Search Results (45,898)

The pursuit of an improved quality of life is a major trend in the food market. This is driving the reformulation of the industry’s product portfolio, with the aim of providing nourishment while also contributing to beneficial health metabolic processes. In this context, the use of local biodiversity and the recovery of the traditional knowledge associated with the consumption of vegetables that grow spontaneously in nature emerge as more sustainable and nutritionally adequate concepts. The Amazon region is known for its abundant biodiversity, housing numerous unconventional food plants whose nutritional and biological properties remain unknown due to a lack of research. Among the different species are Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Acmella oleracea, Talinum triangulare, Pereskia bleo, Bidens bipinnata, and Costus spiralis. These species contain bioactive compounds such as apigenin, syringic acid, spilanthol, and lutein, which provide various health benefits. There are few reports on the biological effects, nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and market prospects for these species. Therefore, this review provides an overview of their nutritional contribution, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and current market, as well as the use of new technologies that can contribute to the development of functional products/ingredients derived from them. Full article

This paper focuses on studying the concept of walkability in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after the implementation of the Humanizing Neighborhoods Initiative. Al-Falah neighborhood was selected as a case study because it was one of the first neighborhoods to implement walkability strategies. By adopting a qualitative critical approach, this research collected data through a literature review and on-site observation to assess walkability in the neighborhood. Analysis of the observations highlighted the challenges and opportunities of walkability in Riyadh and the wider Gulf cities. Recommendations for promoting walkable communities in Riyadh include enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, incorporating mixed-use developments, integrating green infrastructure, implementing smart urban planning principles, and integrating public transportation systems. This paper emphasizes the importance of community engagement, preserving local identity, and involving various stakeholders to transform Riyadh into a pedestrian-friendly city that prioritizes public health and sustainability. Full article

Signifiable computability aims to separate what is theoretically computable from what is computable through performable processes on computers with finite amounts of memory. Real numbers and sequences thereof, data types, and instances are treated as finite texts, and memory limitations are made explicit through a requirement that the texts be stored in the available memory on the devices that manipulate them. In Part I of our investigation, we define the concepts of signification and reference of real numbers. We extend signification to number tuples, data types, and data instances and show that data structures representable as tuples of discretely finite numbers are signifiable. From the signification of real tuples, we proceed to the constructive signification of multidimensional matrices and show that any data structure representable as a multidimensional matrix of discretely finite numbers is signifiable. Full article

(1) Background: “To change the world, we must first change the way the babies are being born”, said Michel Odent, the famous French obstetrician and pioneer of the “natural birth” movement. This quotable phrase has been widespread in activism campaigns, and it refers to a project for social change that goes beyond birth. Conceiving childbirth in the broader social context, it is not surprising that this emblematic quote inspires emancipatory struggles around birth. This paper results from a study of childbirth activism in different European contexts, where the author explores the emergence and modes of action of social movements advocating for the humanization of childbirth and women’s rights in pregnancy and childbirth. (2) Methods: Starting from the analysis of the main characteristics of childbirth activism, in this paper the author briefly analyzes the cases of organizations from Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as a campaign promoted by the European Network of Childbirth Associations (ENCA). The author mobilizes empirical data resulting from a triangulation approach, essentially based on documentary analysis, complemented by conversations and participant observation in different settings. (3) Results: Preliminary results show how childbirth activism is contributing to the construction of alternative conceptions of birth, challenging established paradigms. (4) Conclusion: In its differences and similarities, childbirth activism assumes distinct features, but it also has the ability to adapt and promote changes, depending on the specificities of the contexts where it operates. Full article

With the development of an energy sector based on renewable primary sources, structural changes are emerging for the entire national energy system. Initially, it was estimated that energy generation based on fossil fuels would decrease until its disappearance. However, the evolution of capture capacity leads to a possible coexistence for a certain period with the renewable energy sector. The paper develops this concept of the coexistence of the two systems, with the positioning of green hydrogen not only within the renewable energy sector but also as a transformation vector for carbon dioxide captured in the form of synthetic fuels, such as and . The authors conducted pilot-scale research on capture with green , both for pure (captured) and for found in combustion gases. The positive results led to the respective recommendation. The research conducted by the authors meets the strict requirements of the current energy phase, with the authors considering that wind and solar energy alone are not sufficient to meet current energy demand. The paper also analyzes the economic aspects related to price differences for energy produced in the two sectors, as well as their interconnection. The technical aspect, as well as the economic aspect, of storage through various other solutions besides hydrogen has been highlighted. The development of the renewable energy sector and its demarcation from the fossil fuel energy sector, even with the transcendent vector represented by green hydrogen, leads to the deepening of dispersion aspects between the electricity sector and the thermal energy sector, a less commonly mentioned aspect in current works, but of great importance. The purpose of this paper is to highlight energy challenges during the current transition period towards climate neutrality, along with solutions proposed by the authors to be implemented in this phase. The current stage of combustion of the mixture imposes requirements for the capture of the resulting . Full article

Background: Increasing research data suggest that the dysfunction of emotional brain systems may be an important contributor to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, contemporary psychopathology consistently underestimates the role of emotions in the phenomenology of the disease. Psychotic arousal (PA) is a conceptually defined psychopathological construct aiming to portray the experiential emotional state of acute psychosis. The concept provides an explanatory model for the emergence of psychosis, and the formation and maintenance of delusions based on neurobiological models on the formation of core consciousness and subjectivity. This is the first exploratory study of the major assumptions, endorsed in the project summarized as follows: (1) psychotic arousal is a discrete state, eligible for investigation; (2) abnormal experiential feelings are an integral part of this state; and (3) the state is responsive to antipsychotic intervention during the first weeks of treatment. Methods: We developed the Psychotic Arousal Scale (PAS) accordingly, explored its first psychometric properties and tested its relation to other psychopathological measures. Fifty-five acute schizophrenia patients were evaluated with the PAS, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Calgary Depression Scale. Cronbach α coefficients, t-test analysis, correlations and mixed linear regression models were applied for testing the internal reliability of the scale, associations between parameters and sensitivity to change in three time periods during therapeutic intervention. Results: The results of the study support that (PA) is eligible for investigation as a discrete psychopathological state. Abnormal experiential feelings are an integral part of this state, presenting high affinity with other affective measures; their degree of severity relates to the delusions’ conviction and are amenable to antipsychotics early in treatment during the acute psychotic episode. Conclusions: The findings of this exploratory study are connotative of the presence of an emotional arousal permeated by abnormal experiential feelings during acute psychosis, largely overlooked by contemporary psychopathology. Full article

Decoding semantic concepts for imagination and perception tasks (SCIP) is important for rehabilitation medicine as well as cognitive neuroscience. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is commonly used in the relevant fields, because it is a low-cost noninvasive technique with high temporal resolution. However, as EEG signals contain a high noise level resulting in a low signal-to-noise ratio, it makes decoding EEG-based semantic concepts for imagination and perception tasks (SCIP-EEG) challenging. Currently, neural network algorithms such as CNN, RNN, and LSTM have almost reached their limits in EEG signal decoding due to their own short-comings. The emergence of transformer methods has improved the classification performance of neural networks for EEG signals. However, the transformer model has a large parameter set and high complexity, which is not conducive to the application of BCI. EEG signals have high spatial correlation. The relationship between signals from different electrodes is more complex. Capsule neural networks can effectively model the spatial relationship between electrodes through vector representation and a dynamic routing mechanism. Therefore, it achieves more accurate feature extraction and classification. This paper proposes a spatio-temporal capsule network with a self-correlation routing mechaninsm for the classification of semantic conceptual EEG signals. By improving the feature extraction and routing mechanism, the model is able to more effectively capture the highly variable spatio-temporal features from EEG signals and establish connections between capsules, thereby enhancing classification accuracy and model efficiency. The performance of the proposed model was validated using the publicly accessible semantic concept dataset for imagined and perceived tasks from Bath University. Our model achieved average accuracies of 94.9%, 93.3%, and 78.4% in the three sensory modalities (pictorial, orthographic, and audio), respectively. The overall average accuracy across the three sensory modalities is 88.9%. Compared to existing advanced algorithms, the proposed model achieved state-of-the-art performance, significantly improving classification accuracy. Additionally, the proposed model is more stable and efficient, making it a better decoding solution for SCIP-EEG decoding. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI), which has a strong potential to assist architects in conceptual and visualization stages, has been increasingly used in the field of design and architecture. This study, focusing on the AI tools that generate images from texts and offer innovative solutions to design problems, aims to evaluate the use of AI for the reinterpretation of traditional Iznik tile patterns and colors in the context of architectural design and modern interiors. The methodology consists of four stages, which are the selection of AI tools (Copilot, DALL-E 2, DALL-E 3, Midjourney), the preparation of textual prompts for testing “çini” (tile) expression, testing of the AI tools’ perception of the concepts related to Iznik tile motifs, and the creation of prompt series. The findings of our study provide evidence that current AI tools exhibit distinct features in terms of variety, conceptualization, artistic visualization, and image production, while they are hardly equipped with the necessary conceptual background to communicate with the designers for the interpretation of the traditional Iznik tiles in contemporary architectural design. Specifically, Midjourney, which could produce historically referenced contemporary designs in response to textual expressions, was more successful than other AI tools. DALL-E 2 could not visualize the expressions concerning the placement of the Iznik tile surfaces in interior spaces but was quite inspiring in terms of the images regarding the tile pattern and color. DALL-E 3 and Copilot tools produced similar images in terms of color palette and patterns, whereas DALL-E 3 was better at visualizing spatial data. Our results reveal that AI tools still need to be developed for analyzing traditional patterns, styles, and forms for contemporary design purposes. On the other hand, AI tools can develop innovative approaches, optimize the tile production procedure, and have the potential to accelerate the design process for designers by generating new and diverse ideas. Full article

The efficiency of bevel and hypoid gears is, alongside load capacity, one of their most important design criteria. To consider the efficiency of bevel and hypoid gears during the development and design process, validated calculation methods based on experimental investigations are necessary. However, the isolated experimental investigation of the load-dependent power losses of bevel and hypoid gears has not been adequately investigated, as most of the experimental investigations consider the complete gearbox. This paper presents a test rig that allows for the experimental investigation of the efficiency of bevel and hypoid gears with a measurement uncertainty of the efficiency of $∆\eta \le \pm 0.08\%$ according to the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM). Using the developed test rig, experimental investigations on the efficiency behavior of bevel and hypoid gears regarding the influence of the axial offset, driving direction, and microgeometry are carried out for different operating points varying in circumferential speed and load. This paper discusses the methodology and the first experimental results of a study on the efficiency of bevel and hypoid gears in detail. Full article

Compared with an ordinary prefabricated housing project (PHP), a transnational PHP tends to involve more uncertainties, with major stakeholders residing in different countries. This study proposes a novel digital project management framework that integrates building information modeling to enhance information utilization. This framework also incorporates innovative design concepts of modulor, modulus, module, model, durability, and recyclability for enhanced user comfort, housing industrialization, and extended lifespan. It was demonstrated how planning, design, manufacture, and transportation processes can be streamlined in transnational PHP delivery. A case study was performed in a typical transnational PHP between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China for validation. By applying the framework, this PHP could install a single house within 24 h, improve precast level by about 20%, and reduce project cost per square meter by 5.2%, because of integrated design concept, reduced labor cost, effective material cost control, and enhanced information management. Full article

The article seeks to define the concepts of religion and ethics as well as their compound. It does so (1) by asking for the supposed demarcation line between religious and secular ethics and (2) by considering the relation of religious ethics and political theology. Based on the respective findings, the article offers a meta-ethical perspective on the subject by challenging the anthropological backdrop of both secular and religious ethics. In conclusion, it proposes a formal approach to ethical judgment that may function as a discerning method when it comes to the assessment of specific models of religious and/or secular ethics. In this regard, the article provides conceptual thoughts on ethical motivation and the operationalization of ethics on an institutional level. Full article

This study aims to propose a method for constructing basic digital twin data in South Korea by adhering to international standards and by utilizing publicly available data. Specifically, the study focuses on designing and proposing a digital twin data model for buildings, as building-related digital twin data are the most applicable among the basic digital twin data. To achieve this, the first section provides essential background information, introduces concepts and requirements related to basic digital twin data, and offers a brief overview of City Geography Markup Language (CityGML). The second section explains the methodology and the data used in this study. The third section presents the main findings: the selection of public data (building data) for constructing basic digital twin data, the mapping process using CityGML, and the creation of Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams. The fourth section discusses these findings. Finally, the conclusion and recommendations for future research are provided. This approach enhances the accuracy of building-related digital twin data and supports the use of digital twin services in both public and private sectors by enabling various spatial analyses. Full article

Breast cancers can appear and progress rapidly, necessitating more frequent monitoring outside of hospital settings to significantly reduce mortality rates. Recently, there has been considerable interest in developing techniques for portable, user-friendly, and low-cost breast tumor monitoring applications, enabling frequent and cost-efficient examinations. Microwave technique-based breast cancer detection, which is based on differential dielectric properties of malignant and healthy tissues, is regarded as a promising solution for cost-effective breast tumor monitoring. This paper presents the development process of the first proof-of-concept of a breast tumor monitoring vest which is based on the microwave technique. Two unique vests are designed and evaluated on realistic 3D human tissue phantoms having different breast density types. Additionally, the measured results are verified using simulations carried out on anatomically realistic voxel models of the electromagnetic simulations. The radio channel characteristics are evaluated and analyzed between the antennas embedded in the vest in tumor cases and reference cases. Both measurements and simulation results show that the proposed vest can detect tumors even if only 1 cm in diameter. Additionally, simulation results show detectability with 0.5 cm tumors. It is observed that the detectability of breast tumors depends on the frequency, antenna selection, size of the tumors, and breast types, causing differences of 0.5–30 dB in channel responses between the tumorous and reference cases. Due to simplicity and cost-efficiency, the proposed channel analysis-based breast monitoring vests can be used for breast health checks in smaller healthcare centers and for user-friendly home monitoring which can prove beneficial in rural areas and developing countries. Full article

Suppose that ${\mathcal{A}}_1$ is a class of analytic functions $f:\mathfrak{D}=\{z\in \mathbb{C}:|z|<1\}\to \mathbb{C}$ with normalization $f(0)=1$. Consider two functions ${\mathcal{P}}_l(z)=\sqrt{1+z}$ and ${\mathsf{\Phi }}_{N_e}(z)=1+z-z^3/3$, which map the boundary of $\mathfrak{D}$ to a cusp of lemniscate and to a twi-cusped kidney-shaped nephroid curve in the right half plane, respectively. In this article, we aim to construct functions $f\in {\mathcal{A}}_0$ for which (i) $f(\mathfrak{D})\subset {\mathcal{P}}_l(\mathfrak{D})\cap {\mathsf{\Phi }}_{N_e}(\mathfrak{D})$ (ii) $f(\mathfrak{D})\subset {\mathcal{P}}_l(\mathfrak{D})$, but $f(\mathfrak{D})\not\subset {\mathsf{\Phi }}_{N_e}(\mathfrak{D})$ (iii) $f(\mathfrak{D})\subset {\mathsf{\Phi }}_{N_e}(\mathfrak{D})$, but $f(\mathfrak{D})\not\subset {\mathcal{P}}_l(\mathfrak{D})$. We validate the results graphically and analytically. To prove the results analytically, we use the concept of subordination. In this process, we establish the connection lemniscate (and nephroid) domain and functions, including ${\mathtt{g}}_{\alpha }(z):=\sqrt{1+\alpha z^2}$, $|\alpha |\le 1$, the polynomial ${\mathtt{g}}_{\alpha ,\beta }(z):=1+\alpha z+\beta z^3$, $\alpha ,\beta \in \mathbb{R}$, as well as Lerch’s transcendent function, Incomplete gamma function, Bessel and Modified Bessel functions, and confluent and generalized hypergeometric functions. Full article

This article presents the hitherto unknown concept of transient active power in two-terminal networks. This phenomenon occurs when current and voltage signals are not sinusoidal but quasi-sinusoidal—in the case of an approximation of transient state. The modification of Parseval’s formula and the power–immittance relations are presented in this paper. To illustrate the phenomenon, a simulation is included for several types of transient states, and their influence on transient active power waveform is shown. The article also contains a comparison of transient active power and classical active power and highlights situations where it is impossible to use classical theory but where transient active power yields measurable results. In the article, an analysis of an idealized case and measurement data obtained from a modeled voltage sag in a laboratory setup is conducted. The impact of disturbance power on the total power in the case of disturbances that may occur in the real power network is demonstrated. Full article