Browse Our Latest Applied Sciences Journals
In applied sciences, researchers use particular scientific methods to achieve practical goals. You can think of applied sciences as a broad, integrated area of various scientific fields that involve agronomy, agriculture, food science, medicine, engineering, computer science, and many other natural and social science disciplines. The main goal of applied science is to provide more knowledge and practical applications
Materials and Applied Sciences
Abstract
The European Union's (EU) future will be fundamentally determined by innovation-based competitiveness. The study examines what characterized the EU's innovation status as a whole and its member states between 2017 and 2024. For the situation analysis, the study examines the development of the Summary Innovation Index (SII) values describing the innovation status of the member states using the ARIMA model and K-means clustering. The study estimates the expected innovation status of the EU and its member states in the medium term using the Linear Trend Model. The results show that innovation is the least coordinated area of the EU cohesion policy, as there is a significant gap in the innovation status of the member states. In the case of the two extreme innovation values, the difference is four times greater. By this ratio, the average innovation development of the Scandinavian states is higher than the development level of some Eastern European member states. The extrapolation results show that the innovation gap will likely persist in the medium term despite continuous modernization.
Abstract
Ferulic acid (FA) is recognised for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the application is limited due to its poor solubility. Glycerol esterification improves the hydrophilicity of organic phenolic acids. The results showed that feruloyl glycerol (FG) was successfully synthesised with a molecular weight of 268. During the simulated intestinal digestion, free FA was released from FG under the action of pancreatin. Consequently, FA and FG were present in mixed micelles, and the proportion of free FA positively correlated with pancreatin activity, which improved the bioaccessibility of FA. During the colonic fermentation phase, we observed that FA could also be released from FG through the action of gut microbiota, but the content of FG in digestive residue was low, indicating that most of the FG was hydrolysed in the small intestine. This experiment helps to understand the absorption pathways and fate of FG during digestion and provides guidance for the utilisation of insoluble organic phenolic acids.
Abstract
Oleogels are semi-solid systems formed by different gelators through gelation processes to reduce fat content and saturated fatty acids of structured oil types. The objective is to assess the effect of hydrocolloids' type (xanthan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, locust bean gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, guar, gum arabic, and carrageenan) on corn oil organogels' properties. Hydrocolloid solutions had non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour. The locust bean gum had the lowest (0.02 Pa s) and the guar had the highest (264.8 Pa s) consistency coefficient. Hydrocolloids exhibited one endothermic transition peak within 88.7–114.5 °C. The highest (2813.4 J g−1) and lowest (1082.0 J g−1) melting enthalpies were measured for carboxymethyl cellulose and guar, respectively. Corn oil oleogel with arabic gum had the strongest viscoelastic properties. The yielded locust bean gum oleogel was of the lowest gel firmness (0.08 N) and highest oil release (88.7%). The oleogel produced with arabic gum required higher melting enthalpy (79.2 J g−1). The FTIR spectra revealed that the gel network formed due to the physical entanglements was stabilised by non-covalent interactions. The diffraction patterns of XRD indicate that using guar, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, xanthan, and carrageenan were more practical in producing oleogel with β′ polymorph crystals compared to gum arabic and locust bean gum. A change in the microstructure and appearance of the oleogels was observed when different hydrocolloids were used. The characterisation of oleogels demonstrated that the type of hydrocolloids had a key role in the oil–polymer interactions, and consequently in the network features and oleogel properties. Locust bean gum as a gelator with the weakest viscoelastic properties and melting temperature was not appropriate for oleogelation. Prepared oleogels with gum arabic and xanthan had suitable oil-binding capacity, firmness, and viscoelastic properties for pioneering applications in food products, where low saturated and trans fatty acids are sought.
Abstract
Allostatic load (AL) is a comprehensive physiologic measure of the body's chronic stress response and is associated with physical and mental health risks. The function of DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) model in the development of AL is unclear. The relationship between the DASH score and AL was examined in this study. 1,565 US adults from NHANES database 2017–2020 were selected for the study, and DASH dietary pattern was assessed using DASH score, and ≥4.5 indicated compliance with DASH diet. AL was calculated using 11 biomarkers, and a score >3 indicated high levels. The relationship between DASH score and AL was analysed using logistic regression. In this study, a high AL prevalence of 35.4% (n = 555) was found. In the unadjusted model, a high DASH score was associated with a low level of AL [OR = 0.458, 95% CI (0.306, 0.687), P < 0.001], and this relationship persisted in the adjusted model [OR = 0.473, 95% CI (0.310, 0.720), P < 0.001]. DASH score are negatively associated with AL, and low DASH score increase the risk of high AL, which can adversely affect physical and mental health.
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of steaming and blanching pre-treatments on the physicochemical properties, bioactive compound content, and antioxidant activity of black garlic during fermentation. Moisture content and pH decreased over fermentation time, while titratable acidity increased. Pre-treatments enhanced the total phenolic, flavonoid, and flavonol contents, as well as antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS+, FRAP), compared to control samples, with steaming pre-treatment being more effective than boiling. 5-HMF and S-allyl cysteine (SAC) levels were optimised with pre-treatments, promoting the formation of bioactive compounds. These methods offer an efficient, cost-effective way to enhance black garlic production, shorten processing times, and improve its nutritional and economic value.
Abstract
Car body panels are one of the vehicle components that support the existence of the car interior and maintain the safety of passengers, especially in monocoque-type car bodies. Car panel materials, which generally use steel materials, have the disadvantage of being relatively heavy and having a short service life due to corrosion. To achieve higher energy efficiency in energy-efficient vehicles, honeycomb sandwich structures made of polymer composites, which are lighter in weight, can achieve a higher power-to-weight ratio. In this research, a polymer matrix composite material with a honeycomb sandwich structure was created and tested as an alternative material to replace steel for car body panels. Composite made from WR-200 Fiberglass as a reinforcing agent and SHCP 2668 CM-M resin as a bonding agent to determine the effect of the detailed honeycomb sizing, especially on the flexural strength and stiffness characteristics, have been used. Several specimens were made with variations in cell-pitch sizes of 20 and 40 mm, variations in the cell-height size of 10, 20 and 40 mm and variations in the thickness of the cell wall thickness obtained from the use of layers of Fiberglass of one, two and four layers. From the bending tests performed on all specimens, it was known that the highest flexural strength value have the specimens with a cell-pitch size of 20 mm, cell height of 10 mm and cell wall thickness of 4 layers of Fiberglass, namely 36.13 N mm−2. The specimen has the highest stiffness value with a cell pitch of 40 mm, cell height of 40 mm and cell wall thickness of 4 layers of Fiberglass, which is 338 N mm−1.
Abstract
Children have increased their screen time in recent years. The aim of this study was to describe the use of smartphone, tablet, and television (TV) during breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a sample of Spanish children from three months up to five years. A cross-sectional study was performed using a convenience sample, with 410 parents of Spanish children aged three months to five years. Data were collected from March 2021 to March 2022 using an ad hoc, self-administered, online questionnaire. Prevalence of use of smartphone, tablet, and TV during meals were calculated overall and according to characteristics of the child (i.e., sex and age of the child, having siblings, having older siblings) and characteristics of the respondent (i.e., relationship with the child, age, educational level). Chi-squared tests of independence were carried out to explore the association between smartphone, tablet, and TV usage and independent variables. The prevalence of use of any screen device was 18.3% during breakfast, 18.5% during lunch, and 19.0% during dinner. The percentage of smartphone, tablet, and TV use was higher in children aged two to five years compared to those from three months to two years, with statistically significant differences in the percentage of TV use during lunch and dinner between the two age groups and in the percentage of tablet use during dinner. In addition, the probability of using each of the devices at each of the meals was lower for children of parents with university educational level than for children of parents with non-university educational level. Overall, the use of screen devices during the mealtimes in this sample of children in Spain is high. Screen time should be avoided during mealtimes to encourage healthier behaviours, such as family communication and learning proper eating habits.
Abstract
Applying Machine Learning (ML) has seen rapid progress in many disciplines, such as architectural design. Recent research reveals promising potential for integrating ML in solving design problems. This paper explored how ML can serve as a tool to guide designing action. It conducted thematic analyses of ML experiments in the architecture domain to build a framework addressing two key aspects: the tasks achieved and the required training dataset. The paper found that ML mainly performs design generation, optimization, and recognition via classification and clustering. Three scenarios of design generation using ML have started from pre-design requirements and constraints, conceptual design, or parametric design. ML can predict design features based on prescribed performance or calculate performance metrics, based on varied design options. Design recognition classifies or clusters designs to detect their styles, typologies, and morphologies, besides tracking the process of best practices. The specifications of training datasets vary in terms of data sources as real or virtual, techniques for representing datasets as visual or textual, and the relationships between input and output datasets as refinement, embodiment, sorting, or evaluation. The findings revealed that ML has a wide range of experimentation and opens more opportunities for further integration in the design process.
Az EU határrendészeti együttműködése a nyugat-balkáni országokkal
EU-Western Balkans border police cooperation
A Nyugat-Balkán a migrációs folyamatok és azok társadalmi dinamikája szempontjából jelentős szerepet játszik Európa történetében. Az utóbbi évtizedekben a térség számos migrációs krízis színhelyévé vált, amelyek okai között a háborúk, a politikai instabilitás, a gazdasági nehézségek és a társadalmi egyenlőtlenségek említhetők.
Az Európai Unió (EU) számára a Nyugat-Balkánon keresztülhaladó illegális migrációs útvonal szintén kiemelt jelentőséggel bír, mivel a Közel-Keletről, Ázsiából és részben Afrikából érkező migránsok leggyakrabban ezt az útvonalat használják az EU-ba való bejutáshoz. Az útvonalon végbemenő változások folyamatos nyomon követése elengedhetetlen az EU számára ahhoz, hogy hatékonyan kezelje a migrációs kihívásokat, és megőrizze a tagállamok biztonságát.
Az ellenőrizetlen migráció okozta nyomás csökkentése, a különböző intenzitású migrációs hullámok kezelése, az embercsempészés megakadályozása és a határok ellenőrzése érdekében kulcsfontosságú, hogy a nyugat-balkáni országok megerősítsék határrendészeti képességeiket, amihez az EU-nak is támogatást kell nyújtania.
A tanulmány célja, hogy áttekintse és bemutassa az EU és a nyugat-balkáni országok közötti határrendészeti együttműködés fejlődését az elmúlt évtizedben, valamint az együttműködés politikai és jogi kereteit.
Változó migrációs trendek a Nyugat-Balkánon
Changing migration trends in the Western Balkan
A tanulmány az elmúlt egy évben a nyugat-balkáni irreguláris migrációs útvonalon bekövetkezett változásokat vizsgálja. Az elemzés kiemeli Románia és Bulgária tranzitországként betöltött növekvő szerepét, ami a szigorított határellenőrzéseknek és a migrációs minták változásának köszönhető. Ezenfelül bemutatja az olyan közösségimédia-platformok funkcióját az embercsempész-hálózatok szervezésében, mint a Facebook és a WhatsApp, ahol az anonim kommunikáció révén szervezik az illegális határátlépéseket. Továbbá a kutatás részletesen elemzi az alternatív útvonalak dinamikáját, különös tekintettel a román–magyar határra, és értékeli a helyi hatóságok válaszlépéseit, beleértve a Frontexszel való szorosabb együttműködést. A terepkutatások és az online csoportok tevékenységeinek feltárása révén fény derül az irreguláris migráció és az embercsempészés jelentette kihívásokra, rámutatva az integrált szakpolitikai megoldások szükségességére.
Abstract
Two Muscat grapes, Zaoheibao and Xiahei, with strong aroma were selected, co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (CFZ and CFX) in different proportions, and dried (CZD and and CXD). The physicochemical characteristics, colour, and volatile compounds in wine samples were measured. Compared with Cabernet Sauvignon wine, drying reduced the aroma compounds and colour but increased phenols content, improving overall quality based on sensory evaluation, especially for Zaoheibao (CZD, 3:1), which obtained the highest sensory score accompanied by increased rose oxide and phenols contents. Regarding Xiahei wine, different treatments had different effects. CFX wines co-fermented in a ratio of 1:3 and 3:1 have prominent aroma compounds. After drying, CXD wines co-fermented in a ratio of 3:1 have a more prominent taste. This research puts forward new innovation points and makes an in-depth analysis and research on specific problems.
Abstract
This study examined the effect of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) (0%–3%) on the stability of total phenolic content (TPC), anthocyanins, and colour in aronia juice under heat treatments (60 °C, 80 °C for up to 120 min). TPC and anthocyanins were measured using spectrophotometry and HPLC. The highest TPC (8545.02 ± 355.55 GAE mg L−1) was measured in aronia juice with 1% GSE after 60 min at 80 °C. The highest anthocyanin retention (3178.75 mg L−1) was detected in the sample with 1% GSE after 5 min at 60 °C. Cyanidin-3-galactoside was the most abundant anthocyanin, followed by cyanidin-3-xyloside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside. Cyanidin-3-arabinoside showed the lowest heat stability, while cyanidin-3-galactoside was relatively more stable. This study, the first to evaluate anthocyanin half-life values in chokeberry juice, suggests that 1% GSE enhances colour stability during heat treatment, supporting its use as a natural food additive.
Abstract
Legumes are not only known to hold many nutritional values, including minerals such as iron, but also to contain antinutrients that can inhibit mineral absorption. Fermentation and germination are deemed simple, accessible, and sustainable ways to improve the nutritional composition of legumes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of spontaneous fermentation and germination on the antinutrients and iron levels of several legumes, consisting of soybean, kidney bean, and mung bean. Each legume type underwent spontaneous fermentation through soaking for 72 h and germination for 72 h, followed by milling to obtain their flours. The results indicated that spontaneous fermentation and germination could effectively reduce all legumes' tannin and phytic acid contents. However, while spontaneous fermentation increased iron content in all legume types, germination decreased iron content in soybean and kidney bean flours. This study has revealed that spontaneous fermentation served as the most effective method to reduce antinutrients and enhance iron levels in legumes. Therefore, this study is expected to support the fulfilment of the body's iron needs through legume's simple processing methods, such as spontaneous fermentation.
Abstract
Systems based on mobile multirobots have gained considerable attention in the past two decades because of their efficacy and flexibility in various real-world applications. An essential component of these systems is multi-robot task allocation (MRTA), which concerns allocating tasks to mobile robots in an efficient manner. The effectiveness of MRTA is influenced by the size of the search space and computational time, and both increase substantially as the number of tasks and robots involved increases. This study introduces an effective solution to the MRTA problem by employing a two-stage approach. First, nearby tasks are automatically grouped into clusters by using an enhanced dynamic distributed particle swarm optimization algorithm. Second, mobile robots are assigned to the closest clusters. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. Simulations are conducted to compare the proposed method with particle swarm optimization and differential evolution approaches. Numerical results confirm that the proposed approach exhibits highly competitive performance in terms of clustering cost, clustering time, and overall time (clustering and assigning time). This approach is advantageous for real-world applications involving numerous robots and targets.
Abstract
This study investigates the flavour profile of volatile compounds in venison-based prepared food subjected to various reheating methods. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and electronic nose technology were employed to detect and analyse the characteristic flavour of three types of venison prefabricated food samples, which underwent different reheating treatments. During the research, 41 distinct volatile compounds were identified from the venison prefabricated food samples. Following normalisation of ion peaks and three statistical analysis techniques, 21 types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected effectively from dishes reheated by air fryer. According to data analysed by the odour description database, the venison-containing dishes exhibited superior retention of wine and onion aromas upon reheating. The results of electronic nose detection indicated the presence of benzaldehyde, alcohols, aromatics, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and aliphatic aromatic substances in braised venison prefabricated vegetables; especially benzaldehyde and alcohols displayed similar aroma characteristics as detected by GC-IMS. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) identified key variables contributing significantly to the volatile flavour profiles in venison prepared vegetables across different reheating methods: The main odourants were ethanol, undecane D, 1-propanol, ethyl acetate (acetic acid ethyl ester), 3-methylbutan-1-ol, n-pentanal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 1-butanol, butanal, and other 30 compounds (VIP > 1).
Abstract
Antibiotics are employed worldwide for both prevention and therapeutic purposes against infectious diseases on dairy farms. Recurrent infections frequently arise from biofilm-forming bacteria. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oak honey, honeycomb capping, and propolis against certain biofilm-associated and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The total phenolic content (TPC) values for propolis, honeycomb capping, and oak honey samples were 298, 128, and 72 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g, respectively. Oak honey showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value (<0.08%) against the strong biofilm of non-bla CTX-M Serratia fonticola-1. Propolis had the lowest MIC value (<0.03%) against the weak biofilm of bla CTX-M positive Citrobacter braakii, and the moderate biofilm of non-bla CTX-M S. fonticola-2. The MIC values of all bee products showed a significant decrease upon interaction with 1% boric acid for all strains. Moreover, propolis has shown the ability to reduce 96% of the biofilm biomass of Citrobacter braaki after 24 h. The results show that bee products, used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, have emerged as a viable alternative against environmental pathogens.
Abstract
An alternative to roller mills, a French-designed stone mill, was evaluated and compared with traditional laboratory roller mills through grinding performance. Developed by the Astrié brothers in the 1950s, the stone mill's slow-rotating granite stones purportedly preserve the full nutritional value of the grain. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Csoroszlya farm, compared flour from the same wheat batch ground by both an Astrié stone mill and a laboratory roller mill. Evaluations included the Pekar test for bran content, sieve analysis, measuring wet gluten content, and gluten index to assess protein quality. Rheological properties of the doughs were analyzed using Farinograph and Mixolab equipment, which indirectly also measured amylase enzyme activity. Results indicated that the stone mill produced flour with finer grain size, higher protein content, and higher enzyme presence, although challenges remain in achieving optimal gluten index and dough stability.
Abstract
Sorghum is rich in phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Among them, 3-deoxyanthocyanin (3-DXA) is a rare subclass of anthocyanins, which has not only antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer functions, but also good thermal stability, colouring effect, as well as unique properties of acid and alkali resistance. In this study, we extracted 3-DXA from sorghum grains and analysed its composition. Component analysis indicated that the purified 3-DXA mainly contained apigenin and luteolin, with the contents of 1.46 μg g−1 and 1.38 μg g−1, respectively. The antioxidant activity of 3-DXA in vitro was between vitamin C (Vc) and rutin based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) radical scavenging rate and Fe3+ reducing power. Different concentrations of purified 3-DXA were applied to pork meat stored at 4 °C. After 11 days of storage, physiological and biochemical indices related to antioxidant and meat quality were determined. The results showed that 0.02% 3-DXA had the best antioxidant effects on pork meat within 11 days of storage at 4 °C based on a* value, pH value, purge loss, TBARS value, and total number of bacteria. The results in this study are helpful for the application of 3-deoxyanthocyanin to maintain the quality of pork meat and prolong the storage time at 4 °C.
Abstract
This paper examines a civil law legal institution, contractual freedom, from an economic perspective in connection with economic freedom. The paper investigates the following cases, as the economic freedom of a given national economy is measured in four main areas: the size of government, legal system and property rights, sound money, freedom to trade internationally and regulation of credit, labour markets and business life. In the Economic Freedom of the World 2022 Annual Report, Hungary ranked 55th in the global ranking with an overall score of 7.12, compared to 44th in 2000, with a score of 7.03. Neither the change in score nor the ranking is significant. However, the fact that the country has fallen further behind in this international ranking is not encouraging.
Abstract
The power can be taken from the ICE crankshaft is a function of the continuously changing adhesion coefficient between the tire and the road surface and the normal force of the wheel. In order to maximize vehicle dynamic performance, Torsen differentials were developed change the power transmission ratio between the wheels or axles depending on the tractive force can be transmitted. The Torsen T-2 differential having internal kinematic ratio i = −1, can be used both as a front and rear as well as a central differential. The torque ratio between the axles connected via Torsen T-2 differential is ensured by the high internal mechanical friction, can be derived from the axial tooth force component of the helical gear drive applied.
The aim of this study is to create a general mathematical model of the Torsen T-2 standard construction. Using this model enables to perform a detailed kinematic analysis of the operation of the entire mechanism. This model will be created by the motion of the gears since coordinate systems are ordered to each moving gears. Based on the Connection I statement the conjugated gear profiles of the gear pairs can be determined by mathematical and computational ways. After that, the CAD models of the gears can be created using 3D software for further finite element analysis. These CAD models are also required for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and CNC programming. We prove the usefulness of the model in the case of creating a concrete geometric facility produced by 3D printing.
Abstract
The main problem in incorporating probiotics to hurdle matrix of foodstuffs is mitigation of viable count in the gastrointestinal tract. This study investigated the effects of various dairy matrices (sterilised milk, doogh, UF cheese, and yoghurt) on the viability of different probiotics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The results showed that the highest and the lowest viability in milk were related to Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium lactis, respectively. In doogh samples, no significant difference was observed. In cheese, the highest viability was observed in Lactobacillus acidophilus followed by Bifidobacterium longum, and L. paracasei. The viability of probiotics in yoghurt was less than in cheese and control treatment. These results indicated that milk and doogh are efficient delivery matrices for carrying probiotic cells.
Abstract
Natural preservatives are a suitable alternative to chemical preservatives in the food industry. To overcome its hydrophobic nature, insolubility in water, and degradation of free essential oils, liposomal encapsulation can be applied. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of free as well as liposomal rosemary essential oils (REO) were measured using disk diffusion and serial dilution method for Escherichia (E.) coli, Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, Salmonella (S.) enterica, Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum, Aspergillus (A.) niger, and Saccharomyces (S.) cerevisiae. The antimicrobial properties of free and encapsulated essential oils were compared with sodium benzoate during thirty days of storage. Also, the release pattern of REO from liposomes was studied using dialysis membranes during the 30 days of storage. The results showed that the MIC of free and encapsulated REO is in the range of 3.5–5% and 5–6.5%, respectively. Gram+ Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the most sensitive, while Escherichia coli was the most resistant among the tested microorganisms to the essential oils. During refrigerated storage, free REO and sodium benzoate did not show any significant difference in antimicrobial properties (P > 0.05), while encapsulated REO significantly reduced the number of microorganisms in stored salad dressing (P ≤ 0.05).
Abstract
A successful spray-drying encapsulation is supported by the use of suitable matrix material. This research aimed to study the properties of maltodextrin-alginate matrix solution and its encapsulated iron powder. The study was conducted using the variation of iron concentration (8–20 mg g−1 matrix) and ratio of maltodextrin-alginate (10:0; 10:0.5; 10:1; 10:1.5; 10:2; 0:2). The results showed that a higher iron concentration increased the viscosity of the matrix solution, which led to the formation of higher moisture content particles, but reduced the encapsulation efficiency. Meanwhile, an increased ratio of maltodextrin-alginate allowed an increase in the viscosity of the matrix solution, the encapsulation efficiency, and the moisture content of the particles. However, iron loading capacity improved by increasing iron and alginate concentration. All samples appeared to be amorphous materials with a faster iron release at a pH 6.8 than that at a pH 1.2. In addition, incorporation of alginate improved the particle size, thermal stability, and antioxidant activity of the encapsulated iron powder. In brief, the improvement of the encapsulation efficiency, iron release, and thermal stability of spray-dried iron powder are highlighted in this study, which are important in food fortification and processing.
Abstract
This study successfully microencapsulated bitter gourd juice (EBG) and turmeric powder (ET) using chickpea protein isolate via freeze-drying, achieving encapsulation efficiencies of 85.3% and 89.5%, respectively. Particle size analysis revealed sizes of 3.69 µm for EBG and 4.97 µm for ET. FTIR confirmed the successful entrapment of core materials within the protein matrix. Although unencapsulated samples exhibited higher activity levels, the encapsulated forms also demonstrated significant antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-lipidemic properties, with effective protection and controlled release of active components in the gastrointestinal environment. This highlights their potential as functional ingredients for managing type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidaemia in food products.
Abstract
Basil (sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic plant known for its culinary and traditional medicinal uses.
The content of estragole (methyl chavicol), a compound associated with a potential risk to human health, was determined in the essential oils of 12 samples of basil herb by gas chromatography with flame ionisation and mass spectrometry detection (GC-FID/MS) using an external standard method. The essential oils contained estragole at various levels, from 1.85 to 561.01 mg mL−1. Regarding the chemical profile, among the eleven essential oils, the compound with the highest relative proportion was linalool (29.1–70.3%), while estragole dominated in one essential oil with a relative proportion of 45.2%. All essential oils tested correspond to the European chemotype, which is characterised by a high content of linalool or a combination of linalool and estragole.
Given the recommendation for limiting human exposure to estragole, the safety of some essential oils may be of concern due to their high levels of estragole content.
The results indicate the importance of the chemical analysis of basil herb samples and the selection of chemotypes with low estragole content.
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are the most significant disinfectants utilised to control the contamination of Staphylococcus aureus in food establishments. S. aureus is a significant pathogen that carries genes responsible for resistance to QACs, which pose a risk to public health and food safety. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of QAC genes (qacA/B, qacC, qacG, qacH, qacJ, and smr) and benzalkonium minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in S. aureus strains isolated from food products and food production facilities (n = 200). The analysis results indicated that the qacC gene was the most frequently detected, with a prevalence of 12%. The qacA/B, qacG, qacH, qacJ, and smr genes were identified at frequencies of 2%, 3%, 1%, 4.5%, and 5%, respectively. The highest MIC level was identified in the surface sample, which carried the qacG gene, at a concentration of 6.25 μg mL−1. The study's results highlight the potential risks associated with disinfectant resistance in food establishments. To prevent the transfer of disinfectant resistance genes, which have become a global risk, it is imperative that the rules of disinfectant usage are observed rigorously and that scientific research in this field is diversified.
Abstract
Bifidobacteria can maintain the ecological balance of intestinal microorganisms and are closely linked to the onset and progression of acute enteritis. Present research aimed to investigate the alleviation of DSS-induced acute enteritis by bifidobacteria. In vivo colonoscopy was performed in mice to observe the colorectal mucosa and the pathological damage of colon tissue and the colonic expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1) and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6). The colon mucosa tissue samples were collected for bacterial 16S DNA sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. The intervention of bifidobacteria could effectively alleviate the trend of weight loss and colonic trauma in mice with DSS-induced acute enteritis. The bifidobacteria effectively restored expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1) and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6). Bifidobacterium longum proved to be the most effective (P < 0.05). The altered composition of gut microbiota was reflected in the increase of the relative abundances of Dubosiella spp. in the B. longum treated group. The results suggested that bifidobacteria could repair intestinal barrier function, relieve the colon inflammation, and improve intestinal microbiota disorder; and B. longum demonstrated the best efficacy in mice with DSS-induced acute enteritis.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) levels directly affect the production and health of crops. Making use of a database of the usefulness of using the 350–2,500 nm Near Infra Red (NIR) spectroscopy data range on 200 soil samples from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was evaluated in this study. The more sophisticated Artificial Neural Network, to choose the spectral components that were used to forecast SOC, Random Forest (RF) and Ensemble Lasso-Ridge Regression (ELRR) were utilized. In the preprocessing, the inversion derivative, logarithmic(log) derivative, and logarithmic base to 10(log10x) derivatives were employed to duplicate the spectrum wavelength. The main characteristic of spectrum wavelength for SOC were found to be within the range of 350 and 450 nm, per the results. The best accurate estimation of SOC content was obtained by combining the suggested DSANN or Dropout Sequential ANN technique with the Log10x pre-processed data. The R-squared (R2), RMSE, and RPIQ (Ratio of Performance in Inter Quartile Distance) values for the testing dataset were 0.83, 0.08, and 4.32, respectively.
Abstract
The prosthetic feet available in the market are characterized by high costs and are made of carbon fiber materials, fiberglass, or silicone-coated wood. This study aims to design and manufacture a prosthetic foot to enhance biomechanical performance and user comfort and mimic the natural movement of the human foot; the foot will be designed and manufactured from low-cost materials, namely carbon fiber filaments, using 3D printer technology. The practical part consists of tensile, fatigue tests, and manufacturing the foot using a 3D printer. In this study, the ANSYS program will also analyze the designed model numerically to determine the stresses generated when applying the assumed body weight to the foot model. The results showed that the model is successful in terms of design and does not suffer any mechanical failure during use, in addition to the success of the selection of the material used in the manufacturing process due to its mechanical properties, where the yield stress value = 36.4 MPa, the ultimate stress value = 58.39 Mpa and Young's modulus = 1.23 GPa.
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to establish the relationship between surface roughness and erosion processes of Ba35brass pipes subjected to abrasive particles. Brass samples were prepared with different levels of surface roughness, obtained by polishing using abrasive papers of various grain sizes: P80, P120, and P320. These samples were eroded using a recirculating erosion test bench. To analyze the erosion kinetics, the surface roughness values (Ra and Rz) as well as the cumulative mass loss were measured at specified time intervals. In parallel, mathematical models were developed to simulate the evolution of surface roughness and cumulative mass loss, based on optimization methods. The results show that rougher surfaces, such as those prepared with P80 grit paper, record a higher erosion rate, reaching 0.47 mg/h, compared to smoother surfaces, such as those obtained with P320 paper, whose rate is 0.19 mg/h. The developed mathematical models indicate that the surface roughness follows an exponential decrease, while the cumulative mass loss shows a logarithmic growth. Furthermore, a linear correlation was highlighted between the erosion rate and the surface roughness. This study highlights the crucial importance of surface roughness in erosion processes and provides guidelines for optimizing the design and maintenance of cast iron pipes.
Abstract
This paper emphasizes the role of fuel substitution in mitigating vibrations and enhancing the performance and reliability of internal combustion engines (ICEs). Using MATLAB for modal analysis, the study investigates natural frequencies and identifies potential resonance issues within critical engine components. The primary focus is on analyzing a four-stroke single-cylinder engine under various speeds and measuring the effects of fuel type on engine performance and efficiency. A comparative assessment evaluated vibration levels between natural gas and petrol by measuring engine vibrations across a range of speeds and analyzing the impact of varying dimensions of internal moving components on performance parameters. Results indicate minimal differences between the engines at lower speeds (1,500–2,000 rpm), while significant increases in vibrations were observed at higher speeds (2,500–3,000 rpm) for the gas engine, highlighting potential mechanical instability. At higher speeds, vibrations peak at the top of the engine, reaching 200 m s−2 with petrol and 240 m s−2 with natural gas. The experimental setup, including accelerometer modules and control systems, enabled real-time vibration monitoring. Numerical results showed that the longest connecting rod (197 mm) yielded the highest displacement, velocity, and acceleration metrics. These findings underscore the advantages of using natural gas as a fuel, including its availability, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly nature, as it produces significantly lower harmful emissions compared to petrol. Additionally, the study offers insights into vibration-damping mechanisms and the influence of modifications to internal moving parts, such as crankshaft diameter and connecting rod length, on engine performance and stability.
Abstract
Recent advances have enabled solid waste byproducts to effective soil amendment in order to minimize the use of inorganic fertilizers and increase crop yields to provide food for a high-population world. This review aims to summarize the essential nutrients required for crop production, the ability of nutrient supply of solid waste byproducts as soil conditioners, and its impacts on plant growth and soil properties. This paper analyzes the sources of plant nutrients, functions, symptoms of deficiency, and corrective measures. This review analyzed the byproducts of municipal solid waste compost, waste biomass, biochar, farmyard manure, press-mud molasses, vinasses, olive mill waste, spent mushroom compost and fly ash (FA), cow dung vermicomposting with FA, FA mixed with biochar, sewage sludge-FA mixture, fiber sludge, sewage sludge, bauxite residue, poultry waste to determine their ability to supply nutrients, affecting plant growth and soil properties significantly. This review also discusses the challenges associated with solid waste byproducts used in agricultural soil amendment on the environment and human health and possible future strategies to be adopted. Overall, this review provides insights to farmers about the use of solid waste byproducts as soil conditioners for the enrichment of essential nutrients and soil properties in farming soil.
Abstract
This study investigates the utilization of biochar (WHBC) from water hyacinth biomass (WHBM) for sustainable soil amendment to improve soil quality. WHBM and WHBC are prepared and characterized with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). For that, physiochemical, proximate, ultimate, and elemental analyses are done and characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) to identify the suitability of soil amendment. WH biomass is carbonized with a limited air supply in a muffle furnace, and the study found that 300–664 °C temperature is the optimum condition for producing biochar from TGA. XRD of WHBC displayed more crystallinity than WHBM. FTIR of WHBC showed higher carbon stability increment than WHBM. The SEM micrograph of WHBM showed that compact, and fibril structures and WHBC revealed macroscopic changes that can significantly improve the soil properties. EDAX analysis of WHBM and WHBC proved that various soil nutrients can be helpful for plant growth. The study shows that WHBM can be utilized as a soil quality amendment material by converting it to biochar and an effective material for carbon storage in soils.
Abstract
This study uses numerical modeling to explore the intricate relationship between low-velocity impact and composite materials. The study investigates the impact response of composite materials under low-speed loading circumstances in great detail. Two specimens were prepared for the current study the first one has a uniform thickness for each layer, and the second is prepared with altering layer thicknesses. A tensile test was employed to obtain the mechanical properties to use it in the numerical analysis. An impact test was employed in this analysis, where the impactor was modeled also on a height of 300 mm, the analysis time was taken as 0.08 s to capture all the impact. The numerical analysis was verified with other studies, and the error percentage did not exceed 2%. The results showed that the second specimen with alternating thickness had the best behavior.
Abstract
The goal of this study is to develop a linear disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based on transfer-function approach. The proposed control strategy is applied to control the angular position of knee joint for rehabilitation purpose. The Extended State Observer (ESO) is the core of ADRC strategy and the performance of all ADRC controllers are assessed based on tracking and estimations errors due to controller and observer, respectively. The transfer-based approach of ADRC (TFADRC) is characterized by simplicity and direct control design. A comparison study in performance between conventional linear ADRC (CLADRC) and TFADRC approach has been made. The results based on numerical simulation showed that the proposed approach gives better tracking performance compared to conventional one. Based on Root Mean Square of Error (RMSE) metric, the TFADRC gives less tracking error (0.0205 rad) under load disturbances than that based on CLADRC (0.0547 rad). Moreover, better noise rejection capability can be obtained by TFADRC as compared to the conventional one. However, the price of better performance gained by TFADRC is to actuate higher level of control signal compared to its counterpart.
Abstract
The present work evaluates the effect of the incorporation of 6% carnauba wax (CW) and 7% monoglyceride (MG) oleogels for production of a healthy lipid mixture (linseed and sunflower oils) oleogels as a fat replacer at 30, 50, and 70% in hamburger formulation. Hamburgers' fatty acid composition, cooking loss, fat absorption, and texture and oxidative stabilities were evaluated. Incorporation of oleogels in hamburger formulation resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in amounts of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), as well as a decrease in the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and atherogenic indices, and an increase in linoleic and linolenic acids (PUFAs) content. Substitution of animal fat with CW and MG based oleogels improved the manufactured hamburgers' quality by reducing cooking loss and fat absorption. In addition, the use of oleogel improved the oxidative stability during the storage of burgers. The lower hardness of oleogels compared to animal fats, as well as their nutritional and technological properties, make them a desirable candidate for animal fat substitution.
Az ISO/IEC 27001 szabvány elmélete és gyakorlati alkalmazása OT/ICS-rendszerek kiberbiztonsági jelentéseinek tükrében
The theory and practical application of the ISO/IEC 27001 standard for OT/ICS systems
Az ISO/IEC 27001 szabvány alkalmazása lehetővé teszi az OT-rendszereket üzemeltető szervezetek számára, hogy egy átfogó és koherens biztonsági stratégiát alakítsanak ki, amely integrálja a kockázatkezelést és az információvédelem legjobb gyakorlatait. Az ISO/IEC 27001 kiemeli a felső vezetés elkötelezettségének szükségességét, a hatókör pontos meghatározását, a kockázatértékelést, a megfelelő biztonsági kontrollok kiválasztását és a rendszer folyamatos felülvizsgálatát és fejlesztését. Ezek a lépések kulcsfontosságúak az OT-rendszerek biztonságának fenntartása és a kibertámadásokkal szembeni védelem megerősítése érdekében. Az ISO/IEC 27001 alkalmazása OT-környezetben nemcsak a biztonsági intézkedések hatékonyságát növeli, hanem hozzájárul az üzleti folytonosság fenntartásához, az ügyfelek bizalmának növeléséhez és a szabályozási követelményeknek való megfeleléshez is. A közelmúltban megje-lent hazai és nemzetközi, OT/ICS-rendszerekre vonatkozó kiberbiztonsági jelentések legfőbb konklúziója, hogy a fenyegetettségek száma és kifinomultsága folyamatosan növekszik. A nemzetek és a szervezetek alapvető érdeke ezeknek a kockázatoknak a minimalizálása, valamint OT/ICS-rendszereik minél hatékonyabb védelme a kibertérben. Ennek legmegfelelőbb módja a kibervédelem szabványalapú megközelítése és az ajánlások hatékony alkalmazása. Ez a cikk bemutatja az ISO/IEC 27001 gyakorlati alkalmazásának kulcsfontosságú lépéseit, előnyeit és gyakorlati hasznosítását OT/ICS-rendszerek vonatkozásában.
A halálos tűzesetek számának csökkentése és a kritikus kockázati csoportok védelme egyszerűsített tűzkockázat-elemzéssel
Reducing the number of fatal fire incidents and protecting critical risk groups with a simplified fire risk analysis
Magyarországon évente közel száz főre tehető azoknak az állampolgároknak a száma, akik tűzesetek következtében vesztik életüket. A statisztika szerint az érintettek többségében 50 év feletti férfiak, mentális, alkohol- vagy drogproblémákkal küzdők, gondozásra és felügyeletre szoruló idős személyek, illetve fogyatékkal élők vagy hajléktalanok. Ők alkotják a tűzhalál kritikus kockázati csoportját. Környezetükben mindenkitől fokozott figyelmet igényel a tüzek megelőzése, hiszen életkorukból, mentális állapotukból, anyagi helyzetükből következően ebben a körben jóval nagyobb a tűzesetek és ezek nyomán a halálesetek bekövetkezésének esélye. A szerzők engedély birtokában elemezték az elmúlt öt év tűzvizsgálatainak statisztikáit, és szakmai tapasztalataikra alapozva modern kockázatcsökkentési lehetőségeket javasolnak. A cikk megírásával céljuk a tűzhalálesetek számának csökkentése.
A mesterséges intelligencia lehetőségei a megtévesztés felismerésében: technológia és jog
The potential of artificial intelligence in deception detection: Technology and law
A tanulmány célja a mesterséges intelligencia lehetőségeinek vizsgálata a megtévesztés felismerésében, valamint az alkalmazás jogi megfelelőségének értékelése. Ennek érdekében elvégeztük három adatbázis (MU3D, Bag-of-Lies, DOLOS) elemzését gépi tanulási modellek segítségével, majd a felderítésben való alkalmazás jogi értékelését. Az eredmények alapján megállapítható, hogy a kombinált MI-technológiák javítják a csalásdetekció hatékonyságát, de a pontosság még mindig messze van az optimális szinttől. Az MI-alapú megtévesztésfelismerés alkalmazható a magyar jogrendszerben, ha megfelel az AI Act előírásainak. A tanulmány bemutatja az MI-alapú csalásdetekció technológiai és jogi aspektusait, hangsúlyozva a kombinált technológiák hatékonyságát és a jogi megfelelőség fontosságát a felderítésben.
Abstract
Allium is a plant genus with high medicinal and dietary value, which encompasses commonly used culinary herbs such as scallion, garlic, and onion. In this study, we investigated whether Allium extracts exert protective effects on radiation-induced chromosomal damage in BALB/c mice. The mice were orally administered 200 mg kg−1 Allium extracts (scallion, garlic, and onion) for 6 weeks and exposed to 2 Gy gamma radiation 1 day after the final feeding. Haematological parameters and the number of micronucleated bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) were evaluated. Additionally, we analysed the effects of Allium extracts on inflammasome activation in lipopolysaccharide-primed murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. The Allium extracts increased the numbers of peripheral white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and red blood cells; significantly decreased the number of MnPCEs; and suppressed the maturation of interleukin-1β by blocking activation of the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes.
In conclusion, Allium extracts protected the hematopoietic function of bone marrow, reduced radiation-induced formation of micronuclei, and suppressed activation of the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes. Further research is needed to explore the molecular mechanisms of these effects of Allium.
Abstract
The aims of this study were to formulate 2% and 3% (w/v) hemp seed beverages and to evaluate chemical composition, colloidal stability, safety, and sensory profiles after roasting the seeds (150 °C, 15 min). Beverages with 2% and 3% roasted hemp seeds evidenced acceptable sensory attributes and nutritious profile, containing 0.6–1% protein, 0.4–0.6% dietary fibre, and 0.5–0.8% lipids –mainly unsaturated fatty acids–, respectively. The roasting treatment significantly increased the phenolic content by 49–55% and the antioxidant capacity by 15%, and improved the sensory attributes of the beverages. Low peroxide levels (<1 meq O2/kg) in roasted hemp seed beverages were detected up to five days in cold storage, with better capacity against oxidation at 2% seed content. The use of 0.03% gellan gum improved the physical stability of suspensions contributing to their overall acceptability. Roasted hemp seed beverages showed no cannabinoid and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. The advantages observed after roasting the seeds on phenolic content, antioxidant activity, sensorial acceptability and safety provided better attributes for the feasibility of beverages formulated with hemp seeds. The results showed a formulation suitable for the development of potential industrial roasted hemp seeds beverages with promising compositional profiles.
Abstract
The automated system for enhancing plant growth presents an innovative approach to optimize quality of sugarcane cultivation for four main sugarcane growing zones. It includes issues like recommendation of crops based on soil nutrients, diagnosis of disease in the leaf and stem images of sugarcane, weed detection and harvesting time prediction. The research work proposed in the article presents an innovative two-stage approach for object detection and classification in agricultural imagery. Initially, YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once) is employed to accurately detect objects within images, delineating them with precise boundary boxes. Subsequently, the focus of hybrid model integrating Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, known as Contextual Long Short-Term Memory (CLSTM), is employed. This dual-stage methodology harnesses the speed and accuracy of YOLOv8 for robust object localization, while the CLSTM model ensures nuanced classification, contributing to comprehensive and accurate approach for object detection and crop-weed differentiation in agricultural scenarios. The proposed approach is compared with the four DL algorithms for identifying weeds in sugarcane crops and subsequently assessed their accuracy and F1 score performance. At a learning rate of 0.002, the findings of CLSTM showcase superior precision at 98.5%, recall at 97.8%, F1 score at 98.1%, and an overall accuracy of 97.7%. The subsequent task is harvesting time prediction, which entails identifying the best time to harvest sugarcane based on the planting period, weather predictions, and sugarcane brix value. The implementation of this automated system not only enhances the productivity of sugarcane cultivation but also serves as a model for sustainable and resource-efficient agriculture.
Abstract
Surveillance video processing requires high efficiency, given its large datasets, demands significant resources for timely and effective analysis. This study aims to enhance surveillance systems by developing an automated method for extracting key events from outdoor surveillance videos. The proposed model comprises four phases: preprocessing and feature extraction, training and testing, and validation. Before utilizing a convolution neural networks approach to extract features from videos, the videos are pre-processed. Events classification uses gated recurrent units. In validation, motions and objects are extraction then feature extraction. Results show satisfactory performance, achieving 79% accuracy in events classification, highlighting the effectiveness of the methodology in identifying significant outdoor events.
Abstract
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) are widely used in modern industrial applications due to their high efficiency, reliability, and compact size. However, faults in PMSMs, such as stator winding failures, can lead to significant performance degradation and operational failures. Traditional fault detection methods often rely on signal processing and manual analysis, which may be time-consuming and lacking in accuracy. This study explores the application of deep learning techniques for automated fault detection in PMSMs. The deep learning models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are employed to classify electrical faults in the motor data, which includes the scalogram images of stator current signal allowing models to learn fault patterns. The performance of the used networks has been compared, in order to choose the reliable one for classification purposes and hence to be utilized for developing the prediction system. The experimental results show that the ResNet50 has better capability to classify the variation of data used where it could achieve 100% of accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 score as compared to other techniques.
Mesterséges intelligencia alkalmazása a diabetológiában – Innovatív lehetőségek
Application of artificial intelligence in diabetology – Opportunities and innovations
A cukorbetegség előfordulása világszerte növekszik, és egyre súlyosabb terhet ró az egyén mellett a társadalomra és az egészségügyi rendszerre is. A mesterséges intelligencia gyors ütemben terjed az egészségügyben, és új lehetőségeket kínál a diabéteszdiagnosztikában és -kezelésben, beleértve a betegek önmenedzselését. Munkám célja, hogy bemutassam a mesterséges intelligencia különféle alkalmazási lehetőségeit a diabetológiában, és konkrét példákkal szemléltessem ezek gyakorlati jelentőségét és alkalmazhatóságát. Az MI-alkalmazások folyamatos fejlődése ígéretes támogatást nyújt a cukorbetegség kezelésének holisztikus és betegközpontú megközelítésében, elősegítve annak hatékonyabbá tételét.
Abstract
Aircraft wings encounter multiple forces during flight, like thrust, drag, and abrupt variations caused by storms. Although these forces aid in maintaining overall stability, they can also cause the growth of cracks and expand over time, a process referred to as fatigue.
The resulting lift, drag, and pressure distribution on the wing have been analyzed using computational fluid dynamics in ANSYS. These loads were then incorporated into the wing model to evaluate the shear and equivalent stresses.
Cracks growing on the aircraft wing surface. The wing surface manufactured from AL2024-T3 alloy was investigated when subjected to non-preoperational multi-axial cyclic loading. This fracture mechanics analysis employed two methods: experimental calculation and Numerical simulations.
Abstract
An urgent problem today is the industrial production of biomethane using biogas plants from organic waste, which is environmentally hazardous to the environment. The purpose of the work is to substantiate the methodological approach to the formation of the raw material base for biogas production. Achieving this goal was carried out based on monitoring and assessing biomethane emissions into the atmosphere based on data from space satellites for various areas. The most significant results are the developed methodological approach to substantiate the raw material base based on indirect measurements of biomethane emissions during satellite sensing. Based on the use of this approach, a substantiation of a promising raw material base area was carried out.
