Discovery of the Potential Novel Pharmacodynamic Substances From Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction Based on the Concept of Co-Decoction Reaction and Analysis Strategy

Background: Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction (ZZHPD), a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is clinically used to treat insomnia and depression. The analysis strategy based on the concept of co-decoction of TCM is helpful to analyse the effective substances of TCM formula in depth.Aim of the study: This manuscript intends to take ZZHPD as a model sample to explore the phenomenon of co-decoction of complex formula in the combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, data analysis, and molecular docking.Materials and methods: In the current research, an innovative LC-MS method has been established to study the active ingredients in ZZHPD, and to identify the ingredients absorbed into the blood and brain tissues of mice. And molecular docking was used to study the binding pattern and affinities of known compounds of the brain tissue toward insomnia related proteins.Results: Based on new processing methods and analysis strategies, 106 chemical components were identified in ZZHPD, including 28 blood components and 18 brain components. Then, by comparing the different compounds in the co-decoction and single decoction, it was surprisingly found that 125 new ingredients were produced during the co-decoction, 2 of which were absorbed into the blood and 1 of which was absorbed into brain tissue. Ultimately, molecular docking studies showed that 18 brain components of ZZHPD had favourable binding conformation and affinity with GABA, serotonin and melatonin receptors. The docking results of GABRA1 with naringenin and hesperidin, HCRTR1 with naringenin-7-O-glucoside, poncirenin and genipin 1-gentiobioside, and luteolin with SLC6A4, GLO1, MAOB and MTNR1A may clarify the mechanism of action of ZZHPD in treating insomnia and depression.Conclusion: Our study may provide new ideas for further exploring the effective substances in ZZHPD.

Improvement in peripherical visual attentional performance in professional soccer players following a single neurofeedback training.

The effectiveness of EEG-neurofeedback (EEG-NFB) in modulating cognition has been the subject of much research for several years, particularly in relation to attentional functions in healthy subjects and those with attentional deficits. However, its effectiveness on sports performance remains poorly studied and its use is not widely practised among athletes, notably because of its accessibility and questionable effectiveness. The aim of this study is to show that this technology can be accessible, and that Alpha EEG-NFB is immediately effective. Fifteen professional soccer players took part in this study. Using a novel EEG headset that can be installed in less than one minute, and new processing software, the players performed two peripherical attentional tasks before and after, immediately and one month, a single Alpha EEG-NFB training session. The results showed a significant effect on both tasks immediately after EEG-NFB training, with a benefit of more than 30% and this performance continued after one month (20%). This study, the first to use this headset and software, shows that the improvement in sports performance can be related to cognitive performance, especially peripherical visual attentional functions. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the use of the EEG-NFB is accessible and effective for high-level athletes.

Maximizing Brine Recovery After the Displacement of Reservoir Drill-in Fluids to Reduce Well Cost Via New, Alternate Technology In a Reservoir Offshore Abu Dhabi

Objectives/Scope This paper outlines a new and innovative technology for brine recovery after the displacement of Reservoir Drill-In Fluid Non-Aqueous Fluid (RDF NAF) to Completion Brine and the associated operational, logistical, environmental and economic benefits associated with it. A unique slop treatment technology has been utilized to recover and reuse more than 2,168 bbl per well of expensive contaminated completion fluid to help manage losses and avoid injecting valuable completion fluid into operator's injection well. This has also resulted in reducing impact to the life of the injection well and burden on formation, thereby minimizing impact to subsurface environment and contributing to lower well cost. Methods, Procedures, Process The contaminated brine was transferred from the displacement of RDF NAF to brine and processed using a novel slop treatment technology to reduce the NTU and TSS to completion brine specifications required for completion operations. After displacing the well from RDF NAF to brine, typical contaminants would be RDF NAF and hi-vis spacer (water-based). The oil-contaminated brine was usually transferred to the tanks of the cuttings treatment contractor, treated and injected into the operator's cuttings re-injection (CRI) well. The new procedure isolated the contaminated brine to be processed through the slop treatment technology to separate and remove the oil and solids from the brine. The slop treatment involved passing the contaminated fluid through a decanter, solids particulate filter, three-phase separator and then a polishing filter to process the fluid to the required NTU and TSS specifications. Results, Observations, Conclusions The slops treatment unit was implemented for brine processing in 2020 and since then, the solution has achieved desirable operational, logistical, sub-surface environmental and cost related benefits. 2,168 bbl of expensive, contaminated completion brine has been processed per well, for subsequent reuse in the completion operations. Utilization and implementation of this mechanical process, versus the historical filter press process, at the source has had clear tangible savings that can be achieved in all areas of the operation, due to the capability to process oil-contaminated brine at a higher clarity and also the viscous brine at a faster rate. This new processing strategy allowed the operator to set new standards with regards to the recovery of oil-contaminated brine, in the UAE. Novel/Additive Information This is the first successful processing of oil-contaminated brine to be completed in the UAE utilizing a mechanical technology. This process has established new baselines for the operator to be able to recover oil-contaminated brine. By adapting the existing site-based slop treatment technology, this solution has bridged a gap in the market by using a novel mechanical process to optimize oil-contaminated brine recovery efficiency and maximize returns for operators.

Large Scaled Topographic Mapping and Issues in Depicting VGI and Open Data

Open data and geospatial data collected by volunteers are nowadays easy to obtain and available with worldwide coverage through projects like OpenStreetMap. However, the use of these datasets leads to new challenges in depiction especially in the field of large scale topographic cartography. In addition to quality research, new processing and depiction methods for integrating these data are emerging. In the course of this work, specific problems of maps based on OpenStreetMap and Open Data elevation models are pointed out and possible solutions are introduced. In addition, a method for the preprocessing of contour lines is presented and the process flow is described in more detail. The goal of this work is to give insight into a toolbox of specially adapted and (semi-)automated methods. In this way, the quality standard of the depiction of topographic maps based on Open Data is to be increased, but also limitations are being shown.

Application of the migration method for radiotomography of breast cancer

A new method to visualize microwave image is presented to early non-invasive detection of breast cancer tumors. A new processing method to compute microwave images of heterogeneity in a biological environment is described here, as well as a new algorithm for accelerating the calculation of three-dimensional radio images. Sounding of synthetic phantoms with dielectric properties of breast tissue was carried out in the range of 2–8 GHz using a special radar system developed by the authors. Results show that it is possible to use this microwave imaging method to form 3D accurate images using hemispherical scan Images of tumor phantoms were obtained during probing in the 2–8 GHz range with a resolution of about 5–7 mm. According to the results of the reconstruction of three-dimensional radio images, it was revealed that the calculation time can be reduced by at least 2 times with an insignificant loss of quality.

Supervised evolutionary learning: Use of gradient histogram & particle swarm algorithm to detection & tracking pedestrian in sequence of infrared images

Recently, tracking and pedestrian detection from various images have become one of the major issues in the field of image processing and statistical identification. In this regard, using evolutionary learning-based approaches to improve performance in different contexts can greatly influence the appropriate response. There are problems with pedestrian tracking/identification, such as low accuracy for detection, high processing time, and uncertainty in response to answers. Researchers are looking for new processing models that can accurately monitor one's position on the move. In this study, a hybrid algorithm for the automatic detection of pedestrian position is presented. It is worth noting that this method, contrary to the analysis of visible images, examines pedestrians' thermal and infrared components while walking and combines a neural network with maximum learning capability, wavelet kernel (Wavelet transform), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to find parameters of learner model. Gradient histograms have a high effect on extracting features in infrared images. As well, the neural network algorithm can achieve its goal (pedestrian detection and tracking) by maximizing learning. The proposed method, despite the possibility of maximum learning, has a high speed in education, and results of various data sets in this field have been analyzed. The result indicates a negligible error in observing the infrared sequence of pedestrian movements, and it is suggested to use neural networks because of their precision and trying to boost the selection of their hyperparameters based on evolutionary algorithms.

Ice Sheet Topography from a New CryoSat-2 SARIn Processing Chain, and Assessment by Comparison to ICESat-2 over Antarctica

In this study, we present a new level-2 processing chain dedicated to the CryoSat-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometric (SARIn) measurements acquired over ice sheets. Compared to the ESA ground segment processor, it includes revised methods to detect waveform leading edges and perform retracking at the Point Of Closest Approach (POCA). CryoSat-2 SARIn mode surface height measurements retrieved from the newly developed processing chain are compared to ICESat-2 surface height measurements extracted from the ATL06 product. About 250,000 space–time nearly coincident observations are identified and examined over the Antarctic ice sheet, and over a one-year period. On average, the median elevation bias between both missions is about −18 cm, with CryoSat-2 underestimating the surface topography compared to ICESat-2. The Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) between CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 elevation estimates is 46.5 cm. These performances were compared to those obtained with CryoSat-2 SARIn mode elevations from the ESA PDGS level-2 products (ICE Baseline-D processor). The MAD between CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 elevation estimates is significantly reduced with the new processing developed, by about 42 %. The improvement is more substantial over areas closer to the coast, where the topography is more complex and surface slope increases. In terms of perspectives, the impacts of surface roughness and volume scattering on the SARIn mode waveforms have to be further investigated. This is crucial to understand geographical variations of the elevation bias between CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 and continue enhancing the SARIn mode level-2 processing.

Processing Technologies for Bee Products: An Overview of Recent Developments and Perspectives

Increased demand for a more balanced, healthy, and safe diet has accelerated studies on natural bee products (including honey, bee bread, bee collected pollen royal jelly, propolis, beeswax, and bee venom) over the past decade. Advanced food processing techniques, such as ultrasonication and microwave and infrared (IR) irradiation, either has gained popularity as alternatives or combined with conventional processing techniques for diverse applications in apiculture products at laboratory or industrial scale. The processing techniques used for each bee products have comprehensively summarized in this review, including drying (traditional drying, infrared drying, microwave-assisted traditional drying or vacuum drying, and low temperature high velocity-assisted fluidized bed drying), storage, extraction, isolation, and identification; the assessment methods related to the quality control of bee products are also fully mentioned. The different processing techniques applied in bee products aim to provide more healthy active ingredients largely and effectively. Furthermore, improved the product quality with a shorter processing time and reduced operational cost are achieved using conventional or emerging processing techniques. This review will increase the positive ratings of the combined new processing techniques according to the needs of the bee products. The importance of the models for process optimization on a large scale is also emphasized in the future.

Herbs and Spices—New Processing Technologies. Syzygium aromaticum: Medicinal Properties and Phytochemical Screening

All over the world, Plants have found to be a valuable source of herbs and spices for a long period of time to maintain the human health. Varieties of herbs and spices have been used to impart an aroma and taste to food for last few centuries. Several applications of plants species have been reported as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antimicrobial activities. Currently efforts are focused on their scientific merits, to provide science-based evidence for their traditional uses and to develop either functional foods or nutraceutical behavior. India is well recognized all over the world for their variety of herbs, spices and medicinal biodiversity. The WHO has listed more than 21000 plants, which are used for their medicinal purposes either in the form of essential oil or in the form of flavor. Among these, more than 2500 species and herbs are found in India, however; among them more than 150 species are used commercially on large scale. In India, the use of spices and herbs in the form of essential oil or in the form of flavor are traditionally used in routine treatment. For example, Curcumin which is found in turmeric are frequently used in medical facilities to wound healing, rheumatic disorders, and gastrointestinal symptoms etc.

COMPARISON OF THE PROPERTIES OF TREAD RUBBER FOR WHOLE WITH METAL CORD HEAVY-DUTY TIRES BASED ON NR AND ON SYNTHETIC POLYISOPRENE SKI-3 OF VARIOUS BRANDS

Technological properties of rubber compounds as well as viscous-elastic and strength properties of the tread rubber for heavy-duty tires whole with metal cord (MCT), based on blends of natural (NR) or synthetic polyisoprene of various trade marks (more than 80 %) and polybutadiene (more than 10 %) were studied. The new processing aid (PA), worked out in LLC «NPP QUALITET» under registered trade mark KVALISTROL® A100, was suggested instead of importing analogous of PA Polyplastol 6 type. It was established that replacement of NR in MCT formulation by the SKI-3S rubber produced with the use of a new anti-agglomerator of a crumb of KVANTISLIP® of the BM-2R, PA A100 brand, increased dosage of sulfur-accelerated group and the corrected dosage of the vulcanization inhibiter Santogard PVI and together with the worked out mixing mode at a stage of production of masterbatch allows to receive rubber compound close to reference on the basis of the NR on viscosity. At the same time the new rubber compound's strength and elastic properties practically don't differ, and in the lowered values of a hysteresis, surpass reference rubber compound with NR use.