The inertial navigation system (INS) is a basic component to obtain a continuous navigation solution in various applications. The INS suffers from a growing error over time. In particular, its ...navigation solution depends mainly on the quality and grade of the inertial measurement unit (IMU), which provides the INS with both accelerations and angular rates. However, low-cost small micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMSs) suffer from huge error sources such as bias, the scale factor, scale factor instability, and highly non-linear noise. Therefore, MEMS-IMU measurements lead to drifts in the solutions when used as a control input to the INS. Accordingly, several approaches have been introduced to model and mitigate the errors associated with the IMU. In this paper, a machine-learning-based adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ML-based-ANFIS) is proposed to leverage the performance of low-grade IMUs in two phases. The first phase was training 50% of the low-grade IMU measurements with a high-end IMU to generate a suitable error model. The second phase involved testing the developed model on the remaining low-grade IMU measurements. A real road trajectory was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results showed the effectiveness of utilizing the proposed ML-ANFIS algorithm to remove the errors and improve the INS solution compared to the traditional one. An improvement of 70% in the 2D positioning and of 92% in the 2D velocity of the INS solution were attained when the proposed algorithm was applied compared to the traditional INS solution.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious public health issues facing humans since the discovery of antimicrobial agents. The frequent, prolonged, and uncontrolled use of antimicrobial ...agents are major factors in the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial strains, including multidrug-resistant variants. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of nosocomial infections. The abundant data on the increased resistance to antipseudomonal agents support the need for global action. There is a paucity of new classes of antibiotics active against P. aeruginosa. Here, we discuss recent antibacterial resistance profiles and mechanisms of resistance by P. aeruginosa. We also review future potential methods for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as phage therapy, nanotechnology and antipseudomonal vaccines.
Inflammasome targeting and controlling dysbiosis are promising therapeutic approaches to control ulcerative colitis. This report is the first to investigate the mechanisms underlying the ...coloprotective effects of rosuvastatin and
and their combined therapy on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Our results demonstrate the aggravation of intestinal inflammation as a consequence of an HFD following DSS administration. An association between dyslipidemia, LDL oxidation, CD36 expression, ROS generation, thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) upregulation, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation was demonstrated by DSS exposure in HFD-fed rats. We demonstrated that rosuvastatin/
significantly suppressed the DSS/HFD-induced increase in colon weight/length ratio, DAI, MDI, and myeloperoxidase, as well as corrected dysbiosis and improved histological characteristics. Additionally, caspase-1 activity and IL-1β-driven pyroptotic activity was significantly reduced. Rosuvastatin/
showed prominent anti-inflammatory effects as revealed by the IL-10/IL-12 ratio and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6. These latter effects may be attributed to the inhibition of phosphorylation-induced activation of NF-κB and a concomitant reduction in the expression of NLRP3, pro-IL-1β, and pro-IL-18. Furthermore, rosuvastatin/
reduced Ox-LDL-induced TXNIP and attenuated the inflammatory response by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. To conclude, rosuvastatin/Lactobacillus offers a safe and effective strategy for the management of ulcerative colitis.
•Publications in hydrothermal performance of the heat sinks are reviewed.•New techniques used for optimizing the thermal design of heat sinks are discussed.•The gaps, unsolved problems and uncovered ...methods are summarized.•Limitations in some proposed techniques are explained.•Further works and topics are suggested.
Heat sinks are a kind of heat exchangers used for cooling the electronic devices due to the simplicity of fabrication, low cost, and reliability of heat dissipation. The extended surfaces from the heat sinks are either flat-plate fins or pins fins shapes. In the last decades, intensive attentions were spent on miniaturizing the electronic devices because of the high sophisticated micro- and nano-technology development. But the heat dissipation is still the major problem of enhancing the thermal performance the heat sink. In this article, a comprehensive review is carried out on the methods used for optimizing the hydrothermal design of heat sinks. Therefore, available investigations regarding the passive and active techniques utilized for enhancing the heat removal from heat sinks by modifying either the solid domain or fluid domain are covered. The purpose of this study is to summarize the investigational efforts spent for developing the thermal performance of the heat sinks, limitations, and unsolved proposed solutions.
Topoisomerases II are ubiquitous enzymes with significant genotoxic effects in many critical DNA processes. Additionally, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays pivotal role in tumour growth ...and angiogenesis. A novel series of naphtho2',3':4,5thiazolo3,2-
a
pyrimidine hybrids have been designed, synthesised and evaluated for their topo IIα/EGFR inhibitory and apoptotic inducer activities. Cytotoxicity of the synthesised hybrids was evaluated against MCF-7, A549 and HCT-116 cell lines. Of the synthesised hybrids, 6i, 6a and 6c experienced superior cytotoxic activity compared to doxorubicin and erlotinib against the tested cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of these hybrids revealed their ability to successfully inhibit topo IIα and EGFR activities in micromolar concentration and may serve as topo II catalytic inhibitor. Moreover, these hybrids significantly arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase together with increased p53, caspae-7, caspase-9 levels and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The synthesised hybrids showed efficient binding pattern in molecular docking study and have acceptable drug likeness characters.
The current study was aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract (IOLE) on lead acetate (PbAc)-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. PbAc was ...intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight for 5 days alone or in combination with the IOLE (100 mg/kg). Liver lead concentration and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and glutathione content were investigated in addition to the enzymatic antioxidant activities. PbAc injection caused a significant elevation in the liver function parameters, lead level, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide, with a concomitant decline in the glutathione content compared with the control, accompanied by a significant inhibition of antioxidant enzyme activities. The induction of oxidative stress, lead accumulation, and histological alterations in the liver were successfully minimized by pre-administration of IOLE. In addition, the PbAc group showed increase in the levels of Bax, caspase-3, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 proteins, while the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased. Prior administration of IOLE significantly mitigated apoptosis and fibrosis in the liver. Finally, the major components in I. oblongifolia extract were identified as polyphenols, flavonoids, and organic acids using liquid chromatography coupled mass spectroscopy. Thus, the findings of the current study revealed that I. oblongifolia had protective, anti-fibrotic, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities on PbAc-induced hepatotoxicity. The beneficial effects of I. oblongifolia were in part mediated by Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
The poultry industry contributes significantly to bridging the nutritional gap in many countries because of its meat and eggs products rich in protein and valuable nutrients at a cost less than other ...animal meat sources. The natural antibiotics alternatives including probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, organic acids, essential oils, enzymes, immunostimulants, and phytogenic (phytobiotic) including herbs, botanicals, essential oils, and oleoresins are the most common feed additives that acquire popularity in poultry industry following the ban of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). They are commonly used worldwide because of their unique properties and positive impact on poultry production. They can be easily mixed with other feed ingredients, have no tissue residues, improve feed intake, feed gain, feed conversion rate, improve bird immunity, improve digestion, increase nutrients availability as well as absorbability, have antimicrobial effects, do not affect carcass characters, decrease the usage of antibiotics, acts as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, compete for stress factors and provide healthy organic products for human consumption. Therefore, the current review focuses on a comprehensive description of different natural antibiotic growth promoters’ alternatives, the mode of their action, and their impacts on poultry production.
The worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 has forced higher education institutions to shift from face-to-face to online education. However, many public institutions, especially in developing countries, ...often do not have access to formal online learning management systems (LMS) for facilitating communication with students and/or among faculty members. This research empirically examines the extent to which social media sites are adopted by faculty members and students for sustaining formal, i.e., sole and official tools, academic communication. For this purpose, online questionnaire surveys, supplemented with in-depth interviews, were undertaken with both faculty members and students. The results showed that students’ personal usage of social media has promoted its effective usage for sustaining formal teaching and learning. However, significant differences were found between faculty members and students regarding social media usage for student support and building an online community. Students used social media for building an online community and supporting each other, whereas faculty members were focused on teaching and learning exclusively. The results confirm that proper usage of social media could promote a new era of social learning, social presence and an alternative platform to foster online learning. Research implications for higher education policymakers, especially in developing countries, and scholars are discussed.
Background
Compatibility of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) with insecticides is a crucial mainstay of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. This study was designed to evaluate the joint ...action of EPN species and insecticides when employed to deter 3rd and 4th larval instars of cabbage white butterfly,
Pieris rapae
L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) under laboratory conditions. EPNs
Steinernema carpocapsae
(All strain),
S. feltiae
(Filipjev),
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
(HP88), and
H. bacteriophora
(Ar-4), at concentrations of 50, 100, and 125 IJs/larva, were tested with 3 insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin, emamectin benzoate, and indoxacarb) at LC
25
and LC
50
values. Additionally, expression profiles of 2 detoxification genes (CYP6AE120 and PrGSTs1) when the 4th instar larvae were treated by
H. bacteriophora
(HP88) and lambda-cyhalothrin were examined.
Results
Data indicated that statistically significant mortality of 2 larval instars of
P
.
rapae
was observed in vitro among EPN species and pesticide concentrations. At concentration of 50 IJs/larva, LT
50
values were 2.385 and 3.92 days for
S. carpocapsae
(All strain) and
H. bacteriophora
(Ar-4), respectively, on 3rd instar larvae; also, these values were 3.506 and 3.107 days for
S. feltiae
and
H. bacteriophora
(Ar-4), respectively, on 4th instar larvae Lambda-cyhalothrin was the most toxic insecticide, followed by emamectin benzoate and indoxacarb at LC
25
and LC
50
, respectively. An additive effect was observed between EPN species with LC
25
and LC
50
of the tested insecticides, except for lambda-cyhalothrin at LC
50
with
H. bacteriophora
(Ar-4), and indoxacarb, with all EPNs showing antagonistic effects on mortality of 3rd instar larvae after 3 days post-treatment. The interaction between the tested pesticides at LC
25
and LC
50
and EPN species, showed an additive effect, excluding lambda-cyhalothrin at LC
25
with
S. carpocapsae
(All strain) and LC
25
of indoxacarb with
H. bacteriophora
(Ar-4), which showed potentiation effects. The interaction of
S. feltiae
(Filipjev) with tested insecticides at LC
50
exhibited an antagonistic effect on the mortality of 4th instar
P. rapae
larvae after 3 days post-treatment. The expression of both CYP6AE120 and PrGSTs1 was significantly up-regulated with lambda-cyhalothrin, followed by
H. bacteriophora
(HP88) compared to control.
Conclusions
The findings suggested that combining EPNs and the pesticide concentrations can be a practical strategy for managing
P. rapae
and could pave the way to using new control technologies in protecting organic farm vegetables from lepidopteran pests.
MXenes for Plasmonic Photodetection Velusamy, Dhinesh Babu; El‐Demellawi, Jehad K.; El‐Zohry, Ahmed M. ...
Advanced materials (Weinheim),
08/2019, Letnik:
31, Številka:
32
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
MXenes have recently shown impressive optical and plasmonic properties associated with their ultrathin‐atomic‐layer structure. However, their potential use in photonic and plasmonic devices has been ...only marginally explored. Photodetectors made of five different MXenes are fabricated, among which molybdenum carbide MXene (Mo2CTx) exhibits the best performance. Mo2CTx MXene thin films deposited on paper substrates exhibit broad photoresponse in the range of 400–800 nm with high responsivity (up to 9 A W−1), detectivity (≈5 × 1011 Jones), and reliable photoswitching characteristics at a wavelength of 660 nm. Spatially resolved electron energy‐loss spectroscopy and ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy of the MXene nanosheets reveal that the photoresponse of Mo2CTx is strongly dependent on its surface plasmon‐assisted hot carriers. Additionally, Mo2CTx thin‐film devices are shown to be relatively stable under ambient conditions, continuous illumination and mechanical stresses, illustrating their durable photodetection operation in the visible spectral range. Micro‐Raman spectroscopy conducted on bare Mo2CTx film and on gold electrodes allowing for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering demonstrates surface chemistry and a specific low‐frequency band that is related to the vibrational modes of the single nanosheets. The specific ability to detect and excite individual surface plasmon modes provides a viable platform for various MXene‐based optoelectronic applications.
Plasmonic photodetection in Mo2CTx MXene flexible thin films is demonstrated. The photocurrent generation in Mo2CTx is principally controlled by surface plasmon‐assisted hot electrons. The distribution of various surface plasmon modes over individual Mo2CTx nanosheets is visualized by the combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and ultrahigh‐resolution electron energy‐loss spectroscopy.
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