Sr4Al6O12SO4 samples were obtained from the compound mixture formed by a solid–state reaction of Al2O3, SrSO4, and SrCO3. Samples were compacted at 100MPa to form pellets of 1 and 4cm in diameter and were sintered at 1400°C for 4 hours. The compound was analyzed by X–ray diffraction. Static immersion and wettability tests were performed to evaluate corrosion resistance in contact with Al–Si. Corrosion tests were carried out by immersion at 800, 900, and 1000°C for 24, 50, and 100 hours, while wettability was carried out at 900, 1000, and 1100°C for 2 hours. Subsequently, the samples were prepared metallographically. Samples were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis. In general, reaction products consisting of alumina, spinel, oxides, and sulfates were found. The contact angles obtained were 124° to 135°. It is concluded that ceramic substrate Sr4Al6O12SO4 is resistant to corrosion by Al–Si alloy, since the slight thickness of the reaction products found in the samples (100μm) considering the severe conditions of the experiment: 1000°C and 100 hours of isothermal temperature. Furthermore, it can be said that Sr4Al6O12SO4 is not wettable by Al–Si alloys.

The research presented in the article is devoted to the study of the influence of phase compounds on the friability of the Fe-Si-Mn-Al complex alloy. The urgency of the problem lies in the development of technology for producing a non-scatterable alloy from manganese-containing ores and high-ash coals. The main goal of the work is to determine the range of alloy compositions and the resulting phases that affect the dispersibility of the alloy, which is critically important for its industrial implementation. Research methods include thermodynamic diagram analysis (TDA) using data on the standard enthalpy of formation of intermetallic compounds, as well as experimental tests in an ore-thermal electric furnace with a capacity of 200 kV*A. The results show that Fe-Si-Mn-Al complex alloys form a variety of silicide and aluminide phases, including intermetallic compounds and ternary systems, which is critical for understanding and controlling their physicochemical properties. When smelting a complex alloy, the content of leboite (Fe3Si7) in the Fe-Si-Mn-Al system plays a significant role. The development of smelting technology will be aimed at avoiding the FeSi2-Fe3Si7-F2(FeAl3Si2)-Mn11Si19 tetrahedron area. This approach to controlling the composition of a complex alloy is critical to ensuring its consistent friability properties in industrial applications. Thus, this work represents an important step in understanding the physical properties and stability of Fe-Si-Mn-Al complex alloys, which have potential for widespread use in metallurgical and other industrial applications.

The bulk planetary compositions are thought to be linked to the chemical abundances of their host stars. The abundances of 8 key rock-forming elements and the key planetary abundance ratios in G– and F–type main sequence stars located in the Solar neighborhood within 50 pc were statistically analyzed. The averaged C/O, Mg/Si, and Fe/Si elemental ratios of the planetary systems have a crucial role in the chemical composition and the mineralogy of a rocky planet's interior. We also studied the variation of the calculated Ca/Si, Al/Si, Na/Si and Fe/Si ratios in the samples of the examined stars using the Ca, Al, Na, and Fe abundances from the catalog and then attempt to constitute plausible occurrence trends of the analyzed abundance ratios for the rocky planet population in the near – solar galactocentric distances. Considering these results, we provide simple predictions for the most likely bulk compositions of the potential rocky planets. We further apply our results to compare them to the solar averaged abundance ratios, finding that the key elemental ratios for rocky planet composition in the Solar System are not typical amongst most of the studied stellar samples.

In this study, Li-Al-OH layered double hydroxide (LDH), which was prepared by solvent-free one-step mechanochemical reaction of LiOH and Al(OH)₃, was applied to remove boron from aqueous solution. Dry-grinding for 3 h at a rotational speed of 500 rpm, Li/Al molar 1/2 was the optimum condition to prepare highly crystalline of Li-Al LDH phase with no evident impure phases. Two milling products with Li/Al molar ratio at 1/2 and 2/2 were evaluated for boron adsorption. The results confirmed that Li/Al molar ratio 2/2 sample showed high boron adsorption capacity due to the physical adsorption of Li-Al-OH LDH and chemical synergism of phase gel Al(OH)₃. The adsorption isotherms, described by the Langmuir model, indicated maximum monolayer boron uptake capacity 45.45 mg/g, implying competitive adsorption capacity of the material in our experiment.

The cast defects strongly degrade the mechanical properties in cast alloys. The effect of Sn addition on Al-Si alloys was investigated by 3D computed tomography, SEM and TEM. Amorphous Sn oxides are found near the alumina film, cause more shrinkage pores, initiate cracks and deteriorate mechanical properties. This work suggests not adding Sn in various Al alloys used in cast state.

Nowadays, in order to improve asphalt pavement performance, durability and reduce environmental pollution caused by asphalt binder, many researchers are studying to modify asphalt concrete (AC) and find alternative paving materials to extend service life of asphalt pavement. One of the successful materials used in a modification of AC are fibers. Different types of fibers have been reinforced in AC mixture and improvements have been observed. This research studies the performance of glass wool fiber reinforced in a dense-graded asphalt mixture. Generally, glass fibers are known to have excellent mechanical properties such as high tensile modulus, 100% elastic recovery and a very high tolerance to heat. The glass wool fibers are commonly used as a thermal insulation material. In this research to evaluate the performance of glass wool fiber in AC, laboratory tests Marshall mix design test, Indirect tensile strength (IDT), Tensile strength ratio (TSR) and Kim test were conducted to determine a proper mix design, tensile properties, moisture susceptibility, rutting and fatigue behaviors. Results show that addition of glass wool fibers does affect the properties of AC mixture. The use of glass wool fibers showed a positive consistence results, in which it improved the moisture susceptibility and rutting resistance of the AC. Also result showed addition of fiber increased tensile strength and toughness which indicates that fibers have a potential to resist distresses that occur on a surface of the road as a result of heavy traffic loading. The overall results showed that addition of glass wool fiber in AC mixture is beneficial in improving properties of AC pavements.

The Yb/Al multilayer films exhibit excellent theoretical reflectivity in the 54-90nm wavelength range. This study attempted to incorporate 1.5% wt.% of Si impurities into Al to suppress the crystallization of Al, reduce interfacial roughness, and enhance the actual reflectivity of the prepared Yb/Al multilayer films. The internal microstructure changes of the film layers before and after Si impurity doping were investigated using GIXRR, AFM, and XRD techniques. The reflectivity of two types of multilayer films, Yb/Al(1.5wt.%Si) and Yb/Al(pure), was tested to evaluate the effect of Si impurity on the film performance.

The addition of active seed for increasing the precipitation rate leads to the formation of fine Al(OH)3 particles that complicates separation of solid from the mother liquor. In this study, the enhanced precipitation of coarse Al(OH)3 from sodium aluminate solution using active agglomerated seed was investigated. Aluminum salt (Al2(SO4)3) were used for active agglomerated seed precipitation at the initial of the process. About 50% of precipitation rate was obtained when these agglomerates were used as a seed in the amount of 20 g L–1 at 25 °C within 10 h. The agglomerated active seed and precipitate samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SEM images showed that agglomerates consist of flake-like particles that can be stick together by bayerite (β-Al(OH)3) acting as a binder. The precipitation temperature above 35 °C and the high concentration of free alkali (αk > 3) lead to the agglomerates refinement that can be associated with the bayerite dissolution.

The effects of partial replacement of Si by Al on the microstructure, tensile properties, and Charpy impact toughness were investigated using 0.2%C-Si/Al-Mn-Cr-B TRIP-aided martensitic steels. The impact toughness was related to the microstructural and mechanical properties. The partial re-placement decreased the volume fraction of retained austenite and increased the mechanical stabil-ity, accompanied by softening and an increase in the volume fraction of the primary martensite. Resultantly, the partial replacement decreased strength and ductility. The impact absorbed energy (value) at 25 C was slightly increased by the partial replacement. The increased impact absorbed energy was mainly caused by high crack/void propagation energy due to the softened primary martensite and a small contribution of the stabilized retained austenite. The 50% shear fracture ductile-to-brittle transition temperature was marginally raised by the partial replacement. The raised transition temperature was mainly associated with an increase in a unit crack path of qua-si-cleavage/cleavage fracture.

In individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), rapid skeletal muscle atrophy and metabolic dysfunction pose profound rehabilitation challenges, often resulting in substantial loss of muscle mass and function. This study evaluates the effect of combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation (Comb-NMES) on skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and inflammatory signaling within the acute phase of SCI. We applied a novel Comb-NMES regimen, integrating both high-frequency resistance and low-frequency aerobic protocols on the vastus lateralis muscle, to participants early post-SCI. Muscle biopsies were analyzed for CSA and inflammatory markers pre-and post-intervention. The results revealed a preservation of muscle CSA in the Comb-NMES group compared to a control group receiving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and passive movements. Inflammatory signaling proteins such as TLR4 and Atrogin-1 were downregulated, whereas markers associated with muscle repair and growth were modulated beneficially in the Comb-NMES group. The study's findings suggest that early application of Comb-NMES post-SCI can attenuate inflammatory pathways linked to muscle atrophy and potentially promote muscle repair, advocating for its inclusion in early rehabilitation efforts. However, the small sample size and variability in injury characteristics emphasize the need for further research to corroborate these results across a more diverse and extensive SCI population.

Aluminum wire is a common material for wire bonding due to its resistance to oxidation and low price. It does not melt when becoming a free air ball (FAB) during the electronic flame-off (EFO) process with wettability, and is applied by wedge bonding. This study used 20μm Zn-Coated Al-0.5wt.%Si (ZAS) wires to improve the FAB shape after the EFO process, while maintaining stability of the mechanical properties, including the interface bonding strength and hardness. In order to test circuit stability after ball bonding, the current-tensile test was performed. During the experiment, it was found that 80nm ZAS with wire bonding has lower resistance and higher fusing current. For the bias tensile test, the thicker Zn film diffused into the Al-Si matrix easily, after which the strength was reduced. The ball-bond interfaces had no change in their condition before and after the bias. Accordingly, ZAS could be a promising candidate for ball bonding in the future.

The corrosion inhibition effects of Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn sin. Urginea matima (L.) Backer on three different materials, i.e. as-cast Al-7 wt.% Si alloy, SAE 1020 low carbon steel and commercially pure Al samples, into a stagnant and naturally aerated 0.5 M NaCl solution are evaluated. For this purpose, both the potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with equivalent circuit are utilized. It is found that inhibition effect in-creases up to certain minor Drimia maritima content. Adsorption isotherms (e.g. Langmuir and Temkin) have indicated that all three examined material comprise physical adsorption mecha-nism. Al-Si alloys have attained inhibition efficiency of about 96% at 25 oC with 1250 ppm of Drimia maritima, and ~43% with 625 ppm at 45 oC. On the other hand, the cp. Al and SAE 1020 samples attain ~ 89% and 68% with 1250 ppm and 500 ppm at 25 oC, respectively. This clearly in-dicates that the dosage of Drimia maritima green inhibitor into NaCl solution posses certain sus-ceptibility for each distinctive material examined. Impedance parameters obtained by using CNLS (complex non-linear least squares simulations) are correlated and discussed.

The effects of different pulse frequencies on the microstructure grain size and solid solubility of Al-9Si alloy were systematically investigated using OM, SEM, and EDS. The effects on the mechanical properties of the alloy were analyzed using micro-Vickers hardness tester and multifunctional friction tester. During the solidification process, the Al-9Si alloy is exposed to high-frequency electric current pulses with a current density of 300A/cm2 and frequencies of 0Hz, 500Hz, 1 000Hz, and 2 000Hz. The experimental results show that as the high-frequency pulse frequency increases, the Lorentz force also increases. The intense electromagnetic stirring leads to grain refinement. However, as the pulse frequency continues to increase, the combined effect of Joule heating and Lorentz force results in an enlargement of the melt zone and an increase in grain size. At a pulse frequency of 1 000Hz, the eutectic structure size of the Al-9Si alloy is optimal, with the average size reduced to 13.87μm and a dense distribution, effectively eliminating primary Si. The EDS results revealed that the high-frequency pulse led to a more uniform distribution of Si elements within the matrix, and the solid solubility of Si in the α-Al matrix increased to a maximum value of 1.99%, representing a 39.2% increase. At a pulse frequency of 1 000Hz, the sample demonstrates the most favorable mechanical properties, with the friction coefficient reaching a minimum value of 0.302, representing a 37.7% decrease in the average friction coefficient. The results demonstrate that high-frequency pulsing is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical properties of Al-9Si alloy.

Hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys are promising candidates for use in automobile parts. Therefore, various attempts have been made to develop alternative casting technologies to improve the mechanical properties of cast alloys. In this study, the effects of modification with different levels of strontium (Sr) on primary and eutectic silicon (Si) in hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys were investigated. Using a gravity cast process, the Sr-modified samples were prepared from melts with four levels (100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm) of Sr. In addition, the wear properties of the cast samples were studied using a block-on-ring wear-testing machine. The sizes of the primary Si phases increased with increasing Sr content in the alloys. Moreover, more finely dispersed eutectic Si was observed with higher Sr content. In frictional wear tests, the specific wear rates of the test specimens decreased as the Sr content increased from 200 to 400 ppm. Coarse Si phases are considered to act as solid lubricants in the contact region during sliding.

Thermal analysis of a hypereutectic Al-Si alloy used for an automotive part was carried out in this research work. Solidification characteristics are recognized from the Temperature-time curve and its corresponding derivatives. This analysis was successfully used in a simulation software program with the aim of improving the resultant simulation accuracy. In this study, different types of molds, with and without cooling systems, were designed and used. The melt present in the furnaces of the factory was used to simulate the casting process. The effect of different cooling rates (1.2ºC/s, 2ºC/s, 2.3ºC/s and 2.9ºC/s) on the solidification parameters have been investigated. Differences in the resultant microstructure between wall and center of the molds have been analyzed and have been related to the T-t curve. Finally, the experimental results clearly indicate that the water-cooling rate of the molds and the melt temperature directly affects the solidification process as well as the final microstructure.

A four-step synthesis of bifunctional, noncovalent organocatalysts based on the chiral (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold containing a 1,2-benzenediamine H-bond donor was developed. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the 2-fluoronitrobenzene derivative with the commercial (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine was followed by selective alkylation of the primary amino group, reduction of the aromatic nitro group and final derivatization of the primary aromatic amino group, i.e. acylation, sulfonation, reductive alkylation and arylation, leading to the four subtypes of organocatalysts. All new compounds were fully characterized. The prepared organocatalysts (32 examples) were tested in the Michael addition of acetylacetone to trans-β-nitrostyrene, yielding the addition product with incomplete conversions (up to 93%) and enantioselectivities of up to 41% ee.

Breath volatile organic compound analysis is a non-invasive tool for assessing health status; the compositional profile of these compounds in the breath of patients with chronic kidney disease is believed to change with decreasing renal function. We aimed to identify breath volatile organic compounds for recognizing patients with chronic kidney disease. Using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, untargeted analysis of breath markers was performed using breath samples of healthy controls (n=18) versus non-dialysis (n=21) and hemodialysis (n=12) patients with chronic kidney disease in this cross-sectional study. A total of 303 volatile organic compounds alongside 12 clinical variables were used to determine the breath volatile organic compound profile. Metabolomic analysis revealed that age, systolic blood pressure, and fifty-eight breath volatile organic compounds differed significantly between the chronic kidney disease group (non-dialysis + hemodialysis) and healthy controls. Thirty-six volatile organic compounds and two clinical variables that showed significant associations with chronic kidney disease in the univariate analysis were further analyzed. Different spectras of breath volatile organic compounds between the control and chronic kidney disease groups were obtained. Multivariate model incorporating age, 2-methyl-pentane, and cyclohexanone showed high performance (accuracy, 86%) in identifying patients with chronic kidney disease, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) P-values of 0.18 (0.07-2.49) 0.013; 2.10 (0.94-2.24) 0.025; and 2.31 (0.88–2.64) 0.008, respectively. Hence, renal dysfunction-associated characteristic profiles of breath volatile organic substances can be used as non-invasive markers to screen for chronic kidney disease.

To weaken the harm of Al-Si coating and increase the strength of welded joint, variable thickness of Ni foil (Ni, an austenitic formation element) was added into the lap laser welding Al-Si coated 22MnB5 hot stamping steel/galvanized steel joints. The joints' weld appearance, microstructure, and mechanical properties were explored. The weld altered from X-shape to Y-shape with the increased thickness of Ni foil. During welding, Al-Si coating was melted and diluted into the welding pool, forming δ-ferrite (a rich-Al phase with low toughness and strength) in FZ and FB. This phase deteriorated the strength of the joints. After adding Ni, the amount and size of the δ-ferrite phase decreased. With a significant thickness of Ni foil, δ-ferrite would disappear. However, a new phase (FM, rich-Ni phase) probably formed except PM(a no or negligible Ni phase). The heat-affected zone (HAZ) on the side of 22MnB5 comprised a coarse martensite zone, refined martensite zone, martensite+ferrite zone, and tempered martensite zone from the FZ to the basic material. HAZ on the side of galvanized steel mainly contained ferrite and pearlite. After adding Ni foil, the strength of the joint was more than that without Ni. The maximum strength of the joint can be up to 679MPa because of the disappearance of δ-ferrite. Meanwhile, the toughness of the joint increased. The fracture mode was from three mixed fractures(cleavage, quasi-cleavage, and dimple) to one fracture(dimple).

The molecular clusters ((HO)3Si-O-Si(OH)3, and (HO)3Al-O-Si(OH)3 ) representative of aluminosilicate mineral surface were employed to study the dissolution of aluminosilicate in acidic condition via density functional theory with the M06-2X+G(d,p) methodology. The surface termination sites (Si and Al) were both tetra-coordinated and the terminal oxygen was protonated in acidic condition. In the dissolution reaction, the calculated barrier height of the six-membered ring transition state complex containing two water molecules was predicted to be lower than that of four-membered ring transition state complex containing one water molecule. In addition, the calculated barrier heights for Al-terminated sites were predicted to be lower than those for the Si-terminated sites, suggesting that breaking the Al-O bond is easier than Si-O bond in the aluminosilicate mineral surface; the barrier heights of the surface termination sites with protonated terminal oxygen were lower than those without protonated terminal oxygen. With the fracture of Si-O and Al-O bonds, the Si and Al release from the aluminosilicate. These results confirm the experimental conclusions that the acidic condition facilitates the release of Si and Al from the aluminosilicate, and the concentration of Al leaching from aluminosilicate is higher than Si.

Cement-free concrete has superior physical performance, such as strength and durability, compared to OPC concrete, however, it has the disadvantage of large shrinkage. Large shrinkage can cause cracks due to shrinkage stress in the long term. In this study, a shrinkage reducing agent (SRA) was used to reduce the shrinkage of cement-free mortar; its content was increased from 0.0 to 1.5 %. For an SRA content of 1.0 %, a calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) expansive additive (EA) (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5%) was added. To calculate the shrinkage stress of cement-free mortar using the SRA and EA, the compressive strength, elastic modulus, and total and autogenous shrinkage were measured. The unit shrinkage stress of cement-free mortar was obtained by multiplying the elastic modulus by the length change and accumulated to obtain the shrinkage stress acting on the mortar according to the age. The shrinkage stress of cement-free mortar showed different tendencies as the age increased. At early ages, the shrinkage rate of the mortar occupied a large proportion of the shrinkage stress. In the long term, the shrinkage stress was significantly affected by the elastic modulus. As a result, SRA was found to be effective in reducing the shrinkage stress by decreasing both the elastic modulus and shrinkage. However, EA increased the shrinkage stress over the long term due to an increase in elastic modulus even though it compensated for early-ages shrinkage.

Gray cast iron is one of the most important engineering materials that has many applications in various industries including automotive and machinery manufacturing due to its mechanical properties, wear resistance, machining potentials and low price. In this research effect of adding aluminum and silicon to composition of gray cast iron on microstructure and wear resistance was studied. Moreover, it was investigated the role of formation of Fe-Al-Si intermetallic compound in final properties of the alloy. For studying wear resistance of samples pin-on-disc method was carried out. The results showed that addition of aluminum to gray cast iron causes formation of ferrite matrix, which leads to a decrease in hardness value. Increasing silicon content up to 2 wt. % in cast iron with 4 wt. % aluminum intensifies the formation of ferrite matrix, while further increase to 3 wt. % causes emerging a Fe-Al-Si intermetallic phase. Improvement in hardness value was achieved by increasing silicon content from 3 wt. % to 4 wt. % due to the increased percentage of intermetallic phase. Effect of intermetallic phase on decreasing wear rate was showed by studying microstructure and hardness values, however the lowest wear resistance was observed in aluminum bearing cast iron containing 2 wt. % silicon.

Urbanization is considered as a main indicator of regional economic development due to its positive effect on promoting industrial development; however, many regions, especially developing countries, are troubled by its negative effect — the aggravating environmental pollution. Many researchers have indicated that rapid urbanization stimulated the expansion of industrial production scale and increased industrial pollutant emissions. However, this judgement contains a grave deficiency in that urbanization not only expands industrial production scales but can also increase industrial labour productivity and change the industrial structure. To modify this deficiency, we first decompose the influence which urbanization impacts on industrial pollutant emissions into the scale effect, the intensive effect and the structure effect by using the Kaya Identity and the LMDI Method; second, we perform an empirical study of the three effects’ impacts by applying the spatial panel model with data from 282 Chinese cities between 2003 and 2013. Our results indicate that (1) there are significant reverse U-shapes between Chinese urbanization rate and its industrial pollutant emissions; (2) the scale effect and the structure effect have aggravated Chinese industrial waste water discharge, sulphur dioxide emissions and soot (dust) emissions, while the intensive effect has generated a decreasing and ameliorative impact on that aggravated trend. The definite relationship between urbanization and industrial pollutant emissions depends on the combined influence of the scale effect, the intensive effect and the structure effect; (3) there are significant spatial autocorrelations of industrial pollutant emissions between Chinese cities, but the spatial spillover effect from other cities does not aggravate local urban industrial pollutant emissions, we offer an explanation to this contradiction that the vast rural areas surrounding Chinese cities have served as sponge belts and have absorbed the spatial spillover of cities’ industrial pollutant emissions. According to the results, we argue that this type of decomposition of the influence into three effects is necessary and meaningful, it establishes a solid foundation for understanding the relationship between urbanization and industrial pollutant emissions, and effectively helps to meet relative policy making.

This paper introduces a novel decision-making approach grounded in insights into human visual perception of change. Modern technologies such as internet of things (IoT) provide us with large amounts of sensor data that need to be processed in real time and decisions made with a high degree of accuracy and reliability. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods are welcome in this context and need to be upgraded to meet actual challenges. While modern computing capabilities facilitate rapid data processing, the real-time demands of vast sensor data necessitate swift responses across the cyber chain, often leading to compromises in solution quality to circumvent combinatorial search complexities. Determining the adequacy of a solution entails varied approaches, often relying on heuristic methodologies. We illustrate our original approach with an example of a selected detail of a differential evolution algorithm, where we have to make a decision to adopt the best solution so far. We propose an approach inspired by human perceptual features that exploits the Weber-Fechner law to emulate human judgements, and offers a promising way to improve decision making in AI applications and real-time requirements fulfillment. Our proposed methodology demonstrates applicability across diverse AI scenarios involving numerical data, effectively mirroring human perception abilities.

Feature selection is predominantly used in machine learning tasks, such as classification and regression. It selects a subset of features (relevant attributes of data points) from a larger set that contributes as optimally as possible to the informativeness of the model. There are exponentially many subsets of a given set, and thus, the exhaustive search is only practical for problems with at most a few dozen features. In the past, there have been attempts to reduce the search space using dynamic programming. However, models that consider similarity in pairs of features besides the quality of individual features do not provide the required optimal substructure. As a result, algorithms, which we will call suboptimal dynamic programming algorithms, find a solution that may deviate significantly from the optimal one. In this paper, we propose a dynamic programming algorithm with an iterative upgrade where the order of feature processing is inverted in each iteration. Such an alternating approach allows for improving the optimization function by using the score from the previous iteration to estimate the contribution of unprocessed features. The iterative process is proven to converge and terminate when the solution does not change in three successive iterations or when the number of iterations reaches the threshold. Results in more than 90 % of tests align with those of the exhaustive search, being competitive and often superior to the reference greedy approach. The validation was done by comparing the scores of output feature subsets and examining the accuracy of different classifiers learned on these features. In the context of feature selection, the proposed algorithm can be characterized as a filter method. However, we expect that the idea of alternating suboptimal optimization will soon be generalized to tasks beyond feature selection.

High temperature titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace hot parts, however, the thermal barrier temperature of 600 oC limits its service temperature. In this paper, a two-step hot-dip plating method is proposed to prepare the composite coating containing Ce on the surface of titanium alloy, which can make the oxidation resistance temperature of titanium alloy reach 800 oC The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si hot-dip coating, Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si pre-oxidation coating and Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si high-temperature oxidation coating were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results show that the Ti-Al-Si hot-dip coating containing Ce is mainly composed of (Ti,Ce)(Al,Si)3 alloy phase layer, and the Ti-Al-Si pre-oxidation coating containing Ce is mainly composed of Ti-Al binary system phase layer and dense Al2O3 layer rich in CeO2. Ce in the high temperature oxidation coating of Ti-Al-Si containing Ce is mainly distributed in Ti3Al, TiAl, TiAl3+Ti5Si3 mixed phase layer and Al2O3. The addition of Ce can promote the formation of continuous Al2O3 layer, improve the uniformity of composite coating, prevent the spread of cracks, and improve the high temperature oxidation resistance of Ti-Al-Si coating.

Precipitates are the primary source of strength for the Al-Mg-Si alloy. Aluminum alloy in the peak-aged state mainly contain β'' and β' precipitates. In the past, most of the literature only considered the strengthening effect of β''. Here we develop a single crystal intensity model including both precipitate enhancement effects for the first time. This model was subsequently implemented into a crystal plastic finite element method to model the uniaxial tensile process of a polycrystalline aggregate model of Al-Mg-Si alloy. The simulation results for uniaxial stretching are in good agreement with the experimental results, confirming that the constitutive parameters used for the single crystal strength model with two precipitates are based on realistic physical implications. Furthermore, by comparing the uniaxial tensile simulation results of a peak-aged alloy considering the actual precipitated phase composition of the alloy with those assuming that the precipitated phase is only the β'' phase, the predicted tensile strength of the former is around 5.65% lower than that of the latter, suggesting that the two kinds of precipitation should be considered separately when simulating the mechanical response of Al-Mg-Si alloy. It is highly expected that the present simulation strategy is not limited to the Al-Mg-Si alloys, and it can be equally applied to the other age-enhanced alloys.

The escalating prevalence of particulate matter (PM) has raised serious concerns regarding its detrimental effects on human health. This study aimed to investigate the potential of fermented blueberry and black rice (FBBR) in mitigating the effects of PM2.5, both in SH-SY5Y cells and mice exposed to PM2.5. Various assays, including MTT, NO, western blot, ELISA, and behavioral studies (MWM and Y-maze) were conducted. Our results demonstrated that PM2.5 induced significant cytotoxicity and elevated nitric oxide (NO) production at a concentration of 100μg/mL of PM2.5 in SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, administration of FBBR effectively attenuated PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity and suppressed NO production in SH-SY5Y cells. In an intranasal instilled mice model, exposure to 10 mg/kg body weight of PM2.5 resulted in cognitive impairments. However, FBBR treatment ameliorated these impairments in both the Y-maze and MWM tests in PM2.5-exposed mice. Furthermore, FBBR administration increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and reduced inflammatory markers in the brains of PM2.5-exposed SH-SY5Y cells. These findings underscore the detrimental effects of PM2.5 on the nervous system and highlight the potential of FBBR as a nutraceutical agent for mitigating these effects. Overall, this study emphasizes the urgency of addressing the harmful impact of PM2.5 on the nervous system and suggests the promising role of FBBR as a protective intervention against the adverse effects associated with PM2.5 exposure.

The corrosion behavior of Fe-containing directionally solidified (DS) and centrifugally cast (CC) Al-Si-Cu-Zn alloys with either Co or Ni additions has been investigated. Electrochemical and immersion corrosion methods were used to investigate the corrosion behavior in 0.6 M NaCl after short (1-hour) and long (30-day) exposure periods. The employed solidification methods allowed the production of samples with a wide range of secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) while preserving Si and Fe-containing phases. The 0.5 wt.% Ni and Co additions led to the growth of the AlFeSi(Ni) and AlFeSi(Co) phases, but no binary AlNi nor AlCo intermetallic par-ticles have been generated. Potentiodynamic polarization studies at early exposure revealed an increase in the corrosion potential as the Ni was added for either fast or slow solidified samples. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at early exposure demonstrated that the Ni-modified alloy, on the other hand, was associated to smaller charge transfer resistances, in-dicating a reduction in corrosion resistance after short elapsed time into the electrolyte. Howev-er, 30-day immersion tests revealed much lower corrosion rate of the Ni-modified alloy than the other alloys, while the corrosion rates of the Co-modified and non-modified alloys were simi-lar. In the Ni-containing alloy, decreased corrosion rate under long-term corrosion process was attributed to the formation of a thick and dense alumina layer, effectively protecting the surface under such conditions. This work contributes to a better knowledge of the corrosion behavior of Ni- and Co-corrected Al industrial scrap compositions.

Pseudolysimachion nakaianum (Ohwi) T.Yamaz. is an endemic species that is an important species in the forest ecosystems of South Korea. This study aimed to develop an in vitro propagation system for P. nakaianum, to enhance the availability of this rare and endemic plant for commercial horticulture and restoration efforts. We utilized cotyledon explants from in vitro germinated seeds and two types of explants (petiole and leaf) from in vitro seedlings to assess the impact of five different cytokinins on adventitious shoot organogenesis in P. nakaianum. The half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with 10 µM thidiazuron (TDZ) for both cotyledon and petiole explants, yielded the highest shoot induction rates (61.1 ± 9.6% and 26.7 ± 8.8%, respectively) and the greatest number of shoots (3 ± 0.6 and 4.4 ± 0.5, respectively). Responses from leaf explants were variable, with none showing in vitro regeneration. Successfully acclimatized P. nakaianum plantlets in a greenhouse demonstrated normal growth. This protocol outlines an effective method for the direct in vitro regeneration from cotyledon and petiole explants of P. nakaianum, providing valuable information for the conservation of this species.

To mitigate pyrethroid resistance in mosquito vectors of emerging and re-emerging human pathogens, there is an urgent need to discover insecticides with novel modes of action. Natural alternatives, such as extracts derived from plants, may serve as substitutes for traditional synthetic insecticides if they prove to be sustainable, cost-effective, and safe for non-target organisms. Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a sustainable plant known to produce various secondary metabolites with insecticidal properties, including terpenoids and flavonoids. The goal of this study was to assess the larvicidal activity of hemp leaf extract on 1st instar mosquito larvae from both pyrethroid-susceptible (PS) and pyrethroid-resistant (PR) strains of Aedes aegypti Another goal was to identify which components of the extracts were responsible for any observed larvicidal activity. We found that methanol extract of hemp leaves induced similar concentration-dependent larvicidal activity against PS (LC50: 4.4 ppm) and PR (LC50: 4.3 ppm) strains within 48 hours. Partitioning of the dried leaf extract between methanol and revealed that full larvicidal activity was restricted to the methanol fraction. Analysis of this fraction by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance showed it to be dominated by cannabidiol (CBD). Larvicidal assays using authentic CBD confirmed this compound was primarily responsible for the toxicity of hemp leaf extract against both strains. We conclude that hemp leaf extracts and CBD have the potential to serve as viable sources for the development of novel mosquito larvicides.

Drug resistance in melanoma is a major hindrance in cancer therapy. Growth hormone (GH) plays a pivotal role in contributing to resistance to chemotherapy. Knocking down or blocking the GH receptor has been shown to sensitize the tumor cells to chemotherapy. Extensive studies have demonstrated that exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles, play an important role in drug resistance by transferring key factors to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. In this study, we explore how GH modulates exosomal cargoes from melanoma cells and their role in drug resistance. We treated the melanoma cells with GH, doxorubicin, and GHR antagonist, pegvisomant, and analyzed the exosomes released. Additionally, we administered these exosomes to recipient cells. The GH-treated melanoma cells released exosomes with elevated levels of ABC transporters (ABCC1 and ABCB1), N-cadherin and MMP2, enhancing drug resistance and migration in recipient cells. GHR antagonism reduced these exosomal levels, restoring drug sensitivity and attenuating migration. Overall, our findings highlight a novel role of GH in modulating exosomal cargoes that drive chemoresistance and metastasis in melanoma. This understanding provides insights to the mechanisms of GH in melanoma chemoresistance and suggests GHR antagonism as a potential therapy to overcome chemoresistance in melanoma treatment.

This case report examines the impact of a novel Combined Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (Comb-NMES) regimen on muscle glucose signaling, fiber type distribution, and metabolic function in a patient with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and lower motor neuron lesions (LMNLs). A 32-year-old male with complete T9 SCI underwent a ten-session Comb-NMES intervention targeting the quadriceps. Muscle biopsies and blood samples were analyzed pre- and post-intervention to evaluate changes in muscle fiber types, key metabolic proteins, fasting insulin, glucose, and lipid profiles. The intervention led to a 74.7%, and 28.2% reduction in fasting insulin and glucose, respectively. Muscle analysis showed significant increases in CaMK II, Hexokinase II, and IRS-1, indicating improved glucose metabolism. Comb-NMES training markedly improved metabolic control and muscle glucose metabolism in a patient with acute SCI and LMNLs. Enhanced insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization were evidenced by upregulated metabolic proteins which suggests Comb-NMES is a promising intervention for improving muscle and metabolic health in SCI patients with LMNLs. Further studies are needed to confirm these benefits and explore long-term effects.

this paper focuses on a scientific study of the restoration, rehabilitation and reuse of the great throne hall, the most important hall in al-jawhara palace. it also aims to study the most important factors and forces of damage that affected the great throne hall, natural, biological, and human, and the resulting damage. field tests were performed, laboratory tests to determine fracture stress, liquidity and spandex limits tests, chemical analysis on soil samples and geoelectrical testing of the soil, and the results did not show caves or voids in the ground until a depth of 10.00 m, construc-tion materials were studied and tested using x-ray, (xrd), mechanical tests (tensile, shear, com-pression), and a study of the effect of seismic loads on the walls; the results showed horizontal and vertical cracks; based on the study and analysis of these cracks, it was possible to present modern techniques in restoration and reinforcement methods, and in conclusion, the researcher's recommendations.

Zinc cobalt oxide-zinc hydroxide (ZnCo2O4-Zn(OH)2) microspheres were successfully fabricated on carbon cloth via a sample hydrothermal method. The surface morphology of these microspheres and their efficacy in degrading methyl violet were further modulated by varying the thermal annealing temperatures. The manipulation of thermal annealing temperatures was pivotal in adjusting the porosity of ZnCo2O4-Zn(OH)2 microspheres to amplify their photocatalytic performance. Various analytical techniques were utilized to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of the ZnCo2O4-Zn(OH)2 microspheres, including field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Compared to untreated ZnCo2O4-Zn(OH)2 microspheres, those subjected to thermal annealing exhibited increased specific surface area and light absorption capacity, rendering them highly effective photocatalysts under UVC light exposure. Subsequent studies have confirmed the superior performance of ZnCo2O4-Zn(OH)2 microspheres as a reusable photocatalyst for degrading methyl violet and tetracycline. Additionally, trapping experiments during the photodegradation process involving ZnCo2O4-Zn(OH)2 microspheres have identified hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O2–) as the primary reactive species.

In the present study, hypereutectic Al-Si alloy compacts and Al-Si/B4C composites were produced by conventional, microwave and spark plasma sintering techniques. The effects of sintering techniques and B4C particle addition on microstructural properties, density, hardness and electrical conductivity were investigated. The microstructures were examined with an optical microscope. Densities were measured using the Archimedes technique. Electrical resistance measurements were made with the four-point probe measurement technique. Elemental Al grains, master alloy grains and primary Si particles were determined in the microstructures of all samples. The addition of 15 wt% B4C caused the porosity rate to increase in the samples. Samples produced with SPS technique gave ≈80% higher hardness values than samples produced with CS and MWS. Compared to the samples produced with CS and MWS, the samples produced with SPS gave higher electrical conductivity values. Electrical conductivities were decreased as the weight percentage of B4C increased in all samples.

As the carbon storage capacity of timber is recognized, there is growing interest in timber and wooden structures as a solution to various environmental problems. The use of Korean timber with substantial carbon storage capacity is required to reduce Korean carbon emissions and circulate timber resources. In this study, fire tests were conducted to investigate the charring properties of glued laminated timber columns made of Korean larch. The fire tests were conducted under both load-bearing and non-load-bearing conditions. The fire test results showed that the charring depth was affected by the corners of the section, and that the load ratio had an insignificant influence on the charring depth when the load ratio was 0.9 or less. This study provides data that can be used to compare the charring properties of laminated wood produced using South Korean larch with the charring properties of foreign standards. This provides reference data for developing fire-resistant design standards for timber structures made from South Korean timber.

Microencapsulation using polymer materials is a potent process to protect and prolong the survival of probiotics. Cissampelos pareira leaf contains natural gelling agents that possess solidifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the development of microencapsulation containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei using C. pareira extract as a natural encapsulating material. The absorption bands near 1603 cm−1 and 1725 cm−1 detected by Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were identified as pectin in C. pareira structure. The L. paracasei-C. pareira microcapsules (LP-CP) showed high encapsulation efficiency by 90.5% which was confirmed by the evaluation of their survival rate. Under thermal conditions (85oC), bacterial viability detected in the microcapsules was 69% as opposed to non-encapsulated bacteria where viability was as low as 5%. Furthermore, the microcapsule presented 75% bacterial viability whereas the free cells showed 30% under acidic conditions (pH 2). During storage conditions, LP-CP viability remained at 50% when the storage time was extended to 90 days whereas, the survival rate of free cells significantly decreased by 100% after 90 days. This information suggests that C. pareira is a potent polymer which can be used as an eco-friendly material for the microencapsulation of probiotics relevant as dietary supplementation for humans or animals.

A configurable design of a microstrip square spiral RFID tag antenna, for a wide range of microwave frequencies in S- and C-band, is presented. The design is parameterized in dimensions, and hence changing the design frequency (or frequencies) is easy, by changing only an initial value for the spiral geometry. A tag specimen was fabricated using Cu electroplating technique according to the design for frequencies of interest in the areas of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz. The substrate material is a 320 μm high resistivity Si and the bridge dielectric is a 15μm polyimide PI2525. The microfabrication process involves steps of metallic structure pattern transfer techniques with optical UV lithography procedures. The reflection coefficient and gain of the specimen were measured inside an anechoic enclosure using a vector network analyzer (VNA) and a TEM horn test antenna over a frequency range of up to 6 GHz. Simulated and measured results are presented and discussed, exhibiting reasonable agreement.

Delivering effective messages is critical to creating a more sustainable and resilient culture. The explosion of social media has enhanced information access but has often reinforced and polar-ized pre-existing viewpoints and norms. In contrast, digital signs are an “in your face in your space” technology that has the potential to deliver common content to a diverse local audience. Environmental Dashboard (ED) is a communications platform and set of content applications that combines information on current environmental conditions, real-time resource consumption, positive actions being taken by community members, and a community calendar. We conducted a longitudinal study to assess whether ED content delivered via digital signs in public locations would result in desirable psychological changes within a community. Participants completed surveys in six designated signage locations prior to installation (N = 174) and following two years of continuous exposure (N = 133). We observed: increases in pro-environmental social norms among people of color (a demographic emphasized); enhanced awareness of and sense of connection with the local community and ecology; increased self-reported electricity conservation; and increased perception of youth engagement (another demographic emphasized). Changes were mediated by exposure to digital signage. These findings support the hypothesis that content delivered through digital signs can strengthen pro-environmental and pro-social culture within communities.

This study was conducted to identify the actual degree of underdevelopment and spatial characteristics of rural areas in Korea, which are expected to face extinction due to population decline and aging. For this purpose, the spatial scope was set to Eup and Myeon areas classified as rural regions. To assess the degree of underdevelopment, previous studies were reviewed and analyzed to develop a comprehensive underdevelopment index, which was then applied to Eup and Myeon areas to classify them into growth regions, general regions, and depressed regions. Mapping the classified regions revealed that both growth and general regions were concentrated in the metropolitan area and southeastern regions, where Korea's population and resources are densely clustered. In contrast, depressed regions were found primarily in areas where agriculture is the main industry and in regions with unfavorable geographical conditions. This study is significant as it covers the entire nation of Korea, providing a method for identifying depressed regions and highlighting the regions that are developing. The findings can serve as fundamental data for the development of policies to address population decline in the future.

: In this paper we present an optimization of the planar manufacturing scheme for stretch-free, shape induced metal interconnects to simplify the fabrication with the aim of maximizing the flexibility in the structure regarding to stress and strain. The Formation of trenches between silicon islands are actively used in the lithographic process to create arc shape structures by spin coating resist into the trenches. The resulting resist form is used as a template for the metal lines, which are structured on top. Because this arc shape is beneficial for the flexibility of these bridges. The trench depth as a key parameter for the stress distribution is investigated by applying numerical simulations. The simulated results show that the increase in penetration depth of the metal bridge into the trench increases the tensile load which is converted into a shear Force Q(x), that usually leads to increased strains the structure can generate. For the fabrication the filling of the trenches with resist is optimized by varying the spin speed. Compared to the theoretical resistance, the current-voltage measurements of the metal bridges show a similar behavior and almost every structural variation is capable of functioning as a flexible electrical interconnect in a complete island-bridge array.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing plant growth through various mechanisms. This review examines the contributions of PGPR in improving nutrient availability, producing phytohormones, providing biocontrol against pathogens, and enhancing abiotic stress tolerance. By reducing the necessity for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, PGPR mitigate environmental impacts, enhance soil health, and support long-term agricultural productivity. However, challenges such as inconsistent performance across various soils, regulatory barriers, and limited farmer awareness hinder their widespread adoption. Recent advancements in nano-encapsulation technology, genetic engineering, and bioinformatics present promising solutions for overcoming these obstacles and enhancing PGPR efficacy. The incorporation of PGPR into biofertilizers, biopesticides, and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies offers a sustainable resolution to global agricultural challenges. This review addresses the current state of PGPR research, applications, and future directions for optimizing their use in promoting sustainable agriculture.

Sign Language Recognition (SLR) aims to bridge speech-impaired and general communities by recognizing signs from given videos. Researchers still face challenges developing efficient SLR systems because of the video’s complex background, light illumination, and subject structures. Recently many researchers developed a skeleton-based sign language recognition system to overcome the subject and background variation of hand gesture signs. However, skeleton-based SLR is still under exploration due to the lack of information and annotations on hand key points. More recently, researchers included body and face information with the hand gesture for the SLR, but their performance and efficiency are unsatisfactory. We proposed a Multi-Stream Graph-based Deep Neural Network (SL-GDN) for a skeleton-based SLR system to overcome the problems. The main purpose of the proposed SL-GDN approach is to improve the efficiency and performance of the SLR system with a low computational cost based on the human body pose in the form of 2D landmark locations. In the procedure, firstly, we constructed a skeleton graph based on the selected 27 whole-body key points among 67 key points to solve the inefficiency problems. Then we proposed multi-stream SL-GDN to extract features from the whole-body skeleton graph for four streams. Finally, we concatenated the four different features and applied a classification module to refine the feature and recognize corresponding sign classes. Our data-driven and graph construction method increases the system’s flexibility and brings high generability to adapt various data samples. We used three large-scale benchmark SLR datasets to evaluate the proposed model: WLASL, AUTSL and CSL. The demonstrated performance accuracy table proved the superiority of the proposed model, and we believe this will be considered a great invention in the SLR domain.

To design and optimize liquid-assisted processes such as reactive infiltration for fabricating refractory SiC/ZrSi₂ composites, basic investigations on the interfacial phenomena occurring when liquid Si-based alloys are in contact with C and SiC substrates, are key steps. Indeed, targeted wettability studies may provide helpful indications for finding the suitable set of operating conditions to succeed the fabrication of composites via the reactive infiltration and for predicting the key influencing mechanisms. The wettability of glassy carbon (GC) by two different Si-rich Si-Zr alloys as a function of the Si-content has been investigated by the sessile drop method at T = 1450°C. The more relevant results obtained in terms of equilibrium contact angle values, spreading kinetics, reactivity and developed interface microstructures are reported in the paper and compared with the behaviour previously observed in the Si-27Zr/GC system. The increase of Si-content only weakly affected the overall phenomena observed at the interface, which from the practical point of view means that even the Si-Zr alloys with higher Si-content, as respect to the eutectic alloy (Si-27Zr), could be potentially used as infiltrant materials.

Nutritional status problems in school-age children are a crucial public health problem worldwide. This research explored the relationships between family factors, food consumption behaviors, and the nutritional status of Muslim school-age children in Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. This descriptive research was conducted among 228 children aged 9-12 years. Data were collected using demographic data, nutritional status, and food consumption behaviors assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive, chi-square, and binary logistic regression statistics. The results revealed that most samples reported having moderately healthy food consumption behaviors (M = 2.01, SD = 0.56). The samples had a normal weight (72.4%), while 15.8% were classified as overweight and obese. The number of siblings and food consumption behaviors had a significant relationship with nutritional status (p < 0.05). Confirmation with binary logistic regression results also revealed that the likelihood of normal nutritional status was 2.40 times higher in children who had 3 or 4 siblings compared to those with 1 or 2 siblings (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.299-4.459). Additionally, children with healthy food consumption behaviors were 2.34 times more likely to have normal nutritional status compared to those with unhealthy dietary consumption (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.183-4.631). Conclusion: Since the number of siblings and healthy food consumption behaviors were associated with nutritional status, healthcare providers must consider these 2 factors when establishing health education and behavior modification care plans to promote healthy food consumption and nutritional status among this group.

The conductor aluminum alloys Al-0.25wt.%Zr doped additionally with Х = Er, Si, Hf, and Nb were the objects of investigations. The fine-grained microstructure in the alloys was formed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing and Rotary Swaging. The thermal stability of the microstructure, specific electrical resistivity, and microhardness of the novel conductor aluminum alloys was investigated. The mechanisms of nucleation of the Al3(Zr,X) secondary particles during annealing the fine-grained aluminum alloys were determined using Jones-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation. Using Zener equation, the dependencies of the mean secondary particle sizes on the annealing time were obtained on the base of analysis of the data on the grain growth in the aluminum alloys. The secondary particle nucleation during long-time low-temperature annealing (300 оC, 1000 hrs) was shown to go preferentially at the cores of the lattice dislocations. The Al-0.25%Zr-0.25%Er-0.20%Hf-0.15%Si alloy subjected to long-time annealing at 300 оC has the optimal combination of the microhardness and electrical conductivity (59.8%IACS, Hv = 480 ± 15 MPa).

Recently, cases of antifreeze poisoning in companion animals, particularly cats, have surged in the Republic of Korea. Ethylene glycol (EG), the toxic primary component of antifreeze, is metabolized into glycolic acid (GA), leading to severe conditions such as metabolic acidosis and acute renal failure. Traditional detection methods, although effective, are often time-consuming owing to complex sample preparation. This study involved a novel analytical method utilizing GC-MS for EG and LC-MS/MS for GA detection, which streamlined the detection process by eliminating the need for derivatization. The method was validated for accuracy and reliability, enabling the rapid and precise identification of EG and GA in biological samples. The study also included the successful application of this method in a case where initial exposure to antifreeze was not apparent, which highlighted the effectiveness of this method in diagnosing poisoning even in cases where clinical history is unclear. The development of this rapid diagnostic approach addresses the urgent need for the efficient detection of antifreeze poisoning, improving animal welfare and supporting forensic investigations.

The optimal functionality and dependability of mechanical systems are important for the sustained productivity and operational reliability of industrial machinery which has direct impact on it’s longevity and profitability. Therefore, failure of a mechanical system or any of it component would be detrimental to production continuity and availability. Consequently,this study proposes a robust diagnostic framework for analyzing the blade conditions of shot blast industrial machinery. The framework involves analyzing the spectral characteristics of the vibration signals generated by Industrial Shot Blast. Additionally, a peak detection algorithms is introduced to identify and extract the unique features present in the peak magnitudes of each signal spectrum. A feature importance algorithm is then deployed as the feature selection tool, and these selected features are fed into 10 machine learning classifier, with Extreme gradient boosting (XGB) as the core classifier. Results show that the XGB classifier achieved the best accuracy of 98.05%, with a cost-efficient computational cost of 0.83 seconds. Other global assessment metrics were also implemented in the study to further validate the model.

Short-range Internet of Things (IoT) sensor nodes operating at 2.4 GHz need to provide ubiquitous wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with energy-efficient, wide-range output power (POUT) and fully integrated on a single chip for wireless body area networks (WBANs) and wireless personal area networks (WPANs) using low-power Bluetooth (BLE) and Zigbee standards. The proposed fully integrated transmitter (TX) utilizes a digitally controllable current-mode class-D (CMCD) power amplifier (PA) with a second harmonic distortion (HD2) suppression to reduce VCO pulling in an integrated system while meeting harmonic limit regulations. The CMCD PA is divided into 7-bit slices that can be reconfigured between differential and single-ended topologies. Duty cycle distortion compensation is performed for HD2 suppression, and an HD2 rejection filter and a modified C-L-C low-pass filter (LPF) reduce HD2 further. Implemented in a 28 nm CMOS process, the TX achieves a wide POUT range of from 12.1 to -31 dBm and provides a maximum efficiency of 39.8% while consuming 41.1 mW at 12.1 dBm POUT. The calibrated HD2 level is -82.2 dBc at 9.93 dBm POUT, resulting in a transmitter figure of merit (TX_FoM) of -97.52 dB. Higher order harmonic levels remain below -41.2 dBm even at 12.1 dBm POUT, meeting regulatory requirements.

Ti-Al based alloys, particularly TiAl and Ti3Al two-phase alloys, have garnered significant attention as potential replacements for various high-temperature structural materials due to their exceptional properties, including low density, oxidation resistance, and high strength at elevated temperatures. Despite these advantages, experimental studies on the microstructure evolution of Ti-Al based alloys under complex conditions remain challenging to observe and characterize. This review article examines the current research on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Ti-Al based alloys, focusing on two-phase Ti-Al alloys, Ti-Al amorphous alloys, Ti-Al composite materials, and the welding and multi-layer/film applications of Ti-Al alloys. The review highlights the unique capabilities of MD simulations in predicting the behavior of Ti-Al based alloys and addresses existing scientific challenges. Furthermore, the article discusses future research directions and development prospects in this field.

Environmental estrogen pollution and estrogen effects on the female reproduction system are well-recognized scientifically. Among the estrogens, 17 β-estradiol is a priority in environmental estrogen pollution, and it is also a major contributor to estrogen which regulates the female reproduction system. 17 β-estradiol is carcinogen and has a tumor promotion effect relating to breast cancer, lung cancer and others. It also affects the psychological well-being such as depression, fatigue and others. Thus, a simple method of detection of 17 β-estradiol will be important for both environmental estrogen pollution and women’s health care. This study demonstrates a simple-use, cost effective 17 β-estradiol biosensor system which can be used for both environment and women’s health care applications. The bio-recognition mechanism is based on the influence of the redox couple, K₃Fe (CN) ₆/K₄Fe (CN) ₆ by the interaction between 17 β-estradiol antigen and its α-receptor (ER- α; α-estrogen antibody). The transduction mechanism is an electrochemical analytical technique, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The levels of 17 β-estradiol antigen studied was between 2.25 pg/mL to 2,250 pg/mL, Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), tap water from the Cleveland regional water district, and simulate urine were used as the test media covering the potential application areas for 17 β-estradiol detection. An interference study by testosterone which has a similar chemical structure and molecular weight as those of 17 β-estradiol was carried out, and this 17 β-estradiol biosensor showed excellent specificity without any interference by similar chemicals.

^{We consider the collective pricing orders in a minimum supply chain that is composed of a monopolistic manufacturer and many retailers that belong to the same chain store firm. The retailers have the freedom to raise or lower the local price. The chain store firm sets up the commercial rules for local retail stores to maximize its total payoff. The monopolistic manufacturer firm controls the total quantity supplied for the market to achieve maximum benefits. We applied the two dimensional Ising model in statistical physics to map the collective distribution of microscopic strategy of local retailers into the macroscopic total payoff of the chain store firm. The local stores choose to raise the price or lower the price based their own mind when the supply in market surpasses the demand. When the supply in market is far less than the demand, the stores synchronously raise prices, even though a local store only have the incomplete information of their nearest neighboring supermarket. We find the critical equation for the balance point between the action of supplier and the action of chain store management based on game theory and statistical physics. The critical equation can identify the Nash equilibrium point of the non-cooperative game between the manufacturer and the chain-store seller, and reveal different levels of collective operations. This statistical physics method also holds for more complicate supply chains and economic systems.}

This study investigates the influence of adding hydrogen as an additive to gasoline in a four-stroke engine, utilizing a comprehensive thermodynamic comparative analysis conducted with self-developed engine model. The research aims to assess the performance, emissions, and efficiency of the engine when using gasoline-hydrogen blends, and to provide insights into the potential benefits of this approach. First the engine performance and emissions under different hydrogen blending levels were examined. A range of different air-to-fuel ratios (rich to lean) and varying percentages of hydrogen were considered. This systematic variation allowed for a detailed evaluation of the influence of hydrogen content on combustion efficiency, power out-put, and emissions characteristics. The analysis results included key parameters such as indicated specific fuel consumption and mean effective pressure. Additionally, the study focused on range prediction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, which are a critical environmental concern asso-ciated with internal combustion engines. The analysis of pressure and temperature profiles throughout the engine cycle shed light on the combustion characteristics and efficiency im-provements associated with hydrogen addition. In terms of emissions, the study projected that all emissions were reduced except NOx, which is highly dependent on hydrogen percentage, and it might be reduced in some cases, but with higher temperatures and pressures associated with hydrogen addition in most cases there is actually NOx increase, especially at higher engine loads.

In this project, four of fibers Bragg gratings were fabricated by injecting different volumes of liquids (star line Glass Mechanix optical adhesive material, olive oil diluted with ethanol) into the hollow core fiber. The amplitude splitting interferometric technique with a high resolution specially designed translation stage was used for the fabrication process. The fabrication was done using ultraviolet laser operated at wavelength 405nm. The fabricated Bragg length of the four fibers is equal to 3.8 cm. The results presented fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with successful fabrication at 653.3 nm Bragg reflected wavelength.

Survivability is a critical concern in WSNs, heavily influenced by energy efficiency. Addressing severe energy constraints in WSNs requires solutions that meet application goals while prolonging network life. This paper presents an energy optimization approach (EOAMRCL) for WSNs, integrating the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) for enhanced performance. EOAMRCL aims to enhance energy efficiency by selecting the optimal duty-cycle schedule, transmission power, and routing paths. The proposed approach employs a centralized strategy using a hierarchical network architecture. During the cluster formation phase, an objective function, augmented with GWO, determines the ideal cluster heads (CHs). The routing protocol then selects routes with minimal energy consumption for data transmission to CHs, using transmission power as a metric. In the transmission phase, the MAC layer forms a duty-cycle schedule based on cross-layer routing information, enabling nodes to switch between active and sleep modes according to their network allocation vectors (NAV). This process is further optimized by an enhanced CSMA/CA mechanism, which incorporates sleep/activate modes and pairing nodes to alternate between active and sleep states. This integration reduces collisions, improves channel assessment accuracy, and lowers energy consumption, thereby enhancing overall network performance. EOAMRCL was evaluated in a MATLAB environment, demonstrating superior performance compared to EEUC, DWEHC, and CGA-GWO protocols, particularly in terms of network lifetime and energy consumption. This highlights the effectiveness of integrating GWO and the updated CSMA/CA mechanism in achieving optimal energy efficiency and network performance.

This article examines the complex interactions of the multiplier effect within the realm of tourism, with a specific emphasis on national parks. The main objective is to evaluate the multiplier effect within national parks, specifically focusing on Buiratau State National Nature Park in Kazakh-stan as a case study. The multiplier effect is a fundamental principle in the field of economic analysis. Economic multiplier effect is the term used to describe the occurrence when an initial infusion of spending in a certain industry leads to subsequent rounds of extra and sustainable economic activity. In the context of national parks, this phenomenon arises when visitor expendi-tures result in several favorable consequences, including increased employment, infrastructure advancement, and general economic expansion. The article seeks to measure the multiplier effect of tourism activities in Buiratau State National Nature Park through a thorough assessment. This entails examining several variables and datasets pertaining to visitor expenditure and its influ-ence. The study contributes to the existing literature by examining a recently constructed national park in a developing country. It compares the findings of this park with well-established national parks in other areas, emphasizing the distinct problems and opportunities it presents. Further-more, the research presents a methodological framework for evaluating the multiplier effect of national parks, which may be utilized in comparable contexts. This research ultimately enhances our comprehension of the economic implications of national parks and emphasizes their function as drivers for local and regional growth.

Despite the effectiveness of insulin injections in managing hyperglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes, they fall short in addressing autoimmunity and regenerating damaged islets. This review aims to explore the potential of various treatment modalities for T1DM, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), MSC-derived exosomes, gene therapy, islet allotransplantation, and pancreatic islet cell transplantation. Results: MSCs demonstrate efficacy in T1DM treatment through immunomodulation and tissue regeneration, although further research is warranted to optimize their therapeutic potential. Gene therapy presents a promising approach despite challenges such as donor shortage and immune rejection. Pancreatic islet cell transplantation emerges as a viable option, albeit with associated risks including graft rejection and the need for immunosuppression. Teplizumab, an FDA-approved humanized monoclonal antibody, revolutionizes the treatment landscape of Type 1 Diabetes by significantly delaying its onset, offering a paradigm shift since the discovery of insulin Conclusion: Ongoing studies and technological advancements in T1DM management offer a promising outlook for improved treatments and possibly even eradication on a global scale. MSCs, MSC-derived exosomes, gene therapy, and pancreatic islet transplantation hold considerable potential.

The number of XLPE cables being used near or beyond their designed lifespan is increasing. The importance of timely cable replacement is increasing. Therefore, research is actively being conducted using VLF Tan δ diagnostic technology to assess the insulation condition of cables. There is a lack of studies measuring and analyzing VLF Tan δ of service aged XLPE cables. Additionally, there is a lack of research considering the operating environment. Therefore, research is needed to diagnose and analyze the insulation condition of the same serviced aged cable when it is operated in a different environment. This paper evaluates and analyzes the insulation condition of cables installed in the BFP, cooling tower, and deaerator booster pump of a combined heat and power plant. Each cable was analyzed by measuring VLF Tan δ, dielectric breakdown test of the cable, and tensile strength, elongation at break, crystallinity, and dielectric strength of XLPE specimens. Additionally, the correlation between VLF Tan δ and other characteristics was also analyzed. It was found that degradation progressed in the order of BFP, cooling tower, and deaerator booster pump. Therefore, it was confirmed that even for the same cable, deterioration varies depending on the installation location.

Smart farm is a technology that greatly helps improve the productivity and quality of crops and is being actively introduced into indoor environments such as green houses. However, it has not yet been distributed to field-grown crops. The main reason is that, unlike indoor environments, it is very difficult to collect sensor data for monitoring the growth environment of crops in open fields where weather conditions change significantly and power supply is difficult. Additionally, because various sensors are used, the data formats of the devices are different, making it difficult to process. This paper presents a field crop growth environment monitoring and big data analysis system. The proposed system first solves power supply and data communication problems using solar power generation and LPWA technology. Additionally, based on the oneM2M architecture, data from various sensors is transmitted to the server using standardized technology. The transmitted data is stored and managed on the server as big data, and can be used to predict the production and quality of field-grown crops and take appropriate measures. The proposed system is expected to create an environment optimized for the growth of field crops and help prevent and manage diseases.

We investigate the structural correlation of non-covalent crown ether/H+/L-tryptophan (CR/TrpH+) host-guest complexes in the solution phase with those in the gas phase generated through electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) techniques. We perform quantum chemical calculations to determine their structures, relative Gibbs free energies, and infrared spectra. We compare the calculated infrared (IR) spectra with the IR multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectra observed for the 18-Crown-6/TrpH+ complex by Polfer and co-workers [J. Phys. Chem. A 2013, 117, 1181−1188] for assigning the IR bands. We observe that the carboxyl group remains ‘naked’, lacking hydrogen bonding with the CR unit in the gas phase, and that this most stable conformer originates from the corresponding lowest Gibbs free energy structure in solution. Based on these findings, we propose that gas phase host-guest complexes directly correlate with those in solution, reinforcing the possibility of obtaining invaluable information about host-guest-solvent interactions in solution from the structure of the host-guest pair in the gas phase.

Nanofiber (NF) products exhibit outstanding performances in the materials science, textile, and medical fields, which cannot be realized using conventional technologies. However, the safety of such products is debated because of the potential risk of nanomaterials and lack of standardized guidelines for safely evaluating NF products. The global safety evaluations of nanomaterials focused on evaluating the cytotoxicity of zero-dimensional materials including nanoparticles and nanotubes based on OECD criteria. The NFs are one-dimensional materials with nanometer diameters and considerable lengths. Many fibers are applied in a densely woven web-like form, and therefore, assessing cellular penetration and fiber toxicity using the same methods is inappropriate. This study verifies the safety of polyurethane (PU) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers, which are currently applied in filters and masks. To this end, polymer NFs were collected from each product, and the NFs were compared with reference samples considering their physical properties using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. For the safety evaluation, DMSO stocks of varying concentrations of PVDF and PU NFs (at 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) were prepared, and the cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production and protein expression obtained via Western blot were identified.

Object detection systems are widely used in various fields such as autonomous vehicles and facial recognition. In particular, object detection using deep learning networks enables real-time processing in low-performance edge devices, and can maintain high detection rates. However, edge devices that operate far from administrators are vulnerable to various physical attacks by malicious adversaries. In this paper, we implement a function for detecting traffic signs by using three versions of You Only Look Once (YOLO) and Faster-RCNN, which can be adopted by edge devices of autonomous vehicles. Then, assuming the role of a malicious attacker, we executed adversarial patch attacks with Adv-Patch and Dpatch. As a result of experimenting with misdetection of traffic stop signs using Adv-Patch and Dpatch, we confirmed the attacks can succeed with a high probability. To defeat these attacks, we propose an image reconstruction method using an autoencoder and the Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). We confirm that the proposed method can sufficiently defend against an attack, attaining an AP above 91.46% even when two adversarial attacks are launched.

The literature study delves into novel therapeutic strategies in transplantation medicine, highlighting unique approaches that could revolutionize current practices. It emphasizes novel patterns that have the potential to transform the current landscape. Commencing with a thorough examination of the historical environment, it traces crucial advances and changes in transplantation. The focus is on traditional techniques, emphasizing their limitations and challenges. An extensive examination of contemporary transplantation therapies offers valuable insights into the most recent progress in organ, cellular, and tissue transplantation. This analysis examines the immunological obstacles and outlines the current advancements and constraints. The exploration further navigates into novel models and concepts such as immunomodulation, developments in organ preservation techniques, gene editing, biomaterials, scaffold-based solutions, and the integration of precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications. Each section analyzes the potential for change and current progress in various areas, backed by relevant scientific sources up to 2023. The subsequent sections delve into innovative cellular therapies, biotechnological progress, current clinical trials, and case studies demonstrating effective applications. This examination delves into the ethical and regulatory considerations of innovative therapeutic procedures, emphasizing ethical implications, regulatory frameworks, and the importance of balancing innovation with patient welfare. The literature review concludes by offering a forward-looking perspective, emphasizing potential progress, anticipated challenges, and advocating for collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches to overcome limitations in the field of transplantation medicine.

Recently, deep neural networks (DNNs) have been widely used in various fields such as autonomous vehicles and smart homes. Since these DNNs can be directly implemented on edge devices, they offer advantages such as real-time processing in low-power and low-bandwidth environments. However, deployment of DNNs in embedded systems, including edge devices, exposes them to threats such as fault injection attacks. In this paper, we introduce two methods to induce misclassifications by using clock and voltage glitch-based fault attacks in devices where DNN models are executed. As a result of experiments on a microcontroller implemented with a DNN for image classification, we show that glitch injection attacks can lead with high probability to serious misclassifications. Furthermore, we propose a countermeasure to glitch attacks on the softmax function, and confirm that this method is effective in preventing misclassifications.

The fabrication and characterisation of photo-anodes based on black-Si (b-Si) are presented using a photo-electrochemical cell in NaOH solution. Black-Si was fabricated by maskless dry plasma etching and was conformally coated by tens-of-nm of TiO2 using atomic layer deposition (ALD) with a top layer of CoO_x cocatalyst deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Low reflectivity R < % of Black-Si over the entire visible and near-IR (λ < 2 µm) spectral range is favourable in better absorption of light while an increased surface area facilities larger current densities. Photoelectrochemical performance of the heterostructured photoanode is discussed in terms of n-n junction between b-Si and TiO₂.

This paper reviews the current research on the speciation and determination of mercury by various analytical instruments such as, atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS), voltammeter, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), ICP-atomic emission spectrometer (AES), ICP-mass spectrometer (MS), atomic fluorescence spectrometer (AFS), spectrophotometer, spectrofluorometer, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Approximately 126 research papers on the speciation and determination of mercury by various analytical instruments published in international journals since 2015 are reviewed. All the analytical parameters, such as limit of detection, linearity range, quality assurance and quality control studies, applicability, and interfering ions studies evaluated in the reviewed articles are tabulated. This review find outs the lack of information on speciation studies of mercury in recent years. Another important prediction from this review is authors are not much studied about the concentrations of mercury in the atmosphere.

In this study, the olive pomace was considered because of its importance in the environment. So, this study carried out to estimate the total nitrogen content and the fatty acids profile of olive pomace. The olive pomace samples were collected from Irbid, Jarash, Ajloun and Mafraq during the harvesting season 2014 to study the biochemical characteristics of fatty acid composition and the total nitrogen (TN) content. The total nitrogen content was determined by standard Kjeldahl method and the fatty acid profile was detected by gas chromatography (GC). The results show that the total nitrogen content ranged from (0.39 ± 0.0) to (0.62 ± 0.02) with statistically significant difference suggesting that the composition of matrices and their percentage may be responsible for composition of amendments. The calculated total protein percentage ranged between (2.43 ± 0.00) to (3.87 ± 0.17). Also, 13 different fatty acids were quantitatively profiled and quantitated. Oleic acid (C 18:1) was found to be the highest percentage of all other fatty acids and ranged between (59.03%) and (63.81%), moreover the C 18:1/C 18:2 (oil quality) was calculated and C.V% showed variation meaning that nutritional implication could affect the oxidative stability of oils. In conclusion, OP by-product could give a sustainable and alternative-cheap source for fertilizers, pharmaceutical industries, cosmetics and other industries.

The variability of ozone over Egypt has been studied in this work. Higher values of coefficient of variation (COV) at eight stations occur at winter while lowest values occur at summer. The COV is function of latitude in annual, winter and spring where it decreases gradually from the north to south of Egypt. The trend analysis of ozone over the eight stations indicates negative trends over northern stations for both annual and seasonal time series with the greatest one at winter. The horizontal distribution of ozone trend values is negative over all Egypt in winter while it positive over middle and south Egypt in the other seasons. The long-term variability of the behavior of the annual ozone shows positive trend values in ozone are the dominant features during the period 1979- 1989 at the most stations. Negative trend values in ozone are the dominant features during the period 1990- 2014 at all stations. The Mann–Kendall test confirms that there is an abrupt change towards decreasing of ozone occurs in 1981, 1984, 2012, 1999, 2000, 1998 and 2010, while a change towards increasing of ozone appears in 2006, 2014, 1993 and 1989.

Objective: Studies in Sports Psychology and Sociology have validated causality in team-sport athletes by using emotional intelligence as a variable. This study aimed to examine the causal relationship between the types of autonomy support coaching, emotional intelligence, and interruption intention as psychosocial variables among current taekwondo athletes in Korea.Methods: In this study, 217 adult or university athletes registered in the Korea Taekwondo Association in 2020 were evaluated for the type of autonomy support coaching, emotional intelligence, and interruption intention. Results: Autonomy support coaching recognized by taekwondo athletes has a negative and positive effect on interruption intention and emotional intelligence, respectively. Moreover, emotional intelligence has a negative effect on interruption intention. which revealed that autonomy support coaching has a negative effect on interruption intention through emotional intelligence.Conclusions: Such outcomes can serve as a foundation for athletes to have the opportunity to participate in sports in a mature manner and promote positive changes in sports culture. In other words, the sensibility of the athletes can be harmoniously symmetry.

Objective: Studies in Sports Psychology and Sociology have validated causality in team-sport athletes by using emotional intelligence as a variable. This study aimed to examine the causal relationship between the types of autonomy support coaching, emotional intelligence, and interruption intention as psychosocial variables among current taekwondo athletes in Korea. Methods: In this study, 217 adult or university athletes registered in the Korea Taekwondo Association in 2020 were evaluated for the type of autonomy support coaching, emotional intelligence, and interruption intention. Results: Autonomy support coaching recognized by taekwondo athletes has a negative and positive effect on interruption intention and emotional intelligence, respectively. Moreover, emotional intelligence has a negative effect on interruption intention. which revealed that autonomy support coaching has a negative effect on interruption intention through emotional intelligence. Conclusions: Such outcomes can serve as a foundation for athletes to have the opportunity to participate in sports in a mature manner and promote positive changes in sports culture. In other words, the sensibility of the athletes can be harmoniously symmetry.

Demand for environmentally friendly types of energy is growing all over the world, which naturally increases the intensity of work on the production of hydrogen-containing fuel mixtures. Steam reforming of methanol is one of the most effective areas of research, as it is a process with low energy consumption. The results of steam reforming of methanol on the catalysts prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and impregnation by moisture capacity are presented. Investigation of the activity of Cu-Ce-Al catalysts of different composition was carried out for production of hydrogen and comparison of SCS with traditional impregnation method. Methanol conversion reaches 99%, while the selectivity of H2 was 88%, at 500 °C. It was found that CuAl2O4 spinel formation is due to substitution of Al3+ with Cu2+ Ce3+ cations. A consequence CuAl2O4 and CeAlO3 lattice parameters increase because of difference in ionic radius of Al3+ (0.53 Å) and Cu2+ (0.73 Å), Ce3+ (1.07 Å). Advantages of SCS catalysts in steam reforming of methanol were shown. The aim of this research is to develop a new catalyst for conversion of methanol into hydrogen containing fuel mixtures, which will further promote the organization of a new era of environmentally friendly energy-saving production methods.

Anyon is collective excitation of two dimensional electron gas subjected to strong magnetic field, carrying fractional charges and exotic statistical character beyond fermion and boson. So far, anyons with serial fractional charges only exist in fractional quantum Hall effect. It is still a challenge to find new serial of fractional charges in other physical system and develop an unified mathematical physics theory based on the same root. Here a topological path fusion theory of propagating electrons in magnetic flux lattice is proposed to explore the physical origin of fractional charges based on a generalization of Feynman's path integral theory and Thurston's train track theory. This mathematical physics theory generated the existed serial of fractional charges in fractional quantum Hall effect and predicted new serial of fractional charges. A serial of irrational charges are predicted in one dimensional lattice of magnetic fluxes. Fractionally charged anyons are also generated in two dimensional and three dimensional lattice of train tracks of electric currents, revealing an exact correspondence between knot lattice model and train track model. A new explanation for the modular symmetry of complex Hall conductance and composite fermion in fractional quantum Hall effect is also derived from this topological path fusion theory. Experimental observation of anyon in three dimensions can be realized by constructing three dimensional interlocking magnetic fluxes or mapping magnetic fluxes into forbidden zones in multi-connected space filled by solid state material. A photonic crystal with porous nano-structures is a promising system for detecting fractional charges and paves a new way for topological quantum computation.

In the case of long-stator linear drive, unlike rotative drives for which speed or position sensors are a single unit attached to the shaft, these sensors extend along the guideway. The position signals transmitted from maglev vehicle can’t meet the need of the real-time propulsion control in the on-ground inverter power substations. In this paper the design of the propulsion inverter control system with a position estimator for driving long-stator synchronous motor in high speed maglev train is proposed. The experiments have been carried out at the 150m long guideway in O-song test track. To investigate the performance of the position estimator, the propulsion control system with and without the position estimator are compared. The result confirms that the proposed strategy can meet the dynamic property need of propulsion inverter control system for driving long-stator linear synchronous motors

Our results demonstrated that SWT stimulates osteoblastogenesis and increase the cell number of osteoblasts, suggesting positive regulatory effects on osteoblast differentiation. However, the effect of SWT on bone formation need further examination, since the expression of alp gene is downregulated. On the other hand, SWT appears to negatively regulate osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, as number of osteoclasts and the expression of critical bone resorptive genes are all downregulated. Collectively, SWT might change the equilibrium of bone remodeling and increase the bone mass. Our data provided supportive evidences that this medicine formulation can be applied to treat osteoporosis or bone destructive diseases.

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

Degradation is an inevitable companion in the operation of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems since it directly deteriorates the reliability of the system’s operation and the system’s durability. Both are seen as barriers that limit the extensive commercial use of SOFC systems. Therefore diagnosis and prognosis are valuable tools that can contribute to raising the reliability of the system operation, efficient health management, increased durability and implementation of predictive maintenance techniques. Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction has been extensively studied in many areas like batteries and proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM) systems, and a range of different approaches has been proposed. On the other hand, results available in the domain of SOFC systems are still relatively limited. Moreover, methods relying on detailed process models and models of degradation turned out to have limited applicability for in-field applications. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an effective, data-driven approach to predicting RUL where the trend of the health index is modelled by an adaptive linear model, which is updated at all times during the system operation. This allows for a closed-form solution of the probability distribution of the RUL, which is the main novelty of this paper. Such a solution requires no computational load and is as such very convenient for the application in ordinary low-cost control systems. The performance of the approach is demonstrated first on the simulated case studies and then on the data obtained from a long-term experiment on a laboratory SOFC system. From the tests conducted so far it turns out that, the quality of the RUL prediction is usually rather low at the beginning of the system operation, but then gradually improves while the system is approaching the end-of-life (EOL), making it a viable tool for prognosis.

Few prior works study self-driving cars by deep learning with IoT collaboration. SDC-Net, which is an end-to-end multitask self-driving car camera cocoon IoT-based system, is one of the research that tackles this direction. However, by design SDC-Net is not able to identify the accident locations, it only classifies if it is a crash scene or not. In this work, we introduce an enhanced design for the SDC-Net system by 1) replacing the classification network with a detection one, 2) adapting our benchmark dataset labels built on the CARLA simulator to include the vehicles bounding boxes while keeping the same training, validation, and testing samples, 3) modifying the shared information via IoT to include the accident location. We keep the same path planning and automatic emergency braking network, the digital automation platform, and the input representations to formulate the comparative study. SDC-Net++ system is proposed to 1) output the relevant control actions, especially in case of accidents: accelerate, decelerate, maneuver, and brake, and 2) share the most critical information to the connected vehicles via IoT, especially the accident locations. A comparative study is also conducted between SDC-Net and SDC-Net++ with the same input representations: front camera only, panorama and bird-eye views, and with single-task networks: crash avoidance only, and multitask networks. Multitask network with a BEV input representation outperforms the nearest representation in precision, recall, f1-score, and accuracy by more than 15.134%, 12.046%, 13.593%, and 5%, respectively. SDC-Net++ multitask network with BEV outperforms SDC-Net multitask with BEV in precision, recall, f1-score, accuracy, and average MSE by more than 2.201%, 2.8%, 2.505%, 2%, and 18.677% respectively.

A topological representation theory of chiral spin liquid is proposed to unify the integral and fractional quantum Hall fluid based on hyperbolic geometry, knot lattice and Thurston's train track theory. The integral and fractional Hall resistivity obeys an exact unified equation, $R_{xy} = (h/e^2)B_{e}$, $B_{e} = (n+\nu)^{-1}$, with respect to the bulk energy gap ${\Delta}E = {\hbar{e}B_{e}}/{Mc}$. The Wen-Zee matrix formulation of topological fluid for quantum Hall effect is constructed by topological surgery and train track. The chirality of spin liquid is spontaneously distinguished by Jones polynomial. The integral Chern number for Hall conductance is fractionalized by generalizing Thurston's train track to folding laminations in three dimensions, which spontaneously bring fractional quantum Hall fluid and anyons into three dimensions and provided an theoretical explanation on the competing fractional quantum Hall states. The many body system of interacting fermions or bosons are mapped into many interacting liquid droplets that interwind into knot lattice, which provide an effective topological representation for superfluid and superconductor, the strange metal state in superconductor is explained by topological dislocation and topological surgery. The Kauffman decomposition rule in knot theory is extended to describe the topological relations between different two dimensional manifolds, which further reveals the non-trivial relationship between the partition functions of pairing fermions and free electrons. The minimal energy state is the most stable topological state, even thought it maybe shares the same topological number with the excited states. The topological representation theory predicts a circular motion of electrons in hyperbolic space, that is implementable and testable by inhomogeneous magnetic field in three dimensions. The folding lamination representation of topological quantum fluid provides an promising implementation of string theory in high energy physics.

Background: Asthma is a widespread chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant public health challenge. The current study investigated the associations between air pollution and asthma severity among individuals residing near the Sohar industrial port (SIP) in Oman. Despite the presence of multiple major industrial complexes in Oman, limited knowledge regarding their impact on respiratory health is accredited. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to offer valuable insights into the respiratory health consequences of industrial air pollution in Al Batinah North. Methods: The state health clinics' records for patient visits related to asthma were collected for the timeframe spanning 2014 to 2022. Exposure was defined as the distance from SIP, Majan Industerial Area (MIA) and Sohar Industerial Zone (SIZ) to determine high, intermediate, and low exposure zones (12 km, respectively). Exposure effect modifications by age, gender, and smoking status were also examined. Results: The conducted cross-sectional study of 410 patients (46.1% males and 53.9% females) living in over 17 areas around SIP revealed that 73.2% of asthmatics were under 50 years old, with severity significantly associated with closeness to the port. Risk ratios were estimated to be (RR:2.42; CI95%: 1.01–5.78), (RR:1.91; CI95%: 1.01–3.6), and (RR:1.68; CI95%: 0.92–3.09) for SIP, MIP and SIZ areas, respectively, compared to the control area. Falaj Al Qabail (6.4 km) and Majees (6 km) had the highest number of asthma patients (N. 69 and N. 72), and highest percentages of severe asthma cases among these patients (28% and 24%) with significant risk ratios (RR:2.97; CI95%: 1.19–7.45 and RR:2.55; CI95%: 1.00–6.48), correspondingly. Moreover, severe asthma prevalence peaked in the 25-50 age group (RR:2.05; CI95%: 1.26–3.33), and this linkage between asthma and age was much more pronounced in males than females. Smoking and exposure to certain contaminant (dust and smoke) increased also the risk of severe asthma symptoms, but their effects were less important in the high risk zone, suggesting much more important risk factor. A neural network model accurately predicted asthma risk (94.8% accuracy), with proximity to Sohar Industrial Port as the most influential predictor. Conclusion: The study highlights the High asthma burden near Sohar Industrial Port, linked to port proximity and smoking and wind direction as major risk factors. These findings inform vital public health policies to reduce air pollution and improve respiratory health in the region, prompting national policy review.

A single mode waveguide grating coupler based on multiple Si-SiO₂ pairs onto Si substrate has been designed. Numerical analysis has been carried out to calculate optimum thickness of the layers of Si-SiO₂ that ensures the constructive interference between reflected waves and actual guided wave for high coupling efficiency. Based on the results, an optimal design is developed and modeled by using a 2-D finite difference time domain (2-D FDTD) simulator that dictates a coupling efficiency of as much as 78% (-1.07 dB) at the wavelength of 1550 nm, and a 1-dB bandwidth of 77 nm. The numerical method will be useful to calculate the optimum thicknesses of the layers for any reflector based grating coupler of different materials.

Ultra-short 230 fs laser pulses of 515 nm wavelength were tightly focused into 700 nm focal spots and utilised in opening ~ 400 nm nano-holes in a Cr etch mask that was tens-of-nm thick. Nano-holes ablated at slightly above the threshold of ablation irradiance became nano-disks and nano-rings at slightly lower pulse energies. Subtle sub-1 nJ pulse energy control was harnessed to pattern large surface areas with controlled nano-alloying of Si and Cr. This technique is extendable to vacuum-free large area patterning of nanolayers by alloying them at distinct locations with sub-diffraction resolution. Such metal masks with nano-hole opening can be used for formation of random patterns of nano-needles with sub-100 nm separation when applied to dry etching of Si.

Relativistic shocks are one of the most plausible sites of the emission of strongly variable, polarized multi-wavelength emission from relativistic jet sources such as blazars, via diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) of relativistic particles. This paper summarizes recent results on a self-consistent coupling of diffusive shock acceleration and radiation transfer in blazar jets. We demonstrate that the observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of blazars strongly constrain the nature of hydromagnetic turbulence responsible for pitch-angle scattering by requiring a strongly energy-dependent pitch-angle mean free path. The prominent soft X-ray excess (``Big Blue Bump'') in the SED of the BL Lac object AO 0235+164 can be modelled as the signature of bulk Compton scattering of external radiation fields by the thermal electron population, which places additional constraints on the level of hydromagnetic turbulence. It has further been demonstrated that internal shocks propagating in a jet pervaded by a helical magnetic field naturally produce polarization-angle swings by 180$^o$, in tandem with multi-wavelength flaring activity, without requiring any helical motion paths or other asymmetric jet structures. The specific application of this model to 3C279 presents the first consistent, simultaneous modeling of snap-shot SEDs, multi-wavelength light curves and time-dependent polarization signatures of a blazar during a polarization-angle (PA) rotation. This model has recently been generalized to a lepto-hadronic model, in which the high-energy emission is dominated by proton synchrotron radiation. It is shown that in this case, the high-energy (X-ray and $\gamma$-ray) polarization signatures are expected to be significantly more stable (not showing PA rotations) than the low-energy (electron-synchrotron) signatures.

High dimensional statistical analysis for the yield of large-scale circuits is quite difficult due to expensive simulations, especially for the memory circuits with high sigma requirement (e.g., SRAM). In this paper, we developed an efficient sparse additive model to substitute simulations. To fit high sigma region accurately, the modeling center is moved to near failure boundary searched by scaling the shape of sampling function. To solve the model efficiently, the process variables are grouped by standard cells so that the model can be solved by our developed blockwise greedy algorithm. The experiments on the 28nm memory circuits validate that our method achieves high accuracy and efficiency compared with other state-of-art works.

Two novel core-shell composites SiO2@PMDA-Si-Tb, SiO2@PMDA-Si-Tb-phen with SiO2 as the core and terbium organic complex as the shell, were successfully synthesized. The terbium ion was coordinated with organic ligand forming terbium organic complex in the shell layer. The bi-functional organosilane ((HOOC)2C6H2(CONH(CH2)3Si(OCH2CH3)3)2 (abbreviated as PMDA-Si) was used as the first ligand and phen as the second ligand. Furthermore, the silica-modified SiO2@PMDA-Si-Tb@SiO2, SiO2@PMDA-Si-Tb-phen@SiO2 core-shell-shell composites were also synthesized by sol–gel chemical route. An amorphous silica shell was coated around the SiO2@PMDA-Si-Tb and SiO2@PMDA-Si-Tb-phen core-shell composites. The core-shell and core-shell-shell composites both exhibited excellent luminescence in solid state. The luminescence of core-shell-shell composites was stronger than that of core-shell composites. Meanwhile, an improved luminescence stability property for the core-shell-shell composites was found in the aqueous solution. The core-shell-shell composites exhibited bright luminescence, high stability, long lifetime, and good solubility, which may present potential applications in the field of bio-medical.

Calcium phosphates and manganese phosphates play a significant role in biomedical and engineering applications, and these compounds are both synergistic. These compounds could have great potential for use in different applications, particularly as precursors of biomaterials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of the gradual replacement of Ca2+ with Mn2+ on the phase composition and crystal structure of brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O), which could be useful for the production of Mono- and Biphasic Ca1−xMnxHPO4·nH2O Compounds. In order to prepare the starting solutions required for this study, Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, (NH4)2·HPO4, and Mn(NO3)2·4H2O were used at various molar concentrations. Afterwards, the Ca1−xMnxHPO4·nH2O compounds were prepared using dissolution and precipitation methods. These compounds were characterized using XRD, SEM, FT-IR, XPS, and TGA techniques. The findings revealed that Mn substituted Ca partially at low Mn/Ca molar ratios, 0.25, and Mn doping increased the unit cell of CaHPO4·2H2O. The produced biphasic compound was composed of monoclinic CaHPO4·2H2O and nanostructured orthorhombic MnHPO4·(H2O)3 after a continuous increase in the Mn/Ca molar ratio to 1.5. When the Ca/Mn molar ratio was above 1.5, a monophasic compound of the MnHPO4·(H2O)3 phase was formed. The MnHPO4·(H2O)3 compound was successfully prepared for the first time using this dissolution-precipitation method. It was also established that the Mn/Ca ratio of the starting solution can be modified to produce CaHPO4·2H2O and MnHPO4·(H2O)3 phases with specific weight percent compositions.

This study analyzed eye examination data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to investigate the relationship between cataract prevalence and sunlight exposure among Koreans. Out of 952 individuals from 192 districts surveyed from January to December, statistical analyses using SPSS version 26, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, were conducted. Results: Results showed that the incidence of cataracts was higher in people exposed to sunlight for more than 5 hours. Regarding gender, the incidence of cataracts was higher in female in the 2-5 hours of sunlight exposure group, and in male in the group exposed to sunlight for more than 5 hours. Age significantly increased cataracts after age 45 in both groups. Additionally, the prevalence was higher among college graduates in the 2 to 5 groups, and among elementary school graduates in the more than 5 hours usage group. In urban areas, the cataract prevalence rate was higher in the 2-5-hour usage group, and in rural areas, the cataract prevalence was higher in the more than 5-hour usage group. In conclusion, prolonged sunlight exposure, particularly over 5 hours, correlated with higher cataract prevalence among Koreans, with various demographic factors influencing incidence rates.

Herein, we developed a highly sensitive and specific bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC)-based influenza A virus (IAV) sensing system created by combining a galactose/glucose-binding protein (GGBP) with an N-terminal large domain (YN1-172) and a C-terminal small domain (YC173-239) of enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (eYFP). The GGBP-based BiFC reporter exhibits the fluorescence reconstitution as a result of conformational changes in GGBP when lactose, derived from 6’-silalyllactose used as a substrate for neuraminidase (NA), binds to GGBP in the presence of IAV. The system showed a linear dynamic range from 1 x 100 TCID50/mL to 1 x 107 TCID50/mL, with a detection limit of 4 x 101 TCID50/mL for IAV (H1N1), demonstrating ultra-high sensitivity. Our system exhibited fluorescence intensity enhancements in the presence of IAV, while displaying weak fluorescence signals when exposed to NA-deficient viruses such as RSV A, RSV B, adenovirus and rhinovirus, thereby indicating selective responses for IAV detection. Taken together, our system provides a simple, highly sensitive and specific IAV detection platform based on BiFC capable of detecting the ligand-induced protein conformational changes, obviating the need for virus culture or RNA extraction processes.

Ecosystem physical structure, defined by the quantity and spatial distribution of biomass, influences a range of ecosystem functions. Remote sensing tools permit the non-destructive characterization of canopy and root features, potentially providing opportunities to link above- and belowground structure at fine spatial resolution in functionally meaningful ways. To test this possibility, we employed ground-based portable canopy lidar (PCL) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) along co-located transects in forested sites spanning multiple stages of ecosystem development and, consequently, of structural complexity. We examined canopy and root structural data for coherence at multiple spatial scales ≤ 10 m within each site using wavelet analysis. Forest sites varied substantially in vertical canopy and root structure, with leaf area index and root mass more evenly distributed by height and depth, respectively, as forests aged. In all sites, above- and belowground structure, characterized as mean maximum canopy height and root mass, exhibited significant coherence at a scale of 3.5-4 meters, and results suggest that the scale of coherence may increase with stand age. Our findings demonstrate that canopy and root structure are linked at characteristic spatial scales, which provides the basis to optimize scales of observation. Our study highlights the potential, and limitations, for fusing lidar and radar technologies to quantitatively couple above- and belowground ecosystem structure.

Antibiotic-loaded bone cement has been traditionally advocated as a key step for the success of one-stage hip revision surgery, while cementless techniques have been recently proposed with and without the use of local antibacterials as an equally successful alternative. Aim of this review is to investigate the effective role of local antimicrobial protection for one-stage cemented and cementless hip revision surgery. Twelve studies reporting the results of cemented single-stage procedure at a minimum two years follow-up were reviewed. When pooling together the data, no infection recurrence was observed on average in 83.3% of the patients (range 75.0% to 100%). Only two papers, both from the same French group, included patients treated without the use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement, with an average infection control of 95.9% in a total of 195 patients. This figure appears better that the 80.7% infection control obtained by pooling together all the remaining studies. Concerning cementless one-stage revision, a total of 17 studies, reporting on 521 patients, showed an average 90.0% (range 56.8% to 100%) no infection recurrence, at a minimum two years follow-up. Eight papers reported the outcomes of cementless implants without any local antibacterial protection and nine more described four different techniques for local antimicrobial implant protection. No comparative study investigated cementless revision with or without local antibacterial protection. Pooled data showed an average infection control of 86.7%, without the application of local antibacterials, compared to 90.1% to 100% with local antimicrobial protection, depending on the technology used. However, due to the relatively low number of patients treated with each local antimicrobial protection, no statistical difference could be found, either considering local antibacterial strategies alone or pooled together. No side effect had been reported by any local antibacterial technique. This review points out that local antibacterial protection for one-stage hip revision surgery, although safe and largely performed in the clinical setting, appears still to rely mainly on experts’ opinion and on observational series with no prospective or comparative trial, hence no definitive conclusion can be drawn concerning its effective role in one-stage hip revision surgery.

The key question for the understanding of corrosion phenomena of Si3N4-SiC material in Al reduction cell – whether corrosion by gases (and oxidation in particular) opens way for the corrosion by molten cryolite, or corrosion of Si3N4-SiC by cryolite plays its own role in degradation of the material in service. More probably the reactions of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with molten cryolite go after the stage of pre oxidation to silicon dioxide. The corrosion of Si3N4-SiC material in the reduction cell may take place by “gas-solid” reaction and by “liquid-solid” reaction. There are several variants of lab corrosion test for the evaluation of corrosion resistance of Si3N4-SiC material to cryolite. The results of investigation of Si3N4-SiC lab corrosion test give no direct evidence of selective dissolution of specific phase (Si3N4 or SiC, α-Si3N4 or β-Si3N4) in cryolite. The existing variants of lab corrosion testing require clarification.

κ Draconis is a binary system with a classical Be star as the primary component. Its emission-line spectrum consists of hydrogen lines, notably the Hα line with a peak intensity ratio (V/R) variations phase-locked with the orbital period P = 61.55 days. Among binaries demonstrating the Be phenomenon, κ Dra stands out as one of a few systems with a discernible mass of its secondary component. Based on more than 200 spectra obtained in 2014 − 2023, we verified the physical parameters and constructed the mass function. We used part of these data obtained in 2014 − 2021 to investigate regions in the circumstellar disk of the primary component that emit the Hα line using the Doppler tomography method. The results show that the disk has a non-uniform density distribution with a prominent enhancement at Vy≈ 99 km s−1 and Vx≈−6 km s−1 that corresponds to a cloud-like source of the double-peaked Hα line profile. We argue that this enhancement’s motion is responsible for the periodic variations of the Hα V/R ratio, which is synchronised in orbital phase with the radial velocity (RV) of absorption lines from the atmosphere of the primary component.

Post-operative chemotherapy is still required for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), and nanocarrier-based drug delivery has been identified as one of the most effective methods. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and non-specific delivery to non-tumor tissues can significantly limit drug accumulation in tumor tissues and cause damage to nearby normal tissues. This study describes a targeted cancer therapy approach that uses AS1411 aptamer-conjugated nanospheres, 100-300 nm in size, loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) to selectively identify tumor cells overexpressing nucleolin (NCL) proteins. The study demonstrates that the active target model, which employs aptamer-mediated drug delivery, is more effective than nonspecific enhanced permeability and maintenance (EPR)-mediated delivery and passive drug delivery in improving drug penetration and maintenance in tumor cells. Additionally, the study shows the potential for anticancer effects through 3D spheroidal and in vivo GBM xenograft models. The DNA-protein hybrid nanospheres utilized in this study offer numerous benefits, such as efficient synthesis, structural stability, high drug loading, dye labelling, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. When combined with nanospheres, the 1411 aptamer has been shown to be an effective drug delivery carrier for precisely targeting tumors. This combination has the potential to produce anti-tumor effects in active targeted therapy of GBM.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used in public healthcare facilities; this exposure can result in the development of bacterial tolerance to disinfectant, which has known links to antibiotic cross-resistance. However, the mechanism through which cross-resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants develops remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the phenotypic, and transcriptomic changes caused by disinfectant exposure in gram-negative bacteria and determine the cause of cross-resistance to antibiotics. The results demonstrated that the misuse of disinfectants plays an important role in the emergence of disinfectant resistance and in the increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance may occur from exposure of gram-negative bacteria to subminimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of NaOCl. Ten passages of gram-negative bacteria in increasingly higher subMICs of NaOCl disinfectant was sufficient to increase the MIC to &gt;2,500 µg/ml NaOCl, particularly in K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. To determine the development of cross-resistance to antibiotics due to NaOCl exposure, the MICs for each antibiotic before and after exposure of each strain to sublethal concentrations of NaOCl were compared. After overnight incubation with a sublethal concentration of NaOCl, a statistically significant increase in MIC was only observed for imipenem (P&lt;0.01). Investigation of the mechanism of cross-resistance by means of transcriptome analysis revealed that 1,250 µg/ml NaOCl-adapted K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains increased resistance to imipenem due to increased expression of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) efflux pumps, such as AcrAB-TolC and MexAB/XY-OprM. Therefore, we suggest that exposure to NaOCl can influence the expression of RND efflux pump genes, contributing to imipenem cross-resistance.

Silicon carbide particle-reinforced aluminum matrix (SiCp/Al) composites are significant lightweight metal matrix composites extensively utilized in precision instruments and aerospace sectors. Nevertheless, the inclusion of rigid SiC particles exacerbates tool wear in mechanical machining, resulting in a decline in the quality of surface finish. This work undertakes a comprehensive investigation into the problem of tool wear in SiCp/Al composite materials throughout the machining process. Initially, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to analyze the effects of cutting velocity vc, feed per tooth fz, milling depth ap, and milling width ae on tool wear during high-speed milling under SCCO2-MQL (Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Minimum Quantity Lubrication) ultrasonic vibration conditions. Furthermore, a prediction model for tool wear was developed by employing the orthogonal test method and multiple linear regression. The model's relevance and accuracy were confirmed using F-tests and t-tests. Ultimately, through the utilization of a genetic algorithm, the milling parameters were optimized, resulting in the identification of the most optimal combination of parameters. Empirical findings suggest that the careful selection of milling parameters can significantly mitigate tool wear, extend the lifespan of the tool, and enhance the quality of the surface. This work serves as a significant point of reference for the processing of SiCp/Al composite materials.

The recycling, incineration, and final disposal rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) are calculated based on the total amount of waste input to each facility in many countries. These statistic data have serious limitation in setting the national goal and policy for effective waste management because it is not considering the amount of foreign objectives in the process of each life-cycle stage. This case study is to estimate the actual rates of recycling, incineration, and final disposal by material flow analysis (MFA) after the collection of MSW in Korea. The actual rates of recycling, incineration and final disposal for MSW in 2016 were 49.9%, 32.9% and 23.1% respectively, indicating that the recycling rate was lower by 10.1%, while the incineration and final disposal rates were raised by 7.6% and 8.4% respectively, compared with the statistics for current MSW. In addition, the changed actual rates of recycling, incineration treatment, and final landfill, and variation of waste treatment charge according to treated amounts per treatment method was analyzed. This results of this study will contribute to establish national level of plan on effective waste management.

Background: Despite their generally favorable prognosis, hepatic fibrosis remains a possible complication for hepatitis B virus (HBV) inactive carriers. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of significant fibrosis and associated risk factors among Omani HBV inactive carriers. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 200 Omani HBV inactive carriers visiting a tertiary hospital in Muscat, Oman, between January 2017 and December 2018. Significant fibrosis (stage F2 or higher) was identified using two-dimensional shear-wave elastography. Baseline clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were analyzed to determine associations. Results: Of the total sample, 106 patients (53%) were male, and the mean age was 44.6 ± 9.3 years. The prevalence of significant fibrosis was 20% (n = 40). Male gender (p = 0.007), age ≥60 years (p = 0.024), and fatty changes in liver ultrasound (p = 0.044) were found to be independent factors for significant fibrosis. Conclusion: the prevalence of significant fibrosis was relatively high among a sample of Omani HBV inactive carriers, with several sociodemographic and clinical risk factors identified. Periodic assessment of liver function is needed for patients with these risk factors; moreover, routine biochemical parameters could be useful predictors of disease prognosis. Further research is recommended to substantiate these findings.

It is postulated in this research that the paradox of “advances in technology and management not keeping pace with the ever-increasing urban problems” is due to the poor understanding of person-focused governance of societal, environmental and economic entities. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to present an adaptive institutional model of person-driven effectiveness and ineffectiveness. The model proposes that human, ecologic and economic outcomes are heavily influenced by a complex system of systems, spanning from individually unique “non-physical influencers” to a broader set of social and environmental influencers that have a common impact on the larger society-environment-economy (SEE) system. At the heart of the model is an analytic formulation that explains the phenomena of non-physical blocker, enhancer and indifferent that are responsible for the adaptation and maladaptation of social agents, and accordingly for the sustainability and unsustainability of SEE systems. Examples are provided to illustrate the model applications: (a) the non-physical and maladaptive syndromes as antecedents of multi-morbidity and (b) the broadened and narrowed minds as sources of sustainability and unsustainability at the SEE system level within the context of emerging technologies such as engineered nanomaterials.

Nowadays recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after invitro fertilization is common problem that reproductive specialists usually faced. The phenomenon of thin endometrium in RIF patients has yet not completely understood and properly treated. This study aimed to reveal significantly dysregulated selected genes expression between RIF patients with thin endometrium and fertile women. Endometrial samples were collected in the implantation window days (LH+7 – LH+10) of the natural menstrual cycle from RIF patients (n=20) and fertile women (n=14). Ten genes were chosen as target genes regarding their possible relations with the implantation process. Endometrial gene expression levels showed differences in RIF samples compared to fertile samples. The significant downregulation was observed for CXCL1 (p=0.005) and C4BPA (p=0.03) genes. There was no statistically significant difference between the RIF groups and the fertile group in the expression of 8 genes: CXCL8, HPRT1, MMP10, INFG, VEGFB, HAND2, IL15 and TNC (p&gt;0.05). The use of a combination of two markers (C4BPA + CXCL1) allows for good discrimination of RIF patients from fertile women (AUC 0.806).

In electric circuits, energy is delivered by electromagnetic fields through the space, as suggested by Kraus and Carver. They provide insights by showing electric/magnetic fields and Poynting vector directions around a DC circuit. In this work, the energy flow mechanism by Kraus and Carver is further studied theoretically for arbitrary terminal potentials of a DC power source.

This study aimed to investigate the fatigue performance and interfacial strengthening mechanisms of Al6061-to-Cu dissimilar lap joints via electromagnetic pulse welding (EMPW). The load-bearing capacity of the joints at discharge voltages of 14 kV and 16 kV was superior to that of 12 kV. Furthermore, the fatigue life of the 14 kV joints was one order of magnitude higher compared to the 12 kV joints. SEM observation of the fatigue fracture surface revealed the presence of typical "tire-mark" fatigue striations only in the 14 kV joint, indicating higher ductility and the ability to withstand extended plastic deformation. Notably, ultra-fine nanocrystalline Al2Cu phase, amorphous phase, and numerous dislocations hindered EBSD acquisition in the transition zone. Nevertheless, dense low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) and refined grains were examined at the bonding interface. This suggests that the high-velocity collision caused severe plastic deformation and led to the formation of substructures. The interfacial strength was attributed not only to the "wave-like" or "inverted hook-like" diffusion layer but also to the presence of refined grains along the interface and nanocrystalline Al2Cu in the transition zone. Furthermore, the hybrid nanocrystalline-amorphous microstructure strengthened the joint by regulating the balance between strength and ductility.