Search Results (65)

Nanotechnologies bring a rapid paradigm shift in hard and soft bone tissue regeneration (BTR) through unprecedented control over the nanoscale structures and chemistry of biocompatible materials to regenerate the intricate architecture and functional adaptability of bone. This review focuses on the transformative analyses and prospects of current and next-generation nanomaterials in designing bioactive bone scaffolds, emphasizing hierarchical architecture, mechanical resilience, and regenerative precision. Mainly, this review elucidated the innovative findings, new capabilities, unmet challenges, and possible future opportunities associated with biocompatible inorganic ceramics (e.g., phosphates, metallic oxides) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved synthetic polymers, including their nanoscale structures. Furthermore, this review demonstrates the newly available approaches for achieving customized standard porosity, mechanical strengths, and accelerated bioactivity to construct an optimized nanomaterial-oriented scaffold. Numerous strategies including three-dimensional bioprinting, electro-spinning techniques and meticulous nanomaterials (NMs) fabrication are well established to achieve radical scientific precision in BTR engineering. The contemporary research is unceasingly decoding the pathways for spatial and temporal release of osteoinductive agents to enhance targeted therapy and prompt healing processes. Additionally, successful material design and integration of an osteoinductive and osteoconductive agents with the blend of contemporary technologies will bring radical success in this field. Furthermore, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) can further decode the current complexities of material design for BTR, notwithstanding the fact that these methods call for an in-depth understanding of bone composition, relationships and impacts on biochemical processes, distribution of stem cells on the matrix, and functionalization strategies of NMs for better scaffold development. Overall, this review integrated important technological progress with ethical considerations, aiming for a future where nanotechnology-facilitated bone regeneration is boosted by enhanced functionality, safety, inclusivity, and long-term environmental responsibility. Therefore, the assimilation of a specialized research design, while upholding ethical standards, will elucidate the challenge and questions we are presently encountering. Full article

The production of thermal energy in buildings using internal greenhouses makes it possible to obtain substantial gains in energy consumption and, at the same time, contribute to improving occupants’ thermal comfort (TC) levels. This article proposes a study on the producing and transporting of renewable thermal energy in a circular auditorium equipped with an enveloping semi-circular greenhouse. The numerical study is based on software that simulates the building geometry and the building thermal response (BTR) numerical model and assesses the TC level and indoor air quality (IAQ) provided to occupants in spaces ventilated by the proposed system. The building considered in this study is a circular auditorium constructed from three semi-circular auditoriums supplied with internal semi-circular greenhouses. Each of the semi-circular auditoriums faces south, northeast, and northwest, respectively. The semi-circular auditoriums are occupied by 80 people each: the one facing south throughout the day, while the one facing northeast is only occupied in the morning, and the one facing northwest is only occupied in the afternoon. The south-facing semi-circular greenhouse is used by itself to heat all three semi-circular auditoriums. The other two semi-circular greenhouses are only used to heat the interior space of the greenhouse. It was considered that the building is located in a Mediterranean-type climate and subject to the typical characteristics of clear winter days. The results allow us to verify that the proposed heating system, in which the heat provided to the occupied spaces is generated only in the semi-circular greenhouse facing south, can guarantee acceptable TC conditions for the occupants throughout the occupancy cycle. Full article

Background: Breakthrough infections (BTIs) continue to occur among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite full COVID-19 vaccination, raising concerns about ongoing vulnerability in this high-risk group. In addition to initial BTIs, breakthrough reinfections (BTRs) have emerged as a challenge, with some HCWs experiencing multiple episodes of infection after vaccination. This study investigated the factors influencing breakthrough infection and reinfection rates among HCWs between January 2021 and December 2022 in Davao City, Philippines. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using secondary data from the Davao City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, approved by the Department of Health. This study included 1011 fully vaccinated HCWs from various congressional districts. Results: BTI was observed in all HCWs included in the study. However, BTRs varied across occupational groups: medical technologists showed the highest reinfection rate (22.37%), followed by physicians (13.48%), and nurses/nurse aides (10.14%). Booster vaccination significantly reduced BTRs (5.83% vs. 11.18%, p = 0.0267). Occupation and institutional type were significant factors, with higher rates reported by physicians and in public hospitals (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0041, respectively). The vaccine manufacturer, sex, age, and booster type showed no significant differences. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions for high-risk HCWs and emphasize the effectiveness of the booster vaccination. Full article

With the rapid advancement of digitalization and intelligence in power systems, SF₆ high-voltage circuit breakers, as the core switching devices in power grid protection systems, have become critical components in high-voltage networks of 110 kV and above due to their superior insulation performance and exceptional arc-quenching capability. Their operational status directly impacts the reliability of power system protection. Therefore, real-time condition monitoring and accurate assessment of SF₆ circuit breakers along with science-based maintenance strategies derived from evaluation results hold significant engineering value for ensuring secure and stable grid operation and preventing major failures. In recent years, the frequency of extreme weather events has been increasing, necessitating a comprehensive consideration of both internal and external factors in the operational status prediction of SF₆ high-voltage circuit breakers. To address this, we propose an operational status assessment model for SF₆ high-voltage circuit breakers based on an Integrated Attribute-Weighted Risk Model Based on the Branch–Trunk Rule (IAR-BTR), which integrates internal and environmental influences. Firstly, to tackle the issues of incomplete data and feature imbalance caused by irrelevant attributes, this study employs missing value elimination (Drop method) on the fault record database. The selected dataset is then normalized according to the input feature matrix. Secondly, conventional risk factors are extracted using traditional association rule mining techniques. To improve the accuracy of these rules, the filtering thresholds and association metrics are refined based on seasonal distribution and the importance of time periods. This allows for the identification of spatiotemporally non-stationary factors that are strongly correlated with circuit breaker failures in low-probability seasonal conditions. Finally, a quantitative weighting method is developed for analyzing branch-trunk rules to accurately assess the impact of various factors on the overall stability of the circuit breaker. The DFP-Growth algorithm is applied to enhance the computational efficiency of the model. The case study results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves exceptional accuracy (95.78%) and precision (97.22%) and significantly improves the predictive performance of SF₆ high-voltage circuit breaker operational condition assessments. Full article

Plant-derived materials from Salvia officinalis L. (sage) have demonstrated significant antimicrobial potential when applied during fresh cheese production. In this study, the mechanism of action of sage components against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus was investigated through the development of predictive models that describe the influence of key parameters on antimicrobial efficacy. Molecular modeling techniques were employed to identify the major constituents responsible for the observed inhibitory activity. Epirosmanol, carvacrol, limonene, and thymol were identified as the primary compounds contributing to the antimicrobial effects during cheese production. The highest weighted predicted binding energy was observed for thymol against the KdpD histidine kinase from Staphylococcus aureus, with a value of −33.93 kcal/mol. To predict the binding affinity per unit mass of these sage-derived compounds against the target pathogens, machine learning models—including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Boosted Trees Regression (BTR)—were developed and evaluated. Among these, the ANN model demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy and robustness, showing minimal bias and a strong coefficient of determination (R² = 0.934). These findings underscore the value of integrating molecular modeling and machine learning approaches for the identification of bioactive compounds in functional food systems. Full article

In the field of Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation, due to the complexity of ocean noise and the limitations of using array apertures, the bearing time record (BTR) obtained by CBF typically exhibits low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and wide mainlobe width. To address this issue, we propose an adaptive 2D convolution kernel construction method that utilizes an improved k-means clustering algorithm to extract adaptive mainlobe visual patterns from historical BTR data as convolution kernels. Experimental results show that our method can effectively reduce noise levels within multiple target environments. Full article

This study was carried out at 10 randomly selected fringe villages of Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in the Terai region of West Bengal, India through personal interviews with 100 randomly selected respondents. The study documented 102 non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that were utilized throughout the year. In the local weekly market, 28 NTFPs were found to be traded by the collectors. The study shows that without proper price mechanisms and marketing channels; the residents cannot obtain fair prices for their products. The study found only nine NTFPs that were prominently traded with the involvement of middlemen and traders along with the royalty imposed by the State Forest Department. The MSPs computed for these nine NTFPs were 25–200% higher than the prices the collectors were selling to the traders. The nationalization of NTFPs through MSPs will help their effective marketing, ensuring an adequate income for the collectors, which will lead to their sustainable harvest and conservation through participatory forest management. Introducing MSPs for NTFPs with an efficient procurement network can advance the economic status of the inhabitants. We recommend increasing the inhabitants’ capacity to collect, store, process, and market NTFPs with active policy, institutional, and infrastructural support. Full article

Trail running has seen a surge in participants, including individuals with disabilities, particularly in ultratrail running (UTRs). Sleep–wake patterns are crucial for optimal performances in UTRs, which present unique physiological and behavioral challenges. This case study evaluated the sleep–wake cycle of a blind trail ultramarathoner (BTR) and his guide (GTR) before, during, and after an 80 km UTR. Two male participants (BTR: 54 years, BMI: 26.1 kg/m²; GTR: 48 years, BMI: 24.2 kg/m²) were assessed using validated questionnaires (MEQ, ESS, ISI, and PSQI) and actigraphy over 35 days. The BTR exhibited a morning chronotype (MEQ = 63), mild insomnia (ISI = 11), poor sleep quality (PSQI = 5), and prolonged sleep latency (>60 min), while the GTR showed an indifferent chronotype (MEQ = 52), good sleep quality (PSQI = 3), and shorter latency (10 min). Post-competition, both athletes experienced an increased total sleep time (TST): the BTR by 17.8% (05:32:00 vs. 04:25:00) and the GTR by 5.5% (07:01:00 vs. 06:39:00). The BTR demonstrated a greater Wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO 01:00:00 vs. 00:49:00) and awakenings (15.4 vs. 6.1). A time series analysis revealed greater variability in the BTR’s post-competition sleep efficiency and TST, while the GTR exhibited a greater stability of the circadian phase. These findings highlight the intricate sleep challenges faced by blind athletes, informing strategies to optimize recovery and performance. Full article

The purpose of change detection is to recognize changed areas from a pair of two remote sensing images. However, since change areas often include multiple terrain features, this demands enhanced feature extraction capability from the model. This paper proposes a frozen-parameter Transformer self-attention change detection network (ZAQNet). The network integrates four innovative modules: a GIAU (Generalized Image Attention Unit) which can effectively fuse the features of two remote sensing images and accurately focus on changing areas; a GSAU (Global Spatial Attention Unit) which performs self attention processing in the image spatial dimension to enhance the model’s ability to capture global change information; a GSCU (Global Semantic Context Unit) which performs self-attention operations in the channel dimension to enhance the model’s attention to feature maps containing changing information; and a PRU (Patch Refinement Unit) which extracts and refines spatial position information from the underlying feature map, optimizing the restoration effect of the feature map. The experiments on the BTRS-CD and LEVIR-CD datasets show that ZAQNet performs excellently in change detection tasks. Among them, the change detection index F1 and IOU are better than the comparison model. These results fully demonstrate the superiority, robustness, and generalization ability of ZAQNet in change detection tasks and provide an efficient and reliable solution for remote sensing image analysis. Full article

There is growing recognition that build-to-rent (BTR), a novel institutional asset class, could improve rental affordability and housing choice in Australia. Despite favourable market conditions and increasing demand, Australia’s BTR sector remains underdeveloped compared to the US and UK. Although the asset class has attracted significant foreign institutional capital, there is little interest from domestic institutional funds. This contrasting investment behaviour between foreign and domestic funds has brought a new dimension to the debates on BTR in Australia. The study uses qualitative research design to examine institutional investor behaviour towards BTR in Australia. Interviews were conducted with experienced BTR investors across three countries—Australia, the US, and the UK—to understand the barriers and investment behaviour towards BTR. The study finds that the key barriers hindering BTR growth in Australia include unfavourable tax treatment, complex planning processes, and insufficient affordable housing incentives. Institutional investors’ decisions are influenced by firm characteristics, operational capabilities, and risk attitudes. Due to risk considerations, Australian superfunds prefer stabilised assets over new developments. Also, sustainability and ESG factors are increasingly important considerations in BTR investment decisions. The research highlights the need for a supportive regulatory environment, efficient property management, and innovative financing solutions to boost BTR investments. To accelerate BTR growth in Australia, policymakers should address tax disparities, streamline planning processes, and enhance affordable housing incentives. Developing BTR-responsive financial instruments could reduce financing costs and attract more institutional capital to the sector. Full article

Graphite made from coal will not only widen the graphite mineral resource, but also significantly improve the value of coal utilization. In this study, anthracite coal was heated in the temperature range of 500 to 2900 °C to study the size increase of nanometric graphite crystallites from anthracite to real graphite. The carbon content rapidly increases to 99.2% when heated from room temperature to 1600 °C, and then gradually increases to 100% when the treated temperature increases to 2900 °C. The FTIR results show that methyl, methylene, and aromatic hydrocarbon, preexisting in the raw anthracite, were preserved in the JZS-500 sample, but that when the treated temperature ≥ 1000 °C, these C-H bonds almost disappear. The basic structural units (nano graphitic carbon) grow into distorted columns, and the basic structural units and micro-columns re-oriented and coalesced to form local molecular oriented domains with the temperature increase from anthracite to JZS-1500. When the temperature ≥ 1600 °C, amorphous carbon, onion-like carbon, turbostratic layers, and graphitic carbon co-occur within the graphitized coals. At the sub-micron scale, carbonization is a homogenous process, whereas graphitization is a heterogenous process. The average graphite crystalline size (L_a, lateral extension; L_c, stacking height) rapidly increases as the treatment temperature increases from 1600 to 2300 °C. Three coal structural transformation stages were classified according to the nanometric carbon structural evolution with temperature. This study will contribute to the efficient and value-added utilization of coal to make graphite materials. Full article

Butirosins are naturally occurring aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotics featuring a 4,5-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine (2-DOS) with a (2S)-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyrate (AHBA) side chain. This side chain has been shown to confer resistance against AG-modifying enzymes, leading to ongoing studies on the butirosin biosynthetic pathway and the corresponding enzymes. Butirosin is produced by Niallia (formerly Bacillus) circulans and Bacillus vitellinus, with most research focused on the first strain. To date, no whole-genome analysis has been performed on B. vitellinus. In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of B. vitellinus NBRC 13296 and performed a comparative analysis of different butirosin biosyntheric gene clusters (BGCs), including those from N. circulans. The complete genome of B. vitellinus NBRC 13296 comprises a 6,331,192-base circular chromosome with GC content of 52.68%. The annotation revealed the presence of 5605 CDSs, 70 tRNA genes, 30 rRNA genes, and 3 ncRNA genes in NBRC 13296. The highest dDDH and ANI values between NBRC 13296 and the most closely related type strain, Paenibacillus chitinolyticus KCCM 41,400, were 97.8% and 98.66%, respectively. Based on these genome-based comparative analyses, we propose reclassifying B. vitellinus NBRC 13296 as P. chitinolyticus. Genome mining revealed 18 gene clusters encoding the biosynthesis of diverse secondary metabolites in the genome of B. vitellinus NBRC 13296, indicating the enormous biosynthetic potential of this strain. The predicted structural diversity of the secondary metabolites includes aminoglycosides, PKS, NRPS, PKS–NRPS hybrids, metallophores, phosphonates, terpenes, β-lactones, and RiPP peptides. We then comparatively characterized the butirosin BGCs previously studied in several N. circulans strains. Additionally, the comparative genome analysis revealed complete butirosin BGCs identified from P. chitinolyticus KCCM 41,400, P. chitinolyticus NRRL B-23119, P. chitinolyticus NRRL B-23120, P. chitinolyticus B-14908, P. chitinolyticus YSY-3.1, P. chitinolyticus JMW06, Paenibacillus sp. GbtcB18, Paenibacillus sp. HGH0039, and Paenibacillus sp. MZ04-78.2. Finally, we identified the core region consisting of BtrS, BtrN, BtrM, BtrL, BtrA, BtrB, BtrC, BtrD, BtrD, BtrE, BtrF, BtrG, BtrH, BtrI, BtrI, BtrJ, BtrK, BtrO, BtrP, and BtrV, followed by an upstream region organizing BtrQ, BtrW, BtrX, BtrY, and BtrZ in the same transcriptional direction and sequential genetic arrangement, and a downstream region organizing various proteins based on BtrT, BtrR2, BtrU, and BtrR1. Our study provides insights into the reclassification of B. vitellinus NBRC 13296 to P. chitinolyticus and suggests the need for continued studies on butirosin biosynthesis from an enzymatic perspective. Full article

Traditionally, rental housing has been supplied by a large pool of individual investors who own a few units and invest their savings, with some leverage, to take advantage of the tax regime in Australia. The last five years have seen the emergence of build-to-rent (BTR) units, which are supplied by investors who own a large number of units. The state of Victoria in Australia has the largest share of these projects. In the current market and regulatory environment, the financial viability of BTR projects is low for investors and hinges on the ability of units to be leased at higher than market rents. This paper examines four groups of levers, including those already being pursued by the building industry, that can be used to improve the financial viability of BTRs. These include: (i) revenue maximization, (ii) cost reduction (iii) fiscal and (iv) planning incentives. An archetypical BTR project which mimics current practice is considered, assumed to be in Docklands, Victoria, where several BTR projects are planned. For the robustness check, a feasibility analysis is conducted for a site in North Melbourne, a neighbourhood in Victoria with several BTR projects. The results indicate that for revenue maximization, the mix of unit types in a BTR project should be location-specific, as market preferences (and the characteristics of renters) determine the rent for different types of units that can be achieved. In a conventional BTR project development, where land is bought upfront and the project is developed, the mixed-use BTR (residential in combination with commercial) does not provide significant financial benefits though including small retail (3–4% of the net lettable area) may provide complementary benefits. Incurring large capital costs upfront and having the revenue stream spread over long periods reduces financial viability. While construction costs are more difficult to reduce, ways to reduce land costs could be through zoning land for BTR use, through mechanisms such as joint ventures with landowners, and land leasing. Exemptions on income, land tax, and rates (like CHPs) can result in a higher return for investors. A full GST refund, an incentive that industry is lobbying for, results in a similar IRR as an exemption on income, land tax and rates would offer. These results will assist in determining priorities for policies that are aimed at BTR. Full article

Despite the numerous benefits of intensive air transport development, many activities associated with the operation of airports contribute to environmental pollution. The purpose of this research was the development, optimization, and validation of a headspace–solid-phase microextraction–comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time of flight–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC × GC-TOF-MS)-based procedure for determining anti-corrosive compounds in airport stormwater. Optimized HS-SPME conditions include: 45 min extraction time, 100 °C temperature, 1.0 g salt addition, and 10 min desorption time at 270 °C. The developed procedure is sensitive, selective, accurate (recoveries ≥ 80.0%), and precise (the coefficient of variation (CV) ≤ 14.9%), making it a highly suitable tool for extensive airport stormwater quality monitoring. The validated analytical protocol was successfully used to detect pollutants, including 1H-BT, 4-MeBT, 5-MeBT, and 5,6-diMe-1H-BT, in stormwater from various European airports with different flight capacities. Throughout the sampling period at the investigated airports, 1H-benzotriazole was found in the highest concentrations, ranging from below the MQL to 467 mg/L. An ecotoxicological risk assessment revealed that 69% of the sites exhibited high risk levels (Risk Quotient ≥ 1). The developed procedure and carried out environmental risk assessments of benzotriazoles in airport stormwater enable an evidence-based approach to sustainable airport stormwater management. Full article

Understanding the edulcorant profile of synthetic glucosyl steviol glycosides (GSGs) and rare natural steviol glycosides (SGs) is challenging due to their numerous species and rareness. This study developed a computational model based on the interactions of SG molecules with human sweet and bitter taste receptors (hSTR/hBTR). The models demonstrated a high correlation between the cumulative interaction energies and the perceived sweetness of SGs (R² = 0.97), elucidating the mechanism of the diverse sweetness of SGs. It also revealed that more (within three) glucose residues at the C-13 position of the SG molecule yield stronger sweetness and weaker bitterness. Furthermore, the computational prediction was consistently validated with the known sweetness of GSG and also aligned well with that of several natural mogrosides. Thus, this model possesses a potential to predict the sweetness of SGs, GSGs, and mogrosides, facilitating the application or targeted synthesis of GSGs with desired sensory profiles. Full article