In the increasingly competitive fashion retail industry, companies are constantly adopting strategies focused on adjusting the products characteristics to closely satisfy customers' requirements and ...preferences. Although the lifecycles of fashion products are very short, the definition of inventory and purchasing strategies can be supported by the large amounts of historical data which are collected and stored in companies' databases. This study explores the use of a deep learning approach to forecast sales in fashion industry, predicting the sales of new individual products in future seasons. This study aims to support a fashion retail company in its purchasing operations and consequently the dataset under analysis is a real dataset provided by this company.
The models were developed considering a wide and diverse set of variables, namely products' physical characteristics and the opinion of domain experts. Furthermore, this study compares the sales predictions obtained with the deep learning approach with those obtained with a set of shallow techniques, i.e. Decision Trees, Random Forest, Support Vector Regression, Artificial Neural Networks and Linear Regression. The model employing deep learning was found to have good performance to predict sales in fashion retail market, however for part of the evaluation metrics considered, it does not perform significantly better than some of the shallow techniques, namely Random Forest.
•New fashion products' sales are predicted using data mining regression techniques.•The performance of both deep neural networks and shallow methods is explored.•Expert knowledge is part of the predictive variables of the developed models.•Variables describing physical and distribution characteristics are considered.
The aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) has been linked to the formation of neuritic plaques, which are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Various natural compounds have been ...suggested as therapeutics for AD. Among these compounds, resveratrol has aroused great interest due to its neuroprotective characteristics. Here, we provide evidence that grape skin and grape seed extracts increase the inhibition effect on Aβ aggregation. However, after intravenous injection, resveratrol is rapidly metabolized into both glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugations of the phenolic groups in the liver and intestinal epithelial cells (within less than 2 h), which are then eliminated. In the present study, we show that solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) functionalized with an antibody, the anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody (OX26 mAb), can work as a possible carrier to transport the extract to target the brain. Experiments on human brain-like endothelial cells show that the cellular uptake of the OX26 SLNs is substantially more efficient than that of normal SLNs and SLNs functionalized with an unspecific antibody. As a consequence, the transcytosis ability of these different SLNs is higher when functionalized with OX-26.
VANETs have emerged as an exciting research and application area. Increasingly vehicles are being equipped with embedded sensors, processing and wireless communication capabilities. This has opened a ...myriad of possibilities for powerful and potential life-changing applications on safety, efficiency, comfort, public collaboration and participation, while they are on the road. Although, considered as a special case of a Mobile Ad Hoc Network, the high but constrained mobility of vehicles bring new challenges to data communication and application design in VANETs. This is due to their highly dynamic and intermittent connected topology and different application’s QoS requirements. In this work, we survey VANETs focusing on their communication and application challenges. In particular, we discuss the protocol stack of this type of network, and provide a qualitative comparison between most common protocols in the literature. We then present a detailed discussion of different categories of VANET applications. Finally, we discuss open research problems to encourage the design of new VANET solutions.
•Explosive welding phenomena is detailed described and reviewed.•The weldability window concept has shown to apply to cylindrical configuration.•Evidence of Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism on interfacial ...wave formation is shown.•The Interfacial wavelength and amplitude are influenced by detonation stability.
The aim of this research is to study the influence of explosive characteristics on the weld interfaces of stainless steel AISI 304L to low alloy steel 51CrV4 in a cylindrical configuration. The effect of ammonium nitrate-based emulsion, sensitized with different quantities and types of sensitizing agents (hollow glass microballoons or expanded polystyrene spheres) and Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) explosives on the interface characteristics is analyzed. Research showed that the type of explosive and the type and proportion of explosive sensitizers affect the main welding parameters, particularly collision point velocity. The morphology of the wavy weld interfaces, chiefly the amplitude and length of the waves, is affected both by the impact velocity and the type and particle size of the explosive sensitizers, and increases with particle size. All the weld interfaces, except welds done with ANFO, displayed localized melted and solidified regions, whose chemical composition resulted from the contribution of both flyer and base metal.
Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenolic non-flavonoid compound present in grapes, mulberries, peanuts, rhubarb and in several other plants. Numerous health effects have been related with its ...intake, such as anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and brain protective effects. The neuroprotective effects of RES in neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases, are related to the protection of neurons against oxidative damage and toxicity, and to the prevention of apoptotic neuronal death. In brain cancer, RES induces cell apoptotic death and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor invasion. Despite its great potential as therapeutic agent for the treatment of several diseases, RES exhibits some limitations. It has poor water solubility and it is chemically instable, being degraded by isomerization once exposed to high temperatures, pH changes, UV light, or certain types of enzymes. Thus, RES has low bioavailability, limiting its biological and pharmacological benefits. To overcome these limitations, RES can be delivered by nanocarriers. This field of nanomedicine studies how the drug administration, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics are affected by the use of nanosized materials. The role of nanotechnology, in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases, arises from the necessity to mask the physicochemical properties of therapeutic drugs to prolong the half-life and to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This can be achieved by encapsulating the drug in a nanoparticle (NP), which can be made of different kinds of materials. An increasing trend to encapsulate and direct RES to the brain has been observed. RES has been encapsulated in many different types of nanosystems, as liposomes, lipid and polymeric NPs. Furthermore, some of these nanocarriers have been modified with targeting molecules able to recognize the brain areas. Then, this article aims to overview the RES benefits and limitations in the treatment of neurological diseases, as the different nanotechnology strategies to overcome these limitations.
•Obtain Pmpp of MJ solar cells under temperature and spectral changes are essential.•This allows understanding and predicting the behaviour of MJ solar cells.•The aim of this paper is to define a ...simple way to obtain Pmpp.•A model based on two equivalent solar cells is introduced.•The model predicts Pmpp of a LM triple junction solar cell at one sun condition.
While single junction solar cells are mainly influenced by changes in irradiance and temperature, multi junction concentrator solar cells show complex behaviour as their performance is also strongly influenced by changes in spectrum. Despite this, when studying the system, it is possible to reduce the problem to a set of parameters that could easily be measured and fitted. A simple model to obtain the maximum power point of multi junction solar cells under temperature and spectral changes is proposed. This model is based on a single diode model and is described by a simple set of equations that are easy to fit within a computational program. The model could be useful to understand the behaviour of multi junction solar cells and also CPV technology under real conditions. The main purpose of this paper is to define a simple way to estimate the maximum power point of a multi junction solar cell under spectral and temperature changes at one sun conditions.
Purpose
Lipid nanoparticles (SLN and NLC) were functionalized with the RVG29 peptide in order to target the brain and increase the neuronal uptake through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These ...nanosystems were loaded with quercetin to take advantage of its neuroprotective properties mainly for Alzheimer’s disease.
Methods
The functionalization of nanoparticles with RVG29 peptide was confirmed by NMR and FTIR. Their morphology was assessed by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticles size, polydispersity and zeta potential were determined by dynamic light scattering. The
in vitro
validation tests were conducted in hCMEC/D3 cells, a human blood-brain barrier model and thioflavin T binding assay was conducted to assess the process of amyloid-beta peptide fibrillation typical of Alzheimer’s disease.
Results
RVG29-nanoparticles displayed spherical morphology and size below 250 nm, which is compatible with brain applications. Zeta potential values were between −20 and −25 mV. Quercetin entrapment efficiency was generally higher than 80% and NLC nanoparticles were able to encapsulate up to 90%. The LDH assay showed that there is no cytotoxicity in hCMEC/D3 cell line and RVG29-nanoparticles clearly increased in 1.5-fold the permeability across the
in vitro
model of blood-brain barrier after 4 h of incubation compared with non-functionalized nanoparticles. Finally, this nanosystem was capable of inhibiting amyloid-beta aggregation in thioflavin T binding assay, suggesting its great potential for neuroprotection.
Conclusions
RVG29-nanoparticles that simultaneously target the blood-brain barrier and induce neurons protection against amyloid-beta fibrillation proved to be an efficient way of quercetin delivery and a promising strategy for future approaches in Alzheimer’s disease.
Graphical Abstract
Wireless sensor networks produce a large amount of data that needs to be processed, delivered, and assessed according to the application objectives. The way these data are manipulated by the sensor ...nodes is a fundamental issue. Information fusion arises as a response to process data gathered by sensor nodes and benefits from their processing capability. By exploiting the synergy among the available data, information fusion techniques can reduce the amount of data traffic, filter noisy measurements, and make predictions and inferences about a monitored entity. In this work, we survey the current state-of-the-art of information fusion by presenting the known methods, algorithms, architectures, and models of information fusion, and discuss their applicability in the context of wireless sensor networks.
Introduction
With the huge increase of life expectancy in developed countries, new needs for long-term care arise in order to guarantee an active ageing for an increasing older adult population. One ...way to promote emotional well-being and quality of life in elderly is through socio-educational interventions.
Objectives
To test the effects of a socio-educational intervention in quality of life and mental health of institutionalized elderly.
Methods
This study employed a pretest-posttest design. Measures: Portuguese version of Mental Health Inventory (Ribeiro, 2001) and WHOQOL-OLD (Vilar, Sousa & Simões, 2009). Qualitative assessment was made using a logbook. Participants: 15 institutionalized elderly, 60% females, with mean age of 82.5 years (sd=8.5). The intervention ran for 2 months, with 12 group sessions, 60 minutes each, held twice a week. A nonparametric paired samples tests was conducted to evaluate the impact of the intervention.
Results
After the intervention, results showed a significant increase of total value of mental health (p=.021). Concerning dimensions: significant increase of positive psychological well-being (p=.014), emotional ties (p=.050), positive affect (p=.004), behavioural emotional control (p=.018), and a significant decrease of depression (p=.043). Concerning quality of live, the results showed a significant increase of the mean values of the facets: social participation and intimacy (p=.005; p=.027, respectively).
Conclusions
Overall, the intervention implemented with institutionalized elderly had good results, with significant increase of positive psychological well-being and decrease of depression. Although there was no control group, the results suggest that the socio-educational intervention implemented can contribute to promote mental health in elderly.
This work aimed to study aluminium to stainless steel explosive welds produced using two different interlayers: carbon steel and niobium. The use of each interlayer was analysed and compared ...microstructurally and mechanically using many characterisation techniques. The final joints using both interlayers presented favourable interfacial microstructure: waves on both interfaces. However, the joint using the carbon steel interlayer showed the best mechanical properties compared to the joints using the niobium interlayer. All interfaces found on both welds were wavy. However, depending on the metallic alloy combination, the shape of the wave is completely different. The results suggest that the shape of the waves is influenced by the shock impedance mismatch of the materials being welded. The impedance mismatch parameter (IMP) developed for explosive welding in this work proved to be a compelling method to order metallic combinations in a single axis to estimate the tendency to form typical or curled waves. Typical symmetrical waves tend to develop less quantity of IMCs than curled waves. However, the mechanical tests performed did not detect differences that could have been caused by this difference.
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