Vertical III-V semiconductor nanowires have shown promising absorption of light for solar cell and photodetector applications. The absorption properties can be tuned through the choice of III-V materials and geometry of the nanowires. Here, we review recent progress in the design of the absorption properties of both individual nanowires and nanowire arrays. Future directions for the research field are proposed.

The mechanisms underlying the effects of γ-globulin therapy for bacterial infections are thought to involve bacterial cell lysis via complement activation, phagocytosis via bacterial opsonization, toxin neutralization, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Nevertheless, recent advances in the study of pathogenicity in gram-negative bacteria have raised the possibility of an association between γ-globulin and bacterial toxin secretion. Over time, new toxin secretion systems like the type III secretion system have been discovered in many pathogenic gram-negative bacteria. With this system, the bacterial toxins are directly injected into the cytoplasm of the target cell through a special secretory apparatus without any exposure to the extracellular environment and, therefore, with no opportunity for antibodies to neutralize the toxin. However, because antibodies against the V-antigen, which is located on the needle-shaped tip of the bacterial secretion apparatus, can inhibit toxin translocation, this raises the hope that the toxin might be susceptible to antibody targeting. Because multi-drug resistant bacteria are now prevalent, inhibiting this secretion mechanism is attractive as an alternative or adjunctive therapy against lethal bacterial infections. Thus, it would not be unreasonable to define the blocking effect of anti-V-antigen antibodies as the fifth mechanism for immunoglobulin action against bacterial infections.

Control over the composition of III-V ternary nanowires grown by the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) method is essential for bandgap engineering in such nanomaterials and fabrication of functional nanowire heterostructures for a variety of applications. From the fundamental viewpoint, III-V ternary nanowires based on group V intermix (InSbxAs1-x, InPxAs1-x, GaPxAs1-x and many others) present the most difficult case, because the concentrations of highly volatile group V atoms in a catalyst droplet are beyond the detection limit of any characterization technique and therefore principally unknown. Here, we present a model for the vapor-solid distribution of such nanowires, which fully circumvents the uncertainties that remained in the theory so far, and link the nanowire composition to the well-controlled parameters of vapor. The unknown concentrations of group V atoms in the droplet do not enter the distribution, despite of the fact that a growing solid is surrounded by the liquid phase. The model fits quite well the available data on the vapor-solid distributions of VLS InSbxAs1-x, InPxAs1-x and GaPxAs1-x nanowires grown with different catalyst. Even more importantly, it provides a basis for the compositional control of III-V ternary nanowires based on group V intermix, and can be extended over other material systems where two highly volatile elements enter a ternary solid alloy through a liquid phase.

Droplet epitaxy allows the efficient fabrication of a plethora of 3D, III-V-based nanostructures on different crystalline orientations. Quantum dots grown on (311)A-oriented surface are obtained with record surface density, with or without a wetting layer. These are appealing features for quantum-dot lasing, thanks to the large density of quantum emitters and a truly 3D lateral confinement. However, the intimate photophysics of this class of nanostructures has not yet been investigated. Here we address the main optical and electronic properties of s-shell excitons in individual quantum dots grown on (311)A substrates with photoluminescence spectroscopy experiments. We show the presence of neutral exciton and biexciton as well as positive and negative charged excitons. We investigate the origins of spectral broadening, identifying them in spectral diffusion at low temperature and phonon-interaction at higher temperature, the presence of fine interactions between electron and hole spin, and a relevant heavy-hole/light-hole mixing. We interpret the level filling with a simple Poissonian model reproducing the power excitation dependence of the s-shell excitons. These results are relevant for the further improvement of this class of quantum emitters and their exploitation as single photon sources for low density samples as well as for efficient lasers for high density samples.

In this work performance improvements are described of a low power consumption non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) methane (CH₄) gas sensor using customised optical thin film bandpass filters (BPF). BPF’s shape the spectral characteristic of the combined mid infrared III-V based light emitting diode (LED)/ photodiode (PD) light source/detector optopair, enhancing NDIR CH₄ sensor performance. The BPF, deposited using a novel microwave plasma assisted pulsed DC sputter deposition process, is deposited at room temperature directly onto the temperature sensitive PD heterostructure. BPF’s comprise germanium (Ge) and niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) alternating high and low refractive index layers respectively. Two different optical filter designs are progressed; with BPF bandwidths (BWs) of 160 nm and 300 nm. Comparison of modelled and measured NDIR sensor performance is described, highlighting maximized signal to noise ratio (SNR) and minimized cross talk performance benefits. BPF spectral stability for various environmental temperature and humidity conditions is demonstrated.

Three-layer structures based on various multi-component films of III–V semiconductors heavily doped with Fe were grown by pulsed laser sputtering of InSb, GaSb, InAs, GaAs and Fe solid targets. The structures comprising InAsSb:Fe, InGaSb:Fe and InSb:Fe layers with Fe concentrations up to 24 at. % separated by GaAs spacers were deposited on (001) i-GaAs substrates at 200ºC. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the structures have a rather high crystalline quality and do not contain secondary-phase inclusions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations revealed significant diffusion of Ga atoms from the GaAs regions into the InAsSb:Fe layers, which has led to the formation of an InGaAsSb:Fe compound with a Ga content up to 20 at. %. It has been found that the ferromagnetic properties of the InAsSb:Fe magnetic semiconductor improve with increasing Sb:As ratio. It has been concluded that the indirect ferromagnetic exchange interaction between Fe atoms occurs predominantly via Sb atoms.

Concern over potential antimony mediated toxicity from mining and smelting activities has instigated novel concepts toward removing aqueous antimony ions. The iron based adsorbent Fe3O4/HCO was found to be efficient for treating antimony-containing wastewater However, ineffective methodology for preparation limited its effective adsorption capacity and thus wider application. In this study, a new type of HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x adsorbent was prepared by co-precipitation method for doping Fe3O4 into HCO sludge (HCO), thereby improving adsorption performance for Sb(III) and Sb(V) ions, with the maximum adsorbing capacity being 44.46 mg/g and 47.91 mg/g, respectively. According to the results of BET, SEM-EDS, XRD and XPS, it were confirmed that the FeOOH and X≡Fe-OH were formed during the preparation process, bring about the increased the surface area, thus resulting in further increase of surface area, hydroxyl groups and the net negative ionic charge. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model which indicated that adsorption process of Sb(III)/Sb(V) by HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x adsorbent was controlled by chemical reaction. The main adsorption mechanism is that antimony ion and amorphous iron oxide X≡Fe-OH undergo coordination exchange reaction and complexation reaction with CeO2 or Ce2O3. Furthermore, HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x could adapt to wide pH and had stable adsorption ability after regeneration. The good adsorption performance of HCO-doped-(Fe3O4)x makes it a potential applications of adsorbent for removal of antimony.

Chromium (VI) is carcinogenic through intermediates formed in the cellular milieu by reduction with small reductants like glutathione (GSH), ascorbate (As), cysteine (Cys) and NADPH. Although the reduction of chromate by thiols have been investigated, the participation of Cr(IV) intermediates has been inferred only indirectly due to its refractive behavior towards EPR spectroscopy and the lack of true chromium (IV) complexes for comparative studies. Biological data from numerous reports indicate that Cr(IV) is the species most likely responsible for the carcinogenicity of Cr(VI). Our kinetic studies suggested that in acidic solutions the reduction of chromate with GSH affords mostly a chromium(IV) intermediate. As a step towards the full characterization of the paramagnetic species involved in the reduction of chromate by thiols at neutral pH, we embarked in the investigation of this reaction using the Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) Magnetic Property Measuring System®. Our results indicate a strong influence of the temperature. At 2K, the saturation magnetization method was applied to the frozen reaction when it reached the peak of formation of intermediates. Contrary to our expectations, the contributions were calculated to be 30 % of Cr(IV) and 69 % of Cr(V) at this pH. When the Curie-Weiss method was utilized, the effective magnetic moment was dependent on the portion of the data utilized and generally higher proportion of Cr(IV) was found when the fitting is performed with data from higher temperature.

Abstract: Two novel low-dimensional molecular magnetic materials were prepared by a self-assembling of 3d- and 5d-metal complexes. These are the first neutral heterobimetallic cyanobridged compounds involving one anisotropic Mn(III) Schiff base complex and one octacyanotungstate(V) per molecular unit. A slow diffusion of the constituents’ solutions leads to a formation of the 0D crystalline complex 1 due to coordination of a water molecule to the Mn center prevents a polymer formation. A rapid mixing of reagents results in a precipitation of the microcrystalline powder of the complex 2, which on a totality of experimental data possess 1D polymeric structure. The magnetic studies have shown that antiferromagnetic exchange interactions are dominating in 1 J/k_B= -13.1(7) K, D=-3.0(1.3) K, zJ'= -0.16(20) K and g_av=2.00(1); while the presence of the significant intramolecular Mn(III)–W(V) ferromagnetic couplings through cyanide bridges is characteristic for 2 (J/k_B = 46.1(5) K g_Mn = 2.11(3), fixed g_W = 2.0). Due to the weak interchain interactions, zJ'/k_B = –0.8(2) K, compound 2 is a metamagnet with the Néel temperature of 9.5 K undergoing a spin-flip transition at 2 kOe. The slow magnetization dynamics of 2 was investigated at DС field of 0 and 2 kOe, giving the values of τ₀ 32(15) and 36(15) ps respectively, well within the range typical for SCMs. The respective ∆_τ/k_B values were 48.4(1.2) and 44.9(1.0) K.

To date, theoretical analyses have provided several useful methods/algorithms for studying transition states and non-covalent interactions. Potential Energy Scan (PES) is one such method that has found wide application in the physicochemical community. Analyzing the PES profiles of the catalytic system of FeBr3 in Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS) with molecular halogens, one can notice an obvious difference from the modern textbook mechanisms proposed in this area of study. Moreover, the newly presented Graphic Methodology (GM) allows a simple and reliable transition state determination even for very weakly bound charge transfer complexes using second-order derivatives as an efficient tool in the graphical analysis. Relative errors that can be reduced to a few parts per thousand in transition state estimation make this method a potentially very useful tool in further graphical studies of non-covalent interactions. Studies performed using high-precision semiempirical methods suggest that the process of halonium ion quenching proceeds along a completely different pathway, suggesting a possible novel transition metal-nonmetal catalytic system involved in the EAS electrophilic quenching step. The results presented here strongly suggest a future GM application that is widely used and the introduction of pseudo and pre-transition states as new terms in the description of non-covalent interactions.

RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) holoenzyme activity and its products processing have been linked to several metabolic dysfunction in lower and in higher eukaryotes. Alterations in the activity of RNAP III driven synthesis of non-coding RNA, causes extensive changes in the glucose metabo-lism. Increased RNAP III activity in S.cerevisiae maf1Δ strain, manifests with lethality when grown on non-fermentable carbon source. This lethal phenotype is suppressed by reducing tRNA syn-thesis. The cause for the lack of growth neither the underlying molecular mechanism has not been deciphered and has been awaiting a scientific explanation for a decade. Our previous proteomics data suggested mitochondrial dysfunction of the strain. Using model mutant strains maf1Δ (with increased tRNA abundance) and rpc128-1007 (with reduced tRNA abundance) we collected data showing major changes in TCA cycle metabolism of the mutants that explain the phenotypic ob-servations. The present study, based on 13C flux data and analysis of TCA enzymes activities, identifies the flux constraints in the mitochondrial metabolic network. The lack of growth is associated with the de-crease in TCA cycle activity and downregulation of the flux towards glutamate, aspartate and phosphoenolopyruvate (PEP), the metabolic intermediate feeding gluconeogenic pathway. rpc128-1007, the strain that is unable to increase tRNA synthesis due to a mutation in C128 subunit, has increased activity of TCA cycle under non-fermentable conditions. To summarize, cells with non-optimal activity of RNAP III, undergo substantial adaptation to a new metabolic state, that make them vulnerable under specific growth conditions. Our results strongly suggest that balanced, non-coding RNA synthesis that is coupled to glucose signaling is a fundamental requirement to sustain cell’s intracellular homeostasis and flexibility under changing growth conditions. Presented results provide insight into the possible role of RNAP III in mito-chondrial metabolism of other cell types.

Two novel neutral phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes (Ir1 and Ir2) were rationally designed and synthesized with high yields using 10,11,12,13-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine as the main ligand. The two complexes showed bright red phosphorescence (625 nm for Ir1, and 620 nm for Ir2, in CH2Cl2), high luminescence quantum efficiency (0.32 for Ir1, and 0.35 for Ir2), obvious solvatochromism and good thermostability. Then, they were used to fabricate high-efficiency red OLEDs via vacuum evaporation, the maximum CE, PE, and EQE of the red devices based on Ir1 and Ir2 are 13.47/15.22 cd/A, 10.35/12.26 lm/W, and 10.08/7.48%, respectively.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic idiopathic autoimmune disease affecting various organs. Patients with SLE also present numerous neuropsychiatric manifestations. These neuro-psychiatric manifestations are referred to as neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Neuropsychiatric involvement in patients with SLE was first mentioned by Kaposi more than 100 years ago and is a generic term that refers to neurological and psychiatric symp-toms resulting directly from or as a complication of SLE. NPSLE affects both the CNS and PNS and can manifest as various symptoms, such as cognitive dysfunction, organic brain syndromes, delirium, seizures, headache, and psychosis. NPSLE was previously referred to as ‘lupus cerebri-tis’ or lupus sclerosis. However, these terms are no longer recommended because there is no de-finitive pathological cause for the neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE.[2]

The cavovarus deformity is characterized by a pathologic longitudinal arch elevation caused by a severe hindfoot varus and forefoot equinus deformity. This disorder includes multiple anomalies and therapies and affects 25% of the population. Cavus feet usually indicate neurologic illness, which affects sensory and motor nerves. Clinical and radiological evaluations are needed to establish each patient's optimum therapy. Failure to identify a neurologic illness may lead to inappropriate surgical treatment, recurrence, and reconstructive failure. In progressive anomalies, surgical procedures must be performed quickly in a phased protocol to prevent the malalignment from worsening. Soft tissue surgeries, osteotomies, and arthrodesis are surgical options for patients. To aid and lead practitioners in selecting the most appropriate therapy for their patients daily, we have included the most common therapeutic options currently available in this article.

The broad emission bump in the electromagnetic spectra observed following the detection of gravitational waves created during the kilonova event of merger of two neutron stars in August 2017, GW170817, has been linked to the heavy elements of lanthanides (Z=57-71), and a new understanding of creation of heavy elements in the r-process. The initial spectral emission bump has a wavelength range of 3000 - 7000 \AA, thus covering the region of ultraviolet (UV) to optical (O) wavelengths, and is similar to those seen for lanthanides. Most lanthanides have large number of closely lying energy levels which introduce extensive sets of radiative transitions which often form broad region of lines of significant strength. The current study explores these broad features through photoabsorption spectroscopy of 25 lanthanides ions, Ho I-III, Er I-IV, Tm I-V, Yb I-VI and Lu I-VII. With excitations only to a few orbitals up beyond the ground configurations, we find most of these ions cover large number of bound levels with open $4f$ orbital and produce tens to about hundred thousands lines that may form one or multiple broad features in X-ray to UV, O, and infrared (IR) regions. Spectrum of each of 25 ions is presented indicating presence, shape and wavelength region of the features. Accuracy of atomic data to interpret the merger spectra has been a outstanding problem. The present study aims at providing improved atomic data for energies and transition parameters obtained using relativistic Breit-Pauli approximation implemented in the atomic structure code SUPERSTRUCTURE. The present data have been benchmarked with available experimental data for energies and transition parameters. The study finds that number of ions under the present study are possible contributors of the emission bump of GW170817. All atomic data will be made available online at NORAD-Atomic-Data database.

The removal of harmful arsenic(V) from aqueous solutions using Cyanex 923 (solvation extractant) was investigated under various experimental variables: equilibration time, acidity of the aqueous phase, temperature, extractant and arsenic concentrations, and O/A ratio. Cyanex 923 extracted As(V) (and sulphuric acid) from acidic solutions, thus, its use to remove the metal from slightly acid or neutral solutions it is not possible. Extraction of arsenic is exothermic, and responded to the formation of H3AsO4·nL species in the organic phase (L represented the extractant and the stoichiometric factor n: 1 or 2, depends on the acidity of the aqueous phase). Extraction isotherms are derived from experimental results. Both arsenic and sulphuric acid loaded onto the organic phase can be stripped with water, and stripping isotherms are also derived from the experimental results. The selectivity of the system against the presence of other metals (Cu(II), Ni(II), Bi(III), Sb(III)) are investigated, and also it is investigated the ability of Cyanex 923 to extract As(V) and sulphuric acid against the use of other P=O based solvation reagents, such dibutyl butylphosphonate (DBBP) and tri-butyl phosphate (TBP).

Wild germplasm can be classified as the raw material essential for crop improvement. Introgression of wild germplasm is normally used in breeding to increase crop quality or resilience to evolving biotic and abiotic threats. Here, we explore the potential of introgressing Vaccinium elliottii into commercial blueberry germplasm. Vaccinium elliottii is a wild diploid blueberry species endemic to the southeastern United States that possesses highly desirable and economically important traits for blueberry breeding such as: short bloom to ripe period, adaptation to upland sandy soils, disease resistance, firmness, and pleasant flavor. To examine the potential of hybridization, we evaluated populations of interspecific hybrids across multiples stages of breeding (i.e., F1, F2, and backcrosses) in two crop seasons. We used our extensive pedigree data to generate breeding values for pre-breeding blueberry hybrid populations. Hybrid performance was evaluated considering fitness (i.e., plant vigor and plant height) in addition to evaluating six fruit-quality and marketable-related traits (i.e., size, firmness, acidity, soluble solids, weight, and yield). Overall, F2 and backcrosses rapidly achieved market thresholds, presenting values not significantly different from commercial blueberry germplasm. Our results confirmed the potential of exploiting the high genetic variability contained in V. elliotii for interspecific hybridization. Additionally, we developed germplasm resources that can be further evaluated and utilized in the breeding process, advancing selections for fruit quality and environmental adaptation.

Fourteen (14) rack-mounted polycrystalline modules installed on the concrete roof of the solar energy applications laboratory at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, a hot humid environment were assessed after 19 years of continuous outdoor expodure. The physical state of the modules was documented using a visual inspection checklist. They were further assessed by current-voltage (I-V) characterization and thermal imaging. The modules were found to be in good physical state, except some bubbles on front side and minor discolouration/corrosion at edge of the cells. Compared with reference values, the performance decline of the modules observed over the exposure period was: nominal power (P_nom), 21% to 35%; short circuit current (I_sc), 5.8% to 11.7%; open circuit voltage (V_oc) 3.6% to 5.6% and 11.9% to 25.7% for fill factor (FF). It is hoped that this study will provide some helpful information to project developers, manufacturers and the research community on the long-term performance of PV modules in Ghana.

In this paper, a study of modeling PV cell (solar cell), PV module (solar modules) and PV array solar array) using Matlab/Simulink software is presented. This study is focused on the study to design photovoltaic cell, photovoltaic modules, photovoltaic panels and PV array (solar array) and to analyze the change in PV performance according to changes in different parameters such temperature, solar irradiation, reverse saturation current, series resistance and shunt resistance. This study shows the PV and IV characteristics curve for each model from which MPP (maximum power point) is determined. In this study, different PV and IV characteristic curves are gained for varying temperatures with specified solar irradiation conditions,s and then the MPP is tracked. The highest power output is also compared between the designed PV module and the selected PV module (MX Solar USA MX60-245)

Background: Although the link between environmental lead exposure and several patterns of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported, its association with silent myocardial infarc-tion (SMI) has not been explored. We aimed to assess the association between blood lead levels (BLL) and risk of SMI. Methods: This analysis included 7283 (mean age 56.1±2.52 years, 52.5% women) participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who were free of clinical CVD. Ascertainment of BLL done using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. SMI defined as ECG evidence of MI without history of MI. Multivariable lo-gistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between SMI and BLL. Results: SMI was detected in 120 participants corresponding to an unweighted prevalence of 1.65%. Par-ticipants with higher levels of BLL had higher prevalence of SMI (0.4%, 0.9%, and 2.4% across BLL tertiles; p-value

The solvent extraction of gold(III) by undiluted 2-ethylhexanol or dissolved in toluene from HCl solution has been investigated. The numerical analysis of gold distribution data suggests the formation of HAuCl4·L and HAuCl4·2L (L= 2-ethylhexanol) species in the organic phase with formation constants K11= 38 and K12= 309, respectively. The results derived from gold(III) distribution have been implemented in a solid-supported liquid membrane system. The influence of several variables on gold transport was considered: feed and receiving phases stirring speeds, HCl and gold concentrations in the feed phase and carrier concentration in the membrane phase as well as the presence of base metals (Fe,Cu,Ni) and PGMs in the feed phase. Also, diffusional resistances to mass transfer are estimated. Gold is recovered as zero valent nanoparticles.

The transport of iron(III) from Fe(III)-Mn(II)-HCl mixed solutions through a flat-sheet supported liquid membrane is investigated, being the carrier phase of Cyanex 923 (commercially available phosphine oxide extractant) dissolved in Solvesso 100 (commercially available diluent), as a function of hydrodynamic conditions, concentration of manganese and HCl in the feed phase, and carrier concentration in the membrane phase. A transport model is derived that describes the transport mechanism, consisting of diffusion through a feed aqueous diffusion layer, a fast interfacial chemical reaction, and diffusion of the Fe(III)-Cyanex 923 complex across the membrane phase. The membrane diffusional resistance (Δm) and feed diffusional resistance (Δf) are calculated from the model, and their values are 145 s/cm and 361 s/cm, respectively. It is apparent that the transport of iron(III) is mainly controlled by diffusion through the aqueous feed boundary layer, being the thickness of this layer calculated as 2.9x10-3 cm. Since Mn(II) is not transported through the membrane phase, the present system allows to the purification of this manganese-bearing solutions.

The transport of indium(III), from HCl solutions, across a supported liquid membrane in flat-sheet configuration was investigated, being the carrier the ionic liquid HA324H⁺Cl^- (derived from the tertiary amine Hostarex A324 and hydrochloric acid). Different variables affecting the metal transport: hydrodynamic conditions in the source and receiving phases, metal and HCl concentrations in the source phase, and carrier concentration in the membrane phase, were investigated. Also the transport of indium(III) using carriers of various nature: ionic liquids, alcohol, ketone, phosphine oxide, etc., was compared. The metal transport was modelled describing the transport mechanism as: diffusion across the source diffusion layer, a fast interfacial chemical reaction, and diffusion of the InCl₄^--carrier complex through the membrane support. Diffusional parameters for the transport of indium(III), from the experimental data and the model, were estimated.

Nonlinear rheological properties of chiral crystal cholesteryl oleyl carbonate (COC) in blue phase III are investigated under different shear deformations; large amplitude oscillatory shear, step shear deformation, and continuous shear flow. Rheology of the liquid crystal is significantly affected by structural rearrangement of defects under shear flow. One of the examples on the defect-mediated rheology is the blue phase rheology. Blue phase is characterized by three dimensional network structure of the disclination lines. It has been numerically studied that the rheological behavior of the blue phase is dominated by destruction and creation of the disclination networks. In this study, we find that the nonlinear viscoelasticity of BPIII is characterized by the fracture of the disclination networks. Depending on the degree of the fracture, the nonlinear viscoelasticity is divided into two regimes; the weak nonlinear regime where the disclination network locally fractures but still show elastic response, and the strong nonlinear regime where the shear deformation breaks up the networks, which results in a loss of the elasticity. Continuous shear deformation reveals that a series of the fracture process delays with shear rate. The shear rate dependence suggests that force balance between the elastic force acting on the disclination lines and the viscous force determines the fracture behavior.

A new and easy-to-make polymer film sensor was prepared by dip-coating technique and this film used as fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of metal ions in aqueous solution. The proposed film sensor exhibited dual emissions at 540 and 582 nm under a single excitation wavelength. The fluorescence behavior of this film sensor toward metal ions has been investigated using these two wavelengths. The proposed sensor was found to show selectivity and sensitive to Fe³⁺ ion when compared the other metal ions in deionized water with excellent photostability. Detection limit of the polymeric film sensor was calculated as 86.15 and 28.90 μM. The results showed that the sensor can be successfully applied to the determination of Fe³⁺ ions in aqueous media. Contact angle measurement of PAZU film probe was also investigated and the result showed that the proposed film probe has hydrophobic property.

The advantage of FPGAs lies in the ability to implement a fully hardware solution for interfacing with various input/output (I/O) devices. Each block can work in parallel with all the others, simplifying the satisfaction of timing constraints. However, this hardware utilization consumes FPGA resources that could otherwise be allocated to the primary project. An alternative involves employing a small "soft-core" processor implementing I/O in software. With the goal to design and evaluate a new tiny soft-core processor optimized for FPGA resources in I/O , a novel processor named Baby8 is developed. It is an 8-bit CISC soft-core processor optimized for reduced FPGA resources including program size for 8-bit applications. The number of instructions is not large but any instruction can access arbitrary memory locations. The performance and resource utilization of the newly designed processor are evaluated and compared with a variety of other soft-core processors. The results demonstrate its competitive performance, achieving an average maximum clock frequency of approximately 57 MHz and a power consumption of around 2mW. Furthermore, it conserves nearly half of the FPGA resources in implementation.

RISC-V offers a modular technical approach combined with an open, royalty-free instruction set architecture (ISA). This openness allows various researches to incorporate RISC-V into both open and proprietary solutions or services. However, despite its advantages as a fundamental building block for many embedded systems, the escalating complexity and functional demands of real-time applications have made adhering to response time deadlines challenging. This has led to an increased demand for comprehensive development insights for real-time systems based on RISC-V. To improve development efficiency, we offer a detailed performance analysis of RISC-V in comparison to various ISAs. In this paper, we analyze the real-time performance of RISC-V through two real-time approaches based on processor architectures. For RTOS applications, we adopted FreeRTOS and evaluated its performance on HiFive1 Rev B (RISC-V) and STM3240G-EVAL (ARM M) to evaluate real-time performance. For Real-time Linux, we utilized Linux with the Preempt-RT patch and tested its performance on VisionFive 2 (RISC-V), MIO5272 (x86-64), and Raspberry Pi 4 B (ARM A). Through these experiments, we examined the real-time mechanism of each operating system. Additionally, in the Preempt-RT experiments, scheduling latencies were evaluated using cyclictest. Finally, in order to practically show the real-time capabilities of RISC-V, we implemented motion control of a six-axis collaborative robot, which was performed on the VisionFive 2 platform. This implementation provided a comparative result of RISC-V’s performance against the x86-64 architecture of MIO-5272. Ultimately, the results indicated that the real-time performance of RISC-V for real-time applications was slightly inferior to that of the x86-64 architecture. A noticeable achievement of this research was the first implementation of an EtherCAT Master on RISC-V designed for real-time applications featuring a multi-tasking structure. The research offers valuable insights into the real-time capabilities of RISC-V compared to established architectures like x86-64. While RISC-V might not surpass these architectures in real-time performance, its flexibility, modularity, and open nature make it a compelling choice for a wide range of real-time applications. The successful implementation of the EtherCAT Master on RISC-V further expands its potential in the domain of real-time embedded control systems.

Due to the advantages of low latency, low power consumption and high flexibility of FPGA-based acceleration technology, it has been more and more widely studied and applied in the field of computer vision in recent years. An FPGA-based feature extraction and tracking accelerator for real-time visual odometry (VO) and visual simultaneous localization and mapping (V-SLAM) is proposed, which can realize the complete acceleration processing capability of the image front-end and directly output the feature point ID and coordinates to the backend. The accelerator consists of image preprocessing, pyramid processing, optical flow processing, and feature extraction and tracking modules. For the first time, it implements a hardware solution that combines features from accelerated segment test (FAST) corners with Gunnar Farneback (GF) dense optical flow, to achieve better feature tracking performance and provide more flexible technical route selection. In order to solve the scale invariance and rotation invariance lacking problem of FAST features, an efficient pyramid module with a five-layer thumbnail structure is designed and implemented. The accelerator is implemented on a modern Xilinx Zynq FPGA. The evaluation result shows that the accelerator can achieve stable tracking of features of violently shaking images, and is consistent with the results of MATLAB code running on PC. When operating at 100MHz, the accelerator can process 108 frames per second for 720P images and 48 frames per second for 1080P images. Compared to PC CPUs that consume seconds of time, the processing latency is greatly reduced to the order of milliseconds, making GF dense optical flow an efficient and practical technical solution on the edge side.

Air conditioning system of electric vehicles has new change as the internal combustion engine is being replaced with electrified AC motor. With large amount of batteries installed at the bottom of frame, the conventional compressor which is belt-driven can be removed and another AC motor can play the role for air conditioning in electric vehicles. From this change, the system efficiency would be improved since it is possible to control the electrified compressor independently from traction system in contrast with the belt-driven compressor. As a result, by applying the electrified compressor for air conditioning system, the whole system can achieve better efficiency and longer driving distance, which is most important in electric vehicles. In this paper, 3-phase interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) was designed using lumped-parameter model and finite element method.

Four models of Ce(III) complexes with four ligands based on a 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were studied at four DFT levels. The effect of different ligands on the atomic charge value on the cerium ion was analyzed. Several relationships were clearly established between this atomic charge and that of the surrounding atoms, as well as with several geometric parameters of the ligand and with the molecular properties of the Ce(III) complex. The experimental IR and Raman spectra of the newly obtained Ce(III) complex with the (pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylate ligand were interpreted based on their comparison to the theoretical scaled ones using the scaling equations determined by two procedures and four DFT levels. Therefore, the structure predicted for the synthesized Ce(III) complex was clearly characterized and confirmed. The potential antioxidant action of Ce(III) complex was elucidated and compared with other Ln(III) complexes in order to find out the differences in their biological activity profiles.

N-(diisopropylphosphanyl)benzamide, PhC(O)NHPiPr2, has been synthesized in good yield following two alternative procedures that employ benzamide as the starting material. The first one is a two-step preparation, in which N-(trimetilsilyl)benzamide is reacted with PiPr2Cl, to give the title compound in good yield, whereas the second one is a straightforward synthesis which converts benzamide into N-(diisopropylphosphanyl)benzamide by reaction with PiPr2Cl in the presence of N,N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine (DMAP) and triethylamine. NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses have been performed to characterize the new compound and elucidate its molecular structure in the solid state. N-(diisopropylphosphanyl)benzamide adds to the limited family of amido-substituted phosphines, RC(O)NHPR’2, which can be classified as bidentate hybrid P,O-ligands, both in their neutral and anionic forms, the latter achievable by deprotonation of the NH group.

The ionic liquid A327H+Cl- is generated by reaction of the tertiary amine A327 (industrial mixture of tri-octil and tri-decyl amines) and hydrochloric acid solutions. Further, the extraction of Au(III) by A327H+Cl- ionic liquid under various variables, including metal and ionic liquid concentrations, has been investigated. Results indicate that A327H+AuCl4- is formed, by an exothermic (ΔHº= -3 kJ/mol) reaction, in the organic solution. Aqueous ionic strength influences the formation constants values and the specific interaction theory (SIT) is used to estimate the interaction coefficient between AuCl4- and H+. Gold (III) is stripped using thiocyanate media, and from the strip solutions, gold is precipitated as gold nanoparticles.

The transport of indium(III), from HCl solutions, across a supported liquid membrane in flat-sheet configuration was investigated, being the carrier the ionic liquid HA324H+Cl- (derived from the tertiary amine Hostarex A324 and hydrochloric acid). Different variables affecting the metal transport: hydrodynamic conditions in the source and receiving phases, metal and HCl concentrations in the source phase, and carrier concentration in the membrane phase, were investigated. Also the transport of indium(III) using carriers of various nature: ionic liquids, alcohol, ketone, phosphine oxide and phosphoric ester, was compared. The metal transport was modelled describing the transport mechanism as: diffusion across the source diffusion layer, a fast interfacial chemical reaction, and diffusion of the InCl4--carrier complex through the membrane support. Diffusional parameters for the transport of indium(III), from the experimental data and the model, were estimated.

Redox reactions are of great importance in environmental catalysis. Gold nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted much attention because of their catalytic activity and their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In the present study, we investigated in details the reduction of ferricyanide (III) ion into ferrocyanide (II) ion catalyzed by spherical gold nanoparticles of two different sizes 15 nm and 30 nm and excited at their LSPR band. Experiments were conducted in the presence (or not) of sodium thiosulfate. This catalysis is enhanced in the presence of Au-NPs under visible light excitation. This reduction takes also place even without sodium thiosulfate. Our results demonstrate the implication of hot electrons in this reduction.

Bianchi type III string cosmological models (massive and geometric) in presence of magnetic field with vacuum energy density following the techniques used by Letelier (1979) and Stachel (1980) are obtained. We find that the energy conditions (dominant as well as weak) given by Hawking and Ellis (1974) are satisfied for the models. Also the solutions obtained satisfy conservation equation for massive string with magnetic field and vacuum energy density. The models in general, represent anisotropic phase of space-time due to the presence of string. However, the models isotropize at late time and in special case. It has also been shown that the magnetic field is directly linked with the matter. For string dust model, the state finder parameters {r,s} are in excellent agreement with Planck results (Sahni et al. (2003)). The physical and geometrical aspects of the models with special cases are also discussed.

In this paper, we study the well-posedness and asymptotic behaviour of solutions to a laminated beam in thermoelasticity of type III. We first give the well-posedness of the system by using the semigroup method. Then, we show that the system is exponentially stable under the assumption of equal wave speeds. Furthermore, it is proved that the system is lack of exponential stability for case of nonequal wave speeds. In this regard, a polynomial stability result is proved.

In the last years, advances in materials engineering based on adaptive electronics have found a new paradigm to optimize drawbacks in signal processing. A two-layer MnO/ZnO:Zn heterostructure envisioned for frequency adaptive electronic signal processing is synthesized by sputtering where the use of internal states allows reconfigurability to obtain new operating modes at different frequency input signals. An X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) is performed on each layer, MnO:Mn had a cubic and ZnO:Zn a hexagonal structure with preferential growth in [111] and [002] directions respectively. It is determined that the coupling in this heterojunction is compatible with a mismatch less 1 % due texture in each layer which implies a low number of defects. An electrical characterisation with an oscilloscope and signal generator was carried out to obtain the time-response signals and current-voltage (I-V) curves where no degradation is detected when changing from a range of frequencies (100 Hz – 1 MHz). An equivalent circuit is proposed to explain the effects in the interface. Finally, the MnO/ZnO:Zn heterojunction delivers states that are stable, repeatable, and reproducible and it demonstrates how the interaction of the materials can be used in adaptive device applications applying frequencies and internal states as to create new and innovative design schematics, reducing the numbers of components/connections in a system for future sustainable electronics.

Vernonia amygdalina is an important nutritional and medicinal plant that is used to treat various diseases such as malaria and diabetes in Nigeria. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome of a V. amygdalina species isolated in Awka, Nigeria. The chloroplast genome is 153 149 bp in length and has a conserved structure that includes the LSC (84261 bp) region, the SSC (13152 bp) region, and the IR (27868 bp) regions. A total of 131 genes were identified, including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Comparative analysis of the genome revealed species variations in the LSC region associated with the geographical location of the V. amygdalina plant. Phylogenetic analysis of the chloroplast genomes using FastTree showed that V. amygdalina clustered closest to the chloroplast of the Crepidiastrum genus. This study identifies the characteristics of the V. amygdalina chloroplast genome, which will improve our understanding of intraspecies diversity and the identification of potential molecular markers to determine geographical origin.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously affected the African continent and the rest of the world. Most businesses have closed and a lot of people have lost their jobs. The aviation industry has been shaken to the core with airlines losing millions of dollars and flights being cancelled. The tourism industry has consequently been affected due to restricted travel of tourists, impacting wildlife conservation and livelihoods. Schools, colleges and universities have been closed. The virus has infected millions of people and hundreds of thousands of people have died globally putting strain on health systems especially those of hard hit countries. Various countries all over the world have put measures to control the spread of the virus through lockdowns and social distancing policies. The reduced economic activities and mobility of people has resulted in improved air quality, cleaner water and beaches in some countries. However there are also negative impacts such as challenges in waste management, increased pharmaceutical and household waste and discovery of the corona virus in wastewater, a potential threat to public health. A considerable amount of research has been done on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 in Africa but there is still limited research on its impact on the environment. This paper serves to highlight the observed and potential environmental impacts of COVID-19 in Africa.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has garnered significant attention in the fields of cancer treatment and drug-resistant bacteria eradication due to its non-invasive nature and spatiotemporal controllability. Iridium complexes have captivated researchers owing to their tunable structure, exceptional optical properties, and substantial Stokes displacement. However, most of these complexes suffer from aggregation-induced quenching, leading to diminished luminous efficiency. In contrast to conventional photosensitizers, photosensitizers exhibiting aggregation-induced luminescence (AIE) properties retain the ability to generate a large number of reactive oxygen species when aggregated. To overcome these limitations, we designed and synthesized a novel iridium complex named Ir-TPA in this study. It incorporates quinoline triphenylamine cyclomethylated ligands that confer AIE characteristics for Ir-TPA. We systematically investigated the photophysical properties, AIE behavior, spectral features, and reactive oxygen generation capacity of Ir-TPA. The results demonstrate that Ir-TPA exhibits excellent optical properties with pronounced AIE phenomenon and robust capability for producing singlet oxygen species. This work not only introduces a new class of metal iridium complex photosensitizer with AIE attributes but also holds promise for achieving remarkable photodynamic therapeutic effects in future cellular experiments and biological studies.

Microbial-mediated biogeochemical cycling of iron is widespread in anaerobic environments such as sediments and deep Earth aquifers, and is one of the major pathways for metabolising iron in nature. Organic matter containing quinone groups can act as electron shuttles to transfer electrons between microorganisms and Fe(III) oxides, facilitating the biotransformation of iron; this process also influences the transport transformation of pollutants. In this paper, the reduction of Fe(III) oxides by aniline in the heterogeneous iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 mediated by the electron shuttle AQS was investigated. The results showed that aniline significantly promoted the reduction of Fe(III) by MR-1 in the AQS-mediated reaction, and the best Fe(III) reduction was achieved in the reaction group of "GT+MR-1+0.5mM AQS+3μM aniline", in which the Fe(II) production was significantly higher than that in the reaction groups of only microorganisms and no aniline reaction. The amount of Fe(II) produced was significantly higher than that of the microorganism-only and aniline-free reaction groups, and the addition of aniline also significantly increased the consumption of sodium lactate by MR-1 in the reaction system. The solid mineral Fe(II)-O content increased to 41.32% after the reaction. However, the structure of needle ferrite is relatively stable, and the surface morphology did not change significantly by SEM, and the generation of other secondary minerals was not observed in the XRD results. The results of this experimental study can help to understand the biogeochemical cycle of iron in multicomponent reactions and are of great significance for environmental management.

Manufacturers of photovoltaic modules do not provide all the information necessary to predict their performance under different climatic conditions. This forces the development of mathematical models of behavior and the application of mathematical methods for the calculation of their associated parameters. A toolbox called PVMSim implemented in MATLAB/GUI is proposed in this paper. PVMSIm provides models allowing the simulation of photovoltaic modules. A two-diode model is used to represent the effect of irradiance and temperature on the V-I and V-P characteristic curves. The accuracy of PVMSim has been vaildated by applying the models to two mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline solar modules of different power ratings and manufacturers. The model PVMSim model accuracy was verified against the manufacturer’s datasheet. This paper shows that this tool is useful for designers and professionals who require an intuitive graphical interface for fast and accurate modeling, simulation and sizing of photovoltaic systems.

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the main DNA repair mechanism for the repair of double strand breaks (DSBs) throughout the course of the cell cycle. DSBs are generated in developing B and T lymphocytes during V(D)J recombination to increase the repertoire of B and T cell receptors. DSBs are also generated during the class switch recombination (CSR) process in mature B lymphocytes, providing distinct effector functions of antibody heavy chain constant regions. Thus, NHEJ is important for both V(D)J recombination and CSR. NHEJ comprises core Ku70 and Ku80 subunits that form the Ku heterodimer, which binds DSBs and promotes the recruitment of accessory factors (e.g., DNA-PKcs, Artemis, PAXX, Mri) and downstream core factors (XLF, Lig4 and XRCC4). In recent decades, new NHEJ proteins have been reported, increasing complexity of this molecular pathway. Numerous in vivo mouse models have been generated and characterized to identify the interplay of NHEJ factors and their role in development of adaptive immune system. This review summarizes the currently available mouse models lacking one or several NHEJ factors, with a particular focus on early B cell development. We also underline genetic interactions and redundancy in the NHEJ pathway in mice.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is an enigmatic condition characterized by exacerbation of symptoms after exertion (post-exertional malaise or “PEM”), and by fatigue whose severity and associated requirement for rest are excessive and disproportionate to the fatigue-inducing activity. There is no definitive molecular marker or known underlying pathological mechanism for the condition. Increasing evidence for aberrant energy metabolism suggests a role for mitochondrial dysfunction in ME/CFS. Our objective was therefore to measure mitochondrial function and cellular stress sensing in actively metabolising patient blood cells. We immortalized lymphoblasts isolated from 51 ME/CFS patients diagnosed according to the Canadian Consensus Criteria and an age- and gender-matched control group. Parameters of mitochondrial function and energy stress sensing were assessed by Seahorse extracellular flux analysis, proteomics, and an array of additional biochemical assays. As a proportion of the basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR), the rate of ATP synthesis by Complex V was significantly reduced in ME/CFS lymphoblasts, while significant elevations were observed in Complex I OCR, maximum OCR, spare respiratory capacity, nonmitochondrial OCR and “proton leak” as a proportion of the basal OCR. This was accompanied by a reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, chronically hyperactivated TOR Complex I stress signalling and upregulated expression of mitochondrial respiratory complexes, fatty acid transporters and enzymes of the β-oxidation and TCA cycles. By contrast, mitochondrial mass and genome copy number, as well as glycolytic rates and steady state ATP levels were unchanged. Our results suggest a model in which ME/CFS lymphoblasts have a Complex V defect accompanied by compensatory upregulation of their respiratory capacity that includes the mitochondrial respiratory complexes, membrane transporters and enzymes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation. This homeostatically returns ATP synthesis and steady state levels to “normal” in the resting cells, but may leave them unable to adequately respond to acute increases in energy demand as the relevant homeostatic pathways are already activated.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a vaccine preventable disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which is primarily prevalent in Asia. JEV is a Flavivirus, classified into a single serotype with five genetically distinct genotypes (I, II, III, IV, and V). JEV genotype III (GIII) had been the most dominant strain and caused numerous out breaks in the JEV endemic countries until 1990. However, recent data shows the emergence of genotype I (GI) as a dominant genotype and it is gradually displacing GIII. The exact mechanism of this genotype displacement is still unclear. The virus can replicate in mosquito vectors and vertebrate hosts to maintain its zoonotic life cycle; pigs and aquatic wading birds act as an amplifying/reservoir hosts, and humans and equines are the dead end hosts. The important role of pigs as an amplifying host for JEV is well known. However, the influence of other domestic animals especially birds that live in high abundance and close proximity to human is not well studied. Here, we strive to briefly highlight the role of birds in JEV zoonotic transmission, discovery of birds as a natural reservoirs and amplifying host for JEV, species of birds susceptible to JEV infection, and the proposed effect of JEV on poultry industry in future perspective which have been neglected for a long times. We also discussed the recent in vitro and in vivo studies which show that the newly emerged GI viruses replicated more efficiently in bird-derived cells and ducklings/chicks than GIII, and an important role of birds in the JEV genotype shift from GIII to GI.

The paper discusses the electroreduction of Bi(III) ions in the aspect of expanding the ”cap – pair” effect. The ”cap – pair” rule is associated with the acceleration of the electrode’s processes by organic substances. The interpretation of the ”cap – pair” effect mechanism was expanded to include the effect of supporting electrolyte concentration on the acceleration process and the type of electrochemical active as well as used protonated organic substances. It has also been shown that the phenomena occurring at the electrode/solution interface can influence a change in the dynamics of the electrode’s process according to the ”cap – pair” rule.

Advancement in physics often results from analyzing numerical data and then creating a theoretical model that can explain and predict those data. In the field of lens design, the reverse is true: longstanding theoretical understanding is being overtaken by more powerful numerical methods.

The activity of prioritizing software requirements should be done as efficiently as possible. Selecting the most stable requirements for the most important customers for the development company can be a positive factor when we consider that the available resource does not always encompass the implementation of all requirements. Quantitative methods for reaching software prioritization in releases are many in the field of Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE). However, we show that it is possible to use qualitative Verbal Decision Analysis (VDA) methods to solve this same type of problem. Moreover, we will use the ZAPROS III-i methods to prioritize requirements considering the opinion of the decision-maker, who will participate in this process. Finally, the results obtained in the VDA structured methods were quite satisfactory when compared to the methods using SBSE. A comparison of results between quantitative and qualitative methods will be made and discussed later.

We demonstrate for the first time efficient mechanical to electrical energy conversion using InGaN/GaN nanowires (NWs). Using an atomic force microscope equipped with a modified Resiscope module, we analyse the piezoelectric energy generation of GaN NWs and demonstrate an important enhancement when integrating in their volume a thick In-rich InGaN insertion. The piezoelectric response of InGaN/GaN NWs can be tuned as a function of the InGaN insertion thickness and position in the NW volume. The energy harvesting is favoured by the presence of a PtSi/GaN Schottky diode which allows to efficiently collect the piezo-charges generated by InGaN/GaN NWs. Average output voltages up to 330 ± 70 mV and a maximum value of 470 mV per NW has been measured for nanostructures integrating 70 nm-thick InGaN insertion capped with a thin GaN top layer. This latter value establishes an increase of about 35% of the piezo-conversion capacity in comparison with binary p-doped GaN NWs. By considering these output signals, we estimate a maximum power density generated by one layer of dense InGaN/GaN-based NW of about 3.3 W/cm². These results settle the new state-of-the-art for piezo-generation from GaN-based NWs and offer a promising perspective for extending the performances of the piezoelectric sources.

In order to enable patients with severe disabilities who have lost their limbs to accurately control their wheelchair movement and optimize the power loss of smart wearable tongue control devices, a non-invasive intraoral stand-alone tongue control system based on RSIC-V edge computing is proposed in this paper. Patients can detect the pressure signal of the tongue muscles’ touching the palate by placing the flexible carbon nanotube-PDMS pressure sensor array in the mouth, and the erroneous movement signal can be avoided by setting the pressure threshold, thereby improving the reliability of the device and the user's experience. The system converts the pressure data into specific control instructions on the edge of the RSIC-V chip and transmits them to the receiver, thus reducing the transmission of data. In this experiment, the speed response time test, the center click task and the power consumption experiment are carried out, whose results show that the adaptive fuzzy PID control algorithm has good robustness in the system: when the DC motor with a given speed of 750r/min reaches the steady state, its rise time is 0.108s and the adjustment time is 0.59s. The dynamic power consumption of the non-intrusive intraoral stand-alone tongue control system proposed in this paper is tested to be 3.745 MW, which is 11.5% lower than the total power consumption of the sTDs system.

Incremental stability analysis for time-delay systems has attracted more and more attentions for its contemporary applications in transportation processes, population dynamics, economics, satellite positions, etc. This paper researches criteria on v(t)-incremental stability, which is defined to demonstrate the convergence rate for incremental stability, for time-delay systems. Firstly, the sufficient conditions for v(t)-incremental stability for time-delay systems with continuous right-hands are studied, and several corollaries for specific cases are provided. As for time-delay systems with discontinuous right-hands, after expounding the relevant conditions for the existence and uniqueness of the Filippov solution, by using approximation methods, sufficient conditions for v(t)-incremental stability are obtained. The conclusions are applied to linear switched time-delay systems and Hopfield neural network system with composite right-hand afterwards.

Artificial roughness applied to the Solar Air Heater (SAH)’s absorber plate is a popular technique to increase its total-thermal efficiency (η_(t-th)). In this paper, the influence of geometrical parameters of V-down ribs attached below the corrugated absorbing plate of SAH on the η_(t-th) has been examined. The impacts of key roughness parameters, including relative pitch p⁄e (6-12), relative height e⁄D (0.019-0.043), angle of attack α (30°-75°), and Re (1000-20000), are examined under real weather conditions. The SAH η_(t-th) roughened by V-down ribs is predicted using an in-house developed conjugate heat transfer numerical model. It has been shown that the maximum SAH η_(t-th) is 78.8%, predicted under steady-state conditions of Re = 20000, solar irradiance G =1000 W/m2, p/e = 8, e/D = 0.043, and angle =60. That is 15.7% more efficient than that of the default smooth surface. Under real weather condition, the η_(t-th) of the roughened SAH with single and double glass covers are 17.7% and 20.1%, respectively, higher than those of smooth SAH.

In the last two decades, variably doped strontium barium niobate (SBN) has attracted a lot of scientific interest mainly due to its specific non-linear optical response. Comparably, the parental compound, i.e., undoped SBN, appears to be less studied so far. Here, two different cuts of single-crystalline nominally pure strontium barium niobate in the composition Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 (SBN61) are comprehensively studied and analyzed with regard to their photoconductive responses. We present conductivity measurements under systematically varied illumination conditions along either the polar z-axis or perpendicular to it (x-cut). Apart from a pronounced photoconductivity (PC) already under daylight and a large effect upon super-bandgap illumination in general, we observe (i) distinct spectral features when sweeping the excitation wavelength over the sub-bandgap region as then discussed in the context of deep and shallow trap states, (ii) extremely slow long-term relaxation for both light-on and light-off transients in the range of hours and days, (iii) a critical dependence of the photoresponse on the pre-illumination history of the sample, and (iv) a current-voltage hysteresis depending on both the illumination and the electrical-measurement conditions in a complex manner.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) trigger the Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent DNA damage response (DDR), which consists of histone H2AX, MDC1, RNF168, 53BP1, PTIP, RIF1, Rev7, and Shieldin. Early stages of B and T lymphocyte development are dependent on recombination activating gene (RAG)-induced DSBs that form the basis for further V(D)J recombination. Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway factors recognize, process, and ligate DSBs. Based on numerous loss-of-function studies, DDR factors were thought to be dispensable for the V(D)J recombination. In particular, mice lacking Mediator of DNA Damage Checkpoint Protein 1(MDC1) possessed nearly wild-type levels of mature B and T lymphocytes in the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. NHEJ factor XRCC4-like factor (XLF)/Cernunnos is functionally redundant with ATM, histone H2AX, and p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) during the lymphocyte development in mice. Here, we genetically inactivated MDC1, XLF, or both MDC1 and XLF in murine vAbl pro-B cell lines and, using chromosomally integrated substrates, demonstrated that MDC1 stimulates the V(D)J recombination in cells lacking XLF. Moreover, combined inactivation of MDC1 and XLF in mice resulted in synthetic lethality. Together, these findings suggest that MDC1 and XLF are functionally redundant during the mouse development, in general, and the V(D)J recombination, in particular.

Looking at different operating climatic conditions, the electrical behavior predicting photovoltaic modules gets very important. For the estimation of output power from photovoltaic (PV) plants this is a very essential and basic aspect. In this paper, the relationship between the I-V curve and the irradiation spectrum is discussed by combining the single diode model. An explicit elementary analytical model with two defined shape parameters is discussed and improved with three approximations and second order Taylor expansion. Then, the explicit elementary analytical model is investigated under varying conditions leveraging the four parameters I_ph, I₀, R_s and R_sh from the single diode model. The relationship between the physical parameters and the condition parameters are discussed and applied to extract the shape parameters at different scenarios. Considering the aging effect, the process of calculation to predict the I-V curve under different splitting spectra is simplified as follow: (1) two shape parameters are gotten from the I-V data at measurement reference conditions (MRC); (2) the short circuit current, open circuit voltage and shape parameters under any splitting spectrum can be calculated based on the relationship provided in article; (3) the performance of PV panel can be predicted with parameters. The validation of this model was experimentally proven leveraging monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module with different splitting films. Results showed that the model accurately predicts the I-V characteristics for the examined PV modules at different irradiance spectra and cell temperatures. Moreover, the presented model performs superior compared to other investigated models when looking at accuracy and simplicity.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the molecular profiles of stage III CRC patients from the international IDEA study. It also sought to correlate these profiles with Toll-like and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms, clinicopathological and epidemiological characteristics, and patient outcomes. Methods: Whole Exome Sequencing and PCR-RFLP on surgical specimens and blood samples, respectively, were performed to identify molecular profiling and the presence of Toll-like and vitamin D polymorphisms. Bioinformatic analysis revealed mutational status. Results: Among the enrolled patients, 63.7% were male, 66.7% had left-sided tumors, and 55.7% received CAPOX as adjuvant chemotherapy. Whole exome sequencing identified 59 mutated genes in 11 different signaling pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) CRC panel. On average, patients had 8 mutated genes (range, 2-21 genes). Mutations in ARAF and MAPK10 emerged as independent prognostic factors for reduced DFS (p=0.027 and p<0.001, respectively), while RAC3 and RHOA genes emerged as independent prognostic factors for reduced OS (p=0.029 and p=0.006, respectively). Right-sided tumors were also identified as independent prognostic factors for reduced DFS (p=0.019) and OS (p=0.043). Additionally, patients with tumors in the transverse colon had mutations in genes related to apoptosis, PIK3-Akt, Wnt, and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions: Molecular characterization of tumor cells can enhance our understanding of the disease course. Mutations may serve as promising prognostic biomarkers, offering improved treatment options. Confirming these findings with require larger patient cohorts and international collaborations to establish correlations between molecular profiling, clinicopathological and epidemiological characteristics and clinical outcomes.

In the field of embedded systems, energy efficiency is a critical requirement, particularly for battery-powered devices. RISC-V processors have gained popularity due to their flexibility and open-source nature, making them an attractive choice for embedded applications. However, not all RISC-V processors are equally energy-efficient, and it is important to evaluate their performance in specific use cases. This paper evaluates the energy consumption and resource utilization of a new RISC-V processor, RisCO2, and four existing processors - Zero-riscy, Micro-riscy, Ri5cy, and CV32E40P - in a signal demodulation application for NDIR CO2 sensors. The processors were implemented in the PULPino SoC and synthesized using Vivado IDE. The processor named RisCO2 is based on the RV32E_Zfinx instruction set and was designed from scratch by the authors specifically for low-power signal processing applications such as signal demodulation in CO2 NDIR sensors. The other processors are Ri5cy, Micro-riscy, and Zero-riscy, developed by the PULP Platform team, and CV32E40P (derived from Ri5cy) from the OpenHW Group, all of them widely used in the RISC-V community. Our experiments showed that RisCO2 had the lowest energy consumption among the five processors, with a 53.5% reduction in energy consumption compared to CV32E40P and a 94.8% reduction compared to Micro-riscy. Additionally, RisCO2 had the lowest FPGA resource utilization compared to the best-performing processors, CV32E40P and Ri5cy, with a 46.1% and a 59% reduction in LUTs, respectively. Our findings suggest that RisCO2 is a highly energy-efficient RISC-V processor for NDIR CO2 sensors that require signal demodulation. The results also highlight the importance of evaluating processors in specific use cases to identify the most energy-efficient option. This paper provides valuable insights for designers of energy-efficient embedded systems using RISC-V processors.

Anal stenosis, which develops as a result of aggressive excisional hemorrhoidectomy, especially with the stoutly use of advanced technologies (LigaSure, Ultrasonic Dissector, Laser, etc.), has become common, causing significant deterioration in the patient's quality of life. Although non-surgical treatment is effective for mild anal stenosis, surgical reconstruction is unavoidable for moderate to severe anal stenosis that causes distressing, severe anal pain, and inability to defecate. The problem in anal stenosis, unlike anal fissure, is that the skin does not stretch as a result of chronic fibrosis due to surgery. Therefore, the application of lateral internal sphincterotomy does not provide satisfactory results in the treatment of anal stenosis. Surgical treatment methods are based on the use of flaps of different shapes and sizes to reconstruct the anal caliber and flexibility. This article aims to review the functional results, postoperative care, and complications of these methods.

In recent decades, widespread damage to structures due to destructive earthquakes has encouraged researchers to use seismic control systems. One of the most important structures is bridges, which should maintain their service after severe earthquakes. One of the ways to control the bridge is to isolation the deck from the substructure, which results in high displacements at different points in the bridge and the residual displacements within the separator itself, thus requiring repair and replacement of these systems after severe earthquakes. Therefore, the use of new seismic separation systems on bridges has always been important. The purpose of this project is to utilize a new memory-shaped seismic separator system to investigate the seismic performance of v-shaped column bridges , in which case the effect of earthquake orientation and its effects on responses the earthquake will also be assessed. Due to the ever-increasing advances in various intelligent materials, such as shape memory alloys, and their unique capacities, such as back-centering, and high fatigue and corrosion resistance, in this study, these materials have been used as a complementary component along with lead core separators. The shape memory alloy has been used as 4 vertical rods that connect two separating parts to each other and in this research the diameter and location of these rods will be calculated using optimization algorithm in Matlab software.

Introduction: maxillary hypoplasia and mandibular asymmetry may be corrected with orthognathic surgery at the completion of growth. Many patients require segmental Le Fort I osteotomies to obtain the most stable results. Unfortunately, if Invisalign is chosen for pre-surgical preparation, ClinCheck © software does not allow for prediction when these complex surgeries are planned. The objective of this paper was to show the potential of aligners beyond its software in most complex cases like multiple-piece maxillary osteotomies in cleft and non-cleft patients. Method: Thirteen patients who underwent pre-surgical treatment with clear aligners-Invisalign (study group) were matched in terms of diagnosis, surgical procedure, and orthodontic complexity with thirteen patients treated using fixed appliances (control group). A technique based on simple superimposition was devised to enhance the software for creating a suitable occlusion for segmental pre-surgical treatments. Virtual curves following the lower arch were employed to guide the correct pre-surgical positions of the upper teeth. The amount of impressions required in both groups to achieve satisfactory pre-surgical alignment of the segmented arches was compared. Results: one or no refinement phase were needed in the Invisalign group to reach an acceptable pre-surgical occlusion while the amount of pre-surgical impressions taken in order to reach adequate coordination with fixed appliance treatment was slightly higher. The average overall treatment duration did not show a statistically significant variation between the groups. Conclusions: it appears that clear aligner could serve as an effective treatment for individuals with skeletal discrepancies, including cleft and craniofacial anomalies, necessitating segmental Le Fort I osteotomies when aided by the suggested superimposition approach during digital pre-surgical movement simulations. More sophisticated softwares will certainly be implemented in the future.

Plasmodium species that cause malaria, a disease responsible for about half a million deaths per annum despite concerted efforts to combat it. The causative agent depends on type III beta phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PPI4K) during the development of merozoite. PPI4K is the only clinically validated Plasmodium kinase so far and its inhibitors are effective both in vitro and in vivo. In this work, a small library of ~22 000 fragments was virtually screened using PPI4K homology model to discover potential ligands of the enzyme. 16 virtual hits were selected based on ≤ -9.0 kcal/mol binding energy cut off and were subjected to similarity and substructure searching after they had passed PAINS screening. The derivatives obtained showed improved binding energies, which ranged from -10.00 to -13.80 kcal/mol. Moreover, the topmost ranking compound 31, with interesting drug-like quality was stable within the protein’s binding cavity during the 10 ns molecular dynamics simulation period. In addition, analysis of its binding pose revealed some unique binding interactions with PPI4K active site residues as the basis for the observed improved binding affinity. Overall, compound 31 appears to be a viable starting point for the development of PPI4K inhibitors with antimalarial activity.

The main goal of the paper is to compare the effects of the wave spectrum, computed using the Discrete Interaction Approximation (DIA) and the Webb–Resio–Tracy (WRT) methods, on statistical wave properties such as skewness and kurtosis. The statistical properties are obtained by integrating the three-dimensional free-surface Euler equations with a high-order spectral method combined with a phenomenological filter to account for the energy dissipation due to breaking waves. In addition, we investigate the minimum spatial domain size required to obtain meaningful statistical wave properties. The numerical simulations are performed over a physical domain of size 4.13 km × 4.13 km. The results indicate that statistical properties must be computed over an area of at least 4 km2. The results also suggest that selecting a more computationally expensive WRT method does not affect the statistical values to a great extent. The most noticeable effect is due to the energy dissipation filter that is applied. It is concluded that selecting the WRT or the DIA algorithm for computing the wave spectrum needed for the numerical simulations does not lead to major differences in the statistical wave properties. However, more accurate energy dissipation mechanisms due to wave breaking are needed.

This work presents an application called APPMAR 1.0 based on Python ® environment, built to perform the downloading, treatment and analysis of meteorological and marine information. This application is composed of two main modules: the first module allows the downloading of information from the database (NOAA - WW3); the second module uses the principles of statistical mathematics for the treatment of waves and wind. The importance of this simple application is based on the free and agile access to meteorological and marine information for a coastal project. The determination of representative conditions of sea states ultimately will govern the process of design of coastal and oceanic infrastructure. The analysis of historical time series of local waves and winds allows the evaluation of average regimes or operational design, the ultimate limit states or extreme design, and the storms or design by persistence. In spite that the former analysis is a common task for coastal engineers, the codes generated are seldom shared for public use. In summary, for operational purposes is useful to have a freeware that can assist in the data processing for decision making and forcing of the mathematical models that are part of the common practice of coastal, oceanic and offshore engineering. This application has been tested in the Caribbean area of Colombia where meteorological and marine information are scarce.

The vacuolar proton translocating ATPase (V-ATPase) is a transmembrane multi-protein complex fundamental in maintaining a normal intracellular pH. In the tumoral contest, its role is crucial since the metabolism is mainly based on anaerobic glycolytic reactions. Moreover, the neoplastic cells use the V-ATPase to extrude chemotherapy drugs to the extra-cellular compartment, as a drug-resistance mechanism. In glioblastoma (GBM), the most malignant and incurable primary brain tumor, the expression of this pump is upregulated, making it a new possible therapeutic target. In this work, the bafilomycin A1 induced-inhibition of V-ATPase in patients-derived glioma stem cell (GSC) lines was evaluated together with temozolomide, the first-line line therapy against GBM. In contrast with previous published data, the proposed treatment did not overcome the resistance to the standard therapy. In addition, our data showed that nanomolar dosages of bafilomycin A1 lead to the blockage of the autophagy process and cellular necrosis, making the drug unusable in models that are more complex. Nevertheless, the increased expression of V-ATPase following bafilomycin A1 suggests a critical role of the proton pump in GBM stem component, encouraging the search for novel strategies to limit its activity in order to get around the resistance to the conventional therapy.

A polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) composed of 50 wt% poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) as its base polymer, 40 wt% Aliquat® 336 as its extractant and 10 wt% dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as plasticizer provided efficient extraction of vanadium(V) from its sulfate solutions adjusted to pH 2.5. It was suggested that V(V) was extracted as VO2SO4− via an anion exchange mechanism. Quantitative back-extraction was achieved in a sulfuric acid solution (6 mol L-1) containing 1 v/v% of hydrogen peroxide. It was assumed that the back-extraction process involved the oxidation of VO2+ to VO(O2)+ by hydrogen peroxide. The newly developed PIM with the optimized composition mentioned above exhibited excellent selectivity for V(V) in the presence of metallic species present in digests of spent alumina hydrodesulfurization catalysts (i.e., Al(III), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), and Ni(II)). The co-extraction of Mo(VI) with V(V) was eliminated by its selective extraction at pH 1.1. The optimized PIM was characterized by contact angle measurements, atomic-force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/derivatives thermogravimetric analysis (DTGA), and the stress-strain measurements.

In this work, we investigated the effects of heat treatment on the microstructure, hydrogen storage characteristics and corrosion rate of a Ti₃₄V₄₀Cr₂₄Fe₂ alloy. The arc melted alloy was divided into three samples, two of which were separately quartz-sealed under vacuum and heated to 1000 °C for 1 h; one of these samples was quenched and the other furnace cooled to ambient temperature. The crystal structures of the samples were studied via X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. Absorption/desorption characteristics were investigated using a Sievert apparatus. Potentiostat corrosion tests on the alloys were performed using an AutoLab^® corrosion test apparatus and electrochemical cell. All samples exhibited a mixture of body-center-cubic (BCC) and Laves phase structures. The corrosion rate, maximum absorption, and useful capacities increased after both heat treatments. The annealed sample had the highest absorption and reversible capacity. The plateau pressure of the as-cast alloy increased after quenching. The corrosion rate increased from 0.0004 mm/y in as-cast sample to 0.0009 mm/y after annealing and 0.0017 mm/y after quenching, due to a decrease in the Cr-content of the C14 phase.

: The article examines the regularities of structure formation of ultrafine fibers based on poly-3-hydroxybutyrat under the influence of technological (electrical conductivity, viscosity), molecular (molecular weight), and external factors (low-molecular and nanodispersed substances of different chemical nature). Systems with polar substances are characterized by the presence of intermolecular interactions and the formation of a more perfect crystalline fiber structure. Changes in technological and molecular characteristics affect the fiber formation process, resulting in alterations in the morphology of the non-woven fabric, fiber geometry, and supramolecular fiber structure. Polymer molecular weight, electrical conductivity, and solution viscosity influence fiber formation and fiber diameter. The fiber structure is heterogeneous, consisting of both crystalline and non-equilibrium amorphous phases. This is significant in the development of matrix-fibrillar systems for drug delivery, bioactive substances, antiseptics, tissue engineering constructs, tissue engineering scaffolds, artificial biodegradable implants, sorbents, and other applications.

The inositol triphosphate associated proteins IRAG1 and IRAG2 are cGMP kinase substrate proteins, which regulate intracellular Ca2+. Previously, IRAG1 was discovered as a 125 kDa membrane protein at the endoplasmic reticulum, that is associated with the intracellular Ca2+ channel IP3R-I and the PKGIβ and inhibits IP3R-I upon PKGIβ-mediated phosphorylation. IRAG2 is a 75 kDa membrane protein homologue of IRAG1 and was recently also determined as a PKGI substrate protein. Several (patho-)physiological functions of IRAG1 and IRAG2 were meanwhile and recently elucidated in a variety of human and murine tissues, e.g. of IRAG1 in various smooth muscles, heart, platelets and other blood cells, of IRAG2 in pancreas, heart, platelets and taste cells. Hence, lack of IRAG1 or IRAG2 leads to diverse phenotypes in these organs, e.g. smooth muscle and platelet disorders or secretory deficiency, respectively. This review aims to highlight the recent research regarding these both regulatory proteins to envision its molecular and (patho-)physiological tasks and to unravel its functional interplay as possible (patho-)physiological counterparts.

Starting from acid chlorides, alkynes, tryptamines, and acroyl chloride, 21 densely substituted tetrahydro-beta-carbolines are prepared in a four-component one-pot reaction. In this study, the aza-Michael addition step to generate intermediate enaminones is optimized in the presence of ytterbium triflate. Moreover, apart from acroyl chloride, all reactants can be deployed in almost equimolar ratios, which increases the atom economy of the sequence. For mechanistic rationali-zation, the concluding aza-anellation was investigated by DFT calculations on potential inter-mediates and corresponding activation energies, revealing that the aza-anellation rather pro-ceeds via ene-reaction than via electrocyclization.

Background: This retrospective study evaluates the survival effects of metronomic maintenance therapy with fluoropyrimidine in patients with stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) according to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. Methods: We enrolled 197 patients with stage III CRC who had undergone radical resection and FOLFOX regimen adjuvant chemotherapy. The clinicopathological features and effects of metronomic maintenance therapy on survival according to treatment group and EGFR expression were analyzed. By conducting an in vitro cell line study and in vivo study through knockdout of EGFR gene, we analyzed the capacities of cell proliferation and migration. Results: Postoperative relapse and mortality were significantly more common in the FOLFOX group. Metronomic maintenance therapy was a significantly independent predictive factor of postoperative relapse and mortality, as well as a prognostic factor of disease-free survival and overall survival. The significant differences of survival between the two groups were only observed in patients with positive EGFR expression. Conclusions: The present study suggested EGFR expression as the prognostic factor in patients with stage III CRC receiving metronomic maintenance therapy. By analyzing EGFR expression, we can identify the potential candidates with optimal survival benefit from metronomic maintenance therapy in patients with stage III CRC.

Background: This retrospective study evaluate the survival effects of metronomic maintenance therapy with fluoropyrimidine in patients with stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) according to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. Methods: We enrolled 197 patients with stage III CRC who had undergone radical resection and FOLFOX regimen adjuvant chemotherapy. The clinicopathological features and effects of metronomic maintenance therapy on survival according to treatment group and EGFR expression were analyzed. By conducting an in vitro cell line study and in vivo study through knockdout of EGFR gene, we analyzed the capacities of cell proliferation and migration. Results: Postoperative relapse and mortality were significantly more common in the FOLFOX group. Metronomic maintenance therapy was a significantly independent predictive factor of postoperative relapse and mortality, as well as a prognostic factor of disease-free survival and overall survival. We also demonstrated that EGFR-knockout Caco2 cells are more sensitive to the inhibition effect of fluoropyrimidine than the control those. Conclusions: The present study suggested EGFR expression as the prognostic factor in patients with stage III CRC receiving metronomic maintenance therapy. By analyzing EGFR expression and treatment strategies, we can identify the potential candidates with optimal survival benefit from metronomic maintenance therapy in patients with stage III CRC.

The focus of the current research indicates a new Bianchi type-V anisotropic, homogeneous astrophysical model with modified theory of f(R, T) gravity and Λ(t), time-dependent cosmological constant. The significant effect of the model is that the field equations solutions find using a time-dependent quadratic deceleration parameter. We observed anisotropy parameter remains constant both in the belated universe and early universe. The deportment of the equation of state (EOS) parameter, pressure, and energy density, cosmological constant and other parameters are also discussed. This cosmological model indicated the possibility of an accelerating universe with negative pressure, such as a universe dominated by dark energy. Om(z) diagnostic test suggested that the universe starts with quintessence nature and ends as a phantom model. Also, energy conditions of this model are represented here to ensure the model is physically reasonable and based on observations.

In social sciences, a plethora of studies utilize nominal data to establish the relationship between the variables. This, in turn, requires the correct use of correlation technique. The choice of correlation technique depends upon the underlying assumptions and power of the test of significance. The objective of the research is to explore the best measure of association for nominal data in terms of size, power and bias in estimation. Monte Carlo simulations reveal that the Phi and Pearson correlation statistics performs equally well in terms of size, power, and bias for naturally dichotomous variables. When both variables are artificially dichotomized, the Tetrachoric statistic has an edge in terms of bias to Pearson correlation statistic. If one variable is continuous and other is artificially dichotomized, the Biserial correlation measure turns out to be less biased as compared to Pearson statistic although both statistics exhibit similar power and size properties. If one variable is continuous and other is naturally dichotomized, it is hard to choose between the Point Biserial and Pearson correlation measures. Finally, if one variable is naturally dichotomous and other is artificially dichotomized, correlation coefficient V is compared with Pearson, Phi and Tetrachoric correlation techniques in terms of bias in estimate. The results indicate that the Tetrachoric statistic considerably overestimates the correlation value against non-normal distributions. Pearson and Phi correlation slightly underestimate the correlation value. In contrast, the correlation statistic V perform well.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a devastating illness whose biomedical basis is now beginning to be elucidated. We reported previously that, after recovery from frozen storage, lymphocytes (peripheral blood monocytic cells, PBMCs) from ME/CFS patients die faster in culture medium than those from healthy controls. We also found that lymphoblastoid cell lines (lymphoblasts) derived from these PBMCs exhibit multiple abnormalities in mitochondrial respiratory function and signalling activity by the cellular stress-sensing kinase TORC1. These differences were correlated with disease severity, as measured by the Richardson and Lidbury Weighted Standing Test. The clarity of the differences between these cells derived from ME/CFS patient blood and those from healthy controls suggested that they may provide useful biomarkers for ME/CFS. Here we report a preliminary investigation into that possibility using a variety of analytical classification tools, including linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. We found that results from three different tests, lymphocyte death rate, mitochondrial respiratory function and TORC1 activity could each individually serve as biomarker with better than 90% sensitivity but only modest specificity vís a vís healthy controls. However, in combination they provided a cell-based biomarker with sensitivity and specificity approaching 100% in our sample. This level of sensitivity and specificity was almost equalled by a suggested protocol in which the frozen lymphocyte death rate was used as a highly sensitive test to triage positive samples to the more time consuming and expensive tests measuring lymphoblast respiratory function and TORC1 activity. This protocol provides a promising biomarker that could assist in more rapid and accurate diagnosis of ME/CFS.

Background: Increase of collagen I (COL I)/COL III ratio enhances vessel wall stiffness and renders vessels less resistant to blood flow and pressure changes. We hypothesized that COL I/COL III ratio is increased in the brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs), which is associated with bAVM hemorrhage. Method: Surgically resected human bAVM samples and mouse bAVMs induced in three transgenic mouse lines with activin receptor-like kinase 1 or endoglin deletion in the endothelial cells or in the brain focally. Colony-stimulating factor receptor inhibitor was used to transiently deplete microglia. COL I and COL III levels, hemorrhage, and gene expression in bAVMs were analyzed. Results: The COL I and COL III levels and the COL I/COL III ratio were higher on human and mouse bAVMs than controls, which was associated with bAVM hemorrhage. Col I and Col III mRNAs were also increased in mouse bAVMs. The degree of microhemorrhage in mouse bAVMs was positively correlated with Col I/Col III ratios. Transient depletion of microglia reduced Col I/Col III ratio and microhemorrhage in mouse bAVMs. Conclusion: COL I/COL III ratio are increased in bAVM vessels, which is associated with bAVM hemorrhage. Depletion of microglia reduces Col I/Col III ratio and hemorrhage in mice bAVMs.

Hybrid materials derived adsorbents have showed a great applicable efficiency in various fields including industrial uses and environmental remediation. Herein, the zinc oxide nanoparticles anchored carbon (ZnO-C) is fabricated and utilized for wastewater treatment by adsorption of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II). The surface and structural characteristics are examined by TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR, EDS and BET surface area. The Kinetics and equilibrium investigations are applied to optimize the adsorptive removal of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) onto ZnO-C. Results indicated formation of ZnO-C in crystalline spherical granules with nano-size between 29.3 and 48.8 nm. In addition, the spherical granules are gathered to form clusters. The FTIR indicated that the ZnO-C surface is rich with OH groups and ZnO. The adsorption capacity is reported as 212, 209, 200 and 230 mg/L for Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) respectively. The optimum condition for maximum adsorption were pH between 5 and 6, contact time of 180 min and adsorbent dose of 0.1 g/L. The adsorptive removal data modeling for uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) onto ZnO-C showed agreement with the assumption of pseudo 2nd order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm suggesting fast adsorption rate and multilayer mechanism. The achieved adsorption capacity using the prepared ZnO-C is more effective compared to ZnO, carbon, Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-C. Real wastewater samples are applied including valley water, industrial wastewater and rain wastewater and evaluated for applicable uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) using ZnO-C and Fe3O4-C with high efficiency.

Here we studied Bianchi type-III string cosmological models generated by means of a cloud of strings with particles connected to them in the framework of Lyra geometry considering five-dimensional space-time. To obtain the exact solutions of field equations we consider that the shear scalar and the scalar expansion are proportional, σ∞θ which leads to D=cn and secondly we adopt the assumption considering the Reddy String Condition, ρ+λ=0. From the two different cases obtained here, first case leads to the Bianchi type-III string cosmological model in Lyra geometry in five-dimensional space-time and the second case leads to the five-dimensional vacuum universe in general relativity. The Geometrical and physical properties of the model universe are studied comparing with the present day’s observational findings. The model universe obtained here starts with the big bang and as time progresses both particle density ρp and energy density ρ decreases with expansion of our Universe.

The recovery of precious metals is a project with both economic and environmental significance. In this paper, it presents how to use bacterial mineralization to selectively recover gold from multi-ionic aqueous systems. The Bacillus licheniformis FZUL-63, separated from a landscape lake in FuZhou University, was shown to selectively mineralize and precipitate gold from coexisting ions in aqueous solution. The removal of Au(III) was almost happened in first hour, and FTIR data show that the amino, carboxyl and phosphate groups on the surface of the bacteria are related to the adsorption of gold ions. XPS results implied that Au(III) ions are reduced to monovalent, and then the Au(I) was adsorbed on the bacterial surface at the beginning stage(first hour). XRD results showed the gold biomineralization began about 10 hours after the interaction between Au(III) ions and bacteria. The Au(III) mineralization has been rarely influenced by other co-existing metal ions. TEM analysis shows the gold nanoparticles are polyhedral structure with a particle size of ~20 nm. The Bacillus licheniformis FZUL-63 could selectively mineralize and recover 478 mg/g(dry biomass) gold from aqua regia-based metal wastewater through four cycles. It could be of great potential in the practical application.

U-Net, based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN), has been clinically used to au-to-segment normal organs and potentially target volumes. However, CNNs with local geometric dependencies may limit the accuracy of segmentation. Additionally, the performance of CNNs can vary depending on the selection of network hyper-parameters, which was mitigated by the proposition of nnU-Net. We chose a vision transformer architecture called VT U-Net, which features a self-attention excluding the convolution layer, to overcome the limitations of CNNs by utilizing global geometric information of images. The VT U-Net v.2 became more powerful thanks to the adaptive hyper-parameter optimizer embedded in nnU-Net. However, despite leveraging the benefits of nnU-Net, VT U-Net v.2 still had additional network hyper-parameters that needed to be optimally chosen. Accordingly, among various hyper-parameters, this study attempted to find the optimal combination of the patch size and the embedded dimension regarding the transformer. From the 4-fold cross-validation, the modified VT U-Net v.2 showed the highest average performance for planning target volume (PTV) segmentation among the investigated networks. Though nnU-Net was based on convolution layers, the adaptive hyper-parameter optimizers turned out to enhance the performance. It was also confirmed that network hyper-parameters affected the segmentation accuracy of vision transformers.

The aim of this work is to introduce new ways to model the I-V characteristic of a PV cell or PV module using straight lines and Bézier curves. This is a complete novel approach, Bézier curves being previously used mainly for computer graphics. The I-V characteristic is divided in three sections, modeled with lines and a quadratic Bézier curve in the first case and with three cubic Bézier curves in the second case. The result proves to be accurate and relies on the fundamental points usually present in the PV cell datasheets: Voc (the open circuit voltage), Isc (the short circuit current), Vmp (the maximum power corresponding voltage) and Imp (the maximum power corresponding current) and the parasitic resistances Rsh0 (shunt resistance at Isc) and Rs0 (series resistance at Voc). The proposed algorithm completely defines all the implied control points and the error is analyzed. The temperature and irradiance influence is also analyzed. The model is also compared using the least squares fitting method. The final validation shows how to use Bézier cubic curves to accurately represent the I-V curves of an extensive range of PV cells and arrays.

Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FD) is a highly atherogenic genetically-based lipid disorder with the underestimated actual prevalence. In the recent years, several biochemical algorithms have been developed to diagnose FD using available laboratory tests. However, there is not enough data on their use in real-world clinical implementation. We studied the applicability of the most accessible biochemical algorithms to diagnose FD in clinical practice. We also investi-gated the prevalence of FD in one of the European regions of Russia based on a population sample. In this study there was detected a high prevalence of FD: 1 in 151. We demonstrated that the diagnostic algorithms of FD including a diagnostic apoB levels require correction, taking into account the characteristics of the distribution of apoB levels in the population. At the same time a triglycerides cutoff ≥1.5 mmol/L may be a useful tool in identifying subjects with FD. We also analyzed the presence and pathogenicity of APOE variants associated with the autosomal dominant FD in a large research sample.

The future index prices are viewed as a critical issue for any trader and investor. For this craving, various models have shown up in the literature. The Geometric Brownian motion (GBM) is one of the popular models. This work examines four types of GBM as per the presence of memory or kind of volatility. These models include classical GBM with memoryless and constant volatility assumptions, SVGBM with memoryless and stochastic volatility assumption, GFBM with memory and constant volatility assumption, and SVGFBM with memory and stochastic volatility assumption. These models are utilized in an empirical study to forecast the future index price of Energy Sector in the Saudi Stock Exchange Market. The assessment was led by utilizing two error standards, mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The outcomes showed that the SVGFBM occupies the highest level of accuracy according to smallest values of MSE and MAPE. While the accuracy of GBM come in the tail of the list models under study. These results have affirmed the positive affection of combining memory and stochastic volatility assumption into the GBM model, which agreed findings of numerous earlier works. Furthermore, the findings showed the GFBM models are more accurate than GBM models regardless of the type of volatility. While, under the same type of memory, the models with stochastic volatility assumption are more accurate than the corresponding models of constant volatility assumption. In general, all models considered in this work uncovered high accuracy through the value of MAPE ≤ 10%. This indicates of the ability of applying these models in a real financial environment. Through this empirical study, we can say that the Energy Sector in Saudi Arabia is predictable and stable and afterward we urge financial investors and stockholder to trade and invest in this sector.

In order to obtain the good match between yield strength and low-temperature toughness, the short-time partial austenitization (SPA) process was employed for V-microalloying 0.22C-5.24Mn steel. The initial microstructure after intercritical tempering was dual-phase ferrite and reversed austenite (RA), while the final microstructure was consisted of ferrite, RA and secondary martensite (SM) after subjected to SPA process. (V, Mo)C with disc-like morphology mainly precipitated during intercritial tempering, and the aspect ratio of particle decreased, leading to the appearance of near-spherical morphology. After subjected to SPA process, the resultant multiphase hierarchical microstructure (three layers: out layer of ferrite, interlayer of SM and inner layer RA) enabled high yield strength of 1097 MPa, total elongation of 14%, and impressive impact energy of 33.3 J at -20 °C. The strengthening contribution of (V, Mo)C precipitation was estimated about 108 MPa.

Circulating extracellular microvesicles (cEVs) are characterised by presenting surface antigens of parental cells. Since their biogenesis involves the translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) from the inner to the outer-leaflet of the plasma membrane, exposed PS has been considered as a recognition hallmark of cEVs. However, not all cEVs externalise PS. In this study we have phenotypically and quantitatively characterised cEVs by flow cytometry with special attention to the proportions of PS in chronic heart failure patients (cHF; n=119) and reference non-HF group (n=21). PS─-cEVs were predominantly found in both groups. Parental markers showed differential pattern depending on PS exposure. Endothelium-derived and connexin 43-rich cEVs were mainly PS─-cEVs and significantly increased in cHF. On the contrary, platelet-derived cEVs were mostly PS+ and were increased in non-HF. We observed similar levels of PS+- and PS─-cEVs in non-HF subjects when analysing immune cell-derived EVs, but there was a subset-specific difference in cHF patients. Indeed, those cEVs carrying CD45+, CD29+, CD11b+ and CD15+ were mainly PS+-cEVs, while those carrying CD14+, CD3+ and CD56+ were mainly PS─-cEVs. In conclusion, endothelial and red blood cells are stressed in cHF patients as detected by a high shedding of cEVs. Despite PS+-cEVs and PS─-cEVs represent two distinct cEV populations, their release and potential function as both biomarkers and shuttles for cell communication seem unrelated to PS content.

The origination of most free-living animal species is predictable. ‘Light’ order production in the trophic levels below is the key. Absent from the abiotic environment (pre-primary level) and prokaryotes, ‘light’ order consists of differences in species composition between highly-developed, species-packed communities in which extinction may be the precursor to speciation, particularly ecologically comparable tropical continental lowland ones of Africa, Australia, India, and South America. Based on but not itself of matter and non-burnable, its nil waste heat content ‘compensates’ for burned-up food energy. Where the amounts of it on infra-apical trophic levels form an inverted pyramid like waste heat’s, occupancy of trophic levels from primary to apical is predictable (variation and selection assumed). Terminal non-inversion predicts post-apical vacancy. Examined communities were from grasslands (grasses, large grazing mammals, large carnivores), and woodlands (woody plants, butterflies, insect-eating birds, raptorial birds). Linnaeus’s binomial classificational system turned out to be unexpectedly rich in new content. A new object of study, the neoLinnaean, is recognised and a new process, the neoLyellian, advanced to explain it. Relations to Darwin’s and Lyell’s non-predictive theories of change, to ecology and evolution, to thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics, and to neurology are discussed.

Complexes of triply positive europium ion with organic ligands are popular objects for studying photophysical properties. This is related not only to the bright red emission of this 4f element, but also to some spectroscopic peculiarities of its luminescence: the first excited spin-orbit level (7F1) lies only about 300 cm−1 above the ground state (7F0), so that at room temperature its population is around 25–30%. However, such electronic structure of Eu(III) provides its paramagnetism under ordinary conditions. This fact is often ignored by researchers, which is shortsighted from the materials science point of view. A comprehensive and systematic study of the magnetic behavior for the Eu(III) molecular coordination compounds is a challenging task for the development of new polyfunctional materials. The present work presents synthesis, single crystal XRD analysis results, and a magnetic study for the firstly prepared europium(III) complexes with two neutral scorpionate ligands: trispyrazolylmethane (HCPz3) and its methylated analog, tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (HC(PzMe2)3). The values of the spin-orbit coupling parameter obtained for Eu-trication by a theoretical approximation of the experimental magnetic susceptibility data are compared with those known for the scarce amount of the magnetically studied molecular compounds.

As shown in former papers, the nonadiabatic Heisenberg model presents a novel mechanism of Cooper pair formation generated by the strongly correlated atomic-like motion of the electrons in narrow, roughly half-filled "superconducting bands". These are energy bands represented by optimally localized spin-dependent Wannier functions adapted to the symmetry of the material under consideration. The formation of Cooper pairs is not the result of an attractive electron-electron interaction but can be described in terms of quantum mechanical constraining forces constraining the electrons to form Cooper pairs. There is theoretical and experimental evidence that only this nonadiabatic mechanism operating in superconducting bands may produce eigenstates in which the electrons form Cooper pairs. These constraining forces stabilize the Cooper pairs in any superconductor, whether conventional or unconventional. Here we report evidence that also the experimentally found superconducting state in bismuth at ambient as well as at high pressure is connected with a narrow, roughly half-filled superconducting band in the respective band structure. This observation corroborates once more the significance of constraining forces in the theory of superconductivity.

The selective extraction of metals from aqueous solutions is very important stage in hydrometallurgical processing of metallic waste. Leach solutions are usually a multi-component mixture. The main impurity of aqueous solutions obtained after leaching using inorganic acids is iron. In this work, the membrane separation of iron(III) from nickel(II), cobalt(II) and lithium(II) was studied. The facilitated transport of metal ion using the polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) with tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as an ion carrier under various conditions was analyzed in detail. The several factors such as the ion carrier concentration in the membrane as well as the effect of the inorganic acids concentration in the source/receiving phases on the kinetic parameters were investigated. The results show that ionic liquid TBAB is a very selective ion carrier of Fe(III) towards Ni(II), Co(II) and Li(I) .

Knowledge of wave climate is essential for efficient management of the world's coastal areas. Senegal is a relevant case given its high coastal vulnerability to energetic wave conditions. This study investigates wave climates along the coastal zone of Senegal based on a new high-resolution hindcast covering the period 1980-2021. This study evaluates the average, seasonal and extreme values for the wave significant heights (Hs), periods (Tm02/Tp) and mean directions (DIR). In boreal Winter, the wave climate is dominated by swells coming from the North-Atlantic lows, while in boreal Summer, the Southern Coast (from Dakar to Casamance) is exposed to swells generated in the South-Atlantic Ocean. Throughout their refraction around Dakar Peninsula, NW swells rotate by ~100° from NW to SW, while their Hs is roughly halved when reaching the Southern Coast of Senegal. Over the studied period, trends in Hs are weak (~0.6 cm.decade-1) on the Northern Coast, double on the Southern coast (~1.2 cm.decade-1), mostly due to an increase during boreal Summer (2 cm.decade-1). The wave periods show weak trends (~0.05 s.decade-1) and DIRs show weak counterclockwise rotation (-1°.decade-1). These trends are explained by the main climate modes of the Atlantic Ocean (NAO/EA during Winter, SAM during Summer) and are important for future research and long-term monitoring of the Senegalese Coast.

Morphological parameters like cotton height, branches, Leaf Area Index and biomass are mainly affected by the vegetation water content (VWC). Periodical assessment of the VWC and crop parameters is required for timely management of the crop for maximizing yield. The study aimed at using both optical and microwave remotely sensed data to assess cotton crop condition based on the above mentioned traits. Vegetation indices (VI) derived from ground based measurements (5 narrow band and 2 broad band VIs) as well as satellite derived reflectance (2 broad band VIs) were assessed. Regression models were derived for estimating LAI, biomass and plant water content using the ground based indices and applied to the satellite derived spectral index (from LISS-III) map to estimate the respective parameters. HH and HV polarization from RISAT-1 were used to derive Radar Vegetation Index (RVI). The coefficient of determination of the model for estimating LAI, biomass and vegetation water content of cotton with optical vegetation index as input parameter were found to be 0.42, 0.51 and 0.52, respectively. The correlation between RVI and plant height, date of planting in terms of the age of the crop and vegetation water content were found to range between 0.4 to 0.6. The fresh biomass from RVI showed spatial variability from 100 gm-2 to 4000 gm-2 while the dry biomass map derived from NDVI showed spatial variability of 50 to 950 g m-2 for the study area. Plant water content in the district varied from 65 to 85%. The correlation between optical vegetation index and RVI was not significant. Hence a multiple linear regression model using both optical index (NDVI and LSWI) and SAR index (RVI) was developed to assess the LAI, biomass and plant water content. The model showed a R2 of 0.5 for LAI estimation but not significant for biomass and water content. This study show cased the use of combined optical and microwave (C band) remote sensing for cotton condition assessment.

In an era of increasing interest in the potential health benefits of medicinal foods, the need to assess their safety and potential toxicity remains a critical concern. While these natural remedies have garnered substantial attention for their therapeutic potential, a comprehensive understanding of their effects on living organisms is essential. We examined 316 herbal extracts to determine their potential nematocidal attributes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Approximately 16% of these extracts exhibited the capacity to induce diminished survival rates and larval arrest, establishing a correlation between larval arrest and overall worm viability. Certain extracts led to an unexpected increase in male nematodes, accompanied by a discernible reduction in DAPI-stained bivalent structures and perturbed meiotic advancement, thereby disrupting the conventional developmental processes. Notably, Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum extracts activated a DNA damage checkpoint response via the ATM/ATR and CHK-1 pathways; hindering germline development. Our LC‒MS analysis revealed jervine in V. lobelianum and nine antitumor compounds in O. cornuta. Interestingly, linoleic acid replicated phenotypes induced by O. cornuta exposure, including an increased level of pCHK-1 foci, apoptosis, and the MAPK pathway. We observed that mutants in the MAPK pathway suppressed the reduction in worm survival, emphasizing its role in survivability, meiotic progression, and DNA damage checkpoint-mediated apoptosis. This study reveals complex interactions between herbal extracts and C. elegans processes, shedding light on potential antitumor effects and mechanisms. The findings provide insights into the complex landscape of herbal medicine's impact on a model organism, offering implications for broader applications.

Powerful emitters of the ultraviolet C (UVC) light in the wavelength range of 230-280nm are necessary for the development of effective and safe optical disinfection technologies, high-sensitive optical spectroscopy and non-line-of-sight optical communication. This review considers such UVC-emitters with electron-beam pumping of heterostructures with quantum wells in the (Al,Ga)N material system. The important advantages of these emitters include the absence of the critical problem of p-type doping and the possibility of achieving record (up to several tens of watts for peak values) output optical power values in the UVC range. The review consistently considers about a decade of world experience in the implementation of various UV emitters with various types of thermionic, field-emission, and plasma-cathode electron guns (sources) used to excite various designs of active (light-emitting) regions in heterostructures with quantum wells AlxGa1-xN/AlyGa1-yN (x = 0 − 0.5, y = 0.6 − 1) fabricated either by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition or by plasma-activated molecular beam epitaxy. Special attention is paid to the production of heterostructures with multiple quantum wells/two-dimensional(2D) quantum disks GaN/AlN with a monolayer (1ML ~ 0.25nm) thickness, which ensures a high internal quantum efficiency of radiative recombination in the UVC range, low elastic stresses in heterostructures, and a high output UVC-optical powers.

Vasculitis diseases include Kawasaki Disease (KD), Kawasaki Disease Shock Syndrome (KDSS), Multisystem Inflammatory Syndromes (MIS), Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HS) or IgA Vasculitis, and additional vasculitis diseases. These diseases are often preceded by infections or immunizations. Disease incidence rates are higher in children than adults. These diseases have been extensively studied, but understanding of the disease etiology remains to be established. Many studies have failed to demonstrate an association between these vasculitis diseases and vaccination. Here, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is used to demonstrate that, in certain rare cases, the number of cases of KD, MIS, and HS is higher than background following vaccination. These rare cases are predicted to occur in individuals with genetic risk factors who produce antibody titer levels above primary immune response level. Herein, the model of humoral immune response antibodies bound to antigens (pathogen or vaccine) creating immune complexes is proposed. These immune complexes are proposed to bind Fc receptors on immune cells and platelets resulting in cell activation and release of inflammatory molecules including histamine and serotonin. Immune complexes and inflammatory molecules including serotonin and histamine likely trigger vasculitis. Elevated serotonin and likely histamine drive initial vasoconstrictions disrupting blood flow. Increased blood flow pressure from cardiac capillary vasoconstrictions is predicted to trigger coronary artery aneurysms in some patients. For KDSS and MIS patients, these cardiac capillary vasoconstrictions are predicted to result in ischemia followed by ventricular dysfunction. Ongoing ischemia can result in long-term cardiac damage. Cases associated with pathogens are likely to have persistent infections triggering disease onset.

The today competitive advantage of Ready-made garment industries depends on the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization. Ready-made garment industries have long historically adopted fewer technological and process advancement as compared to automotive, electronics and semiconductor industries. Simulation modeling of garment assembly line system has attracted a number of researchers as one way for insightful analysis of system behaviour and improving its performance. However, most of simulation studies have considered ill-defined experimental design which cannot fully explore the assembly line design alternatives and does not uncover the interaction effects of the input variables. Simulation metamodeling is an approach to assembly line design which has recently been of interest to so many researchers. However, its application in garment assembly line design has never been well explored. In this paper, simulation metamodeling of trouser assembly line with 72 operations has been demonstrated. The linear regression metamodel technique with resolution-V design was used. The effects of five factors: bundle size, job release policy, task assignment pattern, machine number and helper number on the production throughput of the trouser assembly line were studied. The increase of 28.63% of the production throughput was achieved for the best factors’ setting of the metamodel.

The goal of the manuscript is to design a relatively best control structure for the noise suppression of a drone’s camera gimbal action. The gimbal’s movement can be simplified as a rest-to-rest reorientation system that can achieve the boundary result of a dynamic system. Six different control architectures are proposed and evaluated based on their ability to control the trajectory of the dynamic-system position and speed, their running time, and quadratic cost. The robustness of the control architecture to uncertainties in inertia and sensor noise is also analyzed. Monte Carlo figures are used to assess the performance of the six control systems. The conditions for applying different architectures are identified through this analysis. The analysis and experimental tests reveal the most suitable control of the drone’s camera gimbal rotation.

The II law of thermodynamics is most often given in three supposedly equivalent formulations: two Clausius (I and II) and one Kelvin. The most general and indisputable entropy formulation belong to Clausius (II). The earlier Clausius I principle determines the natural direction heat flow between bodies at different temperatures. On the other hand, the Kelvin principle states that it is impossible to completely convert heat into work. The author argues that the Kelvin principle is a weaker statement (or more strictly non-equivalent) than Clausius I principle, and the latter is a weaker statement than Carnot principle, which is equivalent to Clausius II principle. As a result, the Kelvin principle and the Clausius I principle are not exhaustive formulations of the II law of thermodynamics. At the same time, it turns out that the Carnot principle becomes such a formulation. Apart from providing a complete set of proof and disproof, the author, indicates where the methodological errors were made in the alleged proof of the equivalence of the Kelvin principle and both Clausius principles.

Objective: In this pilot study, we described the gross motor development of infants aged 4 to 24 months with congenital heart disease (CHD) and assessed through a systematic develop­mental screening programme, with individualised motor interventions. Methods: Thirty infants who had cardiac repair underwent gross motor evaluations using the AIMS at 4 months, and the Bayley-III at 12 and 24 months. Results: Based on AIMS, 80% of 4-month-old infants had a delay in gross motor development and required physical therapy. Gross motor abilities significantly improved by 24 months. Infants who benefited from regular physiotherapy tended to show better improvement in motor scores. Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of early motor screening in infants with CHD and suggests a potential benefit of early physical therapy in those at-risk. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of systematic developmental screening and individualized inter­vention programmes at identifying at risk patients, and their impact on developmental outcomes.

Vanadium(IV) chalcogenide materials are of increasing interest for use in catalysis and energy conversion-related applications. Since no ternary compounds are yet known in the V–Se–Te system, we studied ternary VwSeyTe2–y (w = 1.10, 1.13; y = 0.42, 0.72) phases crystallizing in space group P3m1 (no. 164). Two single-crystal specimens with differing compositions of a solid solution were obtained using the ceramic method. All products were characterized by either single-crystal or powder X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters increase with rising tellurium content in accordance to the larger ionic radius of the tellurium anion compared to selenium. The chemical compositions were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Further, magnetic measurements revealed mostly antiferromagnetic properties. Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analyses in nitrogen atmosphere showed endothermic decomposition accompanied by the formation of VN. The results of this work can serve as a basis for the synthesis of new phases in the V–Se–Te and related vanadium chalcogenide systems.

The investigation by the integrated approach newly introduced for this study indicates that insulin resistance (IR) would develop first preferentially in the muscle tissue with a relatively low cell turnover and then progress in sequence to the subcutaneous adipose tissue, to the visceral adipose tissue, and to the liver with higher cell turnovers. Moreover, metabolic disruptions due to IR vary widely from tissue to tissue, contrary to the conventional notion that IR merely impairs glucose uptake in the whole body. This warrants that IR be divided better into four distinct tissue specific IRs: muscle insulin resistance (MIR), subcutaneous adipose insulin resistance (s-AIR), visceral adipose insulin resistance (v-AIR), and hepatic insulin resistance (HIR). Tissue-specific IRs developing in the order of MIR, s-AIR, v-AIR, and HIR – producing tissue specific metabolic disruptions – would amount to nothing but the whole body insulin resistance (WBIR) evolving in four distinctively insulin resistant stages. The four stage metabolic evolution from rapid weight gain to visceral obesity to rapid weight loss to full blown diabetes not only complies well with the natural development history of diabetes but also resolves most of the controversies regarding obesity or diabetes, including visceral obesity, obesity paradox, and dawn phenomenon that have long remained metabolic puzzles. In addition, the four-stage WBIR evolution model refutes the entrenched notion of the lipid-induced insulin resistance (LIIR) but supports instead the glycation-induced insulin resistance (GIIR) proposed in this study. A speculation is that the glycation reaction activated ever more with WBIR evolving may serve as the common thread connecting each other a cluster of disorders or diseases that are often collectively referred to as the metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, diabetes, cardio/cerebral vasculopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy.

Each injection of any known vaccine results in a strong expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This is the result of the innate immune system activation, without which no adaptive response to the injection of vaccines is possible. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines would not escape this rule. Unfortunately, the degree of inflammation produced by these vaccines is variable, probably depending on the genetic background and previous immune experiences, which through epigenetic modifications, could have made the innate immune system of each individual tolerant or reactive to subsequent immune stimulations.We hypothesize that we can move from a limited pro-inflammatory condition to conditions of increasing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can culminate in multisystem hyperinflammatory syndromes following COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (MIS-V). We have graphically represented this idea in a hypothetical inflammatory pyramid (IP) and we have correlated the time factor to the degree of inflammation produced after the injection of vaccines. Furthermore, we have placed the clinical manifestations within this hypothetical IP, correlating them to the degree of inflammation produced. Surprisingly, excluding the possible presence of an early MIS-V, the time factor and the complexity of clinical manifestations are correlated to the increasing degree of inflammation: symptoms, heart disease and syndromes (MIS-V).