Engineering application of additively manufactured (AM) metallic materials is quite limited by their fatigue behaviors which are very inconsistent with that of conventionally wrought or cast ones. Here, based on advanced material characterization techniques, such as focused ion beam (FIB), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the mi-crostructures underneath fracture surfaces were thoroughly investigated in an AM aluminium (AlSi10Mg) alloy with horizontal and vertical building orientation endured very-high-cycle fa-tigue (VHCF) loading under stress ratios R = –1, 0 and 0.5. Two VHCF failure specimens A and B were representatively selected to further SEM examine and TEM samples preparation via FIB milling. Specimen A was horizontally printed and failed at R = –1; specimen B was vertically printed and failed at R = 0. TEM samples A1 and B1 were lifted from locations near the crack ini-tiation sites on the fracture surfaces of specimens A and B; The locations of TEM samples A2 and B2 kept away from the crack origin sites but still within the “fish-eye” region of crack steady growth. TEM observations show that there was no characteristic microstructure induced by VHCF in different oriented specimens and under various R values.

We are currently investigating the ultrasound imaging of a sensor consisting of a randomized encoding mask attached to a single lead zirconate titanate (PZT) oscillator for use in a puncture microscope. The proposed model was performed using a finite element method (FEM) simulator. To increase the number of measurements required by a single element system, the transducer was rotated at different angles. The image was constructed by solving a linear equation of the image model. In a previous study, the image resolution was improved by extracting phase information. In this study, we propose a strategy by integrating the weighted frequency subbands compound and a super resolution method (SCM) to improve the resolution in range and lateral resolution. We also evaluated the image performance by applying different methods to improve the image quality. The results show that better image resolution and speckle suppression were obtained by applying the proposed method.

In this study, we investigated the surface modification of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material by coating it with ZnO and examined the changes in surface composition using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Furthermore, we investigated the electrochemical properties, including discharge capacity and initial irreversible capacity, of the modified materials. The results revealed that ZnO predominantly existed on the material surface, exerting influence on both surface composition and electrochemical characteristics. As the ZnO coating amount increased, the nickel and manganese content on the material surface also increased, and heat treatment at 400 °C resulted in the formation of composite oxides of transition metals and zinc on the material surface. The bonding energy of transition metals increased, and ZnO coating at a mass fraction of 2 % effectively suppressed irreversible reactions around 3.6 V at 55 °C, thereby improving initial coulombic efficiency. Battery materials coated with 2% ZnO exhibited optimal discharge capacity and cycle life at 55 °C/0.5 C.

The removal of H2S from natural gas and other gases such as biogas, refinery gases, and coal gas is required because H2S is toxic and corrosive, even in traces. Zeolites are widely used in the removal of H2S from the above-mentioned gases. In this work, we prepared an Ag-exchanged 13X molecular sieve by using different concentrations of AgNO3 to increase its adsorption properties. XRD, SEM, and BET techniques were used to characterize samples. When compared to unmodified 13X, the adsorption capacity of AgII-13X increased by about 50 times. The results of this study suggest that the silver-modified 13X molecular sieve is highly effective at extracting H2S from natural gas.

Cathode materials play a key role in the development and application of lithium-ion batteries, but the unfavorable factors such as structural phase transformation and low conductivity in the cycling process restrict the further improvement of battery performance, so the development and modification of high-performance cathode materials is a current research hotspot. LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2(x≥0.6), a high-nickel cathode material, has the advantages of high platform potential, high energy density and low cost, and is an ideal material to achieve the goal of 300 Wh kg-1 and above for batteries. However, its poor thermal stability, poor interface stability, safety and life cannot meet the requirements of current power batteries. In this paper, the research status of high-nickel cathode materials is introduced, including bulk doping and surface coating, and the modification method of doping and coating integration is also introduced. Finally, we put forward the prospect of the future development trend of high-nickel cathode materials.

Transportation is the primary consumer of oil, accounting for a significant portion of global energy consumption (34%) and CO2 emissions (40%). Electrifying road transportation is crucial to mitigate the effects of global warming. The abundant potential of renewable energy sources like solar and wind is hindered by their intermittent nature and incongruity with peak energy demands. This calls for the development of sophisticated energy storage solutions. Metal-air batteries (MABs), emerging as viable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in the transportation sector. Despite substantial progress in MAB development over the past two decades, overcoming critical challenges such as electrolyte decomposition, carbon cathode degradation, anodic dendrite growth, and air impurities remains essential for their commercial viability. This mini-review provides a comprehensive overview of MAB fundamentals and the challenges associated with their development. The insights presented in this review serve to illuminate the current landscape and future prospects of MABs in the transportation sector.

The authors of the article analyze the existing methods and models of technological preparation of machine-building industries. The structure of a three-level simulation model with network-centric control, the structures of individual elements of the simulation model and the process of simulation modeling are described. The criteria for choosing a rational option for the processing technological route have been determined. During the research, a simulation program was implemented in C++. It allows you to select the optimal scenario for the operation of a production site based on two criteria: time and cost. The volume of implementation is about 2x103 lines of code. A diagram of the modeling algorithm for the implemented program, a description of the classes and their interactions are given in the article. The developed simulation model was tested at a machine-building enterprise using the example of the “Pusher” part, manufactured under single-unit production condi-tions. The technological equipment used for the manufacture of this part was formed in the form of input data of the simulation model. The results of simulation modeling for the selected part are described. For each variant of the technological processing route, the values of variable costs and the duration of the production cycle were determined.

The severe volumetric expansion of silicon nanoparticles (~400 %) limits their practical application as an anode material for next-generation lithium–ion battery (LIB). Here, we describe the fabrication and characterization of conformal polydopamine carbon shell encapsulating rattle-type silica@silicon nanoparticles (PDA−PEI@PVP−SiO2@Si) with tunable void structure prepared following a dual SiO2 template using (3–aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as a self-catalytic, structure-directing agent to tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) pretreated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30) via modified Stöber process. Polyethylene imine (PEI) crosslinking facilitated the construction of interconnected three-dimensional bubble wrap-like carbon matrix structure through hydrothermal treatment, pyrolysis, and subsequent surface-protected etching. The composite anode material delivered 539 mAh·g−1 capacity after 100 cycles at 0.1 A·g−1, and 453 mAh·g−1 rate performance at 5 A·g−1. The satisfactory electrochemical performance of the PDA−PEI@PVP−SiO2@Si was attributed to the following: the rattle-type structure providing void space for Si volume expansion, PVP K30-pretreated APTES/TEOS SiO2 seeds via catalyst-free, hydrothermal-assisted Stöber protecting Si/C spheres upon etching, carbon coating strategy increasing Si conductivity while stabilizing the solid electrolyte interface (SEI), and PEI carbon crosslinks providing continuous conductive pathways across the electrode structure. The present work realizes a promising strategy to synthesize the tunable yolk–shell C@void@Si composite anode materials for high power/energy-density LIB applications.

Various iron oxides have been proven to be promising anode materials for metal-ion batteries due to their natural abundance, high theoretical capacity, ease of preparation, and environmental friendliness. However, the synthesis of iron oxide-based composites requires complex approaches, especially when it comes to composites with intrinsically conductive polymers. In this work we propose a one-step microplasma synthesis of a polyaniline-coated urchin-like FeOOH nanoparticles (FeOOH/PANI) for application as anode in lithium-ion batteries. The material shows excellent electrochemical characteristics, providing initial capacity of ca. 1600 mA∙h∙g−1 at 0.05 A∙g−1 and 900 mA∙g−1 at 1.2 A∙g−1. Further cycling lead to capacity decrease to 150 mA∙h∙g−1 by the 60th cycles, followed by a recovery that maintained the capacity at 767 mA∙h∙g−1 after 2000 cycles at 1.2 A∙g−1 and restored full initial capacity of 1600 mA∙h∙g−1 at low current density of 0.05 A∙g−1. Electrochemical milling of the material caused such interesting behavior of the material, and we confirmed this phenomenon by a combination of physico-chemical and electrochemical techniques. The anodes also exhibit high performance in a full cell with NMC532. NMC532//FeOOH/PANI full cell provided energy density of 224 Wh∙kg−1 which is comparable to the reference cell with graphite anode (264 Wh∙kg−1).

Nonlinear properties of zinc germanium diphosphide (ZGP) crystals enable their ap-plications in powerful mid-IR optical parametric oscillators and second-harmonic generators. This paper summarizes mechanisms of the laser induced damage (LID) in high-purity ZGP crystals under periodically pulsed nanosecond irradiation by a Ho3+:YAG laser at 2.1 μm. The ZGP samples were manufactured by “LOC” Ent., Tomsk, Russia, or Harbin Institute of Technology, China. The impact of processing techniques and the post-growing methods for polishing and anti-reflection coating on the LID threshold are discussed. The importance of the defect structure of the crystal lattice and the parameters of transparent coatings for increasing the LID threshold is discussed. The impact of the test laser parameters on the LID threshold is analyzed. The transient area near the LID threshold obtained using digital holography is ana-lyzed. Influence of the pre-damage processes on the optical parametric oscillations is reported. Prospects for improving ZGP crystals to further increase the LID threshold are discussed.

Lithium-ion batteries with improved energy densities have made understanding the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) generation mechanisms that cause mechanical, thermal, and chemical failures more complicated. SEI processes reduce battery capacity and power. Thus, a review of this area's understanding is important. It is essential to know how batteries degrade in EVs to estimate battery lifespan as it goes, predict, and minimize losses, and determine the ideal time for a replacement. Lithium-ion batteries used in EVs mainly suffer two types of degradation: calendar degradation and cycling degradation. Despite the existence of several existing works in the literature, several aspects of battery degradation remain unclear or have not been analyzed in detail. This work presents a systematic review of existing works in the literature. The results of the present investigation provide insight into the complex relationships among various factors affecting battery degradation mechanisms. Specifically, this systematic review examined the effects of time, side reactions, temperature fluctuations, high charge/discharge rates, depth of discharge, mechanical stress, thermal stress, and the voltage relationship on battery performance and longevity. The results revealed that these factors interact in complex ways to influence the degradation mechanisms of batteries. For example, high charge currents and deep discharges were found to accelerate degradation, while low temperatures and moderate discharge depths were shown to be beneficial for battery longevity. Additionally, the results showed that the relationship between cell voltage and State-of-Charge (SOC) plays a critical role in determining the rate of degradation. Overall, these findings have important implications for the design and operation of battery systems, as they highlight the need to carefully manage a range of factors to maximize battery performance and longevity. The result is an analysis of the main articles published in this field in recent years. This work aims to present new knowledge about fault detection, diagnosis, and management of lithium-ion batteries based on battery degradation concepts. The new knowledge is presented and discussed in a structured and comprehensive way.

Several studies in computer vision have examined specular removal, which is crucial for object detection and recognition. This research has traditionally been divided into two tasks: specular highlight removal, which focuses on removing specular highlights on object surfaces, and reflection removal, which deals with specular reflections occurring on glass surfaces. In reality, however, both types of specular effects often coexist, making it a fundamental challenge that has not been adequately addressed. Recognizing the necessity of integrating specular components handled in both tasks, we constructed a Specular-Light (S-Light) DB for training single-image-based deep learning models. Moreover, considering the absence of benchmark datasets for quantitative evaluation, the Multi-Scale Normalized Cross Correlation (MS-NCC) metric, which considers the correlation between specular and diffuse components, was introduced to assess the learning outcomes.

The carotid body is a major peripheral chemoreceptor that senses changes in arterial blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH, what is important for regulation of breathing and cardiovascular function. The mechanisms by which the carotid body senses O2 and CO2 are well known; conversely, the mechanisms by which it senses pH variations are almost unknown. Here we used immunohistochemistry to investigate how the human carotid body contributes to the detection acidosis analyzing whether it expresses acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC) ion channels, and to know if these channels are in the cells chemosensory glomic cells or in the afferent nerves. ASIC1, ASIC2 and ASIC3, and to a much lesser extent ASIC4, immunoreactivity was detected in subpopulations of type I glomus cells, as well as in the nerves of the carotid body. In addition, immunoreactivity was found for all ASIC subunits in neurons of the petrosal and superior cervical sympathetic ganglia, where afferent and efferent neurons are located, respectively, innervating the carotid body. This study reports for the fist time the occurrence of ASIC proteins in the human carotid body, demonstrating that they are present in glomus chemosensory cells (ASIC1 < ASIC2 > ASIC3 > ASIC4) and nerves, presumably both afferent an efferent supplying the organ. These results suggest that the detection of acidosis by the carotid body can be mediated by ASIC ion channels present in the type I glomus cells or directly by sensory nerve fibers.

We used a mixed-method single-case experimental research design to examine the effect of modelling (peer versus non-peer) on exercise self-efficacy in stroke survivors who participated in a community-based exercise program. Quantitative data were obtained using a ABCA design: (A1) no model/baseline 1 (3 weeks); (B) peer model (6 weeks); (C) non-peer model (6 weeks); and (A2) no model/baseline 2 (3 weeks). Four participants completed self-efficacy questionnaires after each weekly session. Qualitative data were obtained using researcher diaries and two semi-structured interviews: after B and A2. Based on quantitative and qualitative results, participants reported higher exercise self-efficacy in the model conditions, with ratings appearing highest for the non-peer model. This finding could be due to a lack of full integration of the peer model and low feelings of similarity. Modelling in general could help people recovering from a stroke increase their exercise self-efficacy, but non-peer models may not be most advantageous.

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

Single-sided deafness (SSD) refers to a condition where there is severe to profound Sensorineural hearing loss in one ear, while the other ear has normal or near-normal hearing. SSD can significantly impact an individual's ability to localize sounds, understand speech in noisy environments, and maintain spatial awareness, often resulting in a reduced quality of life and increased social isolation. In children with unilateral deafness, it can impede spoken language development and potentially impact cognitive abilities. Historically, there was a misconception that the unaffected ear could adequately support speech development in early cases and provide acceptable hearing function in adults. Consequently, SSD was frequently undertreated. However, advances in technology and a deeper understanding of the psychological and developmental impact of SSD have led to a shift in management strategies. Various treatment options are available for addressing SSD, but ongoing debate surrounds the most effective approach. These options include cochlear implants (CI), contra-lateral-routing-of-signal (CROS) devices, and bone conduction devices (BCDs). The aim of this study is to review the scientific evidence on different treatment options for SSD and compare their impact on the quality of life of individuals with this condition.

Human Ribonuclease (RNase) 6 is a monocyte and macrophage-derived protein with potent an-timicrobial activity toward uropathogenic bacteria. The RNASE6 gene is heterogeneous in hu-mans due to the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RNASE6 rs1045922 is the most common non-synonymous SNP, resulting in a G to A substitution that determines an ar-ginine (R) to glutamine (Q) transversion at position 66 in the protein sequence. By structural analysis we observed that R66Q substitution significantly reduces the positive electrostatic charge at the protein surface. Here, we generated both recombinant RNase 6 -R66 and -Q66 protein variants and determined their antimicrobial activity toward uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the most common cause of UTI. We found that the R66 variant, encoded by the major SNP rs1045922 allele, exhibited superior bactericidal activity in comparison to the Q66 variant. The higher bactericidal activity of R66 variant correlated with an increase in the protein lipopolysac-charide binding and bacterial agglutination abilities, while retaining the same enzymatic effi-ciency. These findings encourage further work to evaluate RNASE6 SNP distribution and its impact in UTI susceptibility.

This study investigated the influence of nutrient inputs and their timing on saffron yield and quality. The study was conducted from 2016 to 2020 and involved the application of eight different fertilization treatments at various stages of saffron growth. These treatments included single doses in Autumn (A), Winter (W), and Spring (S); double doses in Winter-Spring (AW), Autumn-Spring (AS), and Winter-Spring (WS); and a triple dose in Autumn-Winter-Spring (AWS). A control group (C) received no fertilizer. A compound fertilizer with a 15-15-15 composition was applied across all treatments, with nitrogen (N) rates of 67.5 kg/ha for single doses (A, W, S), 135 kg/ha for double doses (AWF, ASF, WSF), and 202.5 kg/ha for the triple dose (AWSF). Similar rates were applied for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The findings demonstrated that fertilization generally enhanced saffron attributes. The triple dose treatment yielded the most effective results. The timing of fertilization also played a crucial role, as split applications during different growth stages led to higher production especially winter fertilization. However, spring fertilization had limited impact due to decreased plant activity and reduced nutrient absorption during that period. Although the yield increased, the qualitative aspects of saffron, including color (crocin), taste (picrocrocin), and aroma (safranal), were not significantly influenced by the fertilization treatments. Nevertheless, these attributes remained within the natural limits defined by ISO-3632, indicating that fertilization practices did not compromise saffron quality. Our study highlights the significance of nutrient inputs and their timing in optimizing saffron yield. It provides valuable insights for developing efficient fertilization programs to enhance saffron production while preserving its quality characteristics.

A single-crystal of ytterbium-doped “mixed” yttrium-lutetium aluminium garnet with a stoichiometric composition of (Y0.601Lu0.233Yb0.166)3Al5O12 was grown by the Czochralski method and its structure, vibronic, spectroscopic and laser properties were studied. The stimulated-emission cross-section for Yb3+ ions was maximized to 2.53×10-20 cm2 at 1031 nm, the emission bandwidth is ~8 nm and the reabsorption-free luminescence lifetime of the 2F5/2 state is 1.063 ms. Pumped at 941 nm, the Yb-laser generated a maximum output power of 1.04 W at 1.03 and 1.05 μm with a high slope efficiency of 76.4% and a laser threshold of 76 mW. A continuous wavelength tuning over a range of 51.6 nm (1026.4 - 1078.0 nm) was also achieved. Power scaling is achieved using a 969 nm-diode pumped microchip cavity. A maximum output power of ~9 W is obtained at 1.05 μm with a slope efficiency of 76% and with an almost circular laser beam profile.

Single Image Super Resolution (SSIR) is a problem in computer vision where the goal is 1 to create high-resolution images from low-resolution ones. It has important applications in fields 2 such as medical imaging and security surveillance. While traditional methods such as interpolation 3 and reconstruction-based models have been used in the past, deep learning techniques have recently 4 gained attention due to their superior performance and computational efficiency. This article proposes 5 an Autoencoder based Deep Learning Model for SSIR, in particular, a light model that uses fewer 6 parameters without compromising performance. The down-sampling part of the Autoencoder 7 mainly uses 3 by 3 convolution and has no subsampling layers. The up-sampling part uses transpose 8 convolution and residual connections from the down sampling part. The model is trained using a 9 subset of the VILRC ImageNet database. The model is evaluated using quantitative metrics PSNR, 10 SSIM as well as qualitative measures such as perceptual quality. PSNR and SSIM figures as high as 11 76.06 and 0.93 are reported.

The development of the ovarian antral follicle is a complex, highly regulated process. Oocytes orchestrate and coordinate the development of mammalian ovarian follicles, and the rate of follicular development is governed by a developmental program intrinsic to the oocyte. Characterizing oocyte signatures during this dynamic process is critical for understanding oocyte maturation and follicular development. Although the transcriptional signature of sheep oocytes matured in vitro and preovulatory oocytes have been previously described, the transcriptional changes of oocytes in antral follicles have not. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics (SmartSeq2) to characterize sheep oocytes from small, medium, and large antral follicles. We characterized the transcriptomic landscape of sheep oocytes during antral follicle development, identifying unique features in the transcriptional atlas, stage-specific molecular signatures, oocyte-secreted factors, and transcription factor networks. Notably, we identified specific gene and signaling pathways in each antral follicle stage that may reflect oocyte quality and in vitro maturation competency. Additionally, we discovered key biological processes that drive the transition from small to large antral follicles, revealing hub genes involved in follicle recruitment and selection. Thus, our work provides a comprehensive characterization of the single-oocyte transcriptome, filling a gap in the mapping of the molecular landscape of sheep oogenesis. We also provide key insights into the transcriptional regulation of the critical stages of antral follicular development, which is essential for understanding how the oocyte orchestrates follicular development.

Studying the distribution and transport dynamics of cations in plants is crucial for understanding their response mechanisms to saline-alkali stress conditions. However, our current understanding of how restoration measures affect cation distribution and transport in plants is surprisingly limited. To address this gap, we conducted a split-plot experiment using Medicago sativa L. cv. “Zhongmu No. 1” to investigate the combined effects of biological and chemical restoration measures—with bio-fertilizer as the primary zone and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum with humic acid as the secondary zone—on soil properties, plant growth, and the content, distribution, and transport of cations in plants. The results revealed that different restoration strategies decreased soil alkalinity and enhanced plant growth. Significantly, bio-fertilizer exhibited positive effects on plant growth and yield. On the contrary, FGD gypsum with humic acid reduced the soil's pH level, exchangeable sodium percentage, and sodium adsorption ratio, while increasing the contents of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the soil. The triple combination of FGD gypsum and humic acid with bio-fertilizer reduced Na+ transport in M. sativa by enhancing the selective absorption of beneficial ions, such as K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in leaves, and by facilitating the transport of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from roots and stems to the leaves. Therefore, the application of FGD gypsum and humic acid combined with bio-fertilizer has the potential to decrease soil alkalinity and the proportions of water-soluble ions in the soil, ultimately enhancing the translocation of key ionic components to leaves. This, in turn, increases the salt tolerance of plants and promotes their growth. Our results offer new insights into the interactions among measures, soil, and plants in saline-alkali land restoration, providing practical solutions for the restoration of saline-alkali soil.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) of the polymerase and histidinol phosphatases (PHP) superfamily with characteristic phosphatase activity dependent on divalent metal ions are found in many gram-positive bacteria. Although members of this family are co-purified with metal ions, they still require the exogenous supply of metal ions for full activation. However, the specific roles these metal ions play during catalysis are yet to be well understood. Here, we report the metal ion requirement for phosphatase activities of S. aureus Cap8C and L. rhamnosus Wzb. AlphaFold-predicted structures of the two PTPs suggest that they are members of the PHP family. Like other PHP phosphatases, the two enzymes have catalytic preference for Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ ions. Cap8C and Wzb show an unusual thermophilic property with optimum activities over 75oC. Pre-incubation experiments show that the two enzymes are not inherently thermostable suggesting that certain catalytic step(s) in the reaction mechanism has a high activation energy. Consistent with this model, the activity-temperature profiles of the two enzymes are dependent on the divalent metal ion activating the enzyme.

We investigate a single-particle density of states in the three-dimensional system described by effective two-band Hamiltonian which describes a ground state in two distant electronic phases: the semimetalic nodal-loop phase and the insulating gapped phase. Analysis of valence bands and Fermi surfaces in both phases indicates that the density of states crucially depends on the parameter in the Hamiltonian of the system that controls a topological alternation of the Fermi surface. The signature of that alternation is expected to play an important role in all quantities closely related to the density of electronic states, such as charge transport and optical conductivity of the system for example.

Adopting banana peel as raw material, the adsorption properties of banana peel hydrothermal carbon modified with KOH solution for lead ions in aqueous solution were studied. The surface structure and functional groups of the modified hydrothermal carbon were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results showed that the banana peel hydrothermal carbon prepared from 0.5 mol/L KOH solution had large pores, and its adsorption capacity reached 42.92 mg/g at a pH value of 6; When the concentration of KOH solution is 0.5 mol/L, the solid liquid ratio is 2 g/L, the adsorption capacity reaches 21.39 mg/g, and the adsorption rate reaches 82.74%; When the concentration of lead solution increased to 100 mg/L, the adsorption capacity of modified hydrothermal carbon for lead ions decreased to 78.26%; The equilibrium adsorption time of lead ion in solution on phosphoric acid modified hydrothermal carbon from banana peel was 250 minutes, and the adsorption process met the quasi second order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm equation, with an equilibrium adsorption rate of 88.62%. The adsorption of lead ions in solution by KOH modified hydrothermal carbon is mainly chemical physical adsorption.

Using banana peel as raw material, the adsorption properties of hydrothermal carbon pre-10 pared from banana peel modified with different concentrations of phosphoric acid solution for lead 11 ions in aqueous solution were studied. The surface structure and functional groups of the modified 12 hydrothermal carbon were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results show that the surface of the 13 modified banana peel hydrothermal carbon prepared at 240℃ and 2mol/L phosphoric acid solution 14 has large pores. The adsorption capacity is larger when pH value is 6.When the concentration of 15 phosphoric acid solution was 2mol/L, the solid-liquid ratio was 2g/L, the adsorption capacity was 16 40.64mg/g, and the removal rate was 82.74%.When the initial concentration of lead solution in-17 creased to 100mg/L, the adsorption capacity of modified hydrothermal carbon for lead ion increased 18 to 76.81mg/g, and the removal rate decreased to 76.81%.The equilibrium adsorption time of banana 19 peel phosphoric acid modified hydrothermal carbon for lead ions in solution is 300min. The adsorp-20 tion process satisfies the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm equation. The 21 reaction temperature is 313K, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity can reach 101.19mg/g. The 22 adsorption of Pb ions in aqueous solution by phosphoric acid modified hydrothermal carbon is 23 dominated by single layer chemisorption. The artificial neural network has a fitting correlation of 24 0.99, and the adsorption process includes physical adsorption, electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, 25 and surface complexation.

Recently, nanobodies have taken center stage in research on drug discovery and development. Several therapeutic possibilities using nanobodies are presently undergoing clinical trials and waiting for FDA approval. The goal of this study was to emphasize the potential of nanobodies as therapeutic agents by concentrating on the most recent published studies that examined their properties, manufacturing, and possible applications. This article demonstrates that the unique properties of nanobodies in comparison to conventional antibodies, which are based on their small size and offer a number of benefits, make them seem to have a promising future. These advantages include the ability to access complex or hidden target sites that may be elusive to their larger antibody counterparts, and increased resilience against extreme conditions like tempera-ture changes and pH variations. As a result, nanobodies seem to have a bright future as adaptable tools for imaging in cancer and non-malignant diseases, as well as for in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic potential for a variety of conditions, including oncology, infectious, metabolic, neurological, and other conditions like ophthalmologic, immune-mediated, and genetic disorders. More research is required to determine their effectiveness and safety in clinical applications. The current analysis offers a thorough overview of the therapeutic uses for nanobody products that are either on the market or undergoing clinical trials.

Inflammation involves the activation of innate immune cells and is believed to play an important role in the development and progression of both infectious and non-infectious diseases such as neurodegeneration, rheumatoid arthritis or cancer. Inflammation in the brain is marked by the upregulation of the translocator protein (TSPO) in microglia. Moreover, high TSPO levels are found, for example in macrophages during rheumatoid arthritis and in malignant tumor cells compared to its relatively low physiological expression. The same applies for cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is constitutively expressed in the kidney, brain, thymus and gastrointestinal tract, but induced in microglia, macrophages and synoviocytes during inflammation. This puts TSPO and COX-2 in the spotlight as important targets for the diagnosis of inflammation. Imaging modalities, such as positron emission tomography and single-photon emission tomography, can be used to localize inflammatory processes and to track their progression over time. They could also enable to monitor the efficacy of therapy and predict its outcome. This review focuses on the current development of PET and SPECT tracers not only for the detection of neuroinflammation, but also for emerging diagnostic measures in infectious and other non-infectious diseases like rheumatic arthritis, cancer, cardiac inflammation and in lung diseases.

The optical reflection characteristics of asphalt pavement are an important influencing factor in road lighting design, and the macro and micro textures of asphalt pavement significantly affect its reflection characteristics. To investigate the impact of texture parameters on the retroreflection coefficient of asphalt pavement, this study obtained the macroscopic and microscopic texture properties of rutting board specimens and on-site asphalt pavement using a pavement texture tester. The macro- and microtexture parameters, such as macroscopic texture distribution density (D1), microscopic texture distribution density (D2), profile height root-mean-square (Rq), profile slope root-mean-square (Δq), skewness Rsk and kurtosis Rku, were measured, and the corresponding retroreflection coefficient RL was measured using a retro-reflectometer. In the laboratory ex-periments, rutting specimens of AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13 asphalt mixtures were formed. The changes in texture parameters and retroreflection coefficient of different rutting specimens before and after crushing were studied, and a factor influence model between macro- and microtexture parameters and RL was established. And the correlation models of texture index and RL of asphalt pavement are further established. The results showed that in the single factor model, the param-eters can be used to characterize RL with high prediction accuracy, whereas for the on-site meas-urements, the three parameters of Δq, Rsk, and Rku can characterize the RL well. The nonlinear model established on the basis of the B-P neural network algorithm improves its prediction ac-curacy. This research can provide ideas for optimizing the reflection characteristics of asphalt pavement and further provide a decision-making basis for road lighting design.

(1) Background: The synthesis of core-shell magnetic mesoporous nanoparticles (MMSN) from phase transfer process is usually performed at 100-250 mg scale. At the gram scale, nanoparticles without core or with multicore systems are observed. (2) Methods: Iron oxide core nanoparticles (IO) were synthesized through thermal decomposition procedure of -FeO in oleic acid. Phase transfer from chloroform to water was then performed in order to wrap IO with mesoporous silica shell through the sol-gel procedure. MMSN were then functionalized with DTPA, and used for the separation of metal ions. Their toxicity was evaluated (3) Results: The phase transfer pro-cedure was crucial to obtained MMSN at large scale. Three synthesis parameters were rigorously controlled: temperature, time and glassware. Homogeneous dispersion of MMSN at the gram scale was successfully obtained. After functionalization with DTPA, the MMSN-DTPA were shown to have a strong affinity for Ni ions. Furthermore toxicity was evaluated in cells, zebrafish and through seahorse metabolic assays, and the nanoparticles were found nontoxic. (4) Conclusions: We developed a method of preparation of MMSN at the gram scale. After function-alization with DTPA, the nanoparticles were efficient in metal ion removal and separation, fur-thermore, no toxicity was noticed up to 125 µg.mL-1 in zebrafish.

Although hundreds of keV in energy gain have already been demonstrated in dielectric laser accelerators (DLAs), there remains challenge in creating structures that can confine electrons for multiple millimeters. We focus here on dual gratings with single sided drive, which have experimentally demonstrated energy modulation numerous times. Using a FTDT simulation to find the fields within various DLA structures and correlating these results with particle tracking simulation, we look at the impact of teeth height and width, as well as gap and offset, on the performance of these structures. We find a tradeoff between electron throughput and acceleration, but that for any given grating geometry there is a gap and offset that will allow some charge acceleration. For our 780 nm laser wavelength, this results in a 1200 nm optimal gap size for most gratings.

Green synthesis offers a superior alternative to traditional methods for producing metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. This approach is not only benign and safe but also cost-effective, scalable, and straightforward, operating under ambient conditions. Notable metals and metal oxide nanoparticles, such as manganese oxides, iron oxides, silver, and gold, have been produced using various bio-reductants derived from plant extracts. These biological agents not only expedite the reduction process but also stabilize the nanoparticles, serving dual roles as reducing and capping agents. This review presents the green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) obtained from biogenic wastes and plant extracts. The green-synthesized nanostructured MnO2 are evaluated as a potential photocatalyst for water treatment and as an electrode material in lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. The green-derived iron oxide nanoparticles are examined as promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic agents. Additionally, this review discusses the green synthesis of precious metal nanoparticles, specifically silver (Ag NPs) and gold (Au NPs), highlighting their potential medical applications in areas like antiviral treatments and cancer therapy.

It's a method to achieve energy savings in single-phase active power greater than that obtained with the "Fan Law" in electric machines applied to ventilation. Quantitative analysis methods were based on electrotechnical techniques, practiced with the corresponding laboratory equipment on the working materials (three prototypes of electric machines). The results obtained from experimentation on the test bench were recorded in tables that collect data of formulas, values, and physical units. The discussion provides a comprehensive comparative study, mainly between power (watts), active energy consumption (kWh), and rotational speed (revolutions per minute). The permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with the coupling of an RL circuit design does mechanical work at its maximum speed of 3000 (RPM) with only 6.3 (Watts), which is equivalent to 25.2% of the active power required by the single-phase induction asynchronous motor (or shaded pole motor), which required 25 (Watts) to rotate at 1690 (RPM). This translates to 75% lower active power with a 44% superiority in speed, resulting in a 75% savings in single-phase active energy (measured in kWh). The same occurs when comparing it to the universal AC motor (with brushes and wound rotor) to maintain a speed of 3000 (RPM); since it consumes 64.8 (Watts), which is 90.3% more single-phase active energy than that required to achieve the same rotational speed as the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The study was conducted on all motors with the same impeller blade diameter and under identical air temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions.

Once discovered, cancer stem cells have become a hot topic in the research of cancer therapy. These cells possess stem cell-like self-renewal and differentiation capacities and are important factors that dominate cancer metastasis, therapy- resistance and recurrence. What's worse, their own characteristics make them difficult to be eliminated. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Targeting colorectal cancer stem cells (CRCSCs) can inhibit colorectal cancer metastasis, enhance therapeutic efficacy, and reduce recurrence. Here, we introduced the origin, marker proteins, identification, cultivation and research techniques of CRCSCs, summarized the signaling pathways that regulate the stemness of CRCSCs, such as Wnt, JAK/STAT3, Notch, and Hh signaling pathway. In addition to these, we also reviewed anti-CRCSC drugs targeting signaling pathways，markers，and other regulators in recent years. These will help researchers gain insight into the current agents targeting to CRCSCs, explore new cancer drugs, and propose potential therapy.

The demand for high-energy-density batteries necessitates novel anode materials. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) show promise due to their high capacity, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. However, TMO-based anodes face challenges related to expansion and conductivity. This study presents a two-step dilution crystallization method to fabricate porous ZnO nanoflowers at a moderate temperature. In-situ integration with carbon nanotube dispersants enhances conductivity and reduces agglomeration. The resulting composite anode exhibits impressive initial discharge capacity (2314.2 mAh g-1) and cycling stability (580.5 mAh g-1 over 50 cycles). This study provides a facile approach for next-generation anode materials.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become indispensable energy storage devices for various applications, ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. The performance and reliability of LIBs depend on several key components, including the electrodes, separators, and electrolytes. Among these, the choice of binder materials for the electrodes plays a critical role in determining the overall performance and durability of LIBs. This review introduces polymer binders that have been traditionally used in the cathode, anode, and separator materials of LIBs. Furthermore, it explores the problems identified in traditional polymer binders and examines the research trends in next-generation polymer binder materials for lithium-ion battery as alternatives.

Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) provides a promising approach to clean energy generation. Bimetallic single-atom catalysts raised and have been explored to be advanced catalysts for HER. It is urgent to review and summarize the recent advances in developing bimetallic single-atom HER catalysts. Firstly, the fundamentals of bimetallic single-atom catalysts are presented, highlighting their unique configuration of two isolated metal atoms on supports and resultant synergistic effects. Secondly, recent advances in bimetallic single-atom catalysts for electrocatalytic HER under acidic/alkaline conditions are then reviewed, including W-Mo, Ru-Bi, Ni-Fe, Co-Ag, and other dual-atom systems on graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with enhanced HER activity versus monometallic analogs due to geometric and electronic synergies. Then, Photocatalytic bimetallic single-atom catalysts on semiconducting carbon nitrides for solar H2 production are also discussed. Finally, an outlook is provided on opportunities and challenges in precisely controlling bimetallic single-atom catalyst synthesis and gaining in-depth mechanistic insights into bimetallic interactions.

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

Single crystals of quaternary adamantine type Cu•GaGeS4 were grown by chemical vapor transport technique using iodine as transport agent. Dark red transparent crystals grew in a temperature gradient of dT = 900–750 °C. Chemical characterization by X-ray fluorescence showed an off-stoichiometric composition of the Cu•GaGeS4 crystals, in particular a slight Ge-deficit. By X-ray diffraction, Cu•GaGeS4 was found to adopt the chalcopyrite-type structure with the space group I-42d. The cation distribution in this structure was analyzed by multiple energy anomalous synchrotron X-ray diffraction and it was found that Cu and vacancies occupy the 4a site, whereas Ga and Ge occupy the 4b site. The band gap energies of several off-stoichiometric Cu•GaGeS4 crystals were determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy and are in the range of 2.1 to 2.4 eV. A non-linear correlation of the band gap energy with the Ge-content of the compound follows the usual bowing behaviour of semiconductor alloys with a bowing parameter of b = 1.45(0.08).

Purpose: Therapeutic targeting of RAF1 is promising, but it requires further investigation for the relation between clinical features and RAF1 aberrations regarding the MAPK signaling pathway in various solid tumors to realize the precision medicine. Methods: Between October 2019 and June 2023, Samsung Medical Center, 3,895 patients with metastatic cancer patients received a next-generation sequencing (NGS) using TruSight Oncology 500 (TSO500) assay as a routine clinical practice. We surveyed the incidence of RAF1 aberration including mutation (single-nucleotide variant [SNV]), amplification (copy-number variation), and fusion. Results: In 3,895 metastatic cancer patients, 77 (2.0%) had RAF1 aberrations in their tumor specimen. Of 77 patients, 44 (1.1%) had RAF1 mutations (SNV), 25 (0.6%) had RAF1 amplification and 10 (0.3%) had RAF1 fusions. Among 10 patients with RAF1 fusion, concurrent RAF1 amplification and RAF1 mutation were detected in one patient each. The most common tumor types were bladder cancer (11.5%), followed by ampulla of Vater (AoV) cancer (5.3%), melanoma (3.0%), gallbladder (GB) cancer (2.6%), and gastric cancer (2.3%). Microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) tumors were found in 5 out of 76 patients (6.6%) with RAF1 aberration, while MSI-H tumors were found only in 2.1% of patients with wild-type RAF1 cancer (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: We showed that when patients with metastatic solid cancer receive NGS test, approximately 2.0% have RAF1 aberrations in their tumor specimen.

The economics and safety of reactors can be affected by the diffusion of fission products into graphite. Xenon (Xe) fission products diffusing into the graphite is the most critical neutron absorber and poison that can slow down or stop the chain reaction. The transport parameters for inhibiting the xenon diffusion in graphite are therefore the utmost scientific problem. Self-sintered nanopore-isotropic (~ 40nm) graphite (SSNG) derived from green pitch coke can decrease Xe diffusion into the graphite. In this study, a method for measurement of diffusion coefficients of fission products diffusion in graphite by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was reported. The SSNG substrates were implanted with Xe at a dose of 4.8×1015 ions/cm2 and energy of 7 MeV. The RT-implanted samples were annealed in a vacuum at 650°C for 9 h. The implanted and annealed samples were characterized by RBS. The diffusion coefficient D(Xe,650°C) is 6.49×10-20 m2/s. The results indicate the excellent ability to inhibit Xe diffusion of the SSNG and present significance in designing and evaluating the safety of nuclear reactors.

Single image deraining (SID) has shown its importance in many advanced computer vision tasks. Though many CNN based image deraining methods have been proposed, how to effectively remove raindrops while maintaining background structure remains a challenge that needs to be overcome. Most of the deraining work focuses on removing rain streaks, but in heavy rain images, the dense accumulation of rainwater or the rain curtain effect significantly interferes with the effective removal of rain streaks, and often introduces some artifacts that make the scene more blurry. In this paper, we propose a new network structure R-PReNet for single image deraining with good background structure maintaining. This framework fully utilizes the cyclic recursive structure of PReNet. Moreover, we introduce residual channel prior (RCP) and feature fusion modules for better deraining performance by focusing on background feature information. Compared with the previous methods, our method has significantly improvement effect on the rainstorm image with the artifacts removing and good visual detail restoring.

Functional dependence of the axial zero-field splitting parameter D with respect to a properly chosen geometrical parameter (Dstr) in metal complexes is termed the Magnetostructural D-Correlation. In mononuclear hexacoordinate Ni(II) complexes with the ground electronic term 3B1g (3A2g in the regular octahedron) it proceeds along two intercepting straight lines allowing to predict the sign and magnitude of the D-parameter by knowing the X-ray structure alone; Dstr is constructed from the metal-ligand bond lengths. In hexacoordinate Co(II) complexes it is applicable only in the segment of the compressed bipyramid where the ground electronic term 4B1g is orbitally non-degenerate so that the spin Hamiltonian formalism holds true. The D vs Dstr correlation is strongly non-linear and it is represented by a set of decreasing exponentials. In tetracoordinate Co(II) complexes, on the contrary, the angular distortion from the regular tetrahedron is crucial so that the appropriate structural parameter Dstr is constructed of bond angles. All of these empirical correlations originate in the electronic structure of metal complexes that can be modelled by the generalized crystal-field theory. As the barrier to spin reversal in the single-molecule magnets is proportional to the D-value, for a rational tuning and/or prediction of the single-molecule magnetic behavior knowledge/prediction of the D-parameter is beneficial. In this review, we present the statistical processing of an extensive set of structural and magnetic data of Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes, which were published over the past 15 years. Magnetostructural D-correlations defined for this data set are reviewed in detail.

This paper investigates the polarization and heat generation characteristics of batteries under different ambient temperatures and discharge rates by means of using a coupled electric-thermal model. The study found that the largest percentage of polarization is ohmic polarization, followed by concentration polarization and electrochemical polarization. The values of the three types of polarization are generally small and stable under normal-temperature environments and low-discharge rates. However, they increase significantly in low-temperature environments and high-discharge rates and continue to rise during the discharge process. Additionally, ohmic heat generation and polarization generation also increase significantly under these conditions. Reversible entropy heat is less sensitive to ambient temperature but increases significantly with the increase of the discharge rate. Ohmic heat generation and polarization heat generation contribute to the total heat generation of the battery at any ambient temperature, while reversible entropy heat only contributes to the total heat generation of the battery at the end of discharge.

Along with the economic growth, the companies must contribute to social progress and promote environmental sustainability in equal harmony. Sustainable human resource management (SHRM) strategies make it possible to attain the economic, social and environmental goals of a firm. In this regard, a survey method is discussed using the literature review and online questionnaire to identify the main factors/indicators during the SHRM evaluation of manufacturing firms in India. Uncertainty is commonly occurred in the assessment of SHRM factors. As a generalized version of fuzzy sets, single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) has been demonstrated as a valuable tool to illustrate the indeterminate, inconsistent and uncertain data of realistic decision-making problems. Considering the idea of SVNSs, this study develops a hybrid multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) approach for assessing the SHRM of manufacturing firms under uncertainty settings. For this purpose, an SVN-alternative ranking order method accounting for two-step normalization (AROMAN) is proposed based on VIFI-score function-based decision experts’ (DEs’) weighting tool and integrated criteria weight-determining model to solve the MCGDM problems with fully unknown DEs and criteria weights. In this regard, we develop new SVN-distance measure to compute the degree of difference between SVNSs. Some examples are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of developed measure over the existing ones. In addition, new criteria weight-determination model is presented with the integration of objective weights through IVIF-distance measure-based model and subjective weights through ranking comparison (RANCOM) tool on SVNSs. The proposed ranking method is applied to an empirical study of SHRM assessment for manufacturing firms in India, which shows its applicability and feasibility. In this study, the evaluation criteria are characterized into social, environmental and economic aspects with DE’s opinions. Comparative and sensitivity analyses are made to show the strength and steadiness of presented approach. This study provides an innovative MCGDM analysis framework, which makes a significant contribution to the SHRM assessment problem under indeterminate, inconsistent and uncertain setting.

The interactions of metal ions with fulvic acids resulted in changes in the particle size and charge. Particle size distribution was trimodal for fulvic acids, bimodal for fulvic complexes with calcium and magnesium, and copper-fulvic complexes had only one size fraction. The compensation of negative charge of carboxylic and phenolic functional groups by positive charged metal ions resulted in the increase in zeta potential which was getting closer to zero in the case of copper-fulvic complexes. However, all metal humic complexes behaved as colloidally unstable which resulted in visually observable sedimentation. Calorimetric measurements provided positive values of changes in enthalpy which indicated endothermic processes. In contrast quantum chemical calculations as well as experiments with model compounds provided negative values indicated exothermic processes. Changes in Gibbs energy were determined as negative and changes in entropy as positive which meant spontaneous processes.

The molecular basis of Down syndrome (DS) predisposition to leukemia is not fully understood but involves various factors such as chromosomal abnormalities, oncogenic mutations, epigenetic alterations, and changes in selection dynamics. Myeloid leukemia associated with DS (ML-DS) is preceded by a preleukemic phase called transient abnormal myelopoiesis driven by GATA1 gene mutations and progresses to ML-DS through additional mutations in cohesin genes, CTCF, RAS, or JAK/STAT pathway genes. DS-related ALL (ALL-DS) differs from non-DS ALL in terms of cytogenetic subgroups and genetic driver events and aberrant expression of CRLF2, JAK2 mutations, and RAS pathway activating mutations are frequent in ALL-DS. Recent advancements in single-cell multi-omics technologies have provided unprecedented insights into the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of DS-associated hematologic neoplasms. Single-cell RNA sequencing and digital spatial profiling enable the identification of rare cell subpopulations, characterization of clonal evolution dynamics, and exploration of the tumor microenvironment's role. These approaches may help identify new druggable targets and tailor therapeutic interventions based on distinct molecular profiles, ultimately improving patient outcomes with the potential to guide personalized medicine approaches and the development of targeted therapies.

LiFePO4 (LFP) has undergone extensive research and is a promising cathode material for Li-ion batteries. The high interest is due to its low raw material cost, good electrochemical stability, and high-capacity retention. However, poor electronic conductivity and a low Li+ diffusion rate decrease its electrochemical reactivity, especially at fast charge/discharge rates. In this work, the volumetric energy density of lithium-ion batteries is successfully increased by using different amounts of conductive carbon (Super P) in the active material content. The particle size and morphology of the electrode material samples are studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Two-point-probe DC measurements and adhesive force tests are used to determine the conductivity and evaluate adhesion for the positive electrode. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and charge/discharge tests are used to analyze the electrochemical properties of the battery. The samples containing 88% LFP, 5.5% Super P and 6.5% PVDF perform best, with discharge capacities reaching 169.8 mAhg-1 at 0.1C, and they can also manage charging/discharging of 5C. EIS indicates that this combination produces the lowest charge-transfer impedance (67 Ω) and the highest Li+ ion diffusion coefficient (5.76 x 10-14 cm2s-1).

Although Sn has been intensively studied as one of the most promising anode materials to replace commercialized graphite, its cycling performance and rate performance are still unsatisfactory owing to insufficient control of its large volume change during cycling and poor electrochemical kinetics. Herein, we propose a Sn-TiO2-C ternary composite as a promising anode material to overcome these limitations. The hybrid TiO2-C matrix synthesized via two-step high-energy ball milling effectively regulated the irreversible lithiation/delithiation of the active Sn electrode and facilitated Li-ion diffusion. At the appropriate C concentration, Sn-TiO2-C exhibited significantly enhanced cycling performance and rate capability compared to its counterparts (Sn-TiO2 and Sn-C). Sn-TiO2-C delivers good reversible specific capacities (669 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1 and 651 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 500 mA g-1) and rate performance (446 mAh g-1 at 3000 mA g-1). The superiority of Sn-TiO2-C over Sn-TiO2 and Sn-C was corroborated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which revealed faster Li-ion diffusion kinetics in the presence of the hybrid TiO2-C matrix than in the presence of TiO2 or C alone. Therefore, Sn-TiO2-C is a potential anode for next-generation Li-ion batteries.

A multispectral superconducting nanowire single photon detector sensitive to different incident photon wavelength bands, is proposed. The SNSPD consists of a Distributed Bragg Reflector, a gold mirror, and two regions employing four NbN nanowires. Using the DBR both as a filter and a reflector, two distinct detection bands are created. The first detection band has a peak absorbance of > 0.75 at a wavelength of 1143 nm, while the second band has an absorbance of > 0.70 in the wavelength range 1440 to 2000 nm. The design of the device can be tuned to provide sensitivity in different wavelength bands. While SNSPDs do not typically provide photon wavelength sensitivity, the band-selection design proposed in this work opens up potential applications for future quantum communication technology.

Background. In the central-eastern region of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia more than two decades ago, a mountain area was identified where the population displays exceptional longevity, especially among men (the longevity Blue Zone, LBZ). This community was thoroughly investigated seeking to understand the underlying factors of this phenomenon. In the present study, 11 genetic markers previously associated with longevity in several long-lived populations were analyzed. Methods. APOE (rs429358 and rs7412), APOE promoter (rs449647, rs769446, and rs405509), ACE1 (rs1799752), IL6 ‒174G/C (rs1800795), TNFα ‒308G/A (rs1800629), FOXO3A (rs2802292), KLOTHO (rs9536314) and G6PD (c.563C→T) were investigated. PCR-based genotyping was performed following genomic DNA extraction from 150 nonagenarians living in the LBZ and 150 controls from a nearby area. Results. No significant deviation of the frequency of the analyzed markers was detected between the two groups except a weak association with the –174G&gt;C gene variant of the IL-6 gene (p=0.040), a major modulator of the inflammatory response. Conclusions. The findings of this study do not support a significant association of known genetic variants on survival in the population of the Sardinian LBZ. Other genetic or epigenetic traits might play a role not yet identified.

Adult stem cells (ASCs) can be cultured with difficulty from most tissues, often requiring chemical or transgenic modification to achieve adequate quantities. We show here that mouse primary fibroblasts grown in suspension change from the elongated and flattened morphology observed under standard adherent culture conditions generating rounded cells with large nuclei and scant cytoplasm expressing the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) marker (Sca1; Ly6A) within 24hrs. Based on this initial observation, we describe here a suspension culture method that, irrespective of the lineage used, mouse fibroblast, primary human somatic cells (fibroblasts, hepatocytes and keratinocytes), is capable of generating a high yield of cells in spheroid form which display expression of ASCs surface markers, circumventing the anoikis which often occurs at this stage. Moreover, mouse fibroblasts-derived spheroids can be differentiated into adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. Analysis of single cell RNA sequence data identified 8 distinct cell clusters with one in particular comprising approximately 10% of the cells showing high levels of proliferative capacity expressing high levels of genes related to MSCs and self-renewal as well as extracellular matrix (ECM). We believe the rapid, high-yield generation of proliferative, multi-potent ASC-like cells by the process we term suspension-induced stem cell transition (SIST) could have significant implications for regenerative medicine.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous, critical priority human fungal pathogen. Despite its clinical importance, there is limited knowledge regarding the variations of the genome within mitochondria, the powerhouse organelle within eukaryotic cells. In this study, we leveraged publicly available raw, whole genome sequence data from 1939 isolates to investigate the variations in the mitochondrial genomes of A. fumigatus. These isolates were isolated from 22 countries on six continents, as well as from outer space and from within the International Space Station. In total, our analysis revealed 39 mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) within this global sample and together, these 39 mtSNPs grouped the 1939 isolates into 79 mitochondrial multilocus genotypes (MLGs). Among the 79 MLGs, 39 were each distributed in at least two countries and 30 were each shared by at least two continents. The two most frequent MLGs were also broadly distributed: MLG11 represented 420 isolates from 11 countries and four continents and while MLG79 represented 418 isolates from 18 countries and five continents, consistent with long-distance dispersals of mitogenomes. Our population genetic analyses of the mtSNPs revealed limited differentiation among continental populations but highly variable genetic differences among national populations, largely due to localized clonal expansions of different MLGs. Phylogenetic analysis and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components of mtSNPs suggested the presence of at least three mitogenome clusters. Linkage disequilibrium, Index of Association, and phylogenetic incompatibility analyses collectively suggested evidence for mitogenome recombination in natural populations of A. fumigatus. In addition, sequence read depth analyses revealed an average ratio of ~20 mitogenomes per nuclear genome in this global population but the ratios varied among strains within and between certain geographic populations. Together, our results suggest evidence for organelle dynamics, genetic differentiation, recombination, and both widespread and localized clonal expansion of the mitogenomes in the global A. fumigatus population.

Building carbon footprint analysis is a key instrument for assessing the impact of different constructions on climate change. Several standards and methodologies are available to calculate the footprint of buildings, including standards and norms, life cycle assessment (LCA), and dedicated software tools. The use of BIM software for these calculations is both scientifically justified and very practical. This scientific publication focusses on the application of a BIM-based research methodology for the analysis of the carbon footprint of a single-family house. The research process included the following steps: (i) design of a single-family house with timber frame construction using Archicad BIM software, (ii) simulation of the building energy performance using the EcoDesigner Star plug-in, (iii) life cycle assessment (LCA) using the plug-in for Archicad, (iv) preparation of a second model with traditional masonry construction for comparison, and (v) comparative analysis of the single-family house models with timber frame and masonry construction. Analysis of the results highlights significant differences in CO2e emissions between masonry and timber buildings and the varying impact of individual elements on the total CO2e emissions of the buildings studied. These findings are relevant for future work on sustainable building design and construction, which aims to minimise negative environmental impacts. The goal of minimising the cumulative carbon footprint of buildings is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and combating climate change.

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) possesses numerous advantages such as high mechanical strength, low friction coefficient, excellent optical properties, and extended lifespan. Consequently, ZrO2 has a broad research foundation and practical significance in functional films and wear-resistant coatings. However, it suffers from brittleness and low ductility when used as a bio-coating material. In this study, a Ta/ZrO2 film was fabricated on Si (100) and titanium alloy substrates using a magnetron sputtering system, with tantalum (Ta) serving solely as a transition layer. Subsequently, Zr and Nb ions were implanted into the film at varying doses but with consistent energy levels. The analysis focused on the film's microstructure, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and corrosion resistance. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the hydrophilicity and corrosion resistance of the ZrO2 film following the implantation of Zr and Nb ions. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) principles indicated that, with increasing doping concentrations of Zr and Nb in the ZrO2 model, the stability of the model increased gradually, thereby enhancing its corrosion resistance.

In this work, a novel single crystal (3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl)methyl benzenesulfonate has been synthetized via a one-pot sequential strategy under sonication. A single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was reported. In the crystal, a layer structure is generated by C—H···O and C—H···N hydrogen bonds. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H···H (28.9%), H···O/O···H (26.7%) and H···C/C···H (15.8%) interactions. The optimized structure calculated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6–311 G+(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined structure in the solid state. The calculated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap is 4.6548 eV.

Ion beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) has been proposed as a promising texturing technology that uses film epitaxy method to obtain biaxial texture on a non-textured metal or compound substrate. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is the most well explored texturing material. In order to obtain the optimal biaxial texture, the actual thickness of the IBAD-MgO film must be controlled within 12 nm. Due to the bombardment of ion beams, IBAD-MgO has large lattice deformation, poor texture and many defects in the films. In this work, an additional homogeneous epitaxy MgO (epi-MgO) layer has been deposited on the IBAD-MgO layer by electron-beam evaporation. The biaxial texture can be optimized by the deposition of additional epi-MgO layer. The effects of growth temperature, film thickness, deposition rate and oxygen flux on the texture and morphology of the epi-MgO film were systematically studied. After the research of epi-MgO process, the best full width at half maximum (FWHM) values were 2.2 for the out-of-plane texture and 4.8° for the in-plane texture, respectively. Subsequently, the LaMnO3 cap layer and YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) functional layer was deposited on the epi-MgO layer to test the quality of MgO layer. Finally, the critical current density of YBCO films is 6MA/cm2 (77K, 500nm, self-field), indicating that this research provides a high-quality MgO substrate for the YBCO layer.

A fluorescent probe, N'-((3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methylene)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide (MPMC), was synthesized and characterized. Characterizations of the synthetic MPMC were conducted by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) spectroscopy and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR). The fluorescence emission behaviors of probe MPMC towards diverse metal ions were detected and the probe exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards Cu2+ over other metal ions via quenching of its fluorescence. Furthermore, the existence of other metal actions made no difference on the fluorescence intensity of the MPMC-Cu2+ system apparently, that is, MPMC displayed a good anti-interference ability. Job’s plot of MPMC and copper ions indicated the detection limit was 15.16 nM (R2=0.9612) for the assayed actions, with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 for MPMC and Cu2+. Additionally, the color of MPMC probe solution changed from nearly colorless to yellow in the presence of Cu2+ in visible light, which the color change could be observed by the naked eye. Similarly, the color resolved bright yellow into blue in ultraviolet light. Also reusability studies indicated that MPMC probe was reusable. The pH effect of probe MPMC to Cu2+ had a broad range of pH detection 4.0 to 11.0. The response time of MPMC probe for determining Cu2+ was within 1 min. The recognition of Cu2+ by MPMC performed on pre-treated paper under sunlight and UV light both had a distinct colour change. Thus, the solid-state method for detecting Cu2+ with the naked-eye, was both economical and convenient.

Cryopreserved semen is widely used in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) enabling the conservation and broad use of genetically superior semen. The quality of semen post-thawing determines the success of ART and despite the great advances in cryopreservation methods, the quality of frozen/thawed semen is still sub-optimal. Post-thawing spermatozoa endure oxidative stress (OS) due to the high levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are produced during the freezing/thawing process, and the depletion of antioxidants. To counteract this depletion, supplementation of sperm preparation medium with antioxidants has been widely applied. Melatonin is a hormone with diverse biological roles and a potent antioxidant, with an ameliorative effect on spermatozoa. In the present study, the effect of melatonin on bovine spermatozoa was evaluated during in vitro sperm handling and under oxidative conditions in terms of sperm quality parameters and antioxidant capacity. Melatonin (100 μΜ) improved the kinematic parameters of spermatozoa, enhanced viability and reinforced the antioxidant status of spermatozoa by increasing cellular GSH levels and inhibiting iNOS protein expression.

Bloodstream infection is a major health problem worldwide, with extremely high mortality. Detecting infection in the early stage is challenging due to the extremely low concentration of bacteria in the blood. Digital PCR provides unparalleled sensitivity and can achieve absolute quantification, but it is time-consuming. Moreover, the presence of unavoidable background signals in negative controls poses a significant challenge for single-molecule detection. Here, we propose a novel strategy called “Ultrafast flexible thin tube-based droplet digital PCR (utPCR)” that can shorten the digital PCR process from 2 hours to only 5 minutes, with primer annealing/extension time reduced from minutes to only 5 seconds. Importantly, the ultrafast PCR eliminates the nonspecific amplification and thus enables single-molecular detection. The utPCR enabled sensitive detection and digital quantification of E. coli O157 in the high background of 106-fold excess of E. coli K12 cells. Moreover, this method also displayed the potential to detect rare pathogens in blood samples, and the limit of detection (LOD) could be as low as 10 CFU per mL of blood without false positive results. Considering ultrafast (<5 min) and highly sensitive (single-molecule detection), the utPCR holds excellent prospects in the next generation of molecular diagnosis.

This study proposes a redesign of asymmetric single-chamber microbial fuel cells (a-SCMFC) with the goal of optimizing energy production. The new approach is based on the introduction of an Intermediate Microfluidic Septum (IMS) as a relatively simple and inexpensive method to opti-mize both electrolyte flow and species transfer inside the devices. SCMFCs with the novel IMS, operated with sodium acetate as the carbon source, demonstrate to enhance the energy recovery (Erec) factor, defined as the ratio between the energy yield and the inner volume of electrolyte. In standard operative conditions, cells with IMS exhibit Erec value of (37±1) J/m3, with respect to (3.0±0.3) J/m3 of control cells. Furthermore, changing sodium acetate concentration the Erec values change accordingly. By monitoring the activity of a-SCMFCs for over one-year, beneficial impact of the IMS on both the initial inoculation phase and the long-term stability of electrical perfor-mance were observed. These improvements suggest the effectiveness of IMS to allow the de-velopment of efficient biofilms, likely due to the reduction in oxygen diffusion towards the anode. Electrochemical characterizations confirm that the presence of the IMS impacts the diffusion processes inside the electrolytic chamber, supporting the hypothesis of a beneficial effect on oxygen diffusion.

This study aimed to compare the differences in durability and prestress loss between normal-weight concrete (NC) and lightweight aggregate concrete (LWC) prestressed box girders, which were constructed at the same time in the same area, so as to verify the superiority of using synthetic lightweight aggregate (LWA) made from reservoir sediments in prestressed bridges. For the NCs and LWCs used in prestressed box girders, the basic mechanical properties were tested on the one hand, and the durability properties were tested on the other hand. Then, through the prestress monitoring system, the prestress loss of the two groups of the prestressed box girders was tracked. The results of the durability test confirmed that LWC can inhibit the penetration of air, water, and chloride ions by strengthening the interfacial transition zone between the aggregate and the cement paste, thereby improving its durability. Moreover, the magnetic flux prestress loss of the NC prestressed box girder reached 8.1%. In contrast, the magnetic flux prestress losses on both sides of the LWC prestressed box girder were 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively. This verified that, under the same environmental conditions, the use of LWC produced less of a prestress loss than the use of NC.

The Shitouping pluton in Jiangxi Province, southern China, hosts an ion-adsorption heave rare earth element (HREE) deposit identified by recently geological survey. This study reveals the HREE pre-enrichment mechanism during the magma-hydrothermal process of granitic bedrock based on the comprehensive study of zircon structure and composition. Zircon from the Shitouping pluton, composed of syenogranite and monzogranite, can be categorized into three types based on structure and compositions. The Type-1 zircons, the predominate type in monzogranite granite, are early magmatic zircons with prismatic crystals and bright oscillatory zoning. In contrast, the late magmatic-hydrothermal zircons (Type-2 and Type-3) are mainly occurred in the syenogranite. The Type-2 zircons occur as murky euhedral crystals crystallized in the late magmatic stage. The Type-3 zircons with irregular zoning and abundant mineral inclu-sions in BSE images are closely associated with Type-2 zircons, possibly formed via intense hy-drothermal alteration during the hydrothermal stage. The increase in Y/Ho ratios from Type-1 to Type-3 zircon indicates that the Shitouping syenogranites underwent magmatic to hydrothermal evolution. Compared with Type-1 and Type-2 zircons, Type-3 zircons exhibit the highest con-centrations of F and HREEs. The significant increase of HREE concentrations both in zircons and bulk-rock composition of syenogranite can be attributed to the introduction of HREE-rich fluids during magma evolution. Under this condition, the HREEs mainly hosted in fluorocarbonates, which can easily release HREE3+ to generate ion-adsorption deposits during the weathering process. Therefore, we propose that increase of HREE contents in zircon reflect the exsolution of HREE-rich fluids during the magma evolution, which is important factor controlling HREE en-richment in Shitouping syenogranites and further generation of ion-adsorption HREE deposits.

Background: Identifying genetic mutations that lead to spermatogenic impairment is essential for offering patients informed genetic counseling and preventing the transmission of genetic defects to their offspring, often through the use of advanced reproductive technologies. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with male infertility. Methods and Materials: Genetic variants that may cause infertility are identified by combining targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) panel and whole exome sequencing (WES). The validation step of Sanger sequencing adds confidence to the identified variants. Results: Our analysis revealed five distinct affected genes covering seven SNPs: based on targeted NGS panel and WES data, namely SPATA16 (rs16846616, 1515442, 1515441), CFTR (rs213950), KIF6 (rs2273063), STPG2 (r2903150) and DRC7 (rs3809611). Infertile men have a higher mutation rate than fertile men, especially those with azoospermia. Discussion and Conclusions: These findings strongly support the hypothesis that dysfunction of microtubule-related and spermatogenesis-specific genes contributes to idiopathic male infertility. The SPATA16, CFTR, KIF6, STPG2 and DRC7 mutations are associated with male infertility, specifically azoospermia, further examination of this genetic function is required.

Induction heating (IH) technology is widely recognized and utilized in residential applications due to its high efficiency and safe operating characteristics. Resonant inverter circuits are widely used in IH systems because of their high efficiency and ability to perform soft-switching. Among the various resonant inverters used in IH systems, the single-switch quasi-resonant (SSQR) inverter topology is typically preferred for low-cost and low-output-power applications. Despite its cost advantage, the SSQR topology has a relatively narrow soft-switching range, which can be unstable depending on the electrical parameters of the load and the resonant converter circuit. Accurately determining the capacitance value of the resonant capacitor and the inductance value of the induction coil, which are the key circuit elements of the SSQR induction cooker, is crucial for designing a reliable, efficient, and durable cooking system. In other words, there exists a critical relationship between the resonant converter circuit parameters, load characteristics, and safe operating conditions. Additionally, when considering closed-loop control methods used for power control and safety, selecting appropriate resonant circuit elements becomes vital in ensuring both reliable and efficient operation. This paper focuses on a novel and simplified design method for the SSQR inverter utilized in household appliances. The proposed method and its advantages in terms of the safe operating area of the switch are theoretically investigated and verified through simulations and prototype circuits.

Due to increasing concerns about global warming and energy crisis, intensive efforts have been made to explore renewable and clean energy sources. Single-atom metals and two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have attracted extensive attention in the fields of energy and environment because of their unique electronic structures and excellent properties. In this review, we sum-marize the state-of-art progress on the single-atom metal supported at 2D MoS2 (single-atom metal/2D MoS2) for electrochemical CO2 reduction and water splitting. First, we introduce the advantages of single-atom metal/2D MoS2 catalysts in the fields of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and water splitting, followed by the strategies for improving electrocatalytic performances of single-atom metal/2D MoS2 hybrid nanomaterials and the typical preparation methods. Further, we discuss the important applications of the nanocomposites in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and water splitting via some typical examples, particularly focusing on their synthesis routes, modification approaches, and physiochemical mechanisms for improving their electrocatalytic performances. Finally, our perspectives on the key challenges and future directions of exploring high-performance metal single-atom catalysts are presented based on recent achievements in the development of single-atom metal/2D MoS2 hybrid nanomaterials.

Interactions between proteins and ions are essential for various biological functions like structural stability, metabolism, and signal transport. Given that more than half of all proteins bind to ions, it becomes crucial to identify ion-binding sites. Accurate identification of protein-ion binding sites helps us to understand proteins’ biological functions and plays a significant role in drug discovery. While several computational approaches have been proposed, this remains a challenging problem due to the small size and high versatility of metals and acid radicals. In this study, we propose IonPred, a sequence-based approach that employs ELECTRA (Efficiently Learning an Encoder that Classifies Token Replacements Accurately) to predict ion binding sites using only raw protein sequences. We successfully fine-tuned our pretrained model to predict the binding sites for nine metal ions (Zn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, and K+) and four acid radical ion ligands (CO32−, SO42−, PO43−, NO2−). IonPred surpassed six current state-of-the-art tools by over 44.65% and 28.46% respectively in F1 score and MCC when compared on an independent test dataset. Our method is more computationally efficient than existing tools producing prediction results for a hundred sequences for a specific ion in under ten minutes.

We fabricated high-quality MAPbBr3 single crystals (SC) by introducing moderate amount electron-rich poly(propylene glycol bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (PEA) additives with an inverse temperature crystallization (ITC) method. The intramolecular vibrations and defective states of prepared MAPbBr3 single crystals were systemically studied by the in situ variable-temperature Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the synchrotron-based X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), et al. We infer that the proper amount of PEA additives would prevent the formation of intermediate states and crystal boundaries, passivating the density of defective states. The X-ray detection properties of single-crystal MAPbBr3 crystals were investigated, using both high dose and low dose X-ray photons at 40keV in synchrotron beamlines. The photocurrent of optimized PEA-treated MAPbBr3 single crystals demonstrate better performance compared with the as-prepared single crystals. Meanwhile, the decay time of MAPbBr3 single crystal is decreased from 460 ns to 210 ns by Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decay measurement, owing to the defect passivation by 0.5wt% PEA additives. The PEA-treated single crystals possess much faster decay time than the commercialized Ce:YAG scintillator (>500ns). These results help elucidate the passivation of defective states and contribute paths to manufacture high-quality single crystal perovskites for next-generation optoelectronic devices.

Advanced genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics techniques are providing unprecedented insights into the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the central nervous system, including the neuro-sensory cochlea of the inner ear. Here, we report for the first time a comprehensive and updated overview of the most advanced omics techniques for the study of nucleic acids, and their applications in cochlear research. We describe the available in vitro and in vivo models for hearing research, the principles of genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics, alongside their most advanced technologies (like single cell omics and spatial omics), which allows to investigate the molecular events that occur at single cell resolution retaining the spatial information.

In this report, we establish a straightforward method for estimating the equilibrium constant for the CK reaction over wide but physiologically and experimentally relevant ranges of pH, Mg2+ and temperature. Our empirical formula for CK Keq” is based on experimental measurements. It can be used to estimate [ADP] when [ADP] is below the resolution of experimental measurements, a typical situation because [ADP] is on the order of micromolar concentrations in living cells, and may be much lower in many in vitro experiments. Accurate prediction of [ADP] is essential for in vivo studies of cellular energetics and metabolism, and for in vitro studies of ATP-dependent enzyme function under near-physiological conditions. With [ADP], we could estimate ΔGATP. Application to actomyosin force generation in muscle provides support for the hypothesis that, when [Pi] varies but not when pH is altered, maximum Ca2+-activated isometric force depends on ΔGATP in both living and permeabilized muscle preparations. Further analysis of the pH studies introduces a novel hypothesis for the role of submicromolar ADP in force generation.

Genetic adaptation of Hermetia illucens (BSF) to suboptimal single sourced wastes can open new perspectives for insect production. Here, four replicate BSF lines were maintained on a single sourced, low-quality wheat bran diet (WB) or on a high-quality chicken feed diet (CF) for 13 generations. We continuously evaluated evolutionary responses in several performance traits to rearing at the two diets. Subsequently, we tested responses to interchanged diets, i.e. of larvae that had been adapted to low-quality feed and to high quality feed and vice versa to evaluate costs associated with diet adaptation. BSF were found to experience rapid adaptation to the diet composition. While performances on WB diet were always inferior to CF diet, the adaptive re-sponses were stronger to the former diet. This stronger response was likely due to stronger se-lection pressure experienced by BSF fed on the low-quality single sourced diet. The interchanged diet experiment found no costs associated with diet adaptation but confirmed diet adaptation for the larval biomass and insect frass traits for the WB diet treatment. Our results revealed that BSF can rapidly adapt to diet through evolutionary responses, which has potential to be utilized to produce lines tailored to specific diets.

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.

Anode materials based on TiO2 nanoparticles of different morphologies were prepared using the hydrothermal method and characterized by various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (DRX), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and N2 absorption. The TiO2 nanoparticles prepared were used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and their electrochemical properties were tested using discharging/charging measurements. The results showed that the initial morphology of the nanoparticles plays a minor role in battery performance after the first few cycles and that better capacity was achieved for TiO2 nanobelt morphology. The sharp drop in the specific capacity of LIB during their first cycles is examined considering changes in the morphology of TiO2 particles and their porosity properties in terms of shape and connectivity.

This paper investigates the ion-acoustic wave structures in fluid ions for the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony-Peregrine-Burgers (BBMPB) equation. The various types of wave structures, are extracted including the three-wave hypothesis, breather wave, lump periodic, mixed-type wave, periodic cross-kink, cross-kink rational wave, M-shaped rational wave, M-shaped rational wave solution with one kink wave and M-shaped rational wave with two kink wave solutions. The Hirota bilinear transformation is a powerful tool that allows us to accurately solutions and predict the behavior of these wave structures. Through our analysis, we gain a better understanding of the complex dynamics of ion-acoustic waves and their potential applications in various fields. Moreover, our findings contribute to the ongoing research in plasma physics that utilize ion-acoustic wave phenomena. To show the physical behavior of the solutions, some 3D plots have been performed and their respective contour level, choosing different values of the parameters.

Methanotrophic bacteria that possess a unique ability of using methane as a sole source of carbon and energy have attracted considerable attention as potential producers of a single-cell protein. So far, this biotechnology implied using freshwater methanotrophs, although many regions of the world have limited freshwater resources. This study aimed at searching for novel methanotrophs capable of fast growth in saltwater comparable in composition with seawater. A methane-oxidizing microbial consortium containing Methylomarinum- and Methylotuvimicrobium-like methanotrophs has been enriched from a sediment of the river Chernavka (water pH 7.5, total salt content 30 g L-1), a tributary river of the hypersaline Lake Elton, southern Russia. This microbial consortium, designated Ch1, demonstrated stable growth on natural gas in a bioreactor in media with a total salt content of 23 to 35.9 g L-1 at a dilution rate of 0.19-0.21 h-1. The highest biomass yield of 5.8 g CDW/L with a protein content of 63% was obtained during continuous cultivation of the consortium Ch1 in a medium with a total salt content of 29 g L-1. Isolation attempts resulted in obtaining a pure culture of methanotrophic bacteria, strain Ch1-1. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Ch1-1 displayed 97.09-97.24% similarity to the corresponding gene fragments of characterized representatives of Methylomarinum vadi, methanotrophs isolated from marine habitats. The genome of strain Ch1-1 was 4.8 Mb in size and encoded 3 rRNA operons, and about 4400 proteins. The genome contained the gene cluster coding for ectoine biosynthesis, which explains the ability of strain Ch1-1 to tolerate high salt concentration.

It is important for food recognition to separate each ingredient within a food image at the pixel level. In this paper, we propose a new approach to segment ingredients by utilizing a CNN-based Single-Ingredient Classification Model. In detail, we firstly introduce a standardized biological-based hierarchical ingredient structure and construct a single-ingredient image dataset based on this structure. Then, we build a single-ingredient classification model based on a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that utilizes an attention mechanism. Afterwards, we propose a new framework for segmentation using the above single-ingredient classification model as the backbone. In this framework, two methods are involved in segmenting ingredients in the food images. We introduce five evaluation metrics (IoU, Dice, Purity, Entirety, Loss of GTs) to assess the performance of ingredient segmentation in terms of ingredient classification. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, achieving an maximal mIoU of 0.65, mDice of 0.77, mPurity of 0.83, mEntirety of 0.80, and mLoGTs of 0.06 on the FoodSeg103 dataset. The results confirm that our CNN-based architecture achieves higher segmentation performance compared to ResNet18 and EfficientNet-B0 when used as the backbone for ingredient segmentation. We believe that our ingredient segmentation approach lays the foundation for subsequent ingredient recognition.

The paper concludes that the choice of charging strategy depends on the specific requirements and limitations of the off-grid solar PV system, and that a careful analysis of the factors that affect performance is necessary to identify the most appropriate approach. Also provides valuable insights for designing and optimizing off-grid solar PV systems, which can help to improve the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of these systems.

The refractive index of solids guages their transparency to incident light, while the energy gap determines the threshold for light absorption. This paper provides a mathematical formulation for the relationship between refractive index and energy gap. It is also established that this formulation aided in the unification of the Moss, Ravindra, and Herve-Vandamme relationships.

Object detection is a popular image processing technique, widely used in numerous applications for detecting and locating objects in images or videos. While being one of the fastest algorithms for object detection, Single-Shot Multibox Detection (SSD) networks are also computationally very demanding, which limits their usage in real-time edge applications. Even though the SSD post-processing algorithm is not the most complex segment of the overall SSD object detection network, it is still computationally demanding and can become a bottleneck with respect to processing latency and power consumption, especially in edge applications with limited resources. When using hardware accelerators to accelerate backbone CNN processing, the SSD post-processing step implemented in software can become critical for high-end applications where high frame rates are required, as this paper shows. To overcome this problem, we propose Puppis, an architecture for hardware acceleration of SSD post-processing algorithm. As experiments will show, our solution will lead to an average SSD post-processing speedup of 34.42 when compared with a software implementation. Furthermore, execution of a complete SSD network will be on average 45.39 times faster than software implementation when the proposed Puppis SSD hardware accelerator is used together with some existing CNN accelerators.

: This article reports on polymer (PLLA, poly(L-lactic acid)) nanosheets incorporated with Fe-ion nanoparticles, aiming at using the latter nanoparticles as source to release Fe ions to facilitate burn wound healing when such nanosheets are applied on skin as biomedical tissue. Laser ablation in liquid phase was used to produce Fe-containing nanoparticles that after incorporation into PLLA nanosheets would release Fe ions when in immersed in water. Such nanoparticles prepared in chloroform are shown by XPS to be based on iron chloride and oxide phases. After incorporation into PLLA nanosheets, the ion –release test demonstrated that Fe ions could be released successfully into water at pH 7.4, which implies that such polymer nanosheets show promise for biomedical applications as potential patches for healing burn wounds. Incorporation with two different metal ions (Fe and Zn) is shown to be efficient and both types of ions were demonstrated to be released simultaneously and with comparable release rates.

It is well known that fiber sizing is one of the most important component in the manufacturing of composites, and it does affect the mechanical properties including strength and stiffness. In this work, the influence of fiber sizing levels on the mechanical properties of carbon fibers (CF) is reported at room temperature by using single fiber tensile testing (Favimat+), single fiber pullout testing (SFPO), and interfacial elemental analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Standard modulus of CF (7±0.2 μm in diameter) were sized using two Michelman commercially available sizing formulations. The average solid content for each sizing formulation is 26.3 ± 0.2% and 34.1 ± 0.2%, respectively. HEXION RIMR 135 with curing agent RIMH 137 was used as a model thermoset epoxy matrix during the SFPO measurements. A predictive engineering fiber sizing methodology is also developed. Sizing amounts of 0.5, 1, and 2 wt. % on the surface of the fiber is achieved for both sizing formulations. For each fiber sizing level, 50 single fiber tensile testing experiments and 20 single fiber pull-out tests were conducted. The ultimate tensile strength (σult) of the carbon fibers and the interfacial shear strength (τ_app) of the single fiber composite were analyzed. it is also investigated the effect of the sizing levels on the interfacial shear stress and the O/C (Oxygen/Carbon) surface composition ratio. As a result, generalized fiber sizing and characterization methods were established. The developed methods can be used to characterize the strength and interfacial shear strength of any man-made fibers with different sizing formulations and solid contents, irrespective of the matrix i.e. thermoset or thermoplastic.

Abstract: Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L) has been known for being a rich source of phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins. This study presents a model system for how the combination of extrac-tion/chromatography/mass spectrometry and NMR offers an efficient way to profile metabolites in the extracts of a natural product, beetroot . Such combination may lead to the identification of more nutritional or medicinal compounds in natural products, and it is essential for our ongoing investigation to study the selective adsorption/desorption of these metabolites on nanoparticles. The aqueous and organic extracts underwent analyses using UV-vis spectroscopy; GC-MS; LC-MS; 1H, 13C, TOCSY, HSQC, and selective TOCSY NMR experiments. Polar Extract: The two forms of betalain pigment were identified by UV-vis and LC MS. Fourteen amino acids, sucrose, and other compounds among which is riboflavin, were identified by LC-MS. 2D TOCSY showed the spin coupling correlations corresponding to some of these compounds. The HSQC spectrum showed 1H/13C spin correlation in sucrose confirming the high abundance of sucrose in beetroot. Organic Extract: GC-MS data enabled the identification of several compounds including six fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) with higher than, on average, 90% similarity score. Selective TOCSY NMR data showed the spin coupling pattern corresponding to oleic, linoleic, and linolenic fatty acids. 31P NMR spectra indicate that phospholipids exist in both the organic and aqueous phases. Keywords: Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L); Total Correlation Spectroscopy (TOCSY); Gas Chromatog-raphy-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS); selective TOCSY, Homonuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC); fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).

The growing interest in Na-ion batteries as a “beyond lithium” technologies for energy storage drives the research for high-performance and environment-friendly materials. Na2Ti3O7 (NTO) as an eco-friendly, low-cost anode material shows a very low working potential of 0.3 V vs Na+/Na but suffers from poor cycling stability, which properties can be significantly influenced by materials synthesis and treatment. Thus, in this work, the influence of the calcination time on the electrochemical performance and the reaction mechanism during cycling were investigated. NTO heat-treated for 48 h at 800 °C (NTO-48h) demonstrated enhanced cycling performance in comparison to NTO heat-treated for only 8 h (NTO-8h). The pristine material was thoroughully characterized by X-ray diffraction, laser granulometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area measurements. The reaction mechanisms induced by sodiation/desodiation and cycling were investigated by opernado XRD. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to evidence the evolution of the solid electrolyte interface layer (SEI) and modification of charge transfer resistances as well as the influence of cycling on capacity decay. The evolution of the crystallographic structure of NTO-48h revealed a more ordered structure and lower surface contamination compared to NTO-8h. Moreover, the residual Na4Ti3O7 phase detected after the sodium extraction step in NTO-8h seems correlated to the lower electrochemical performance of NTO-8h compared to NTO-48h.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, causative agent of COVID-19, is known for its genetic diversity. Virus variants of concern (VOCs) as well as variants of interest (VOIs) are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) according to their potential risk to global health. This study seeks to enhance the identification and classification of such variants by developing a novel bioinformatics criterion centered on the virus's spike protein (SP1), a key player in host cell entry, immune response, and a mutational hotspot. To achieve this, we pioneered a unique phylogenetic algorithm which calculates EIIP-entropy as a distance measure based on the distribution of the Electron-Ion Interaction Potential (EIIP) of amino acids in SP1. This method offers a comprehensive, scalable, and rapid approach to analyze large genomic data sets and predict the impact of specific mutations. This innovative approach provides a robust tool for classifying emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants into potential VOCs or VOIs. It could significantly augment surveillance efforts and understanding of variant characteristics, while also offering potential applicability to the analysis and classification of other emerging viral pathogens and enhancing global readiness against emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens.

Biological parameters extracted from electrical signals from various body parts have been used for many years to analyze the human body and its behavior. In addition, electrical signals from cancer cell lines, normal cells, and viruses, among others, have been widely used for the detection of various diseases. Single-cell parameters such as cell and cytoplasmic conductivity, relaxation frequency, and membrane capacitance are important. There are many techniques available to characterize biomaterials, such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), nanotechnology, microstrip cavity resonance measurement, dielectric impedance measurement (DEPIM), etc. This article reviews the single cell isolation and sorting techniques, summarizes the common single cell operations such as impedance flow cytometry, cell electrical impedance, electrical impedance sensing, and summarizes the current single cell analysis techniques and their applications.

GDF5 gene is involved in the development of skeletal elements, synovial joint formation, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Several polymorphisms are present within the gene and two of them, rs143384 and 143383, have been reported as correlated with osteoarticular disease or muscle flexibility. The aim of this research is to verify if the worldwide distribution among human populations of rs143384 polymorphism has been shaped by selective pressure, or if it’s the result of random genetic drift events. Ninety-four individuals of both sexes, 18-28 years old, from Sardinia were analyzed. We observed the following genotype frequencies: 28.72% of homozygotes AA, 13.83% of homozygotes GG, and 57.45% of heterozygotes AG. Allele frequencies were 0.574 for allele A and 0.426 for alle G. Relationships between populations were verified by Multidimensional Scaling (MDS). Our data show: i) a clear heterogeneity within the African populations; ii) a strong differentiation between Africans and the other populations: iii) the Sardinian population is placed withing the European cluster. To reveal possible traces of selective pressure, Population Branch Statistic (PBS) was calculated; both SNPs rs143384 and 143383 have low PBS values, suggesting that there are no signals of selective pressure in those areas of the gene.

To avoid the endless accumulation of QTL effects during pyramiding breeding, QTL epistasis plays a role of homeostasis. Four single-segment substitution lines with heading date QTLs were utilized to construct pyramiding materials with dual QTLs and triple QTLs, allowing for the estimation of QTL epistatic effects on heading date in rice. The epistatic components of dual QTL and triple QTL interactions were analyzed using data from three seasons of two years. All four QTLs can be considered as dominant loci, demonstrating superdominance. 75% of dual QTL interactions and 81.25% of triple QTL interactions obtained statistically significant results, reaffirming the prevalence of epistasis. Interactions of four QTLs with three positive effects and one negative effect generated 62.5% negative dual QTL epistatic effects and 57.7% positive triple QTL epistatic effects, forming the balance relationship “positive-negative-positive”. In fact, QTL effects were consistently partially neutralized by mixed QTL epistatic effects so as to control the infinite accumulation of QTL effects. QTL epistasis plays a role of homeostasis on heading date in rice. However, there were two exceptions. The directions of OsMADS50 and Hd3a-2 effects were consistently aligned with those of their mixed epistases, suggesting that the QTL or gene could be employed in pyramiding breeding with different objectives. This study elucidated the mechanism of epistatic interactions among four QTLs and provided valuable genetic resources for improving heading date in rice.

A CoCrFeNiNb0.65 eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) prepared by arc melting were irradiated with a 100 keV He+ ion beam. Swelling, helium bubbles and mechanical response induced by irradiation were evaluated. When the ion fluence reached 1.0×1018 ions/cm2, the irradiation-induced swelling occurred on the sample surface, and as the ion fluence increasing, the swelling became increasingly severe and the surface of Nb-rich phase appeared peeling and shedding. Meanwhile, along the boundaries of matrix and Nb-rich phase there was a neat line of helium bubbles. The size of these helium bubbles decreased with distance from the center of the helium bubble layer. This result indicated that the phase boundaries were favorable sites for the nucleation and gathering of helium bubbles. Nanoindentaion results indicated that hardening and softening induced by He+ ion irradiation occurred in various ion fluences. At ion fluence of 5.0×1017 ions/cm2, the CoCrFeNiNb0.65 EHEAs exhibited an obvious hardening behavior, which can be explained by dislocation-dominated hardening effect. When the ion fluence reached 1.0×1018 ions/cm2 and 2.0×1018 ions/cm2, the hardening effect decreased probably due to the helium bubble aggregation and growth, as well as helium bubbles induced noncompact structures. The results of this study provide insights into the effect of helium bubbles on mechanical evolution and pave the way for designing EHEAs suitable for the nuclear industry.

Silicon has been proved to be one of the most promising anode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion battery. For the application in batteries, Si anode should have high capacity and must be industrially scalable. In this study, we have designed and synthesised a hollow structure to meet these requirements. All the processes are carried out without special equipment. The Si nanoparticles that are commercially available are used as the core sealed inside TiO₂ shell, with rationally designed void space between the particles and shell. The Si@TiO₂ are characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The optimised hollow structured silicon nanoparticles, when used as anode in lithium-ion battery, exhibit a high reversible specific capacity over 600 mAhg-1. This excellent electrochemical property of the nanoparticles can be attributed to their optimised phase and unique hollow nanostructure.

Currently Single Board Computers (SBCs) are sufficiently powerful to run Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOSs) and applications with real-time attributes and requirements. SBCs serve as a foundation in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The NXP Semiconductors produces a series of SBCs based on ARM-processors for a variety of industrial applications. The continuous increase in real-time data generated by IoT devices adds further research issues about the efficiency of such systems and applications. The purpose of this research was to investigate the timing performance of an NXP TWR-K70F120M device with μClinux OS on running concurrently tasks with real-time features and constraints. A custom-built multithreaded application with specific compute-intensive sorting and matrix operations was developed and applied to obtain measurements in specific timing metrics, including task’s execution time, threads waiting time, and response time, under different threads variations. The performance of this device was additionally benchmarked and validated against favorite platforms, a Raspberry Pi4 and BeagleBone AI SBCs. The experimental results showed that this device stands well both in terms of timing and efficiency metrics. Execution times were quite lower than the others, by approximately 56% in the case of two threads, and by 29% in the case of thirty-two threads configurations.

An experimental platform for laser-driven ion (sub-MeV) acceleration and potential applications was recently commissioned at the HiLASE laser facility. The auxiliary beam of the Bivoj laser system operating at GW peak power (~10 J in 5-10 ns) and 1-10 Hz repetition rate enabled a sta-ble production of high-current ion beams of multiple species (Al, Ti, Fe, Si, Cu, Sn). The pro-duced laser-plasma ion sources were fully characterized against the laser intensity on target (1013-1015 W/cm2) by varying the laser energy, focal spot size, and pulse duration. This al-lowed to provide accurate scaling laws of the maximum ion energy for the different target ma-terials investigated. Such experimental scaling laws are presented for the first time in the inves-tigated laser intensity range and for ns-class laser pulses, and allow to provide a qualitative in-terpretation of the laser-plasma interaction underpinning physics, thus to tune the main features of the accelerated ion beams (energy, temperature, and current). Such a detailed study was facil-itated by the large amount of data acquired at high repetition rate (1-10 Hz) provided by the Bivoj laser system. The versatility and tuneability of such high-repetition-rate laser-plasma ion sources are of po-tential interest for multidisciplinary user applications.

Some studies show that patients with mutations in the SNCA gene, which codifies for the alpha-synuclein protein, show a particular phenotype. The effects of SNCA Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) in recently diagnosed, drug-naïve patients with PD have been less explored. Therefore, we set out to explore the differences in the clinical characteristics of recently diagnosed drug-naïve sporadic PD patients with or without SNCA rs3910105 or rs356181 SNPs. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of PD in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database entered the study. We excluded those with missing data, dementia, psychiatric conditions, a diagnosis change over the first five years from the initial PD diagnosis, or with a familial history of PD. Subjects were evaluated with the MDS-Unified PD Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), DAT imaging, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the SCOPA-AUT for autonomic function, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the RBD Questionnaire, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). We included 308 PD patients fulfilling all inclusion and exclusion criteria. A logistic regression analysis and Machine-Learning models did not disclose any difference between patients either with or without the SNCA rs3910105 SNP or with or without the SNCA rs3910105 polymorphism. Our results suggest that the SNCA polymorphisms rs3910105 and rs356181 have no impact on the phenotype of idiopathic, sporadic, recently diagnosed, drug naïve PD patients.

Plasma plays an important role in semiconductor processes. With the recent miniature and integration, the control of plasma became essential for the success in critical dimension of a few nanometers and etch narrow and deep holes with high aspect ratios. Recently, the etching process has reached physical limitations due to a significant increase in wafer surface temperature under the elevated amount of RF power, affecting not only the warpage phenomenon but also etching uniformity and etching profiles. Therefore, the plasma characteristics are identified using invasive single Langmuir probe (SLP) for wafer temperature diagnosis. Optical data is obtained through a non-invasive optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and the plasma parameters are derived to compare and verify with the SLP. Two variables, electron temperature and electron density, are substituted for the heat flux formula to derive the heat flux according to its location. Using a wafer-type temperature sensor, check the derived heat flux values and compare trends. Such studies are expected to be able to calculate heat flux values in real time, anticipate wafer temperatures, and solve existing problems.

Bacteria’s ability to withstand the detrimental effects of antimicrobials may take the form of resistance or tolerance with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the mutant prevention concentration (MPC), and the mutant selection window as salient concepts. Isolates exposed for 30 days to different concentrations of selected antibiotics, biocides, and heavy metals, singly and in combination, were additionally exposed to very high (15 × MIC) concentrations of ampicillin., and their tolerance was calculated the time to kill 99.9% of the isolate population (MDK99.9). These values were increased by 30 to 50% in test isolates compared to the untreated control. BAC 10-exposed isolates had the highest tolerance increase, and the tolerance appeared to originate from two sources, i.e., stochastic persistence and genetic-induced persistence, involving multiple genes using diverse mechanisms. The mutant selection window of the isolates to ampicillin, amoxicillin, and oxytetracycline also slightly increased compared to the control, indicating the amplification of persister cells during the 30-day exposure. These findings indicate that bacterial exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of environmental chemical stressors may not always result in the development of antimicrobial resistance but could initiate this process by selecting for persisters that could evolve into resistant isolates.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are estimated by averaging time-locked single trial electroencephalography (EEG) signals in response to specific events or stimuli. Classifying ERPs accurately is a challenge because (a) single trials have poor signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs) and (b) it is difficult to collect large single trial ensembles to generate high SNR ERPs for classifier training and testing. The m-subsample averaging (m-SA) strategy which generates small-sample ERPs by repeated averaging of a small number of single trials drawn without replacement, has been proposed as a solution to the two problems. An ERP formed by averaging m single trials is referred to as an m-ERP where m is referred to as the averaging parameter. In this study, we conduct thorough analyses of m-SA and focus on issues not addressed in previous studies to better understand the beneficial properties of m-SA and to further support its application for ERP classification. Specifically, we (a) analyze the improvement in SNR as a function of m using the mean-root-mean-square SNR and visual analyses of m-ERP plots with confidence intervals, (b) analyze the improvement in interclass separation as a function of m, (c) determine how the SNR and interclass separation analyses can help to select the averaging parameter m, (d) determine the number of distinct m-ERPs that can be drawn from a single-trial ensemble, and (e) determine several probabilities related to the generation of distinct m-ERPs. Furthermore, an extensive set of experiments are designed to analyze the performance of support vector machine and convolution neural network classifiers employing m-SA with various combinations of the averaging parameters used for generating the training and test sets. The results confirm that ERPs can be classified accurately using small subsample averaging. Most importantly, it is concluded that m-SA can be deployed in practice to accurately classify ERPs in brain activity research and in clinical applications without having to collect a prohibitively large number of single trials.

High surface area carbon was obtained from -carrageenan – urea cryogels doped with 1.25 – 5 wt% graphene oxide (GO). Incorporation of GO resulted in multifaceted modification in the textural and chemical properties of the carbon cryogel. The thermal decomposition of GO facilitated the formation of micropores resulted in a substantial increase in the apparent surface area (up to 1780 m2/g). The annealing at 1000 °C removed part of the heteroatoms but left behind a high number of defects. While the volatile thermal degradation products of GO affected the porous texture and the surface chemistry in a complex way, its reduced residue resulted in a gradually increasing electrical conductivity. The influence of GO was studied in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and in Li-ion storage application. GO affected the electron transfer mechanism in the ORR tests and challenged the stability of the electrodes. Even if the electrode has been stabilized under oxygen-free conditions, later may undergo destabilization processes during the ORR. The 5 wt% GO doped sample was the most sensitive under oxidative conditions, but finally it exhibited the highest capacitance. In the Li-ion battery tests the coulombic efficiency of all the samples was consistently above 98 %, indicating the great potential of such carbons for efficient Li-ion insertion and reinsertion during the charge – discharge process, thereby providing a promising alternative for graphite-based anodes. The cell from the 1.25% sample showed an initial discharge capacity of 313 mAh/g, 95.1 % capacity retention and 99.3 % coulombic efficiency after 50 charge – discharge cycles.

This paper examines some of the largely neglected areas of opportunity to utilize skeletal space structure systems in support of modular, industrialized, economical, sustainable and digital future of the construction industry. In this context, the feasibility of future use of skeletal space structures is studied for a few classes of engineering structures, namely, residential apartment buildings, and offshore platforms, along with their suitability for reconstruction, renovation, modernization and retrofit of damaged buildings and urban areas of cultural heritage significance. Finally, the particulars of lean project management of space structures are discussed with emphasis on engineering and economic factors, production management, environmental aspects, quality management, and reliability, maintainability and sustainability considerations. This article concludes that skeletal space structures can fulfil many of the essential construction requirements of modern societies, especially those facing environmental challenges, all while allowing for design flexibility and mass customization.

Single parenting is a social phenomenon that has always been in existence and is as old as mankind, and today the number of single-parent families has been rampantly increasing. As a result, the researcher conducted a study in the Gambella region of Ethiopia to investigate the economic and educational implications of single parenting on female adolescent students. The study employed a qualitative research approach with a case study research design. The researchers used the purposive sampling technique to select the research area and research participants for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and eleven interviewees, seventeen participants in focus group discussions within two groups, and seven key informants participated. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed. Interviews with research participants revealed that adolescent girl students from single-parent homes experience financial difficulties. The study also explored that students with single parents are more likely to be absent from school, to come late to school, to score low marks, and to drop out of school. Therefore, having an understanding of the benefits of having intact parents for the well-being of adolescents and raising children together should be advocated.

Despite being a rare disease worldwide, rabies has the highest morbidity and mortality rates, with nearly all symptomatic cases leading to coma and death. Rabies represents an infectious disease caused by the Rabies virus (RABV), which is part of the Lyssavirus group and the Rhabdoviridae family, and it mainly spreads through the bite and scratch of an infected mammal, but particularly of wild animals, such as bats, foxes, wolves and racoons, and of domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, in rabies-prone areas of the world. Airborne transmission has been deemed as extremely rare, and no clinical case as such has been recorded worldwide yet, except in the enclosed environment, such as research laboratories and caves where infected bats are present. Domestic mammals, such as dogs and ferrets, represent other important reservoirs of disease transmission, and the human cases of Asia and Africa amount approximately 95% of all human cases worldwide. Infected animals most commonly start transmitting the virus once the first symptoms have occurred, and if they experience disease aggravation and death within 10 days, a case of rabies is registered, more easily if the incidence occurred in the urban area and then, any person or animal that had been potentially exposed are strongly recommended to receive the inoculation. It is rare for asymptomatic mammals to transmit the illness. Most First-World and several Second-World countries have recently been declared dog rabies-free by the World Health Organization. The disease can only be treated prophylactically, with three doses of a vaccine containing an inactivated form of RABV, or with five doses of the vaccine and two doses of anti-RABV immunoglobulins within 28 days if the patient is believed to have been exposed to the virus beforehand. It has been projected that, once the viral load reaches elements of the central nervous system, prophylactic approaches are no longer effective, even if symptoms have not begun yet, and this highlights the urgent trait of the medical condition, strongly recommending exposed people to receive the prophylactic doses immediately after the potential exposure to the virus. The pathogen first infects the bodily fluids, before reaching the peripheral nervous system, from where it will gradually move toward the spinal cord or the encephalon, at a speed of movement ranging from 1 to 40 cm per day. It was also found, in extremely rare circumstances, to infect the nasopharyngeal cavity and the lungs. The primary cause of a successful, gradual advance of the viral load toward the point of clinical no-return for the patient - the CNS - is a complex mechanism of induced innate immune evasion, with the interferon system being heavily targeted and silenced by RABV proteins. The ‘Milwaukee’ protocol is locally believed to decrease the mortality rate of the clinical illness to approximately 80%, although significantly more research is required in this sense. First-line immune evasion represents the central mechanism developed by viruses during their evolutionary process to gain control over human immunity, so it could be the development and adjustment of a counter-offensive to this evolutionary operating system that could address the core elements of the problem. Human recombinant Type I and Type III Interferons were found to be significant vaccine adjuvants and to considerably delay the clinical onset of the disease. Despite their central role in natural immunity-based prophylaxis, vaccine support and, in often cases, vaccination per se, a local administration of IFNs as such may not be enough to tackle the core problem of the endemic disease, and a specific and systemic treatment of potential host cells with IFN I and III, as well as IFN-stimulating proteins, may constitute a major research requirement in the coming years of disease investigation, as the inoculation efforts with the inactivated virus and immunoglobulin administration continue. The administration of a relatively low dosage of somatic Natural Killer cells, gamma-interferon and perhaps, of somatic helper CD4+ and somatic cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes treated with alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferon could be merged with the administration of a similar dosage of alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferon during the efforts to develop an effective and less costly prophylactic vaccine against rabies. A combination of a nasal substance containing a low dosage of IFN I and III with a reduced concentration of neutralized RABV copies, and/or with a low dose of anti-RABV IgA antibodies, could also be tested for humans for the purposes of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.

In this work, the use of graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with improved texture characteristics for the synthesis of supported palladium catalysts of dehydrogenation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles was studied. This process is key to the creation of liquid organic carrier technology (LOHC) using N-heterocycles as reversibly hydrogenated/dehydrogenated substrates. For the preparation of g-C3N4-mca supports with advanced textural characteristics, well-established technology of the melamine cyanurate complex carbonization and standard techniques of adsorption precipitation together with wet impregnation were used for the synthesis of Pd-containing systems. The activity of the synthesized catalysts was studied in decahydroquinoline dehydrogenation. The high weight content of extractable hydrogen (7.2 wt %) and the high extraction rate, respectively, make it possible to consider these substances as the most promising N-heterocyclic compounds for this technology. It was shown that an increase in the specific surface area of g-C3N4 allows for achieving a slightly lower, but comparable fineness of palladium particles for the 1 wt% Pd/MCA-500 sample, compared to the standard 1 wt% Pd/C. In this case, the catalytic activity of 1 wt% Pd/MCA-500 in dehydrogenation of both substrates exceeded the analogous parameter for catalysts supported by nitrogen free supports. This regularity is presumably associated with the electron-donor effect of surface nitrogen, which favorably affects the dehydrogenation rate as well as the stability of catalytic systems.