This study presents the comparison of heat transfer capacity and pressure drop characteristics between a basic fin-tube heat exchanger and a modified heat exchanger with the structural change of branch tubes and coiled turbulators. All experiments were carried out using an air-enthalpy type calorimeter based on the method described in ASHRAE standards, under heat exchanger experimental conditions. 14 different kinds of heat exchangers were used for the experiment. Cooling and heating capacities of the turbulator heat exchanger were excellent, compared to the basic one. As the insertion ratio of the coiled turbulator and the number of row increased, the heat transfer performance increased. However, the capacity per unit area was more effective in 4 rows than 6 rows, and the cooling performance of the 6 row turbulator heat exchanger (100% turbulator insert ratio) was down to about 6% than that of 4 row one. As the water flow rate and the turbulator insertion ratio increased, the pressure drop of the water side increased. This trend was more pronounced in 6 rows. In the cooling condition, the pressure drop on the air side was slightly increased due to the generation of condensed water, but was insignificant under the heating condition. The power consumption of the pump was more affected by the water flow rate than the coiled turbulator. The equivalent hydraulic diameter of a tube by the turbulator was reduced and then the heat transfer performance was improved. Thus, the tube diameter was smaller, the heat flux was better.

The radar sensor described realizes healthcare monitoring capable of detecting subject chest-wall movement caused by cardiopulmonary activities, and wirelessly estimating the respiration and heartbeat rates of the subject without attaching any devices to the body. Conventional single-tone Doppler radar can only capture Doppler signatures because of a lack of bandwidth information with noncontact sensors. In contrast, we take full advantage of impulse radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) radar to achieve low power consumption and convenient portability, with a flexible detection range and desirable accuracy. A noise reduction method based on improved ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and a vital sign separation method based on the continuous-wavelet transform (CWT) are proposed jointly to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in order to acquire accurate respiration and heartbeat rates. Experimental results illustrate that respiration and heartbeat signals can be extracted accurately under different conditions. This noncontact healthcare sensor system proves the commercial feasibility and considerable accessibility of using compact IR-UWB radar for emerging biomedical applications.

A portable Fourier Transform Spectrometer (B3M-IR) is built and used to measure atmospheric trace gases in the city of Beijing during Olympic Games in 2008. A short description of the instrument is first provided in this paper. A detailed spectral analysis is then presented. The total columns of ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are retrieved from the ground-based solar absorption spectra recorded by the B3M-IR during the Olympic Games. Lacking validation data, only the retrieved total column of O3 is compared with that retrieved by MAX-DOAS, which is deployed at the same station. The mean difference between the two methods of measurement is 6.5%, demonstrating the performance and reliability of B3M-IR.

Impact characterization of linear resonant actuator (LRA) is studied experimentally by newly developed drop tester, which can control various experimental uncertainty such as rotational moment, air resistance, secondary impact and so on. The feasibility of this test apparatus was verified by comparison with free fall test. By utilizing a high-speed camera and measuring the vibrational displacement of spring material, the impact behavior was captured and the damping ratio of the system was defined. Based on the above processes, the finite element model was established and the experimental and analytical results were successfully correlated. Finally, the damage of the system from impact loading can be expected by developed model and as a result, this research can improve the impact reliability of LRA.

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.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been extensively used for the nanoscale characterization of polymeric materials. The coupling of AFM with infrared spectroscope (AFM-IR) provides another advantage to the chemical analyses and thus helps to shed light upon the study of polymers. In this perspective paper, we review recent progress in the use of AFM-IR in polymer science. We describe first the principle of AFM-IR and the recent improvements to enhance its resolution. We discuss then the last progress in the use of AFM-IR as a super-resolution correlated scanned-probe IR spectroscopy for chemical characterization of polymer materials dealing with polymer composites, polymer blends, multilayers and biopolymers. To highlight the advantages of AFM-IR, we report here several results in studying crystallization of both miscible and immiscible blends as well as polymer aging. Then, we demonstrate how this novel technique can be used to determine phase separation, spherulitic structure and crystallization mechanisms at the nanoscale, which have never been achieved before. The review also discusses future trends in the use of AFM-IR in polymer materials, especially in polymer thin film investigation.

There is need to accurately design pipelines to transport the expected increase of CO₂ captured from industrial processes after the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016. This paper reviews several aspects of CO₂ pipeline design with emphasis on pressure drop and models for the calculation of pipeline diameter. Two categories of pipeline equations were identified. The first category is independent of pipeline length and has two different equations. This category is used to specify adequate pipeline diameter for the volume of fluid transported. The optimum economic pipe diameter equation (Eq. 17) with nearly uniform resultant velocity values at different flow rates performed better than the standard velocity flow equation (Eq. 20). The second category has four different equations and is used to calculate pipeline pressure drop or pipeline distance for the installation of booster stations after specifying minimum and maximum pipeline pressures. The hydraulic equation is preferred because it gave better resultant velocity values and the closest diameter value obtained using Aspen HYSYS (V.10) simulation. The effect of impurities on the pressure behaviour and optimal pipeline diameter and pressure loss due to acceleration were ignored in the development of the models. Further work is ongoing to incorporate these effects into the models.

The article describes facile one-pot, hi-yielding reactions to synthesize substituted 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (3a–m) and carbohydrazide analogues (5a–l) as potential antifungal and antimicrobial agents. The structural integrity and purity of the synthesized compounds were assigned based on appropriate spectroscopic techniques. Synthesized compounds were assessed in vitro for antifungal and antibacterial activity. The compound 5h, 5i and 5j were found to be the most potent against A. fumigatus, with MIC value of 0.031 mg/mL. The compound 5f bearing a 2,6-dichloro group on the phenyl ring was found to be the most active broad spectrum antibacterial agent with MIC value of 0.039 mg/mL. The mode of action of the most promising antifungal compounds (one representative from each series; 3j and 5h) was established by their molecular docking to the active site of sterol 14α-demethylase. Molecular docking studies revealed a highly spontaneous binding ability of the tested compounds in the access channel away from catalytic heme iron of the enzyme, which suggested that the tested compounds inhibit this enzyme and would avoid heme iron related deleterious side effects observed with existing antifungal compounds.

A new method, the sessile drop accelerometry (SDACC) for the study and measurement of the interfacial energies of solid-liquid-gas systems, is tested and discussed in this study. The laboratory instrument and technique –a combination of a drop shape analyzer with high-speed camera and a laboratory drop tower- and the evaluation algorithms, were designed to calculate the interfacial energies as a function of the geometrical changes of a sessile droplet shape due to the effect of “switching off” gravity during the experiment. The method bases on the thermodynamic equilibrium of the system interfaces and not on the balance of bi-dimensional tensions on the solid-liquid-gas contour line. A comparison of the mathematical model that supports the method with the widely accepted Young`s equation is discussed in this study.

Genus Clematis is one of the largest within Ranunculaceae. Here we report the chloroplast genome of two Clematis species, C. brachyura and C. trichotoma endemic to Korea. The chloroplast genome lengths of C. brachyura and C. trichotoma are 159,532 bp and 159,170 bp, respectively. Gene contents in the complete chloroplast genomes of these two Clematis species are identical to that of most Ranunculaceae and other angiosperms. However, our data results demonstrated that genus Clematis has inversion and rearrangement events concerning gene rps4 gene, rps16 to trnH region, and trnL to ndhC region, and IR regions expansion. Comparison of IR regions among Ranunculaceae species revealed that Clematis species contained six protein coding genes (infA, rps8, rpl14, rpl16, rps3, and rpl22) usually found in the long single copy (LSC) region of other species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that genus Clematis is closely related to genus Ranunculus. Differences in repeat structure, substitution rates, and IR expansion in genera Clematis and Ranunculus, explained their relationship. Clematis species showed slightly higher tandem repeats content than Ranunculus species. The six protein-coding genes showed lower synonymous substitution rates in the IR of Clematis species than in the LSC of Ranunculus species. Overall, the chloroplast genomes and results presented here provide important information on the evolution of Ranunculaceae.

Diabetic patients need long-term and frequent glucose monitoring to assist in insulin intake. The current finger-prick devices are painful and costly which make noninvasive glucose sensors highly demanded. In this review paper, we discuss several advanced electromagnetic (EM) wave based technologies for noninvasive glucose measurement, including infrared (IR) spectroscopy, photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence, optical coherent tomography (OCT) and microwave sensing. Development and progress of each method are discussed regarding fundamental principle, system setup and experimental results. Despite the promising achievements reported previously, there is no established product to obtain FDA approval or survive marketing test. Limitations and prospects of these techniques are discussed at the end of this review.

Platinum(II) complexes have been found to be effective against cancer cells. Cisplatin curbs cell replication by interacting with the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), eventually leading to cell death and reducing cell proliferation. In order to investigate the ability of platinum complexes to affect cancer cells, two examples from the class of polyflurophenylorganoamidoplatinum(II) complexes were synthesised and tested on isolated DNA. The two compounds trans-[N,N’-bis(1,2,3,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diaminato(1-)](2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzoato)(pyridine)platinum(II) (PFB), and trans-[N,N’-bis(1,2,3,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diaminato(1-)](2,4,6-trimethylbenzoato)(pyridine)platinum(II) (TMB) were compared with cisplatin through their reaction with DNA. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to analyse the interaction of the Pt^(II) complexes with DNA in the hydrated, dehydrated and rehydrated state. These were compared with control DNA in acetone/water (PFB, TMB) and isotonic saline (cisplatin) under the same conditions. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to compare the ATR-FTIR spectra of the untreated control DNA with spectra of PFB and TMB treated DNA samples. Disruptions in the conformation of DNA treated with the Pt^(II) complexes upon rehydration were mainly observed by monitoring the position of the IR-band around 1711 cm^-1 assigned to the DNA base-stacking vibration. Furthermore, other intensity changes in the phosphodiester bands of DNA at ~1234 cm^-1 and 1225 cm^-1 and shifts in the dianionic phosphodiester vibration at 966 cm^-1 were observed. The isolated double stranded DNA (dsDNA) or single stranded DNA (ssDNA) showed different structural changes when incubated with the studied compounds. PCA confirmed PFB had the most dramatic effect by denaturing both dsDNA and ssDNA. Both compounds, along with cisplatin, induced changes in DNA bands at 1711, 1088, 1051 and 966 cm^-1 indicative of DNA conformation changes. The ability to monitor conformational change with infrared spectroscopy paves the way for a sensor to screen for new anticancer therapeutic agents.

Thermal infrared imagery provides temperature information on target objects, and has been widely applied in non-destructive testing. However, thermal infrared imagery is not always able to display detailed textures of inspected objects, which hampers the understanding of geometric entities consisting of temperature information. Although some commercial software has been developed for 3D thermal model displays, the software requires the use of expensive specific thermal infrared sensors. This study proposes a cost-effective method for 3D thermal model reconstruction based on image-based modeling. Two smart phones and a low-cost thermal infrared camera are employed to acquire visible images and thermal images, respectively, that are fused for 3D thermal model reconstruction. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method is able to effectively reconstruct a 3D thermal model which extremely approximates its corresponding entity. The total computation time for the 3D thermal model reconstruction is intensive while generating dense points required for the creation of a geometric entity. Future work will improve the efficiency of the proposed method in order to expand its potential applications to in-time monitoring.

In this work, a highly efficient, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) based near infrared (NIR) heterojunction photodetector is fabricated on a Si substrate using a cost-effective and simple drop casting method. A non-stoichiometric and inhomogeneous MoS2 layer with a S/Mo ratio of 2.02 is detected using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscope analysis. Raman shifts are noticed at 382.42 cm-1 and 407.97 cm-1, validating MoS2 thin film growth with a direct bandgap of 2.01 eV. The fabricated n-MoS2/p-Si photodetector is illuminated with a 785 nm laser at different intensities, and demonstrate the ability of the photodetector to work in both regions, the forward biased and reverse biased from above 1.5 V and less than -1.0 V. The highest responsivity, R is calculated to be 0.52 A/W while the detectivity D* is 4.08 x 10^10 Jones for an incident light intensity of 9.57 mW/cm2. The minimum rise and fall times are calculated as 1.77 ms and 1.31 ms for an incident laser power of 9.57 mW/cm^2 and 6.99 mW/cm^2 respectively at a direct current bias voltage of 10 V. The demonstrated results are promising for the low-cost fabrication of a thin MoS2 film for photonics and optoelectronic device applications.

In this study, the values of the interfacial energies of seven different polymer-water systems obtained by Sessile Drop Accelerometry (SDACC) are compared with the values obtained by the Young’s-equation-based Owens-Wendt method. The SDACC laboratory instrument –a combination of a drop shape analyzer with high-speed camera and a microgravity tower- and the evaluation algorithms, are designed to measure the interfacial energies as a function of the geometrical changes of a sessile droplet shape due to the effect of “switching off” gravity during the experiment. The method bases on Thermodynamics of Interfaces and differs from the conventional aproach of the two hundred-years-old Young’s equation in that it assumes a thermodynamic equilibrium between interfaces, rather than a balance of forces on a point of the solid-liquid-gas contour line. A comparison of the mathematical model that supports the SDACC method with the widely accepted Young`s equation is discussed in detail in this study.

The acylation of unsymmetrical N-benzylbispidinols in aromatic solvents without external base led to formation of supramolecular gels, which possess different thickness and stability depending on the substituents in para-positions of benzylic group and nature of acylating agent as well as on the nature of the solvent used. Structural features of the native gels as well as of their dried forms were studied by complementary techniques including FT IR- and ATR-spectroscopy, AFM, TEM, SEM, SAXS. Structures of the key crystalline compounds were established by X-ray diffraction. Analysis of obtained data allowed speculating on the crucial structural and condition factors that governed the gel formation. The most important factors were: (i) absence of base, either external or internal; (ii) presence of HCl; (iii) presence of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups to allow hydrogen bonding; (iv) presence of two (hetero)aromatic rings at both sides of the molecule. The hydrogen bonding involving amide carbonyl, hydroxyl at 9th position and, very probably, ammonium N-H+ and Cl- anion appear to be responsible for the formation of infinite molecular chains required for the first step of gel formation. Subsequent lateral cooperation of molecular chains into fibers occured, presumably, due to the aromatic pi-pi-stacking interactions. sc-CO2 drying of the gels gave rise to aerogels morphology different from that of air dried samples.

This work analyzes the severity and risk associated with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) message drop out in Detect and Avoid (DAA) function of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Performance assessment of the Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) ADS-B message implies that in some cases ADS-B fails to update within a specified update interval, which is referred to as drop out in this work. ADS-B is a fundamental surveillance sensor for both class 1 and class 2 DAA systems. Message loss or drop out has been found as one of the common limitations of the ADS-B system. The key feature of this study is incorporating the update rate of real ADS-B data transmitted from the manned aircraft. The data were received from the Grand Forks International Airport, North Dakota. Monte Carlo method has been adopted to resolve encounter scenarios in the presence of drop out. The change in the alert triggered by the UAS DAA in the presence of ADS-B drop out has been investigated. Furthermore, the risk matrices are created to quantify the associated risk with drop out affected alerts. Simulation results depict that both the duration of drop out and DAA look-ahead time affect the alert-triggering function of UAS. With a small look- ahead window and longer duration of drop out, the number of warning alerts increases. Also, alerts are affected more during an overtaking encounter than that of a head-to-head encounter. A system-level analysis is also carried out to recognize the potential reasons behind the ADS-B drop out.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to emphasize on the clinical uses of amniotic membrane (AM) in multiple ocular disorders. AM possesses many properties including promotion of epithelialization, anti-fibrotic, anti-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic properties. Epithelial wound healing on the eye surface is promoted due to several epidermal and keratocyte growth factors as well as by its anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects due to interleukin-10, interleukin-1 receptor antagonists and inhibition of transforming growth factor- beta (TGF-β) signal transduction by AM in the corneal and conjunctival fibroblasts respectively. It plays a crucial role by functioning as a substitute of basement membrane (BM) and as a temporary graft material. It is not only being used as an eye graft but also its extract can be used as an eye drop for corneal and external eye diseases. So its proper preparation, preservation and clinical application can bring a revolutionary change in the treatment of different ocular disorders.

Interferometry is used in magnetic fusion devices to measure the line-1 averaged electron density. It is based on detecting changes in the refractive index of electromagnetic waves traveling through a plasma. The adequate frequency of these electromagnetic waves depends on several limitations. First the maximum expected peak electronic density must be lower than the cutoff density for that frequency. This means that the waves can still propagate through the plasma when the maximum density is reached. In this sense, IR interferometers operating in the infrared región are themost suitable. With such low wavelengths, mechanical vibrations become an important issue and a complementary interferometer to cancel these vibrations must be used. These arrangements are called two color interferometers. In this paper some measurements that were obtained from the TJ-II double color IR FPGA-based processing system that were never published before are shown and analyzed. The line-averaged electron density is computed in real time (100 μs).

This study investigated the effects of two plyometric training protocols on sprint and change of direction (COD) performance in elite hockey players. A parallel-group randomized controlled trial design was used and seventeen elite male and female field hockey players were randomly allocated into either low-to-high (L-H, n = 8) or high-to-low (H-L, n = 9) training groups. Each group performed separate variations of the drop jump exercise twice weekly for six weeks, with an emphasis on either jump height (L-H) or drop height (H-L). Performance variables assessed included sprint times over 10 m and 20 m, as well as 505 time. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed and Cohen’s d effect sizes were calculated. The H-L group displayed significant small ES improvement from baseline to post-training in the 10 m sprint (1.893 ± 0.08 s pre vs 1.851 ± 0.06 s post) (ES = −0.44) (P = <0.05). Small but not statistically significant differences between groups were observed for 10 m and 20 m sprint performance, and no significant differences were observed within or between groups for 505 time. These findings highlight the difficulty in substantially enhancing speed and COD ability in highly trained athletic populations through the addition of a low volume, short duration plyometric training protocol.

Background: Industry revolution 4.0 (IR.4.0) paradigm, nurses were required to have adequate competencies to carry out their professional duties. Digital information should be mastered by the nursing student. Purpose: This study aims to explain digital literacy competencies on nursing students in the era of IR 4.0 in the Indonesian context. Methode: A literature review was conducted in this study using Rayyan Systematic Reviews Software. Results: There was 14 literature analyzed describing Student’s Information literacy competency and Internet of Thing. Conclusion: Digital literacy for nursing students today is an inevitability, and nursing students who have digital literacy competencies have the potential to be able to increase nursing knowledge and skills as ontological competencies in their learning process.

The design of processing routes involving the presence of the liquid phase is mainly associated with the knowledge of its surface and transport properties. Despite this need, due to experimental difficulties related to high temperature measurements of metallic melts, for many alloy systems neither thermodynamic nor thermophysical properties data are available. A good example lacking these datasets represents the Ir-Si system, although over the last fifty years, the structures and properties of its solid phases have been widely investigated. To compensate the missing data, the Gibbs free energy of mixing of the Ir-Si liquid phase was calculated combining the model predicted values for the enthalpy and entropy of mixing using Miedema’s model and Free Volume Theory, respectively. Subsequently, in the framework of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, the surface properties were calculated using the Quasi Chemical Approximation (QCA) for the regular solution, while to obtain the viscosity, the Moelwyn-Hughes (MH) and Terzieff models were applied. Subsequently, the predicted values of the abovementioned thermophysical properties were used to model the non-reactive infiltration isotherm of Ir-Si (eutectic) / SiC system.

To obtain drop-in fuel properties from non-feed biomass, we herein report the catalytic hydrotreatment of microalgae biocrude, produced from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of Spirulina. Our contribution focuses on the effect of temperature, initial H2 pressure, and residence time on the removal of heteroatoms (O and N). In contrast to common hydrotreating experimental protocols at batch scale, we devised a set of two-level factorial experiments and studied the most influential parameters affecting the removal of heteroatoms. It was found that up to 350 °C, the degree of deoxygenation (de-O) is mainly driven by temperature, whereas the degree of denitrogenation (de-N) also relies on initial H2 pressure and temperature-pressure interaction.Based on this, complete deoxygenation was obtained at mild operating conditions (350 °C), reaching a concurrent 47 % denitrogenation. Moreover, three optimized experiments are reported with 100 % removal of oxygen. In addition, the analysis by GC-MS and Sim-Dis gives insight to the fuel quality. The distribution of heteroatom N in lower (<340 °C) and higher (>340 °C) fractional cuts is studied by a fractional distillation unit following ASTM D-1160. Final results show that 63-68 % of nitrogen is concentrated in higher fractional cuts.

An analysis of the performance of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data received from the Grand Forks, North Dakota International Airport was carried out in this study. The purpose was to understand the vulnerabilities of Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) ADS-B system and recognize the effects on present and future Air Traffic Control (ATC) operation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated all the General Aviation aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B. The aircraft flying within United States and below the transition altitude (18,000 feet) are more likely to install an UAT ADS-B. At present unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and autonomous air traffic control (ATC) towers are being integrated into the aviation industry and UAT ADS-B is a basic sensor for both class 1 and class 2 Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems. As a fundamental component of future surveillance system, the anomalies and vulnerabilities of ADS-B system need to be identified to enable a fully utilized airspace with enhanced situational awareness. The data received was archived in GDL-90 format, which was parsed into readable data. The anomaly detection of ADS-B messages was based on the FAA ADS-B performance assessment report. The data investigation revealed ADS-B message suffered from different anomalies including drop out; missing payload; data jump; low confident data and altitude discrepancy. Among those studied, the most severe was drop out and 32.49% of messages suffered from this anomaly. Dropout is an incident where ADS-B failed to update within a specified rate. Considering the potential danger being imposed, an in-depth analysis was carried out to characterize message dropout. Three flight parameters were selected to investigate their effect on drop out. Statistical analysis was carried out and Friedman Statistical Test identified that altitude affected drop out more than any other flight parameters.

We study impact of geometry on leakage loss in negative curvature fibers made with As₂Se₃ chalcogenide and As₂Se₃ chalcogenide glasses for carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser transmission. The minimum leakage loss decreases when the core diameter increases both for fibers with six and for fibers with eight cladding tubes. The optimum gap corresponding to the minimum loss increases when the core diameter increases for negative curvature fibers with six cladding tubes. For negative curvature fibers with eight cladding tubes, the optimum gap is always less than 20 μm when the core diameter ranges from 300 μm to 500 μm. The influence of material loss on fiber loss is also studied. When material loss exceeds 10² dB/m, it dominates the fiber leakage loss for negative curvature fiber at a wavelength of 10.6 μm.

The bio-oil was largely produced by thermal pyrolysis of Jatropha-derived biomass wastes (denoted as Jatropha bio-oil) using a Pilot Plant with a capacity of 20 kg h-1 at Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), Thailand. Jatropha bio-oil is an unconventional type of bio-oil, which is mostly composed of fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty acid amides and derivatives, and consequently it contained large amounts of heteroatoms (oxygen ~ 20 wt.%, nitrogen ~ 5 wt.%, sulfur ~ 1000 ppm.). The heteroatoms, nitrogen especially, are highly poisonous to the metal or sulfide catalysts for upgrading of Jatropha bio-oil. To overcome this technical problem, we reported a stepwise strategy for hydrotreating of 100 wt% Jatropha bio-oil over mesoporous sulfide catalysts of CoMo/γ-Al2O3 and NiMo/γ-Al2O3 to produce drop-in transport fuels, such as gasoline- and diesel-like fuels. This study is very different from our recent work on co-processing of Jatropha bio-oil (ca. 10 wt%) with petroleum distillates to produce a hydrotreated oil as a diesel-like fuel (Chen et al., Catalysts 2018, 8, 59; http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/catal8020059). Jatropha bio-oil was pre-treated through a slurry-type high pressure reactor under severe condition, resulting in a pre-treated Jatropha bio-oil with relatively low amounts of heteroatoms (oxygen < 20 wt.%, nitrogen < 2 wt.%, sulfur < 500 ppm.). The light and middle distillates of pre-hydrotreated Jatropha bio oil was then separated by distillation at temperature below 240 oC, and the temperature of 240-360 oC. Deep hydrotreating of light distillates over sulfide CoMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was performed on a batch-type high pressure reactor at 350 oC and 7 MPa of H2 gas for 5 h. The hydrotreated oil was a gasoline-like fuel, which contained 29.5 vol.% of n-paraffins, 14.4 vol.% of iso-paraffins, 4.5 vol.% of olefins, 21.4 vol. % of naphthene compounds and 29.6 wt.% of aromatic compounds, and little amounts of heteroatoms (nearly no oxygen and sulfur, and less than 50 ppm of nitrogen), corresponding to an octane number of 44, and it would be suitable for blending with petro-gasoline. The hydrotreating of middle distillates over sulfide NiMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst using the same reaction condition produced a hydrotreating oil with diesel-like composition, low amounts of heteroatoms (no oxygen and less than 50 ppm of sulfur and nitrogen), and a cetane number of 60, which would be suitable for use in drop-in diesel fuel.

Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a very specious genus and consists of about 1,250 species, mainly distributed in tropical Asia and China. The first complete plastome sequence from the genus, Croton tiglium, is reported in this study (NCBI acc. No. MH394334). The plastome is 150,021 bp in length. The lengths of LSC and SSC are 111,654 bp and 18,167 bp, respectively. However, the length of the IR region is only 10,100 bp and includes only four rrn and four trn genes, and a small part of the ycf1 gene. We propose two-step IR contractions to explain this unique IR region of the C. tiglium plastome. First, the IR contracted from rps19-rpl2 to ycf2-trnL-CAA on the LSC/IRb boundary. Second, the IR contracted from ycf2-trnL-CAA to rrn16-trnV-GAC on the LSC/IRa boundary. In addition, duplicated copies of psaI genes were discovered in the C. tiglium plastome. Both copies were located side by side between accD and ycf4 genes, but one copy was pseudogenized because of a five-basepair (TAGCT) insertion in the middle of the gene following frameshift mutation. The plastome contains 112 genes, of which 78 are protein-coding genes, 30 are tRNA genes, and four are rRNA genes. Sixteen genes contain one intron and two genes have two introns. The infA gene is lost. Twelve large repeats were detected in the plastome. All large repeats are located in the LSC region. Also, 272 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. The penta-SSRs accounted for 45% of total SSRs, followed by mono- (32%), di- (12%), tetra (6%) and tri-SSRs (5%). Most of them were distributed in the large single copy (LSC) region (85%). In addition, 76% of the SSRs were located in the intergenic spacer (IGS). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. tiglium is a sister group of Jatropha curcas with 100% bootstrap support. Seven Euphorbiaceae species formed one clade with 100% bootstrap support.

Fire accidents are causing a huge human death as well as economic losses throughout the world every year. But a novel fire detection and extinguishing system could reduce these losses to a great extent. We are proposing a cost effective and yet very efficient system which has been developed in our laboratory and evaluated while in operation. Our system consists of two units: detection unit and extinguishing unit. For detection purposes we used smoke, IR and temperature sensors. While for extinguishing purposes we used both foam and water. We used a PC to process and control our system through LabVIEW software of National Instrument, USA. The detection unit will send signal through a wireless module to PC if fire is detected. Then PC (LabVIEW) will process the signal and using relay module first of all the electric power and gas lines will be turned off. The extinguishing unit will then release foam or water to extinguish the fire. The system will send SMS to the predefined numbers using GSM module. Our system is location independent as it uses GSM and can be operated from remote location using wireless module. After performance evaluation it was found to be fast and reliable.

The interfacial polymerization (IP) of piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) has been extensively utilized to synthesize nanofiltration (NF) membranes. However, it is still a huge challenge to monitor the IP reaction, because of the fast reaction rate and the formed ultra-thin film. Herein, two effective strategies were applied to reduce the IP reaction rate: (1) the introduction of hydrophilic interlayers between the porous substrate and the formed polyamide layer, and (2) the addition of macromolecular additives in the aqueous solution of PIP. As a result, in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was firstly used to monitor the IP reaction of PIP/TMC with hydrophilic interlayers or macromolecular additives in the aqueous solution of PIP. Moreover, the formed polyamide layer growth on the substrate was studied in a real-time manner. The in situ FTIR experimental results confirmed that the IP reaction rates were effectively suppressed and that the formed polyamide thickness was reduced from 138 ± 24 nm to 46 ± 2 nm according to TEM observation. Furthermore, an optimized NF membrane with excellent performance was consequently obtained, which included boosted water permeation of about 141–238 (L/m²·h·MPa) and superior salt rejection of Na₂SO₄ > 98.4%.

The rising of an oil drop in a non-Newtonian viscous solution is studied experimentally. In this case, the shape of the ascending drop is strongly affected by the non-Newtonian properties of the surrounding liquid. We found that the so-called velocity discontinuity phenomena is observed for drops larger than a certain critical size. Beyond the critical velocity, the formation of a long tail is observed, from which small droplets are continuously emitted. We determined that the fragmentation of the tail results mainly from the effect of capillary effects. We explore the idea of using this configuration as a new encapsulation technique, where the size and frequency of droplets can be well predicted.

This paper explores the dynamic interplay of K-12 education, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), and internationalization in the Philippines. Through qualitative content analysis, key themes emerged, shedding light on the impact of K-12 education on global competitiveness, challenges in embracing IR 4.0 technologies, and opportunities arising from internationalization efforts. The findings underscore the significance of curriculum alignment with international standards, comprehensive digital literacy training, and fostering a global mindset to prepare students for the digitally-driven, interconnected world. Understanding the implications of these themes is crucial for the Philippines' education system, as it navigates towards a transformative and globally competitive future. Further, this research offers evidence-based recommendations and addresses research gaps, contributing to a broader understanding of how the convergence of these forces shapes the future of Philippine education. Future research avenues may explore long-term impacts on workforce preparedness, innovative IR 4.0 integration, and the effectiveness of internationalization efforts on educational outcomes. Eventually, this study inspires an education system that nurtures learners equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.

Selection of appropriate friction factors is paramount for accurate prediction of key flow characteristics in gas–liquid two-phase flows. In this work, experimental investigation of vertical air and oil (with viscosities up to 200 mPa s) flow in a 0.060-m ID pipe is reported. Superficial air and oil velocity ranges utilized are from 22.37 to 59.06 m/s and 0.05 to 0.16 m/s respectively. The influence of estimation of interfacial friction factor on accurate determination of film thickness, void fraction and pressure gradient was investigated using a two-fluid model. The results indicated that the two-fluid model is capable of accurately predicting flow characteristics. Further, it reveals that the best performing correlations are the Belt et al. and Ambrosini et al. correlations.

The world is facing new challenges every day; however, with the spread of the pandemic around the world, this new challenge is different. The pandemic is increasing and concentrating various challenges simultaneously. Although different sectors are facing consequences, the most important sectors, that is, health and economy are the most affected. When the pandemic began, it was not known how long it would last, which complicated health and economic planning. Therefore, it is important for decision makers and the public to know the predictions and expectations of the future of these challenges. In this work, the current situation is analyzed. Then, an expectation model is developed based on the statistics of the pandemic using a growth rate model based on an exponential and logarithmic rate of increase. Based on the available open data about the pandemic spread, the model can successfully predict future expectations, including the duration and maximum number of cases of the pandemic. The model uses the equilibrium point as the day the cases decrease. The model can be used for planning and the development of strategies to overcome these challenges.

Edible mushrooms have been recognized as highly nutritional food for a long time, due to their specific flavor, texture and also for therapeutic effects. This study proposes a new simple approach, based on FT-IR analysis, followed by statistical methods, in order to differentiate three wild mushrooms species from Romanian spontaneous flora, namely Armillaria mellea, Boletus edulis and Cantharellus cibarius. The preliminary data treatment consisted of data set reduction with principal component analysis (PCA), which provided scores for the next methods. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) manage to 100% classify the three species and the cross validation step of the method returned 97.4% of correctly classified samples. Only one A. mellea sample overlapped on B. edulis group. When kNN was used in the same manner as LDA, the overall percent of correctly classified samples from the training step was 86.21%, while for holdout set the percent raised at 94.74%. The lowered values obtained for the training set was due to one C. cibarius sample, two B. edulis and five A. mellea, which were placed to other species. Anyway, for holdout sample set, only one sample from B. edulis was misclassified. The fuzzy c-means clustering (FCM) analysis successfully classified investigated mushroom samples according to their species, meaning that in every partition the predominant specie had the biggest DOMs, while samples belonging to other specie had lower DOMs.

: Dacarbazine, DAC, 5-(3,3-dimethyltriazeno)imidazol-4-carboxamideis is an imidazole-carboxamide derivative, that is structurally related to purines. DAC belongs to the triazene compounds, which are a group of alkylating agents with antitumour and mutagenic properties. DAC is a non-cell cycle specific drug, active on all phases of cellular cycle. In the frame of this work the 3d-metal complexes (cobalt and copper) with dacarbazine were synthesized. Their spectroscopic properties by the use of FT-IR, FT-Raman and 1HNMR were studied. The structures of dacarbazine and its complexes with copper(II) and cobalt(II) were calculated using DFT methods. The effect of metals on the electronic charge distribution of dacarbazine was discussed on the basis of calculated NBO atomic charges. The reactivity of metal complexes in relation to ligand alone was estimated on the basis of calculated energy of HOMO and LUMO orbitals. The aromaticity of imidazole ring in dacarbazine and the complexes was compared (on the basis of calculated geometric indices of aromaticity). Thermal stability of the investigated 3d-metal complexes with dacarbazine and the products of their thermal decomposition were analyzed.

Mineral surfaces have been demonstrated to play a central role in prebiotic reaction, which are supposed to be at the basis of the origin of life. Among the various molecules proposed as precursors for these reactions, one of the most interesting is formamide. Formamide has been shown to be a pluripotent molecule, generating a wide distribution of relevant pre-biotic products. In particular, the outcomes of its reactivity are strongly related to the presence of mineral phases, acting as catalysts toward specific reaction pathways. Even if the mineral-products relationship has been deeply studied for a large pool of materials, the fundamental description of the formamide reactivity over the mineral surface at a microscopic level is missing in the literature. In particular, a key step of formamide chemistry at surfaces is its adsorption on the available interaction sites. This report aims to investigate the adsorption of formamide over a well-defined amorphous silica, chosen as model mineral surface. An experimental IR investigation of formamide adsorption has been carried out and its outcomes have been interpreted on the basis of first principles simulation of the process adopting a realistic model of the amorphous silica.

The aim of this study is to provide the scientists with a straightforward correlation that can be applied for predicting the Fanning friction factor and consequently the pressure drop during blood flow in small caliber vessels. Due to the small diameter of the conduit, the Reynolds numbers are low and thus the flow is laminar. The study has been conducted using CFD simulations validated with relevant experimental data acquired using an appropriate experimental set-up. The experiments concern pressure drop measurement during the flow of a blood analogue that follows the Casson model, i.e. an aqueous glycerol solution that contains a small amount of xanthan gum and exhibits similar behavior to blood, in a smooth, stainless steel microtube (L=5.6cm and D=400 μm). The interpretation of the resulting numerical data led to the proposal of a simplified model that incorporates the effect of the flow rate, the hematocrit value (35-55%) and the vessel diameter (300-1800 μm) and predicts with better than ±10% the Fanning friction factor and consequently the pressure drop during laminar blood flow in small caliber vessels.

The aim of this study is to emphasize on the clinical uses of amniotic membrane (AM) in multiple ocular disorders. AM possesses many properties including promotion of epithelialization, anti-fibrotic, anti-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic properties. Epithelial wound healing on the eye surface is promoted due to several epidermal and keratocyte growth factors as well as by its anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects due to interleukin-10, interleukin-1 receptor antagonists and inhibition of transforming growth factor- beta (TGF-β) signal transduction by AM in the corneal and conjunctival fibroblasts respectively. It plays a crucial role by functioning as a substitute of basement membrane (BM) and as a temporary graft material. It is not only being used as an eye graft but also its extract can be used as an eye drop for corneal and external eye diseases. So its proper preparation, preservation and clinical application can bring a revolutionary change in the treatment of different ocular disorders.

A series of defective ZSM-5 zeolites (~300 nm, SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of 55, 100, 400 and 950) were intentionally prepared and systematically studied by XRD, SEM, ²⁹Si MAS NMR, argon physisorption, NH₃-TPD and FT-IR technologies. The nature, the amount and the accessibility of the acid sites of defective ZSM-5 zeolites are greatly different from reported ZSM-5 zeolites with perfect crystal structure. The co-existed strong Brønsted acid sites (Si(OH)Al) and weak Brønsted acid sites (hydroxyl nests) over defective ZSM-5 zeolites might lead to unique catalytic function. Zn(C₂H₅)₂ was grafted onto defective ZSM-5 zeolites through chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method. Interestingly, FT-IR spectroscopy studies find that Zn(C₂H₅)₂ was preferentially grafted on the hydroxyl nests with weak acidity rather than the Si(OH)Al groups with strong acidity over different defective ZSM-5 zeolites. Particularly, home-built operando dual beam FTIR-MS was applied to study the catalytic performance of Zn species locating at different sites of defective ZSM-5 zeolites under n-hexane transformation. Results show that Zn species grafted over hydroxyl nests obtain better dehydrogenation performance than Zn species over framework aluminum. This study provides guidance for the rational design of highly efficient alkane dehydrogenative aromatization catalysts.

Infrared (IR) thermography is a powerful tool to measure temperature with a high space and time resolution. A particular interesting application of this technology is in the field of catalysis, where new insights to highly dynamic surface reactions are possible. This paper presents guidelines for the development of a reactor cell that can aid in the efficient exploitation of infrared thermography for the investigation of catalytic and other surface reactions. Firstly, the necessary properties of the catalytic reactor are described. In fact, special equipment must be developed to ensure the realization of true operando conditions in the IR thermography experiments. Here, we provide the guidelines to assemble a chemical reactor with an IR transmitting window through which the reaction can be studied with the infrared camera. Secondly, we analyze the requirements towards the catalytic system to be directly observable by IR thermography. This includes the need for a catalyst that provides a sufficiently high heat production (or absorption) rate. We present selected examples of catalytic reactions that can be monitored by IR thermography and showing the potential of the technology in revealing transient and steady state chemical phenomena.

The article presents the results of tests of minor head losses through PVC and PP elbows for a flow of water and mixtures of water and sand with grain sizes of up to 0.5 mm and concentrations of 5.6 g∙L-1, 10.84 g∙L-1, and 15.73 g∙L-1. The tests were carried out at variable flow velocities for three elbow diameters of 63, 75, and 90 mm. The flow rate, pressure difference in the tested cross-sections, and temperature of the fluids were measured and automatically recorded. The results of the measurements were used to develop mathematical models for determining the minor head loss coefficient as a function of elbow diameter, sand concentration in the liquid, and Reynolds number. The mathematical model was developed by cross validation. It was shown that when the concentration of sand in the liquid was increased by 1.0 g∙L-1, the coefficient of minor head loss through the elbows increased, in the Reynolds number range of 4.6∙104 − 2.1∙105, by 0.3−0.01% for PP63, 0.6−0.03 % for PP75, 1.1−0.06 % for PP90, 0.8−0.01 % for PVC63, 0.8−0.02 % for PVC75, and 0.9−0.04 % for PVC90. An increase in Re from 5∙104 to 2∙106 for elbows with diameters of 63, 75 and 90 mm caused a 7.3 %, 6.8 %, and 6.0 % decrease in the minor head loss coefficient, respectively.

A typical vibrational spectrum in the ice phase has four separate bands: translation, libration, bending and stretching. Ice X, the final ice phase under high pressure, shows an exotic vibrational spectrum. Theoretically, an ideal crystal of ice X only has one peak at 998 cm-1 for Raman scattering and two peaks at 450 cm-1 and 1507 cm-1 for infrared absorption in this work. These three characteristic peaks are indicators of the phase transition between ice VII/VIII and ice X. Despite much experimental and theoretical work on ice X, only this study has clearly indicated these characteristic peaks in the region of the IR band. The phonon density of states shows quite different features than ice VIII, which could be verified by inelastic neutron scattering in the future. The dynamic processes of 15 vibrational normal modes are discussed and the typical hydrogen bonds are missing.

In this paper, we proposed a novel saddle type FinFET (S-FinFET) to effectively solve problems occurring under the capacitor node of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) cell and showed how its structure was superior to conventional S-FinFETs in terms of short channel effect (SCE), subthreshold slope (SS), and gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL). The proposed FinFET exhibited 4 times lower Ioff than modified S-FinFET called RFinFET with more improved DIBL characteristics while minimizing Ion reduction compared to RFinFET. Our results also confirmed that the proposed device showed improved DIBL and Ioff characteristics as gate channel length decreased.

The formation and propagation of cracks occurs through irreversible dislocation movements at notches, material defects and grain boundaries. Since this process is partly thermally controlled, the resistance to dislocation movements at low temperatures increases. This slows both fatigue initiation and fatigue crack propagation. From recent experimental data, it can be seen that fatigue crack growth is accelerated below the fatigue transition temperature (FTT) that correlates with the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) found by well-known fracture mechanics tests, i.e., Charpy impact, fracture toughness, and CTOD. Hence, this study investigates the relation between FTT and DBTT in S500 high-strength steel base material and welded joints at low temperatures using fatigue crack growth, fracture toughness tests as well as scanning electron microscopy. From the tests, an almost constant decrease in fatigue crack propagation rate is determined with decreasing test temperature even below the DBTT.

Recent improvements within the fields of high-throughput screening and 3D tissue culture have provided the possibility of developing in vitro micro-tissue models that can be used to study diseases and screen potential new therapies. This paper reports a proof of concept study on the use of microvalve-based bioprinting to create laminar MSC-chondrocyte co-cultures as an in vitro model of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), an established cellular therapy for osteoarthritis. Microvalve-based bioprinting uses microvalves to deposit cells suspended in a liquid in a consistent and repeatable manner. In this case MSCs and chondrocytes have been sequentially deposited into an insert based transwell system in order to create a laminar co-culture, with variations in the ratios of the cell types used to investigate the potential for MSCs to stimulate improved repair. Histological and indirect immunofluorescence staining revealed the formation of dense tissue structures within the chondrocyte and MSC-chondrocyte cell co-cultures, alongside the establishment of a proliferative region at the base of the tissue. No stimulatory or inhibitory effect in terms of ECM production was observed through the introduction of MSCs, although the potential for an immunomodulatory benefit remains. This proof-of-concept study therefore provides a novel method to enable the scalable production of therapeutically relevant micro-tissue models that can be used for in vitro research to optimise ACI procedures.

Abstract:The Schiff bases obtained from formylmenthone and o-, m-, p-toluidine behave as bidentate ligands with O and N donor atoms in Ni(ll) and Cu(II) complexes by the type NiL2 and CuL2.(H2O)2. The donor atoms and the possible geometry for the complexes were assigned by means of chemical, thermodifferential analyses and electronic, EPR and IR spectra.

The research presents the inter-comparison of atmospheric variables measured by 9 automatic meteorological stations. This set of data was compared with the measurements of other meteorological stations in order to standardize the values that must be adjusted when taken to different areas. The data of a set of a total of 9 GMX500, which measures conventional meteorological variables, and 10 WS100 sensors, which measures precipitation parameters. The automatic stations were set up at the Huancayo Observatory (Geophysical Institute of Peru) for a period of 5 months. The data set of GMX500 were evaluated comparing with the average of the 9 sensors and the WS100 was compared with a optical disdrometer Parsivel2. The temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, rainfall rate, and drop size distribution was evaluated. A pair of GMX500 sensors presented high data dispersion, it was found found that the errors came from a bad configuration; once this problem was solved, good agreement was archived, with low RMSE and high correlation. I was found that the WS100 sensors overestimate the precipitation with a percent bias close to 100% and the differences increase with the greater intensity of rain. The DSD retrieved by WS100 have unrealistic behavior with higher concentrations in diameters of 1 mm and 5 mm, in addition to a flattened curve.

Road markings play an important role in road safety because they provide significant information to drivers about the road. For that reason, they must be replaced when they are not correctly perceived by road users. To analyse which are the main factors that affect road marking perception over time, a test section was designed in a two-lane rural highway, running actual traffic over 18 different types of markings fabricated with different combinations of drop-on materials. Chromatic coordinates, luminance and retroreflectivity of each sample were measured during 18 months in order to study their evolution over time. The results obtained show different behaviours depending on the aggregates and application method used. An increment of the durability has been observed with the use of different layers and mixtures of glass microbeads with different sizes.

Foot drop is a common disability in post-stroke patients and represents a challenge for the clinician. To date, Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) combined with conventional rehabilitation is the gold standard of rehabilitation management. AFO has a palliative mechanical action without actively restoring the associated neural function. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), consisting in stimulation of the peroneal nerve pathway, represents an alternative approach. By providing a FES device (Bioness L-300, BIONESS, USA) for 6 months to a post-stroke 22-year-old woman with a foot drop, our goal was to quantify its potential benefit on walking capacity. Gait parameters and the temporal evolution of the speed were collected with a specific connected sole device (Feet Me®) during the 10-meter walking, the Time Up and Go, and the 6-minute walking tests with AFO, FES or without any device (NO). As a result, the walking speed changes on 10-meters were clinically significant with an increase from baseline to 6 months in AFO and FES conditions (+0.14m-1 and +0.36m-1), without any changes in NO condition. In addition, speed decreased at about 4-minutes of the 6-minute walking test in NO and AFO conditions, while speed increased in FES conditions at baseline and after 1, 3 and 6 months. Monitoring gait speed in an endurance test after an ecological rehabilitation training program helps to examine walking performance in post-stroke patients and to propose a specific rehabilitation program depending on a fatigue threshold.

We report the effects of surface passivation by depositing a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layer on the electrical characteristics of low temperature polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors (LTPS TFTs). The a-Si:H layer was optimized by hydrogen dilution and its structural and electrical characteristics were investigated. The a-Si:H layer in the transition region between a-Si:H and µc-Si:H resulted in superior device characteristics. Using an a-Si:H passivation layer, the field-effect mobility of the LTPS TFT was increased by 78.4% compared with a conventional LTPS TFT. Moreover, the leakage current measured at a V_GS of 5 V was suppressed because the defect sites at the poly-Si grain boundaries were well passivated. Our passivation layer, which allows thorough control of the crystallinity and passivation-quality, should be considered a candidate for high performance LTPS TFTs.

We present a robust, fresh-frozen approach to immunohistochemistry (IHC), without committing the tissue to IHC via fixation and cryopreservation while maintaining long-term storage, using LiCor-based infrared (IR) quantification for sensitive assessment of TH in immunoreacted mid-brain sections for quantitative comparison across studies. In fresh-frozen tissue stored up to 1 year prior to IHC reaction, we found our method to be highly sensitive to rotenone treatment in 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and correlated with a significant decline in rotarod laten-cy-to-fall measurement by approximately 2.5 fold. The measured midbrain region revealed a 31% lower TH signal when compared to control (p<0.01 by t test, n=5). Bivariate analysis of in-tegrated TH counts versus rotarod latency-to-fall indicates a positive slope and modest but sig-nificant correlation of R2=0.68 (p<0.05, n=10). These results indicate this rapid, instrument-based quantification method by IR detection successfully quantifies TH levels in rat brain tissue, while taking only 5 days from euthanasia to data output. This approach also allows for the identifica-tion of multiple targets by IHC with the simultaneous performance of downstream molecular analysis within the same animal tissue, allowing for the use of fewer animals per study.

Sol-gel route represents a valuable technique to obtain functional materials, in which organic and inorganic members are closely connected. Herein four hybrid materials, containing caffeic acid entrapped in a silica matrix at 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%, were synthesized and characterized through FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. FT-IR analysis was also performed to evaluate the ability to induce the hydroxyapatite nucleation. Despite some structural changes occurred on the phenol molecular skeleton, hybrid materials showed scavenging properties vs DPPH and ABTS+ radicals, which was dependent on the tested dose and on the caffeic acid wt%. Finally, the SiO₂/caffeic acid materials have been proposed as valuable antibacterial agents against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.

The qualitative analysis of nanodiamonds by FTIR spectrometry as photoacoustic (PAS), diffuse-reflectance (DRIFT), and attenuated total reflection (ATR) modalities was evaluated for rapid and nondestructive analysis and comparison of nanodiamonds. The spectra reproducibility and signal-gathering depth was compared. The assignment of characteristic bands showed that only six groups of bands were present in spectra of all the modalities with appropriate sensitivity: 1760 (C=O stretch, isolated carboxyl groups); 1640–1632 (H–O–H bend, liquid water); 1400–1370 (non-carboxyl C–O–H in-plane bend and CH2 deformation); 1103 (non-carboxyl C–O stretch); 1060 (in-plane C–H bend, non-aromatic hydrocarbons and carbohydrates); and 940 cm–1 (out-of-plane carboxyl C–O–H bend). DRIFT provides the maximum number of bands and is capable of measuring hydrogen-bonded bands and CHX groups. ATR provides the good sensitivity for water and C–H/C–C bands in the range 2000–400 cm–1. PAS-FTIR reveals less bands than DRIFT but more intense bands than ATR-FTIR and shows the maximum sensitivity for absorption bands that do not appear in ATR-IR spectra and are expedient for supporting either DRIFT or PAS along with depth-profiling. Thus, all three modalities are required for full characterization of nanodiamonds surface functional groups.

Drops are the most important and most common energy dissipator in irrigation networks and erodible canals and consequently, their performance must be well understood. This study was designed to evaluate the capability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods including ANN, ANFIS, GRNN, SVM, GP, MLR, and LR to predict the relative energy dissipation (∆E/E0) in vertical drops equipped with a horizontal screen. For this study, 108 experiments were carried out to investigate energy dissipation with variable discharge, varying drop height, and porosity of the horizontal screens. Parameters yc/h, yd/yc, and p are considered as input variables and ∆E/E0 is the output variable. The efficiency of models was compared using Taylor's diagram, Box Plot of the applied error distribution, correlation coefficient (CC), mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-square error (RMSE). Results indicate that the performance of the ANFIS_gbellmf based model with CC value of 0.9953, RMSE value of 0.0069 and MAE value of 0.0042 was superior to other applied models. Also, the linear regression model with CC=0.9933, RMSE=0.0083, and MAE= 0.0067performs better than the multiple linear regression model in this study. Results of a sensitivity study suggest that yc/h is the most effective parameter for predicting ∆E/E0.

Heat enhancement is a topic of great interest nowadays due to its different application in industries. Porous material also known as metallic foam plays a major role in heat enhancement at the expenses of pressure drop. Flow in channels demonstrate the usefulness of this technology in heat extraction. In our current study, a porous strip attached to the channels walls is proposed as an alternative for heat enhancement. The thickness of the porous strip was varied for different Reynolds number. By maintaining laminar regime and using water as fluid, we determined an optimum thickness of porous material leading to the highest performance evaluation criterion. In our current study with the aspect ratio being the porous strip thickness over the channel width, an aspect ratio of 0.2 is found to be the alternative. A 40% increase in heat enhancement is detected in the presence of porous strip when compared to a clear channel case for a Reynolds number equal to 200 and improve further as the Reynolds number increase accordingly.

Polarisation analysis in the mid-infrared fingerprint region was carried out on thin (∼1μm) Si and SiO2 films evaporated via glancing angle deposition (GLAD) method at 70∘ to the normal. Synchrotron-based infrared microspectroscopic measurements were carried out on the Infrared Microspectroscopy (IRM) beamline at Australian Synchrotron. Specific absorption bands, particularly Si-O-Si stretching vibration, was found to follow the angular dependence of ∼cos2θ, consistent with the absorption anisotropy. This unexpected anisotropy stems from the enhanced absorption in nano-crevices, which have orientation following the cos2θ angular dependence as revealed by Fourier transforming the image of the surface of 3D columnar films and numerical modeling of light field enhancement by sub-wavelength nano-crevices.

Alternative fuels containing biocomponents produced in various technologies are introduced in aviation to reduce its carbon footprint but there is little data describing their impact on the performance and emissions of engines. The purpose of the work is to compare the performance and gas emissions produced from two different jet engines: the GTM-140 microturbine and the full-size DGEN380 turbofan, powered by blends of Jet A-1 and one of two biocomponents: 1) ATJ and 2) HEFA produced from used cooking oil (UCO) in various concentrations. The acquired data will be used to develop an engine emissivity model to predict gas emissions. Blends of the mineral fuel with synthetic components were prepared in various concentrations, and their physicochemical parameters were examined in the laboratory. Measurements of emissions from both engines were carried out in selected operating points using the Semtech DS gaseous analyzer and the EEPS spectrometer. The impact of tested blends on engine operating parameters is limited, and their use does not carry the risk of a significant decrease in aircraft performance or increase in fuel consumption. Increasing the content of biocomponents causes a noticeable rise in the emission of CO and slight increase for some other gasses (HC and NOx), which should not, however, worsen the working conditions of the ground personnel. This implies that there are no contraindications against using tested blends for fuelling gas-turbine engines.

The screen-printed carbon nanofibers electrodes (SPCNFE) represent an alternative with great acceptance due to their results, as well as their low impact for the environment. In order to improve their performance, in the present work they were modified with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and electrochemically characterized by using anodic stripping voltammetry. From the Ag-NPs synthesis, silver seeds (Ag-NS) and silver nanoprisms (Ag-NPr) were obtained. The Ag-NPs formation was confirmed by micrographs where Ag-NPs with diameters of 12.20±0.04 nm for Ag-NS, and 20.40±0.09 nm for Ag-NPr were observed. The electrodes were modified by using three different deposition methods: drop-casting, spin-coating and in-situ approaches. It was observed that the last methodology showed a low amount of Ag-NS deposited on the electrode surface and a deep alteration of this surface. Those facts suggested that the in situ synthesis methodology were not appropriate for the determination of heavy metals and it was discarded. The incorporation of the nanoparticles by spin-coating and drop-casting strategies showed different spatial distribution on the electrode surface as proved by scanning electron microscopy. The electrodes modified by these strategies, were evaluated for the cadmium(II) and lead(II) detection using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, obtaining detection limit values of 2.1 and 2.8 µg L^-1, respectively. The overall results showed that the incorporation route does not change directly the electrocatalytic effect of the nanoparticles, but the shape of these nanoparticles (spherical for seeds and triangular for prisms) has a preferential electrocatalytical enhancement over Cd(II) or Pb(II).

.With the increasing use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics in various area, carbon fiber composites based on prepregs have attracted attention in industries and academia research. However, prepreg manufacturing processes are costly, and the strength of structures varies depending on the orientation and defects (pores and delamination). For non-contact evaluation of internal defects, we proposed lock-in infrared thermography to investigate orientation angles after a compression test. We also conducted a drop-weight impact test to study the behaviour of the composites after impact according the fibers orientation for composite fabricated using unidirectional carbon fiber prepregs. Using CAI tests, we determined the residual compressive strength and confirmed the damage modes using a thermal camera. The results of the drop weight impact tests show that the specimen laminated at 0° suffered the largest damage because of susceptibility of the resin to impact. In contrast, the specimens oriented in of 0°/90° and +45°/–45° directions transferred more than 90% of the impact energy back to the impactor because of the lamination of fibers in the orthogonal directions. Furthermore, the specimens that underwent complete damage in the impact tests were subjected to the lock-in method and showed internal delamination and cut fibers. With the finite elements analysis, the damage of each ply could be observed. Moreover, the temperature differences in the residual compression tests were not significant.

Tracking and early identification of suspected cases are essential to control and prevent potential COVID-19 outbreaks. One of the most popular techniques used to track this disease is the use of Infrared cameras to identify individuals with elevated body temperatures. However, they are limited by their inability to be implemented in open public settings such as public parks or even outdoor recreational centers. This limits their ability to effectively track possible COVID-19 patients as open public recreational places such as parks, concert venues and other public venues are hotspots for the spreading of the virus. Other technological solutions such as thermal scanners require an individual to perform the actual testing as they are not individual standalone technologies. This method of testing can potentially cause the transmission of the virus between the tester and the individual getting tested. As can be seen, an alternative solution is essential to solving this issue. In this study, we aim to present the system, design and potential scope of a non-invasive system that can diagnose and identify potential COVID-19 patients using thermal and optical images of the individual using drone technology. The proposed system (COVIDRONE) combines multi-modal machine intelligence, computer vision and real-time monitoring to enable scalable monitoring. The system will also involve the use of machine learning algorithms for better and more accurate diagnosis. We envisage that development of such technologies may help in developing technological solutions to combat infectious disease threats in the future pandemics.

The last decade the impulse-radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) radar sensors have tended to substitute the gold standard, polysomnography (PSG), for the acquisition of the primary vital signs of the human body. However, the main drawback of the radar sensor is its sensitivity to the environmental noise and body motion. In this work, we aim to investigate whether radar sensor recordings of the chest and heart motion can be accurate substitutes to the PSG chest and heartbeat signals measurements. In terms of this scientific issue, we develop an innovative pipeline of handling the radar-based recordings, which includes: (a) the motion detection, (b) the extraction of the respiration, heartbeat and activity vital signs and (c) the estimation of the respiratory and heartbeat rates, i.e., the RR and HR, respectively. Our experimental results, applying our proposed methodology to 5 subjects during their sleep, showed that the radar sensor’s measurements can be comparative to the those producted by the PSG. Moreover, the corresponding RR and HR frequencies were proven to have Pearson’s correlation, between the radar and the PSG, greater than 0.9 and 0.78, respectively. Finally, the relative errors between the PSG, and the radar-based RR and HR rates were proven to be less than 6% and 10%, respectively.

The contactless coalescence of a droplet is of paramount importance for physical and industrial applications. This paper describes a coalescence method in mid-air via acoustic levitation using an ultrasonic phased array system. Acoustic levitation using ultrasonic phased arrays provides promising lab-on-a-drop applications, such as transportation, coalescence, mixing, separation, evaporation, and extraction in a continuous operation. The mechanism of droplet coalescence in mid-air may be better understood by experimentally and numerically exploring the droplet dynamics immediately before the coalescence. In this study, water droplets were experimentally levitated, transported, and coalesced by controlling acoustic fields. We observed that the edge of droplets deformed and attracted each other immediately before the coalescence. Through image processing, the radii of curvature of the droplets were quantified and the pressure difference between the inside and outside the droplet was simulated to obtain the pressure and velocity information on the droplet surface. The results revealed that the sound pressure acting on the droplet clearly decreased before the impact of the droplets. This pressure on the droplets was quantitatively analyzed from the experimental data. Our experimental and numerical results provide deeper physical insights into contactless droplet manipulation for futuristic lab-on-a-drop applications.

The search for lower cost materials that reduce pressure drop in fluid transport systems in oil and gas industries to conserve pumping energy is of paramount importance. Polymers are known to reduce pressure drop in pipeline oil-water flows in a process referred to as drag reduction (DR). The effect of partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, aloe vera mucilage and their mixtures as drag reducing polymers (DRPs) on pressure gradient (pressure drop; Δp) in pipeline oil-water flows was studied. The experiment was carried out in flow rig with 0.02-m diameter straight unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) pipe, two centrifugal pumps, control valves and two storage tanks. Tap water (ρ = 997 Kg/m³ and µ = 0.89 cP) and diesel (ρ = 832 Kg/m³ and µ = 1.66 cP) were used as the test fluid at ambient condition. The polymer mixture total concentration (MTC) of 30 and 400 ppm at different mixing proportion, mixture Reynolds number (Re_mix) and oil input volume were investigated. The results show increase in pressure gradient with increase in oil input volume in both single-phase water flow and oil-water flow before adding drag reducing polymers (DRPs). But Δp decreased after adding DRPs with increase in Reynolds number (Re) or Re_mix and decrease in the oil-phase Re, vice versa. The results further showed higher reduction in pressure drop by the polymer mixture than in each of the polymer used at the same conditions. The rigidness of the biopolymer was improved by adding synthetic polymers which result to increase in DR efficiency.The search for lower cost materials that reduce pressure drop in fluid transport systems in oil and gas industries to conserve pumping energy is of paramount importance. Polymers are known to reduce pressure drop in pipeline oil-water flows in a process referred to as drag reduction (DR). The effect of partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, aloe vera mucilage and their mixtures as drag reducing polymers (DRPs) on pressure gradient (pressure drop; Δp) in pipeline oil-water flows was studied. The experiment was carried out in flow rig with 0.02-m diameter straight unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) pipe, two centrifugal pumps, control valves and two storage tanks. Tap water (ρ = 997 Kg/m³ and µ = 0.89 cP) and diesel (ρ = 832 Kg/m³ and µ = 1.66 cP) were used as the test fluid at ambient condition. The polymer mixture total concentration (MTC) of 30 and 400 ppm at different mixing proportion, mixture Reynolds number (Re_mix) and oil input volume were investigated. The results show increase in pressure gradient with increase in oil input volume in both single-phase water flow and oil-water flow before adding drag reducing polymers (DRPs). But Δp decreased after adding DRPs with increase in Reynolds number (Re) or Re_mix and decrease in the oil-phase Re, vice versa. The results further showed higher reduction in pressure drop by the polymer mixture than in each of the polymer used at the same conditions. The rigidness of the biopolymer was improved by adding synthetic polymers which result to increase in DR efficiency.

The direct methane to methanol (MTM) oxidation is a grand challenge in catalysis, with profound economical implications for the modern chemical industry. Bioinspired metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with active iron and copper sites have been emerging very recently as innovative catalytic platforms to accomplish the MTM conversion under mild conditions. This review discusses the current state of the art regarding the application of MOFs with iron and copper catalytic centers to perform the MTM reaction, with a focus on the diverse spectroscopic techniques used to unveil the electronic and structural properties of the MOF catalysts at a microscopic level. We explore the synthetic strategies employed to incorporate iron and copper sites into different MOF topologies, the efficiency and selectivity of the iron- and copper-bearing MOF catalysts, and the ensuing MTM reaction mechanisms proposed on the basis of spectroscopic characterization supported by theory. In particular, we evidence how the combination of complementary spectroscopic tools probing different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is particularly useful to reach a satisfactory understanding of the key reaction pathways and intermediates. Finally, we provide a critical perspective on future directions to advance the use of MOFs to accomplish the MTM reaction.

Understanding the structure and properties of MgCl2/TiCl4/ID nanoclusters is a key to uncover the origin of Ziegler-Natta catalysis. In this work MgCl2/TiCl4 nanoplatelets derived by machine learning and DFT calculations have been used to model the interaction with ethyl-benzoate EB (as internal donor) with available exposed sites of binary TixCly/MgCl2 systems. The influence of vicinal Ti2Cl8 and coadsorbed TiCl4 on energetic, structural and spectroscopic behaviour of EB has been considered. The adsorption of homogeneous-like TiCl4EB and TiCl4(EB)2 at the various surface sites have been also simulated. Calculations have been carried out by employing B3LYP-D2 and M06 functionals. The adducts have been characterized by computing IR and Raman spectra that have been found to provide specific fingerprints useful to identify surface species; IR spectra have been successfully compared to available experimental data.

This research aimed to assess the influence of red dragon fruit peels ratio (RDF-PR) from two species, Hylocereus hybridum (HH) and Hylocereus undatus (HU), and particle size (PS) on quality parameters of red dragon fruit peel powder (RDF-PP), and its further application in emulsified alpaca-based sausages as partial substitutes of pork-back fat. A three-level full factorial design (nine treatments) was employed to evaluate the effect of: (i) RDF-PR [HH(0%):HU(100%), HH(50%):HU(50%), and HH(100%):HU(0%)] and (ii) PS (499–297, 296–177, and &lt;177 µm) on the dependent variables: L*, a*, b*, C, h°, water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, swelling capacity, pectin yield, degree of esterification (analysed through FT-IR), and crude fibre content. The data analysed through a response surface methodology showed that treatment one (T1) is the best with the optimised conditions at 100% HU RDF-PR and PS of &lt;177 µm. The statistical validation of T1 exhibited the highest water holding capacity (32.1 g H2O/g peel), oil holding capacity (2.20 g oil/g peel), and pectin yield (27.1%). A completely randomised design (four formulations) was then used to assess the effect of partial replacement of pork-back fat by T1 in emulsified alpaca-based sausages. The results revealed that 65.7% of pork-back fat content was successfully replaced as compared with a control formulation.

Demand for development of the convergence industry, research studies on electrical conductivity, thermal characteristics, semiconductors, motors, and batteries using special materials have come to the fore. Meanwhile, molybdenum (Mo) exhibits relatively small inorganic qualities, and the thermal conductivity rate is applied to various fields. In this study, in-depth characteristics were considered regarding the concentration of thermal characteristics, IR car terminal characteristics, and IR ve-hicles. This study calculated each phase temperature of the molybdenum sputtered specimens in the steady state according to the heat transfer theory. When the molybdenum-sputtered fabric’s metal layer pointed to the outside air, the heat transfer rate (Q) was high at 5748.3W, In contrast, if the molybdenum sputtered film’s metal layer of the pointed toward the heat source, the heat transfer rate (Q) was low at 187.1W. As a result of measuring the IR transmittance, the infrared transmit-tance of the molybdenum sputtering-treated sample was significantly reduced compared to the untreated sample. In the case of untreated samples, the transmittance ranged from 92.7 to 42.0%. When only the cross part was treated with molybdenum sputtering and the molybdenum surface was directed toward the IR irradiator, the IR transmittance was 66.8~0.7%. It is believed that the molybdenum sputtering polyamide samples produced in this study can be applied to multifunc-tional military wear, biosignal detection sensors, semiconductor products, batteries, etc., by utilizing excellent electrical properties, stealth functions, IR blocking properties, and lightness for infrared thermal imaging detectors.

Abstract: Understanding the reliability and sensitivity of jump testing is essential to determine the neuromuscular progress of athletes and make informed decisions. This study aimed to assess the reliability and sensitivity of countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) tests metrics in female volleyball players. Sixteen semi-professional female volleyball players participated in the study. Intrasession and intersession reliability of CMJ and DJ metrics were evaluated using a randomized cross-over design. Dual force platform was used to collect data, and several dependent variables were calculated using forward dynamics. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficients of variation (CV) and minimum difference (MD) were calculated. The third attempt presented the highest values for both test, and changes in jump strategy in DJ. CMJ is consistent across sessions, while DJ also shows intersession differences (p<0.05) in 11 out of 15 variables. Most CMJ variables exhibit excellent reliability while DJ variables have lower reliability and higher variability. Concentric and eccentric impulses for DJ showed excellent reliability. Most CMJ variables showed excellent reliability and variability, DJ had lower reliability, higher variability, and lower sensitivity. These findings provide valuable information when assessing athletes' performance and highlight the reliability, sensitivity, and variability in jump performance for CMJ and DJ tests.

In our study we investigated the accelerated aging process of PLA under 253.7 nm UV-C irradiation with the use of GPC, NMR, FTIR, DSC methods and formal kinetic analysis. The results of GPC and DSC indicated a significant degree of destructive changes in PLA macromol-ecules, while spectroscopic methods NMR and FTIR showed maintenance of PLA main structural elements even after a long time of UV exposure. In addition to that, the GPC method displayed the formation of a high-molecular fraction starting from 24 hours of irradiation, and an increase in its content after 144 hours of experiment. It has been showed for the first time that a distinctive feature of prolonged UV exposure is the occurrence of intra- and intermolecular radical recom-bination reactions, leading to the formation of a high-molecular fraction of PLA decomposition products. This causes the observed slowdown of the photolysis process. It was concluded that photolysis of PLA is a complex of physicochemical processes, the mechanism of which depends on morphological changes in a solid phase of the polymer under UV radiation.

Nowadays, diamonds are widely used in science and technology. However, the properties of diamonds due to their defects are not fully understood. In addition to optical methods, positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) can be successfully used to study defects in diamonds. Positrons are capable of detecting vacancies, small and large clusters of vacancies induced by irradiation, by providing information about their size, concentration, and chemical environment. By mapping in the infrared (IR) range, it is possible to consider the admixture composition of the main inclusions of the whole plate. The article presents the results of the study of defects in synthetic diamond plates, one of which was irradiated by electrons. Presents data about the distribution of the defect concentration obtained by Infrared spectroscopy. PAS with a monochromatic positron beam can be used as a non-destructive technique of detecting defects (vacancy) distribution over the depth of diamond plates.

A series of cysteine-based perfluoroaromatic (hexafluorobenzene (I) and decafluorobiphenyl (II) were synthesized and established as a chemoselective and available core to simple or more complex systems since small molecules to biomolecules with interesting properties. As proof of concept of the potential application of perfluorinated derivatives as non-cleavable linkers, some antibody-perfluorinated conjugates were prepared via thiol, demonstrating that the bioconjugation process doesn’t affect to the macromolecular entity. Besides, some molecular properties of synthesized compounds are evaluated using a combination of spectroscopic characterization (FT-IR and 19F-NMR chemical shifts) and theoretical calculations. Moreover, molecular Docking was also developed to predict cysteine-based hexafluorobenzene and decafluorobiphenyl derivatives’ affinity against topoisomerase Il and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). The results suggested that mainly cysteine-based decafluorobiphenyl derivatives could be potential topoisomerase II α and COX-2 inhibitors, becoming potential anticancer agents and candidates for anti-inflammatory treatment.

Methane (CH4) is the second most significant contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), accounting for approximately 20% of the contributions from all the well-mixed greenhouse gases. Understanding the spatiotemporal distributions, and the relevant long-term trends are crucial to identifying the sources, sinks, and impacts on climate. Hyperspectral thermal infrared (TIR) sounders, including the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), have been used to measure global CH4 concentrations since 2002. This study analyzed nearly twenty years of data from AIRS and CrIS and confirmed a significant increase in CH4 concentrations in the mid-upper troposphere (around 400 hPa) from 2003 to 2020, with a total increase of approximately 85 ppb, representing a +4.8% increase in 18 years. The rate of increase was derived using global satellite TIR measurements is consistent with in-situ measurements, indicating a steady increase starting in 2007 and became stronger in 2014. The study also compared CH4 concentrations derived from the AIRS and CrIS against ground-based measurements from NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) and found phase shifts in the seasonal cycles in the middle to high latitudes in the northern hemisphere, which is attributed to the influence of stratospheric CH4 that varies at different latitudes. These findings provide insights into the global budget of atmospheric composition and the understanding of satellite measurement sensitivity of CH4.

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder worldwide among women of reproductive age. It is characterized by endocrine, reproductive, and metabolic abnormalities. Insulin resistance (IR) is one of its most important clinical features, associated with metabolic disorders and increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to explore the whole blood gene expression profiling related to IR in PCOS patients compared to controls. Methods Blood RNA was extracted from 5 PCOS and 5 non-PCOS women with matched age and BMI. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was used to estimate the IR. The expression of IR genes was analyzed by Profiler PCR array. Results Both groups have similar levels of HOMA-IR (p>0.05). However, differential expression levels were observed between them. Fourteen genes were upregulated and 26 genes were downregulated in PCOS samples. Among the upregulated genes (>2 fold-change, p-value<0.05) are ADIPOQ, ADIPOR1, OLR, IGF-1, and APOE. Downregulated genes (>-2 fold-change, p-value<0.05) include HK-2, IRS1, and SERPINE1. These genes are involved in insulin and adipokines signaling, commonly dysregulated in T2D. They are also involved in innate immunity and inflammatory processes and are essential for lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Conclusion Our finding suggests that despite both groups having no difference in IR level, there are differentially expressed genes involved in the IR pathway.

The work is devoted to the search for effective solutions to the applied problem of early diagnostics of plant stress in the conditions of smart farming and based on modern explicable artificial intelligence (XAI). The study mostly oriented on the theory and practice of XAI, focused on the use of hyperspectral imagery (HSI) and Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) sensor data at the input of a neural network. The first our goal is to build an XAI neural network, explainable due to its structure, the input of which is a datascientist oriented HSI 'explanator', and the output is a biologist oriented TIR 'explanator'. In the middle is SLP-regressor which solves the universal problem of training HSI pixels to temperatures of plants, needed for early plant stress diagnostic. The result can be considered as prototype of a special XAI explanator which is assigned to transform explanator specialized on area 1 onto explanator specialized on area 2. Using this HSI-TIR explanator we ensured the follows: extend HSI data by TIR attribute; providing TIR data for early diagnostic of plant stress; reducing dimensionality HSI needed for TIR training 25 times (from 204 to 8) preserving the same accuracy of temperature prediction (RMSE=0.2-0.3C). This reducing was achieved without using PCA methods. The constructed model is computationally efficient in training: the average training time is significantly less then 1 min (Intel Core i3-8130U, 2.2 GHz, 4 cores, 4 GB). One of the 8 channels, 820 nm, is the leader in correlation with TIR, what allows building local linear temperature prediction functions.

The present study investigates the relationship between the local structure, photocatalytic ability, and cathode performances in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using Ni-substituted goethite nanoparticles (Ni_xFe_1-xOOH NPs) with a range of 'x' values from 0 to 0.5. The structural characterization was performed applying various techniques, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS), both measured at room temperature (RT), and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy recorded at RT and at low temperatures (LT) from 20 K to 300 K, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement (BET), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). In addition, the electrical properties of Ni_xFe_1-xOOH NPs were evaluated by impedance spectroscopy. XRD showed the presence of goethite as the only crystalline phase in prepared samples with x ≤ 0.20, and goethite and α-Ni(OH)₂ in the samples with x > 0.20. Sample with x = 0.10 (Ni10) showed the highest photo-Fenton ability with a first-order rate constant value (k) of 15.8×10^-3 min^-1. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum of Ni0, measured at RT, displayed a sextet corresponding to goethite, with an isomer shift (δ) of 0.36 mm s^-1 and a hyperfine magnetic distribution (B_hf) of 32.95 T. Moreover, the DC conductivity decreased from 5.52×10^-10 to 5.30×10^-12 (Ω.cm)^–1 with 'x' increasing from 0.10 to 0.50. Ni20 showed the highest initial discharge capacity of 223 mAh g^-1, attributed to its largest specific surface area of 174.0 m² g^-1. In conclusion, Ni_xFe_1-xOOH NPs can be effectively utilized as visible-light-activated catalysts and active cathode materials in secondary batteries.

After 2010, the source model of the microSelectron HDR Afterloader System was slightly modified from the previous model. Granero et al. named the modified source model “mHDR-v2r (revised model mHDR-v2)” and the previous model “mHDR-v2”. They concluded that the dosimetric differences arising from the dimensional changes between the mHDR-v2 and mHDR-v2r designs were negligible at almost all locations (within 0.5 % for r ≥ 0.25 cm), the two-dimensional anisotropy function difference between the two sources is found 2.1 % at r = 1.0 cm when compared with the results of the other experimental group. To confirm this difference, we performed a full Monte Carlo simulation without the energy fluence approximation. This is useful near the radiation source where charged-particle equilibrium does not hold. The two-dimensional anisotropy function of the TG-43U1 dataset showed a few percent difference between the mHDR-v2r and mHDR-v2 sources. There was no agreement in the immediate vicinity from the source (0.10 cm and 0.25 cm), when compared to Granero et al. in mHDR-v2r sources. The differences in these two-dimensional anisotropy functions were identified.

The pandemic of obesity worldwide has been recognized as a very important challenge. Within its complexity the identification of higher risk patients becomes essential since it seems unsustainable trying to offer access to treatment to all people with obesity. Several new approaches have recently been presented as important tools for risk stratification. This research applied some of these tools in a cross-sectional study involving adults with obesity classes I, II, III and super obesity. The participants had their cardiometabolic risk profile assessed. The study included adults with obesity, aged 18 to 50 years (n=404) who were evaluated for anthropometric, body composition, hemodynamic, physical fitness and biochemical assessments. These variables were used to identify the prevalence of risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases according to the classes of obesity, by gender and age group. The results showed a high prevalence of risk factors, especially among the upper classes of obesity (BMI &gt; 35 kg/m2) using single parameters as the waist circumference with almost 90% above the cut-off point. But there were also smaller numbers as the Glycated Hemoglobin whose prevalence was around 30%. Indexes like the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) had the highest prevalence, with 100% of the male participants identified with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Deposition/printing of materials with sub-1 μm precision and size (cross sections) is required for optical and electrical micro-devices. Crystalline c-ITO (Indium tin oxide) nanostructures were patterned on glass with a precision that formed gaps of 20-50 nm between individual disks or lines of ∼ 250 nm diameter or width. The absorbed energy density [J/cm3] followed the second order dependence on pulse energy. This facilitated high resolution and precision for nanoscale laser writing at the 515 nm laser wavelength. Patterns for optical elements such as circular gratings and micro-disks were laser printed using ITO as a resist. Unexposed amorphous a-ITO was chemically removed in aqueous 1% vol. HF solution. This use of a-ITO as solid-resist is promising for metamaterial and micro-optical applications.

This pioneering study presents an in-depth biomechanical examination of soccer's diving header, aiming to quantify its impact on ball speed enhancement (BSE) and effective offensive range (EOR). Despite the diving header's widespread acclaim and historical significance, there remains a dearth of scientific scrutiny into its biomechanical intricacies. Employing an innovative research design featuring a static hanging ball at varied offensive distances and heights, the study replicates diverse header scenarios. The results of 3D motion quantification have shown that a physically excellent player (identified through the maximal standing long jump test) could reach an EOR around 2.64 times his body height. Furthermore, the study unveils that proficient players could attain BSE surpassing 9 m/s, signifying the diving header's heightened efficacy compared to traditional heading techniques, which could only result in 4.5 m/s. Correlation analyses unveil noteworthy relationships, highlighting the pivotal role of head speed at impact and the influence of minimizing speed-drop and temporal disparities for amplified effectiveness. Considerations for optimizing diving header execution are introduced, emphasizing the necessity for targeted training programs. Despite acknowledged limitations inherent to its pilot nature, this exploration furnishes foundational knowledge to guide subsequent research and practical applications, providing valuable insights into soccer training and skill development through a biomechanical lens.

Currently, synthetic diamonds are finding new applications. Quantum devices can be created based on diamond plates with the desired concentration of defects in the structure of the crystal lattice. NV color centers can be used in quantum applications by irradiating plates with high-energy particles, followed by annealing at temperatures above 800°C to develop the spin-optical properties of the centers Diamond plates are subjected to electron irradiation and much less often to proton irradiation. As a result, synthetic diamond plates with NV centers ob-tained by proton irradiation are less studied, although proton irradiation makes it possible to obtain a layered structure of NV centers. In this work, single crystal diamond plates irradiated with protons were studied using polarization microscopy, IR spectroscopy and ODMR spectros-copy. It is shown that when creating NV centers, the distribution and concentration of C – defects in the sample, as well as mechanical stresses before and after irradiation (with subsequent an-nealing), can differ significantly from each other.

In this study, the focus is on the drop test simulation of an MR (Magnetorheological) damper-based main landing gear (MRMLG), aiming to explore multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) dynamic models during aircraft landing. Three different 6-DOF dynamic models are proposed in this work and their drop performances are compared with results achieved one of commercial softwares. The proposed models include a nonlinear aircraft model (NLAM), a linearized approximated aircraft model (LAAM) linearizing from the nonlinear equations of motion in NLAM, and a fully approximated aircraft model (FAAM) which linearizes the MRMLG's strut force model. In order to evaluate drop performance of the aircraft landing gear system with MR dampers, a 7-DOF aircraft model incorporating the nonlinear MRMLG is formulated using RecurDyn. The principal comparative param-eters are the coefficient of determination (R2) for system response of each model with Re-curDyn model and root mean square error (RMSE) which is the ensembles of CG dis-placement data for each model. In addition, the ensemble of time series data is created for diverse drop scenarios, providing valuable insights into the performance of the proposed drop test models of the aircraft landing gear system featuring MR dampers.

Semiconductor nanowhiskers, in particular, nanostructured whiskers based on zero-dimensional (0D) C70 fullerene, are being actively discussed due to the great potential of their application in modern electronics. For the first time, we proposed and implemented a method for the synthesis of nanostructured C70 fullerene whiskers based on the self-organization of C70 molecules during thermal evaporation of C70 droplets on the substrate surface. We found that the onset of the synthesis of C70 nanowhiskers upon evaporation of drops of a C70 solution in toluene on the substrate surface depends on the substrate temperature. We have provided experimental evidence that an increase in both the C70 concentration in the initial drop and the substrate temperature leads to an increase in the geometric dimensions of C70 nanowhiskers. The obtained results provide useful vision on the role of solute concentration and substrate temperature in the synthesis of one-dimensional materials.

Leakages in the water distribution networks (WDNs) are real problems for utilities and other governmental agencies. Timely leak detection and location identification has been a challenge. In this paper, an integrated approach to geospatial and infrared image processing method was used for robust leak detection. The method combines drops in flow, pressure, and chlorine residuals to determine potential water leakage locations in the WDN using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. GIS layers were created from the hourly values of these three parameters for the city of Sharjah provided by Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA). These layers are then analyzed for locations with dropped values of each of the parameters and are overlaid with each other. In the case where there were no overlaying locations between flow and pressure, further water quality analysis was avoided, assuming no potential leak. In the case where there are locations with drops in flow and pressure layers, these overlaying locations are then examined for drops in chlorine values. If overlaying locations are found, then these regions are considered potential leak locations. Once potential leak locations are identified, a specialized remote sensing technique can be used for precise leak location. This study also demonstrated the suitability of using an infrared camera for leak detection in a laboratory-based setup. This paper concludes that the following methodology can help water utility companies in the timely detection of leaks, saving money, time, and effort.

This work presents the design and analysis of a novel metal-insulator-insulator-metal (MIIM) rectenna with an added meta lens on top of it for efficient and robust infrared (IR) energy harvesting at 28.3 THz. To ensure maximum transfer of the captured IR radiations by an antenna with better impedance matching, the log-spiral antenna terminals are used as rectenna electrodes while two different insulators are placed between its feeding terminals to form the MIIM rectenna. A split ring-based resonating metasurface is designed and placed on the top of the MIIM rectenna to focus the incoming electromagnetic radiations. The characterization of the MIIM rectenna with added meta lens, in terms of absorbed E-field, is performed for the four different work function metals (gold aluminum, silver, and copper) as well as four combinations of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and copper oxide as insulators. The focusing of illuminating IR radiations by the integrated meta lens to the rectenna structure enhances its field-capturing characteristic by more than 400% as compared to conventional structures. In addition, the proposed design shows improved rectification properties in terms of better impedance matching and rectification efficiency, particularly for the best configuration of Au-Al2O3-Cu2O-Cu rectenna with added metasurface. Future applications of this study include the development of efficient IR energy harvesting systems for remote sensing, wireless communication, and other IoT devices.

Acne vulgaris has multifactorial pathogenesis which may include insulin resistance. To investigate whether insulin resistance is a causative factor in acne vulgaris development, this study and a systematic review were conducted. 41 acne vulgaris patients and 47 healthy BMI-matched controls were involved. Glucose and insulin fasting serum levels were obtained, HOMA-IR was calculated, insulin resistance was diagnosed in cases with HOMA-IR value over 2.1. The mean±SD values for glucose fasting serum level were as follows: 94.88±7.731 [mg/dl] in study group and 79.51±7.175 [mg/dl] in controls (p&lt;0.001). The mean±SD insulin fasting serum levels were 14.47±6.394 [µIU/mL and 11.83±4.309 [µIU/mL](p=0.059), respectively. The HOMA-IR mean±SD value calculated for the study group was 3.4±1.49 and in the control group 2.34±0.909 (p&lt;0.001).Out of 41 patients 32 were diagnosed with insulin resistance (78%) and 26 of the 47 controls 26 were diagnosed with IR (55%) (p=0.026). Insulin resistance diagnosis was statistically more common among the acne patients compared to the controls. In the articles reviewed insulin resistance was found to be more frequent in acne vulgaris patients. Both our study and the papers analysed indicate that insulin resistance might be an independent factor in acne vulgaris development and should be considered when diagnosing and treating acne.

Films obtained from a main biopolymer phase of fish gelatin (GelA, 3% w/w) encapsulated with cinnamon essential oil (CEO, 0.03 – 0.48% v/w) and loaded with bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNCs, 0.06% w/w) at pH = 3.5 were characterized. CEO-GelA/BCNCs films were prepared by casting and analyzed in terms of thickness, light transmittance (TT) and haze (H), surface hydrophobicity, tensile properties, chemical composition, and water solubility (WS). All tested films displayed outstanding optical properties (TT &gt; 89.4%), with haze slightly exceeding a 3% value only when the highest CEO loading was used during nanoemulsion preparation. The CEO plasticizing effect yielded an increase in the elongation at break (EAB, from 0.84% up to 3.79%), which corresponded to a decrease in tensile strength (TS, from 8.98 MPa down to 1.93 MPa). The FT-IR spectra of films revealed a good degree of interaction among single nanoemulsion components via hydrogen bonding. The intrinsic hydrophobic nature of the CEO negatively impacted the WS (from 52.08% down to 8.48%) of the films. Results obtained in this work confirmed the possibility to produce packaging systems from renewable sources to be potentially used in the form of edible films/coatings for preserving water-sensitive food products, both vegan-based (fruits/vegetables), and animal-based (meat/seafood).

: The article presents a brief review of cooling systems of various temperature levels (from 0.1 K to 230 K) for radio astronomical receivers of photonics and electronics. The features of various levels of cooling and the requirements for the design of the cooling system are considered in detail, as well as approaches to designing interfaces for cooled receivers: vacuum, cryogenic, electrical, mechanical, optical, and others required for the effective operation of the receiver,. The presented approaches to design are illustrated by a series of joint developments of the authors carried out over the past 45 years, including those produced last year.

Reactions of picolinamides with 1,3-propanesultone in methanol followed by the treatment with ketones led to a series of previously unknown chemical transformations, yielding first pyridinium salts (2a-f) with a protonated endocyclic nitrogen atom and then heterocyclic salts (3a-j) containing a 4-imidazoline ring. The structures of intermediate and final products were determined by IR and 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray study. The effects of the ketone and alcohol structures on the product yield were studied by quantum-chemical calculations. The stability of salts 3a-j towards hydrolysis and alcoholysis makes them excellent candidates for the search of new types of biologically active compounds.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two of the four major chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), representing the leading cause of death worldwide. Several studies demonstrate that endothelial dysfunction (ED) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of these chronic diseases. Although it is well known that systemic chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are primarily involved in the development of ED, recent studies have shown that perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is implicated in its pathogenesis, also contributing to the progression of atherosclerosis and to insulin resistance (IR). In this review we describe the relationship between PVAT and ED, and we also analyse the role of PVAT in the pathogenesis of CVDs and T2DM, further assessing its potential therapeutic target with the aim of restoring normal ED and reducing global cardiovascular risk.

Obesity in adolescents combined with the increased exposure time to electronic devices, enhances a sedentary lifestyle and is linked to the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this study was to identify possible correlations between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, exposure time to electronic devices or screen time (ST) and physical activity (PA) level along with muscle power and dynamic knee valgus (DKV) in young athletes to avoid future injuries. A total of 125 adolescent basketball athletes (66.4% boys), 12 to 17 years old (13.94±1.58 years) participated. Anthropometric and demographic characteristics were recorded. PA level was assessed through IPAQ and ST through a single question from the HELENA study. The Counter Movement Jump test was used for the evaluation of the lower limb muscle power, while the Single Leg Drop Jump test was used for the evaluation of the dynamic knee valgus via two-dimensional (2D) kinematic analysis. The Pearson index showed a statistically significant positive correlation between muscle power and height (r=0.788, p<0.001), while the Spearman index showed a smaller but equally statistically significant positive correlation with BMI (rs =0.651, p<0.001) and age (rs=0.579, p<0.001). The ST (rs= -0.194, p=0.03) showed a weak negative correlation with DKV, while PA (r=0.85, p<0.001) showed a high, statistically significant, positive correlation. The anthropometric characteristics of adolescent athletes can determine their ability to produce muscle power. A high level of physical activity could play a key role in compensating and thus reducing the negative effects of high exposure to screen time on the dynamic knee valgus

N-acyl hydrazone (NAH) has been remarked as a promising scaffold in drug design, given its versatility, ease of synthesis, and appealing biological activities (i.e., antimicrobial, antitumoral, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties). In the global context of increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics, NAHs represent potential solutions for developing improved treatment alternatives. Thus, this study presents 6 new derivatives of (EZ)-N'-benzylidene-(2RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanohydrazide that were obtained through a microwave-assisted synthesis method. In more detail, we have joined two pharmacophore fragments in a single molecule, represented by an NSAID-type carprofen structure and a hydrazone-type structure, obtaining a new series of NSAID-N-acyl hydrazone derivatives that were further characterized spectrally using FT-IR, NMR, and HRMS investigations. Moreover, the compounds have been evaluated for their tuberculostatic activity, testing their effects on four M. tuberculosis strains (two of them susceptible to rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH), one susceptible to RIF and resistant to INH and one resistant to both RIF and INH). The results of our research highlight the potential of the prepared compounds in fighting against antibiotic-resistant M. tuberculosis strains.

Four leather substrates from different animals were treated by dispersions containing hydrophilic composite silica-hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) xerogels. Antimicrobial activity was introduced by incorporating silver nanoparticles and /or benzalkonium chloride. The gel precursor solutions were also infused before gelation to titanium oxide powders typically employed for induction of self-cleaning properties. The dispersions from these biomimetically premade xerogels integrate environmentally friendly materials with short coating times. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided information on the powder distribution onto the leathers. Substrate and coating composition were estimated by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and ener-gy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Surface hydrophilicity and water permeability were assessed by water-contact angle experiments. The diffusion of the leather's initial components and xerogel additives into the water were measured by Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Protection against GRAM- bacteria was tested for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella Pneumoniae against GRAM+ bacteria for Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis and against fungi for Candida albicans. Antibiofilm capacity experiments were performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. The application of xerogel dispersions proved an adequate and economically feasible alternative to the direct gel formation into the substrate’s pores for the preparation of leathers intended for medical uses

This article presents the results of technical and technological studies of the oil painting by the artist of German origin Werner Tübke “Hiroshima I" (1958). The creative heritage of the author has been little studied and represents scattered data on the technology of painting and artistic techniques. The aim of the work was to determine the artistic materials and painting technolo-gy described in his diaries, using the example of his only painting in Russia – “Hiroshima I". For this purpose, an integrated approach was used using non–invasive control methods - photo in the light of visible luminescence, infrared reflectography (IRR), radiography, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), as well as infrared-Fourier spectroscopy (FT-IR) and polarizing microsco-py using microprobes. As a result, the pigment composition of the painting layers was deter-mined, the painting technology was refined, and a previously unknown hidden portrait of Werner Tübke's father was revealed.

In modern security situations, tracking multiple human objects in real-time within challenging urban environments is a critical capability for enhancing situational awareness, minimizing response time, and increasing overall operational effectiveness. Tracking multiple entities enables informed decision-making, risk mitigation, and the safeguarding of civil-military operations to ensure safety and mission success. This paper presents a multi-modal electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and radio frequency (RF) fused sensing (MEIRFS) platform for real-time human object detection, recognition, classification, and tracking in challenging environments. By utilizing different sensors in a complementary manner, the robustness of the sensing system is enhanced, enabling reliable detection and recognition results across various situations. Specifically designed Radar tag and thermal tag can be used to discriminate friendly and non-friendly objects. The system incorporates deep learning-based image fusion and human object recognition and tracking (HORT) algorithms to ensure accurate situation assessment. After integrating into an all-terrain robot, multiple ground tests were conducted to verify the consistent HORT in various environments. The MEIRFS sensor system has been designed to meet the Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) requirements for installation on autonomous ground and aerial vehicles.

This work presents a design and model of the thermo-hydrodynamic behavior applying CFD for pin-fin heat sink with square shape (rectangular fin profile), through a novel pin arrangement that improves heat removal in the system. The novelty consist in the insertion of a deflector row that will help to direct the flow, so it hits the rectangular cross-sectional fins the presents in the system. The heat sink model is placed in channel designed in which air flows as suitable medium, and its overall performance is investigated. In addition, a constant heat flux is applied to the bottom wall of the heat sink model, equal values and amounts that​ correspond to the heat fluxes generated by current electronic equipment and devices. The numerical results of the global thermal resistance, the pressure drop and the Nusselt number are reported. The results allow determining best arrangement or geometry configuration, location and functionality of the fin-deflectors were collocated for evaluate thermal-hydraulic efficiency of system.

Target detection of defense technology is being rapidly upgraded with modern surveillance technologies. The latest techniques of surveillance are already being implemented for defense applications. Self-protection and hiding from opposing forces are the key principle for protection of special team in defense. Camouflage textiles aims to create confusing objects for target detection of military personnel. These textiles are applied for military protection such as clothing, weapon, vehicle and location hiding nets/tents, etc. The urgent need of camouflage textiles have been formulated with a technical solution and implementation of right camouflage materials for concealment of defense target signature against dry leaves, green leaves, tree bark-woodland combat background; water-marine combat background; sand-desertland combat background; stone-stoneland combat background; snow-snowland combat background; sky combat background and ice-iceland combat background, concrete-concreteland combat background (DGTWSICB) in ultraviolet-visible-infrared (UV-Vis-IR) spectrums. This hypothesis of optical & surveillance engineering has been coalesced for advancement of UV-Vis-IR-DGTWSICB camouflage textiles technology. The principle of camouflage engineering has been approached by broader spectrum probe in UV-Vis-IR rather than Vis ranges only. Furthermore, single formulation of camouflage textiles has been proposed for multidimensional CBs-DGTWSICB. Electromagnetic spectrum, reflection, electron energy, photonic signal and imaging mechanism in UV-Vis-IR have been presented for optical engineering of concealment, detection, recognition and identification of target signature against DGTWSICB. Spectrum relationship of camouflage materials and DGTWSICB materials have been illustrated and compared in UV-Vis-IR spectrums. Camouflage material design, method design & spectral design; adaptive camouflage; techniques for camouflage textile assessment for digital camera and hyperspectral camera imaging; image processing techniques and a hierarchical model have been demonstrated for augmentation of camouflage textiles in UV-Vis-IR illumination. Therefore, anticipated design of camouflage textiles may enhance high-performance innovation for modern surveillance of military protection related to digital camera, hyperspectral camera and radar. This hypothesis includes advance guideline for camouflage textiles design for CBs-DGTWSICB.

With the improvement of software copyright protection awareness, code obfuscation technology plays a crucial role in protecting key code segments. As the obfuscation technology becomes more and more complex and diverse, it has spawned a large number of malware variants, which make it easy to evade the detection of anti-virus software. Malicious code detection mainly depends on binary code similarity analysis. However, the existing software analysis technologies are difficult to deal with the growing complex obfuscation technologies. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new obfuscation-resilient program analysis method, which is based on the data flow transformation relationship of the intermediate representation and the graph network model. In our approach, we first construct the data transformation graph based on LLVM IR. Then, we design a novel intermediate language representation model based on graph networks, named DFSGraph, to learn the data flow semantics from DTG. DFSGraph can detect the similarity of obfuscated code by extracting the semantic information of program data flow without deobfuscation. Extensive experiments prove that our approach is more accurate than existing deobfuscation tools when searching for similar functions from obfuscated code.

Phytochromes are biological photoswitches that translate light into a physiological function. Spec-troscopic techniques are essential tools in molecular research on these photoreceptors. This review is directed to summarize how resonance Raman and IR spectroscopy contributed to the under-standing of structure, dynamics, and reaction mechanism of phytochromes, outlining the substan-tial experimental and theoretical challenges and describing the strategies to master them. It is shown that the potential of the various vibrational spectroscopic techniques can be most efficient-ly exploited in integral approaches by combination with theoretical methods as well as other ex-perimental techniques.

The present study evaluates the response to betahistine in patients who presented vestibular drops attacks in the context of Ménière's disease (MD) and the factors that can predict an unfavorable response to it. A total of 43 patients were analyzed, out of which 33 were diagnosed with MD. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection. Data as regards age, accompanying symptoms, etiological diagnosis and response to MD treatment were collected. A statistical analysis was carried out, and we found that the disease evolution time and specific alterations in the vestibulospinal and oculomotor physical examination present an unfavorable response to betahistine, as opposed to the use of intratympanic gentamicin, with which symptomatic control is achieved in 100% of the cases.

As customer demand for green products increases in the digital economic era, this study analyses the green innovation of the e-tailer and supplier in drop shipping models. Moreover, drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option need to make choices regarding whether to provide green or normal products to the market. When a supplier with a drop shipping option produces green products, more fees may be invested on the production of green products than on normal products. The drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option can also choose to sell normal products at a low cost, as before. This study designs four models of drop shipping e-teilers and suppliers with a drop shipping option under different choices, analyzes their operational process in drop shipping models, and investigates five theorems. The optimal pricings decisions and green degree of drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option were evaluated in this study. The impacts of the green innovation factor, green elasticity coefficient, manufacturing and distribution costs on the drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option, and the effect of other environmental parameters on the green degree of green products are also analyzed through computer simulation. The findings of the simulation analysis provide valuable guidance for e-tailers and suppliers with green innovation in drop shipping models and offer important academic and practical implications for e-commerce and the digital economy.