Search Results (28)

Our comprehensive review plunges into the cutting-edge advancements of polymeric microneedle drug delivery systems, underscoring their transformative potential in the realm of transdermal drug administration. Our scrutiny centers on the substrate materials pivotal for microneedle construction and the core properties that dictate their efficacy. We delve into the distinctive interplay between microneedles and dermal layers, underscoring the mechanisms by which this synergy enhances drug absorption and precision targeting. Moreover, we examine the acupoint–target organ–ganglion nexus, an innovative strategy that steers drug concentration to specific targets, offering a paradigm for precision medicine. A thorough analysis of the clinical applications of polymeric microneedle systems is presented, highlighting their adaptability and impact across a spectrum of therapeutic domains. This review also accentuates the systems’ promise to bolster patient compliance, attributed to their minimally invasive and painless mode of drug delivery. We present forward-looking strategies aimed at optimizing stimulation sites to amplify therapeutic benefits. The anticipation is set for the introduction of superior biocompatible materials with advanced mechanical properties, customizing microneedles to cater to specialized clinical demands. In parallel, we deliberate on safety strategies aimed at boosting drug loading capacities and solidifying the efficacy of microneedle-based therapeutics. In summation, this review accentuates the pivotal role of polymeric microneedle technology in contemporary healthcare, charting a course for future investigative endeavors and developmental strides within this burgeoning field. Full article

A novel controller, employing a variable-structure single-neuron adaptive PSD (proportional integral derivative) approach, was proposed for regulating the deposition width variation in the Directed Energy Deposition-Arc (DED-Arc) layer. During experimental trials, the deposition speed was chosen as the manipulated variable, while the width of the deposition layer served as the measured parameter. To facilitate controller design, a vision sensor was custom-designed to accurately detect the width of the deposition layer. The captured image of the deposition layer’s dimensions enabled the precise determination of the deposited thickness, forming the basis for subsequent controller development. In performance assessments, deliberate interference was intentionally introduced into the deposition current, deposition layer height, and the targeted deposition layer width. The assessment involved the controlled deposition of ten-layer components, focusing on width regulation for each deposition layer. The results demonstrate that the proposed controller significantly enhances the deposition process stability, particularly within a range of desired deposition widths from 7.5 mm to 8.3 mm. Full article

Ongoing backscatter communications and localisation research have been able to obtain incredibly accurate results in controlled environments. The main issue with these systems is faced in complex RF environments. This paper investigates concurrent localization and ambient radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting using backscatter communication systems for Internet of Things networks. Dynamic real-world environments introduce complexity from multipath reflection and shadowing, as well as interference from movements. A machine learning framework leveraging K-Nearest Neighbors and Random Forest classifiers creates robustness against such variability. Historically, received signal measurements construct a location fingerprint database resilient to perturbations. The Random Forest model demonstrates precise localization across customized benches with programmable shuffling of chairs outfitted with RF identification tags. Average precision accuracy exceeds 99% despite deliberate placement modifications, inducing signal fluctuations emulating mobility and clutter. Significantly, directional antennas can harvest over −3 dBm, while even omnidirectional antennas provide −10 dBm—both suitable for perpetually replenishing low-energy electronics. Consequently, the intelligent backscatter platform localizes unmodified objects to customizable precision while promoting self-sustainability. Full article

Currently, the Taiwan Electronic Medical Record Exchange Center uses the Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) framework, which is based on the international medical standard. The CDA R2 standard, defined in 2005, is used for cross-institution retrieval of electronic medical records (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Information Department, 2021). However, CDA R2 only supports the exchange of clinical documents and is limited to the XML format. Due to the lack of a standardized framework for medical data exchange in Taiwan, different standards and specifications result in different data interface methods between systems, requiring customization for each system by healthcare institutions or the government. The inconsistency in data formats requires healthcare institutions and the government to spend more time on data parsing and mapping, resulting in slow integration of medical data. In this study, we simulated healthcare institutions using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) for medical information exchange and utilized the exchanged medical information to create a dynamic dashboard to assist healthcare professionals in making medical decisions. To ensure information security, we employed Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) for secure transmission, which encrypts the transmitted medical record data using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol, preventing deliberate interception and tampering of medical record data between the two systems. Finally, to test the load and performance of static and dynamic resources and web applications, we conducted a system performance evaluation using Apache JMeter. The results of this study demonstrate that replacing the gateway of the Electronic Medical Record Exchange Center with an FHIR server effectively reduces the time and cost spent by developers on data format conversion while also mitigating the information security risks associated with the previous VPN solution. Additionally, by utilizing dynamic charts, healthcare professionals are assisted in making medical decisions. Full article

In response to escalating global demand for poultry, the industry grapples with an array of intricate challenges, from enhancing productivity to improving animal welfare and attenuating environmental impacts. This comprehensive review explores the transformative potential of digital phenotyping, an emergent technological innovation at the cusp of dramatically reshaping broiler production. The central aim of this study is to critically examine digital phenotyping as a pivotal solution to these multidimensional industry conundrums. Our investigation spotlights the profound implications of ‘digital twins’ in the burgeoning field of broiler genomics, where the production of exact digital counterparts of physical entities accelerates genomics research and its practical applications. Further, this review probes into the ongoing advancements in the research and development of a context-sensitive, multimodal digital phenotyping platform, custom-built to monitor broiler health. This paper critically evaluates this platform’s potential in revolutionizing health monitoring, fortifying the resilience of broiler production, and fostering a harmonious balance between productivity and sustainability. Subsequently, the paper provides a rigorous assessment of the unique challenges that may surface during the integration of digital phenotyping within the industry. These span from technical and economic impediments to ethical deliberations, thus offering a comprehensive perspective. The paper concludes by highlighting the game-changing potential of digital phenotyping in the broiler industry and identifying potential future directions for the field, underlining the significance of continued research and development in unlocking digital phenotyping’s full potential. In doing so, it charts a course towards a more robust, sustainable, and productive broiler industry. The insights garnered from this study hold substantial value for a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the broiler industry, setting the stage for an imminent technological evolution in poultry production. Full article

Modern optical systems often require small, optically effective structures that have to be manufactured both precisely and cost-effectively. One option to do this is using nanoimprint lithography (NIL), in which the optical structures are replicated as masters using a stamping process. It would also be advantageous to manufacture the master structures quickly and easily. A master manufacturing process based on a photolithographic image of an inkjet-printed mask is presented and investigated in this paper. An essential element is that a deliberate blurring of the printed structure edge of the mask is used in the photolithographic process. Combined with the use of a non-linear photoresist, this allows for improved edge geometries of the master structure. We discuss the inkjet-printed photomask, the custom photolithography system to prevent imaging of the printing dot roughness and the manufacturing processes of NIL polymer masks as well as their subsequent stamp imprinting. Finally, it was shown that stamp geometries with a width of 1.7 µm could be realised using inkjet-printed photomasks in the master manufacturing process. This methodology opens up the potential of fast and simple master manufacturing for the development and manufacturing of optical elements. Full article

In his writings, the Bāb (1819–1850), the founder of the Bābī religion, introduced laws and pronounced ethical injunctions pertaining to women that marked a significant departure from Muslim legal norms and social customs prevailing in Iran and the wider Islamic world. His statements signal a deliberate attempt to improve the status of women, including in marital relations. They addressed issues such as mutʿah and taḥlīl marriages, polygyny, bridal consent, divorce and spousal relations. This article examines the Bāb’s statements on these issues and reflects on their significance for the rights of women in the context of Muslim juridical opinions and social customs, focusing mainly on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Full article

The inherent existence of multi phases in iron oxide nanostructures highlights the significance of them being investigated deliberately to understand and possibly control the phases. Here, the effects of annealing at 250 °C with a variable duration on the bulk magnetic and structural properties of high aspect ratio biphase iron oxide nanorods with ferrimagnetic Fe₃O₄ and antiferromagnetic α-Fe₂O₃ are explored. Increasing annealing time under a free flow of oxygen enhanced the α-Fe₂O₃ volume fraction and improved the crystallinity of the Fe₃O₄ phase, identified in changes in the magnetization as a function of annealing time. A critical annealing time of approximately 3 h maximized the presence of both phases, as observed via an enhancement in the magnetization and an interfacial pinning effect. This is attributed to disordered spins separating the magnetically distinct phases which tend to align with the application of a magnetic field at high temperatures. The increased antiferromagnetic phase can be distinguished due to the field-induced metamagnetic transitions observed in structures annealed for more than 3 h and was especially prominent in the 9 h annealed sample. Our controlled study in determining the changes in volume fractions with annealing time will enable precise control over phase tunability in iron oxide nanorods, allowing custom-made phase volume fractions in different applications ranging from spintronics to biomedical applications. Full article

This study investigates the optimal versioning problem when a monopoly software provider bears the deliberation cost to help reduce consumer uncertainty about SaaS customization. We develop stylized models based on different production strategies and deliberation support strategies. We consider customer deliberation behavior as a new perspective on the need for a free trial. Our results indicate that a short free trial leads to free riders while a long enough free trial eliminates free riders. This is because a long free trial means that consumers easily get accustomed to the product. We also find that the seller benefits from offering deliberation support. The optimal product strategy is dependent on the deliberation support cost. When the deliberation support cost is low, the seller should provide dual products; on the contrary, the single SaaS product strategy is better with a high deliberation cost. Full article

Digitization offers great opportunities as well as new challenges. Indeed, these opportunities entail increased cyber risks, both from deliberate cyberattacks and from incidents caused by inadvertent human error. Cyber risk must be mastered, and to this aim, its quantification is an urgent challenge. There is a lot of interest in this topic from the insurance community in order to price adequate coverage to their customers. A key first step is to investigate the frequency and severity of cyber incidents. On the grounds that data breaches seem to be the main cause of cyber incidents, the aim of this paper is to give further insights about the frequency and severity statistical distributions of malicious and negligent data breaches. For this purpose, we refer to a publicly available dataset: the Chronology of Data Breaches provided by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Full article

In a noninvasive determination, Raman and XRF analyses showed the possibility of identifying specific phases and elements characteristic of the use of recipes and ingredients imported from Europe, according to the information documented in Chinese and European archives. Two sets of objects, supposed to have been produced during the Qing Dynasty (1662–1912) at the Forbidden City (‘imperial bowls’ of the Baur Foundation, Geneva) and in the customs district of Guangzhou (Musée Ariana, Geneva), were analyzed with pXRF and also for some objects with Raman microspectroscopy also on-site. The heterogeneity of the colored zones, in three spatial directions, requires the development of a new methodology. We focused particular attention on the cobalt used in the colored areas and marks, drawn either on the body layer (standard underglaze) or on the glaze itself (overglaze). Comparison is made with previous data on Chinese and Vietnamese porcelains from the Yuan (1271–1368) and Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) periods. Combined data for objects attributed to Guangzhou from the Kangxi and Yongzheng periods indicates the use of the same raw materials containing cobalt, associated with arsenic, nickel, zinc, copper and bismuth, according to the European sources. Similarity of the glaze composition and impurities promotes the production of the glazed body with the same raw materials as those used at Jingdezhen. A consistent shift in data for Qianlong style items, which are significantly richer in manganese, is compatible with their partial mixing with Asian cobalt. The deliberate selection of conflicting objects—namely, examples belonging to the other places of production or different periods—are well-observed outside the ‘Guangzhou’ cluster. Some artifacts have anachronistic purity characteristics that support a production after ca. 1850. For instance, two objects on which certain attributions had been made concerning the stylistic analysis are definitive examples of ceramics using a refined ‘cobalt’, and therefore now may be assigned to the later production period of the first half of the 19th century. Full article

Nontechnical losses in electricity distribution networks are often associated with a countries’ socioeconomic situation. Although the amount of global losses is usually known, the separation between technical and commercial (nontechnical) losses will remain one of the main challenges for DSO until smart grids become fully implemented and operational. The most common origins of commercial losses are energy theft and deliberate or accidental failures of energy measuring equipment. In any case, the consequences can be regarded as consumption anomalies. The work described in this paper aims to answer a request from a DSO, for the development of tools to detect consumption anomalies at end-customer facilities (HV, MV and LV), invoking two types of assessment. The first consists of the identification of typical patterns in the set of consumption profiles of a given group or zone and the detection of atypical consumers (outliers) within it. The second assessment involves the exploration of the load diagram evolution of each specific consumer to detect changes in the consumption pattern that could represent situations of probable irregularities. After a representative period, typically 12 months, these assessments are repeated, and the results are compared to the initial ones. The eventual changes in the typical classes or consumption scales are used to build a classifier indicating the risk of anomaly. Full article

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, business and consumer behavior towards online consumption and digital payments has changed. This trend, although significant, may be observed, to a varying extent, among customers across the European Union. This study aims to investigate if, and to what extent, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a powerful impact on online consumer behavior in EU (European Union) countries. The empirical research using a soft modeling method supplements theoretical deliberations based on critical literature review. A conceptual model was adopted. Three first-order latent variables were selected for the analysis: “online customer behavior”, “online activity” and “willingness to spend online”, to which all analyzed indicators (14) were classified. The analysis of the loadings of latent variables for 2019 and 2020 allowed the impact of the pandemic on customer behavior to be observed, although this was not the same across all EU countries. Clustering performed with the hit map enabled the identification of four groups of countries. Significant changes in behavior were observed in countries such as Poland, Ireland, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, and Finland. The results of the classification based on the values of three latent variables indicate that only the composition of one group (Bulgaria and Romania) remained unchanged during the study period. Research discussion was presented, and further fields of study were identified. Full article

Control of pathogenic bacteria by deliberate application of predatory phages has potential as a powerful therapy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The key advantages of phage biocontrol over antibacterial chemotherapy are: (1) an ability to self-propagate inside host bacteria, (2) targeted predation of specific species or strains of bacteria, (3) adaptive molecular machinery to overcome resistance in target bacteria. However, realizing the potential of phage biocontrol is dependent on harnessing or adapting these responses, as many phage species switch between lytic infection cycles (resulting in lysis) and lysogenic infection cycles (resulting in genomic integration) that increase the likelihood of survival of the phage in response to external stress or host depletion. Similarly, host range will need to be optimized to make phage therapy medically viable whilst avoiding the potential for deleteriously disturbing the commensal microbiota. Phage training is a new approach to produce efficient phages by capitalizing on the evolved response of wild-type phages to bacterial resistance. Here we will review recent studies reporting successful trials of training different strains of phages to switch into lytic replication mode, overcome bacterial resistance, and increase their host range. This review will also highlight the current knowledge of phage training and future implications in phage applications and phage therapy and summarize the recent pipeline of the magistral preparation to produce a customized phage for clinical trials and medical applications. Full article

This study surveyed customer experience management (CEM) and student’s loyalty in higher education institution (HEI) sector using a private university in Ogun State, Nigeria as a case study. The primary intent of this study was to determine the roles of humanic and mechanic clues on student’s loyalty. The two hypotheses formulated to address the research questions and objectives raised in this study were analysed with Categorical Regression, which is also known as CATREG analysis. This study applied survey research design and the data were spawned via designed questionnaire. An overall of 215 copies of the questionnaires were regained from the student of the private university in Ogun State. Multi-stage sampling methods were engaged in this study. The research findings of this study show that mechanic clues significantly influence students’ retention, while humanic clues significantly influence students’ disposition to endorse the institution of higher education to others. As part of the recommendations of the study, it was suggested that the university management should deliberately focus on mechanic clues in terms of providing a conducive environment, especially one that is clean for its students at all times. Full article