Electromicrofluidic Device for Interference-Free Rapid Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of from Real Samples.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat, progressively emerging as a significant public health issue. Therefore, an antibiotic susceptibility study is a powerful method for combating antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotic susceptibility study collectively helps in evaluating both genotypic and phenotypic resistance.

Limited Sampling Spatial Interpolation Evaluation for 3D Radio Environment Mapping.

The increasing densification and diversification of modern and upcoming wireless networks have become an important motivation for the development of agile spectrum sharing. Radio environment maps (REMs) are a basic tool for spectrum utilisation characterisation and adaptive resource allocation, but they need to be estimated through accurate interpolation methods. This work evaluated the performance of two established algorithms for spatial three-dimensional (3D) data collected in two real-world scenarios: indoors, through a mechanical measuring system, and outdoors, through an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for measurement collection.

HOLOTWIN: A Modular and Interoperable Approach to Holographic Telepresence System Development.

In the field of holographic-type communication (HTC), this paper presents a comprehensive exploration of existing technologies and proposes a novel, modular architecture for holographic telepresence systems (HTPSs). We substantiate our architectural framework through a practical implementation, demonstrating its modularity, interoperability, and versatility. Quantitative and qualitative assessments reveal both the promise and areas for improvement within our platform.

Spiking neural networks for predictive and explainable modelling of multimodal streaming data with a case study on financial time series and online news.

In a first study, this paper argues and demonstrates that spiking neural networks (SNN) can be successfully used for predictive and explainable modelling of multimodal streaming data. The paper proposes a new method, where both time series and on-line news are integrated as numerical streaming data in the same time domain and then used to train incrementally a SNN model. The connectivity and the spiking activity of the SNN are then analyzed through clustering and dynamic graph extraction to reveal on-line interaction between all input variables in regard to the predicted one.

Overview of the Metallization Approaches for Carbyne-Based Devices.

Metallization for contacts in organic electronic nanodevices is of great importance for their performance. A lot of effects can appear at the contact/organic interface and modify the contact parameters, such as contact resistance, adhesive strength, and bonding ability. For novel materials, it is important to study the interactions with metal atoms to develop a suitable technology for contacts, fulfilling to the greatest extent the above-mentioned parameters.

Lyapunov approach to manifolds stability for impulsive Cohen-Grossberg-type conformable neural network models.

In this paper, motivated by the advantages of the generalized conformable derivatives, an impulsive conformable Cohen-Grossberg-type neural network model is introduced. The impulses, which can be also considered as a control strategy, are at fixed instants of time. We define the notion of practical stability with respect to manifolds.

Audio-Conversion of Biomedical Signals - A Possible Approach to Improve Remote Monitoring of Elderly and Visually Impaired People.

Long-term remote patients monitoring implies minimal discomfort and reliability throughout the study period. These requirements are fulfilled by portable (wearable) patient devices, with low consumption, which transmit data wirelessly, at a short distance, to a mobile communication device (GSM) and through it, to a remote end recipient - doctor, medical center or a hospital server. The data transfer technology requires the monitored person to perform a sequence of actions, such as: selecting the appropriate application on the mobile phone, establishing a connection between the patient module and the phone, recording the data in the phone's memory, starting the data transfer from the phone to the final receiver.

Effect of Cu as a Minority Alloying Element on the Corrosion Behaviour of Amorphous and Crystalline Al-Ni-Si Alloy.

The effect of copper as a minority alloying element on the corrosion behaviour of amorphous and crystalline AlNiSi and AlNiSiCu alloys was investigated in this study. Amorphous alloys were produced as rapidly solidified ribbons using the Chill Block Melt Spinning (CBMS) method and subsequently annealed to complete crystallisation. The corrosion rate of alloys was obtained through continuous immersion tests in 3.

AI-Enabled IoT Framework for Leakage Detection and Its Consequence Prediction during External Transportation of LPG.

An accident during the transport of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) via a tanker vehicle leads to the leakage of a flammable substance, causing devastation. In such a situation, the appropriate action with the shortest possible delay can minimize subsequent losses. However, the decision-making mechanism remains unable to detect the occurrence of an accident and evaluate its extent within the critical time.

Assessment of Electromagnetic Field Exposure on European Roads: A Comprehensive In Situ Measurement Campaign.

The rapid evolution of wireless communication technologies (such as fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks) in the last years has allowed connecting different objects (from wearable electronics to vehicles) and people through communication networks, and at the same time, has led to widespread deployment of base stations. Along with this growth, questions about the potential adverse effects on human health due to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from base station antennas have also been raised. In this paper, we focus on the assessment of EMFs in automobiles during short (between cities) and long (between countries) trips on several European roads.

Utilization Perspectives of Lignin Biochar from Industrial Biomass Residue.

The present study aimed at utilizing technically hydrolyzed lignin (THL), industrial biomass residue, derived in high-temperature diluted sulfuric acid hydrolysis of softwood and hardwood chips to sugars. The THL was carbonized in a horizontal tube furnace at atmospheric pressure, in inert atmosphere and at three different temperatures (500, 600, and 700 °C). Biochar chemical composition was investigated along with its HHV, thermal stability (thermogravimetric analysis), and textural properties.

Fucoidan-Containing, Low-Adhesive Siloxane Coatings for Medical Applications: Inhibition of Bacterial Growth and Biofilm Development.

The deposition of low-adhesive siloxane coatings is a current trend for the non-toxic control of bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Total elimination of biofilm formation has not been reported so far. The aim of this investigation was to study the ability of a non-toxic, natural, biologically active substance, such as fucoidan, to inhibit bacterial growth on similar medical coatings.

Linear Interval Approximation of Sensor Characteristics with Inflection Points.

The popularity of smart sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing in various fields and applications. Both collect and transfer data to networks. However, due to limited resources, deploying IoT in real-world applications can be challenging.

Erythrocyte Membrane Biophysical Changes Mediated by Pooled Immunoglobulin G and Hematin: Electrokinetic and Lipid Peroxidation Studies.

Pooled Immunoglobulin G (IgG), hematin and the membrane-disruptive amphipathic peptide melittin have received attention as powerful biomacromolecules for biomedical and pharmacology applications. Their action on surface properties, oxidation status and epifluorescence properties measured in vitro provide useful information about the functional activity of upper biomacromolecules in erythrocytes in vivo. The hemolysis of erythrocyte membranes, as well as changes in hematocrit and the morphology of erythrocytes, was investigated here via fluorescence microscopy using FITC-concanavalin A binding to cells.

Pathogenic Variants Associated with Rare Monogenic Diseases Established in Ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan Genome-Wide Data.

Ancient anatomically modern humans (AMHs) encountered other archaic human species, most notably Neanderthals and Denisovans, when they left Africa and spread across Europe and Asia ~60,000 years ago. They interbred with them, and modern human genomes retain DNA inherited from these interbreeding events. High quality (high coverage) ancient human genomes have recently been sequenced allowing for a direct estimation of individual heterozygosity, which has shown that genetic diversity in these archaic human groups was very low, indicating low population sizes.

Characteristics prediction of hydrothermal biochar using data enhanced interpretable machine learning.

Hydrothermal biochar is a promising sustainable soil remediation agent for plant growth. Demands for biochar properties differ due to the diversity of soil environment. In order to achieve accurate biochar properties prediction and overcome the interpretability bottleneck of machine learning models, this study established a series of data-enhanced machine learning models and conducted relevant sensitivity analysis.

The Influence of the Addition of Hemp Press Cake Flour on the Properties of Bovine and Ovine Yoghurts.

Hemp press cake flour (HPCF) is a by-product of hemp oil production rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, oleochemicals, and phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the addition of HPCF to bovine and ovine plain yoghurts at concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% could change the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of the yoghurts, focusing on the improvement of quality and antioxidant activity, and the issue of food by-products and their utilisation. The results showed that the addition of HPCF to yoghurts significantly affected their properties, including an increase in pH and decrease in titratable acidity, change in colour to darker, reddish or yellowish hue, and a rise in total polyphenols and antioxidant activity during storage.

UAV-Based Volumetric Measurements toward Radio Environment Map Construction and Analysis.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-empowered communications have gained significant attention in recent years due to the promise of agile coverage provision for a large number of various mobile nodes on the ground and in three-dimensional (3D) space. Consequently, there is a need for efficient spectrum utilization in these dense aerial networks, which is characterized through radio environment maps (REMs), the construction of which is an important research area. Nevertheless, due to the difficult collection of radio frequency (RF) data, there are limited works that are based on real-world measurement campaigns.

Challenges in Implementing Low-Latency Holographic-Type Communication Systems.

Holographic-type communication (HTC) permits new levels of engagement between remote users. It is anticipated that it will give a very immersive experience while enhancing the sense of spatial co-presence. In addition to the newly revealed advantages, however, stringent system requirements are imposed, such as multi-sensory and multi-dimensional data capture and reproduction, ultra-lightweight processing, ultra-low-latency transmission, realistic avatar embodiment conveying gestures and facial expressions, support for an arbitrary number of participants, etc.

Analysis of Polarization Images in the Microphysical Blood Parameters Research for the Hematocrit Diagnostics.

The development of non-invasive optoelectronic technologies for human blood monitoring is one of the important research areas for medicine. A critical analysis of optoelectronic methods of blood research and the micromechanical systems based on them is carried out in this article. A design realization of a polarizing portable system for non-invasive monitoring of hematocrit as one of the basic homeostatic constants of the human body containing information about the microphysical parameters of blood cells has been substantiated.

Hybrid Dispersion Model Characterization of PAZO Azopolymer Thin Films over the Entire Transmittance Spectrum Measured in the UV/VIS/NIR Spectral Region.

Notwithstanding the significant optical applicability of PAZO polymer films, there are no accurate data about their optical characteristics. To remedy this shortcoming, in this study three PAZO polymer thin films are characterized, with dissimilar thicknesses, on glass substrates using only one UV/VIS/NIR transmittance spectrum () per sample and an original hybrid dispersion model (HDM). HDM is based on the Tauc-Lorentz model, the new amorphous dispersion formula, the Tauc-Lorentz-Urbach model of Foldyna and the Tauc-Lorentz-Urbach model of Rodriguez.

Cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways linking bitter taste receptor signalling to cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, arrhythmia and contractile dysfunction in heart diseases.

Heart diseases and related complications constitute a leading cause of death and socioeconomic threat worldwide. Despite intense efforts and research on the pathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are yet to be completely understood. Several lines of evidence indicate a critical role of inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in the development and progression of heart diseases.

Effect of Tomato Pomace Addition on Chemical, Technological, Nutritional, and Sensorial Properties of Cream Crackers.

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of tomato pomace (TP) addition on the chemical, nutritional, and technological characteristics of cream crackers made from wheat flour and 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% TP. The TP-enriched cream crackers showed progressively increasing ash (from 0.69 of the control to 1.

Changes in the Surface Texture of Thermoplastic (Monomer-Free) Dental Materials Due to Some Minor Alterations in the Laboratory Protocol-Preliminary Study.

Contemporary thermoplastic monomer-free prosthetic materials are widely used nowadays, and there are a great variety available on the market. These materials are of interest in terms of the improvement of the quality features of the removable dentures. The aim of this study is to establish how minimal changes in the laboratory protocol of polyamide prosthetic base materials influence the surface texture.

Effect of calcium on enhanced carbon capture potential of coal fly ash zeolites. Part II: a study on the adsorption mechanisms.

Coal fly ash zeolites (CFAZs) of type X with low (Na-X) and medium (Na-Ca-X) content of calcium were synthesized by alkaline conversion of lignite coal fly ash generated by combustion of lignite with lower and higher limestone amounts, extracted from different coal deposits and burned in separate thermal power plants. The concentration and state of Ca in the zeolites were investigated by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). CFAZs Na-Ca-X with a medium Ca-content were found to outperform their lower calcium counterparts Na-X in terms of carbon capture capacity.