Scientific Exploration Research Articles

The evolution of digitainability in the fashion industry: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study investigates the evolution of digital transformation research trends in the context of the fashion industry. The paper analyzes and addresses the impact of digital innovations on three areas of the industry: products, processes and business models.Design/methodology/approach The study examined 277 peer-reviewed articles using various bibliometric tools and indicators, aiming to identify and organize the contributions of the most influential works. Additionally, a critical review of the ten most cited papers in the field was carried out.Findings The study shows that digitalization is not merely a technological trend; rather, it is a transformative force reshaping the fashion industry. It fosters collaboration, innovation and sustainability, creating an ecosystem where businesses can thrive by aligning with circular principles and leveraging digital tools.Research limitations/implications The paper reveals a gap in the scientific systematization and exploration of the variety of applications of digital tools in the fashion industry. The study’s limitations include the keywords chosen for the research and the period of the research from 1998 to 2023.Originality/value The paper pursues to contribute to the current discussion on sustainable practices within the fashion industry, while also setting the foundation for future progress in digital innovation that supports the increasing need for sustainable and personalized products.

Editorial

Homeopathy, once considered solely a well-established alternative or complementary healing discipline, has also become a focal point for a burgeoning branch of scientific exploration. Beyond its conventional healing practice, the foundations and mechanisms of potentized high dilutions are subject to scrutiny through an expanding body of scientific research. These investigations go far beyond clinical studies and include tissue and cellular models of different organisms and, more recently, ecology. In addition, in the last decades, the stated research has gone far beyond living beings since it extended to the physicochemical realm, studying the altered characteristics of fluids subjected to the homeopathic ultra-high dilution (UHD) process. Extensive scientific efforts have offered convincing evidence of the altered properties of fluids treated with the UHD methodology. These findings provide substantial support for the view that the efficacy of homeopathy is rooted in the emergent properties of polar solvents, water, in particular. More than that, the water properties we learn about from UHD solutions also occur in other treatments of water or aqueous solutions. This is why we can establish a new science of emergent properties of water. It is to substantiate and make new steps in developing this science that the November Conference in Ljubljana was dedicated to. This multi-faceted approach sheds light on the fundamental principles of the effectiveness of homeopathy as well as of many other non-chemical water treatments, opening up an entirely new horizon for the development of global health, ranging from individual living beings, including humans, through ecosystems to planet Earth as a whole. The XXXVII GIRI Meeting was held in November 9-12th, 2024 in Ljubljana, at the Town Hall, Slovenia, with the co-participation and shared organization of Bion Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia, and World Water Lab consortium, an initiative to gather scientists interested to understand and advance the science of emergent properties of water. Research into water is different from the investigation of other substances because it so aptly reflects some as yet hidden principles and laws of nature. Many of them show to be utterly neglected or even banned from the standpoint of conventional (academic) sciences since they do not conform to their mechanistic and reductionist models. These profound features are investigated by water scientists working on all aspects of water properties, from physicochemical and biological aspects to the quantum electrodynamic field view. The initiative to gather these three institutions (GIRI – BION – WWL) allowed to discuss together and create a wide view of UHD effects on living systems. The program was organized in four Keynote talks, two round tables and 15 individual presentations selected from a careful peer-review process. One general seminar about the main topics studied in the context of the WWL activities closed the meeting. All talks focused the physicochemical aspects of UHDs, mainly the probable field effect, provoking a discussion about how good-quality basic research can improve the plausibility of clinical / agronomic use of UHD preparations, which seems to be an essential grounding for the evidence-based medicine clinical studies (including the veterinary ones) by improving its trial protocols, and for a high-tech sustainable resource of food production. Since both aspects are complementary, the need of high-level clinical studies on homeopathy and high dilutions is an urgent issue as well, as was also discussed. At the end of the conference, the Madeleine Bastide Prize was given to the best individual presentations, being the first place attributed to Prof. Fateme Mirzajani (Iran), the second place to Dr. Leonardo Faedo (Brazil - UK), and three mentions were given to Sandra Tribolo (France), Lorena Guimarães (Brazil), and Adriana Miranda (Brazil). We wish the readers an enjoyable read!

Advancements in Dental Bioreactor Design: A Comprehensive Approach for Application in Dentistry.

The protocol introduces a novel multi-chamber bioreactor tailored for ex-vivo cell culture in dentistry research, emulating the 3D dental environment to propel research in dental applications. Constructed primarily from a polymeric material with a sophisticated 3D design, the bioreactor securely holds teeth structures within sealed chambers, enabling controlled perfusion of culture medium crucial for cell growth through a singular entry and exit point. An integrated electronic system manages flow and pressure, ensuring precise control over environmental conditions. This technology facilitates cell cultivation under conditions closely resembling natural tooth microenvironments, offering opportunities for varied studies from understanding cellular behavior in dental contexts to targeted therapy development. The bioreactor's amalgamation of polymeric components, 3D design, and electronic controls enhances adaptability and accuracy, rendering it a valuable asset in dental research. The report comprehensively delineates the bioreactor's design, operations, and potential applications, showcasing its significant contributions to dental research and regenerative medicine. By amalgamating advanced technologies, this bioreactor emerges as a pivotal tool for investigating cellular processes within dental structures, paving the way for scientific exploration and therapeutic advancements.

Pathfinder: A Semantic Framework for Literature Review and Knowledge Discovery in Astronomy

The exponential growth of astronomical literature poses significant challenges for researchers navigating and synthesizing general insights or even domain-specific knowledge. We present pathfinder, a machine learning framework designed to enable literature review and knowledge discovery in astronomy, focusing on semantic searching with natural language instead of syntactic searches with keywords. Utilizing state-of-the-art large language models (LLMs) and a corpus of 385,166 peer-reviewed papers from the Astrophysics Data System, pathfinder offers an innovative approach to scientific inquiry and literature exploration. Our framework couples advanced retrieval techniques with LLM-based synthesis to search astronomical literature by semantic context as a complement to currently existing methods that use keywords or citation graphs. It addresses complexities of jargon, named entities, and temporal aspects through time-based and citation-based weighting schemes. We demonstrate the tool’s versatility through case studies, showcasing its application in various research scenarios. The system’s performance is evaluated using custom benchmarks, including single-paper and multipaper tasks. Beyond literature review, pathfinder offers unique capabilities for reformatting answers in ways that are accessible to various audiences (e.g., in a different language or as simplified text), visualizing research landscapes, and tracking the impact of observatories and methodologies. This tool represents a significant advancement in applying artificial intelligence to astronomical research, aiding researchers at all career stages in navigating modern astronomy literature.

NUMERICAL STUDY OF FLOW PARAMETERS IN THE HIGH-HEAD FRANCIS TURBINE

The scientific exploration of numerical computation regarding spatial flow within hydraulic machinery components is examined. A survey of contemporary software systems is conducted, and the benefits of their utilization over experimental studies are evaluated. It is indicated that the optimal approach involves a blend of experimental investigations and numerical simulation. This methodology facilitates the validation of simulation outcomes under real-world conditions and iteratively enhances the model based on acquired data. A review of the widely utilized Ansys software program is provided, emphasizing its pivotal features and capabilities for analyzing flow components of hydraulic turbines. An algorithm for computing flow parameters in hydraulic turbines using the Ansys software suite is outlined. The subject of this study is the high-head Francis hydraulic turbine Fr 500. The turbine's geometry was constructed employing a sector-based approach. This technique allows for significant simplification of calculations within the computational fluid dynamics framework, thereby reducing computational workload while preserving result accuracy. In selecting mathematical and turbulence models, a comprehensive analysis of the problem was undertaken, identifying models most suitable for the specific situation to ensure dependable numerical simulation outcomes. For spatial flow calculations in the turbine's flow component, the standard k-ε turbulence model was adopted. Considerable attention was devoted to mesh generation, as mesh quality strongly influences result accuracy and reliability. An unstructured mesh comprising tetrahedral-shaped cells was employed for discretizing the flow component, with local mesh refinement at the edges of the runner blades and guide vanes. As a result of numerical computations, the values of primary flow parameters for the design operating mode were determined. A visualization of the flow within the flow component is provided, alongside the assessment of hydraulic losses and turbine efficiency. The efficiency values obtained differ from corresponding experimental values by no more than 1 %. A thorough examination of the flow structure within the flow path was conducted, yielding recommendations for adjusting the blade angle β1 to reduce inlet impact losses.

Perception of Medical Students Regarding Clinical Trials and Its Impact After Educational Intervention – A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background and Aims: Clinical trials are gold standard for research and evaluating the efficacy and safety of healthcare interventions. Teaching about clinical trials is part of the pharmacology curriculum for undergraduate medical students. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) of undergraduate medical students towards clinical trial. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical college of Ahmedabad, using standardised self-administered questionnaires having total 25 questions regarding KAP, prepared by the authors. The pre- and post-KAP questionnaires (after educational intervention) were offered to the participants after taking an informed consent. Analysis was done using SPSS software, version 26. P value <.05 was considered as significant. Results: We surveyed 212 medical students; there was an improvement in the overall scores of knowledge domain from 79.67 to 92.19%, about 31.44% improvement in the attitude toward clinical trial and 78.17-91.12% improvement in the perception. There was improvement in median score of 84.76% in having ‘sufficient’ knowledge, 91.18% in having ‘positive’ attitude and 91.63% of respondents having ‘favourable’ perception, regarding clinical trials. Conclusion: The results of this study depict the intervention has enhanced KAP regarding clinical trial among the medical students. The medical undergraduates are future innovators, clinicians and scientific explorers. It would be better if they are trained at earlier days of learning about clinical trials/research and medical ethics to ensure that future medical students receive better training in understanding and conducting clinical trials.

A Radio Technosignature Search of TRAPPIST-1 with the Allen Telescope Array

Planet–planet occultations (PPOs) occur when one exoplanet occults another exoplanet in the same system, as seen from the Earth’s vantage point. PPOs may provide a unique opportunity to observe radio “spillover” from extraterrestrial intelligences’ radio transmissions or radar being transmitted from the farther exoplanet toward the nearer one for the purposes of communication or scientific exploration. Planetary systems with many tightly packed, low-inclination planets, such as TRAPPIST-1, are predicted to have frequent PPOs. Here, the narrowband technosignature search code turboSETI was used in combination with the newly developed NbeamAnalysis filtering pipeline to analyze 28 hr of beamformed data taken with the Allen Telescope Array during 2022 late October and early November, from 0.9 to 9.3 GHz, targeting TRAPPIST-1. During this observing window, seven possible PPO events were predicted using the NbodyGradient code. The filtering pipeline reduced the original list of 25 million candidate signals down to 6 million by rejecting signals that were not sky-localized and, from these, identified a final list of 11,127 candidate signals above a power-law cutoff designed to segregate signals by their attenuation and morphological similarity between beams. All signals were plotted for visual inspection, 2264 of which were found to occur during PPO windows. We report no detections of signals of nonhuman origin, with upper limits calculated for each PPO event exceeding equivalent isotropic radiated powers of 2.17–13.3 TW for minimally drifting signals and 40.8–421 TW in the maximally drifting case. This work constitutes the longest single-target radio search for extraterrestrial intelligence of TRAPPIST-1 to date.

Reframing Powerlessness in the Addiction Recovery Process

Traditionally, addiction has been seen as a loss-of-control issue, marked by a subjective sense of powerlessness. However, a paradoxically positive perception of powerlessness exists, partly rooted in the 12-step program, though its scientific exploration and practical implications remain limited. This phenomenological study examined perceptions and experiences of powerlessness among individuals recovering from substance and behavioral addictions ( n = 31), family members ( n = 9), and therapists ( n = 9). The findings revealed a dialectical process leading to a reframing of powerlessness, with two main themes: (a) negative attributions of powerlessness and (b) the powerlessness reframing process. This study enriches the addiction recovery literature by emphasizing the importance of understanding and leveraging the positive aspects of powerlessness through a Positive Criminology lens. It addresses criticisms of narrow understandings and a lack of awareness of the foundational role of powerlessness in recovery and recommends tailored therapeutic interventions.

Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: Toward High Sensitivity and Broad Applicability.

As a nondestructive and ultrasensitive technique, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has captivated the attention of the global scientific community for over 50 years. Among the various spectroscopic techniques derived from SERS, shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) stands as a cutting-edge advancement. The innovative and versatile core-shell nanoparticle structures used in SHINERS have emerged as an ideal platform for interfacial research, offering high sensitivity and broad applicability across diverse materials and single-crystal surfaces. Consequently, SHINERS has seen widespread adoption in pivotal fields, such as interface chemistry, electrocatalysis, biomedicine, materials, and food safety. In this Perspective, we outline the evolutionary journey of SHINERS, delve deep into its applications in fundamental research for interface characterization and catalysis, and explore its practical utility in critical areas of food safety and biomedicine analysis. Additionally, we map out the prospective trajectory and future milestones that await SHINERS as it continues to revolutionize the landscape of scientific exploration.

Generative 3D Reconstruction of Martian Surfaces using Monocular Images

Abstract. High-resolution digital terrain models (DEM) are crucial for Mars scientific exploration and engineering demands, such as mission route planning, landing site selection, and topography research. However, DEMs generated based on photogrammetry or photometry suffer from limited stereo coverage and complex generative processes. Therefore, we propose a GAN-based monocular 3D reconstruction method, which utilizes high-resolution monocular orbital images to achieve pixel-level Martian terrain reconstruction. We preprocess the image data and then invert the elevation using the trained generative model. Finally, we recover the absolute scale through post-processing. In this work, we use HiRISE orthorectified images and DEMs with a resolution of 2 m and 0.25 m to validate the effectiveness of our method. We evaluated our method in four areas with different landforms and found that the predicted DEM and HiRISE DEM have height consistency with the root mean square error of about 2 m. This indicates that the proposed GAN-based method has certain effectiveness and generalization and great potential in high-resolution monocular Martian DEM reconstruction.

Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mediated dwarfing mutation provides a basis for CaCO3 accumulation by enhancing photosynthetic performance in Ceratostigma willmottianum Stapf.

Ceratostigma willmottianum Stapf is a unique chalk gland (salt-excreting) plant from China, with a salt gland structure that excretes white crystals of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which has potential biomineralization and carbon sequestration functions. Due to the narrow distribution of wild germplasm resources, there is a lack of diversity of new varieties to satisfy commercial development and scientific exploration. Therefore, we used ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis to obtain new dwarf mutant germplasm, and analysed it in terms of morphology, growth, photosynthesis, salt glands, and excretion traits. All four dwarfing mutant strains (DM1, DM2, DM3, and DM4) exhibited extreme dwarfing (62.28%, 62.28%, 74.55% and 61.68% reduction in plant height, respectively), faster growth, increased belowground root biomass, and earlier bud differentiation and flowering. Photosynthetic capacity was enhanced: chlorophyll content, maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), electron transfer rate (ETR), net photosynthesis (Pn), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration (Tr), were significantly higher in leaves of DM mutants. The density of salt glands per unit leaf area and average Ca2+ excretion rate of individual salt glands increased significantly (especially in DM2), and CaCO3 accumulation per unit leaf area was 28.57% higher than that of the wild type. Pearson correlation analysis showed that photosynthetic capacity was significantly and positively correlated with CaCO3 excretion. The above study not only provided enriched new germplasm of C. willmottianum, but also important research material for studying the mechanism of CaCO3 excretion by salt glands and carbon sequestration capacity of biomineralization.

Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Therapeutic Potential of Su‘ad Kūfī (Cyperus rotundus L.): An Insight

Background: Cyperus rotundus, an important medicinal plant belonging to the Cyperaceae family, is therapeutically used in many traditional systems of medicine, such as Unani medicine, Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy, Chinese medicine, etc. Aim: The prime goal of this review is to provide a scientific basis and classical references for clinical use and further scientific exploration of Cyperus rotundus. Materials and Methods: This systemic review was carried out after searching Unani classical and other ethnobotanical literature and published research work available on PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Research Gate, etc. Results: Cyperus rotundus L. is the accepted botanical name of Su'ad Kūfī, Nagarmotha, or Nutgrass as referred in Unani and other traditional medicines. It is grown in India, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Pacific Islands, South America, Africa, the Middle East, North America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Usually, the rhizome of this important medicinal plant is therapeutically used for various ailments, including indigestion, constipation, dysentery, neurogenic gastralgia, skin diseases, mental weakness, cardiac weakness, nervine weakness, palpitation, weakness of stomach, flatulence, retention of urine, amenorrhea, dribbling of urine, etc. It contains many important secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, sitosterol, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, essential oils, sugar, protein, amino acids, etc., which have been reported to possess antibacterial, anti-tumour, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, antilipidemic, antimalarial, anti-obesity, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective pharmacological activities. Conclusion: It is concluded that abundant bioactive compounds identified and separated from Cyperus rotundus possess potential medicinal values on different systems of the body.

A multiple biomolecules-based rapid life detection protocol embedded in a rover scientific subsystem for soil sample analysis

The study of whether life exists, is extinct, or not depends on various sophisticated experimental studies, as many different signatures of life can be used. The experimental procedures that can be performed to identify life can be further restricted by time, resources, and mobility constraints. Therefore, any research analyzing the presence of extraterrestrial life must be precise and unambiguous. This research focuses on the objective of the extraterrestrial life detection domain and seeks to provide an efficient protocol that can produce life detection decisions based on empirical data obtained through chemical analysis under time and resource-constrained conditions. While the majority of existing frameworks in this field are designed to identify biomolecules, our goal is to accomplish the same with minimal operational expense and mission complexity. We argue that the thoughtful integration of multiple biomolecular detections with lesser complexity and a robust framework can improve overall mission performance by satisfying the necessary time and resource constraints. In this study, a rapid multiple biomolecules-based life detection protocol (MBLDP-R) from soil samples is developed from scratch and embedded in an operational scientific rover subsystem targeted for planetary analysis missions. The study uses artificial biomolecule samples and simulated extraterrestrial environments to illustrate the suggested protocol’s end-to-end process. First, we list a few significant biomolecules, including lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, ammonia, and pigments. Then, a weighted qualitative test scoring is applied to sort out the best test method for the finally selected biomolecules which are used as operational analogue to showcase the protocol’s in-situ analysis and decision-making capabilities. Based on the suitable biomolecules, a scientific exploration subsystem is developed, and the implemented protocol is built to perform onboard sample analysis. Evaluation results show that: (1) the proposed MBLDP-R protocol could effectively predict the classes with an average f1-score of 98.65% (macro) and 90.00% (micro), (2) the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (AUC-ROC) curve shows the sample categories to be correctly predicted 92% of the time (97% for Extant, 88% for Extinct, and 92% in the case of NPL), and (3) the protocol is time-efficient with an average completion time of 17.60 min, demonstrating the protocol’s rapid nature in detecting biosignatures in soil samples. The research outcome yields useful additional data for related future studies, particularly in the design of scientific frameworks for mission-specific requirements with limited resources while also serving as a reference point for constraint evaluation methods for similar systems.

New Estimates of the Potential Schrödinger Equation

The Schrödinger equation, a fundamental construct in quantum mechanics, plays a pivotal role in understanding the properties and behaviors of quantum systems across various scientific fields, including but not limited to physics, economics, and geophysics. This research paper delves into the exploration of novel invariants associated with the Schrödinger equation, uncovering previously unrecognized symmetries and properties that open new pathways for theoretical and applied scientific exploration. The investigation reveals that the energy of bound states remains invariant under transformations of the coordinate system, highlighting a universal symmetry embedded within the equation. This discovery, coupled with an analysis of the variation in scattering amplitudes’ phase with different coordinate systems, not only enriches the theoretical framework of quantum mechanics but also has significant practical implications across various domains such as fluid dynamics, material science, and medical imaging. Furthermore, by applying the principles of the Poincaré-Riemann-Hilbert boundary-value problem, the study offers a novel approach to estimate potentials within the Schrödinger equation, advancing the three-dimensional inverse problem of quantum scattering theory. This methodological innovation allows for a more profound understanding of the unitary scattering operator, facilitating enhanced modeling of complex systems and phenomena. The implications of these findings extend beyond theoretical physics, offering transformative insights and applications in areas ranging from fluid dynamics, where it aids in refining models for the Navier-Stokes equations, to seismic exploration, tomography, and ultrasound imaging, where it enhances phase selection and interpretation of measurement results. In essence, this research not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the Schrödinger equation’s fundamental properties but also paves the way for interdisciplinary advancements, demonstrating the profound impact of theoretical discoveries on practical applications in diverse scientific and technological domains.

Conservation in action: Cost-effective UAVs and real-time detection of the globally threatened swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii)

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proven to be successful tools for ecological monitoring, providing excellent visual resolution and the ability to cover large areas with spatial accuracy. Artificial Intelligence has further improved the capabilities of UAVs vision through object detection. While deep learning has shown significant success in pattern recognition, it still faces challenges in real-world scenarios. In this study, we focused on enhancing the potential of UAVs for wildlife detection and monitoring, specifically focusing on the globally threatened swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii). To improve the accuracy of animal recognition with UAVs, we used single-stage detectors YOLO (You Only Look Once) V3, V5, V7, V8, Object detection V3 and DETR (DEtection TRansformer). We trained our model using 48,957 augmented images derived from a dataset of 8210 original true dataset. The result shows the superior performance of Object Detection 3.0 and YOLO V8, achieving a precision score of more than 92 % and a F1 score of more than 85 %, compared to DETR, YOLO V7, V5, and V3. Overall, our study provides an efficient, cost-effective, and accurate detection framework for ecological monitoring that can be non-invasively and least distractively used in various demographic studies of cervids in different regions and habitat types. We have also developed a UAV-based real-time object detection framework that seamlessly integrates with front-end technologies, enabling live detection results regardless of connectivity. This framework operates on a local server, synchronizing with consumer-grade UAVs at a rate of 32 frames per second (fps) with 320 pixel resolution using a frame sampling technique, notably without requiring a dedicated Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). This deliberate choice of not using GPU underscores the commitment to cost-effectiveness and aligns with the research's purpose, prioritizing accessibility and affordability for broader scientific exploration. A least distractive ecological sampling technique was optimized and a maximum of 77 deer were detected and counted in real time within Haiderpur wetland in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. This methodology can be replicated and fine-tuned to study other threatened species of conservation priority. This study exemplifies how combining UAVs with deep learning can facilitate species monitoring and population count estimation and be adopted by forest managers to support conservation decisions.

Cutaneous myiasis by Calliphoridae dipterans in dogs from Chad

Cutaneous myiasis caused by various Calliphoridae dipteran species is prevalent worldwide and is of particular veterinary and public health concern. Recently, in a scientific exploration of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program to Chad, Africa, we observed that dogs with mutilated ears, based on local awareness, were caused by cutaneous myiasis. In this study, we analyzed epidemiological, morphological, and molecular data on cutaneous myiasis in dogs from Chad. From September to October 2022, dogs (n = 1,562) from 56 villages situated along the Chari River were physically inspected for cutaneous myiasis. All larvae were collected and identified morphologically and by molecular analysis of the partial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene. The prevalence of myiasis infestation along with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) was determined using the modified Wilson method. Myiasis was detected in dogs from 21 villages (37.5 %; 95 % CI 26 – 50 %), predominating in the southernmost region. Of 1,562 dogs, 66 (4.22 %; 95 % CI 3.34 – 5.34 %) were infested by calliphorid larvae, with a mean infestation of 2.28 larvae per animal (range = 1 to 24). Specimens were morphologically identified as Cordylobia anthropophaga (n = 94), Chrysomya bezziana (n = 54), and Chrysomya sp. (n = 3), which were detected in 57, eight and one dog, respectively. No co-infestations were observed. The molecular analyses confirmed the morphological identification and revealed the presence of 17 haplotypes for C. anthropophaga, 2 for C. bezziana, and one for Chrysomya sp. Our study emphasizes the veterinary importance of myiasis in dogs in Africa and proposes measures to assure their health and well-being.

THE ANTHOCYANIN METAL INTERACTIONS: AN OVERVIEW

Anthocyanin is one of the phenolic compounds found in various parts of plants. Its study has become an area of scientific exploration due to reports gathered on its reactivity, bioactive properties, and usefulness in pharmaceutics, agriculture and food production. This study investigated recently characterized anthocyanins to identify variations based on plants, plant parts, the ligand characteristics of the isolated anthocyanin, and the need for quick reference for natural product chemists in the areas of isolation and synthesis. The in vivo and in vitro metal anthocyanin complexes (MAC) were investigated to expand isolated compounds, synthesis, characterization, and study probable kinetics involving new MAC and its applications. The data reviewed was obtained from research reports found on the Web from 2014 to 2023. Results of the reviewed studies indicate anthocyanins have been isolated and characterized from different plants and all plant parts: leaves, pulp, seeds, peels, stems, and roots. The anthocyanidins (aglycone) have been derivatized through hydroxylation, methylation, glycosylation, and acylation due to the presence of many reactive centers, producing over 800 forms of anthocyanins characterized to date. Chelation of anthocyanin in vitro has been studied with several metals and metalloids, using the outcome in some cases to monitor and re-produce compounds formed in vivo. Several applications of anthocyanins and MAC have been found and are still under investigation, anthocyanins and its derivatives are being screened for ethnobotanical roles and their random applications in other human endeavors.

Investigation on Wireless Energy Harvesting Techniques for Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT), by collecting, processing, and uploading information from its surroundings, makes the preliminary base for the construction of a smart city. To utilize IoTs fully, establishing wireless sensor networks (WSNs) as a subset technology of the system is pivotal. Among all energy sources, the radio frequency energy, with its extensive coverage, easy accessibility, and characteristic of being free of spatial limitations, is the optimal choice for energy harvesting [1]. This project aims to conduct a thorough investigation on a wideband wireless energy harvester with high efficiency and verify its application prospect in portable power sources. I have comprehensively studied and modeled the components of a wireless energy harvesting system. I further fabricated the wireless energy harvester based on the optimized circuit diagram. It successfully featured a high sensitivity of 2701 V/W at 1.05 GHz or a wide bandwidth ranging from 0.5 GHz to 2.5 GHz. Finally, I used the devised sensor in real-life scenarios and successfully powered a thermos hygrometer and a LED. I built a network of multiple energy harvesters with an in-situ monitoring system, analogous to the IoT. In this work, I have proposed a methodology to fabricate wireless energy harvesters with high sensitivity and wide bandwidth. This research will bridge the gap between the scientific exploration for novel devices and their application in real-life scenarios.

Exploration and innovative application of digital technology in pediatric dentistry

Pediatric dentistry treats patients aged 0-18 years, encompassing the characteristics of general dentistry. The clinical techniques are closely related to restorative dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery, while also possessing unique aspects. It particularly focuses on the growth and development patterns of children's dentition and maxillofacial structures. Currently, digital technology has deeply integrated with various clinical disciplines of dentistry, and pediatric dentistry has made significant progress with pediatric-specific digital applications. On one hand, the introduction of mature digital technologies is enabling the digital transformation of pediatric dental treatment models; on the other hand, there is innovative development of new digital technologies tailored to the specific needs of pediatric dental care, filling gaps in the field. Based on years of research in digital technology for pediatric dentistry, our team details the current innovative applications and scientific explorations in this area from these two perspectives. Additionally, we anticipate the potential expansion of digital technologies not yet applied in pediatric dentistry, providing a reference for clinical scholars in the field to conduct exploratory research.

China’s Endless Frontier

Chinese President Xi Jinping has advocated for scientific and technological self-reliance amid increasing global tensions over emerging technologies. So far though, reforms to China’s innovation ecosystem have fallen short of the goal of developing domestic versions of many of the technologies at the center of U.S.-China competition. The Ministry of Education’s new program called “organized scientific research” seeks to address this shortcoming. In so doing, the ministry aims to channel research resources toward strategically relevant sectors—especially in technologies susceptible to U.S. restrictions—while maintaining space for free scientific exploration.