Theoretical Assessment Research Articles

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant Activities and Molecular Docking Analysis of Rubus idaeus Leaf Extract

The study aimed to identify the most abundant compounds in raspberry leaf extract via HPLC analysis, conduct theoretical and practical assessments of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities both in silico, in vitro, and in vivo, and evaluate the correlation between antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Polyphenols were quantified using HPLC; molecular docking was carried out using AutoDockTools 1.5.6; antioxidant activity was ascertained via the potentiometric method; and anti-inflammatory activity was examined based on the carrageenan edema method. The extract was found to be rich in epicatechin (0.417%), (+)-catechin (0.501%), and ellagitannins (0.401%). The free energy of (+)-catechin and epicatechin was -8.40 and -7.20 respectively for the active sites of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and -6.60 and -7.11 for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase). Notably, the antioxidant activity of the raspberry leaf extract was 1.43%, 1.04%, and 10.62% higher than that of green tea leaf extract for doses of 4.00, 2.00, 0.20 mg/mL, respectively. Treatment with the raspberry leaf extract at a dose of 13.0 mg/kg resulted in a significant decrease in edema after 1, 2, and 3 hours by 38.8%, 41.8%, and 48.8%, respectively, compared to the control group. The study demonstrated a correspondence between experimental and theoretical results in evaluating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Correlation analysis further substantiated that the anti-inflammatory action is dependent on antioxidant activity.

Theoretical Assessment for Weather Nowcasting Using Deep Learning Methods

Theoretical Assessment for Weather Nowcasting Using Deep Learning Methods

Conceptual directions for the development of driverless agricultural mobile power units

BACKGROUND: Currently, major global developers and manufacturers in the field of mobile agricultural machinery are working on the development of agricultural robotic systems. Particular attention is paid to the development of universal driverless mobile power units (MPU) capable of performing various technological operations autonomously, without human intervention. In the future, this makes it possible to exclude the operator from the MPU control process and to reconsider approaches to the issue of increasing the efficiency of technological operations. The existing trend of productivity improvement by increasing the main parameters of the unit, such as operating width, operating velocities, load capacity, etc., may change to an alternative path consisting in the use of numerous autonomous small-sized units comparable in performance (a swarm of agricultural robots). Thus, the use of driverless control systems makes it possible to use conceptually new approaches to the development of agricultural MPUs. In this regard, it becomes relevant to conduct the study aimed at identifying promising conceptual directions for the development of driverless MPUs and evaluating the efficiency of their application. AIM: Identification of conceptual directions for the development of driverless driverless MPUs and a theoretical assessment of the efficiency of their application. METHODS: The study object was the MPU transformation in the context of the development of driverless control systems. The study was based on scientific publications on the development of robotic agricultural tools, informational data of manufacturers of agricultural tractors and control systems for agricultural machinery. In the course of the study, such methods as information analysis, synthesis, methods of performance analysis of agricultural units and analysis of present cost of performing technological operations, adapted for driverless MPUs by the VIM, were used. RESULTS: The prospects for the introduction of driverless MPUs, the existing digital and intelligent control systems of MPUs and the main factors hindering their development are analyzed. A classification of agricultural MPUs according to automation levels is proposed. The main directions of development are identified and conceptual models of driverless MPUs are proposed: universal driverless MPUs (driverless tractors) with keeping the existing traction class and power classification, universal (multifunctional) low-power driverless MPUs of the only traction class, separate power modules capable of being combined into a single driverless unit based on the coupled agricultural machine. The method is proposed and the equivalent number of driverless MPUs of each conceptual model for each traction class is calculated. An assessment of the impact of the use of the proposed conceptual models of driverless MPUs on the arable unit performance and the present cost of arable operations has been carried out. CONCLUSIONS: Conceptual models for the advancing of driverless MPUs have been developed and comparative calculations of the efficiency of their application as part of arable units, helping to assess the possible prospects for their use, have been made.

Pd@CoFe Alloys on N-Doped Carbon Derived from Charred Tissue Paper as Synergistic Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts

Integrating more active components into a catalyst material could facilitate the development of multifunctional electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage applications. In this study, we developed a multifunctional electrocatalyst, namely, Pd alloyed with Co-Fe deposited on N-doped mesoporous carbon derived from tissue paper (Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC). The synergism in Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC, stemming from the interatomic alloy between Pd and Co-Fe, N-doped mesoporous carbon with defective surfaces, distribution of polyhedral Pd nanoparticles, and strong metal-support interfacial interaction, resulted in significantly high electrocatalytic performance for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC was found to be an efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst, and this was evidenced by a high onset potential (1.01 V) and kinetic current density (2.6 mA/cm2) for the ORR and by a low overpotential (296 mV) and a low Tafel slope value (38 mV/dec) for the OER, along with a small ΔE of 736 mV. The catalyst also exhibited high durability for both ORR and OER, even after 10000 and 5000 cycles, respectively. Theoretical assessment provides an insight into the synergism of active metal sites in Pd@Co-Fe/N-TDC, which showed its potential for use as a non-Pt electrocatalyst for energy applications.

Analysis of human errors in human-autonomy collaboration in autonomous ships operations through shore control experimental data

Human-autonomy collaboration plays a pivotal role in the development of Maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), as Shore control center (SCC) operators may engage in the control loop by directly operating the MASS, or, in the supervisory loop, monitoring the MASS and taking over control when needed. Thus, effective human performance during takeover control and operation is crucial for the safety of MASS operations. However, since the MASS is still in the early phase of development, the mechanism of human errors is unknown, and the data on human-autonomy collaborative operation is scarce. Human reliability analysis (HRA) aims to assess human errors qualitatively and quantitatively, and is widely used in various complex systems to help safety analysis. This study is dedicated to incorporating advanced HRA methods elements to identify and quantify human errors during taking over control and operation of a MASS in collision avoidance scenarios. It presents virtual experimental results, combined with theoretical human error identification and assessment methods. At first, we apply the Human-System Interaction in Autonomy (H-SIA) method to identify potential human errors; secondly, we identify relevant Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) including Experience, Boredom, Task complexity, Available time and Pre-warning, and performance measures of the human errors, and implement them in the virtual experiment based on a full-scale autonomous ferry research vessel called milliAmpere2. Finally, we build a Bayesian Network (BN) to present causal and probabilistic relationships between PSFs and human errors through experimental data. The results show that available time has the highest impact on takeover performance of operators, followed by task complexity and pre-warning. Boredom does not present a significant sole impact unless combined with available time. Experience does not show a significant impact on human performance. In addition to the relevance of the human errors analysis to the safe development and operational design of MASS, the developed method benefits other human-autonomy collaborative systems. The developed BN model shows adaptability to assess human error probabilities, and the practical significance of integrating experimental data into the existing HRA methodologies for complex systems.

EMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN CHINA AND ABROAD: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Currently, the issue of "employment difficulty" among Chinese college students is quite prevalent. The academic community has previously conducted in-depth research on the employment concepts of college students. This paper examines studies conducted by Chinese and foreign scholars on the employment concepts of college students. The study is a preliminary exploration based on literature reviews, readings, surveys, and perspectives, utilizing library resources such as circulars, books, journals, and websites. The results of the preliminary survey indicate that basic theoretical research and assessment methods in China and abroad are relatively mature, yielding rich outcomes. However, there are still significant issues to be addressed. Through systematic review, this article identifies the following urgent research issues. Firstly, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, presenting new requirements for college students. The new connotation of college students' employment views under these circumstances is still unknown. Secondly, the research object of scholars is more concentrated on the graduates, and few people pay attention to the employment view of current college students. Finally, scholars rarely focus on a specific discipline when studying the employment views of college students.

Exploring nonlinear and linear optical properties of N, N’-bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine (salophen) through Z-scan technique and TD-DFT computational analysis

This investigation delves into the comprehensive analysis of the linear and nonlinear optical characteristics exhibited by N, N’-bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine (salophen) using a combination of Z-scan methodology and quantum chemistry calculations. The Z-scan technique facilitated meticulous computations of the third-order susceptibility, nonlinear absorption coefficient, and nonlinear refractive index of the specimen. Specifically, in the solvent DMSO, the assessed values for the nonlinear refractive index, nonlinear absorption coefficient, and third-order susceptibility were determined to be 0.035 × 10–10 cm2 W −1 , −0.024 × 10–5 cm W −1 , and 0.596 × 10–5 esu, respectively. Furthermore, quantum mechanical analyses were employed to meticulously calculate the molecular hyperpolarizabilities (β and γ), dipole moment (μ), and dipole polarizability (α) of salophen. This thorough exploration highlighted a notable congruence between the outcomes derived from experimental observations and those obtained through quantum mechanical simulations. The collective findings from both theoretical computations and experimental assessments distinctly showcase the robust nonlinear potential inherent in salophen. These insights suggest its promising suitability and potential as a viable candidate for applications in optical devices. The alignment between theoretical predictions and experimental results underlines the reliability and potential practicality of salophen in the realm of optical technology, emphasizing its significance as a potential material for advancing optical device functionalities.

Telesimulation Training for Endoscopic Mitral Valve Surgery: An Air-Pilot Training Concept for Distance Training.

The aim of this study was to validate and assess the feasibility and impact of telesimulation training on surgical skills using a portable mitral valve telesimulator. A telesimulation course composed of 3 online modules was designed based on backwards chaining, preassessment and postassessment, performance feedback, hands-on training on a telesimulator, and the theoretical content. A fully 3-dimensional-printed and transportable telesimulator was developed and sent out to the participants with instruments that were needed. Feedback about the platform was obtained from participants to validate its value as a training tool. Theoretical and technical assessments were carried out before and after the course. Technical assessments were based on the accuracy and time taken to place sutures at the anterior and posterior mitral annulus. In total, 11 practicing cardiac surgeons from Oceania, Asia, Europe, and North America completed the course. Theoretical preassessment and postassessment showed that participants scored significantly higher on postassessment (mean 87.5% vs 68.1%, P < 0.004). The participant evaluation scores of the simulator as a tool for endoscopic mitral valve surgery was 4 to 5 out of 5. There was a significant improvement in the speed (median 14.5 vs 39.5 s, P < 0.005) and the accuracy to place sutures in the mitral valve annulus following course completion (P < 0.001). Here we validated the educational value of a novel telesimulation platform and validated the feasibility to teach participants at a distance the knowledge and skills for endoscopic mitral valve surgery. Future studies will be required to validate the improvement in skills during surgery.

Unveiling the Shadows - Corporate Greenwashing and its Multifaceted Impacts on Environment, Society, and Governance - A Macro Economic Theoretical Assessment

This article delves into the intricate relationship between ethical business practices, sustainable development, and the pervasive issue of corporate greenwashing. As organizations increasingly strive to align themselves with environmentally friendly and socially responsible initiatives, the phenomenon of greenwashing has emerged as a significant challenge. This article explores the profound impacts of greenwashing on the environment, society, and governance, shedding light on the implications for sustainable development. Through a comprehensive analysis, the article aims to raise awareness, encourage transparency, and promote genuine commitment to ethical business practices.Corporate greenwashing is a dishonest strategy by businesses to project environmental responsibility, causing damage, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and climate change. To prevent, businesses, governments, NGOs, and consumers must work together.&#x0D; This paper presents a study on corporate greenwashing, utilizing secondary sources and a cross-disciplinary approach. It provides recommendations for data collection, ethical guidelines, and presentation, ensuring effective results and conclusions. Despite the aforementioned, the main aim of this research article is to do a macroeconomic theoretical analysis of Unveiling the Shadows - Corporate Greenwashing and Its Multifaceted Impacts on Environment, Society, and Governance. The current situation is important to society and the economy.

How to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses ? A Theoretical Assessment of a Support Policy versus a Regulation Policy.

L’article analyse deux politiques publiques mises en œuvre pour réduire les pertes alimentaires post-récolte : une politique basée sur une norme logistique minimale (MLS) imposée aux producteurs et une politique basée sur le subventionnement de la logistique des producteurs. Nous proposons un modèle de différenciation spatiale où les producteurs de produits périssables sont géographiquement situés et plus ou moins éloignés d’un marché de gros. Nous évaluons différents effets de ces politiques : effets directs (sur les pertes alimentaires) et effets « collatéraux » (sur les prix et sur l’exclusion des producteurs). Par rapport à la situation sans intervention publique, l’imposition d’un MLS améliore uniquement l’infrastructure des producteurs les plus proches du marché, tandis qu’une subvention publique est plus efficace pour améliorer l’infrastructure des producteurs les plus éloignés du marché. Nous montrons que les autorités publiques peuvent être confrontées à un dilemme : i) choisir un MLS plus efficace pour réduire le risque de perte alimentaire mais avec des effets plus négatifs sur l’inclusion des producteurs et sur le bien-être social ; ii) choisir une politique de subvention moins efficace pour réduire les pertes alimentaires mais (si le niveau n’est pas trop élevé) avec des externalités plus positives sur les autres critères. Classification JEL : L11, R39, C61, D21

A wall-time minimizing parallelization strategy for approximate Bayesian computation.

Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is a widely applicable and popular approach to estimating unknown parameters of mechanistic models. As ABC analyses are computationally expensive, parallelization on high-performance infrastructure is often necessary. However, the existing parallelization strategies leave computing resources unused at times and thus do not optimally leverage them yet. We present look-ahead scheduling, a wall-time minimizing parallelization strategy for ABC Sequential Monte Carlo algorithms, which avoids idle times of computing units by preemptive sampling of subsequent generations. This allows to utilize all available resources. The strategy can be integrated with e.g. adaptive distance function and summary statistic selection schemes, which is essential in practice. Our key contribution is the theoretical assessment of the strategy of preemptive sampling and the proof of unbiasedness. Complementary, we provide an implementation and evaluate the strategy on different problems and numbers of parallel cores, showing speed-ups of typically 10-20% and up to 50% compared to the best established approach, with some variability. Thus, the proposed strategy allows to improve the cost and run-time efficiency of ABC methods on high-performance infrastructure.

Plant Adaptation and Phosphorus Limitation in Tropical Forests: A Theoretical and Empirical Assessment

Ecosystem dynamics are shaped by plant adaptation to environmental stress, yet the conditions under which this occurs remain poorly understood. We developed a theoretical framework to predict how strategies used by tropical trees to cope with low-phosphorus (P) availability (that is, traits related to P uptake, and use) influence growth under P limitation. We then tested this framework against data on tree species in Borneo and a meta-analysis of results from pantropical nutrient addition experiments. Our theoretical framework predicts that plant traits associated with low-P environments, including enhanced P allocation to leaves, efficient P resorption, and root phosphatase activity, alleviate the negative effects of P scarcity more strongly for “inefficiently” growing plants, represented by large trees and old-growth forests, compared with saplings or secondary forests. In agreement with this prediction, changes in traits related to low-P environments increased the potential relative growth rate of large trees more than small trees in Borneo. Finally, theoretical expectation was supported by a meta-analysis which revealed stronger P limitation in saplings and secondary forests than in old-growth forests. Together, these findings provide a novel framework to interpret the relationship between resource constraints and plant performance and reinforce the importance of accounting for plant adaption to predict ecosystem responses to P limitation in tropical forests.

Implementing A resistance-relief approach into evaluating urban disaster management capacity: A case study of Xuzhou

In the field of disaster management, urban planning is a crucial tool for reducing the vulnerability of areas prone to natural disasters. Assessing the disaster management efficacy of urban planning is essential. However, the theoretical evaluation frameworks and precise assessment methods currently available are quite limited. Therefore, this study developed a new Resistance-Relief (2Rs) approach to evaluate disaster management capabilities in different regions. Based on the “2Rs” evaluation framework, an indicator system was developed to assess disaster management capabilities at the level of urban planning and construction. On this basis, a directed weighted graph model was established to comprehensively evaluate a city's disaster resistance and disaster relief capabilities, addressing the accuracy and comprehensiveness issues commonly found in single-dimensional evaluations. Furthermore, an indicator sensitivity analysis method based on the cloud model was proposed to analyze the sensitivity of evaluation indicators and the robustness of evaluation results. Using actual urban planning and construction data, this method was applied to assess seven disaster management zones in Xuzhou City, China. The results revealed inadequacies in the city's disaster preparedness and mitigation construction, as well as key factors affecting Xuzhou's disaster management capabilities. This new method contributes to further improvements in both disaster risk management and urban disaster prevention and mitigation planning.

Combining lecture-based and team-based learning to improve clinical immunology practice effects in the laboratory department of a teaching hospital in China

Objectives: In order to cope with the severe situation of the current COVID-19 epidemic and to provide better quality medical staffs for the Chinese medical system, as well as to promote the continuous development of clinical laboratory medicine towards standardization, normalization and technical automation. The application value of the lecture-based learning (LBL) and team-based learning (TBL) dual-track mode for internship in the clinical immunology subgroup of the laboratory department was evaluated in conjunction with the current undergraduate education mode of clinical laboratory technology in China, to provide a more efficient method for enhancing the comprehensive ability of interns in the laboratory department. Methods: A total of 61 laboratory interns from the grade 2017 of Southwest Medical University in China were collected and randomly divided into two groups: A and B. The group A adopted the traditional LBL teaching mode, and group B used the LBL-TBL dual-track teaching mode. The students' comprehensive abilities such as theoretical knowledge and experimental skills under the teaching models were compared. And finally the teaching effect was evaluated by theoretical assessment and questionnaire. Results: The satisfaction rate of group B was remarkably higher than that of group A in terms of analyzing skills, problems-solving ability and clinical operation (P &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups involving in theoretical achievement levels (P &gt; 0.05), but group B had a greater satisfaction rate than group A for enhancing theoretical knowledge acquisition. Conclusions: The LBL-TBL dual-track teaching mode plays a positive role for the internship in the laboratory department, which helps to improve the independent learning capability, analyzing skills and problems-solving ability. The LBL-TBL dual-track teaching method is worth further promotion in clinical immunology practice of the laboratory department.

Perspectives of teachers on the integration of didactic resources within the teaching of English as a foreign language

The study addresses the influence of teaching resources on the interest of students in learning the English language in Educational Units of Pujilí, proposing a review of traditional methods and the incorporation of digital resources, the objective was to analyze the perspective of teachers of secondary towards didactic resources in the teaching of English, breaking down into the theoretical foundation, evaluation and assessment of said resources. A mixed research design was used, applying surveys to secondary school teachers in Pujilí. The target population was selected by convenience. A validated instrument with established grading criteria was used, obtaining the following results: teachers showed a generalized preference for modern teaching resources, although a minority evaluated both traditional and modern resources in a more moderate way. The age and gender distribution of teachers was also analyzed, showing diversity in perspectives and the conclusion was reached that the positive assessment of modern teaching resources reflects an adaptation to current pedagogical trends. However, the importance of continuing to explore and debate the complementarity of traditional and modern approaches is highlighted.

Optimization of television hyperspectral system

Optimization of a television hyperspectral system requires compromises related to the need to obtain high contrast sensitivity and sufficient resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, as well as the required degree of information compression in the generated data hypercube. In this regard, it is necessary to assess the acceptable loss of quality when merging a highly detailed panchromatic and hyperspectral image with enlarged pixels and the resulting degree of compression of the data hypercube. This study is an experimental study of the dependence of the cross-correlation coefficient on the factor of increase in the size of the decomposition element. The research process requires a theoretical assessment of reducing the information capacity of the data hypercube by merging highly detailed panchromatic and hyperspectral images with enlarged pixels. The results of computer modeling of the process of increasing the contrast sensitivity of the hyperspectral system with simultaneous corresponding compression of information in the data hypercube by increasing the size of the decomposition element and using the procedure for merging pairs of images have been obtained. An additional possibility of compressing the data hypercube through differential processing of spectral images and reducing the most significant bits that do not carry useful information when recording differential images into the data hypercube has been considered. By increasing the size of the decomposition element and using procedures for merging pairs of images, the authors have attempted computer simulation of the process of increasing the contrast sensitivity of the hyperspectral system with simultaneous corresponding compression of information in the data hypercube. During the experiment, an additional possibility was considered for compressing the data hypercube through differential processing of spectral images and reducing the most significant bits that do not carry useful information when recording differential images into the data hypercube. Based on the results of this theoretical and applied research, the authors give recommendations for varying the size of the accumulation zone based on finding a compromise between system quality indicators including contrast sensitivity, resolution, signal-to-noise ratio. They can be used in the development of television hyperspectral systems adapted to the visualized plot.

Fracture behavior and mechanism of highly fragmented steel cylindrical shell under explosive loading

An in-depth understanding of the fracture behavior and mechanism of metallic shells under internal explosive loading can help develop material designs for warheads and regulate the quantity and mass distribution of the fragments formed. This study investigated the fragmentation performance of a new high-carbon silicon-manganese (HCSiMn) steel cylindrical shell through fragment recovery experiments. Compared with the conventional 45Cr steel shell, the number of small mass fragments produced by the HCSiMn steel shell was significantly increased with a scale parameter of 0.57 g fitted by the Weibull distribution model. The fragmentation process of the HCSiMn shell exhibited more brittle tensile fracture characteristics, with the microcrack damage zone on the outer surface being the direct cause of its high fragmentation. On the one hand, the doping of alloy elements resulted in grain refinement by forming metallographic structure of tempered sorbite, so that microscopic intergranular fracture reduces the characteristic mass of the fragments; on the other hand, the distribution of alloy carbides can exert a "pinning" effect on the substrate grains, causing more initial cracks to form and propagate along the brittle carbides, further improving the shell fragmentation. Although the killing power radius for light armored vehicles was slightly reduced by about 6%, the dense killing radius of HCSiMn steel projectile against personnel can be significantly increased by about 26% based on theoretical assessment. These results provided an experimental basis for high fragmentation warhead design, and to some extent, revealed the correlation mechanism between metallographic structure and shell fragmentation.

Theoretical and experimental assessment of the benefits and limitations of moving from 1.5 T to 3 T MRI

Theoretical and experimental assessment of the benefits and limitations of moving from 1.5 T to 3 T MRI

Relational Arts-Based Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul of Child and Youth Care Students

This article has been written as a bridge for instructors who want to move away from conventional teaching methods but are unsure of how to do so. It profiles a relational ontological approach to teaching and learning and an arts-based theoretical framework learning assessment that child and youth care (CYC) complete for an advanced undergraduate third year CYC practice methods course. The advance methods practice course has as its focus the integration of theory, self, and ethical practice. It argues that creative experiential arts-based methods tap directly into the human experience by inviting students to attend to alternative ways of knowing and sense-making, thereby facilitating richer and deeper learning experiences by bringing to consciousness the spiritual, emotional, and mythological aspects of the self, which offers students new landscapes of reflection on themselves, their studies, and their views of the world.

A theoretical assessment of nanopore protein fingerprinting

A theoretical assessment of nanopore protein fingerprinting