Perspectives For Applications Research Articles

The synthesis, application and therapeutic perspectives of medicinal plants-based solid lipid nanoparticles: a comprehensive review

The synthesis, application and therapeutic perspectives of medicinal plants-based solid lipid nanoparticles: a comprehensive review

Potential and perspectives of local application of hyaluronic acid in vulvovaginal atrophy in women of reproductive age: A review

Potential and perspectives of local application of hyaluronic acid in vulvovaginal atrophy in women of reproductive age: A review

Circulating Tumor Cells: Origin, Role, Current Applications, and Future Perspectives for Personalized Medicine

Circulating Tumor Cells: Origin, Role, Current Applications, and Future Perspectives for Personalized Medicine

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of As-Built Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb Alloys Produced by Selective Laser Melting Technology

Additive manufacturing from metal powders using selective laser melting technology is gaining increasing interest in various industries. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of changes in process parameter values on the relative density, microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy samples. The experiment was conducted in response to a noticeable gap in the research on the manufacturability of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy in SLM technology. This topic is significant given the growing interest in this alloy for biomedical applications. The results of this study indicate that by properly selecting the volumetric energy density (VED), the relative density of the material produced and the surface roughness of the components can be effectively influenced. Microstructural analyses revealed similar patterns in both alloys manufactured under similar conditions, characterized by columnar β phase grains with needle-like α’ phases. Increasing the VED increased the tensile strength of the fabricated Ti-6Al-4V alloy components, while the opposite effect was observed for components fabricated from Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy. At the same time, Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy parts featured higher elongation values, which is desirable from the perspective of biomedical applications.

Toward Viable Industrial Solid Residual Waste Recycling: A Review of Its Innovative Applications and Future Perspectives

Industrial solid residual waste (ISRW) generated during and/or due to the making of energy, heat, and raw materials poses a major threat to a sustainable future due to its large production quantities and complex characteristics. Especially improper disposal of ISRW (e.g., coal ashes, municipal waste residue, and biomass ashes) not only threatens human health but can also cause environmental hazards such as water, soil, and air pollution, upsetting the global balance. Given the environmental impacts as well as increasingly stringent disposal regulations, lack of landfills, and economic constraints, more sustainable and naturally friendly management strategies are being adopted for ISRW. While numerous studies in the literature have considered various characteristics of ISRW, a complete appraisal of the entire practice, from making to disposal, is still lacking. This paper presents an overview of the making, features, and traditional and innovative managing tactics of ISRW within the context of a general legal framework. This paper provides a scientific review of the various production types, global production quantities, and characteristics of ISRW. Additionally, the orthodox management strategies of ISRWs are scrutinized from a sociological and ecological standpoint, and diverse techniques for more viable and secure management are elucidated. This review culminates in an examination of the global impact and advantages of ISRW management policies based on legislation and regulations. Consequently, this paper seeks to elucidate the extant practices and a few recent advancements pertaining to ISRWs. Additionally, it underscores the ecological, sociological, and economic issues engendered by ISRWs and proposes innovative applications and production technologies.

Advancements in Engineering Planar Model Cell Membranes: Current Techniques, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Advancements in Engineering Planar Model Cell Membranes: Current Techniques, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Training and validation of a deep learning U-net architecture general model for automated segmentation of inner ear from CT

BackgroundThe intricate three-dimensional anatomy of the inner ear presents significant challenges in diagnostic procedures and critical surgical interventions. Recent advancements in deep learning (DL), particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN), have shown promise for segmenting specific structures in medical imaging. This study aimed to train and externally validate an open-source U-net DL general model for automated segmentation of the inner ear from computed tomography (CT) scans, using quantitative and qualitative assessments.MethodsIn this multicenter study, we retrospectively collected a dataset of 271 CT scans to train an open-source U-net CNN model. An external set of 70 CT scans was used to evaluate the performance of the trained model. The model’s efficacy was quantitatively assessed using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and qualitatively assessed using a 4-level Likert score. For comparative analysis, manual segmentation served as the reference standard, with assessments made on both training and validation datasets, as well as stratified analysis of normal and pathological subgroups.ResultsThe optimized model yielded a mean DSC of 0.83 and achieved a Likert score of 1 in 42% of the cases, in conjunction with a significantly reduced processing time. Nevertheless, 27% of the patients received an indeterminate Likert score of 4. Overall, the mean DSCs were notably higher in the validation dataset than in the training dataset.ConclusionThis study supports the external validation of an open-source U-net model for the automated segmentation of the inner ear from CT scans.Relevance statementThis study optimized and assessed an open-source general deep learning model for automated segmentation of the inner ear using temporal CT scans, offering perspectives for application in clinical routine. The model weights, study datasets, and baseline model are worldwide accessible.Key PointsA general open-source deep learning model was trained for CT automated inner ear segmentation.The Dice similarity coefficient was 0.83 and a Likert score of 1 was attributed to 42% of automated segmentations.The influence of scanning protocols on the model performances remains to be assessed.Graphical

Excellent magnetocaloric effect near the hydrogen liquefaction temperature of a binary Er67.5Co32.5 metallic glass

We reported the excellent magnetocaloric effect of a binary Er67.5Co32.5 metallic glass (MG) near the hydrogen liquefaction temperature. The binary MG ribbon was fabricated by a melt-spinning method. The Er67.5Co32.5 alloy exhibits a better glass formability than most of other rare earth (RE)-Co binary alloys. The maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmpeak) and refrigeration capacity (RC) of the Er67.5Co32.5 amorphous ribbon under 0–5 T reach to 17.47 J/(kg × K) near its Curie temperature (Tc, ∼ 11 K) and 472 J/kg, both of which are rather high among the RE-based MGs with a Tc around 10 K and imply the potential application perspective as magnetic refrigerants for hydrogen liquefaction. The magnetization as well as magnetocaloric behaviors of the binary MG were observed, and the mechanism involved was investigated.

Surface enhanced transmission Raman spectroscopy: Quantitative performances for impurity analysis in complex matrices

A transmission detection mode was investigated with SERS analyses (SETRS). A comparison between backscattering and transmission detection modes was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of performing SETRS analyses. The impact of various parameters on the SERS signal intensity such as sample volume, lens collection optic, laser beam size and laser power were then examined. The analytical performances of SETRS were further evaluated through the quantification of an impurity (4-aminophenol) ranging from 3 to 20 µg/mL in a commercial pharmaceutical product using a total error risk-based approach. To account for expected variability of routine analysis, 9 batches of silver nanoparticles suspensions were used and experiments were performed over 5 different days and by 2 operators. Univariate spectral analysis based on a quadratic regression was compared to a multivariate approach using a partial least square regression. The presented results demonstrated that SETRS can be used to determine an impurity in a complex matrix opening new perspectives for quantitative applications.

AlScN-based quasi-static multi-degree-of-freedom piezoelectric MEMS micromirror with large mirror plate and high fill factor

A quasi-static multi-degree-of-freedom piezoelectric MEMS micromirror with large mirror plate and high fill factor based on AlScN is presented. It consists of two individual components, namely the mirror plate and the actuator. They are fabricated separately and vertically assembled together to form the final combination. In current case, a square mirror plate with side length of 5 mm is used. The actuator is designed into a gimbal-less structure, which involves a central connection platform with a mounting hole and four groups of piezoelectric actuators that are connected to the platform's corners via serpentine springs. This configuration provides multi-degree-of-freedom driving capabilities, allowing tip-tilt-piston mirror movement. The piezoelectric actuator is composed of three-stage cantilever-type actuation units that are connected in series, and they are intentionally arranged into S-shape so as to be completely hidden beneath the mirror plate. Moreover, the driving performance is further improved by optimizing the electrode coverage region on each actuation unit. As a result, not only large displacement but also nearly 100 % fill factor as well as high optical utilization efficiency can be achieved. From experimental results, the as-fabricated MEMS micromirror demonstrates static mechanical tilt angles of approximately ±2.2° about two orthogonal axes and piston vertical movement of ±54.9 μm within ±50 VDC driving voltage range with excellent linearity. Given the large mirror size, high fill factor and multi-degree-of-freedom motion advantages, the proposed micromirror could be found application perspective in light field shaping, free space optical communication and projection lithography areas.

Effect of the chemical substitution on structural parameters and microwave properties of the Co–Ni–Zn spinels

Co0.3Ni0.7-xZn xFe2O4 (where x = 0.00–0.7 with step 0.1) spinels or CNZF with constant Co concentration and varying of the Ni/Zn concentration were obtained by the ceramic method from initial oxides. Based on X-ray diffraction data it was concluded that all samples are single-phase (SG: Fd-3m). Concentration dependences of the lattice constant and unit cell volume correlate well with Vegard's rule and the average value of the Zn2+ and Ni2+ ionic radii. The microwave permeability was measured in the frequency range of 0.1–20 GHz by a coaxial technique. Two resonances on frequency dependences were observed. Analysis of the microwave properties and magnetostatic data showed that low-frequency magnetic peak was caused by a resonance of domain boundaries; high-frequency peak was due to a natural ferrimagnetic resonance. Obtained results opens broad perspectives for practical application of such kind of materials and possibility for microwave parameters control by the external magnetic field.

Effect of Thermal Processing on Food Allergenicity: Mechanisms, Application, Influence Factor, and Future Perspective.

Thermally processed foods are essential in the human diet, and their induced allergic reactions are also very common, seriously affecting human health. This review covers the effects of thermal processing on food allergenicity, involving boiling, water/oil bath heating, roasting, autoclaving, steaming, frying, microwave heating, ohmic heating, infrared heating, and radio frequency heating. It was found that thermal processing decreased the protein electrophoretic band intensity (except for infrared heating and radio frequency heating) responsible for destruction of linear epitopes and changed the protein structure responsible for the masking of linear/conformational epitopes or the destruction of conformational epitopes, thus decreasing food allergenicity. The outcome was related to thermal processing (e.g., temperature, time) and food (e.g., types, pH) condition. Of note, as for conventional thermal processing, it is necessary to control the generation of the advanced glycation end products in roasting/baking and frying, and the increase of structural flexibility in boiling and water/oil bath heating, autoclaving, and steaming must be controlled; otherwise, it might increase food allergenicity. As for novel thermal processing, the temperature nonuniformity of microwave and radio frequency heating, low penetration of infrared heating, and unwanted metal ion production of ohmic heating must be considered; otherwise, it might be the nonuniformity and low effect of allergenicity reduction and safety problems.

Governing sustainable smart cities supported by city information modelling: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review

ABSTRACT To improving citizen’s living quality and management efficiency, the construction of smart cities is critical on the agenda. Smart cities are highly dependent on multiple innovative technologies. City Information Modelling (CIM) is a promising approach that meets the implementation requirements of sustainable smart cities through various technology integrations. Therefore, this paper extracted 99 articles from the Web of Science core collection database from 2012 to 2022 for bibliometric analysis and investigated the research themes on the current development of CIM from theory, technology, and application perspectives. Based on the results of the holistic framework of each domain, existing problems and further development directions are proposed to govern the sustainable smart cities based on CIM. According to the findings, CIM, as a tool to aid decision-making for planning and managing sustainable smart cities, greatly promotes city development in the direction of intelligence and sustainability.

Overview of the Research Status of Intelligent Water Conservancy Technology System

A digital twin is a new trend in the development of the current smart water conservancy industry. The main research content of intelligent water conservancy is clarified. This paper first summarizes and combs the relevant system architecture of smart water conservancy, and puts forward a smart water conservancy framework based on digital twins, highlighting the characteristics of virtual and real interaction, and symbiosis of the water conservancy twin platform. Secondly, the status quo of intelligent water conservancy “sky, air, ground and water” integrated monitoring technology, big data and artificial intelligence, model platform technology, knowledge graph and security technology is analyzed. From the perspective of application, the research progress of each technology in water security, water resources and hydraulic engineering is reviewed. Although the construction of smart water conservancy has made remarkable progress, it still faces many challenges such as data governance, technology integration and innovation, and standardization. In view of these challenges, this paper puts forward a series of countermeasures, and looks forward to the future development direction of intelligent water conservancy.

A Review on Fish Skin-Derived Gelatin: Elucidating the Gelatin Peptides-Preparation, Bioactivity, Mechanistic Insights, and Strategies for Stability Improvement.

Fish skin-derived gelatin has garnered significant attention recently due to its abundant availability and promising bioactive properties. This comprehensive review elucidates various intricacies concerning fish skin-derived gelatin peptides, including their preparation techniques, bioactive profiles, underlying mechanisms, and methods for stability enhancement. The review investigates diverse extraction methods and processing approaches for acquiring gelatin peptides from fish skin, emphasizing their impact on the peptide composition and functional characteristics. Furthermore, the review examines the manifold bioactivities demonstrated by fish skin-derived gelatin peptides, encompassing antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, elucidating their potential roles in functional food products, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Further, mechanistic insights into the functioning of gelatin peptides are explored, shedding light on their interactions with biological targets and pathways. Additionally, strategies aimed at improving the stability of gelatin peptides, such as encapsulation, modification, and integration into delivery systems, are discussed to extend the shelf life and preserve the bioactivity. Overall, this comprehensive review offers valuable insights into using fish skin-derived gelatin peptides as functional ingredients, providing perspectives for future research endeavors and industrial applications within food science, health, and biotechnology.

Ultra-broadband selective tailoring of infrared spectral features for the application of compatible infrared and laser stealth

With the rapid development of detection technology, aircraft face growing threats from various detectors covering visible to infrared light. Therefore, aircraft must be equipped with the ability of compatible stealth. The emergency of the metasurface provides a promising method to realize this purpose. On this basis, in this work, a composite periodic metasurface is proposed by employing the type of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure for compatible infrared and laser stealth. In one unit cell, different dimensions of patterns are used to give rise to magnetic polaritons (MPs) at specific wavelengths. Through overall optimization of parameters of single periodic structures and the internal mechanisms in composite structures, appropriate parameters and arrangements are selected to obtain the required spectral features from laser to mid-infrared wavelengths. The simulated results demonstrate that the absorption at 1.06 μm can be over 70% and the absorption peaks in the region of 5∼8 μm are over 74%. High absorption at 1.06 μm is suitable for laser stealth, and the ability of high-performance infrared stealth comes with the advantages of low emissivity at the atmosphere windows and radiative cooling at the non-atmosphere window. This design is easy to fabricate and has a promising perspective for various compatible stealth and many other applications.

Microcellular foaming-derived strong ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/high-density polyethylene foams for thermally insulating and oil-water separating applications

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has excellent weather & chemical corrosion, abrasive resistances, and hydrophobicity, endowing UHMWPE foams promising perspectives in many applications, such as thermal insulation and oil-water separation, especially in harsh environment. However, the preparation of UHMWPE foams presents significant challenges due to its exceedingly high melt strength. In this study, a self-enhancement strategy was developed to tailor the melt viscoelasticity and foaming behavior of UHMWPE by blending with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Remarkably, the inclusion of 40 wt% HDPE contributes to the achievement of the maximum expansion ratio reported to date for the UHMWPE foam, up to 36.5, and meanwhile, significantly expanded the foaming temperature range. The incorporation of HDPE notably improved the mechanical properties of the UHMWPE foams. With 30 wt% HDPE, the compressive strength and modulus of the foams increased by 50.9 % and 109.9 %, respectively. The foams with 40 wt% HDPE also demonstrated superior thermal insulation, exhibiting a thermal conductivity as low as 39.81 mW·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, marking a 92 % reduction compared to pure UHMWPE. Furthermore, the open-cell structure of the UHMWPE/HDPE composite foams displayed exceptional oil-water separation efficiency. This study introduces an innovative, eco-friendly approach for crafting UHMWPE foams tailored for multifunctional applications in harsh environmental conditions.

Achieve outstanding refrigeration performance near ambient temperature in a Fe88Pr8B2Ce2 amorphous ribbon

A novel Fe88Pr8B2Ce2 amorphous alloy (AA) with outstanding magnetocaloric effect near 295 K was vitrified into ribbon. The Fe88Pr8B2Ce2 ribbon exhibits a typical 2nd-order magnetic transition with a peak value of magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmpeak) of ∼ 4.34 J·kg−1·K−1 near its Curie temperature (Tc, ∼ 295 K) under 5 T, which is the highest among the AAs reported in the literature with Tc = 295±10 K. The temperature averaged entropy change (TEC) for the household air conditioner (TECAC) and refrigerator (TECR) were defined to evaluate the refrigeration performance of the magnetic refrigerants in these cooling facilities. TECAC and TECR for the Fe88Pr8B2Ce2 AA reach to 4.21 J·kg−1·K−1 and 3.93 J·kg−1·K−1, both of which are also much larger than those of other AAs with Tc near 295 K and indicate the better application perspective of the Fe88Pr8B2Ce2 AA as the magnetic refrigerants working in the residential magnetic air conditionings and refrigerators.

Joint buffetings suppression and trajectory tracking by fuzzy-based super-twist sliding mode control: Application to a fast parallel robot for PnP operations

This paper deals with the suppression of robotic joint buffetings for enhanced precision of trajectory tracking by means of fuzzy-based super-twist sliding mode control, which is illustrated with a fast pick-and-place parallel robot for material handling. Prior to control design, the joint motions and torques are measure to identify the dynamic parameters of the robot with recursive least square method, which is experimentally validated for the further model-based control design. In order to suppress the joint buffetings and to improve the tracking accuracy, the control law by integrating fuzzy algorithm and second-order sliding mode control is designed, where the control performance is evaluated by observing the joint dynamics, compared to the classical computed torque control and fuzzy sliding mode variable structure control. The experimental results and comparative study show the effectiveness of the developed control scheme, regarding the joint buffetings suppression and trajectory tracking precision. The main contribution lies in the integrated fuzzy algorithm and second-order sliding mode control for the model-based control design, with acceptable computational cost and trajectory tracking accuracy, from the perspective of actual engineering application.

Nursing student’s perceptions, satisfaction, and knowledge toward utilizing immersive virtual reality application in human anatomy course: quasi-experimental

BackgroundA paradigm shift in nursing education is required to prepare Z generation of nursing students through integrated innovative technologies as teaching strategies such as immersive virtual reality in several bioscience and main courses to facilitate and enhance learning process.Aim/objectiveExamine the effect of utilizing an immersive virtual reality application on students’ perceptions, knowledge, and satisfaction in an anatomy course.MethodsA quasi-experimental (pre-post test, one group) design was conducted among 1st year nursing students (N = 138) enrolled in an anatomy course in the spring semester of 2023–2024 in the nursing program in the health professions faculty at Al-Quds University. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used for data collection.ResultsThe results showed that 96% of participants were satisfied with using the VR application, and it retains their knowledge in the human anatomy course. 92% of the total, were under the age of twenty, and 84% were females. 80.1% (2.99 ± 0.58) of those students had more positive perspectives of VR applications in the nursing courses. Additionally, there were significant differences in students’ satisfaction and knowledge toward using VR applications after the anatomy lecture (p = 0.029, p = 0.05, respectively).ConclusionVirtual reality is a supplemental innovative tool for promoting learning. Nursing students perceive immersive virtual reality technologies positively and prefer using three-dimensional images in their anatomy courses, which helps them recall their knowledge, understand concepts of educational content, identify learning objectives, and improve learning outcomes. This study found that virtual reality can improve nursing students’ understanding, satisfaction, and knowledge of anatomy.