bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sonochemically Synthesized Bismuth Oxyiodide Nanocrystal for Wastewater Remediation through Visible‐Light Photocatalysis
Authors: Sarkar Ratna , Das Dimitra , Sarkar Subrata , Chattopadhyay Kalyan Kumar
Published: February 2024

It has been demonstrated that bismuth oxyhalides [BiOX (X = Cl, Br, and I)] nano‐crystals can efficiently behave as photocatalysts both under visible light and UV light. Different types of dyes, phenols, etc. can be degraded by bismuth oxyhalides materials efficiently, for the purification of wastewater. The raw materials used in the synthesis of bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) are pure Bi2O3, halide salt, and capping agent (poly‐vinyl‐pyrrolidone). A variety of characterization techniques are used to characterize the as‐synthesized samples, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL), Mott–Schottky, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), and high resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM), etc. A potential application in environmental remediation is achieved through 95.25% degradation of organic Rhodamine B (RhB) dye within 100 min using the synthesized materials under visible light irradiation.
Computational/In‐Silico Methods: An Influential Approach for Drug Designing and Development
Authors: Khatana Kavita , Gupta Anjali , Ghosal Anujit , Zafar Fahmina
Published: February 2024

As the world is struggling with the pandemic. Various infectious diseases have become a threat to human health. Millions of deaths are caused by these microbial infections (bacterial, fungal, and viral infections). The process of designing and discovering new drugs is very expensive and it also consumes a good amount of time. As per available data, the process of discovery and designing takes 3–20 years to complete. There is a strong urge and demand to discover new methods to make the process of drug design and development more cost‐effective. Computational methods are one the novel methods for designing and developing a drug. In this respect, in‐silico parameters; ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) models have been established with various levels of complication for the transmission of huge data of derivatives/ligands/drugs. Nowadays, in‐silico tools are more cost‐effective, faster, and simpler than transitional experimental trials. Currently, the pharmaceutical industry faces a huge erosion rate of preclinical and clinical applicants due to the unavailability of pharmacokinetics properties and huge toxicity. These can be minimized via structural modifications of drugs and can help medicinal chemists/pharmacists. In this report, various methodologies and steps have been explained via molecular docking that will lead to drug development in lesser time against various stains.
Solar Light Active Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Biochar Nanocomposite for RhB Dye Degradation
Authors: Vikal Monika , Shah Shachi , Singh Narbir , Gupta Meenal , Singh Pushpa , Kumar Yogesh
Published: February 2024

In this work, nanocomposite graphitic carbon nitride/biochar is successfully prepared by physical mixing method to achieve efficient charge separation and photodegradation of RhB dye under sunlight. The biochar is synthesized by heating biomass in muffle furnace in an inert atmosphere. The graphitic carbon nitride is prepared using melamine as a precursor and heating it in a muffle furnace in air atmosphere. The structural characterizations FTIR and X‐ray diffraction are done to confirm the functional groups and crystallography of prepared samples. The photodegradation of RhB dye by nanocomposite is analyzed using a UV–visible spectrophotometer under solar irradiation. It is found that the RhB dye is completely reduced by the nanocomposite in less than 6 min in the presence of sunlight. The kinetic study confirms the photodegradation of RhB dye is first order reaction and rate constant is found to be 0.31 min−1.
Effect of Surface Charge on a Microsphere on the Stability of a Nanoparticle Suspension
Authors: Iyengar Shruthi S. , Bhattacharya Sarbari
Published: February 2024

A stable suspension of nanoparticles is generally achieved by modifying the surface properties of the nanoparticles using a surfactant. This is to create a surface charge on the nanoparticles which prevents them from forming aggregates. This phenomenon is very sensitive to changes in the local environment. Conventional optical tweezers though capable of trapping sub‐micrometer particles are not known to trap single nanoparticles. However, the stability and dynamics of a suspension of nanoparticles can be probed through the changes in the fluctuations of an optically trapped microsphere that has been added to the suspension. Adding microspheres to the nanoparticle suspension can affect the stability depending on the surface charges the microparticles themselves have. The study reports here on the variation of the dynamics of suspended nanoparticles, which have a positive surface charge, when silica microspheres, which are negatively surface charged, are added to the suspension. With the addition of silica beads, there is agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The dynamics of these agglomerated structures are then probed by measuring the Brownian fluctuations of an optically trapped silica bead. These results are in sharp contrast to those of earlier studies carried out with suspensions of identical nanoparticles but with negative surface charge.
Tunable Dielectric Spectroscopy of PVDF Thin Films Crossbred with TiO2 Nanoparticles for the Storage Devices
Authors: Ayub H Arshad , Dani Santhoshkumar , Khanam Bibi Raza , Manohara Shambonahalli Rajanna , Khadke U. V.
Published: February 2024

Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) is a semi‐crystalline ferroelectric polymer with a wide range of interesting properties and shows potentiality in a variety of technological applications. Flexible thin films of PVDF nanocomposites (NCs) have attracted many researchers due to their tunable electronic properties. This paper reports the synthesis, characterization, and dielectric studies of PVDF‐TiO2 NC thin films. The synthesized films are self‐supporting thin and the average thickness of the thin films is 60 µm measured using a Digital thickness gauge of resolution 0.01 mm. TiO2 nanoparticles are prepared using the combustion method. Commercially available PVDF granules are used to develop PVDF‐TiO2 NC thin films using the film casting technique. The structural study of the prepared thin films is carried out using XRD that confirms the retention of the β‐phase of PVDF. The functional group and bonding nature have been studied using FTIR Spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the NC thin films is studied using TGA. The variation of dielectric constant (DC), dielectric loss (DL), AC conductivity, and dissipation factor of the medium of pristine PVDF and PVDF‐TiO2 NC thin films are studied in the frequency range of 10 Hz to 8 MHz at ambient temperature. The dielectric constant of PVDF‐TiO2 NC thin films increases up to 8 wt% and anomaly for 10 wt% of TiO2 fillers in the PVDF matrix at a lower frequency and found to decrease with increasing frequency. The dielectric loss of NC thin films is high at a lower frequency and decreases with an increase in the frequency that is in good agreement with the Maxwell–Wagner type of interfacial polarization. At lower frequencies, the dielectric constant of PVDF‐TiO2 NC increases with the increase in filler content. AC conductivity shows a sharp increase at higher frequencies whereas the dissipation factor of the polymer NCs remains unaltered with respect to frequency by maintaining the trend. This suggests that PVDF‐TiO2 NC is potential material for energy storage devices.
Glass Stability and Glass Forming Ability of Ge25−xSe75Sbx (x = 12, 15, and 18) Chalcogenide Glasses Using Thermal Parameters
Authors: Tanwar Naveen , Saraswat Vibhav K.
Published: February 2024

In the present communication glass stability (GS) and glass forming ability (GFA) of Ge25−xSe75Sbx (x = 12, 15, and 18) chalcogenide glasses have been calculated in terms of certain thermal parameters, i.e., reduced glass transition temperature (Trg), Hruby number (H), S‐parameter (S), and ΔT. The glassy samples have been prepared by quenching of melt technique. For structure characterization, XRD technique has been used. For thermal analysis Differential Scanning Calorimetery (DSC) has been used. DSC scans have been recorded at different heating rates, i.e., 5, 10, 15, and 20 K min−1. Stability of glassy samples has also been confirmed in terms of activation energy of glass transition calculated by Kissinger relation. All these parameters indicate that GS and GFA both decrease with increase of Sb content in Ge25−xSe75Sbx (x = 12, 15, and 18) glassy series.
Thermo‐Kinetic Study of Piperazine Immobilized Silica Surface
Authors: Sing Varun Kumar , Sur Souvik , Musharraf Mohd. , Dey Ratan Kumar , Swain Sanjay Kumar , Shekhar Suman
Published: February 2024

In the present study, the degradation process of piperazine (PP) immobilized silica gel (SiPP) is investigated under dynamic conditions. The degradation of SiPP is studied with thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The kinetics of degradation process is analyzed by Kissinger method, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa's (FWO) method, and Deconvolution method. It is found that degradation of SiPP can be described by parallel independent two‐portion process model, which includes two processing state of the system (marked by processes 1 and 2), where process 1 and 2 can be attributed to decomposition processes of organic moiety attached on silica surface. The apparent activation energy (Ea) is calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa's (FWO) method and deconvolution method.
Green Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Using Carica papaya Leaf Extract
Authors: Paulraj Padmavathi , Sreedharan Irudaya Sahaya Lancy , Gandhi Jeeva Rani Thangam , Pandey Krishna Kumar , Jawaharlal Poongodi
Published: February 2024

Environmental methodologies are gaining recognition in this modern world. Environmental nanotechnology plays a major role in improving modern fields of environmental engineering and science. Metal oxide nanoparticles have exceptional properties due to their small size, including quantum confinement, surface‐to‐volume ratio, plasmon excitation, high biocompatibility, and surface modifiability. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using fungi, bacteria, and plants through various biotechnological techniques is currently a new paradigm for environmental protection. Synthesis of nanoparticles through plant extract is good because it eliminates the dangers of toxic chemicals, it is environmentally friendly, simpler, and safer as the reaction time is reduced and it can also be increased in size for higher operation. The present study is based on the development of zinc oxide nanoparticles from papaya leaf extract where zinc nitrate is used as a precursor. The biosynthesized nanoparticles are characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, UV‐visible spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering analysis. The crystalline phase determination of the zinc oxide nanoparticles is analyzed by X‐ray diffraction and the formation of polycrystalline zinc oxide nanoparticles is confirmed. FT‐IR spectrum reveals the main functional groups and chemical information in zinc oxide nanostructures. Morphological analysis is performed using SEM at different magnification levels. EDAX analysis shows the purity of the composite samples. Optical characterization is performed using a UV–vis spectrophotometer. DLS analysis shows that the nanoparticles formed have a relatively well‐defined dimension.
Molecular Interaction Study in the Binary Liquid Mixture of PEO and DMF by Ultrasonic Technique
Authors: Verma Sandeep , Pandey Krishna Kumar
Published: February 2024

The non‐destructive ultrasonic technique is a great employ for knowing the solute–solvent interaction in the polymer blend. By the ultrasonic velocity and attenuation evaluation, the visco‐elastic behaviors of the polymer solution have been assessed and compared with the results of conventional dynamic mechanical analysis. In the present research work, a comprehensive ultrasonic investigation of molecular interaction in a polymeric mixture of Poly (ethylene oxide) PEO and dimethyformamide (DMF) at 333 K has been executed by using the information provided by the literature. For this purpose, ultrasonic waves of two different frequencies such as 2 and 5 MHz have been implemented. Several acoustical parameters such as adiabatic compressibility, acoustic impedance, relaxation time, and ultrasonic attenuation coefficient (𝛼/𝑓2) are explored. Thermodynamic parameters like relative association and intermolecular free path length are also estimated. The evaluated values have been associated with the previous experimental results. The non‐ideal approach of the solution is analyzed and discussed in detail.
Microswimmers in Polymeric Fluids
Authors: Kumar Nagar Prashant , Chauhan Devandar , Pandey Kamakshi , Pandey Harsh
Published: February 2024

The study of microswimmers in viscoelastic fluids is important due to their essential role in many biological systems and various industrial and medical applications. This review article summarizes the behavior of microswimmers in complex viscoelastic fluids. Interestingly, both an increase or decrease in the speed and the power efficiency of microswimmers may be observed depending on the swimming pattern and the rheology of the polymeric fluid. First, it introduces the continuum frameworks for a complex fluid in which the microswimmers are present. This study briefly discusses how the reciprocal motion can propel a swimmer in a viscoelastic fluid contrary to the scallop theorem. This is followed by a section on different types of individual swimmers and their theoretical framework. A finite‐sized swimming sheet can show the resonance effect when relaxation time matches the characteristic time of the swimming. Lastly, progress on the topic of squirmers in the complex environment is presented, and it is seen that the interaction of the squirmer with the complex fluid is unpredictable.
MnO2 Nanowires as an Electrode Material for Gel Polymer Electrolyte‐Based Zn‐Air Battery
Authors: Choudhary Deepika , Bala Ritu , Yadav Sanjay , Dhiman Rajnish
Published: February 2024

Zn‐air batteries (ZABs) have drawn an attention due to their high energy density, less complicated chemistry, and relatively low cost. Electrocatalyst plays a significant role in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that occurs during the operation. Various valance states of manganese make MnO2 as an attractive electrocatalyst. In the present work, MnO2 nanowires with diameter of 80–90 nm are synthesized via hydrothermal route and tested for electrocatalytic performance in a comparative study of ZABs fabricated using liquid and gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). The open circuit voltage (OCV) of device lies in the range of 1.35–1.4 V. GPEs based devices show higher stability and exhibited 45 cycles (20 min per cycle) having discharge plateau above 1.06 V at a discharge current density of 1.59 mA cm−2 while liquid electrolyte‐based devices show 20 cycles (4 min per cycle at discharge current rate of 3 mA cm−2).
Thermodynamics of Swelling of Poly(NIPAM‐co‐NTBA‐co‐HEAAm) Hydrogels
Authors: Kumari Rashmi , Singh Varun Kumar , Shekhar Suman
Published: February 2024

In the present study, poly(N‐Isopropylacrylacrylamide‐co‐N‐tertiarybutylacrylamide‐co‐hydroxyethylcrylamide) (NIPAM‐co‐NTBA‐co‐HEAAm) hydrogels are prepared with variation of molar ratio of hydrophilic HEAAm and hydrophobic NTBA. The prepared hydrogels are characterized with elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The thermodynamics of swelling properties of poly(NIPAM‐co‐NTBA‐co‐HEAAm) hydrogels have also been discussed. The experimental C/N ratios are comparable with the theoretical value. The enthalpy change of mixing ∆Hmix, entropy change of mixing ∆Smix, free energy change of mixing ∆Gmix are determined for swelling of hydrogels at 25 °C. The value of total free energy of hydrogel swelling is found to be negative which confirms the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) exhibited in all hydrogels and the volume change transition shows the thermoresponsive behavior. The values of ∆Smix increase and ∆Gmix decrease with increasing amount of hydrophobic NTBA content in the hydrogels. The values of free energy change of elasticity (∆Gel) are found to be increased with increasing the hydrophobic NTBA content followed by decrease in swelling percentage. Also, the transition temperature of the hydrogel is found to be decreased with increasing the hydrophobic NTBA.
Impact Assessment of Electroplating in the Leaching of Harmful Metals from Utensils
Authors: Sharma Deepak , Tripathy Divya , Jain Arvind
Published: February 2024

Electroplating is a widely used technique in the manufacturing of utensils for household and commercial use. This process involves the deposition of a metal coating onto a base material, such as steel or brass, to improve the aesthetics, durability, and corrosion resistance of the utensil. Several studies have investigated the migration of heavy metals from utensils, but there is a lack of research specifically focused on the impact of electroplating on this phenomenon. Therefore, this research article aims to assess the impact of electroplating by analyzing the migration of heavy metals from such utensils. The objective of this research is to assess the impact of electroplating on the migration of heavy metals from utensils. The research also aims to evaluate the impact of coating thickness. Stainless‐steel and brass utensils (Plate, Tumbler, and Bowl) are purchased. The samples are analyzed as per standard test methods based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) techniques. Leaching stimulant is used for extraction process. Testing is performed in an ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 accredited laboratory. The experiments reveal that the electroplating process decreased the migration of lead from the utensils. These findings highlight the need for stricter regulations and standards to ensure the safety of electroplated utensils.
Dielectric and FTIR Investigation of the Cholesteric Liquid Crystal with the Doping of the Polymer
Authors: Misra Abhishek Kumar , Tripathi Pankaj Kumar , Pandey Kamal Kumar , Singh Milan , Yadav Tarun , Manohar Rajiv
Published: February 2024

The present work investigates fluorescent polymer dispersion in the cholesteric liquid crystal (LC) as a function of temperature and concentration of polymer. The dielectric parameters of the cholesteric LC are determined by measuring capacitance and inductance with the function of the frequency and temperature. The material used for doping is a polymer‐poly[(4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride‐alt‐3,6‐diaminoacridine hemisulfate] and it is one concentration doped in pure cholesteryl stearate. The temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity has been discussed for the pure and polymer‐doped system. In addition to this Fourier transform infra‐red (FTIR) spectroscopy has also been performed to understand the interaction between cholesteric LC and polymer molecules.
Does time‐restricted eating add benefits to calorie restriction? A systematic review
Authors: Ezzati Armin , McLaren Christian , Bohlman Carly , Tamargo Javier A. , Lin Yi , Anton Stephen D.
Published: February 2024

Objective

A growing body of evidence has supported the health benefits of extended daily fasting, known as time‐restricted eating (TRE); however, whether the addition of TRE enhances the known benefits of calorie restriction (CR) remains unclear.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched through April 2023. This systematic review includes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared CR + TRE with CR alone in energy‐matched conditions of at least 8 weeks in duration that assessed changes in body weight and cardiometabolic disease risk factors in adults with overweight and/or obesity.

Results

Seven studies were identified (n = 579). Two studies reported greater weight loss and reductions in diastolic blood pressure with CR + TRE compared with CR alone after 8 to 14 weeks, whereas one study reported greater improvements in triglycerides and glucose tolerance with CR + TRE (3 days/week) compared with CR alone following 26 weeks. One study reported significant increases in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) levels with CR + TRE versus CR alone after 8 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences in any other outcome variable between the two interventions.

Conclusions

The addition of TRE to CR regimens resulted in greater weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors in some studies; however, the majority of studies did not find additional benefits.
Effect of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Potassium‐Competitive Acid Blocker (P‐CAB) on the Microbiological Comprise of the Laryngopharynx
Authors: Zheng Xiaowei , Zheng Yujin , Chen Ting , Hou Chenjie , Zhou Liqun , Liu Chaofeng , Zheng Jingyi , Hu Renyou
Published: February 2024

Objective

To probe the microbiota composition progressing from healthy individuals to those with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) and subsequently undergoing potassium‐competitive acid inhibitor (P‐CAB) therapy.

Study Design

Prospective case‐control study.

Setting

Academic Medical Center.

Methods

Forty patients with LPRD and 51 patients without LPRD were recruited. An 8‐week P‐CAB therapy was initiated (post‐T‐LPRD), and 39 had return visits. In total, 130 laryngopharyngeal saliva samples were collected and sequenced by targeting the V3‐V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene using an Illumina MiSeq. Amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and clinical indices were analyzed.

Results

Alpha and beta diversities were compared among the non‐LPRD, LPRD, and post‐T‐LPRD groups, and the Observed_ASVs were not significantly different. At the same time, the Shannon and Simpson indices, unweighted Unifrac, weighted Unifrac, and binary Jaccard distance were significantly different between non‐LPRD and LPRD groups. In addition, significant differences were found in the abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Prevotellaceae in the LPRD versus non‐LPRD groups, and Neisseria, Leptotrichia, and Allprevotella in the LPRD versus post‐T‐LPRD groups. The genera model was used to distinguish patients with LPRD from those without, and a better receiver operating characteristic curve was formed after combining the clinical indices of reflux symptom index, reflux finding score, and pepsin, with an area under the curve of 0.960.

Conclusion

Laryngopharyngeal microbial communities changed after laryngopharyngeal reflux and were modified further after P‐CAB treatment, which provides a potential diagnostic value for LPRD, especially when combined with clinical indices.
Treating lower lip fistulas in Van der Woude syndrome using inverted‐T lip reduction: An experience
Authors: Narita Rika , Saijo Hideto , Kashiwagi Miki , Oshima Sachi , Taniguchi Asako , Hoshi Kazuto
Published: February 2024

Objective

Van der Woude syndrome is characterized by the concurrence of cleft lip and palate with lower lip fistulas. During fistula resection, care must be taken to maintain the function of the orbicularis oris and restore the normal shape of the lips. Several reports have documented various resection methods; however, the most appropriate surgical resection is controversial. In this report, lower lip fistulas were resected using an inverted‐T surgical design.

Methods

Of the six patients with Van der Woude syndrome who underwent resection of the lower lip fistula in our department between January 2007 and December 2015, three patients who underwent inverted‐T lip reduction were included. The postoperative position‐dependent morphology of the fistulas was examined.

Results

Five years postoperatively, no complications such as postoperative infections, mucous retention cyst formation, a dysmorphic appearance of the lip, or fistula recurrence were observed. Moreover, a stable wound morphology was evident.

Conclusions

The inverted‐T lip reduction seems to be promising technique for the excision of lower lip fistulas in patients with Van der Woude syndrome, yielding good results.
Castor oil‐based polyurethane ternary composites with enhanced thermal conductivity and mechanical properties by using liquid metal as second filler
Authors: Xu Cui , Du Jun , Jia Xiao , Wang Shijun , Liu Bin , Deng Yamin , Huai Xiulan
Published: February 2024

With the miniaturization, high frequency of electronic devices, and low‐carbon and sustainable development, higher requirements are put forward for thermal conductive polyurethane composites in terms of comprehensive performance and renewable raw materials. Herein, choosing bio‐based polyurethane (PU) derived from castor oil as matrix, and liquid metal (LM) and aluminum hydroxide (ATH) as hybrid thermal conductive filler, castor oil‐based PU composites were developed via high‐speed rotation and in‐situ polymerization method. The LM‐ATH hybrid filler displayed a synergistic enhancement effect on the thermal conductivity of composites due to the presence of LM‐bridging significantly improved the effective contact probability between ATH fillers. The thermal conductivity of 50LM‐ATH/PU reached 1.69 Wm−1 K−1, which was 9.9 times and 1.4 times higher than that of pure PU and 50ATH/PU, respectively. Notably, the 50LM‐ATH/PU exhibited outstanding mechanical properties including tensile strength up to 4.0 MPa and adhesion strength up to 7.9 MPa, especially elongation at break up to 120% which was improved by 200% compared with 50ATH/PU (40%). Additionally, the composite possessed excellent electric insulation, thermal stability, and inflaming retarding properties, showing great application potential in the electronic devices field.

Highlights

Castor oil‐based PU composites with ATH‐LM hybrid filer were developed.

LM‐ATH hybrid filler of 2:8 promoted the thermal conductivity of composites.

Hybrid filler than ATH‐endowed composites with better mechanical properties.

The ATH‐LM/PU exhibited excellent electric insulation.
Interfacial engineering of glass fiber‐reinforced vinyl ester resin composites: Using polydopamine‐SiO2 for property enhancement
Authors: Feng Xuhuang , Shao Lingda , Qiu Yingjie , Tian Wei , Tao Fengyi , Zhu Chengyan
Published: February 2024

To enhance the flexural properties of glass fiber‐reinforced vinyl ester resin (GF‐VER) composites, this study focused on the influence of the duration of surface treatment on the flexural properties using polydopamine (PDA) and nanosilicon dioxide (nano‐SiO2). The GF‐VER composites were prepared via hot pressing. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to characterize the microstructural and chemical attributes of the GF and GF‐VER composites. The mechanical properties of the GF‐VER composites were characterized using the flexural strength test. Furthermore, thermogravimetry was employed to investigate the thermal stability of the GF and the content of PDA nanoparticles on the GF. The results demonstrated that upon extending the treatment period, a greater quantity of PDA‐SiO2 nanoparticles adhered to the surface of the GF. The analysis of these results established that the optimal treatment duration is 12 h. This duration facilitated an enhanced adhesion between GF and VER owing to PDA‐SiO2, resulting in an optimal flexural strength of 562.8 MPa and signifying a 8.86% increase compared with the flexural strength of the untreated GF‐VER composites. Overall, the findings indicate that PDA‐SiO2 treatment greatly improves the flexural strength of GF‐VER composites.

Highlights

The method for modifying the GF surface was simple and mild.

Silica nanoparticles were grafted onto GFs using dopamine as a reaction platform.

The effect of the duration of PDA‐SiO2 treatment on the flexural strength of GF‐VER composites was examined.

SEM revealed an improved GF‐VER interface.

The flexural strength of the GF‐VER composites improved by 8.86%.
Optimal redundancy allocations for series systems under hierarchical dependence structures
Authors: Guo Man‐Yuan , Zhang Jiandong , Zhang Yiying , Zhao Peng
Published: February 2024

Redundancy allocations strategies are commonly used in reliability engineering to enhance the performance of reliability systems. This paper makes use the hierarchical copula to characterize the dependence structures among the components and hot/cold standbys in series systems. Optimal allocation policies of hot and cold standbys are presented for series systems with dependent components and redundancies under certain conditions imposed on the hierarchical copula as well as the components and spares reliabilities. It is shown that, under certain mild conditions imposed on the copula function and lifetimes of components and redundancies, the optimal allocations should be following the way that the resultant lifetimes for all nodes should be balanced as much as possible to enhance the system's performance. The results extend some related ones well‐known in the literature from the independent case to the dependent setting. Some numerical examples are presented as illustrations. We also present a real application in optimal allocations of redundant wires for improving the reliability of high‐voltage electricity transmission network systems.
Matched Redox Kinetics on Triazine‐Based Carbon Nitride/Ni(OH)2 for Stoichiometric Overall Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion
Authors: Wang Jing , Sheng Ren , Xiao Juanxiu , Lu Li , Peng Yuhao , Gu Dong , Xiao Wei
Published: February 2024

Mismatched reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation is the main obstacle limiting the overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion. Here, a molten salt strategy is used to construct tubular triazine‐based carbon nitride (TCN) with more adsorption sites and stronger activation capability. Ni(OH)2 nanosheets are then grown over the TCN to trigger a proton‐coupled electron transfer for a stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion via “3CO2 + 2H2O = CH4 + 2CO + 3O2.” TCN reduces the energy barrier of H2O dissociation to promote H2O oxidation to O2 and supply sufficient protons to Ni(OH)2, whereby the CO2 conversion is accelerated due to the enhanced proton‐coupled electron transfer process enabled by the sufficient proton supply from TCN. This work highlights the importance of matching the reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation by proton‐coupled electron transfer on stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion.
Optimizing Energy Levels and Improving Film Compactness in PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells by Silver Doping
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Zeke , Wu Hua , Wang Anran , Luo Zhao , Wang Jianxun , Dong Wei , Wang Chen , Wen Shanpeng , Dong Qingfeng , Yu William W. , Zheng Weitao
Published: February 2024

PbS quantum dot (QD) solar cells harvest near‐infrared solar radiation. Their conventional hole transport layer has limited hole collection efficiency due to energy level mismatch and poor film quality. Here, how to resolve these two issues by using Ag‐doped PbS QDs are demonstrated. On the one hand, Ag doping relieves the compressive stress during layer deposition and thus improves film compactness and homogeneity to suppress leakage currents. On the other hand, Ag doping increases hole concentration, which aligns energy levels and increases hole mobility to boost hole collection. Increased hole concentration also broadens the depletion region of the active layer, decreasing interface charge accumulation and promoting carrier extraction efficiency. A champion power conversion efficiency of 12.42% is achieved by optimizing the hole transport layer in PbS QD solar cells, compared to 9.38% for control devices. Doping can be combined with compressive strain relief to optimize carrier concentration and energy levels in QDs, and even introduce other novel phenomena such as improved film quality.
Monodispersed and Monofunctionalized DNA‐Caged Au Nano‐Clusters with Enhanced Optical Properties for STED Imaging
Authors: Qi Liqing , Xiao Yating , Fu Xiaoyi , Yang Hongwei , Fang Le , Xu Rui , Ping Jiantao , Han Da , Jiang Yifei , Fang Xiaohong
Published: February 2024

The performance of Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy depends critically on the fluorescent probe. Ultrasmall Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) exhibit large Stokes shift, and good stimulated emission response, which are potentially useful for STED imaging. However, Au NCs are polydispersed in size, sensitive to the surrounding environment, and difficult to control surface functional group stoichiometry, which results in reduced density and high heterogeneity in the labeling of biological structures. Here, this limitation is overcome by developing a method to encapsulate ultrasmall Au NCs with DNA cages, which yielded monodispersed, and monofunctionalized Au NCs that are long‐term stable. Moreover, the DNA‐caging also greatly improved the fluorescence quantum yield and photostability of Au NCs. In STED imaging, the DNA‐caged Au NCs yielded ≈40 nm spatial resolution and are able to resolve microtubule line shapes with good labeling density and homogeneity. In contrast, without caging, the Au NCs‐DNA conjugates only achieved ≈55 nm resolution and yielded spotted, poorly resolved microtubule structures, due to the presence of aggregates. Overall, a method is developed to achieve precise surface functionalization and greatly improve the monodispersity, stability, as well as optical properties of Au NCs, providing a promising class of fluorescent probes for STED imaging.
FvKex2 is required for development, virulence, and mycotoxin production in Fusarium verticillioides
Authors: Wu Limin , Bian Wenyin , Abubakar Yakubu Saddeeq , Lin Jiayi , Yan Huijuan , zhang Huan , Wang Zonghua , Wu Changbiao , Shim WonBo , Lu Guo-dong
Published: February 2024

Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most important fungal pathogens causing maize ear and stalk rots, thereby undermining global food security. Infected seeds are usually unhealthy for consumption due to contamination with fumonisin B1 (FB1) mycotoxin produced by the fungus as a virulence factor. Unveiling the molecular factors that determine fungal development and pathogenesis will help in the control and management of the diseases. Kex2 is a kexin-like Golgi-resident proprotein convertase that is involved in the activation of some important proproteins. Herein, we identified and functionally characterized FvKex2 in relation to F. verticillioides development and virulence by bioinformatics and functional genomics approaches. We found that FvKex2 is required for the fungal normal vegetative growth, because the growth of the ∆Fvkex2 mutant was significantly reduced on culture media compared to the wild-type and complemented strains. The mutant also produced very few conidia with morphologically abnormal shapes when compared with those from the wild type. However, the kexin-like protein was dispensable for the male role in sexual reproduction in F. verticillioides. In contrast, pathogenicity was nearly abolished on wounded maize stalks and sugarcane leaves in the absence of FvKEX2 gene, suggesting an essential role of Fvkex2 in the virulence of F. verticillioides. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that the ∆Fvkex2 mutant produced a significantly lower level of FB1 mycotoxin compared to the wild-type and complemented strains, consistent with the loss of virulence observed in the mutant. Taken together, our results indicate that FvKex2 is critical for vegetative growth, FB1 biosynthesis, and virulence, but dispensable for sexual reproduction in F. verticillioides. The study presents the kexin-like protein as a potential drug target for the management of the devastating maize ear and stalk rot diseases. Further studies should aim at uncovering the link between FvKex2 activity and FB1 biosynthesis genes.

Key points

•The kexin-like protein FvKex2 contributes significantly to the vegetative growth of Fusarium verticillioides.

•The conserved protein is required for fungal conidiation and conidial morphology, but dispensable for sexual reproduction.

•Deletion of FvKEX2 greatly attenuates the virulence and mycotoxin production potential of F. verticillioides.
FDG imaging with long-axial field-of-view PET/CT in patients with high blood glucose—a matched pair analysis
Authors: Mingels Clemens , Weissenrieder Luis , Zeimpekis Konstantinos , Sari Hasan , Nardo Lorenzo , Caobelli Federico , Alberts Ian , Rominger Axel , Pyka Thomas
Published: February 2024

Purpose

High blood glucose (hBG) in patients undergoing [18F]FDG PET/CT scans often results in rescheduling the examination, which may lead to clinical delay for the patient and decrease productivity for the department. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether long-axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT can minimize the effect of altered bio-distribution in hBG patients and is able to provide diagnostic image quality in hBG situations.

Materials and methods

Oncologic patients with elevated blood glucose (≥ 8.0 mmol/l) and normal blood glucose (< 8.0 mmol/l, nBG) levels were matched for tumor entity, gender, age, and BMI. hBG patients were further subdivided into two groups (BG 8–11 mmol/l and BG > 11 mmol/l). Tracer uptake in the liver, muscle, and tumor was evaluated. Furthermore, image quality was compared between long acquisitions (ultra-high sensitivity mode, 360 s) on a LAFOV PET/CT and routine acquisitions equivalent to a short-axial field-of-view scanner (simulated (sSAFOV), obtained with high sensitivity mode, 120 s). Tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were used as the main image quality criteria.

Results

Thirty-one hBG patients met the inclusion criteria and were matched with 31 nBG patients. Overall, liver uptake was significantly higher in hBG patients (SUVmean, 3.07 ± 0.41 vs. 2.37 ± 0.33; p = 0.03), and brain uptake was significantly lower (SUVmax, 7.58 ± 0.74 vs. 13.38 ± 3.94; p < 0.001), whereas muscle (shoulder/gluteal) uptake showed no statistically significant difference. Tumor uptake was lower in hBG patients, resulting in a significantly lower TBR in the hBG cohort (3.48 ± 0.74 vs. 5.29 ± 1.48, p < 0.001). CNR was higher in nBG compared to hBG patients (12.17 ± 4.86 vs. 23.31 ± 12.22, p < 0.001). However, subgroup analysis of nBG 8–11 mmol/l on sSAFOV PET/CT compared to hBG (> 11 mmol/l) patients examined with LAFOV PET/CT showed no statistical significant difference in CNR (19.84 ± 8.40 vs. 17.79 ± 9.3, p = 0.08).

Conclusion

While elevated blood glucose (> 11 mmol) negatively affected TBR and CNR in our cohort, the images from a LAFOV PET-scanner had comparable CNR to PET-images acquired from nBG patients using sSAFOV PET/CT. Therefore, we argue that oncologic patients with increased blood sugar levels might be imaged safely with LAFOV PET/CT when rescheduling is not feasible.
Diagnostic capabilities of artificial intelligence as an additional reader in a breast cancer screening program
Authors: Seker Mustafa Ege , Koyluoglu Yilmaz Onat , Ozaydin Ayse Nilufer , Gurdal Sibel Ozkan , Ozcinar Beyza , Cabioglu Neslihan , Ozmen Vahit , Aribal Erkin
Published: February 2024

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the early-detection capabilities of AI in a screening program over its duration, with a specific focus on the detection of interval cancers, the early detection of cancers with the assistance of AI from prior visits, and its impact on workload for various reading scenarios.

Materials and methods

The study included 22,621 mammograms of 8825 women within a 10-year biennial two-reader screening program. The statistical analysis focused on 5136 mammograms from 4282 women due to data retrieval issues, among whom 105 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The AI software assigned scores from 1 to 100. Histopathology results determined the ground truth, and Youden’s index was used to establish a threshold. Tumor characteristics were analyzed with ANOVA and chi-squared test, and different workflow scenarios were evaluated using bootstrapping.

Results

The AI software achieved an AUC of 89.6% (86.1–93.2%, 95% CI). The optimal threshold was 30.44, yielding 72.38% sensitivity and 92.86% specificity. Initially, AI identified 57 screening-detected cancers (83.82%), 15 interval cancers (51.72%), and 4 missed cancers (50%). AI as a second reader could have led to earlier diagnosis in 24 patients (average 29.92 ± 19.67 months earlier). No significant differences were found in cancer-characteristics groups. A hybrid triage workflow scenario showed a potential 69.5% reduction in workload and a 30.5% increase in accuracy.

Conclusion

This AI system exhibits high sensitivity and specificity in screening mammograms, effectively identifying interval and missed cancers and identifying 23% of cancers earlier in prior mammograms. Adopting AI as a triage mechanism has the potential to reduce workload by nearly 70%.

Clinical relevance statement

The study proposes a more efficient method for screening programs, both in terms of workload and accuracy.

Key Points

• Incorporating AI as a triage tool in screening workflow improves sensitivity (72.38%) and specificity (92.86%), enhancing detection rates for interval and missed cancers.

• AI-assisted triaging is effective in differentiating low and high-risk cases, reduces radiologist workload, and potentially enables broader screening coverage.

• AI has the potential to facilitate early diagnosis compared to human reading.
Does a simultaneous ventral/dorsal approach provide better reduction quality in treating acetabular fracture involving both columns with displaced posterior wall?
Authors: Yu Yi-Hsun , Chen I-Jung , Lai Chih-Yang , Hsu Yung-Heng , Chou Ying-Chao
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Various surgical techniques have been proposed to manage acetabular fractures involving both columns with posterior wall displacement. However, the optimal surgical approach to achieve satisfactory reduction quality remains controversial.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study evaluated 34 patients with fractures who were treated at a single medical institution. The patients were divided into two groups according to the ventral/dorsal surgical approach employed: simultaneous (SI) and sequential (SE). Perioperative parameters, as well as radiological and functional outcomes, were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

Results

The SI and SE groups comprised 9 and 23 out of the 34 patients, respectively. The SI group exhibited a significantly shorter surgical time and lower estimated blood loss than the SE group (p = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). The quality of reductions of the anterior and posterior columns was similar between the two groups; however, superior reduction in the fracture gap of the posterior wall was observed in the SI group, as revealed by axial and coronal computed tomography scans.

Conclusions

A simultaneous ventral and dorsal approach through the pararectus and the modified Gibson approach confer clinical advantages in reducing the fracture gap, surgical time, and intraoperative blood loss when managing acetabular fractures involving both columns and a displaced posterior wall. Therefore, these surgical approaches may be considered to be optimal for achieving satisfactory reduction quality in such fractures.
Optimising the Orthopaedic Trauma Society Open Fracture Classification system: a proposal for modification in the context of high civilian gunshot fractures
Authors: Lunga Zamalunga , Laubscher Maritz , Graham Simon Matthew , Held Michael , Ferreira Nando , Magampa Ramanare , Maqungo Sithombo
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Uniformly classifying long bone open fractures is challenging. The purpose of this study was to propose a modified Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS) Open Fracture Classification System, developed in a setting with a high incidence of civilian gunshot fractures.

Methods

From our prospectively collected database, we identified all patients with open tibia and femur fractures treated with intramedullary nailing over a 4 year period. All open fractures were retrospectively reclassified from the Gustilo-Anderson Classification system to the OTS Open Fracture Classification System.

Results

One hundred and thirty-seven cases were identified. Ninety per cent of subjects were males. Their mean age was 34 years. The most common mechanism of injury was low-velocity civilian gunshot wounds (GSW) in 54.7% of cases. Soft tissue management was primary closure in 23.4% and soft tissue reconstruction in 24.1%. In 52.6% of cases (these all being secondary to civilian GSW), soft tissue management was healing via secondary intention. This is not included as a soft tissue management option in the OTS classification system. Fracture reclassification using the OTS Open Fracture Classification System was only possible in 47.5% of cases (Simple in 23.4%, Complex B in 24.1%).

Conclusion

We conclude that the OTS Open Fracture Classification System is not inclusive of all open tibia and femur fractures as it does not cater for gunshot fractures. We propose a modification as follows: alter ‘wound debridement’ to ‘appropriate wound care’ and to subcategorise ‘Simple’ into type A and B: healing via secondary intention and primary closure, respectively.
Redox cationic frontal polymerization: a rapid curing approach for carbon fiber-reinforced composites with high fiber content
Authors: Malik Muhammad Salman , Wolfahrt Markus , Pinter Gerald , Schlögl Sandra
Published: February 2024

Conventional frontal polymerization processes for epoxy-based composites rely on cations and radicals generated by a short (and local) light or heat stimulus in the presence of an iodonium salt and a radical thermal initiator. However, due to heat losses, the propagation of the exothermic curing front is often limited by sample geometry and filler concentration. Redox cationic frontal polymerization (RCFP) is a promising approach to radically expand the composition and design options of frontally cured epoxy-based composites. By adding stannous octoate as reducing agent, a higher number of radicals and cations are generated at lower temperature, which yields highly cured composite even at elevated filler content. In the current study, RCFP was used to cure standard unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced composites based on a commercially available epoxy resin and the properties were compared with its anhydride hardener-cured counterpart. Cure degree and thermal properties of the resins were determined by ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and DMA analysis. Subsequently, unidirectional composites with a fiber volume content of ~ 60% were produced via vacuum infusion and subjected to DMA, tensile, compression, and inter-laminar shear tests. The results showed a remarkable similarity between mechanical properties of RCFP and anhydride hardener-cured composites. The RCFP-cured composites exhibited even a higher damping resistance and compression strength than anhydride hardener-cured composites. The results show that RCFP allows for a significant reduction in the curing time (from several hours to 60 min), while it yields composites with properties comparable to classic anhydride-cured systems.

Graphical abstract