Extensive Process Research Articles

Book Review “Rejuvenation and Longevity. Introduction to Rejuvenology” by Khachik K. Muradian and Vadim E. Fraifeld

Abstract. The monograph Rejuvenation and Longevity, written by doctors Khachik Muradian and Vadim Fraifeld, represents an important contribution to the development of gerontology, challenging established scientific concepts of ageing and rejuvenation. The authors put forward ideas that can form the basis of a new field of knowledge - rejuvenology, which studies the processes of rejuvenation and life extension. The work discusses theoretical and experimental approaches to rejuvenation, from the evolutionary aspects of life to the biological mechanisms of ageing and immortality. The authors analyse the relationship between ageing and rejuvenation at the cellular and molecular levels, identifying key mechanisms that can be used to slow down ageing and stimulate tissue regeneration. Particular attention is paid to studying immortal microorganisms and their potential use in creating long-lived multicellular organisms. The book is not only a scientific study, but also a challenge to the modern scientific community, proposing to look at ageing as an irreversible catastrophe that can be fought, and to consider rejuvenation as a scientifically proven process. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: rejuvenation, immortality, longevity, long-lived animals, senescence, metabolism, cellular pluripotency, cell reprogramming, biological age

Engaging the Space Between Minimal Processing and Inclusive Description to Create More Sustainable and Ethical Workflows

ABSTRACT Archival literature includes two prominent theoretical currents: the implementation of minimal descriptive practices and the need for more inclusive, reparative practices. Although prominent, these threads are not often considered together to explore how minimal processing frameworks may impact efforts for a diverse and representative archival record documenting marginalized communities and experiences. This article discusses these two frameworks, the apparent tension between them, and possible methods for reconciling the two to integrate more inclusive practices directly into standard archival workflows. This article argues that implementing inclusive practices into archival work is necessary to create a more representative historical record. Balancing both perspectives is necessary to create access points discoverable to a broad range of archival researchers. Creating access points for marginalized researchers is part of the core of archivists’ professional responsibilities and cannot be performed as a specialized project or contingent upon specialized funding—it must be embedded directly into all accessioning and processing workflows. By simultaneously considering these two theoretical currents, archivists can incorporate inclusive and reparative practices within an overarching extensible processing workflow.

Integrating approaches to the role of metaphor in the evolutionary dynamics of language

Abstract Metaphor occupies a central role not only in language use, but also in language change and evolution. Specifically, semantic extension motivated by metaphor plays an important role in extending the lexicon of languages. It is this process that enables the emergence of one of the key properties of modern languages, namely that they are open-ended, systematic, polysemous, structured semiotic systems. Here, we review results from three approaches whose integration presents an important cornerstone for an interdisciplinary account of the role of metaphor in the evolutionary dynamics of language: (1) Historical linguistics and diachronic semantics (2) Computational approaches and natural language processing, and (3) Experimental semiotics. Research in historical linguistics has shown that metaphor is a major mechanism of semantic change. Diachronic semantic analyses have not only mapped detailed historical trajectories of semantic extension motivated by metaphor, but also identified common metaphoric pathways of change as well as shared cognitive principles underlying them. Computational approaches and natural language processing have used findings and data from historical linguistics in attempts to automate the detection of metaphoric semantic change and to build data-driven models models of the principles underlying it. Experimental semiotics is a paradigm in which participants have to create novel communication systems in the absence of language. It represents an experimental design that can investigate cultural linguistic evolution and the emergence of metaphors and metaphorical extensions under controlled laboratory settings to shed light on the interactional and cognitive principles involved in it. Combining results from these approaches represents an important first step towards an interdisciplinary, integrative account of the role of metaphor, and processes of polysemous meaning extension more generally, in the evolutionary dynamics of language.

Research on information extension of mountainous rack railway engineering based on IFC standard

In response to the practical demands for data sharing and exchange in the field of rack railway systems engineering, as well as to address the gaps in the rack railway domain within the framework of the IFC4 standard, we extend and define the rack railway domain through entity extension and custom attribute sets. By utilizing the ongoing construction of the Dujiangyan to Mount Siguniang Railway as a case study, we validate the utility of this IFC extension and modeling approach. Leveraging IfcOpenShell, we incorporate the extended data content into the generated IFC file. We present a process for extension tailored to the characteristics of rack railway engineering. This study aims to provide broader information support for the digital construction of track structures in the design phase of rack railway engineering and to facilitate more efficient data exchange and sharing.

The Effect of Agricultural Extension and Post-Harvest Processing Technology in Increasing Farmers' Income and Farm Business Sustainability in Rural Bandung Regency

This study examines the impact of agricultural extension services and post-harvest processing technology on farmers' income and farm business sustainability in rural Bandung Regency. A quantitative analysis of 160 farmers' responses, measured using a Likert scale, revealed that agricultural extension services significantly enhance farm sustainability and increase farmers' income. Similarly, post-harvest processing technology positively impacts both farm sustainability and income. These findings underscore the importance of these interventions in promoting sustainable agricultural development and improving farmers' livelihoods, highlighting the need for continuous investment in agricultural extension programs and the promotion of post-harvest technologies to support rural agricultural communities.

Spreading the gains from geographical indications: A longitudinal study on the extension of the Prosecco GI

Defined as signs denoting products linked to discrete characteristics of an area, geographical indications (GIs) acquired prominence in the economic development agenda. Gains from GIs triggered processes of redefinition and extension of the underlying territorial boundaries. Extensions increased the number of beneficiaries of the returns from GIs but also ignited tensions that deserve to be observed to distil theoretical insights on the evolution of indications and actionable guidelines for practitioners and policymakers. This study investigates the processes governing the settlement of tensions after the extension of a GI and attempts at understanding how contestations among incumbents and newcomers can be managed. Through a retrospective longitudinal analysis of the Prosecco extension, we find that incumbents and newcomers clashed based on different visions of the GI. Three elements allowed the management of tensions: political agency, the design of governance mechanisms, and a territorial portfolio strategy.

Dairy factory milk product processing and sustainable of the shelf-life extension with artificial intelligence: a model study

This study models milk product processing and sustainable of the shelf-life extension in a dairy factory using artificial intelligence. The Cappadocia dairy factory was used to study chemical processes and computational system modeling and simulation. Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was used to create an artificial neural network model from real-time data. An AI-based method utilizing a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was employed to precisely analyze productivity data in dairy factories. There are 9 product types and production quantities used as input parameters, and 90 datasets of actual dairy products used as output values. The model was trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm on 62 datasets for training, 14 for validation, and 14 for testing. The accuracy of the model is affected by the optimal data segmentation. The model showed how AI algorithms can improve processes and industrial production by increasing dairy production efficiency from 20 to 40%. Model efficiency values were compared to observed values to determine prediction accuracy. Model mean squared error was 4.02E-06, and coefficient of determination was 0.99984. Model efficiency predictions and observed values differed by −0.04% on average. This study investigated using artificial intelligence to optimize salvage processes and systems to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The results show that a neural network model trained with real data can predict dairy plant productivity.

On the extension and deflection of bayhead river-mouth shoal within a tide-dominated embayment, pearl river estuary

Based on chart data from the 1900s to the 2020s, it is evident that the western bayhead river-mouth shoal in Lingding Bay, Pearl River Estuary, has extended and deflected. This study uses geostatistical methods and numerical simulation experiments to investigate the dynamics of western river-mouth shoals in tide-dominated estuarine embayments. The results show that these shoals extend and deflect between two channels in a clockwise pattern, with their eastward expansion constrained by the adjacent channel. The semi-variogram and anisotropic model effectively describe changes in shoal orientation. Based on numerical experiments, we found that tides contribute to eastward lateral residual sediment transport and deposition, which is the primary sedimentary process for river-mouth shoal extension. Moreover, residual sediment transport at nearby channels or troughs induces this clockwise deflection of river-mouth shoals, with secondary effects from Coriolis forces. Future studies should consider three-dimensional processes to better understand sedimentary processes under intensive human activities in Lingding Bay, Pearl River Estuary.

A Transfer Hydrogenation Approach to Activity-Based Sensing of Formate in Living Cells.

Formate is a major reactive carbon species in one-carbon metabolism, where it serves as an endogenous precursor for amino acid and nucleic acid biosynthesis and a cellular source of NAD(P)H. On the other hand, aberrant elevations in cellular formate are connected to progression of serious diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Traditional methods for formate detection in biological environments often rely on sample destruction or extensive processing, resulting in a loss of spatiotemporal information. To help address these limitations, here we present the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a first-generation activity-based sensing system for live-cell formate imaging that relies on iridium-mediated transfer hydrogenation chemistry. Formate facilitates an aldehyde-to-alcohol conversion on various fluorophore scaffolds to enable fluorescence detection of this one-carbon unit, including through a two-color ratiometric response with internal calibration. The resulting two-component probe system can detect changes in formate levels in living cells with a high selectivity over potentially competing biological analytes. Moreover, this activity-based sensing system can visualize changes in endogenous formate fluxes through alterations of one-carbon pathways in cell-based models of human colon cancer, presaging the potential utility of this chemical approach to probe the continuum between one-carbon metabolism and signaling in cancer and other diseases.

Investigation of the Impact of Temporal Dose Delivery Patterns of Ion Irradiation with the Local Effect Model.

We present an extension of the Local Effect Model (LEM) to include time-dose relationships for predicting effects of protracted and split-dose ion irradiation at arbitrary LET. With this kinetic extension, the spatial and temporal induction and processing of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in cellular nuclei can be simulated for a wide range of ion radiation qualities, doses and dose rates. The key concept of the extension is based on the joint spatial and temporal coexistence of initial DSB, leading to the formation of clustered DNA damage on the µm scale (as defined e.g., by the size scale of Mbp chromatin loops), which is considered to have an increased cellular lethality as compared to isolated, single DSB. By simulating the time dependent induction and repair of DSB and scoring of isolated and clustered DSB upon irradiation, the impact of dose rate and split dose on the cell survival probability can be computed. In a first part of this work, we systematically analyze the predicted impact of protraction in dependence of factors like dose, LET, ion species and radiosensitivity as characterized by the photon LQ-parameters. We establish links to common concepts that describe dose rate effects for low LET radiation. We also compare the model predictions to experimental data and find agreement with the general trends observed in the experiments. The relevant concepts of our approach are compared to other models suitable for predicting time effects. We investigate an apparent analogy between spatial and temporal concentration of radiation delivery, both leading to increased effectiveness, and discuss similarities and differences between the general dependencies of these clustering effects on their impacting factors. Finally, we conclude that the findings give additional support for the general concept of the LEM, i.e. the characterization of high LET radiation effects based on the distinction of just two classes of DSB (isolated DSB and clustered DSB).

Early cretaceous multi-stage extension in the North Dabie complex in the eastern central China: insights from structural and geochronological data

A dominantly NW-SE directed extensional tectonics in the Early Cretaceous significantly reworked the Late Permian-Triassic orogenic framework of the Dabie orogenic belt. The North Dabie complex (NDC) is the principal domain recording this tectonic event. However, the precise structure-kinematic architectures, particularly those observed in the ductile regime, along with the respective time scales for different extensional stages, have not been adequately established. This significantly impedes our comprehensive understanding of the extensional style and deformation history in the North Dabie complex. To better address these issues, we conducted a systematic structural study and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the pre-, syn-, and post-kinematic intrusions and syn-kinematically metamorphosed high-grade gneisses/migmatites of the NDC. Our results demonstrate that the extensional deformation in the NDC may initiate at ca. 144 Ma, which is characterized by a pervasive NW-SE oriented coaxial plastic flow in the ductile regime of the middle-lower crust. A large-scale detachment processing zone subsequently started activating at ca. 140 Ma at the upper-middle level of the middle crust, and concentratedly accommodated the extensional strain by top-to-NW ductile shearing. Locally, there was uprising of sub-magmatic flow in the atatexite-diatexite from the deeper lower crust taking place in the manner of top-to-outward shearing as early as ca. 137 Ma. This composite process of extension manifests vertical strain partitioning across the ductile middle-lower crusts and progressive strain localization during the lithospheric thinning. The NW-SE orientation dominated extensional tectonics was strongly driven by the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic plate during the Late Mesozoic.

Multiband SINC-slotted Patch Antenna for 5G Applications

In this work, we presented the design, analysis and optimization of the multiband slotted antennas based on SINC function for 5G applications. The proposed antennas are designed and modelled by CST Studio Suite software. A parametric study is performed to determine sinc function parameters that control the performance of the proposed antenna. The parametric study is implemented by varying the amplitude of the sinc function, the frequency, the location of the slot along Y-axis, the slot width and the slot window (number of cycles). The simulated results showed that the designed slotted antennas in this paper exhibits multiband operation and they offer the feasibility of controlling and adjusting the resonant frequency by changing the sinc function parameters. The proposed antennas have various resonant frequencies at around 1.5 GHz, 2.65 GHz, 5 GHz and 5.8 GHz covering the 5G sub-6 GHz band. Extensive simulation process were carried out to determine the optimum antenna performance and three antennas were selected based on the reflection characteristics and number of operation frequency bands. Finally, the three selected antennas were manufactured and their performance were measured in the lab for validation. Experimental results showed that an excellent agreement between the measured and simulated results was achieved.

Effect of Supportive Leadership on Job Burnout and Occupational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation

Abstract Based on the job demands–resources model, self-determination theory, and social exchange theory, this study examines the influence of supportive leadership on job burnout and occupational commitment. The study also investigates the mediating role of intrinsic motivation. This study collected 221 valid questionnaires from 5 insurance companies in southern Taiwan and applied structural equation modeling using confirmatory factor analysis and bootstrapping to verify the proposed hypotheses. Extensive validation processes are also conducted to verify the fitness of the measurement model. The results confirm that supportive leadership directly affects job burnout and occupational commitment, and that intrinsic motivation significantly mediates the effect of supportive leadership on job burnout and occupational commitment. Finally, the study provides practical insights for researchers and professionals and proposes directions for future research. Keywords: Supportive leadership, Intrinsic motivation, Job burnout, Occupational commitment, Taiwan insurance industry.

Advancements in Additive Manufacturing for Copper-Based Alloys and Composites: A Comprehensive Review

Copper-based materials have long been used for their outstanding thermal and electrical conductivities in various applications, such as heat exchangers, induction heat coils, cooling channels, radiators, and electronic connectors. The development of advanced copper alloys has broadened their utilization to include structural applications in harsh service conditions found in industries like oil and gas, marine, power plants, and water treatment, where good corrosion resistance and a combination of high strength, wear, and fatigue tolerance are critical. These advanced multi-component structures often have complex designs and intricate geometries, requiring extensive metallurgical processing routes and the joining of the individual components into a final structure. Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the way complex structures are designed and manufactured. It has reduced the processing steps, assemblies, and tooling while also eliminating the need for joining processes. However, the high thermal conductivity of copper and its high reflectivity to near-infrared radiation present challenges in the production of copper alloys using fusion-based AM processes, especially with Yb-fiber laser-based techniques. To overcome these difficulties, various solutions have been proposed, such as the use of high-power, low-wavelength laser sources, preheating the build chamber, employing low thermal conductivity building platforms, and adding alloying elements or composite particles to the feedstock material. This article systematically reviews different aspects of AM processing of common industrial copper alloys and composites, including copper-chrome, copper-nickel, tin-bronze, nickel-aluminum bronze, copper-carbon composites, copper-ceramic composites, and copper-metal composites. It focuses on the state-of-the-art AM techniques employed for processing different copper-based materials and the associated technological and metallurgical challenges, optimized processing variables, the impact of post-printing heat treatments, the resulting microstructural features, physical properties, mechanical performance, and corrosion response of the AM-fabricated parts. Where applicable, a comprehensive comparison of the results with those of their conventionally fabricated counterparts is provided.

Goat mammary epithelial cells provide a better expression system for production of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 compared to Chinese hamster ovarian cells.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2), a member of the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) super family of proteinsand is instrumental in the repair of fractures. The synthesis of BMP2 involves extensive post-translational processing and several studies have demonstrated the abysmally low production of rhBMP2 in eukaryotic systems, which may be due to the short half-life of the bioactive protein. Consequently, production costs of rhBMP2 are quite high, limiting its availability to the general populace. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify better in-vitro systems for large scale production of rhBMP2. In the present study, we have carried out a comparative analysis of rhBMP2 production by the conventionally used Chinese Hamster ovarian cells (CHO) and goat mammary epithelial cells (GMEC), upon transfection with appropriate construct. Udder gland cells are highly secretory, and we reasoned that such cells may serve as a better in-vitro model for large scale production of rhBMP2. Our results indicated that the synthesis and secretion of bioactive rhBMP2 by goat mammary epithelial cells was significantly higher as compared to that by CHO-K1 cells. Our results provide strong evidence that GMECs may serve as a better alternative to other mammalian cells used for therapeutic protein production.

Discrepancies in staging and perioperative classification of pelvic endometriosis according to #Enzian 2021.

The aim of this study is to compare the extent of ovarian endometriosis diagnosed at preoperative staging with subsequent perioperative findings. Definition of discrepancies observed according to the #Enzian 2021 classification. The cohort includes 62 patients of reproductive age with preoperative findings of ovarian endometrioma. Patients were divided according to the #Enzian 2021 classification into subgroups (O1, O2 + O3) with unilateral and bilateral findings. The percentage concordance of preoperative and perioperative findings was evaluated. In the evaluation of ovarian involvement, the preoperative ultrasound diagnosis shows almost 100% agreement with the findings on the ovaries during surgery. Periadnexal adhesions were predicted preoperatively in only half of the cases. The difference in laterality was confirmed with T3 involvement in the O2 + O3 subgroup. In the bilateral involvement, the finding of the presence of grade 3 adhesions was doubled. An association of ovarian form of endometriosis (O2-O3) with deep infiltrating endometriosis of the small pelvis was observed in 50% of the cohort. The ovarian form of endometriosis is associated with the occurrence of other endometriosis lesions in the small pelvis. In this study, it was confirmed that preoperative staging underestimates the extent of endometriosis in the small pelvis. In the surgical management of ovarian endometriosis, extensive adhesive process should be expected.

A Survey on the Expression of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System Components HECT- and RBR-E3 Ubiquitin Ligases and E2 Ubiquitin-Conjugating and E1 Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes during Human Brain Development.

Human brain development involves a tightly regulated sequence of events that starts shortly after conception and continues up to adolescence. Before birth, neurogenesis occurs, implying an extensive differentiation process, sustained by changes in the gene expression profile alongside proteome remodeling, regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. The latter processes rely on the selective tagging with ubiquitin of the proteins that must be disposed of. E3 ubiquitin ligases accomplish the selective recognition of the target proteins. At the late stage of neurogenesis, the brain starts to take shape, and neurons migrate to their designated locations. After birth, neuronal myelination occurs, and, in parallel, neurons form connections among each other throughout the synaptogenesis process. Due to the malfunctioning of UPS components, aberrant brain development at the very early stages leads to neurodevelopmental disorders. Through deep data mining and analysis and by taking advantage of machine learning-based models, we mapped the transcriptomic profile of the genes encoding HECT- and ring-between-ring (RBR)-E3 ubiquitin ligases as well as E2 ubiquitin-conjugating and E1 ubiquitin-activating enzymes during human brain development, from early post-conception to adulthood. The inquiry outcomes unveiled some implications for neurodevelopment-related disorders.

Multiple myeloma in a young patient

Multiple myeloma is a type B blood cancer characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells. The median age at diagnosis is 70 years, however, it is rare among younger patients, and less than 0.5% are younger than 30 years. A 33-year-old man, who began with progressive acute kidney injury is presented, accompanied by a severe lower back pain and impossibility to walk. A dorso-lumbar spine CT scan showed an extensive process consisting of multiple osteolytic lesions at T12, L2, ribs, pelvic and proximal femur. Radiology, along with histology, bone marrow aspiration and protein electrophoresis analysis allowed to establish the diagnosis of stage III multiple myeloma, after which the patient received chemotherapy. Despite the rarity of multiple myeloma among young patients, this diagnosis should be evoked when clinical, biological and radiological signs are in favour. There appears to be no difference between younger and older patients in disease presentation, although longer survival was reported among younger patients.

Research Paper on Cloud Computing

Abstract: We are in the middle of a powerful era of cloud computing in IT. Rooted in the wide reach of the Internet, this technology provides a robust computing architecture that combines networked hardware, software, and Internet infrastructure. Its advantages go beyond traditional computing methods and go beyond grid computing and others. A key moment in the maturation of cloud computing occurred in 2006 when Amazon introduced the first cloud services. Hong Kong is particularly suitable for the deployment of cloud services due to its extensive daily data processing across various sectors.

Identification of Intestinal Lamina Propria Plasma Cells by Surface Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Expression.

Plasma cells secrete an abundance of Abs and are a crucial component of our immune system. The intestinal lamina propria harbors the largest population of plasma cells, most of which produce IgA. These Abs can bind to beneficial gut bacteria to reinforce intestinal homeostasis and provide protection against enteric pathogens. Plasma cells downregulate many cell-surface proteins commonly used to identify B cells. In mice, expression of the surface marker CD138 has been widely used to identify plasma cells in lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen. Intestinal plasma cells require liberation via extensive tissue processing involving treatment with collagenase. We report that detection of CD138 surface expression is reduced following collagenase treatment. Using a mouse in which yellow fluorescent protein expression is controlled by the plasma cell requisite transcription factor Blimp-1, we show that surface detection of transmembrane activator and CAML interactor captures a significant proportion of Ab-secreting plasma cells in the intestinal lamina propria and gut-draining mesenteric lymph nodes. Additionally, we describe a flow cytometry panel based on the detection of surface markers to identify murine B cell subsets in the intestinal lamina propria and, as a proof of concept, combine it with a cutting-edge fate-tracking system to characterize the fate of germinal center B cells activated in early life. By identifying plasma cells and other key intestinal B subsets in a manner compatible with several downstream applications, including sorting and culturing and invitro manipulations, this efficient and powerful approach can enhance studies of mucosal immunity.