Complex intuitionistic fuzzy soft SWARA - COPRAS approach: An application of ERP software selection

<abstract><p>In this manuscript, we propose an integrated framework based on COmplex PRoportional ASsessment and Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis approach within the complex intuitionistic fuzzy soft (CIFS) context. This context is an ideal technique with complex fuzzy foundation that means to denote multi-dimensional data in a concise. In this framework, criteria weights are evaluated by the SWARA technique, and the ranking of alternatives is determined by the COPRAS method using CIFSs. Further, to illustrate the applicability of the presented technique, an empirical case study of ERP software selection problem is taken. A comparative study and sensitivity analysis is presented to verify the strength of the presented methodology.</p></abstract>

Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Chromatography toward Separation and Identification of Organic Mixtures

Mass spectrometers can provide information about molecular composition and chemical structure. However, with complex mixtures, superpositions and even suppression of signals may occur. On the other hand, Chromatography is an ideal technique for separating complexes but is often insufficient for compound identification. Hence, coupling both techniques in order to eliminate the limitations of each technique makes perfect sense. In this contribution, a brief description of mass spectrometry coupled with chromatography in the gas and liquid phase will be discussed to explain the advantages of coupling the two methods. The ionization techniques are also reported and followed by application areas of these techniques. Finally, the recording and treatment of the results are reviewed.

Electrochemical C–N bond activation for deaminative reductive coupling of Katritzky salts

Electrosynthesis has received great attention among researchers in both academia and industry as an ideal technique to promote single electron reduction without the use of expensive catalysts. In this work, we report the electrochemical reduction of Katritzky salts to alkyl radicals by sacrificing the easily accessible metal anode. This catalyst and electrolyte free platform has broad applicability to single electron transfer chemistry, including fluoroalkenylation, alkynylation and thiolation. The deaminative functionalization is facilitated by the rapid molecular diffusion across microfluidic channels, demonstrating the practicality that outpaces the conventional electrochemistry setups.

How does Heparan Sulfate and COVID-19 Work?: An Overview

Globally, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) had infected over 3 million individuals and claimed many lives producing a global epidemic that necessitates the rapid development of therapeutic solutions. The ideal technique for quickly deploying well-characterized medicines against novel infections is known as drug repurposing. Several repurposable medicines are currently being tested to see if they may be used to treat COVID-19. Heparin, which is commonly utilized to reduce thrombotic events associated with COVID-19-induced disease, is one such promising drug. Heparansulphate is prevalently expressed in mammalian tissues. CoV-2 requires the helping cofactor heparansulphate (HS) on the cell surface: knocking down genes related in HS formation or treating cells with an HS mimic both prevent spike-mediated viral entrance. Heparin/HS binds directly to spike and promotes viral entrance by facilitating the attachment of spike-bearing viral particles to the cell surface. As documented with cell surface-bound heparansulphate, heparin binding to the open conformation of the spike structurally supports the state and may enhance ACE2 binding. Thus, heparansulphate could potentially be utilised to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, based on available datas also consumption of heparansulphate during SARS-CoV-2 cellular entrance may play a role in the thrombotic events associated with COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, this study provides the findings on the mechanism(s) by which heparansulphate could slow the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Keywords: COVID-19, HeparanSulphate, Spike Protiens

A Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Slash Bundling in Fast-Growing Eucalypt Plantations

The Authors conducted a long-term follow-up study of a John Deere 1490 forwarder-mounted bundler owned by a Portuguese company and used for bundling logging residues from fast-growing eucalypt plantations located in Portugal and Spain. The study spanned 7 years, from 2011 to 2016. During this time, the machine clocked over 11,500 h and produced more than 200,000 bundles or 75,000 green tons of biomass. Bundle length was commonly 2.4 m, and bundle mass averaged 350 kg. Overall, the database contained 1752 daily records. Bundling productivity averaged 19 bundles per productive machine hour (meter hour, excluding all major delays). Mechanical availability was very high and averaged 93%. Utilization commonly ranged between 65% and 75%. Use and productivity showed a predictable seasonal trend and a slight decline over time. The latter might be due to wear, but also due to the increasingly challenging conditions faced by the company as the average worksite size sharply decreased from 2011 onwards. While almost extinct elsewhere, bundling seems to thrive in the Iberian plantations, possibly due to the industrial character of both eucalypt farming and bioenergy generation in the region. That allows the reaping of all integration benefits offered by bundling, while the cost of setting up a parallel biomass chain is minimized. Furthermore, bundling seems the ideal technique for efficient residue recovery where slash yields are low and roadside storage space is limited: these are the typical constraints of industrial eucalypt plantations, where planted area is maximized (=little landing space) and the largest possible proportion of the tree mass is turned into pulpwood (=relatively low residue yield).

Radiant catalytic ionization improves the microbiological status of rodent facilities without affecting the prooxidative status of mice

The main microbial contaminants of rooms in which laboratory rodents are housed are bacteria and fungi. Restriction of microbial growth to below threshold levels requires the application of various sophisticated antimicrobial techniques that must be effective and safe for the animals. Some of the most commonly used techniques, including chemical disinfection, ventilation, filtration, sterilization and radiation, are not always sufficiently effective. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of a modern technique (i.e. radiant catalytic ionization (RCI)) on the microbiological status of an animal care facility, and the health of the mice housed therein. The experiment, conducted over seven days, compared an experimental room with an RCI system permanently turned on with a negative control room. At the completion of the experiment, the number of bacteria in the RCI room air and on its walls was lower than that in the control room ( p < 0.01 in both cases). Values of the basic prooxidative parameter, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration, in tissues of mice from the RCI room were within allowed boundaries. Hence, application of an RCI system proved to be an ideal technique to ensure high hygienic standards in animal rooms without any adverse effects on the animals housed therein.

Functional ultrasound imaging of the spreading activity following optogenetic stimulation of the rat visual cortex

Optogenetics has revolutionized neurosciences by allowing fine control of neuronal activity. An important aspect for this control is assessing the activation and/or adjusting the stimulation, which requires imaging the entire volume of optogenetically-induced neuronal activity. An ideal technique for this aim is fUS imaging, which allows one to generate brain-wide activation maps with submesoscopic spatial resolution. However, optical stimulation of the brain with blue light might lead to non-specific activations at high irradiances. fUS imaging of optogenetic activations can be obtained at these wavelengths using lower light power (< 2mW) but it limits the depth of directly activatable neurons from the cortical surface. Our main goal was to report that we can detect specific optogenetic activations in V1 even in deep layers following stimulation at the cortical surface. Here, we show the possibility to detect deep optogenetic activations in anesthetized rats expressing the red-shifted opsin ChrimsonR in V1 using fUS imaging. We demonstrate the optogenetic specificity of these activations and their neuronal origin with electrophysiological recordings. Finally, we show that the optogenetic response initiated in V1 spreads to downstream (LGN) and upstream (V2) visual areas.

Head Impulse Test Paradigm and Suppression Head Impulse Test Paradigm in Individuals With and Without Motion Sickness

Purpose This study aimed to assess the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) gain using both the Head Impulse Test Paradigm (HIMP) and Suppressive Head Impulse Test Paradigm (SHIMP) in individuals with motion sickness. Method Fifty eight participants (58 females) in the age range of 18–25 years were recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups, Group A had 29 participants with no motion sickness, and Group B consisted of 29 individuals who had motion sickness. All the participants underwent HIMP and SHIMP testing. Results None of the participants had a presence of saccades in the HIMP technique, and all the participants in both the groups had anticompensatory saccades in SHIMP technique. Also, there was no difference in VOR gain or VOR gain asymmetry between individuals with and without motion sickness using HIMP and SHIMP Techniques. Conclusions The results of the study show no differences in VOR gain between individuals with and without motion sickness. It has been reported that only low frequencies trigger the motion sickness. Since the Video Head Impulse Test assesses the high frequency, it may not be an ideal technique to evaluate the vestibular system in individuals with motion sickness.

Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Using Acinetobacter sp. SCYY-5 Isolated from Contaminated Oil Sludge: Strategy and Effectiveness Study

Biodegradation has been considered as an ideal technique for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination, but its efficiency is limited by its application in the field. Herein, an original TPH-degrading strain, SCYY-5, was isolated from contaminated oil sludge and identified as Acinetobacter sp. by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The biological function of the isolate was investigated by heavy metal tolerance, carbon, and nitrogen source and degradation tests. To enhance its biodegradation efficiency, the response surface methodology (RSM) based on a function model was adopted to investigate and optimize the strategy of microbial and environmental variables for TPH removal. Furthermore, the performance of the system increased to 79.94% with the further addition of extra nutrients, suggesting that the RSM and added nutrients increased the activity of bacteria to meet the needs of the co-metabolism matrix during growth or degradation. These results verified that it is feasible to adopt the optimal strategy of combining bioremediation with RSM to improve the biodegradation efficiency, for contaminated oil sludge.