Search Results (25)

Development of rapid, precise and fieldable detection methods for foodborne pathogens is one of the essential requirements in food safety and public health. In this research, the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the eae gene of Escherichia coli O157:H7 are well visually identified with the designed amplification refractory mutation system–polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) mediated lateral flow strip (LFS). Allele-specific primers were designed and optimized to discriminate the mutant-type genes from wild-type genes with single-nucleotide resolution in a simple visual format. The single-nucleotide variation in the eae gene could be easily differentiated by the observation of an optical signal on the T line of the LFS without any devices. Assay performance results show that it has a high sensitivity and specificity with the single-nucleotide differentiation ratio as low as 0.1%. This genetic polymorphisms screening performance could enumerate complex genetic variation into a simple and direct yes/no readout, highlighting the ultra-easy SNP screening mode and the simplicity of the result output for practical applications. This ARMS-PCR mediated LFS offers a straightforward, swift, and economical strategy for SNP identification with great potential for use in evolution of bacterial resistance genes and viral evolution under different environmental stresses. Full article

Planar multi-loop fractionated kinematic chains (FKCs)—kinematic chains that can be decomposed into two or more coupled subchains by separating joints or links—are widely used in heavy-duty manipulators, yet their large design space makes automatic synthesis and application-oriented screening challenging. The novelty of this paper is a general automated synthesis-and-screening framework for planar fractionated kinematic chains, regardless of whether multiple joints are present; multiple-joint chains are handled via an equivalent transformation to single-joint models, enabling the construction of a deduplicated topological graph atlas. In the mine scaler manipulator case study, an 18-link, 5-DOF (N18_M5) FKC with two multiple joints is taken as the target and converted into a single-joint equivalent N20_M7 model consisting of three subchains (KC1–KC3). Atlases of the required non-fractionated kinematic chains (NFKCs) for KC1 and KC3 are generated according to their link counts and DOFs. The subchains are then combined as building blocks under joint-fractionation (A-mode) and link-fractionation (B-mode) to enumerate fractionated candidates, and a WL-hash-based procedure is employed for isomorphism discrimination to obtain a non-isomorphic N20_M7 atlas. Finally, a connectivity-calculation-based screening is performed under task-driven structural and functional constraints, yielding 249 feasible configurations for the overall manipulator arm. The proposed pipeline provides standardized representations and reproducible outputs, offering a practical and transferable route from large-scale enumeration to engineering-feasible configuration sets for planar multi-loop FKCs, including those with multiple joints. Full article

This paper presents an optimal-design methodology for small-scale Integrated Energy Systems (IESs) that couple electricity and heat in distributed networks. A hybrid reliability assessment integrates probabilistic state enumeration with scenario-based simulation. Mathematically, the design is cast as a stochastic, reliability-driven ranking: time-sequential Monte Carlo (MC) produces estimators of Loss of Load Probability (LOLP), Expected Energy Not Supplied (EENS), and Self-Sufficiency Rate (SSR), which are normalized and combined into a Composite Reliability Index (CRI) that orders candidate siting/sizing options. The case study is the D-campus microgrid with Photovoltaic (PV), Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Fuel Cell (FC), Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs), and Heat Energy Storage Systems (HESSs; also termed TESs), across multiple siting and sizing scenarios. Results show consistent reductions in LOLP and EENS and increases in SSR as distributed energy resource capacity increases and resources are placed near critical nodes, with the strongest gains observed in the best-performing configurations. The CRI also reveals trade-offs across intermediate scenarios. The operational concept of the campus Energy Management System (EMS), including full operating modes and scheduling logic, is developed to maintain a design focus on reliability-driven decision making. Probability-based formulations, reliability metrics, and the sequential MC setup underpin the proposed ranking framework. The proposed method supports Distributed Energy Resource (DER) sizing and siting decisions for reliable, autonomy-oriented IESs. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), leading to motor impairments and numerous non-motor manifestations, including anxiety. Notably, anxiety has been shown to exacerbate disease progression and hinder treatment outcomes in PD. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), recognized for its ability to block excessive release of acetylcholine (ACh), has been shown to provide clinical effectiveness in managing motor symptoms. BoNT appears to enhance neuroregenerative plasticity and mitigate neuroinflammation through mechanisms speculated to extend beyond its classical mode of action. Nevertheless, reports on its potential anxiolytic and neuroprotective effects in PD remain limited. Aim: This study investigated the effect of BoNT on motor and anxiety-like behaviors in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD. Methods: The experimental animals were assessed for behavioral changes using the open field test (OFT), rotarod, pole test, light-dark box test (LDBT), and elevated plus maze (EPM). Immunohistochemistry was employed to enumerate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neurons and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule (Iba)-1 expressing microglia in SN. Results: BoNT treatment markedly alleviated motor deficits and anxiety. Quantification of TH- and Iba-1-positive cells revealed that BoNT promotes neuroprotection and minimizes microglial burden in the SN of the PD model. Conclusions: The outcome of the study represents the anxiolytic, neuroprotective, and microglial modulatory potentials of BoNT in PD, supporting its therapeutic promise beyond the management of motor symptoms. Given its multifaceted properties, BoNT can be considered a potential therapeutic candidate for PD and other neurological disorders. Full article

Background: When glucose molecules are metabolized by a biological cell, the molecules are constrained to flow along distinct reaction trajectories, which are defined by the cell’s underlying metabolic network. Methods: Using the computational technique of Elementary Mode Analysis, the entire set of all possible trajectories can be enumerated, effectively allowing metabolism to be viewed in a discretized space. Results: With the resulting set of Elementary Flux Modes (EMs), macroscopic fluxes, (of both mass and energy) that cross the cell envelope can be computed by a simple, linear combination of the individual EM trajectories. The challenge in this approach is that the usage probability of each EM is unknown. But, because the analytical framework we have adopted allows metabolism to be viewed in a discrete space, we can use the mathematics of statistical thermodynamics to derive the usage probabilities when the system entropy is maximized. The resulting probabilities, which obey a Boltzmann-type distribution, predict a rate structure for the metabolic network that is in remarkable agreement with experimentally measured rates of adaptively evolved E. coli strains. Conclusions: Thus, in principle, the intracellular dynamic properties of such bacteria can be predicted, using only the knowledge of the DNA sequence, to reconstruct the metabolic reaction network, and the measurement of the specific glucose uptake rate. Full article

Prioritizing the development of public transport is an effective way to improve the sustainability of the transport system. In recent years, bus passenger flow has been declining in many cities. How to reform the operating mode of the public transportation system is an important issue that needs to be solved. An autonomous modular bus (AMB) is capable of physical coupling and uncoupling to flexibly adjust vehicle capacity as well as provide high-quality service under unbalanced passenger demand conditions. To promote AMB adoption and reduce the operating cost of the bus route, this paper presents a joint optimization method to simultaneously determine the AMB dispatching plan, charging plan, and charging infrastructure configuration scheme. Then, a mixed-integer programming model is formulated to minimize the operating costs of the bus route. A hybrid intelligent algorithm combining enumeration, cloning algorithm, and particle swarm optimization algorithm is designed to resolve the formulated model. Subsequently, an actual bus route is taken as an example to validate the proposed method. Results indicate that the developed method in this paper can reduce the operating costs and operational energy consumption of the route compared with the real route operating plan. Specifically, the reduction ratio of the former is 23.85%, and the reduction ratio of the latter is 5.92%. The results of this study validate the feasibility and advantages of autonomous modular transit service, contributing positively to the sustainable development of the urban public transportation system. Full article

Background: Land snails are considered a delicacy in many countries in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. However, the interaction of microbial pathogens with land snails may present a public health threat when handling and/or consuming snails. This study examines the survival of Escherichia coli in edible land snails in a model system. Methods: Well-studied Shigatoxigenic (STEC) and non-STEC strains were compared. Mature Helix spp. were experimentally fed with E. coli-inoculated oats for 48 h. The snail feces after inoculation were periodically sampled and cultured for a 30-day period and subjected to microbiological analyses. Results: The average rate of decline of the non-STEC strain CSH-62 in the feces of live snails was significantly (p < 0.05) faster than that of STEC ERL 06-2503. In addition, the viable population of E. coli ERL 06-2503 significantly (p < 0.05) persisted for a longer time in the intestine of land snails than E. coli CSH-62. Conclusion: The results showed that the viable population of the E. coli strains examined demonstrated first-order kinetics, and their survival (CFU/mL) appeared significantly (p < 0.05) dependent on the E. coli pathotype. In addition, the continuous enumeration of E. coli in snail faeces indicated that land snails could serve as a mode of transmission of microbial pathogens to susceptible hosts, including humans. Further research is recommended to better quantify the direct and indirect health risks of pathogen transmission by edible snails to humans. Full article

Mode decomposition is a powerful tool for analyzing the modal content of optical multimode radiation. There are several basic principles on which this tool can be implemented, including near-field intensity analysis, machine learning, and spatial correlation filtering (SCF). The latter is meant to be applied to a spatial light modulator and allows one to obtain information on the mode amplitudes and phases of temporally stable beams by only analyzing experimental data. As a matter of fact, techniques based on SCF have already been successfully used in several studies, e.g., for investigating the Kerr beam self-cleaning effect and determining the modal content of Raman fiber lasers. Still, such techniques have a major drawback, i.e., they require acquisition times as long as several minutes, thus being unfit for the investigation of fast mode distribution dynamics. In this paper, we numerically study three types of digital holograms, which permits us to determine, at the same time, the parameters of a set of modes of multimode beams. Because all modes are simultaneously characterized, the processing speed of these real-time mode decomposition methods in experimental realizations will be limited only by the acquisition rate of imaging devices, e.g., state-of-the-art CCD camera performance may provide decomposing rates above 1 kHz. Here, we compare the accuracy of conjugate symmetric extension (CSE), double-phase holograms (DPH), and phase correlation filtering (PCF) methods in retrieving the mode amplitudes of optical beams composed of either three, six, or ten modes. In order to provide a statistical analysis of the outcomes of these three methods, we propose a novel algorithm for the effective enumeration of mode parameters, which covers all possible beam modal compositions. Our results show that the best accuracy is achieved when the amplitude-phase mode distribution associated with multiple frequency PCF techniques is encoded by Jacobi–Anger expansion. Full article

Food safety has emerged as a significant concern for global public health and sustainable development. The development of analytical tools capable of rapidly, conveniently, and sensitively detecting food safety hazards is imperative. Over the past few decades, personal glucose meters (PGMs), characterized by their rapid response, low cost, and high degree of commercialization, have served as portable signal output devices extensively utilized in the construction of biosensors. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanism underlying the construction of PGM-based biosensors, which consists of three fundamental components: recognition, signal transduction, and signal output. It also detailedly enumerates available recognition and signal transduction elements, and their modes of integration. Then, a multitude of instances is examined to present the latest advancements in the application of PGMs in food safety detection, including targets such as pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxins, agricultural and veterinary drug residues, heavy metal ions, and illegal additives. Finally, the challenges and prospects of PGM-based biosensors are highlighted, aiming to offer valuable references for the iterative refinement of detection techniques and provide a comprehensive framework and inspiration for further investigations. Full article

Over the past several decades, urbanisation has spread rapidly over the globe. Research on the viability of urban stormwater drainage systems and the search for solutions to the related problems constitute an important prerequisite for their sustainability evaluation. The Government of India’s sub-committee for the development of “National sustainable habitat parameters on urban stormwater management” has proposed twenty key indices to promote and monitor the sustainable urban stormwater management paradigm. Their evaluation may be taken up at various stages of development, including planning/design, execution, post-operation audits, impact assessment, etc. Eleven of these sustainability indices, including the “Natural drainage system index (NDSI), the Drainage coverage (constructed) index (DCI), the Permeability Index (PI), Water bodies rejuvenation index (WBRI), Water body vulnerability index (WBVI), Water logging index (WLI), Area vulnerability index (AWI), Stormwater discharge quality index (SWDQI), and Rainfall intensity index (RII)” were evaluated for three Tier I cities (Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai) and three Tier II cities (Varanasi, Chandigarh, and Roorkee) in India based on the available data for 2010 as the datum year and 2020 as the test year. All the considered cities serve as economically and institutionally important urban centres, fall in different climatic zones, and are distributed in two major categories based on the scale of development and population density. All the indices enumerated individually fell within the range of 0 to 1, the two extremities of the sustainability range. Further, ranking of various indices was done employing the Analytical Hierarchy Process, and after deriving the weights for each, aggregation of all these indices was performed to yield an “Overall sustainability index” for each city. Different values were demonstrated along the sustainability scale for all the cities based on performance with regard to various constituent indices in a standalone mode and their interplay in an aggregated mode. The findings are expected to provide important insights to meet the goal of the developing sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDSs). Full article

Multilevel inverters, known for their low switching loss and suitability for medium- to high-power applications, often create a heavy computational overhead for the controller. This paper addresses the aforementioned limitation by presenting a novel approach to Direct Model Predictive Control (DMPC) for a grid-tied 289-level ladder multilevel inverter (LMLI). The primary objective is to achieve perfect inverter current control without enumeration. The proposed control method provides a single best solution without complete exploration of the search space. This generalized method can be applied to any multilevel inverter (MLI), enabling them to be used in the grid-tied mode without the computational burden due to a large number of switching states. The DMPC of LMLI with 289-level output and corresponding 289 control inputs, utilizes a discrete model to predict the future state of the state variable. In order to alleviate the enumeration burden, virtual sectors on a linear scale are introduced, and a general formula is provided to identify the single best state among the 289 states, reducing the time required to find the best optimal state per sampling period. Moreover, the proposed control scheme is independent of objective evaluation. Full article

Antioxidants play a significant role in human health, protecting against a variety of diseases. Therefore, the development of products with antioxidant activity is becoming increasingly prominent in the human lifestyle. New antioxidant drinks containing different percentages of pomegranate, blackberries, red grapes, and aronia have been designed, developed, and manufactured by a local industry. The comprehensive characterization of the drinks’ constituents has been deemed necessary to evaluate their bioactivity. Thus, LC-qTOFMS has been selected, due to its sensitivity and structure identification capability. Both data-dependent and -independent acquisition modes have been utilized. The data have been treated according to a novel, newly designed workflow based on MS-DIAL and MZmine for suspect, as well as target screening. The classical MS-DIAL workflow has been modified to perform suspect and target screening in an automatic way. Furthermore, a novel methodology based on a compiled bioactivity-driven suspect list was developed and expanded with combinatorial enumeration to include metabolism products of the highlighted metabolites. Compounds belonging to ontologies with possible antioxidant capacity have been identified, such as flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids, which could be beneficial to human health, revealing the importance of the produced drinks as well as the efficacy of the new in-house developed workflow. Full article

The current status of microbiological testing methods for the determination of viable bacteria in complex sample matrices, such as food samples, is the focus of this review. Established methods for the enumeration of microorganisms, particularly, the ‘gold standard’ agar plating method for the determination of total aerobic viable counts (TVC), bioluminescent detection of total ATP, selective molecular methods (immunoassays, DNA/RNA amplification, sequencing) and instrumental methods (flow cytometry, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, calorimetry), are analyzed and compared with emerging oxygen sensor-based respirometry techniques. The basic principles of optical O₂ sensing and respirometry and the primary materials, detection modes and assay formats employed are described. The existing platforms for bacterial cell respirometry are then described, and examples of particular assays are provided, including the use of rapid TVC tests of food samples and swabs, the toxicological screening and profiling of cells and antimicrobial sterility testing. Overall, O₂ sensor-based respirometry and TVC assays have high application potential in the food industry and related areas. They detect viable bacteria via their growth and respiration; the assay is fast (time to result is 2–8 h and dependent on TVC load), operates with complex samples (crude homogenates of food samples) in a simple mix-and-measure format, has low set-up and instrumentation costs and is inexpensive and portable. Full article

Many of the medicinally active molecules in the flavonoid class of phytochemicals are being researched for their potential antiviral activity against various DNA and RNA viruses. Quercetin is a flavonoid that can be found in a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables. It has been reported to be effective against a variety of viruses. This review, therefore, deciphered the mechanistic of how Quercetin works against some of the deadliest viruses, such as influenza A, Hepatitis C, Dengue type 2 and Ebola virus, which cause frequent outbreaks worldwide and result in significant morbidity and mortality in humans through epidemics or pandemics. All those have an alarming impact on both human health and the global and national economies. The review extended computing the Quercetin-contained natural recourse and its modes of action in different experimental approaches leading to antiviral actions. The gap in effective treatment emphasizes the necessity of a search for new effective antiviral compounds. Quercetin shows potential antiviral activity and inhibits it by targeting viral infections at multiple stages. The suppression of viral neuraminidase, proteases and DNA/RNA polymerases and the alteration of many viral proteins as well as their immunomodulation are the main molecular mechanisms of Quercetin’s antiviral activities. Nonetheless, the huge potential of Quercetin and its extensive use is inadequately approached as a therapeutic for emerging and re-emerging viral infections. Therefore, this review enumerated the food-functioned Quercetin source, the modes of action of Quercetin for antiviral effects and made insights on the mechanism-based antiviral action of Quercetin. Full article

Continuously growing tariff rates for energy carriers required to generate electrical and thermal energy bring about the need to search for alternatives. Such alternatives are intended for the reduction in the electricity and heat net costs as well as the expenses for the operation and maintenance of system elements and damage from power outages or deteriorated power quality. A way to reduce electricity and heat costs is the introduction of distributed energy resources capable of operating on both conventional (natural gas) and alternative (solar and wind energy, biomass, etc.) fuels. The problem of reducing electricity and, in some cases, heat costs are solved by applying mathematical optimization techniques adapted to a specific element or system of the industry in question. When it comes to power industry facilities, optimization, as a rule, includes reducing active power losses by controlling the system mode or specific power unit parameters; planning generating equipment operating modes; defining the optimal equipment composition; improving the regime and structural reliability of grids; scheduling preventive maintenance of equipment; searching for effective power unit operating modes. Many of the problems listed are solved using direct enumeration techniques; modern technical tools allow quickly solving such local problems with a large number of source data. However, in the case of integrated control over the power system or its individual elements, optimization techniques are used that allow considering a lot of operating limitations and the target function multicriteriality. This paper provides an analytical review of optimization techniques adapted to solving problems of improving the efficiency of the power facility operating modes. The article is made on the basis of the research conducted by the authors in the area of optimization of operating modes for electric energy systems and grids. The authors drew conclusions on the applicability of mathematical optimization methods in the power energy area. While conducting the research, the authors relied on their expertise in the development and introduction of the method to optimize the operation modes of energy supply systems with heterogeneous energy sources. Full article