Applied Sciences

The use of diversified raw materials and various extractant types is justified because the varied chemical composition of extracts obtained via extraction determines their biological activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was (i) to characterize the chemical profile of two types of bearberry extracts (70% ethanolic and water) and (ii) to investigate the biological activity of the analyzed extracts through an assessment of their possible proapoptotic effects on glioma cell lines. The HPLC-UV analysis of individual compounds was performed for the determination of the phytochemical profile of the bearberry extracts, and their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined spectrophotometrically. The induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis in anaplastic astrocytoma MOGGCCM and human glioblastoma LN229 cell lines were investigated. The results indicated that the ethanolic (Et) and aqueous (Aq) extracts had different chemical profiles. The TPC in the Et was ca. 60% higher than in the Aq. Similarly, the TFC and methylarbutin (mARB) concentrations were significantly higher in the Et. On the other hand, the concentration of hydroquinone (HQ) was ca. 70% and that of corilagin (COR) was ca. 100% higher in the Aq. In turn, the presence of ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) was confirmed solely in the Et. In contrast to Aq, Et demonstrated high proapoptotic activity. At the concentration of 2 µL/mL, the level of apoptosis varied between 14.7% and 26% in the case of the MOGGCCM cells and between 12.3% and 33.3% in the case of the LN229 cell line. The knowledge and information obtained in this study indicate a need for further research on the anticancer effect of the studied bearberry phytochemicals on the MOGGCCM and LN229 cell lines and for the elucidation of their molecular anticancer mechanisms. Full article

Pattern recognition in myoelectric control that relies on the myoelectric activity associated with arm motions is an effective control method applied to myoelectric prostheses. Individuals with transhumeral amputation face significant challenges in effectively controlling their prosthetics, as muscle activation varies with changes in arm positions, leading to a notable decrease in the accuracy of motion pattern recognition and consequently resulting in a high rejection rate of prosthetic devices. Therefore, to achieve high accuracy and arm position stability in upper-arm motion recognition, we propose a Deep Adversarial Inception Domain Adaptation (DAIDA) based on the Inception feature module to enhance the generalization ability of the model. Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals were collected from 10 healthy subjects and two transhumeral amputees while performing hand, wrist, and elbow motions at three arm positions. The recognition performance of different feature modules was compared, and ultimately, accurate recognition of upper-arm motions was achieved using the Inception C module with a recognition accuracy of 90.70% ± 9.27%. Subsequently, validation was performed using data from different arm positions as source and target domains, and the results showed that compared to the direct use of a convolutional neural network (CNN), the recognition accuracy on untrained arm positions increased by 75.71% (p < 0.05), with a recognition accuracy of 91.25% ± 6.59%. Similarly, in testing scenarios involving multiple arm positions, there was a significant improvement in recognition accuracy, with recognition accuracy exceeding 90% for both healthy subjects and transhumeral amputees. Full article

Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) laminated glass (LG) with varying numbers of layers is extensively utilized in building structures, and its complex mechanical properties, due to the presence of PVB, pose significant challenges. While comprehensive research has been conducted on the bending behavior of two-layer PVB laminated glass, studies focusing on three-layer variants remain limited. This study aims to investigate the bending behavior of three-layer PVB laminated glass under out-of-plane forces and to ascertain the effects of increasing the number of layers. Experimental studies were carried out on one-, two-, and three-layer PVB laminated glass plates subjected to such loads. During the loading process, the out-of-plane displacement and surface strain of the glass plates were monitored and analyzed. From these observations, load-deflection curves were constructed, allowing for the determination of deflection and strain distribution across the planes. The impact of the number of glass layers on stiffness and ultimate load capacity was examined. Additionally, another experiment was conducted to analyze the mechanical properties of the laminated material (PVB). The research results indicate that the tensile strain at the bottom layer of the laminated glass plate reaches its threshold under an out-of-plane load, leading to a brittle fracture in that layer. However, the remaining layers of PVB LG do not fail at this stage, enabling the plate to continue bearing the load. The average ultimate loads for three-layer, two-layer, and one-layer PVB laminated glass are 37.8 kN, 36 kN, and 24.7 kN, respectively, with a ratio of 1:0.95:0.65. The bending stiffness values for these are 2.77 kN/mm, 1.71 kN/mm, and 1.21 kN/mm, respectively, corresponding to a ratio of 1:0.62:0.44. The stiffness shows a nonlinear increase with the layer count, an effect attributed to the PVB’s characteristics according to the analytical findings. The tensile behavior of the laminated materials demonstrates a bilinear characteristic when subjected to strain. The out-of-plane bending tests on glass plates reveal that when the strain rate is low, PVB behaves like a quasi-linear elastic material. Therefore, for design calculations of PVB LG, adopting an elastic modulus of 1.34 MPa for PVB is deemed reasonable. The findings of this study provide insights for research on laminated glass plates, which are instrumental in refining the calculation methods specified in relevant design standards. Concurrently, it offers guidance for selecting the appropriate number of PVB LG layers in engineering applications. Full article

The EYEFUL system represents a pioneering initiative designed to leverage multisensory systems for the automatic evaluation of functional ability and determination of dependency status in people performing activities of daily living. This interdisciplinary effort, bridging the gap between engineering and health sciences, aims to overcome the limitations of current evaluation tools, which often lack objectivity and fail to capture the full range of functional capacity. Until now, it has been derived from subjective reports and observational methods. By integrating wearable sensors and environmental technologies, EYEFUL offers an innovative approach to quantitatively assess an individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living, providing a more accurate and unbiased evaluation of functionality and personal independence. This paper describes the protocol planned for the development of the EYEFUL system, from the initial design of the methodology to the deployment of multisensory systems and the subsequent clinical validation process. The implications of this research are far-reaching, offering the potential to improve clinical evaluations of functional ability and ultimately improve the quality of life of people with varying levels of dependency. With its emphasis on technological innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, the EYEFUL system sets a new standard for objective evaluation, highlighting the critical role of advanced screening technologies in addressing the challenges of modern healthcare. We expect that the publication of the protocol will help similar initiatives by providing a structured approach and rigorous validation process. Full article

The ability to capture and record high-resolution images over long distances is essential for a wide range of applications, including connected and autonomous vehicles, defense and security operations, as well as agriculture and mining industries. Here, we demonstrate a self-assembled bistatic long-range imaging LiDAR system. Importantly, to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data, we employed a comprehensive suite of denoising methods including temporal, spatial, spectral, and polarization filtering. With the aid of these denoising technologies, our system has been validated to possess the capability of imaging under various complex usage conditions. In terms of distance performance, the test results achieved ranges of over 4000 m during daylight with clear weather, 19,200 m at night, 6700 m during daylight with haze, and 2000 m during daylight with rain. Additionally, it offers an angular resolution of 0.01 mrad. These findings demonstrate the potential to offer comprehensive construction strategies and operational methodologies to individuals seeking long-range LiDAR data. Full article

The objectives of this study were to investigate (a) the relationship between the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1) and a laboratory test for measuring maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), (b) the relationships between anthropometric characteristics and variables of the two aerobic tests (field and laboratory), and (c) differences in performance and anthropometric characteristics among five different playing positions. The study involved 27 U17 young soccer players (16.0 ± 0.6 years). They randomly underwent a maximal laboratory treadmill test to measure VO_2max and the YYIR1 test. Pearson correlation was used to find potential correlations, and a one-way ANOVA was used to find differences between playing positions. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that height was moderately negatively correlated (r = −0.455, p = 0.017) as well as body mass (r = −0.395, p = 0.042). Significant positive correlation was observed between vVO_2max and the distance covered in YYIR1 (r = 0.393, p = 0.042). Finally, no differences were observed between playing positions in any anthropometric characteristic or in any variable of the two aerobic tests (laboratory or field) (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the YYIR1 test is not suitable for estimating VO_2max. Additionally, the lack of differences between playing positions may be due to the limited specialization of the training load received by the players until this age. Full article

A knowledge graph is a repository that represents a vast amount of information in the form of triplets. In the training process of completing the knowledge graph, the knowledge graph only contains positive examples, which makes reliable link prediction difficult, especially in the setting of complex relations. At the same time, current techniques that rely on distance models encapsulate entities within Euclidean space, limiting their ability to depict nuanced relationships and failing to capture their semantic importance. This research offers a unique strategy based on Gibbs sampling and connection embedding to improve the model’s competency in handling link prediction within complex relationships. Gibbs sampling is initially used to obtain high-quality negative samples. Following that, the triplet entities are mapped onto a hyperplane defined by the connection. This procedure produces complicated relationship embeddings loaded with semantic information. Through metric learning, this process produces complex relationship embeddings imbued with semantic meaning. Finally, the method’s effectiveness is demonstrated on three link prediction benchmark datasets FB15k-237, WN11RR and FB15k. Full article

The burgeoning complexity and heterogeneity of IoT networks, coupled with their rapid growth, constant evolution, and new players, present significant challenges in terms of connectivity, interoperability, management, and usability. These networks, composed of a diverse array of devices, technologies and the like, demand innovative solutions to bridge the gaps between different IoT technologies and communication protocols. This article presents a simple, yet efficacious communication Relay to address one of these critical gaps. This Relay uses NB-IoT to ease the integration of 6LoWPAN-based IoT devices (IPv6) into the public legacy Internet (IPv4). This device translates 6LoWPAN, IPv6 CoAP messages into Internet-standard REST requests, so that appropriate handling of devices’ data be achieved in several stages. Thus, the Relay establishes two branches of communications: (i) the local network where the 6LoWPAN gateway is placed, and (ii) the public NB-IoT network. User interaction and data analysis are achieved by virtue of Home Assistant, where former 6LoWPAN devices are now discovered and shown as proper Home Assistant entities thanks to the Relay’s ease of integration into the open-source platform. This novel approach not only ensures efficient data and network management, but it also meets the urgent necessity for advanced solutions in enhancing actual IoT interconnectivity and monitoring. The unprecedented pace at which IoT devices, players and different networks have been proliferating in recent times is not compatible with countless manufacturer-dependent platforms, applications, and proprietary protocols that the IoT field has been leading with so far, almost from its beginnings. Full article

High–speed, high–power photodiodes play a key role in wireless communication systems for the generation of millimeter wave (MMW) and terahertz (THz) waves based on photonics–based techniques. Uni–traveling–photodiode (UTC–PD) is an excellent candidate, not only meeting the above–mentioned requirements of broadband (3 GHz~1 THz) and high–frequency operation, but also exhibiting the high output power over mW–level at the 300 GHz band. This paper reviews the fundamentals of high–speed, high–power photodiodes, mirror–reflected photodiodes, microstructure photodiodes, photodiode–integrated devices, the related equivalent circuits, and design considerations. Those characteristics of photodiodes and the related photonic–based devices are analyzed and reviewed with comparisons in detail, which provides a new path for these devices with applications in short–range wireless communications in 6G and beyond. Full article

Granular flow is one of the most destructive geological hazards in mountainous areas, posing a severe threat to the economy and personnel safety in the region. Shed tunnels are widely used for the prevention and mitigation of granular flow hazards. Thus, comprehensively studying the impact mechanisms of granular flows on shed tunnels is significant for disaster prevention and mitigation. This study adopts a combined approach of a physical model experiment and Particle Flow Code (PFC) simulation to investigate the impact force of granular flow on shed tunnels and the buffering effect of cushion layers. The influences of slope angle, cushion layer thickness, and cushion layer particle size are discussed. It is revealed that as the slope angle increases, the velocity of the granular flow and the impact force on the shed rise significantly. When the slope angle increases from 40° to 60°, the peak velocity surges by 25%, while the impact force intensifies by 2–3 times. Moreover, increasing the thickness of the cushion layer can mitigate the interaction between the granular flow and the shed tunnel, thereby enhancing structural safety. With an increase in cushion layer thickness from 0 to 200 mm, the impact force is reduced by approximately 50%. Meanwhile, reducing the particle size of the cushion layer effectively decreases the impact force, resulting in less kinetic energy and providing a stronger cushioning effect. Full article

Background: Baobab fruit is valued for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. Although it is acknowledged that baobab pulp is beneficial for health, studies that link its nutraceutical properties to the ability to eliminate reactive species (ROS and RNS) are scarce. Methods: The nutritional profile and the antioxidant properties of baobab pulp extracts from Angola were evaluated. Thus, for the first time, the evaluation of in vitro scavenging capacity against the most physiologically relevant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were the focus of investigation. Results: Angolan fruit pulp presented high contents of ash (8.0%) and total dietary fiber (52%). Vitamin E content was reported for the first time in fruit pulp. Green solvents were used to quantify bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Hydroalcoholic extracts exhibited the highest contents of phenolics (1573.0 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (768.7 mg/100 g). Thus, hydroalcoholic extracts showed higher antioxidant activity, and higher scavenging capacity for ROS (O₂^•−, H₂O₂, HOCl, ROO^•) and RNS (^•NO, ONOO⁻), being most active for ^•NO and ONOO⁻. Conclusion: For the first time, Angolan baobab fruit was described in respect to its nutritional contribution as well as its positive antioxidant effects, both as a functional food and as a nutraceutical ingredient. Full article

Tunnel construction adjacent to the fault fracture zone is prone to water inrush disasters, which pose a serious threat to the safety of tunnel construction. To provide theoretical support for the early warning and prevention of water inrush disasters of the tunnel adjacent to the water-rich faults, a numerical analysis based on the three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) was performed to study the evolution of the displacement and seepage fields of the water-resistant rock mass of a tunnel adjacent to a water-rich fault during the water inrush process by taking the Xianglushan tunnel as the research project. With reference to the obtained results, a grouting reinforcement scheme was developed, and its effectiveness was evaluated. The results indicated that as the tunnel face approached the water-rich fault fracture zone, the effect of water pressure gradually became obvious, and the displacement at the face continuously increased. When the tunnel face was excavated to the position 5 m from the fault, the displacement at the center of the face changed suddenly with a sudden increase in water pressure. The water-resistant rock mass ahead of the center of the face was damaged, and a water inrush disaster occurred in the tunnel. Numerical simulation results demonstrated the feasibility of the grouting reinforcement scheme. The assessment based on the borehole acoustic waves, borehole TV, geological radar detection, and convergence monitoring as well as the excavation results confirmed that the water inrush disasters in the 2# adit of Xianglushan tunnel adjacent to the water-rich fault were effectively prevented and controlled, which can provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of the frequent water inrush disasters in underground projects constructed in the water-rich fault area. Full article

A recurrent solution to consecutive transit assignment problems is typically required to help address the bus network design problem (BNDP). Intriguingly, the transit assignment issue is differentiated by a number of distinctive characteristics. In this article, a complete analysis of one of the well-known graphical representations of the problem is conducted. The presented design is founded on the representation of the transit network by De Cea and Fernandez (1993). They developed an innovative section-based graph augmentation of the real transit network to overcome many of the mathematical formulation complexities of the problem. This study is organized to thoroughly investigate and review the model to shed light on its capabilities for use in BNDP solution schemes. The review provides the needed information to give the reader a full assessment of the selected bus assignment model. The importance of this review is shown by the fact that the most widely utilized transit assignment models in the BNDP are inadequate in their fundamental assumptions when compared to the model under consideration. The model’s graphical representation and solution technique are described in depth in addition to the constraints that will be integrated into the BNDP solution approaches. We want to refocus emphasis on this approach for further BNDP research since it is infrequently used in BNDP solution frameworks. Full article

In order to study the influence of various parts of the structure of a wet dust removal fan for mining (including the number of driving impeller blades, the airfoil of the driving impeller blades, the number of driven impeller blades, the rear guide vane, the swirl guide vane, and the length of the outlet section) on dust removal performance, a wet dust removal fan for mining was modeled according to different structural parameters. The internal flow field and dust removal of the fan were then numerically simulated using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. The results show that after the airflow passes through the swirl guide vane of the dust removal fan, there is an obvious swirl flow in the exit section of the dust removal fan. Under the action of centrifugal force, a large amount of dust is collected on the side wall of the exit section. With the increase in the number of driving impeller blades, the total pressure efficiency, static pressure efficiency, and dust removal efficiency of the dust removal fan decrease. When the driving impeller blade adopts the C-4 airfoil, the total pressure efficiency and static pressure efficiency of the dust removal fan are higher but the dust removal efficiency is lower than that of the same thickness circular plate airfoil. With the increase in the number of driven impeller blades, the power of the driving impeller shaft of the dust removal fan gradually increases; the total pressure and static pressure values first increase and then decrease; and the driven impeller speed, total pressure efficiency, static pressure efficiency, and dust removal efficiency gradually decrease. Adding the rear guide vane structure can improve the total pressure efficiency and static pressure efficiency of the dust removal fan but will reduce the dust removal efficiency of the dust removal fan. The increase in the swirl guide vane structure will reduce the total pressure efficiency and static pressure efficiency of the dust removal fan but the dust removal efficiency will be significantly improved. The extension of the outlet section of the dust removal fan will reduce the total pressure efficiency and static pressure efficiency of the dust removal fan, but the dust removal efficiency will increase. In this paper, by changing the structural parameters of the dust removal fan and establishing different models for numerical simulation and analysis, the influence law of the structural parameters of the dust removal fan on the dust removal performance is obtained, providing a way to improve the performance of the dust removal fan. Full article

Environmental protection encompasses various aspects, ranging from well-known concerns like air and water pollution to landscape preservation. One often-overlooked facet of pollution is the mitigation of vibrations, a matter addressed not only by Polish legislation but also by EU directives. Human perception of vibrations constitutes a crucial subjective parameter in evaluating the level of vibration pollution, and is influenced by factors such as age, gender, and individual height. Buildings are predominantly exposed to vibration excitation from external sources, including industrial machinery (e.g., vibration road rollers, pile driving) and transport-related sources such as roads, railways, subways, or trams. Vibrations transmitted from the ground to a building can impact its structural integrity, but more commonly, they result in discomfort for occupants. Particularly, unexpected vibrations from transport-related sources can be bothersome. This study aimed to check whether there is a correlation between the type of train and the speed of travel near a representative residential building of brick construction. This study used actual in situ measurements of the horizontal components and the vertical component of vibrations in the building. Analyses of the measured vibration components were carried out to assess the impact of vibrations on people staying in the building and passively receiving these vibrations. Procedures described in the Polish standard concerning measurements and method of analysis were used. The analyses used the value of the vibration impact index on people (WODL). This study used linear and nonlinear regression analyses to obtain information on whether there is a relationship between the type of train, its speed, and the value of the WODL index. The results of the analyses indicate a relationship between the speed of the train and the value of the WODL index, but it should be emphasized that some events deviate from the developed regression model. Adopting a multiple regression model that takes into account the speed of the train and its type gives better results. Our findings should provide valuable information for designers and managers involved in the planning and operation of train transport systems. Full article

In order to effectively improve the drilling speed in deep hard rock and save drilling costs, this study explores the transformation mechanism and critical velocity range of ultra-high-speed diamond drilling technology on rock breaking effect, using marble as an example. The study establishes an ultra-high-speed single diamond fragmentation model using the finite element method (FEM) and solves for the unknown critical velocity of marble in this drilling technique. Additionally, small diameter bit drilling experiments were conducted on our self-developed ultra-high-speed diamond drilling test bench. Based on existing simulation results and experimental studies, we discuss the critical velocity problem and compare and analyze the change in the rock-breaking mechanism and mechanical specific energy (MSE) under conventional drilling versus ultra-high-speed rotary drilling conditions. Our results indicate that changes in rock breaking mechanisms under ultra-high-speed diamond drilling conditions are limited to a specific speed range and do not persist with increasing speeds. Furthermore, experimental verification confirms that ultra-high-speed diamond drilling can effectively reduce MSE and increase the rate of penetration (ROP) by altering the rock-breaking mode. It is hoped that these findings will provide valuable insights for applying this technology to various hard rocks. Full article

Railway embankment slopes are exposed to natural hazards such as excess rainfall, floods, earthquakes, and lake water/groundwater level variations. These are generally considered during the design, construction, and maintenance periods of the embankment. In this study, combined laboratory test methods and a computational approach were applied to assess the effect of groundwater level changes on the railway embankment. The Plackett–Burman (PBD), Box–Behnken design response surface methodology (BBD-RSM), and an artificial neural network (ANN) were used to predict the behavior of the embankment soil hydromechanical properties to determine the integrity of the embankment as water level fluctuates under varied seasonal conditions. The results show that the seepage line is concave during the rising water level (RWL) period, and the railway slope’s static stability factor surges and then stabilizes. Further analysis found that the slope’s stability is largely affected by some of the hydromechanical properties of the soil embankment material, such as the internal friction angle (ϕ), soil density (ρ_s), and cohesion (c). The second-order interaction factors c x s, x s, and s² also affect the stability factor. It was observed that the four most sensitive parameters under both falling water level (FWL) and RWL conditions are ϕ, ρ_s, c, and rate of fall/rise in water level (H). The statistical evaluation of the RSM model produced R² values of 0.99(99) and 0.99, with MREs of 0.01 and 0.24 under both RWL and FWL conditions, respectively, while for ANN, they produced R² values of 0.99(99) and 0.99(98), with MRE values of 0.02 and 0.21, respectively. This study demonstrates that RSM and ANN performed well under these conditions and enhanced accuracy, efficiency, iterations, trial times, and cost-effectiveness compared to full laboratory experimental procedures. Full article

This study optimized the design of an aeration device for pond engineered recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) whose application is aimed at increasing dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in RAS aquaculture practice. DO is a key factor in aquaculture productivity, and oxygenators are the power devices used for regulating its levels in aquaculture ponds. In this study, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) aquaculture trials were conducted in a self-built RAS by using the new aeration device (NAD); the microporous and impeller aeration components were individually tested in terms of performance, and then combined for the orthogonal testing of their operating parameters in order to assess the NAD’s oxygenation capacity. The test results show that the device effectively increased the dissolved oxygen levels in the RAS tank, enhanced the upper–lower water layer exchange and directional flow, and met the design and parameter selection requirements. Compared with the existing RAS oxygenation equipment, the NAD operated with the optimal parameters and increased the oxygen transfer rate in the pond water tank by 122%. Full article

This paper proposes a dynamic phase comparison algorithm for planar direction finding on a high-speed moving satellite radio receiver, treating the moving antenna as equivalent to single-baseline array antennas. Based on a phase interferometer algorithm, this algorithm adjusts the baseline length according to the frequency measurement module and the satellite’s high-speed motion to avoid phase ambiguity indirectly. By integrating the traditional amplitude comparison algorithm based on orthogonal dipole antennas, a dynamic fusion direction-finding method is proposed. Simulations demonstrate that this approach method not only covers a broader range of direction finding but also achieves higher accuracy, providing valuable insights for acquiring three-dimensional plasmagrams with space-borne plasma imagers. Full article