Search Results (7)

In the rapidly evolving landscape of logistics and last-mile delivery, optimizing efficiency and minimizing costs are paramount. This paper introduces a novel heuristic approach designed to enhance the efficiency of a truck-and-drone delivery system. Our method addresses the complex challenge of coordinating the movements of a truck, which serves as a mobile depot, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone), which performs rapid, short-distance deliveries. Our system proposes a two-step heuristic. For truck routes, we utilized the Concorde Solver to determine the optimal path, based on real-world road distances between locations in Bacău County, Romania. This data was meticulously collected and processed as a Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) instance with precise geographical information. Concurrently, a drone is deployed for specific deliveries, with routes calculated using the Haversine formula to determine accurate distances based on geographical coordinates. A crucial aspect of our model is the integration of the drone’s limited autonomy, ensuring that each mission adheres to its operational capacity. Computational experiments conducted on a real-world dataset including 93 localities from Bacău County, Romania, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed two-stage heuristic. Compared to the optimal truck-only route, the hybrid truck-and-drone system achieved up to 15.59% cost reduction and 38.69% delivery time savings, depending on the drone’s speed and autonomy parameters. These results confirm that the proposed approach can substantially enhance delivery efficiency in realistic distribution scenarios. Full article

Drug delivery from cylindrical tablets of arbitrary dimensions is discussed here, using the analytical solution of diffusion equation. Utilizing dimensionless quantities, we show that the release profiles are determined by a unique parameter, represented by the aspect ratio of the cylindrical formulation. Fractional release curves are presented for different values of the aspect ratio, covering a range of many orders of magnitude. The corresponding release profiles lie in between the two opposite limits of release from thin slabs and two-dimensional radial release, pertinent to the cases of thin and long cylinders, respectively. In a quest for a part of the delivery process closer to a zero-order release, the release rate is calculated, which is found to exhibit the typical behavior of purely diffusional release systems. Two simple fitting formulae, containing two parameters each, are considered to approximate the infinite series of the exact solution: The stretched exponential (Weibull) function and a recently suggested expression interpolating between the correct time dependencies at the initial and final stages of the process. The latter provides a better fitting in all cases. The variation of the fitting parameters with the aspect ratio of the device is presented for both fitting functions. We also calculate the characteristic release time, which is found to correspond to an amount of fractional release between 64% and around 68% depending on the cylindrical aspect ratio. We discuss how the last quantities can be used to estimate the drug diffusion coefficient from experimental release profiles and apply these ideas to published drug delivery data. Full article

Light hydrocarbon fuels are widely utilized in industrial production and transportation due to their high calorific value and clean combustion characteristics. Compared to traditional oil tanker transportation, pipelines not only reduce transportation costs but also minimize environmental impact. To understand the leakage and diffusion law of light hydrocarbon pipelines, this paper takes light hydrocarbon pipelines as the research object, establishes the conceptual model of the process of light hydrocarbon leakage and diffusion, divides the four major processes of leakage and diffusion, analyzes the relevant theory, and deduces a formula. The numerical model of pipeline–air–soil leakage and diffusion was established to analyze the whole process of light hydrocarbon leakage and diffusion. The diffusion behavior of individual hydrocarbon components is examined, along with a comparative analysis between multi-component and single-component leakage scenarios. Simulation results reveal that the leakage process comprises three stages: an initial rapid diffusion phase, a transitional phase where a stable region begins to form, and a final stage where the diffusion pattern stabilizes around 800 s. C3 and C5 exhibit the largest diffusion ranges among gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, respectively. In multi-component systems, the vaporization sequence suppresses the overall diffusion range compared to single-component cases, though gas-phase hydrocarbons tend to accumulate near the leakage source. Understanding the leakage and diffusion behavior of light hydrocarbon pipelines is crucial for energy security. By accurately modeling these processes, we can determine the impact zones of potential pipeline failures and establish appropriate safety buffers. This proactive approach not only safeguards human life and the environment but also ensures the reliable and uninterrupted delivery of energy resources. Consequently, such research is instrumental in fortifying the resilience and dependability of energy infrastructure. Full article

Objectives: This in vivo study introduces a newly developed spirooxindole derivative that is deemed safe and effective as a potential targeted therapy for various cancers. Methods: Extensive in vivo investigations, including histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology, validated its potential for further preclinical and clinical exploration, necessitating comprehensive examinations of its bioavailability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics. Additionally, this study involves the development of a commercially viable proniosomal drug delivery system for the compound, facilitating controlled drug release. Results: The data revealed efficacy of spirooxindole derivative in halting the progression of liver cancer, metastasis, and portal vein thrombosis, with potential implications for enhancing regeneration and recovery of early-stage cancer cells in multiple organs, thereby improving recovery rates and remission among cancer patients. The proniosomes, loaded with the compound, exhibited high entrapment efficiency and prolonged drug release rates of up to 12 h in vitro. The optimized formula demonstrated superior drug release percentages and stability compared to conventional niosomes. Further analysis via FTIR and DSC confirmed the absence of chemical interactions and proper entrapment of the compound within the nanovesicles, indicating a stable and effective drug delivery system. Conclusions: This study presents a novel, safe, and effective chemical entity of spirooxindole derivatives for further preclinical and clinical studies. Full article

In recent years, the number of scientific publications on the role of intestinal microbiota in shaping human health, as well as the occurrence of intestinal dysbiosis in various disease entities, has increased dynamically. However, there is a gap in comprehensively understanding the factors influencing a child’s gut microbiota. This review discusses the establishment of gut microbiota and the immunological mechanisms regulating children’s microbiota, emphasising the importance of prioritising the development of appropriate gut microbiota in a child from the planning stages of pregnancy. The databases PubMed, Web of Sciences, Cochrane, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant articles. A child’s gut microbiota composition is influenced by numerous factors, such as diet during pregnancy, antibiotic therapy, the mother’s vaginal microbiota, delivery method, and, later, feeding method and environmental factors. During pregnancy, the foetus naturally acquires bacterial strains from the mother through the placenta, thereby shaping the newborn’s immune system. Inappropriate maternal vaginal microbiota may increase the risk of preterm birth. Formula-fed infants typically exhibit a more diverse microbiota than their breastfed counterparts. These factors, among others, shape the maturation of the child’s immune system, impacting the production of IgA antibodies that are central to cellular humoral immune defence. Further research should focus on identifying specific microbiota–immune system interactions influencing a child’s immune health and developing personalised treatment strategies for immune-related disorders. Full article

The nutritional composition of human milk evolves over the course of lactation, to match the changing needs of infants. This single‐arm, non‐inferiority study evaluated growth against the WHO standards in the first year of life, in infants consecutively fed four age‐based formulas with compositions tailored to infants’ nutritional needs during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd–6th, and 7th–12th months of age. Healthy full‐term formula‐fed infants (n = 32) were enrolled at ≤14 days of age and exclusively fed study formulas from enrollment, to the age of four months. Powdered study formulas were provided in single‐serving capsules that were reconstituted using a dedicated automated preparation system, to ensure precise, hygienic preparation. The primary outcome was the weight‐for‐age z‐score (WAZ) at the age of four months (vs. non‐inferiority margin of −0.5 SD). Mean (95% CI) z‐scores for the WAZ (0.12 (−0.15, 0.39)), as well as for the length‐for‐age (0.05 (−0.19, 0.30)), weight‐for‐length (0.16 (−0.16, 0.48)), BMI‐for‐age (0.11 (−0.20, 0.43)), and head circumferencefor‐age (0.41 (0.16, 0.65)) at the age of four months, were non‐inferior. Throughout the study, anthropometric z‐scores tracked closely against the WHO standards (within ±1 SD). In sum, a fourstage, age‐based infant formula system with nutritional compositions tailored to infants’ evolving needs, supports healthy growth consistent with WHO standards, for the first year of life. Full article

While intensive efforts have been made for the treatment of cancer, this disease is still the second leading cause of death in many countries. Metastatic breast cancer, late-stage colon cancer, malignant melanoma, multiple myeloma, and other forms of cancer are still essentially incurable in most cases. Recent advances in genomic technologies have permitted the simultaneous evaluation of DNA sequence-based alterations together with copy number gains and losses. The requirement for a multi-targeting approach is the common theme that emerges from these studies. Therefore, the combination of new targeted biological and cytotoxic agents is currently under investigation in multimodal treatment regimens. Similarly, a combinational principle is applied in traditional Chinese medicine, as formulas consist of several types of medicinal herbs or minerals, in which one represents the principal component, and the others serve as adjuvant ones that assist the effects, or facilitate the delivery, of the principal component. In Western medicine, approximately 60 different arsenic preparations have been developed and used in pharmacological history. In traditional Chinese medicines, different forms of mineral arsenicals (orpiment—As₂S₃, realgar—As₄S₄, and arsenolite—arsenic trioxide, As₂O₃) are used, and realgar alone is included in 22 oral remedies that are recognized by the Chinese Pharmacopeia Committee (2005). It is known that a significant portion of some forms of mineral arsenicals is poorly absorbed into the body, and would be unavailable to cause systemic damage. This review primary focuses on the application of arsenic sulfide (realgar) for treatment of various forms of cancer in vitro and in vivo. Full article