Search Results (90)

Background: Selecting enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for complex port environments is a significant challenge. This study addresses a key research gap by identifying and prioritizing the critical factors for ERP selection within the strategic context of United Arab Emirates (UAE) ports, which function as vital hubs in global trade. Methods: A hybrid methodology was employed, first using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to validate thirteen challenges with five industry experts. Subsequently, the Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank these challenges based on survey data from 48 UAE port professionals. Results: The analysis revealed “Cybersecurity concerns” as the highest-ranked challenge (RII = 0.896), followed by “Engagement with external stakeholders” (RII = 0.842), and both “Process optimization” and “Technical capabilities” (RII = 0.808). Notably, factors traditionally seen as critical in other sectors, such as “Organizational readiness” (RII = 0.746), were ranked significantly lower. Conclusions: The findings indicate a strategic shift in ERP selection priorities toward digital resilience and external integration rather than internal organizational factors. This research provides a sector-specific decision-support framework and offers actionable insights for port authorities, vendors, and policymakers to enhance ERP implementation in the maritime industry. Full article

This work presents a parallel agent-based framework designed to analyze the dynamics of vegetable trade within a metropolitan area. The system integrates agent-based and discrete event techniques to capture the complex interactions among farmers, vendors, and consumers in urban agricultural supply chains. Decision-making processes are modeled in detail: farmers select crops based on market trends and environmental risks, while vendors and consumers adapt their purchasing behavior according to seasonality, prices, and availability. To efficiently handle the computational demands of large-scale scenarios, we adopt an optimistic approximate parallel execution strategy. Furthermore, we introduce a credit-based load balancing mechanism that mitigates the effects of heterogeneous communication patterns and improves scalability. This framework enables detailed analysis of food distribution systems in urban contexts, offering insights relevant to smart cities and digital agriculture initiatives. Full article

Background: Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) testing offers a non-invasive approach for monitoring allograft health in transplant recipients. However, its diagnostic performance and clinical utility remain insufficiently characterized across diverse populations. Objectives: This study assesses concordance between dd-cfDNA, donor-specific antibody (DSA) testing, and biopsy, while also comparing two commercial assays (AlloSure and Prospera) in kidney and pancreas transplant recipients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 271 transplant patient records from 2019 to 2024 at our institution, focusing on dd-cfDNA testing. Statistical analyses evaluated assay performance in relation to DSA and biopsy results. The impact of multi-organ transplantation (MOT) on dd-cfDNA levels was also assessed. Results: In our predominantly Caucasian cohort (61.5%) with a mean age of 53 years, increased levels of dd-cfDNA were significantly associated with DSA positivity, particularly within the Prospera group (p = 0.002), and were particularly higher in patients with HLA class II DSA. Both assays showed a limited correlation with biopsy-confirmed rejection. AlloSure had high specificity (80%) but low sensitivity (19%), whereas Prospera showed higher sensitivity (75%) with moderate specificity (60%). Dd-cfDNA levels were elevated in MOT recipients in a vendor-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the differing clinical strengths of dd-cfDNA assays: AlloSure demonstrates greater preference for ruling out rejection, whereas Prospera appears better suited for early detection. Dd-cfDNA interpretation in MOT recipients warrants cautious consideration. Overall, tailoring assay selection and optimizing diagnostic thresholds to clinical context may enhance transplant surveillance and patient management strategies. Full article

Formaldehyde is illegally applied to vegetables by vendors as a preservative to extend their shelf life, and it poses health risks to consumers. Herein, a series of WO₃ with different morphologies were synthesized and employed as the sensing material in gas sensors to detect formaldehyde in vegetables rapidly. Among all the samples, the WO₃ nanoplate sensor exhibited the best sensitivity (16.5@200 ppm), a rapid response/recovery time (10/12 s), superior selectivity, and a low limit of detection (500 ppb). This was mainly attributed to its abundant mesopores and large specific surface area, which enhanced the formaldehyde adsorption capacity and adsorption/desorption rates while providing more active sites, thereby improving the sensor’s response speed and resistance variation range. The WO₃ nanoplate sensor also achieved reliable formaldehyde detection in actual vegetable samples (baby cabbage). This study provides systematic guidance for optimizing the gas-sensing performance of functional materials. It establishes a foundation for developing rapid, non-destructive formaldehyde detection technologies applicable for vegetable quality control. Full article

Background: Equally with other indigenous green leafy vegetables, Solunum nigrum L. has been widely consumed by the VhaVenda tribe found in the Limpopo Province of South Africa since ancient times as a source of food diversification due to its higher-quality nutritional value, sustainability, food security, and medicinal benefits. It is mostly cultivated from seeds in seedling trays and transplanted in the open field, and at the maturity stage, marketing and distribution are mainly conducting through informal markets (i.e., street vendors). However, recently, it can be found in selected supermarkets and commercial grocery stores in South Africa. The leaves and young shoots of S. nigrum are cooked solely and/or as a supplementary vegetable with Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis (Chinese cabbage), Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), Amaranthus graecizans L. (green amaranth), Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), and/or cooking oil for flavor. Objective: Contrary to other green leafy vegetables, few studies have been conducted on the metabolites released by S. nigrum and the influence of growing conditions on the metabolites thereof. Method: A ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance tool was used to identify the untargeted metabolites released by S. nigrum, and spectra were phase-corrected and binned with MestReNova and statistically analyzed with SIMCA 18.0.2. Results: The findings showed that a total of 12 metabolites were detected between the growing conditions. Eleven similar metabolites, such as glycocholate, chlorogenate (human health benefits), caffeine for its bitter taste, choline, 3-Chlorotyrosine (antidiabetic, blood pressure), etc., and a few vital soluble sugars, were detected in S. nigrum samples grown in the open field and greenhouse-cultivated. Glucose was exclusively detected in the S. nigrum grown under greenhouse conditions. Full article

Poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK), as a representative of high-performance poly(aryl ether ketones), shows outstanding thermomechanical properties, opening up a huge range of different applications in various technical fields. Its appearance as a quasi-amorphous polymer with a certain suppression of the crystallization process facilitates melt processing via additive manufacturing processes like material extrusion (MEX), especially in fused filament fabrication (FFF). The quality of the printing process is proven in this work by tensile testing and surface roughness measurements of suitable specimens. The MEX printing of semicrystalline PEKK faces two major challenges: on the one hand, the very high printing temperature is in contrast to established engineering plastics, and on the other hand, it is difficult to avoid crystallization after printing. The first issue can be addressed by using suitably enhanced MEX printers and the second one by selecting adapted printing parameters. The measured Young’s modulus (3.49 GPa) and tensile strength (104 MPa) values are higher than the related vendors’ data given for filaments (3.0 GPa and 92 MPa, respectively). In addition, the temperature-dependent thermal conductivity is determined, and the values of well-established PEEK (poly(ether ether ketone)) in the temperature range from 20 to 180 °C are mostly slightly higher in comparison to the related PEKK data. Based on the results, PEKK can be a useful substitute for well-established PEEK because of their comparable properties. However, PEKK has a pronouncedly lower FFF printing temperature, combined with a reduced tendency of the device to warp after printing. A larger printed test part with some surface structures shows the improved printability of PEKK in comparison to PEEK. Full article

Objective: Peroxides in pharmaceutical products and excipients pose risks by oxidizing drug molecules, leading to potential toxicity and reduced efficacy. Accurate peroxide quantification is essential to ensure product safety and potency. This study explores the use of quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H qNMR) spectroscopy as a sensitive and specific method for quantifying peroxide levels in pharmaceutical excipients. Methods: ¹H qNMR spectroscopy was employed to measure peroxide levels down to 0.1 ppm in excipients, focusing on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate (PVPVA). Different grades and vendors were analyzed, and the impact of various manufacturing processes on hydrogen peroxide content was examined. Results: Peroxide levels varied among different grades of PVP and PVPVA, as well as between vendors. Furthermore, manufacturing processes influenced the hydrogen peroxide content in selected excipients. These variations highlight the importance of controlling peroxide levels in raw materials and during production. Conclusions: ¹H qNMR spectroscopy is a valuable tool for accurately quantifying peroxide levels in pharmaceutical excipients. The study emphasizes the need for regular monitoring of peroxide content to ensure the stability, quality, and safety of excipients and drug products. Accurate peroxide measurement can prevent oxidative degradation, preserving both the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical formulations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The kidneys are essential for eliminating drugs and chemicals from the human body and renal epithelial cells are particularly vulnerable to damage caused by xenobiotics and their metabolites. Drug-induced kidney toxicity is a major cause of drug attrition during preclinical and clinical development and the ability to predict renal toxicity remains a pressing challenge, necessitating more predictive in vitro models. However, the abundance of commercially available renal proximal tubule epithelial cell (RPTEC) sources complicates the selection of the most predictive cell types. Methods: This study compared a wide range of RPTEC sources, including primary cells (Lonza) and various RPTEC lines from different vendors, such as ciPTECs (Cell4Pharma), TERT1/RPTECs (ATCC), and HEK293 (GenoMembrane), including OAT1-overexpressing variants. HepG2 cells were included for a comparison of organ specificity. The different cells were cultured in 96- or 384-well plates and exposed to 12 drugs for 72 h at a concentration yielding a response (0.3–300 µM) to evaluate their ability to predict clinical outcomes. The CellTiterGlo^® assay was used to measure cell viability, and transcriptome data from unexposed cells was analyzed using the TempO-seq^® S1500+ platform. Results: Gene expression data showed that the primary kidney cells most closely matched the transcriptome of the human kidney medulla, followed by the TERT1 and ciPTEC lines, with the HEK lines showing the lowest similarity. The RPTEC sources showed clustering by cell type, with OAT1 overexpression driving changes in metabolic, detoxification, and immune pathways, especially in TERT1 cells. Cell viability data were used to determine points of departure (PODs) which were compared to human serum Cmax values to assess safety margins. The TERT1 and ciPTEC RPTEC lines demonstrated the highest predictive performance for nephrotoxicity, with OAT1 overexpression significantly enhancing sensitivity, accuracy, and overall predictive power (MCC scores: 0.764 and 0.667, respectively). In contrast, HepG2 cells showed the lowest performance across all metrics, highlighting the critical role of cell type and transporter expression in nephrotoxicity prediction. Conclusions: This study highlights important differences among RPTEC sources and their utility in drug safety studies of the renal proximal tubule. We show that while improved cell options for renal proximal tubule are needed, OAT1-overexpressing RPTECs are a superior model to the background cell type. Full article

Background/Objectives: While speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is increasingly gaining acceptance in the medical community, establishing normal pediatric values and interpreting data derived from software provided by various vendors can pose significant challenges. This review aims to present an updated compilation of nomograms pertinent to speckle-tracking echocardiography. Methods: A review of research using three medical engine searches (National Library of Medicine, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library) for Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and the free text terms “echocardiography”, “STE”, “normal values”, and ”children” was performed and refined by adding the keywords “nomograms”, “z-scores”, and “healthy children”. Results: A total of twenty-five studies were selected for the final analysis. Our research indicated that current nomograms provide adequate coverage of most strain parameters; however, those pertaining to the right ventricle and the atria are less numerous than those for the left ventricle. A noted trend suggests a decrease in strain values with advancing age and increasing body surface area; nevertheless, the relationships observed were weak and nonlinear. The absence of robust correlations between strain values and age and body size parameters hindered the generation of a Z-score possessing sufficient statistical power. Consequently, normal values are primarily represented as mean values accompanied by standard deviation. A comparative analysis of vendors demonstrated good agreement between different versions of the same platform for Philips (except for QLAB 5) and, similarly, between General Electric (GE) and TomTec. The limited data available regarding the comparison between GE and Philips revealed significant findings that warrant further investigation of differences. Conclusions: A comprehensive review and an updated list of current pediatric nomograms for STE measurements have been presented. This may serve as a valuable guide for accurately interpreting STE in pediatric patients with congenital and acquired heart disease. Full article

We focus on optimizing oil displacement in brownfields using alkali polymers (AP) flooding. The goal is to enhance rock–fluid and fluid–fluid interactions to improve oil recovery. The evaluation includes detailed screening of AP mixtures to ensure cost-effectiveness and maximize chemical slug efficiency, using an AP pilot project in Austria as a case study. Key aspects of the study involve assessing fluid properties to select appropriate chemical concentrations. Important parameters include the stability of produced emulsions, interfacial tension (IFT) measurements, and rheological analyses. Rock–fluid interactions were examined through core flooding experiments on both low- and high-permeability core plugs to understand fluid dynamics in heterogeneous reservoirs. A novel part of the research involved simulating the in situ aging of the AP slug, which increases its anionicity over time. Two-phase core flooding with aged chemicals provided insights into the evolution of chemical effectiveness and interactions. We found that an alkali concentration of 7500 ppm was optimal for the AP slug, particularly in its interaction with dead oil with a high total acid number (TAN), leading to emulsions with microscopic instability. Single-phase core flooding showed that the AP slug from Vendor B outperformed that from Vendor A despite mechanical stability issues. However, the additional recovery factor (RF) for polymer A-based slugs was higher in both high- and low-permeability core plugs. The findings suggest that in situ aging of the AP slug could reduce costs and enhance injection performance. Full article

Businesses are leveraging digital technology through e-commerce platforms as a strategy to continue operating following the movement control order (MCO). Online shopping, a subset of e-commerce platforms, allows consumers to browse, select, and purchase products using digital interfaces. Unfortunately, there is a lack of understanding of how this platform can impact customer behavior. Therefore, this study aims to develop new knowledge of customer behavior and assess the relationship between consumer behavior and e-service quality in online shopping to better understand the e-service quality provided by the vendor in Malaysia. A novel model of e-service quality and consumer behavior has been developed and investigated. Survey questionnaires were distributed and tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) to 200 customers who had experienced online shopping during COVID-19. The finding revealed that website design, security/privacy, and fulfillment are statistically correlated with e-service quality. However, customer service is not significantly correlated with e-service quality. Meanwhile, the quality of e-services is statistically significantly related to customer behavior. This study shows that e-service quality can provide good customer behavior post-COVID-19. Online shopping is therefore predicted to boost the economy of the country, but consumers also want high-quality e-services to continue. Retailers can improve their storefronts, engage customers, and promote responsible consumption. Full article

The motivation for this work arose when noticing that definitions of honeypots’ interaction level are mainly based on the information technology environment and do not reflect operational technology even if several honeypot projects approach this field. Within operational technology, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) have a main role, resulting in several honeypot researchers choosing to mimic this device at a certain interaction level. However, searching for an interaction level definition that approaches PLCs results in few studies. In this context, this work aims to explore how to adapt the information technology definition of the interaction level in order to encompass PLCs and their specific features. The method chosen to obtain inputs was a literature review where, in attempting to keep the connection with information technology, the features were based in terms of honey system, honey service, and honey token. The findings of this review provide a means to translate these terms when developing a PLC honeypot for a desired interaction level, resulting in a metrics proposal for low and high interaction. Summarizing the proposed metrics, the system of a PLC can be considered as the vendor specific firmware, its unique device banner, and a realistic network topology. For services, a PLC honeypot reflects the tasks performed by the real device, thus resulting in industrial communication protocols, network management protocols, appropriate response times, code-related interactions, dynamic input and output data processing, physical process simulation, and web interface. Lastly, a PLC honey token can be approached with the PLC program file, MIB file, and software license, among other elements. Based on these metrics, researchers can better evaluate how to design a programmable logic controller honeypot or select tools that match their target interaction level. Full article

Taipei mass rapid transit (MRT), operational since 1996, serves up to two million passengers daily. Equipment malfunctions pose a safety risk, making the dual goals of cost reduction and safety a significant challenge. Recently, outsourcing non-core technical tasks has emerged as an effective cost-control strategy, allowing resource allocation to employee salaries and operational efficiency. This study uses the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to prioritize outsourcing for electromechanical equipment. It incorporates analysis from the outsourcing literature, historical data, and ISO documents from Taipei MRT. The research included interviews and surveys with seven senior managers, using software to analyze the outsourcing priorities of four key systems: electrical and fire safety, environmental air conditioning, escalators and elevators, and power supply. It suggests prioritizing environmental air conditioning, followed by power supply systems, escalators and elevators, and electrical and fire safety systems. Additionally, this study employed the FAHP and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) for the rigorous evaluation and monitoring of vendor selection to ensure quality service and effective contract execution. By comparing technical expertise, problem-solving capabilities, certifications, response times, and contractual performance, this study identified the most suitable vendors. It concludes with recommendations for Taipei MRT to enhance maintenance quality and reduce costs. Full article

Fraud exists on both legitimate e-commerce platforms and illicit dark web marketplaces, impacting both environments. Detecting fraudulent vendors proves challenging, despite clients’ reporting scams to platform administrators and specialised forums. This study introduces a method to differentiate sellers reported as scammers from others by analysing linguistic patterns in their textual traces collected from three distinct cryptomarkets (White House Market, DarkMarket, and Empire Market). It distinguished between potential scammers and reputable sellers based on claims made by Dread forum users. Vendor profiles and product descriptions were then subjected to textometric analysis for raw text and N-gram analysis for pre-processed text. Textual statistics showed no significant differences between profile descriptions and ads, which suggests the need to combine language traces with transactional traces. Textometric indicators, however, were useful in identifying unique ads in which potential scammers used longer, detailed descriptions, including purchase rules and refund policies, to build trust. These indicators aided in choosing relevant documents for qualitative analysis. A pronounced, albeit modest, emphasis on language related to ‘Quality and Price’, ‘Problem Resolution, Communicationand Trust’, and ‘Shipping’ was observed. This supports the hypothesis that scammers may more frequently provide details about transactions and delivery issues. Selective scamming and exit scams may explain the results. Consequently, an analysis of the temporal trajectory of vendors that sheds light on the developmental patterns of their profiles up until their recognition as scammers can be envisaged. Full article

Background: Many epigenetic factors, including microRNAs, are involved in the process of changing gene expressions. Small non-coding RNA molecules, called miRNAs, are responsible for regulating gene translation by silencing or degrading target mRNAs. It is acknowledged that for many diseases, they may be novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases are more likely to develop nodules in the thyroid tissue, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease predispose patients to thyroid cancer. We evaluated the concentrations of microRNA molecules (miR-15a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-150-5p) in the blood of children with thyroid disorders. In addition, we wished to identify molecules whose change in concentration predisposes to the development of thyroid cancer. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate selected epigenetic elements by analyzing the levels of miR-15a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-150-5p and miR-21-5p in the blood of pediatric patients with Graves’ disease (n = 25), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (n = 26) and thyroid nodular disease (n = 20) compared to a control group of healthy children (n = 17). Materials and Methods: The study consists of groups of children and adolescents aged 10–18 years with autoimmune thyroid disease, with thyroid nodular disease compared to a control group. The miR-15a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-21-5p and miR-150-5p molecules were determined through an immunoenzymatic assay using BioVendor reagents. Results: There is a statistically significant decrease in the expression of the miR-15a-5p in children with Graves’ disease (21.61 vs. 50.22 amol/μL, p = 0.03) and in patients with thyroid nodular disease compared to controls (20.23 vs. 50.22 amol/μL, p = 0.04). Higher levels of the miR-142-5p molecule are found in patients with thyroid disease (with GD-3.8 vs. 3.14 amol/μL, p = 0.01; with HT-3.7 vs. 3.14 amol/μL, p = NS, with thyroid nodular disease-4.16 vs. 3.14 amol/μL, p = 0.04). Lower levels of miR-126-3p were noted in the GD group compared to the control group (7.09 vs. 7.24 amol/μL, p = 0.02). No statistically significant changes in the expressions of miR-150-5p and miR-21-5p molecules were observed in the study groups. Conclusions: 1. The overexpression of the miR-142-5p molecule occurs in children and adolescents with thyroid diseases. 2. Decreased blood levels of miR-15a-5p predispose patients to the formation of focal lesions in the thyroid gland. 3. Identifying a lower expression of the miR-126-3p molecule in the blood of children with GD requires careful follow-up for the development of focal lesions in the thyroid gland and evaluation for their potential malignancy. Full article