technology for control. As a preliminary evaluation, our prototype hand with wireless button sensors was compared with a conventional myoelectric hand (Ottobock). Ten healthy therapists were enrolled in this study. The hands were fixed to their forearms, myoelectric hand muscle activity sensors were attached to the wrist extensor and flexor muscles, and wireless button sensors for the prostheses were attached to each user’s trunk. Clinical evaluations were performed using the Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function and the Action Research Arm Test. The fatigue degree was evaluated using the modified Borg scale before and after the tests. While no statistically significant differences were observed between the two hands across the tests, the change in the Borg scale was notably smaller for our prosthetic hand (p = 0.045). Compared with the Ottobock hand, the proposed hand prosthesis has potential for widespread applications in people with upper-limb deficiencies. Full article

Human skills are a critical factor in the success or failure of a digital project. Limited studies have been conducted to identify the industry demand for skills of scrum roles (product owner, scrum master, web developer) and levels (entry, associate, mid-senior). The evaluation of skills over time benefits both decision-makers and associated team members, which leads to successful project completions. The aim of this research is to improve decision making concerning the level-specific skills of selected scrum roles for digital projects. The study identifies major and minor skills, patterns, and relationships between levels, and formulates the mathematical equations as the most important inputs to the skill-driven model’s implementation and evaluation. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to analyse 900 surveyed job advertisements published on LinkedIn in Europe. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse quantitative data while the deductive approach was followed with thematic analysis. There are required skill sets for each level of roles, level-specific skills, industry-demanded skills, and formulas related to the initial and individual skill ratings that are investigated. A new mechanism for evaluation is introduced based on “the time spent with skills”. As a result, the proposed model is implemented by feeding research findings into the Mendix programming platform. The skill-driven model is a decision-support solution in software project management to evaluate skills which assist in assigning the right person to the right digital project. Further investigation on different job portals can help to improve the accuracy of industry standards and reduce the lack of progression skills by overcoming limitations identified in this paper. Full article

The bitter drug, warfarin, has a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) and is used in paediatrics and geriatrics. The aim of this feasibility study was to formulate the taste-masked warfarin-containing pellets to be applicable for dose personalisation and to improve patient compliance, as well as to investigate the effect of the core type (PharSQ^® Spheres M, CELPHERE™ CP-507, and NaCl) on the warfarin release from the Kollicoat^® Smartseal taste-masking-coated pellets. The cores were successfully drug-loaded and coated in a fluid-bed coater with a Wurster insert. An increase in particle size and particle size distribution was observed by optical microscopy. In saliva-simulated pH, at the Kollicoat^® Smartseal level of 2 mg/cm², none of the pellets demonstrated drug release, confirming their efficient taste-masking. However, in a stomach-simulated pH, a faster drug release was observed from PharSQ^® Spheres M- and CELPHERE™ CP-507-coated pellets in comparison with NaCl cores. Additional experiments allowed us to explain the slower drug release from NaCl-containing pellets because of the salting-out effect. Despite the successful taste masking, the drug release from pellets was relatively slow (not more than 91% per 60 min), allowing for further formulation improvements. Full article

The use of scaffolds, three-dimensional porous, biodegradable and biocompatible structures, that can be produced from natural polymers, synthetics, ceramics and metals is crucial in the tissue engineering field. Chitosan is a polysaccharide of natural origin, found in the exoskeleton of marine arthropods and in the cell wall of fungi, with enormous popularity in the production of three-dimensional materials for Tissue Engineering, in particular bone repair. This polymer has several advantages in the production of these structures in bone regeneration and repair: biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to prepare porous scaffolds, for bone repair of degenerative diseases in the spine with better performance and less secondary effects, based on chitosan and another biopolymer (sodium alginate) with the incorporation of calcium phosphates (hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate), for tissue engineering application. The obtained scaffolds were object of a detailed characterization, namely with regard to their porosity through the ethanol method, degradation, positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), mechanical properties, scanning electronic microscope (SEM), thermal stability through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), chemical composition through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results obtained showed that the different scaffolds presented pores able to support osteoid matrix growth. The crosslinking of scaffolds was also evaluated and resulted in pores with smaller dimensions and higher regularity in the chitosan-sodium alginate polymer without calcium phosphate scaffold. It was also possible to observe the effect of inorganics on mixed-matrix scaffolds, both morphologically and chemically. These scaffolds showed promising results in terms of mechanical and chemical properties, along with promising porosity for tissue regeneration applications. Full article

Refractory acute myeloid leukaemia is very difficult to treat and represents an unmet clinical need. In recent years, new drugs and combinations of drugs have been tested in this category, with encouraging results. However, all treated patients relapsed and died from the disease. The only curative option is allogeneic transplantation through a graft from a healthy donor immune system. Using myeloablative conditioning regimens, the median overall survival regimens is 19%. Several so-called sequential induction chemotherapies followed by allogeneic transplantation conditioned by reduced intensity regimens have been developed, improving the overall survival to 25–57%. In the allogeneic transplantation field, continuous improvements in practices, particularly regarding graft versus host disease prevention, infection prevention, and treatment, have allowed us to observe improvements in survival rates. This is true mainly for patients in complete remission before transplantation and less so for refractory patients. However, full myeloablative regimens are toxic and carry a high risk of treatment-related mortality. In this review, we describe the results obtained with the different modalities used in more recent retrospective and prospective studies. Based on these findings, we speculate how allogeneic stem cell transplantation could be modified to maximise its therapeutic effect on refractory acute myeloid leukaemia. Full article

Inherited retinal degeneration (RD) constitutes a heterogeneous group of genetic retinal degenerative disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying RD encompass a diverse spectrum of cellular signaling, with the unfolded protein response (UPR) identified as a common signaling pathway chronically activated in degenerating retinas. TRIB3 has been recognized as a key mediator of the PERK UPR arm, influencing various metabolic pathways, such as insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and glucose homeostasis, by acting as an AKT pseudokinase that prevents the activation of the AKT → mTOR axis. This study aimed to develop a gene-independent approach targeting the UPR TRIB3 mediator previously tested by our group using a genetic approach in mice with RD. The goal was to validate a therapeutic approach targeting TRIB3 interactomes through the pharmacological targeting of EGFR-TRIB3 and delivering cell-penetrating peptides targeting TRIB3 → AKT. The study employed rd10 and P23H RHO mice, with afatinib treatment conducted in p15 rd10 mice through daily intraperitoneal injections. P15 P23H RHO mice received intraocular injections of cell-penetrating peptides twice at a 2-week interval. Our study revealed that both strategies successfully targeted TRIB3 interactomes, leading to an improvement in scotopic A- and B-wave ERG recordings. Additionally, the afatinib-treated mice manifested enhanced photopic ERG amplitudes accompanied by a delay in photoreceptor cell loss. The treated rd10 retinas also showed increased PDE6β and RHO staining, along with an elevation in total PDE activity in the retinas. Consequently, our study demonstrated the feasibility of a gene-independent strategy to target common signaling in degenerating retinas by employing a TRIB3-based therapeutic approach that delays retinal function and photoreceptor cell loss in two RD models. Full article

Cellulose is a biopolymer with numerous advantages that make it an ecological, economical, and high-performing choice for various applications. To fully exploit the potential of cellulose, it is often necessary to dissolve it, which poses a current challenge. The aqueous zinc oxide/sodium hydroxide (ZnO/NaOH/Water) system is a preferred solvent for its rapid dissolution, non-toxicity, low cost, and environmentally friendly nature. In this context, the behavior of cellulose chains in the aqueous solution of ZnO/NaOH and the impact of temperature on the solubility of this polymer were examined through a molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis of the root means square deviation (RMSD), interaction energy, hydrogen bond curves, and radial distribution function revealed that cellulose is insoluble in the ZnO/NaOH solvent at room temperature (T = 298 K). Decreasing the temperature in the range of 273 K to 268 K led to a geometric deformation of cellulose chains, accompanied by a decrease in the number of interchain hydrogen bonds over the simulation time, thus confirming the solubility of cellulose in this system between T = 273 K and T = 268 K. Full article

As a core component of new energy vehicles, accurate estimation of the State of Health (SOH) of lithium-ion power batteries is essential. Correctly predicting battery SOH plays a crucial role in extending the lifespan of new energy vehicles, ensuring their safety, and promoting their sustainable development. Traditional physical or electrochemical models have low accuracy in measuring the SOH of lithium batteries and are not suitable for the complex driving conditions of real-world vehicles. This study utilized the black-box characteristics of deep learning models to explore the intrinsic correlations in the historical cycling data of lithium batteries, thereby eliminating the need to consider the internal chemical reactions of lithium batteries. Through Pearson correlation analysis, this study selects health indicators (HIs) from lithium battery cycling data that significantly impact SOH as input features. In the field of lithium batteries, this paper applies ABC-BiGRU for the first time to SOH prediction. Compared with other recursive neural network models, ABC-BiGRU demonstrates superior predictive performance, with maximum root mean square error and mean absolute error of only 0.016799317 and 0.012626847, respectively. Full article

The required processes and steps for making bread include technological and innovative concepts. The current trend is the use of less toxic compounds and green methods. Besides lactic acid bacteria and yeast, other microorganisms with unique properties, such as enzymes, new aromas and flavors, exopolysaccharides, and vitamins, among other compounds with beneficial properties, could be added to bread manufacture, improving bread quality and health effects for the consumers. The preservation of microbial cultures and starters is crucial in bread-making. New encapsulation methods, cryoprotectants, spray-drying, fluidized bed drying, and vacuum drying are employed for microorganism cultures that will be used as starters or biological additives in fermentation. A development is observed in the antimicrobial methods used as bread preservatives, and studies with plant extracts and essential oils have been proposed and introduced, replacing chemical agents, such as propionate, within the clean-label bread formulations concept. Baking science is a growing research line that incorporates innovative methods, biological additives, new methods, and processes focusing on microbiological protection. Full article

This paper presents a numerical model for thermal energy storage systems’ design, development, and feasibility. The energy storage was composed of a tank that stores phase change material (AlSi12) and internal pipes with heat transfer fluid (Cerrolow 117), coupled to a power block to dispatch electrical energy on a small scale for off-grid industrial applications. Subsequently, the evolution of the temperature in charge/discharge cycles, temperature degradation, and storage efficiency was determined with the appropriate magnitudes and behavior through the resolution of a numerical model. In addition, for the proposed electric power generation plant for an off-grid pumping system in the mining industry of Chile, a numerical model was developed using the finite volumes method to simulate the thermocline performance. As a result, the temperature history reflects stable thermal behavior, low degradation, and high efficiency of approximately 92%, with a storage time increasing up to 13 [h] and 384.8 [kWh] capacity. Also, implementation was feasible on a small scale due to its compact, modular, and economically competitive characteristics in a concentrated solar power plant. Finally, the proposed design was proven to be an accurate and reliable alternative for small-scale off-grid mining applications. Full article

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component of the water budget in Bottomland Hardwood Forests (BHFs) and is driven by a complex intertwined suite of meteorological variables. The understanding of these interdependencies leading to seasonal variations in ET is crucial in better informing water resource management in the region. We used structural equation modeling and AIC modeling to analyze drivers of ET using Eddy covariance water flux data collected from a BHF located in the Russel Sage Wildlife Management Area (RSWMA). It consists of mature closed-canopy deciduous hardwood trees with an average canopy height of 27 m. A factor analysis was used to characterize the shared variance among drivers, and a path analysis was used to quantify the independent contributions of individual drivers. In our results, ET and net radiation (R_n) showed similar variability patterns with Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) and temperature in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, while they differed in the winter season. The path analysis showed that R_n has the strongest influence on ET variations via direct and indirect pathways. In deciduous forests like BHFs, our results suggest that ET is more energy dependent during the growing season (spring and summer) and early non-growing season (autumn) and more temperature dependent during the winter season. Full article

Directed evolution is a pivotal strategy for new antibody discovery, which allowed the generation of high-affinity Fabs against gliadin from two antibody libraries in our previous studies. One of the libraries was exclusively derived from celiac patients’ mRNA (immune library) while the other was obtained through a protein engineering approach (semi-immune library). Recent advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques are revolutionizing research across genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics. In the present work, an Oxford Nanopore in-lab sequencing device was used to comprehensively characterize the composition of the constructed libraries, both at the beginning and throughout the phage-mediated selection processes against gliadin. A customized analysis pipeline was used to select high-quality reads, annotate chain distribution, perform sequence analysis, and conduct statistical comparisons between the different selection rounds. Some immunological attributes of the most representative phage variants after the selection process were also determined. Sequencing results revealed the successful transfer of the celiac immune response features to the immune library and the antibodies derived from it, suggesting the crucial role of these features in guiding the selection of high-affinity recombinant Fabs against gliadin. In summary, high-throughput DNA sequencing has improved our understanding of the selection processes aimed at generating molecular binders against gliadin. Full article

Efficient triaging and referral assessments are critical in ensuring prompt medical intervention in the community healthcare (CHC) system. However, the existing triaging systems in many community health services are an intensive, time-consuming process and often lack accuracy, particularly for various symptoms which might represent heart failure or other health-threatening conditions. There is a noticeable limit of research papers describing AI technologies for triaging patients. This paper proposes a novel quantitative data-driven approach using machine learning (ML) modelling to improve the community clinical triaging process. Furthermore, this study aims to employ the feature selection process and machine learning power to reduce the triaging process’s waiting time and increase accuracy in clinical decision making. The model was trained on medical records from a dataset of patients with “Heart Failure”, which included demographics, past medical history, vital signs, medications, and clinical symptoms. A comparative study was conducted using a variety of machine learning algorithms, where XGBoost demonstrated the best performance among the other ML models. The triage levels of 2,35,982 patients achieved an accuracy of 99.94%, a precision of 0.9986, a recall of 0.9958, and an F1-score of 0.9972. The proposed diagnostic model can be implemented for the CHC decision system and be developed further for other medical conditions. Full article

Tetragonal ZrO₂, synthesized by the sol–gel method and dip-coating technique, was found to be photocatalytically active for the degradation of methylene blue. The ZrO₂ thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was carried out with this material. We identified the tetragonal phase in ZrO₂ thin film at different annealing temperatures from 400 °C to 550 °C. The XRD study indicated that the films were monocrystalline in nature with preferred grain orientation along (011) plane and exhibited a tetragonal crystal structure. The crystallite size of the films increased with increasing annealing temperature. FTIR explained the bonding nature and confirmed the formation of the composite. UV-Vis showed the optical absorbance was high in the visible region and the optical band gap value increased with annealing temperature. The photocatalytic experimental results revealed that ZrO₂ thin films degraded MB by 20%, 24%, 29%, and 36%, with annealing temperatures of 400 °C at 550 °C for 10 h, respectively. Our results provide useful insights into the development of photocatalytic materials and degradation of methylene blue. Full article

Amyloid fibroproliferation leads to organ damage and is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases affecting populations worldwide. There are several ways to protect against fibril formation, including inhibition. A variety of organic compounds based on molecular recognition of amino acids within the protein have been proposed for the design of such inhibitors. However, the role of macrocyclic compounds, i.e., thiacalix[4]arenes, in inhibiting fibrillation is still almost unknown. In the present work, the use of water-soluble thiacalix[4]arene derivatives for the inhibition of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) amyloid fibrillation is proposed for the first time. The binding of HEWL by the synthesized thiacalix[4]arenes (logKa = 5.05–5.13, 1:1 stoichiometry) leads to the formation of stable supramolecular systems capable of stabilizing the protein structure and protecting against fibrillation by 29–45%. The macrocycle conformation has little effect on protein binding strength, and the native HEWL secondary structure does not change via interaction. The synthesized compounds are non-toxic to the A549 cell line in the range of 0.5–250 µg/mL. The results obtained may be useful for further investigation of the anti-amyloidogenic role of thiacalix[4]arenes, and also open up future prospects for the creation of new ways to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Full article