DDX3 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase involved in multiple cellular activities, including RNA metabolism and innate immunity. DDX3 is known to assist the replication of some viruses while restricting some others through direct interaction with the viral proteins. However, the role of DDX3 in the replication of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) is unknown. In this study, DDX3 is shown to interact with the HEV capsid protein and provide an indispensable role in HEV replication. The DDX3 C-terminal domain was demonstrated to interact with the capsid protein, which was previously demonstrated to inhibit the production of type I interferons. Knockdown of DDX3 compromised the capsid protein-mediated blockage of interferon induction. Notably, DDX3 silencing led to a significant reduction in HEV replication. Also, the ATPase activity of DDX3 is required for the HEV replication as an ATPase-null mutant DDX3 failed to rescue the viral replication in the DDX3-silenced cells. These results demonstrate a pro-viral role of DDX3 in HEV replication, providing further insights into the virus-cell interactions.

Mast cells are long-lived, granular, myeloid-derived leukocytes that have significant protective and repair functions in tissues. Mast cells sense disruptions in the local microenvironment and are first responders to physical, chemical and biological insults. When activated, mast cells release growth factors, proteases, chemotactic proteins and cytokines thereby mobilizing and amplifying the innate and adaptive immune system. Mast cells are therefore significant regulators of homeostatic functions and may be essential in microenvironmental changes during pathogen invasion and disease. During infection by helminths, bacteria and viruses, mast cells release antimicrobial factors to facilitate pathogen expulsion and eradication. Mast cell-derived proteases and growth factors protect tissues from insect/snake bites and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Finally, mast cells release mediators that promote wound healing in the inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling stages. Since mast cells have such a powerful repertoire of functions, targeting mast cells may be an effective new strategy for immunotherapy of disease and design of novel vaccine adjuvants. In this review, we will examine how certain strategies that specifically target and activate mast cells can be used to treat and resolve infections, augment vaccines and heal wounds. Although these strategies may be protective in certain circumstances, mast cells activation may be deleterious if not carefully controlled and any therapeutic strategy using mast cell activators must be carefully explored.

The implementation of teaching interventions in learning needs has received considerable attention, as the provision of the same educational conditions to all students, is pedagogically ineffective. In contrast, more effectively considered the pedagogical strategies that adapt to the real individual skills of the students. An important innovation in this direction is the Adaptive Educational Systems (AES) that support automatic modeling study and adjust the teaching content on educational needs and students' skills. Effective utilization of these educational approaches can be enhanced with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in order to the substantive content of the web acquires structure and the published information is perceived by the search engines. This study proposes a novel Adaptive Educational eLearning System (AEeLS) that has the capacity to gather and analyze data from learning repositories and to adapt these to the educational curriculum according to the student skills and experience. It is a novel hybrid machine learning system that combines a Semi-Supervised Classification method for ontology matching and a Recommendation Mechanism that uses a hybrid method from neighborhood-based collaborative and content-based filtering techniques, in order to provide a personalized educational environment for each student.

Biofilms enable the persistence of pathogens in food processing environments. In order to inactivate these microorganisms, sanitizing agents are needed that are effective against pathogens entrapped in biofilms which are more difficult to inactivate than planktonic cells that are displaced and found on equipment surfaces. We examined conditions to develop, analyze, and enumerate robust biofilms of 3 different foodborne pathogens assisted by fluorescence adherence assay and enzymatic detachment. We compared 3 different isomeric forms of fluorescent substrates that are readily taken up by bacterial cells based on carboxy-fluorescein diacetate (5-CFDA, 5,6-CFDA, 5,6-CFDA,SE). Biofilm-forming strains of L. monocytogenes, E.coli O157:H7, and Salmonella serovars were detected using the chosen substrate in a microplate fluorescence assay define previously for use with Listeria. Adherence levels were determined by differences in relative fluorescence units (RFU). Multiple hydrolytic enzymes were examined for each representative pathogen for the most suitable enzyme for detachment and enumeration to confirm data obtained by fluorescence assay. Cultures were grown overnight in microplates, incubated, washed and replenished with fresh sterile growth medium; this cycle was repeated 7 times before used as ‘biofilms’. All treatments were performed in triplicate and compared by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences (p < 0.05). Analysis of 7-day biofilms by SEM indicated possible extracellular polysaccharide involvement with Salmonella and E. coli.

Here, we propose a novel scheme based on advanced techniques of digital modulation in optical communications to achieve a single-channel transmission rate above 100 Gb/s. We utilize a hybrid scheme amplitude/phase/frequency/dual polarization, combined with multidimensional dual lattice and a low-density parity-check-coded modulation. The Stokes parameters are applied to the proposed scheme to map the four-dimensional classical polarization \({I_X},{Q_X},{I_Y},{Q_Y}\) in a three-dimensional space. In addition, in the proposed system, the packing theory is applied to the bit interleaver process, three wavelengths are packaged before being transmitted over a wavelength-division multiplexing optical channel. This modulation process is carried out using symmetrical geometric shapes, such as a hypercube or a polyhedron, based on the molecular links theory using a grouping of 12 and 13/15 bits for the cubic and spherical lattices, respectively. The proposed technique is evaluated in the context of long distance communications over distances up to 100 km. The bit error rate results showed that the optical signal-to-noise ratio was approximately 4 dB over a distance of 50 km. In addition, the power spectral efficiency was found to be 3 lambda, which is considered good performance considering the effects of distance and the non-linear effects influencing the number of lambdas. Also, we use an optical time division multiplexing scheme (OTDM) in order to achieve a transmission rate beyond 1Tbit/s, where the speed effect is evaluated, taking into consideration that the power spectral efficiency is degraded. Furthermore, the average noise floor is -60dBm for all transmission distances. These findings are expected to contribute to the future implementation of robust long-distance optical communication infrastructure.

Traditionally understood in reference to distance education, cognitive presence may be defined as "the extent to which the participants in any particular configuration of a community of inquiry can construct meaning through sustained communication. The purpose of this paper was to create a blueprint for the reflective ePortfolio as the capstone project for my graduate degree. The blueprint was accomplished by adapting for use cognitive presence as a tool for both analysis and framing, which has never been done to the best of my knowledge. I considered myself to be a participant in a “community of inquiry” model and substituted the result of my interaction with each of the required instructor-course content pairings I took to serve as fellow participants in this community model. The result of my participation was understood to be the knowledge and experience that I have gained, which was reflected in eight of my academic research papers. These selected papers were the artifacts around which my ePortfolio was ultimately developed and demonstrated my participation as an active member in this community of inquiry constructing meaning through sustained communication.

The geometry of Poincare disk itself is interpreted without any mapping to dierent spaces. Our approach might be one of the shortest and is intended for educational contribution.

Hydrological models have been widely used for many purposes in water sector projects, including streamflow prediction and flood risk assessment. Among the input data used in such hydrological models, the spatial-temporal variability of rainfall datasets has a significant role on the final discharge estimation. Therefore, accurate measurements of rainfall are vital. On the other hand, ground-based measurement networks, mainly in developing countries, are either nonexistent or too sparse to capture rainfall accurately. In addition to in-situ rainfall datasets, satellite-derived rainfall products are nowadays available globally with high spatial and temporal resolution. An innovative approach called SM2RAIN that estimates rainfall from soil moisture data has been applied successfully to various regions. In this study, firstly soil moisture content derived from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth observing system (AMSR-E) is used as input into the SM2RAIN algorithm to estimate daily rainfall, SM2R-AMSRE, at different sites in the Karkheh river basin (KRB), southwest Iran. Secondly, the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) hydrological model is applied to simulate runoff using both ground-based observed rainfall and SM2R-AMSRE rainfall as input. The results reveal that the SM2R-AMSRE rainfall data are, in most cases, in good agreement with ground-based rainfall, with correlations R ranging between 0.58 and 0.88, though there is some underestimation of the observed rainfall, due to soil moisture saturation, not accounted for in the SM2RAIN equation. The subsequent SM2R-AMSRE- SWAT- simulated monthly runoff reproduces well the observations at the 6 gauging stations (with coefficient of determination, R² > 0.72), though with slightly worse performances in terms of bias (Bias) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) and, again, some systematic flow underestimation than the SWAT model with ground-based rainfall input. Furthermore, rainfall estimations of two satellite products of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), 3B42 and 3B42RT, are used in the calibrated SWAT- model. The monthly runoff obtained with 3B42- rainfall have 0.39< R2 < 0.70 and are slightly better than those obtained with 3B42RT- rainfall, but not as good as the SM2R-AMSRE- SWAT- simulated runoff above. Therefore, in spite of the afore-mentioned limitations, using SM2R-AMSRE rainfall data in a hydrological model like SWAT, appears to be a viable approach in basins with limited ground-based rainfall data.

The Medi-test system we developed was motivated by the large number of resources available for the medical domain, as well as the number of tests needed in this field (during and after the medical school) for evaluation, promotion, certification, etc. Generating questions to support learning and user interactivity has been an interesting and dynamic topic in NLP since the availability of e-book curricula and e-learning platforms. Current e-learning platforms offer increased support for student evaluation, with an emphasis in exploiting automation in both test generation and evaluation. In this context, our system is able to evaluate a student’s academic performance for the medical domain. Using as input medical reference texts and supported by a specially designed medical ontology, Medi-test generates different types of questionnaires for Romanian language. The evaluation includes 4 types of questions (multiple-choice, fill in the blanks, true/false and match), can have customizable length and difficulty and can be automatically graded. A recent extension of our system also allows for the generation of tests which include images. We evaluated our system with a local testing team, but also with a set of medicine students, and user satisfaction questionnaires showed that the system can be used to enhance learning.

Educational data-mining is an evolving discipline that focuses on the improvement of self-learning and adaptive methods. It is used for finding hidden patterns or intrinsic structures of educational data. In the arena of education, the heterogeneous data is involved and continuously growing in the paradigm of big-data. To extract meaningful information adaptively from big educational data, some specific data mining techniques are needed. This paper presents a clustering approach to partition students into different groups or clusters based on their learning behavior. Furthermore, personalized e-learning system architecture is also presented which detects and responds teaching contents according to the students’ learning capabilities. The primary objective includes the discovery of optimal settings, in which learners can improve their learning capabilities. Moreover, the administration can find essential hidden patterns to bring the effective reforms in the existing system. The clustering methods K-Means, K-Medoids, Density-based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise, Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster Tree and Clustering by Fast Search and Finding of Density Peaks via Heat Diffusion (CFSFDP-HD) are analyzed using educational data mining. It is observed that more robust results can be achieved by the replacement of existing methods with CFSFDP-HD. The data mining techniques are equally effective to analyze the big data to make education systems vigorous.

A rapid, precise, accurate and low cost method for the determination of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) in cereal products and biscuits was developed. The uncertainty was calculated for the first time and the methods were performed in different cereal products and biscuits, characterized as “superfoods”. The limits of detection and quantification were calculated. Accuracy and precision were estimated using the certified reference material FAPAS T10112QC and the determined values were in good accordance with the certified values. The health claims according to the daily reference values for vitamin E were calculated and the results proved that the majority of the samples examined showed %daily value higher than 15%.

In this study, we obtained results for the computation of eigen-pairs, singular value decomposition, pseudo-inverse, and the least square problem for elliptic quaternion matrices. Moreover, we established algorithms based on these results and provided illustrative numerical experiments to substantiate the accuracy of our conclusions. In the experiments, it was observed that the p-value in the algebra of elliptic quaternions and elliptic numbers directly affects the performance of the problem under consideration. Selecting the optimal p-value for problem-solving and the elliptic behavior of many physical systems make this number system advantageous in applied sciences.

Using assembly theory, we investigate the assembly pathways of binary strings of length N formed by joining bits present in the assembly pool and the strings that entered the pool as a result of previous joining operations. We show that the string assembly index is bounded from below by the shortest addition chain for N, and we conjecture about the form of the upper bound. We define the degree of causation for the minimum assembly index and show that for certain N it features regularities that can be used to determine a shortest addition chain. We show that a string with the smallest assembly index for N can be assembled by a binary program of length equal to this index if the length of this string is expressible as a product of Fibonacci numbers. We conjecture that there is no binary program that has a length shorter than the length of the string having the largest assembly index for N that could assemble this string. The results confirm that four Planck areas provide a minimum information capacity that corresponds to a minimum thermodynamic (Bekenstein-Hawking) entropy. Knowing that the problem of determining the assembly index is at least NP-complete, we conjecture that this problem is NP-complete, while the problem of creating the string so that it would have a predetermined largest assembly index is NP-hard. The proof of this conjecture would imply P ≠ NP, since every computable problem and every computable solution can be encoded as a finite binary string.

The effect of neutron irradiation of Si-Ge/Si film structures obtained by gas-phase epitaxy on the processes of charge carrier generation and the magnitude of the dark short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage caused by it is studied, it is shown that their magnitude practically does not change with time. The results obtained indicate that all types of structural defects, both associated with dopant impurities and radiation exposure, contribute to the generation of charge carriers in heated silicon structures with the participation of deep energy levels, which indicates the applicability of neutron processing of silicon materials to create thermal energy converters, operating at high temperatures.

Inhibition of quorum sensing (QS)-dependent biofilm formation and virulence is extensively investigated as a novel approach to combat bacterial pathogens by impeding their ability to cause antibiotic-tolerant diseases. Such strategies are considered a promising alternative to conventional antibacterial therapy since interrupting the central cell-to-cell communication system imposes less selective pressure on the target pathogen. In this study, novel hybrid compounds composed of anthranilic acids substituted with halogens at different positions of the phenyl ring, and 4-(2-aminoethyl/4-aminobuthyl)amino-7-chloroquinoline linked via 1,3,4-oxadiazole were synthesized using standard procedures. Their anti-QS activities were evaluated using Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC31532 (anti-biofilm and bactericidal activities) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 (anti-biofilm/-virulence activities). The results showed that compounds 15–19 and 23 inhibited the production of violacein, the QS-inducible pigment, in C. violaceum to a similar extent as the model QS inhibitor - quercetin (83.5–90%). Compound 15 exhibited the strongest effect on P. aeruginosa in the anti-biofilm screening, reducing its ability to form biofilm by almost 50%, while compounds 16 and 19 were able to reduce the biofilm formation by approximately 30%. However, compound 23 did not demonstrate significant anti-biofilm activity and only inhibited pyocyanin production in P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, this study suggests that 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 15, 16, and 19 are the most promising compounds for future research as novel QS inhibitors against Gram-negative bacteria equipped with different QS signaling pathways.

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC– MS/MS) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of atorvastatin (ATOR), ezetimibe (EZM) and their three metabolites including o-hydroxyl atorvastatin (o-OH ATOR), p-hydroxyl atorvastatin (p-OH ATOR), and ezetimibe-glucuronide (EZM-G) in human plasma using benzyl paraben (BP) as internal standard (IS). The analytes and IS were ionized using ESI positive ion mode (ATOR, o-OH ATOR, and p-OH ATOR), ESI negative ion mode (EZM, EZM-G, and BP), and operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. They were next extracted by salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction with acetonitrile, and then analyzed by liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase chromatographic column (50 mm × 4.6 mm; 3.5 µm), using a mixture of ac-etonitrile and an acetic acid solution (0.5%) as the mobile phase, showing high extraction effi-ciency (>70%), and a minimized matrix effect. The method was satisfactorily validated, and showed excellent linearity over wide concentration ranges of 0.06–15 ng/mL, 0.6–150 ng/mL, 0.4–100 ng/mL, 0.12–30 ng/mL, and 0.05–3 ng/mL for EZM, EZM-G, ATOR, o-OH ATOR, and p-OH ATOR, respectively.

In this paper, the notion of θ∗-weak contraction is introduced, which is utilized to prove some fixed point results. These results are helpful to give a positive response to certain open question raised by Kannan [Amer. Math. Monthly 76:1969] and Rhoades [Contemp. Math. 72:1988] on the existence of contractive definition which does not force the mapping to be continuous at the fixed point. Some illustrative examples are also given to support our results. As applications of our result, we investigate the existence and uniqueness of a solution of non-linear matrix equations and integral equations of Volterra type as well.

Different contact materials along with optimization of the deposition techniques expand the possibilities to obtain high performance room temperature CdTe-based X/γ-ray detectors. The heterostructures with ohmic (MoOx) and Schottky (MoOx, TiOx, TiN, and In) contacts, created by DC reactive magnetron sputtering and vacuum thermal evaporation, as well as In/CdTe/Au diodes with a p-n junction, formed by laser-induced doping, were developed and investigated. Depending on the pre-treatment of the surface of semi-insulating p-CdTe crystals, deposition of a MoOx film formed an ohmic or Schottky contact. Based on the calculations and IV characteristics of the fabricated Mo-MoOx/р-CdTe/MoOx-Mo, In/CdTe/MoOx-Mo, Ti-TiOx/р-CdTe/MoOx-Mo, and Ti-TiN/р-CdTe/MoOx-Mo Schottky-diode detectors, the current transport processes were described in the models of the carrier generation-recombination within the space-charge region (SCR) at low bias voltages, and space-charge limited current at higher voltages, respectively. The energies of generation–recombination centers, density of trapping centers, and carrier lifetimes were determined. A sharp increase in the reverse current in the Mo-MoOx/р-CdTe/MoOx-Mo, Ti-TiOx/р-CdTe/MoOx-Mo, and Ti-TiN/р-CdTe/MoOx-Mo heterostructures at high bias was discussed in frames of the Poole–Frenkel emission model. Nanosecond laser irradiation of the In electrode, pre-deposited on the p-CdTe crystals, resulted in an increase in the voltage range, corresponding to the carrier generation-recombination in the SCR, in the IV characteristics of the In/CdTe/Au diodes. Such In/CdTe/Au p-n junction diodes demonstrated high energy resolutions (7%@59.5 keV, 4%@122 keV, and 1.6%@662 keV).

Arabidopsis contains eight different h-type thioredoxins (Trx) being distributed in different cell organelles. Although Trx h2 is deemed to be localized in mitochondria, its subcellular localization and function remains a matter of debate. Here, Trx h2 localization and function were investigated using cell fractionation studies and reverse genetics. Differential centrifugation and immunodetection showed the Trx h2 protein to be distributed to the microsomal fraction rather than to mitochondrial preparations. To analyze whether Trx h2 has different roles than mitochondrial Trxs, Arabidopsis mutants lacking Trx h2 were compared with mutants deficient in mitochondrial Trx o1 and double mutants with joint deficiencies in both Trxs. Under constant medium light, trxh2 grew as the wild type, while trxo1 and trxo1h2 mutants showed impaired growth. This was accompanied by differences in the metabolite profiles. The trxo1 and trxo1h2 mutants clustered differently from the wild type during the night, revealing a decrease in ascorbate and glutathione redox states. In fluctuating light intensities, genotypic differences in growth rates were attenuated. Compared to the wild type, the fluctuating-light induced decrease in the NADPH/NADP ratio was diminished in the mutants, with the trxo1h2 double mutant showing the strongest effect. This was accompanied by an increase in the photosynthetic efficiency of the trxo1h2 mutant, specifically in the high light phases of fluctuating light. Conclusively, these results support the view that Trxs o1 and h2 are localized in different subcellular compartments, and have different effects on ascorbate and glutathione redox states and growth in medium light, but cooperatively affect NADP(H) redox state and photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating light.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a determinant for inflammation and fibrosis in cardiac and skeletal muscle in Chagas disease. To determine its regulatory mechanisms, we investigated the response of T. cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes (CM), cardiac fibroblasts (CF) and L6E9 skeletal myoblasts to TGF-β. Cultures of CM, CF and L6E9 were infected with T. cruzi (Y strain) and treated with TGF-β (1–10 ng/mL, 1h or 48 h). Fibronectin (FN) distribution was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blot (WB). Phosphorylated SMAD2 (PS2), phospho-p38 (p-p38), and phospho-c-Jun (p-c-Jun) signaling were evaluated by WB. CF and L6E9 showed an increase in FN from 1 ng/mL of TGF-β, while CM displayed FN modulation only after 10 ng/mL treatment. CF and L6E9 showed higher PS2 levels than CM, while p38 is less stimulated in CF than CM and L6E9. After T. cruzi infection, localized FN disorganization was observed in infected CF and L6E9. T. cruzi induced an increase in FN in CF cultures, mainly in uninfected cells. Infected CF cultures treated with TGF-β showed a reduction in PS2 and an increase in p-p38 and p-c-Jun levels. Our data suggest that p38 and c-Jun pathways may be participating in the fibrosis regulatory process mediated by TGF-β after T. cruzi infection.

In this paper, we investigate a new $q$-analogue of the higher order degenerate Changhee polynomials and numbers, which are called the Witt-type formula for the $q$-analogue of degenerate Changhee polynomials of order $r$. We can derive some new interesting identities related to the degenerate $(h,q)$-Changhee polynomials and numbers.

In this paper, we investigate a new $q$-analogue of the higher order degenerate Changhee polynomials and numbers, which are called the Witt-type formula for the $q$-analogue of degenerate Changhee polynomials of order $r$. We can derive some new interesting identities related to the degenerate $(h,q)$-Changhee polynomials and numbers.

In this paper, we study the p-adic integral representation on Z_p of q-Bernoulli numbers arising from two variable q-Bernstein polynomials and investigate some properties for the q-Bernoulli numbers. In addition, we give some new identities of q-Bernoulli numbers.

In the present paper, we introduce (p, q)-extension of Apostol type Frobenius-Euler polynomials and numbers and investigate some basic identities and properties for these polynomials and numbers, including addition theorems, difference equations, derivative properties, recurrence relations and so on. Then, we provide integral representations, explicit formulas and relations for these polynomials and numbers. Moreover, we discover (p, q)-extensions of Carlitz's result [L. Carlitz, Mat. Mag., 32 (1959), 247–260] and Srivastava and Pintér addition theorems in [H. M. Srivastava, A. Pinter, Appl. Math. Lett., 17 (2004), 375–380].

This qualitative study explores supplier collaboration in e-commerce product development, examining motivations, challenges, strategies, outcomes, and ethical considerations. Through in-depth interviews with stakeholders from diverse e-commerce sectors, the study identifies key themes shaping collaboration dynamics. Motivations include innovation, operational efficiency, and strategic partnerships, driving companies to integrate supplier expertise early in product development. Challenges such as global supply chain complexities, goal misalignment, and communication barriers underscore the need for robust governance and cultural sensitivity. Strategies for success include technology adoption, supplier development programs, and collaborative decision-making, enhancing supply chain visibility and mutual benefits. Effective collaboration yields improved product quality, cost efficiencies, and enhanced customer satisfaction, supporting competitive advantage. Ethical sourcing practices and sustainability initiatives are crucial for maintaining trust and regulatory compliance. Cultural and organizational factors, including leadership support and change management, significantly influence collaboration outcomes. The study concludes with implications for theory and practice, emphasizing the role of innovative strategies and continuous improvement in supplier relationships. Future research could explore digital transformation, sustainability trends, and technological impacts on supplier collaboration in e-commerce. Practical applications include optimizing supply chain strategies to navigate complexities and capitalize on market opportunities.

This qualitative research explores Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) as a pivotal driver of sustainable practices in the e-commerce sector. Through in-depth interviews with industry experts, practitioners, and scholars, the study investigates how SRM strategies integrate sustainability criteria into procurement processes, mitigate environmental and ethical risks, and enhance operational efficiencies. Key findings highlight the strategic importance of collaborative relationships with suppliers, technological innovations such as blockchain and data analytics in promoting transparency and accountability, and the influence of consumer preferences for sustainable products on market dynamics. Despite challenges such as regulatory complexities and global supply chain dynamics, businesses are increasingly adopting sustainable SRM practices to strengthen brand reputation, achieve cost savings, and align with evolving sustainability standards. The study underscores the interconnected nature of sustainability within e-commerce operations and calls for continued research to advance technological solutions, refine regulatory frameworks, and foster industry-wide collaboration. By embracing sustainability as a strategic imperative, businesses can navigate complexities, drive innovation, and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for the e-commerce industry.

This research investigates the pivotal role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in enhancing e-commerce scalability. SRM practices are essential for optimizing supply chain operations and fostering strategic partnerships with suppliers, crucial in the dynamic and competitive e-commerce landscape. Through a comprehensive analysis of case studies, expert interviews, and secondary data, the study examines how leading e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Alibaba implement effective SRM strategies to achieve scalability. Key findings reveal that strategic supplier selection based on capabilities and alignment with business goals, coupled with continuous evaluation and development programs, ensures consistent supply chain performance and customer satisfaction. Technological advancements, including data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, play a transformative role in modern SRM by enhancing transparency, efficiency, and decision-making capabilities. These technologies enable real-time monitoring, automated processes, and risk mitigation strategies that bolster supply chain resilience and operational efficiency. Best practices in SRM, such as clear performance metrics, a culture of continuous improvement, and ethical sourcing policies, are critical for driving supplier accountability, innovation, and sustainability. Moreover, sustainability emerges as a growing priority in SRM, with businesses integrating environmental and social considerations into supplier management strategies to meet regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. Theoretical frameworks like the Resource-Based View and Transaction Cost Economics provide insights into the strategic implications of SRM, emphasizing its role in fostering competitive advantage and long-term business success. As e-commerce continues to evolve, businesses must adapt and innovate in their SRM approaches to navigate global supply chain complexities effectively. By prioritizing effective SRM practices, leveraging advanced technologies, and embracing sustainability, businesses can enhance their scalability, resilience, and competitiveness in the digital economy.

This study explores the dynamics of transparency and accountability in supplier relationship management (SRM) within the e-commerce sector. It investigates how e-commerce platforms and their suppliers navigate complexities to foster trust, enhance collaboration, and ensure ethical practices in global supply chains. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders to gather insights into current practices, challenges, and strategies in SRM. Findings highlight transparency as pivotal for sharing critical information such as sales forecasts, inventory levels, and pricing strategies, enabling suppliers to align operations with market demands effectively. However, achieving transparency faces hurdles including data privacy concerns and competitive sensitivities, necessitating robust data security measures and clear communication protocols. Accountability mechanisms, such as formal agreements and governance frameworks, emerge as essential for mitigating risks, resolving disputes, and ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards across diverse contexts. Technological innovations like AI, blockchain, and big data analytics are transforming SRM by enhancing supply chain visibility, operational efficiency, and decision-making capabilities. Cultural factors and regulatory compliance also significantly influence SRM practices, shaping communication styles, relationship dynamics, and legal considerations. Emerging trends such as sustainable sourcing practices and collaborative partnerships are reshaping SRM, emphasizing sustainability and responsible business practices. This study contributes to the understanding of effective SRM strategies, offering insights and recommendations for stakeholders navigating the complexities of e-commerce supply chains.

This qualitative study explores collaborative supplier relationships within the context of e-commerce, aiming to uncover the dynamics, challenges, strategies, impacts, and future trends shaping these partnerships. Through thematic analysis of interviews with e-commerce platform managers, supplier representatives, and industry experts, the study identifies three primary types of relationships: transactional, relational, and strategic. Critical factors influencing these relationships include trust, effective communication, technological integration, and regulatory compliance. Challenges such as information asymmetry, cultural differences, logistical complexities, and competitive pressures are examined, alongside strategies for enhancing collaboration, including clear communication protocols, performance evaluations, and technological advancements. The findings highlight the significant impact of collaborative supplier relationships on business performance, including cost efficiencies, supply chain resilience, innovation capacity, customer satisfaction, and market competitiveness. Looking forward, trends in digital transformation, sustainability initiatives, global supply chain networks, resilience-building strategies, and industry collaboration are discussed as shaping the future landscape of e-commerce partnerships. Embracing these trends presents opportunities for organizations to innovate, adapt, and sustain growth in the competitive digital marketplace.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition that significantly affects the daily life of those who suffer from it, requiring complex and personalized management with active participation of the patient in the management of their disease. Objective: to describe the design and development process of a mobile application, using the Design Thinking method, for the follow-up of patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods: User-centered design and prototype creation method, differentiating the phases of the empathize, define, idea, prototype, and test. A purposive snowball sampling was used to recruit patients with atopic dermatitis, family members, and health professionals. Three two-hour workshops were held, attended by 25 people. Results: the parameters to be monitored will include objective data (physical, behavioral, treatments, environmental, integration of daily routines) and subjective data (user experience). On the other hand, it will figure out behavior patterns, set up rewards, foster a feeling of community, and use notifications and a chatbot. Conclusion: The active integration of all stakeholders at each stage of the design and development of the digital solution has improved its relevance and acceptance, resulting in a tool that is expected to significantly improve the management of atopic dermatitis.

This qualitative research investigates the impact of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) on e-commerce innovation adoption. Through semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the study explores how SRM practices influence organizational capabilities to innovate in the context of digital commerce. Key themes emerged, emphasizing the critical role of trust, communication, collaboration, strategic alignment, technology integration, organizational culture, leadership, and external factors in shaping e-commerce innovation. Trust was found to be foundational, fostering transparent communication and collaborative relationships that facilitate innovation. Effective communication channels and collaborative initiatives enabled organizations and suppliers to leverage combined expertise, driving the development of innovative e-commerce solutions. Strategic alignment ensured that both parties worked towards shared goals, supported by technology integration that enhanced operational efficiency and decision-making. Organizational culture and leadership were identified as crucial in creating environments conducive to continuous innovation. External factors such as market dynamics, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements influenced innovation strategies, highlighting the need for adaptive and responsive SRM practices. The findings underscore the interconnectedness of these factors within the SRM framework, offering insights into how organizations can enhance their innovation capabilities and competitiveness in the digital economy. By strategically managing SRM practices and integrating sustainable initiatives, organizations can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve sustained success in e-commerce innovation.

In this study, a modular multi-step photometric microflow injection analysis (micro-FIA) system for the automatic determination of Cu(II) in a bioreactor has been developed. The system incorporates diverse 3D-printed modules, including a platform formed by a mixer module to mix Cu(II) with hydroxylamine which reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I) linked to a diluter module via a Tesla valve, a chelation mixer module, a disperser module, and a detector module provided by a LED light source at λ= 455 nm and a light dependence resistor (LDR) as a light intensity detector. The system measures the color intensity resulting from the chelation between Cu(I) and neocuproine. The micro-FIA system has demonstrated good capability for automatic and continuous Cu(II) determination, in a wide range of Cu concentrations from 34 to 2000 mg L-1. The device exhibits a good repeatability (coefficient of variation below 2% across the concentration range), good reproducibility, and has an accuracy of around 100% between 600 to 1900 mg·L-1. Real samples were analyzed using both the micro-FIA system and an atomic absorption spectroscopy method, revealing no statistically significant differences. Additionally, a Tesla valve located before the detector substituted a 3-way solenoid valve, eliminating the need for moving parts.

E-tourism is one of the most important modern services to achieve the development of the tourism sector while relying on sophisticated communication technologies. Certainly, these innovations in the field of tourism have disrupted this sector with new and different dimensions of tourism development. This has led various regions and countries to accelerate the search for the tools that are necessary to achieve excellence and sustainable development in tourism. This research aims to study the development factors of e-tourism to achieve excellence and sustainable development in the tourism of the Ha’il region. Therefore, we applied two analyses: in the first one, we used a statistical analysis based on the survey sent to employees from tourism companies. The objective of this analysis is to determine the main factors of e-tourism to achieve excellence in tourism in the Ha’il region. The results of the statistical analysis have given us the following elements: There are only four main factors that allow authorities to achieve excellence in tourism in the Ha’il region, namely ST, CP, HRS, and SC factors. Then we proceed with a second analysis, to determine the main factors of excellence in tourism that drive the achievement of sustainable development in tourism in the Ha’il region. For this reason, we applied an artificial intelligence method based on the unsupervised machine learning technique. The results obtained from the machine learning technique show that five factors determine the excellence in tourism and reveal the sustainable development of Ha’il’s tourism. These factors are ST, CP, FP, HRS, and GC. Consequently, we consider that all the factors found in both analyses are important to realise excellence in tourism and sustainable development in tourism. However, to achieve sustainable development in tourism in Ha’il, Saudi authorities must develop the three common factors found in the two analyses, namely ST, CP, and HRS.

E-waste management (EWM) refers to the operation-management of discarded or unproductive electronic devices and components, a challenge exacerbated due to overindulgent urbanization. This article presents a multidimensional cost-function-based analysis of the EWM framework structured on three modules - environmental, economic, and social uncertainties - which contemplate the 3 pillars of sustainability in an e-waste recycling plant, including the production-delivery-utilization process. The framework incorporates material recovery from a single e-waste facility provisioning for chemical and mechanical recycling. Each module is ranked using independent Machine Learning (ML) protocols: a) Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and b) combined AHP and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). From a long list of possible contributors, the model identifies and ranks two key sustainability contributors to the EWM supply chain: overall energy consumption and volume of carbon dioxide generated. Another key finding is a precise time window for policy resurrection, which for the data considered, happens to be 400-600 days from the start of operation. Another interesting outcome is the quality of prediction using a combination of AHP and PCA, which consistently produced better results than any of these ML methods individually implemented. Model outcomes have been verified using a case study to outline a future E-waste sustained roadmap.

In the field of business environments, the integration of novel artificial intelligence (AI) techniques has been identified in the literature and theoretical discourse as an essential catalyst for enhancing the decision-making processes. In the contemporary landscape of digital transformation, the application of these techniques becomes essential, despite encountering various hurdles that impede their seamless integration into the rational decision-making process within e-government, which constitutes a critical component of digital government initiatives. This study explores whether similar advancements can be observed within the e-government sector and investigates the impact of using machine learning (ML) as a technique of artificial intelligence on rational decision-making (RDM). Employing an empirical research approach, the study utilized a quantitative methodology, relying on an electronically structured questionnaire survey administered to 163 employees in the e-government sector in Jordan through purposive random sampling. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS v25 program, complemented by a media-tion analysis using AMOS v23 software. The research findings revealed a significant contribution of using machine learning to enhance rational decision-making and trust levels, with trust positively impacting RDM. Trust was identified as a beneficial mediator in the relationship between machine learning and rational decision-making. Despite certain limitations, this study's outcomes offer substantial insights for researchers and government policy-makers alike, contributing to the advancement of sustainable practices in the e-government domain.

Meals on Wheels (MoWs) are critical in enabling adults with care and support needs to live independently. However, many individuals are unaware that the service exists. The aim of this study was to review the websites of local authorities in the UK, and those of 3^rd-party providers they signpost to, to establish the quality of online information available on MoWs services, and the websites’ overall quality. Two data capture forms were used to extract information from local authority and 3^rd-party providers, consisting of 35 items across five domains, and 36 items across five domains, respectively. Items were awarded a score based on whether certain criteria were met or not, resulting in a maximum total score of 50 and 43 points for each local authority, and 3^rd-party provider, website, respectively. A total of 271 websites (223 local authority and 48 3^rd-party provider) were reviewed. The mean total score was 14.9 (SD 10.6, range: 1-40 points) for local authority websites, and 21.4 (SD 5.3, range: 10-35 points) for 3^rd-party provider websites. For all websites combined, online provision of MoWs information was generally poor, with the vast majority of websites (69.4%, n=188) assessed as requiring improvement, whereas only 4.4% of websites (n=12) were assessed as very good. These findings suggest that local authorities and 3^rd-party providers in the UK should seek to improve their online information provision on MoWs to enhance awareness of the service, and ensure that potential service users, and individuals who refer them to the service, can access high-quality information on MoWs.

This study employs molecular docking techniques to investigate a spectrum of targets within Escherichia coli (E. coli), with a specific focus on four key proteins: Beta-lactamase, MccE protein, Penicillin G acylase, and DNA polymerase II. The research explores the binding interactions of various natural compounds, emphasizing Hypericin. Through computational analyses, the study aims to unveil the potential interactions between these compounds and essential proteins in E. coli. Notably, Hypericin demonstrates remarkable binding energy scores of approximately -10.5 kcal/mol within the Ligand Binding Site of the specified proteins. This observation suggests Hypericin's potential as a potent modulator of E. coli targets, prompting further investigation into its antimicrobial properties and therapeutic applications.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen with a variety of hosts, including pigs, which act as reservoirs. In industrialized countries, sporadic cases caused by genotype 3, contracted by ingestion of contaminated uncooked or undercooked meat, have been reported. However, in developing countries, HEV infection is mainly dominated by genotype 2 and often associated with poor hygiene conditions and drinking water supplies. In West Africa, HEV infection and its circulation in domestic fauna are very poorly documented. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of HEV in pork sold in Saint-Louis. Meat products were collected between 20 and 25 August 2022 in three location of Saint-Louis region. After purchasing 250 g of sample, we minced 2 g of sample for extraction of total nucleic acids using the Purelink™ Viral DNA/RNA kit and then RT-PCR using the One-Taq™ One-Step RT-PCR kit targeting the HEV ORF2 genomic region. The products obtained were visualized on a 1% agarose gel. Of a total of 74 samples, divided into pork meat (n=65) and pork liver (n=9), 5.4% (n=4) were tested positive for HEV. In both cases, 2 samples were positive, representing a rate of 3.1% and 22.2% for meat and pork liver respectively. All new viral sequences obtained form a monophyletic group within HEV genotype 3. These preliminary results reveal a potential circulation of HEV in the pig population. The high proportion of contamination in the pork liver samples highlights a major risk associated with their consumption.

This investigation delves into the profound interplay between the e-commerce environment and the agricultural system, while scrutinizing the intricate human-land coupling dynamics engen-dered by transformations within the agricultural domain. Focusing on the expansion of orchards in Pinghe County, a pivotal epicenter for Chinese sweet pomelo production, this study eluci-dates the reverberations of Rural E-commerce Environment Development on Orchard Expansion through the lens of Tele-coupling. In doing so, it unveils the nuanced tapestry of the human-land coupling associations latent within the evolutionary trajectory of the agricultural system amidst the blossoming information society. The findings underscore a symbiotic relationship between the augmentation of orchard acreage and the burgeoning rural e-commerce landscape, effec-tively propelling the economic prosperity of the agricultural system. Moreover, a tele-coupling phenomenon has emerged, underscoring the intricate web of interconnections binding the mat-uration of the rural e-commerce ecosystem with the proliferation of orchards. The research illu-minates that the transformation of land utilization, imbricated within the agricultural system, manifests as a distinctive form of tele-coupling intricately woven into the fabric of urbanization and information technology advancements. Consequently, adopting a comprehensive theoreti-cal perspective, amalgamating disparate domains across distinct geographic realms, becomes imperative for discerning the intricate nuances of the human-land coupling nexus within these multifaceted, open systems.

The combination of e-commerce and the green economy allows enterprises to distribute their green products directly to consumers through Internet channels. This paper investigates the impact of service spillovers on emission reduction and channel decisions in a two-echelon supply chain,in which the supplier is a Stackelberg leader and the retailer is a follower.By comparing the equilibrium outcomes of the single-channel and dual-channel supply chain in a setting with and without retail services, we observe that the supplier prefers to encroach on the market when services that retail locations provide largely spillover to and benefit the direct sales channel. Contrary to popular belief, a higher degree of service spillovers is beneficial for the retailer to get more returns under the dual-channel structure, whereas supplier encroachment will lead to a decline in the service level if the spillover degree is relatively low. In addition, the emission reduction level of products under supplier encroachment is always higher than that employed in the single-channel structure if consumers have both low-carbon preference and high degree of service sensitivity. Furthermore, we extend the equilibrium decisions under a carbon cap-and-trade (CCT) mechanism; the results fully verify the above conclusions. Interestingly, the implementation of a carbon price not only motivates carbon emission abatement and supplier encroachment, but also helps achieve a win-win outcome for supply chain members when service spillovers happen.

Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, is a necessary and complex micronutrient for cows. During the transition period, vitamin E deficiency (VED) is among the highest prevalent micronutrient deficits in dairy cows. It may eventually result in oxidative stress and immunological malfunction, and it increases the risk of peripartum disorders. At present, detailed data on blood metabolites in VED cows are limited. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to examine the alterations in the serum metabolic profile of VED cows throughout the early postpartum period. Using comprehensive 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), the alterations in serum metabolic activities of VED cows were analyzed. In total, 28 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned according to serum α-tocopherol (α-Toc) concentrations into a normal (α-Toc ≥ 4 μg/mL, n = 14) and VED (α-Toc &lt; 3 μg/mL, n = 14) groups at 21 days postpartum, and their blood samples were collected for biochemical and 1H NMR analyses. A t-test on independent samples as well as multivariate statistics were used to assess the findings. In comparison with normal cows, VED cows showed significantly worse body condition scores, milk yield, and dry matter intake (p &lt; 0.05). Significantly higher levels of serum non-esterified fatty acids, aspartate aminotransferase, low-density lipoprotein, and malonaldehyde were found in VED-affected cows, as well as lesser concentrations of serum albumin, high-density lipoprotein, and total antioxidant capacity in comparison with normal cows (p &lt; 0.01), while other vitamins and minerals concentrations showed no distinction between the groups (p &gt; 0.05). Furthermore, 24 upregulated serum metabolites were identified under VED conditions. The metabolomics pathway analysis of these metabolites demonstrated that a global metabolic response to VED in cows was represented by changes in 11 metabolic pathways, comprising energy, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism. These outcomes suggest that VED cows were more likely to experience a negative energy balance characterized by alterations of common systemic metabolic processes and develop oxidative stress, inflammation, and ultimately liver injury. This study provides the first evidence of metabolic changes in cows with VED.

High salinity in soil affects the normal growth and development of crop. MicroRNA171 (miR171) plays a momentous role in plant resistance to adversity stress. The functions of Sly-miR171d and Sly-miR171e on growth of tomato and fruit nutritional quality under salt stress were studied. The results showed that the seed germination and seedling growth of tomato that silencing of Sly-miR171d/e by short tandem target mimic (STTM) were better than those of wild-type (WT). Silencing of Sly-miR171d/e seeds maintained a high germination rate, while WT tomato seeds barely germinated under 50 mM NaCl stress. Under 100 mM NaCl stress, silencing of Sly-miR171d/e increased the expression of their target gene SlGRAS24 with increasing duration of salt stress, while they enhanced the antioxidant activity, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and enhanced the salt tolerance of tomato plant by regulating gibberellin (GA) level. Moreover, the preharvest and postharvest fruit nutritional quality under salt stress was also studied, and the results showed that silencing of Sly-miR171d/e increased soluble solids, lycopene, total carotenoids, Vitamin C, organic acids and phenolic substances in tomato fruit. The present study demonstrated that silencing of Sly-miR171d/e enhanced plant salt tolerance through the GA pathway, and improved fruit nutritional quality under salt stress.

Microbe bioengineering has the potential to improve the nutritional value and health benefits of food products. Modifying microbial cells to produce specific proteins or compounds that can improve human health is one approach. Penicillin and recombinant insulin are two examples of this. The production of recombinant insulin by genetically modified E. coli bacteria has transformed diabetes treatment by providing a consistent and cost-effective source of insulin. Previously, insulin was extracted from the pancreas of animals, which was an expensive process that frequently resulted in impurities that could cause adverse reactions. Bioengineered insulin is now the standard diabetes treatment, providing a safe and effective method of controlling blood glucose levels. Bacteria, for example, can be genetically modified to produce vitamins like B12, which are difficult to obtain from plant sources. Likewise, yeasts can be genetically modified to produce β-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A that is required for vision, immune function, and skin health. Overall, bioengineered microorganisms have the potential to provide significant health benefits by producing essential compounds and proteins. Because of ongoing advances in genetic engineering techniques and understanding microbial metabolism, the possibilities for improving human health through bioengineering are limitless.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) worldwide includes infections by ESKAPE-E pathogens. Environmental surfaces and fomites are important components in HAI transmission dynamics, and shoe soles are vectors of HAI. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is an effective method to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we investigated whether the SANITECH UVC shoe sole decontaminator equipment that provides germicidal UVC radiation could effectively reduce this risk of different pathogens. Six standard strains and four clinical MDR strains in liquid and solid medium were exposed to a UVC System at specific concentrations at other times. Bacterial inac-tivation (growth and cultivability) was investigated using colony counts and resazurin as meta-bolic indicators. SEM was performed to assess the membrane damage. Statistically significant reduction in cell viability for all ATCCs strains occurred after 10 sec of exposure to the UVC sys-tem, except for S enterica, which only occurred at 20 sec. The cell viability of P. aeruginosa (90.9%), E. faecalis and A. baumannii (85.3%), S. enterica (82.9%), E. coli (79.2%) and S. aureus (71.9%) was re-duced considerably at 20 sec. In colony count, after 12 sec of UVC exposure, all ATCC strains showed a 100% reduction in CFU counts, except for A. baumannii, which reduced 97.7%. A sub-stantial reduction of colonies above 3 log10 was observed at 12 and 20 sec in all bacterial strains tested, except for A. baumannii ATCC 19606 (12 sec). The exposure of ATCCs bacterial strains to the UVC system for only 2 sec was able to reduce 100% in the CFU count in all ATCCs strains, S. au-reus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, A. baumannii, E. faecalis, except the S. enterica strain which had a statis-tically significant reduction of 99.7%. In ATCC strains, there was a substantial decrease in colonies after 4 sec (sec) of exposure to the UVC system, with a reduction ranging from 3.78-4.15 log10 CFU/mL. This reduction was observed in MDR/ESKAPE-E strains within 10 sec, showing that UVC could eliminate above 3.84 log10 CFU/mL. SEM showed a reduction of pili-like appendages after UVC treatment in all strains except for E. coli (ATCC 25922). The Sanitech UVC shoe sole decontaminator equipment from Astech Co. effectively killed in vitro a series of ATCCs and MDR/ESKAPE-E bacteria of sanitary interest, commonly found in the hospital environment.

Coaxial rotors can be found in multirotor vehicles for the added thrust compared to independent rotors while keeping similar area footprints but, performance losses should be considered. This experimental study analyzes the effects of varying motor throttle and propeller pitch values in motor-propeller systems with two to four coaxial rotors. The results show that in a two-rotor coaxial system, to lessen the adverse effects of a front rotor’s backwash and to operate at the maximum performance, only the back motor should be operated initially up to 75% duty cycle before using the front motor up to its 75% duty cycle. Additional thrust requirements should be generated from the back rotor and then from the front rotor up to their maximum duty cycles. In two, three, and four-rotor coaxial setups, total thrust output generated is 1.6, 2.1, and 2.5 times the thrust output at system thrust performance of 86%, 76%, and 66%, respectively of that of an isolated rotor. In a four-rotor coaxial setup, maximum system performance is achieved when the propeller pitch values are gradually increased from the first to the last rotor. The gradual increments in propeller pitch values also result in more uniform thrust sharing among rotors.

At present, there are no hardware or biochemical systems allow to assess the severity of post-COVID syndrome in vivo. The hardware of the proposed biotechnical system is based on routine transthoracic electrical impedance rheography, which makes it possible to register the frequency characteristics of the patient's bioimpedance response to controlled stress stimulation, thereby simultaneously fixing the characteristics of his productive heart, the state of the hemomicrocirculatory bed, the efficiency of the gas transport function of his blood, and also reliably assess personal reactivity and adaptive potential. Subsequent mathematical approximation of the obtained biometric data by an original neural network makes it possible to rank the results obtained and automatically generate a program of medical rehabilitation for a particular patient, depending on the severity of his post-COVID syndrome. The study results proved two reliable physiological signs confirming the presence of latent post-COVID complications: a decrease in the base impedance value for light exercise and an increase in the length of the systolic arc of the rheocardiogram.

A case study is presented which demonstrates the value and validity of a novel approach to the use of consolidated amateur (‘ham’) radio reception reports as indicators of the presence of intense ionospheric sporadic E (Es). It is shown that the use of amateur data can provide an important supplement to other techniques, allowing the detection and tracking of Es where no suitable ionosonde or other measurements are available. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by reference to ionosonde data, and the advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed.

According to our previous investigation the total methanol extract from Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther demonstrates a significant inhibitory effect on HSV-1. To clarify what causes this inhibitory activity on HSV-1, a metabolic profile of the plant was performed. Three main fractions: non-polar substances, polar metabolites and phenolic compounds were obtained and GC-MS analysis was carried out. Since it is well known that phenolic compounds show a significant anti-herpes effect and that viral DNA polymerase (DNApol) appears to play a key role in HSV virus replication, we present a docking and quantum-chemical analysis of the binding of these compounds to viral DNApol amino acids. Fourteen different phenolic acids found by GS/MS analyses, were used in molecular docking simulations. According to the interaction energies of all fourteen ligands in the DNApol pockets based on docking results, DFT calculations were performed on the five optimally interacting with the receptor acids. It was found that hydroxybenzoic acids from phenolic fraction of Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther show a good binding affinity to the amino acids from the active site of the HSV DNApol, but significantly lower than that of acyclovir. The mode of action on virus replication of acyclovir (by DNApol) is different from that of the plant phenolic acids one, probably.

The experience gained over the last hundred years clearly indicates that two groups of viruses represent the main risk for the development of highly transmissible epidemics and pandemics in the human species: influenza viruses and coronaviruses (CoV). Although the search for viruses with pandemic potential in the environment may have an important predictive and monitoring role, it is still based on empirical methodologies, mostly translated from the clinic and not fully validated for environmental matrices.As far as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, currently underway, is concerned, environmental monitoring activities aiming at checking the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater can be extremely useful to predict and control the diffusion of the disease. For this reason, the present study aims to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 diffusion by means of a wastewater-based environmental monitoring developed in Piedmont, N-W Italy, during the pandemic second and third waves. Sampling strategies, sampling points, sample pre-treatments and analytical methods have been developed and validated to give representative and reliable results. The outcomes highlighted by the present paper demonstrate a strong correlation between SARS-CoV-2 concentration in untreated wastewater and epidemic evolution in the considered areas as well as a predictive potential that could provide decision-makers with indications for establishing effective policies to mitigate the effects of the ongoing pandemic and to prepare response plans for future pandemics that could certainly arise in the decades to come.Moreover, the study highlights the potential of wastewater treatment plants to degrade the genetic material referable to SARS-CoV-2 as well.In conclusion, the preliminary data reported in the present paper, although they need to be complemented by further studies considering other geographical regions as well, are very promising.

In open, sustainable policymaking, we are expecting to develop the valuable results that will bring us closer to a fairer and more balanced society. One way to involve the public in these processes is to engage them in online e-participation projects. Despite the hopes, empirical analyses show that many e-participation initiatives have failed to deliver expected benefits. Revealing what actually works in examined projects and what requires improvement would allow for better policy planning in the future. In this article, I made an attempt to identify and assess the cognitive processes enabling emergence of collective intelligence (CI) in a singular e-participation project. For this reason, I worked out and tested an evaluation technique, combining the MILCS framework for group cognition and the results of empirical research on CI. A case study method based on semi-structured interviews was selected to evaluate a sample participatory budgeting initiative, Civic Budget of the City of Kraków. Results reveal that most cognitive processes are working satisfactorily, but the real problem is using collective memory, which works only to a very limited extent. A guideline for future policymakers should be to develop a shared memory system, to which all community members should have access.

Through the half-unit circle area computation using the integration of the corresponding curve power series representation, we deduce a slow converging positive infinite series to $\pi$. However, by studying the remainder of that series we establish sufficiently close inequalities with equivalent lower and upper bound terms allowing us to estimate, more precisely, how the series approaches $\pi$. We use the obtained inequalities to compute up to four-digit denominator, what are in this sense, the best rational numbers that can replace $\pi$. It turns out that the well-known convergents of the continued fraction of $\pi$, $22/7$ and $355/113$ called, respectively, Yuel\"{u} and Mil\"{u} in China are the only ones found. Thus we apply a similar process to find rational estimations to $\pi+e$ where $e$ is taken as the power series of the exponential function evaluated at $1$. For rational numbers with denominators less than $2000$, the convergent $920/157$ of the continued fraction of $\pi+e$ turns out to be the only rational number of this type.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular biological process involved in migration of primary cancer cells to secondary sites facilitating metastasis. Besides, EMT also confers properties such as stemness, drug resistance and immune evasion which can aid a successful colonization at the distant site. EMT is not a binary process; recent evidence suggests that cells in partial EMT or hybrid E/M phenotype(s) can have enhanced stemness and drug resistance as compared to those undergoing a complete EMT. Moreover, partial EMT enables collective migration of cells as clusters of circulating tumor cells or emboli, further endorsing that cells in hybrid E/M phenotypes may be the ‘fittest’ for metastasis. Here, we review mechanisms and implications of hybrid E/M phenotypes, including their reported association with hypoxia. Hypoxia-driven activation of HIF-1α can drive EMT. In addition, cyclic hypoxia, as compared to acute or chronic hypoxia, shows the highest levels of active HIF-1α and can augment cancer aggressiveness to a greater extent, including enriching for a partial EMT phenotype. We also discuss how metastasis is influenced by hypoxia, partial EMT and collective cell migration, and call for a better understanding of interconnections among these mechanisms. We discuss the known regulators of hypoxia, hybrid EMT and collective cell migration and highlight the gaps which needs to be filled for connecting these three axes which will increase our understanding of dynamics of metastasis and help control it more effectively.

In this study, we first present a time-fractional L$\hat{e}$vy diffusion equation of the exponential option pricing models of European option pricing and the risk-neutral parameter. Then, we modify a particular L$\hat{e}$vy-time fractional diffusion equation of European-style options. Introduce a more general model from the models based on the L$\hat{e}$vy-time fractional diffusion equation and review some recent findings regarding of the Europe option pricing of risk-neutral free.

Escherichia coli or E. coli is a member of the fecal coliform group and is a more specific indicator of fecal contamination than other fecal coliform species, its presence indicate possibly presence of harmful bacteria which will cause diseases and it also suggests the extent as well as the nature of the contaminants. E. coli bacteria able to survive in water for 4 – 12 weeks and at present, it appears as an indicator to provide the accurate bacterial contamination of fecal matter in drinking water, because of the availability of simple, affordable, fast, sensitive and exact detection techniques. According to the laboratory experiment based techniques, 24 - 48 hours are required for the bacterial concentration to be reported. So, there is a necessity for continuous monitoring. Techniques for detection of many pathogenic bacterial strains are not yet available, sometimes days to weeks are required to get the results. To overcome the difficulties, expensive and time-consuming techniques are required to detect, count and identify the presence of specific bacterial strain. Public health relies on online monitoring of water quality that depends majorly on examination of fecal indicator bacteria, thus protection of health requires fecal pollution indicator so that it is not required to analyze drinking water to overcome the problems associated with waterborne diseases. This paper will brief the classification, sources, survival of E. coli bacteria and its correlation with basic water quality parameters in water sources.```

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for large waterborne epidemics of hepatitis in endemic countries and is an emerging zoonotic pathogen worldwide. In endemic regions, HEV-1 or HEV-2 genotypes are frequently associated with fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women, while with zoonotic HEV (HEV-3 and HEV-4), chronic cases of hepatitis and severe neurological disorders are reported. Hence, it is important to characterize the interactions between HEV and its host. Here, we investigated the ability of the non-structural polyprotein encoded by the first open reading frame (ORF1) of HEV to modulate the host early antiviral response and in particular the type I interferon (IFN-I) system. We found that the amino-terminal region of HEV-3 ORF1 (MetPCP), containing a putative methyltransferase (Met) and a papain-like cysteine protease (PCP) functional domain, inhibited IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter activation and the expression of several IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in response to IFN-I. We showed that the MetPCP domain interfered with the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein (STAT) signalling pathway by inhibiting STAT1 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation after IFN-I treatment. By contrast, MetPCP had no effect on STAT2 phosphorylation and a limited impact on the activation of the JAK/STAT pathway after IFN-II stimulation. This inhibitory function seemed to be genotype-dependent as MetPCP from HEV-1 had no significant effect on the JAK/STAT pathway. Overall, this study provides evidence that the predicted MetPCP domain of HEV ORF1 antagonises STAT1 activation to modulate the IFN response.

Public participation is significant for the success of any urban planning project. However, most members of the general public are not planning professionals and may not understand the technical details of a 2D paper-based plan, which might hamper their participation. One way to expand the participation of citizens is to present plans in well-designed, user-friendly and interactive platforms that allow participation regardless of the technical skills of the participants. This paper investigates the impacts of the combined use of 3D visualization and E-participation on public participation in Kisumu, Kenya. A 3D City model, created with CityEngine2016, was exported into a web-based geo-portal and used as a Planning Support System in two stakeholder workshops in order to evaluate its usability. For e-participation, 300 questionnaires given out to planning practitioners. Five indicators were developed for evaluating the usability of the 3D model while the usability of e-participation was evaluated using communication, collaboration and learning as indicators. Results showed that effectiveness and efficiency varies within different professional groups while the questionnaires showed strong preference for e-participation methods, especially SMSs/USSDs and emails. The study concludes that the use of 3D visualization and E-participation has the potential for improving the quality and quantity of public participation and recommends further research on the subject.

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in Australia has been transformed from a niche opportunistic crop into a major summer cropping option for dryland growers in the summer-dominant rainfall regions of Queensland and New South Wales. This transformation followed stepwise genetic improvements in both grain yields and disease resistance. For example, more recent cultivars such as ‘Crystal’, ‘Satin II’ and ‘Jade-AU‘ have provided up to a 20% yield advantage over initial introductions. Improved agronomic management to enable mechanised management and cultivation in narrow (<50 cm) rows has further promised to increase yields. Nevertheless, average yields achieved by growers for their mungbean crops remain less than 1 t/ha, and are much more variable than other broad acre crops. Further increases in yield and crop resilience in mungbean are vital. In this review, opportunities to improve mungbean have been analysed at four key levels including phenology, leaf area development, dry matter accumulation and its partitioning into grain yield. Improving the prediction of phenology in mungbean may provide further scope for genetic improvements that better match crop duration to the characteristics of target environments. There is also scope to improve grain yields by increasing dry matter production through the development of more efficient leaf canopies. This may introduce additional production risks as dry matter production depends on the amount of available water, which varies considerably within and across growing regions in Australia. Improving crop yields by exploiting photo-thermal sensitivities to increase dry matter is likely a less risky strategy for these variable environments. Improved characterisation of growing environments using modelling approaches could also better define and identify the risks of major abiotic constraints. This would assist in optimising breeding and management strategies to increase grain yield and crop resilience in mungbean for the benefit of growers and industry.

Soil water balance (SWB) in woody crops is sometimes difficult to estimate with one-dimensional models because these crops do not completely cover the soil and usually have a deep root system, particularly when cropped under rainfed conditions in a Mediterranean climate. In this study, the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) is estimated with the soil water balance model SIMDualKc which uses the dual-Kc approach (relating the fraction of soil cover with the crop coefficients) to improve the estimation of the water requirements of a rainfed vineyard, using data from a deep soil profile. The actual basal crop coefficient (Kcb act) obtained using the SIMDualKc model was compared with the Kcb act estimated using the A&amp;P approach, which is a simplified approach based on measurements of the fraction of ground cover and crop height. Spectral vegetation indices derived from Landsat-5 satellite data were used to determine the fraction of ground cover (fc VI) and thus, the density coefficient (Kd). The SIMDualKc model was calibrated using soil water content (SWC) measurements down to a depth of 1.85 meters, which significantly improved the conditions for using a SWB estimation model. The test of the model was performed using a different SWC dataset. A good agreement between simulated and field measured SWC was observed for both data sets along the crop season, with RMSE&lt;12.0 mm, NRMSE &lt;13%. The calibrated Kcb values were 0.15, 0.60 and 0.52 for the initial, mid-season, and end season, respectively. The ratio between actual (ETc act) and crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was quite low between veraison and maturity (mid-season), corresponding to 36%, indicating that the rainfall was not sufficient to satisfy the vineyards water requirements. Spectral vegetation indices used to compute fc VI were unable to fully track the plants’ conditions when water stress. However, ingestion of data from remote sensing showed promising results that could be used to support decisions making in irrigation scheduling. Further studies on the use of the A&amp;P approach using remote sensing data are required.

Photovoltaic materials convert light into electrical voltages. So far, most research in the field are focused on how to refine/improve the existing or standard photovoltaic cells to yield more efficient electricity, to reduce weight, to make more flexible shape, or to minimize costs under standard and uniform sunlight illuminations. In this project, we explore and demonstrate a hypothesis that non-uniform light illumination photovoltages can also be generated due to photo doping induced mobile charge carrier density gradient between light and dark areas in either p-type or n-type photo doping semiconductors. The term non-uniform light illumination was coined to refer to subjecting our photo sensing thin film devices to areas of high and low intensities of light illumination simultaneously, with an intention of creating a charge density gradient and therefore a voltage. Specifically, a polymeric composite thin film composed of P3HT (p-type photo doping semiconductor) and PCBM (photo doping electron acceptor and trap) at varying p-doping levels were studied. We observed that the fabricated photovoltaic cells with about 80% PCBM doped P3HT thin film devices exhibited 0.5-1.2 volts photovoltages under non-uniform light illuminations.

Background. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is accompanied by executive deficits. Objectives. To obtain evidence of the usefulness of the BRIEF-P and to analyse the possible ceiling and floor effect of its scores in the assessment of executive function in preschoolers with signs compatible with a possible diagnosis of ADHD. Methods. Seven articles were selected from 2538 potentially eligible articles from different databases. We included studies assessing samples of individuals with symptoms compatible with ADHD, with age range 2-6 years, published in English or Spanish, during the period 2012-2022. References published in: Science Direct, NCBI (PubMed), ProQuest Education Journals in the last decade. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 questionnaire. The main variables were: age and executive functioning. Conclusions. Executive deficits in early-life individuals with ADHD-compatible symptoms are more extensive than deficits in working memory. BRIEF-P is an instrument that facilitates obtaining a sensitive and discriminative executive profile. It should be used in combination with other neuropsychological performance tests, finding a floor effect in tests associated with warm executive functions and a ceiling effect in cold executive functions. This requires using a variety of tests to assess executive performance in preschoolers with symptoms compatible with ADHD and designing intervention proposals in line with them...

Neuroinflammation is considered to be a significant component in a range of neuropathologies. Unfortunately, whilst its role is well recognized, the options for therapeutic intervention are limited. As such, there is a need to identify novel targets in order to increase treatment options. Given its role as both a neurotransmitter and an immune modulator, substance P and its NK1 receptor have been widely studied as a potential therapeutic target. There is evidence that NK1 receptor antagonists may exert beneficial effects in a range of conditions, including traumatic brain injury and stroke. Blocking the NK1 receptor has been shown to reduce blood-brain barrier dysfunction, reduce cerebral oedema, and reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These actions are associated with improved survival and functional outcomes. The NK1 receptor has also been shown to be involved in the inflammatory reaction to CNS infection, and hence antagonist may have some benefit in reducing infection-driven inflammation. However, the NK1 receptor may also play a role in the host immune response to infection, and so here, the potential beneficial and detrimental effects need to be carefully balanced. As such, the purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the involvement of substance P in acute inflammation, particularly in the context of traumatic brain injury and stroke.

Dendrobium okinawense is an endangered epiphytic orchid, and there has been no scientific report so far on its propagation. Protocorm is mass of cell, and protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) look alike protocorm produced by vegetative explants in vitro. Regeneration of PLBs is the most efficient technique for the orchids micro-propagation. We used different light emitting diodes (LEDs) for the efficient PLB organogenesis of D. okinawense. PLBs regenartion under green and red LED surpassed respectively 81.1% and 71.6% in numbers, and respectively 80.8% and 57.8% in fresh weight over white fluorescent light. We manipulated the culture media by different concentrations of PCIB and HMI. PLBs organogenesis promoted by low concentration, it increased respectively 35.9% and 19.3% over control by 0.01 mg/L PCIB and 0.01 ml/L HMI in numbers. Green LED and PCIB independently produced mostly similar numbers of new PLBs. Interestingly, culture media with 0.01 mg/L of PCIB further increased 8.5% of the numbers of PLBs under green LED, whereas the culture media with 0.01 mg/L HMI reduced the number of PLBs under green LED. PLBs culture under green LED with very low concentrations of PCIB manipulated culture media can significantly increase their organogenesis of D. okinawense.

The circuitry of the summarized "floating" differential stages (FDS) based on complementary field-effect transistors with a control p-n junction (CJFET), intended for use in low-noise analog microcircuits, for example, operational amplifiers. The results of modeling the flow characteristics of one of the CJFET FDSs in the LTSpice XVII environment at low temperatures (down to -197 ⁰С) and exposure to a neutron flux in the range of 1e13 ÷ 1e15 n / cm² are presented.

The article introduces a new solution approach to grid-connected single-stage three-phase PV inverter whereby a dc-link voltage can successfully achieve the desired performance. As a single-stage, the variable output of perturb and observe maximum power point tracking (P&O based-MPPT) is fully utilized as dc-link voltage reference in inverter control scheme. As a result, it is challenging for the dc-link voltage to preserve energy balance by tracking its variable dc-link voltage reference under unpredictable environmental changes. To overcome this challenge, an adaptive reference proportional-integral (ARPI) controller, self-tuning, is designed and implemented to compel the dc-link voltage tracking its voltage reference to be equal as closely as possible; hence, the capability of the dc-link under abnormal events substantially guarantees the best energy balance and transient performance enhancement. To verify the validity of the method, simulation results for multiple events scenarios on 250 KW single-stage grid-connected PV systems show the effectiveness of the ARPI controller compared with PI controller.

The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) in e-commerce has emerged as a transformative development, reshaping how consumers interact with online retail environments. This research explores the impact of AR on e-commerce by examining its effects on consumer behavior, purchase decisions, and overall shopping experience. Through a series of interviews with industry experts, the study uncovers key insights into how AR enhances product visualization, leading to improved consumer confidence and a reduction in return rates. The immersive and interactive nature of AR applications has been shown to significantly increase consumer engagement and conversion rates, as users are able to interact with products in a virtual setting that simulates real-world experiences. Despite these advantages, the research also highlights several challenges associated with AR implementation, including the high costs of development and maintenance, difficulties in integrating AR technology with existing e-commerce platforms, and concerns regarding privacy and data security. The study further explores the varying applications of AR across different sectors within e-commerce, such as fashion, furniture, and cosmetics, each benefiting from unique AR functionalities. Looking ahead, the potential for AR to be enhanced by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things is discussed, with implications for future advancements in the field. Overall, the research demonstrates that while AR offers significant benefits for enhancing online shopping experiences, addressing its associated challenges is crucial for its successful and widespread adoption.

This qualitative research explores Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices within the e-commerce fashion industry, aiming to uncover key strategies and their impacts. Through semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers, procurement officers, and supplier representatives, critical themes emerged: communication, trust, risk management, sustainability, and digital technologies. Effective communication, characterized by transparency and regular updates, emerged as pivotal for aligning expectations and resolving issues promptly. Trust-building practices, including fair dealings and formal agreements, were essential in fostering long-term partnerships, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing collaboration. Robust risk management strategies, such as supplier diversification and contingency planning, were identified as crucial for mitigating disruptions and ensuring supply chain resilience. Sustainability was highlighted as a strategic imperative, driven by ethical sourcing and environmental standards, supported by technologies like blockchain for transparency. The transformative role of digital technologies—supply chain management software, blockchain, IoT, and data analytics—was evident in enhancing visibility and decision-making across global supply chains. Viewing suppliers as strategic partners, rather than mere vendors, promoted collaborative innovation and mutual growth. Despite challenges like cultural differences and regulatory complexities, opportunities exist to enhance SRM through integrated best practices. By prioritizing effective communication, trust-building, risk management, sustainability, and digital innovation, companies can strengthen supplier relationships, optimize supply chain performance, and achieve competitive advantage in the e-commerce fashion sector.

This qualitative study explores the pivotal role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in enhancing resilience within e-commerce supply chains. In an era marked by rapid digital transformation and global interconnectedness, the resilience of supply chains has become a strategic imperative for organizations striving to maintain operational efficiency and meet customer expectations. Through semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers, procurement officers, and strategic sourcing specialists across diverse industries, this research investigates the strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with SRM practices. Findings reveal that effective communication and collaboration are fundamental to successful SRM, fostering trust, transparency, and responsiveness in supplier relationships. Strategic risk management through proactive identification and mitigation strategies enables organizations to navigate uncertainties such as economic fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. SRM implementation yields significant organizational benefits, including improved supply chain efficiencies, enhanced product quality, and increased customer satisfaction. However, challenges such as technological complexities, cultural differences among global suppliers, and regulatory compliance issues underscore the need for adaptive strategies and digital investments. The integration of digital technologies such as AI and blockchain enhances SRM effectiveness by enabling real-time data exchange, predictive insights, and decision-making capabilities. Ultimately, SRM emerges as a cornerstone of sustainable growth and competitive advantage in e-commerce, empowering organizations to optimize supply chain performance and resilience amidst dynamic market conditions.

This study explores the strategic importance of leveraging supplier relationships for competitive advantage in the e-commerce industry. Strong supplier relationships are crucial for enhancing operational efficiencies, cost management, quality assurance, innovation, sustainability, and overall supply chain resilience. Through collaborative partnerships, e-commerce companies can streamline logistics, reduce costs, ensure consistent product quality, and foster innovation through joint development initiatives. Ethical sourcing and sustainable practices play a pivotal role in supplier relationship management (SRM), aligning with consumer expectations and enhancing brand reputation. Advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT further transform SRM practices by improving transparency, efficiency, and decision-making capabilities across the supply chain. The study also discusses challenges in managing global supplier relationships, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and strategic risk management. By addressing these challenges and nurturing trust-based relationships with suppliers, e-commerce firms can navigate market complexities and achieve sustainable growth. This research provides insights for e-commerce companies seeking to optimize their supplier relationships and maintain competitive advantage in a dynamic market environment.

This qualitative study explores the intricacies of building sustainable supplier relationships in the e-commerce sector, focusing on best practices and strategic approaches. Through in-depth interviews with procurement managers, supply chain experts, and supplier representatives, the research identifies four critical themes: trust, technology integration, ethical practices, and performance measurement. Trust is found to be the foundation of effective supplier relationships, fostering open communication and collaboration, which are essential for addressing challenges and co-creating solutions. The integration of digital technologies such as supply chain management software, blockchain, and the Internet of Things significantly enhances transparency, decision-making, and operational efficiency, providing a competitive edge. Ethical practices, including adherence to fair labor standards and environmental sustainability, are increasingly crucial as consumer and regulatory expectations evolve, necessitating alignment between e-commerce companies and their suppliers. Performance measurement and continuous improvement are vital for maintaining quality and efficiency, with clear metrics and regular evaluations driving constructive feedback and optimization of supply chain processes. The study underscores the interdependence of these elements in fostering resilient and adaptable supplier relationships. The findings offer practical guidance for e-commerce businesses and suppliers, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to supplier management that balances trust, technology, ethics, and performance. This approach not only enhances operational effectiveness but also ensures the long-term sustainability of supplier relationships in the dynamic e-commerce landscape. The research contributes to the theoretical understanding of supplier relationship management, providing a comprehensive framework for future studies and practical applications in the e-commerce industry.

This qualitative research explores Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies within the context of e-commerce customization, aiming to understand how businesses effectively manage relationships with suppliers to meet personalized consumer demands. Through semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, key themes such as trust, communication, technological integration, strategic alignment, sustainability, and collaboration emerged as critical factors influencing SRM effectiveness. Trust was found to be foundational, fostering cooperation and commitment between e-commerce businesses and suppliers through transparent interactions. Effective communication and the integration of advanced technologies like AI and blockchain enhanced operational efficiency and innovation capabilities, enabling businesses to deliver tailored customer experiences. Strategic alignment between businesses and suppliers proved essential for shared success and mutual benefit, while sustainability practices increasingly shaped consumer preferences and brand reputation. Collaboration facilitated joint innovation and accelerated product customization, underscoring the importance of partnerships in achieving strategic goals. However, challenges including supply chain complexity, managing consumer expectations, and regulatory compliance highlighted the need for continuous improvement and adaptive strategies. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights for e-commerce businesses seeking to optimize SRM strategies, enhance supply chain efficiency, and navigate the complexities of customization in a competitive digital marketplace. By leveraging trust, communication, technology, strategic alignment, sustainability, and collaboration, businesses can effectively meet evolving consumer demands and achieve sustainable growth.

This qualitative study explores the transformative role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in the context of e-commerce, focusing on the integration of digital technologies and evolving supplier interactions. As digital advancements such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analytics, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) reshape traditional SRM practices, e-commerce companies are experiencing significant improvements in efficiency, transparency, and collaboration. This research employs semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and case studies to examine the impact of these technologies on SRM, identify key collaborative practices, and assess risk management strategies. Findings indicate that digital integration enhances decision-making, streamlines operations, and fosters deeper, trust-based supplier relationships. AI facilitates predictive analytics and automates processes, while blockchain provides transparency and reduces fraud. Data analytics supports informed sourcing decisions and risk mitigation, and cloud platforms improve real-time collaboration. IoT enhances supply chain visibility, allowing for better inventory management. Despite these benefits, challenges such as high implementation costs, integration difficulties, data privacy concerns, and security risks remain significant barriers. Collaboration practices, including joint development, shared resources, and coordinated marketing, contribute to innovation and mutual growth, emphasizing the need for effective communication and trust. Risk management strategies, such as scenario planning and supplier diversification, are crucial for maintaining supply chain resilience. Strategic alignment between e-commerce companies and suppliers, including goal congruence and capability matching, is essential for seamless coordination and competitive advantage. The study underscores the importance of a holistic approach to SRM, integrating technology, collaboration, risk management, and strategic alignment to navigate the complexities of supplier relationships in the digital age. These insights provide a framework for e-commerce companies to optimize their SRM practices and achieve sustainable growth in a dynamic marketplace.

The production of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli is often challenged by cytoplasmic expression due to proteolytic degradation and inclusion body formation. Extracellular expression can overcome these problems by simplifying downstream processing and improving protein yields. This study aims to compare the efficiency of two Bacillus subtilis chitosanase signal peptides in mediating extracellular secretion in E. coli. We identified a naturally occurring mutant signal peptide (mCsn2-SP) from B. subtilis CH2 chitosanase (CH2CSN), which is characterized by a deletion of six amino acids in the N-region relative to the signal peptide (Csn1-SP) from B. subtilis CH1 chitosanase (CH1CSN). The CH1CSN and CH2CSN genes were cloned into the pET-11a vector and protein secretion was evaluated in E. coli BL21(DE3) host cells. Expression was induced with 0.1 mM and 1 mM IPTG at 30°C for one and three days. CH2CSN showed higher secretion levels compared to CH1CSN under all experimental conditions, especially with 0.1 mM IPTG induction for 3 days, which resulted in a 2.37-fold increase in secretion. These results suggest that signal peptide deletion variants may have an effect on protein secretion efficiency and help to further understand the function of signal peptides.

Shared e-scooters are gaining popularity as a solution for first and last-mile connectivity in urban areas. This study conducted in Doha, Qatar, aimed to understand how weather and land use patterns affect e-scooter usage, utilizing various datasets. Given the novelty of micromobility systems in Qatar and their sensitivity to the local hot and humid climate, the study employed a comprehensive analytical approach. Analysis revealed that e-scooter demand spikes on weekends, particularly in the afternoon. Influential land use factors include proximity to universities and employment centers, while a higher presence of Qatari females in an area correlates with reduced usage, pointing to cultural influences. Weather conditions, especially humidity and extreme temperatures, significantly impact e-scooter demand. The study employed the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm for trip clustering and the Random Forest (RF) algorithm to model trip counts, considering temperature and humidity. Insights showed humidity as a critical predictor of hourly e-scooter trip counts. These findings underscore the importance of considering weather, land use, the relationship between land use characteristics and weather variations, and finally cultural factors in optimizing e-scooter services. By integrating data analysis and machine learning, the study offers valuable insights for enhancing urban mobility and transportation planning in GCC countries, promoting sustainable urban mobility.

The installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) increases demand and peak loads, potentially straining existing energy distribution infrastructure. Dispersed and inadequately planned placement of charging points (CPs) can disrupt the electrical grid, surpass contracted demand thresholds, and require infrastructure upgrades, thereby incurring unfeasible costs for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). In this context, it is necessary to recognize the role of business models in enabling effective electrification of the transportation sector. In response to these challenges, this paper introduces a novel e-mobility hub management strategy, tailored for implementation in the Brazilian context. The proposed strategy revolves around a microgrid configuration encompassing dispatchable and photovoltaic generation, a battery energy storage system (BESS), EVSE infrastructure, and local loads. Moreover, this centralized controller facilitates the implementation of dynamic pricing and demand-response mechanisms, integral to business models seeking to integrate EVSE into the distribution grid. To validate the efficacy of the proposed solution, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations of the microgrid system are conducted. These simulations, incorporating the centralized controller, serve as a tool for assessing system performance and viability before on-site equipment deployment. Finally, this paper concludes with the insights gleaned from test analysis and its discussion through a selection of the most expressive scenarios, including islanded and connected operation modes.

he paper offers an innovative cooking utensil design for remote, isolated, and even peri-urban communities at a low price, with high reliability and simple construction. It can alleviate energy poverty and improve food security. This utensil uses only local solar energy directly and allows comfortable indoor cooking. This paper provides the design principles of a solar cooker/frying pan or generic heater, based on a PV panel or a plurality of them, which are directly connected to a plurality of Positive Thermal Coefficient (PTC) resistors to match the power. PTCs are nowadays produced in massive quantities and are widely available at low cost. The proposed device does not require an electronic controller or a battery for its operation. The aim is for family use, although the design can be easily scaled to a larger size or power, maintaining its simplicity. Electric heating inside or attached to the cooking pot, plus the temperature self-limiting effect of PTCs, allows for thermally insulating the cooking pot from its outside using ordinary materials. Insulation en-hances energy efficiency during cooking and keeps cooked food warm for a long time. Clean development would receive a significant impulse with its application. A simple mathematical model describes its functioning and states guidelines for adequate design. The results indicate a successful proof of concept and high efficiency both for water and oil as representatives of cooking.

The wind flow patterns and pressure distribution around a plus-shaped building are significantly influenced by the dimensions of its re-entrant corners and the overall building height. The present study aims to find the wind effects and study of the pressure distribution with different flow patterns. Plan area of the building is around 300 square meter while the height of the building is 50 meters by keeping the equal length of the re-entrant corners. The research is performed using ANSYS CFX academic version and the results are depicted in various forms such as pressure coefficient (Cpe), stream lines in both vertical as well as in specific surface and pressure contours. The analysis is carried out by varying the wind incident angles, from 0° to 90° at the interval of 15°. The building dimension are scale down to perform the test on length scale of 1:100. Since the considered building model exhibits symmetry along both the axes, present study mostly emphasis on examining re-entrant corners located in the building. This method yields valuable information about how air circulates and how pressure is distributed across a broad spectrum of wind angles. This study provides valuable insights into flow circulation and pressure distribution for a wide range of wind angles.

A two-step, one-pot synthesis of 3-substituted 1H-dibenzo[e,g]indazoles in good to high yields via a LiOtBu-promoted intramolecular cyclization of 2’-alkynyl-biaryl-2-aldehyde N-tosylhydrazones, formed in situ by the reactions of 2’-alkynyl-biaryl-2-aldehydes with p-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide was developed. Two kinds of hydrogen bonds forming in several products were observed in DMSO-d6 solution in 1H NMR spectroscopic data, which were assigned to the formation of solvated products and dimers of products, supported by the studies of density functional theory (DFT).

Recurrent infections after root canal treatments often involve Enterococcus faecalis, a microorganism closely associated with therapy failures due to its biofilm production, survival in nutrient-deprived conditions, and antibiotic tolerance. Essential oils (EOs), which display anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties, exhibit inhibitory effects on the growth of many microorganisms including E. faecalis. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy of combining antibiotics (Gentamicin 1.5mg/ml, Streptomycin 2.5 mg/ml, Ampicillin 5 mg/ml, and Kanamycin 2.5 mg/ml) with Cinnamon (1.25% to 5%) or Clove (25% to 50%) EOs using disk diffusion tests. Disks were treated with EOs-only, antibiotics-only, or EO-antibiotic combinations, placed on BEA agar plates, incubated for 24 hours, and zones of inhibition were measured against E. faecalis. Results showed robust growth inhibition by cinnamon and clove EOs across all tested concentrations. Furthermore, there were synergistic antimicrobial effects when gentamicin, streptomycin and kanamycin were combined with 2.5% and 50% concentrations of cinnamon and clove EOs, respectively, leading to significant growth inhibition of E. faecalis by 139% to 193% compared to using antibiotics or EOs alone. Clove EO showed positive synergism with three antibiotics (gentamicin, streptomycin, and kanamycin) whereas cinnamon EO showed synergism with two antibiotics (streptomycin and kanamycin). These findings suggest that combining cinnamon and clove EOs with aminoglycoside antibiotics can significantly reduce the expansion of E. faecalis compared to antibiotics alone. Further in vivo studies should determine the safety, efficacy, and treatment duration, with the potential to reduce antibiotic dosages and associated toxicity while preventing recurrent infections.

The paper discusses the experience of implementing an efficient economic management system at the University of Vigo in Spain. This system, which focuses on managing secondments, aims to minimize bureaucracy and standardize economic procedures for various staff groups. By adopting a qualitative methodology and utilizing content analysis, the study compares the University of Vigo's fully digital administrative procedure with other universities in the CRUE network. The results show significant time and cost savings due to this implementation. The improved traceability and information for users support the administrative change, and the positive environmental impacts highlight the commitment to a more sustainable approach. The paper's originality lies in demonstrating how this approach enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and improves sustainability within a Spanish public administration setting.

Higher education teaching staff members need to build a scientifically accurate and comprehensive understanding of the function of the brain in learning to optimize teaching and achieve excellent student learning. An international consortium developed a professional development six-module course on educational neuroscience and online community of practice applying design thinking. A mixed methods research design was employed to investigate the attitudes of thirty-two (N=32) participating academics using a survey comprising eleven closed and open questions. Data analysis methods included descriptive statistics, correlation, generalized additive model and grounded theory. The overall evaluation demonstrated a notable satisfaction level with regard to the quality of the course. Given the power of habits, mentoring and peer interactions are recommended to ensure the effective integration of theoretical neuroscientific evidence into teaching practice.

Background: Demographic aging is a reality in developed countries, which poses a social challenge of great responsibility. Thus, numerous studies have been developed in an attempt to understand which factors best predict healthy aging. The aim of this study was to investigate and systematize literature on intervention programs that simultaneously include cognitive stimulation and physical activity, understand the importance of the use of new technology in these programs, and understand their impact on cognitive function in older adults, giving indications about their contribution to healthy aging. Methods: A narrative approach was used for extraction and synthesis of the data. Relevant studies were identified from electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Academic Search Complete. Results: Thirty-two articles, involving 2815 participants, were identified. All selected studies were randomized controlled studies. The studies were published between 2011 and 2020. All studies included a combination of cognitive and physical interventions. Many of the studies used technology to administer the cognitive stimulation program. Conclusions: Most of the analyzed studies use new technologies in physical and cognitive interventions, demonstrating that this new form of intervention exerts lasting and stable benefits in cognition.

A twelve-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a functional immunostimulant mixture (FIM; nucleotides, β-glucan and vitamins C and E) on growth, feed utilization, innate immunity, digestive enzyme activity, hematological parameters, intestinal morphology and inflammatory gene expression of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. A fish meal-based basal diet (control) was formulated and three other diets were prepared by incorporating 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% FIM into the basal diet (HB0.5, HB1.0 and HB1.5, respectively). Five replicate groups of fish (26.3 ± 0.1 g) were fed one of the experimental diets. Inclusion of 1.5% FIM in the diet significantly enhanced growth and feed utilization. Significantly higher plasma hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein levels and lower plasma glucose level were observed in HB1.5 group. Total immunoglobulin content, lysozyme, nitroblue tetrazolium, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and immune-related gene expressions of toll-like receptor and perforin were significantly increased at highest inclusion level. FIM supplementation significantly increased villus height and goblet cell counts. Anti-inflammatory gene expression was significantly upregulated at a 1.5% level. Dietary supplementation of 1.5% of FIM could improve growth and feed utilization, immune, hematological and histomorphological parameters of olive flounder.

In epithelia, breakdown of tensional homeostasis is closely associated with E-cadherin dysfunction and disruption of tissue function and integrity. In this study, we investigated the effect of E-cadherin mutations affecting distinct protein domains on tensional homeostasis of gastric cancer cells. We used micropattern traction microscopy to measure temporal fluctuations of cellular traction forces in AGS cells transfected with the wild-type E-cadherin or with variants affecting the extracellular, the juxtamembrane, and the intracellular domains of the protein. We focused on the dynamic aspect of tensional homeostasis, namely the ability of cells to maintain a consistent level of tension, with low temporal variability around a set point. Cells were cultured on hydrogels micropatterned with different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to test whether the ECM adhesion impacts cell behavior. A combination of Fibronectin and Vitronectin was used as a substrate that promotes the adhesive ability of E-cadherin dysfunctional cells, whereas Collagen VI was used to test an unfavorable ECM condition. Our results showed that mutations affecting distinct E-cadherin domains influenced differently cell tensional homeostasis, and pinpointed the juxtamembrane and intracellular regions of E-cadherin as the key players in this process. Furthermore, Fibronectin and Vitronectin might modulate cancer cell behavior towards tensional homeostasis.

We are calling for a paradigm shift in engineering education. In times of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (“4IR”), a myriad of potential changes is affecting all industrial sectors leading to increased ambiguity that makes it impossible to predict what lies ahead of us. Thus, incremental culture change in education is not an option any more. The vast majority of engineering education and training systems, having remained mostly static and underinvested in for decades, are largely inadequate for the new 4IR labor markets. Some positive developments in changing the direction of the engineering education sector can be observed. Novel approaches of engineering education already deliver distinctive, student centered curricular experiences within an integrated and unified educational approach. We must educate engineering students for a future whose main characteristics are volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Talent and skills gaps across all industries are poised to grow in the years to come. The authors promote an engineering curriculum that combine timeless didactic tradition, such as Socratic inquiry, project-based learning and first-principles thinking with novel elements (e.g. student centered active and e-learning by focusing on the case study and apprenticeship pedagogical methods) as well as a refocused engineering skillset and knowledge. These capabilities reinforce engineering students’ perceptions of the world and the subsequent decisions they make. This 4IR engineering curriculum will prepare engineering students to become curious engineers and excellent communicators better navigating increasingly complex multistakeholder ecosystems.

The novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic is still raging around the world. Therefore, during the period of a global pandemic, maintaining the normal circulation of medicine and health fields is the key to fight against the epidemic. This paper based on relevant data such as the export volume of cross-border e-commerce in Hangzhou, China from 2015 to 2019, the article uses system dynamics modeling to explore the impact of overseas warehouse services on cross-border e-commerce export transactions. Studies have shown that the introduction of overseas warehouses has significantly improved customer satisfaction and improved the quality of cross-border logistics services, which has a positive impact on cross-border e-commerce export transactions. Through sensitivity analysis, it can be seen that under the same conditions, the efficiency of customs clearance has the greatest impact on overseas warehouse services. Therefore, when allocating various investments in overseas warehouses, you can favor the customs clearance process to enhance the competitiveness of the cross-border e-commerce market and provide a feasible experience for healthcare supplies export from cross-border e-commerce.

Rare earths are classified as most important and critical material for US economy and defense by Congress and a mandate has been set to increase their in-house production, domestic resource utilization and decrease reliance on foreign resources and reserves. They are widely available in earth crust as ore (bastnaesite (La, Ce)FCO₃, monazite, (Ce, La, Y, Th)PO₄, and xenotime, YPO₄), but their so-called economic reserves are sparsely located geographically. They may be produced by various means such as beneficiation (physical, chemical, mechanical, or electrical), reduction (direct or indirect), electrolysis (of aqueous or molten / fused single or mixed salt systems) at high temperature or hydrometallurgy. Out of these, direct reduction also known as metallothermic reduction (La and Ca reduction) is mostly utilized. Its variant, high temperature electrowinning of fused salts is also practiced widely. These processes are material and application specific. In this study, author will employ thermodynamics (Ellingham diagrams, free energy of formation, reduction potential, Nernst equation, Pourbaix (E_h-pH) diagrams, E-pO^-2 diagrams), kinetics and energetic of a chemical reaction (chemical metallurgy) to reduce rare earth oxide / salt to rare earth metals (REO/RES – REM). It is shown that materials and energy requirement vary greatly depending on type of mineral ore, production facility, and beneficiation / mineral processing method selected. Aim is to reduce dependence on coal deposits. It is anticipated this route will be able to produce rare earths with > 35% yield and > 98% purity which be described in subsequent studies and patents.

The COVID-19 outbreaks have caused universities all across the globe to close their campuses and forced them to initiate online teaching. This article reviews the pedagogical foundations for developing effective distance education practices, starting from the assumption that promoting autonomous thinking is an essential element to guarantee full citizenship in a democracy and for moral decision making in situations of rapid change, which has become a pressing need in the context of a pandemic. In addition, the main obstacles related to this new context are identified, and solutions are proposed according to the existing bibliography in learning sciences.

With the development of information technology and the popularization of mobile devices, collecting various types of customer data such as purchase history or behavior patterns became possible. As the customer data being accumulated, there is a growing demand for personalized recommendation services that provide customized services to customers. Currently, global e-commerce companies offer personalized recommendation services to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. However, previous research on recommendation systems has consistently raised the issue that the accuracy of recommendation algorithms does not necessarily lead to the satisfaction of recommended service users. It also claims that customers are highly satisfied when the recommendation system recommends diverse items to them. In this study, we want to identify the factors that determine customer satisfaction when using the recommendation system which provides personalized services. To this end, we developed a recommendation system based on Deep Neural Networks (DNN) and measured the accuracy of recommendation service, the diversity of recommended items and customer satisfaction with the recommendation service. The experimental results of is the study showed that both recommendation system accuracy and diversity would have a positive effect on customer satisfaction. These results can further improve customer satisfaction with the recommendation system and promote the sustainable development of e-commerce.

The USDA-FSIS considers mechanically-tenderized beef as ‘non-intact’ and a food safety concern because of the potential for translocation of surface E. coli O157:H7 into the interior of the meat that may be cooked ‘rare or medium-rare’ and consumed. We evaluated 14 potential spray interventions on E. coli O157:H7-inoculated lean beef wafers (~10⁶ CFU/cm² , n=80) passing through a spray system (18 sec dwell time, ~40 PSI) integrated into the front end of a Ross TC-700MC tenderizer. Inoculated and processed beef wafers were stomached with D/E neutralizing broth and plated immediately, or were held in refrigerated storage for 1-, 7-, or 14 days prior to microbial plating. Seven antimicrobials that showed better performance in preliminary screening on beef wafers were selected for further testing on beef subprimals in conjunction with blade tenderization. Boneless top sirloin beef subprimals were inoculated at ~2 x 10⁴ CFU/cm² with a four-strain cocktail of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and passed once, lean side up, through an integrated spray system and blade tenderizer. Core samples obtained from each subprimal were examined for the presence/absence of E. coli O157:H7. Absence of E coli O157:H7 translocated into core samples correlated with the ability of the antimicrobials to reduce bacterial levels on the surface of beef prior to blade tenderization.

Specific nutrients including n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), flavonoids, vitamin A, D and E are considered to possess protective properties on human health by impacting on immunological reactions. An ‘inflammation-suppressive’ effect appears to be the common denominator of the beneficial effects of most of these dietary components which may protect against the development of chronic immune disorders such as allergy. However, the majority of these promising data are from preclinical studies such as animal disease models, as the majority of clinical studies only indicate associations. PUFAs, especially n-3 LCPUFAs, have been shown to interact with both the sensitization as well as the effector phase in food allergy. However, it should be noted and realised that PUFAs are highly susceptible to lipid oxidation. Flavonoids and fat-soluble vitamins both contain anti-inflammatory properties and are able to act as anti-oxidants as well. Here, we explore the anti-allergic properties of PUFAs, flavonoids and fat-soluble vitamins in order to create an overview and, more importantly, suggest a strategy to target food allergies using these components and combinations thereof. Dietary n-3 LCPUFAs and the above mentioned micronutrients are promising anti‐allergy agents capable of influencing the allergic immune response through multiple and different biological pathways.

The greater Wellington region, New Zealand, is highly vulnerable to large earthquakes because it is cut by active faults. Bulk water supply pipelines cross the Wellington Fault at several different locations, and there is considerable concern about severe disruption of the provision of reticulated water supplies to households and businesses in the aftermath of a large earthquake. A number of policy initiatives have been launched encouraging householders to install rainwater tanks to increase post-disaster resilience. However, little attention has been paid to potential health hazards associated with consumption of these supplies. To assess health hazards for householders in emergency situations, six 200-litre emergency water tanks were installed at properties across the Wellington region, with five tanks being allowed to fill with roof-collected rainwater and one tank being filled with municipal tapwater as a control. Such tanks are predominantly set aside for water storage, and once filled, feature limited drawdown and recharge. Sampling from these tanks was carried out fortnightly for one year, and samples analysed for E. coli, pH, conductivity, a range of major and trace elements, and organic compounds, enabling an assessment of the evolution of water chemistry in water storage tanks over time. Key findings were that the overall rate of E.coli detections in the rain-fed tanks was 17.7%, which is low in relation to other studies. We propose that low incidences of E.coli may be due to biocidal effects of high zinc concentrations in tanks, originating from unpainted galvanised steel roof cladding. Lead concentrations were high compared to other studies, with 69% of rain-fed tank samples exceeding the World Health Organisation’s health-based guideline of 0.01 mg/L. Further work is required to determine risks of short-term consumption of this water in emergency situations.

The aim of this work was to investigate a new, simple one-pot combustion synthesis technique for creating sulphur-based CuS/ZnS p-n heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalysts. The study examined the photocatalytic activity and reusability of these nanocomposites in removing rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation. Various methods of characterisation were employed to determine the properties of the materials, including particle morphology, crystalline phases and bandgap energy. The intrinsic reaction parameters, such as catalyst loading, pH level of the solution, and initial pollutant concentration, were varied to establish the optimal photo-degradation conditions. The results showed that a binary CuS/ZnS catalyst with a 10 gL-1 loading, at pH 5, degraded 97% of 5 ppm RhB dye after 270 minutes of visible light irradiation. Addition-ally, this composite catalyst exhibited excellent chemical stability and reusability, achieving 83% RhB dye removal after five recycling runs. Scavenger tests identified the photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide free radicals (•O2) as the primary reactive species responsible for degradation. This study provides valuable insight into the design of highly efficient nanomaterials for removing organopollutants in wastewater, and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed.

In many practical applications, it is more convenient to characterize the quality of production processes or service operations throughout the count of nonconformities. In the context of SPC, nonconformities are usually assumed to appear according to the binomial probability model. The conventional way for monitoring nonconformities involves Shewhart-type control procedures based on both constant and time-varying sample sizes. In this article, an EWMA scheme is proposed for monitoring the fraction of nonconforming items with time-varying sample sizes. The proposed control chart is referred to as the EWMAG-B and can be easily adapted to work with a constant sample size by fixing it at a needed value. By means of simulation, it was found out that the EWMAG-B chart outperforms the conventional p control chart in Phase II while detecting changes in the process level is wanted.

The thermoelectric generator (TEG) stands out in many energy harvesters due to its simple structure, small size, etc. However, previous studies rarely probe into the influence of TEG internal resistances on extracting maximum power from TEG, and tracking efficiency is limited. By analyzing the relationship between the tracking efficiency and the TEG internal resistances, a time exponential rate perturbation and observation (P&amp;O) technology is proposed to achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for a wide resistance range of TEG. Using the time exponential rate P&amp;O, the MPPT circuit observes the power change by comparing PMOS on-time and perturbs the power by adjusting NMOS on-time exponentially. The MPPT circuit is implemented in a 110nm CMOS process. The tracking efficiency keeps a high level from 98.9 to 99.5%. The applicable range of the TEG resistance is from 1 to 12Ω, which is enhanced at least 2.2 times.

The cellular stress response corresponds to the molecular changes that cell undergoes in response to various environmental stimuli. It induces drastic changes in the regulation of gene expression, at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Actually, translation is strongly affected with a blockade of the classical cap-dependent mechanism, whereas alternative mechanisms are activated to support translation of specific mRNAs. One of the major mechanisms involved in stress-activated translation is the internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-driven initiation. IRESs, first discovered in viral mRNAs, are present in cellular mRNAs coding for master regulators of cell responses, whose expression must be tightly controlled. IRESs allow translation of these mRNAs in response to different stresses, including DNA damage, amino-acid starvation, hypoxia or endoplasmic reticulum stress, as well as to physiological stimuli such as cell differentiation or synapse network formation. Importantly, cellular mRNA IRESs are regulated by IRES trans-acting factor (ITAFs), exerting their action by at least nine different mechanisms. This review presents an update of the reported ITAFs regulating cellular mRNA translation and of the different mechanisms allowing them to control translation initiation in specific conditions. The impact of ITAFs on coordinated expression of mRNA families and consequences in cell physiology and diseases are also highlighted.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a membrane-bound transporter, can eliminate xenobiotics by transporting them out of the cells or blood-brain barrier (BBB) at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Thus, P-gp mediated efflux plays a pivotal role in altering the absorption and disposition of a wide range of substrates. Nevertheless, the mechanism of P-gp substrate efflux is rather complex since it can take place through active transport and passive permeability in addition to multiple P-gp substrate binding sites. A nonlinear quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed in this study using the novel machine learning-based hierarchical support vector regression (HSVR) scheme to explore the perplexing relationships between descriptors and efflux ratio. The predictions by HSVR were found to be in good agreement with the observed values for the molecules in the training set (n = 50, r² = 0.96, q²_CV = 0.94, RMSE = 0.10, s = 0.10) and test set (n = 13, q² = 0.80–0.87, RMSE = 0.21, s = 0.22). When subjected to a variety of statistical validations, the developed HSVR model consistently met the most stringent criteria. A mock test also asserted the predictivity of HSVR. Consequently, this HSVR model can be adopted to facilitate drug discovery and development.

The rapid evolution of digital payment systems has significantly transformed the retail industry, reshaping how transactions are processed and enhancing the overall shopping experience. This research explores the adoption of digital payment technologies in retail settings, focusing on the motivations, challenges, benefits, and impacts associated with their implementation. Retailers are increasingly driven by the need to meet consumer demands for convenience and speed, as well as to gain a competitive edge in a saturated market. Digital payment systems, including mobile wallets, contactless payments, and online payment gateways, have become essential tools for retailers seeking to streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction. The study highlights several key findings, including the challenges related to technical integration, security concerns, and cost implications. Technical difficulties in integrating new payment systems with existing point-of-sale infrastructure, coupled with the need for robust security measures, present significant obstacles. Despite these challenges, the long-term benefits of digital payments, such as increased transaction volumes, higher average transaction values, and valuable data insights, often outweigh the initial investment and ongoing costs. The research also underscores the positive impact of digital payments on customer behavior, noting improvements in transaction speed, convenience, and overall satisfaction. Furthermore, the findings reveal variations in the impact of digital payment systems across different retail settings, including large department stores, independent retailers, and e-commerce businesses. The ability to tailor digital payment solutions to the specific needs of each retail environment is crucial for maximizing benefits and ensuring successful implementation. Overall, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of digital payment systems in modern retail and offers insights into the future trajectory of these technologies.

This qualitative study explores the role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in optimizing inventory within the context of e-commerce. Through semi-structured interviews with e-commerce managers and supply chain experts, the study investigates the strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with SRM practices. Key findings highlight the critical importance of strategic partnerships with suppliers, emphasizing trust, transparency, and goal alignment as foundational elements for effective SRM. Participants underscored the transformative impact of technological advancements, including advanced analytics and blockchain technology, in enhancing supply chain visibility, optimizing inventory levels, and improving operational agility. However, the study also identifies challenges in SRM implementation, such as cultural differences, regulatory compliance, and geographical distances, which require proactive management strategies. Innovation emerges as a key driver of competitive advantage in e-commerce, facilitated through collaborative R&D initiatives and co-innovation with suppliers. Strategic alignment with organizational goals is crucial for integrating SRM practices with broader business objectives, including operational efficiency and risk mitigation. Recommendations include adopting integrated SRM strategies that leverage technological innovations while maintaining a focus on relationship-building and sustainability. Enhanced supplier performance monitoring, proactive risk management, and the integration of sustainable practices are proposed to strengthen supplier relationships and enhance supply chain resilience. By addressing these insights, e-commerce firms can optimize inventory management, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable growth in the digital economy.

This study investigates the critical role of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in enhancing the e-commerce user experience. In an increasingly competitive digital marketplace, effective SRM practices are essential for optimizing supply chain operations and meeting customer expectations. The research employs a qualitative approach, combining semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders, extensive literature review, and case studies to explore various dimensions of SRM. Key findings reveal that strategic supplier selection criteria, including quality, cost efficiency, reliability, innovation, and sustainability, are pivotal in ensuring a robust and adaptable supply chain. Effective communication practices, such as transparency, frequent updates, and digital tools, foster strong supplier relationships and enable timely issue resolution. Performance management strategies, centered on KPI monitoring and continuous improvement, support operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Risk management practices, including diversification, contingency planning, and advanced analytics, are crucial for mitigating disruptions and ensuring supply chain resilience, as highlighted by the challenges posed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological integration with blockchain, AI, IoT, data analytics, and automation enhances efficiency, transparency, and decision-making capabilities in SRM. Furthermore, the study underscores the evolving integration of sustainability and ethical sourcing into SRM strategies, reflecting broader corporate responsibility goals. Ultimately, this research contributes to understanding how effective SRM strategies drive competitive advantage in e-commerce by enhancing supply chain reliability, responsiveness, and customer-centricity. As e-commerce continues to evolve, adapting and innovating SRM practices will be vital for companies aiming to sustain growth and meet the dynamic demands of global markets.

This qualitative study explores the dynamics of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and its impact on innovation within the e-commerce sector. Through in-depth interviews and documentary analysis of three case study firms known for their innovative practices, the study examines how collaborative SRM practices influence innovation outcomes, organizational resilience, and competitive advantage in dynamic market environments. Key themes include the pivotal role of trust, transparency, and joint problem-solving in fostering effective SRM relationships, enabling knowledge sharing and co-development of innovative products and services. Innovation outcomes observed encompass product innovation, process improvements, and technological advancements facilitated by close collaboration between e-commerce firms and their suppliers. Challenges such as managing supplier diversity, navigating regulatory complexities, and mitigating geopolitical risks highlight the complexities and strategic imperatives of SRM implementation in global supply chains. The study also emphasizes the transformative role of digital technologies, including real-time data exchange, predictive analytics, and agile supply chain management, in enhancing SRM effectiveness and innovation capabilities. Strategic alignment with organizational goals and market strategies further enhances the impact of SRM, enabling firms to prioritize innovation initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and sustain growth amidst economic uncertainties. The findings contribute to theoretical understanding and practical insights into SRM strategies that promote innovation excellence and competitive positioning within e-commerce. The implications for practice underscore the importance of fostering collaborative supplier relationships, investing in digital transformation, and adopting proactive strategies to manage risks and regulatory compliance.