bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ROS‐Responsive Poly(α‐l‐lysine)‐Based Nanoparticles Loaded with Doxycycline Combat Oxidative Stress and Bacterial Infection
Authors: Wang Yuanchao , Li Ying , Liu Wen , Li Chen , Duo Xinghong , Meng Xiangyan , Feng Yakai
Published: February 2024

Bacterial pneumonia is one of the major threats in clinical practice, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated at the infection site can exacerbate the damage. Currently, conventional antibiotic therapies have low utilization, and their excessive use can result in substantial toxicity. Nanocarrier systems provide an ideal approach for treating bacterial infection by facilitating more efficient utilization of antibiotics. In this study, the ROS‐responsive amphiphilic nanoparticles (NPs) are developed and used to encapsulate the antibiotic doxycycline (DOXY) to achieve antibacterial and antioxidant functionalities. The NPs are prepared from poly(α‐l‐lysine) (α‐PLL) and phenylboronic acid pinacol ester simultaneously conjugated carbonyldiimidazole (abbreviated as CDIPB). The phenylboronic acid ester groups on CDIPB could react with excessive ROS to suppress oxidative damage at the infection site. The ROS‐responsive degradation of CDIPB also facilitates the rapid release of internal DOXY, effectively killing the accumulated bacteria. Additionally, in vitro cell experiments demonstrate the good biocompatibility of the NPs. These results suggest that the ROS‐responsive amphiphilic nanoparticles can serve as a novel nanoplatform for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
Syntheses of Polyglycolide via Polycondensation: A Reinvestigation
Authors: Kricheldorf Hans R. , Weidner Steffen M. , Meyer Andreas
Published: February 2024

The Na salt of chloroacetic acid is condensed in suspension. Furthermore, glycolic acid is condensed in bulk or in concentrated solution by means of SnCl2 or 4‐toluene sulfonic acid (TSA) as catalysts. The temperatures are varied from 160 to 200 °C and the time from 1 to 5 days. Low molar mass cyclic poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) is detected by means of matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI TOF) mass spectrometry in most PGAs. A predominance of certain cycles having an even number of repeat units is observed suggesting a thermodynamically favored formation of extended‐ring crystals. Extremely high melting temperatures (up to 237.5 °C) and high melting enthalpies are found for polycondensations with TSA in 1,2‐dichlorobenzene.
Biosurfactants—An Overview
Authors: Bisht Kiran , Tyagi Uma , Bajpai Tripathy Divya
Published: February 2024

The large structural and functional variety of bio‐surfactants (BS), which are produced by microorganisms, leads to the use of several methods to study these amphiphilic molecules. This review seeks to consolidate information on various surface‐active product extraction techniques, microbiological screening methodologies, and analytical terminologies utilized in this sector. The potential benefits and drawbacks of various approaches for studying cell biomass or microbial culture broth for the generation of surface‐reactive chemicals are also discussed. Additionally, the most popular techniques for detection, structural characterization, and purification of a variety of BS are introduced. A number of straightforward techniques are described in detail, including dialysis, ion exchange, solvent extraction, ultrafiltration, lyophilization, and thin layer chromatography (TLC). In addition to more sophisticated techniques like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy (FAB‐MS), gas chromatography‐mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS), high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and infrared (IR), proteolysis and sequencing of amino acid are also explained. In this field of study, it is quite necessary to combine several analytical techniques, and it often takes multiple iterations to purify, isolate, and characterize different surface‐active substances. The numerous approaches that are essential for researching bio‐surfactants are covered in this review.
Self‐Healing Molecular Biology for Microbial Concrete: A Review
Authors: Zanjad Nilesh , Pawar Shantanu , Nayak Chittaranjan
Published: February 2024

The most extensively utilized material in construction is concrete, decreasing life of structure pointing toward loses in structural health. The crack is the major problem faced in the concrete construction. This causes the corrosion in the steel reinforcement. The structure gets deteriorated with the developing cracks; therefore need the proper attention toward this problem. The present work consists of the different self‐healing techniques used by the researchers to inhibit the crack and prevent further deterioration in the structure. The self‐healing mechanism proves advantageous in use of natural fibers to inhibit the corrosion process, to increase compressive strength, and to decrease water absorption is present in this study. The maximum strength increased and the width of crack get healed with the help of these techniques is also mentioned in the study.
Monitoring and Accelerating Methods of Corrosion for Reinforced Concrete: A Review
Authors: Nayak Chittaranjan , Disale Anil , Suryawanshi Nagesh , Jadhav Nitin , Jagdale Umesh , Bhoite Gauri , Thakare Sunil , Pandey Shri Prakash
Published: February 2024

Corrosion is the irreversible, interfacial reaction of metals in the presence of an electrochemical environment which ultimately results in the deterioration of metals. Corrosion of reinforcement is the major problem in the reinforced concrete (RC) structure. Corrosion of reinforcement is a slow process because of the protective layer of concrete. Even in a severely corrosive environment corrosion process takes time to be initiated and propagated. Since to carry out research work, some techniques are required to accelerate the corrosion process in the shortest period. To overcome this problem, in the past, many researchers use a different method to accelerate the corrosion of steel in concrete. In this paper, a review is presented of various techniques used for accelerated corrosion testing. The suitability of reviewed methods on corrosion acceleration for several research works is presented. After that few case studies review to make use of various predicted empirical models and an experimental technique for predicting corrosion rate and the assessment of the remaining life of the structure. And finally, the paper is concluded by comparing the natural method of corrosion and the accelerated method of corrosion and the future scope of accelerated corrosion.
Experimental Investigations on Highly Conducting Solid Bio‐Polymer Electrolytes Based on Latex of Calotropis gigantea Plant
Authors: Taneja Neha , Bocchetta Patrizia , Kumar Ashwani , Gupta Pallavi , Gupta Meenal , Singh Pushpa , Beniwal Bharti , Agrawal Namrata , Kumar Yogesh
Published: February 2024

The study has prepared highly conducting polymer electrolyte films using solution cast technique with poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) PVDF‐HFP, mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC), and propylene carbonate (PC) as plasticizer and latex of Calotropis gigantea (CGL) as an ionic source. In this study, four films are prepared using PVDF‐HFP:CGL in ratio 1:1 with the increasing concentration of EC+PC as 1, 2, 3, and 4 M named as 1:1:1, 1:1:2, 1:1:3, 1:1:4. The prepared polymer electrolyte is examined by polarized optical microscopy (POM), elemental dispersive X‐ray technique (EDX), and complex impedance spectroscopy. EDX and POM are studied for the surface morphology of all prepared samples and to investigate the porous nature of films. The enhancement in ionic conductivity occurs due to CGL and increasing amount of EC‐PC. Conductivity of highest composition (1:1:4) polymer electrolyte film is found to be ≈10−3 S cm−1. The optimized polymer electrolyte film is considered as a promising candidate for application in supercapacitors.
Analytical Methods and Their Significance in Pharmaceutical Process Impurities: A Review
Authors: Kumari Mayuri , Tripathy Divya Bajpai , Gupta Anjali
Published: February 2024

Potential genotoxic substances in medicines are of rising concern to pharmaceutical and regulatory authorities at detectable levels due to their potential to induce human carcinogenesis. Molecule functional groups may contribute to the genotoxicity of small molecules by converting starting materials and synthetic intermediates into reactive components. It is challenging for the pharmaceutical research and development analytical community to identify these genotoxic chemicals at trace levels without using susceptible and selective analytical methods. The literature currently needs more experimental advice for analyzing some significant contaminants. Analytical methods play a vital role in the pharmaceutical industry for monitoring and controlling impurities in drug products. These methods provide critical information on the final product's quality, purity, and efficacy by identifying unwanted substances such as degradation products, residual solvents, and process contaminants. The significance of analytical methods in pharmaceutical process impurities includes ensuring quality control, regulatory compliance, process optimization, troubleshooting, and batch release. These methods help to ensure that the final product meets the required specifications, complies with regulatory requirements, and provides the safe and effective patient treatment. The study analyses the structural alarms of commonly encountered likely genotoxic contaminants and draught regulations of various regulatory authorities to restrict the number of impurities in medicinal substances and to identify their toxicity.
Optimization of Luminescence due to SHI Irradiation on Cr‐Doped BiFeO3 (BFO) Thin Films
Authors: Meena Harish Kumar , Meena Khushbu , Singh Fouran , Chauhan Vishnu , Jain Sushil Kumar , Tripathi Balram
Published: February 2024

This study reporting tuning of optical luminescence in Cr‐doped BiFeO3 (BCFO) thin films deposited on glass substrate using spin coater and irradiated with Au+9 (100 MeV) swift heavy ions (SHI) at fluence 1013 ions cm−2. The modification of these thin films has been carried out in its structural and optical properties. An X‐ray diffraction spectra of BCFO thin films confirms rhombohedral perovskite structure with crystallite size distribution of 6–10 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra confirms bonding of Cr in BiFeO3 thin films, however scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the homogeneous been found to be improved with the band gap tuning in between 2.75 and 2.59 eV via SHI irradiation as per the observations from optical absorption spectra. The purpose of the present study is to synthesize and characterize Cr doped BiFeO3 thin films by a simple spin‐coating method and investigates photovoltaic properties modification due to SHI irradiation for photovoltaic devices.
Role of Structural Decisive via Ultra‐Sonication on Photocatalytic Response of MWCNTs Intercalated ZnO Composites
Authors: Manjhu Suchitra , Meena Khushbu , Meena Harish Kumar , Jakhar Narendra , Jain Karishma , Jain Sushil Kumar , Malhotra Anu , Lavania Anju , Verma Reena , Tripathi Balram
Published: February 2024

In this manuscript role of MWCNTs on the photocatalytic response of zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor photocatalyst is reported. Developing a cheap, stable, and effective photo catalyst is necessary for remediation of persistent organic pollutants. To address this challenge, ZnO/MWCNT composites are fabricated via sonication technique with interfacial engineering for effective photocatalytic response. X‐ray diffraction spectra confirms hexagonal structure of ZnO/MWCNT composites with the average particle size distribution of 73–80 nm. FT‐IR spectra confirms bonding structure, however SEM images confirm the homogeneous distribution of MWCNTs in the ZnO system which acts as an effective adsorbent sites. The highest degradation (90%) of methylene blue (MB) dye on ZnO95MWCNT5 composite has been observed. It is expected that MWCNTs taking part to electron transfer facilitation in spatial separation and electron–hole pairs of ZnO during photo catalysis mechanism.
Hydrogen Adsorption on PCN‐250(Fe) Metal Organic Framework: Temperature and Pressure Swings
Authors: Meena Khushbu , Meena Harish Kumar , Jain Sushil Kumar , Dixit Ambesh , Dixit Shalini , Sharma K. B. , Tripathi Balram
Published: February 2024

This manuscript is reporting hydrogen adsorption uptake of PCN‐250(Fe) metal organic framework (MOF) at temperature of 300, 126K, and pressure in between 6 and 10 bar. X‐ray diffraction spectrum of PCN‐250(Fe) confirms crystalline structure, however Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrum showing dominant bonding structure of COOH, N = N, and Fe─O functional groups. SEM images confirm surface morphology as an octahedrons of average crystalline size upto 50 µm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms excellent thermal stability upto 450 °C. The hydrogen adsorption uptake of 0.80 wt% has been found at 126 K and pressure of 10 bar attributes adsorption occurs due to the structural and physical properties like topology, porosity, and presence of open metal sites as well as surface area. It is suggested that PCN‐250(Fe) as an adsorbent material offers as an intensive way of storing H2 at low temperature and at ambient pressure.
Role of Layer‐by‐Layer Deposition on Electrical and Optical Properties of PEDOT: PSS/Polyaniline Thin Films for Solar Cells
Authors: Mevta Kanhaiya Lal , Meena Harish Kumar , Devat Kiran , Agarwal Garima , Jain Sushil Kumar , Tripathi Balram
Published: February 2024

In this article, electrical and optical properties of PEDOT:PSS/Polyaniline: (PANI)bilayer thin films deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) are reported. Spin coater has been used for fabrication of thin films of 40–50 nm thickness at 5000 rpm. The deposited thin films have been characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV‐vis spectroscopy and Keithley electrometer. Layer‐by‐layer (LBL) technique has been shown to produce electroactive polymer films with low roughness, excellent uniformity, and high electrical conductivity for heterojunction solar cells. The electrical response of fabricated films showing ohmic behavior for PEDOT: PSS/PANI thin films.
A Systematic Review of MOF, COF, and Their Hybrid‐Based Composite Membranes for Gas Separation
Authors: Ankit  , Saini Nishel , Pandey Harsh , Pandey Kamakshi
Published: February 2024

Membrane–based gas separation has become an important research field for sustainable energy and environmental applications. Gas separation is one of the key steps in refineries and other gas‐related industries. Over the last two decades, the research on extended porous organic and inorganic materials such as zeolites, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent–organic frameworks (COFs), and their hybrids has increased continuously. These materials have garnered significant interest due to their structural flexibility and pronounced porosity, which offer excellent potential for gas adsorption and separation processes in industrial settings. As such, this review has aimed to provide an in‐depth analysis of the recent developments in MOFs, COFs, and MOF–COF hybrid‐based membranes for gas separation, highlighting their potential for practical industrial applications. It also offers a comprehensive understanding of some of the most critical and advanced materials used in gas separation compared to common polymers. In addition, membranes' concepts, efficiency, and cost‐effectiveness are discussed in detail.
Stability, Spectroscopic Investigation (Experimental and Theoretical), Electronic, and Molecular Docking of Anesthetic Agent: Propofol
Authors: Pandey Anoop Kumar , Pandey S.P. , Singh V.K. , Narayan Vijay , Shukla Dharmesh Vikram , Singh Vijay , Dwivedi Apoorva
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a complete quantum chemical study of propofol molecule has been done by using DFT‐B3LYP/6‐311G (d, p) method. The equilibrium geometry, HOMO–LUMO gap, NBO calculation, and DOS have been studied with the help of density functional theory (DFT) employing 6–311G (d, p) as the basis set. A good correlation is observed between experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies. Its molecular docking with 1B4N receptor shows that propofol can bind and inhibit the receptor enzymes therefore can act as an effective drug. NLO calculation shows that the molecule is good non‐linear optical candidate in future due to its more ICT moment of π–electron. Study shows that title molecule binds well with 1B4N protein.
Superacidic Properties of Protonated PtFn (n = 1–6) and Their Ability to Form Supersalts: DFT Study
Authors: Singh Vijay , Soni Anil Kumar , Shukla Dharmesh Vikram , Upadhyay Ajay Kumar , Pandey Anoop Kumar
Published: February 2024

In the present communication, this study has modeled protonated PtFn (n = 1–6), a new series of superacids. The calculated vertical de‐attachment energy (VDE) of PtFn (n = 1–6) reestablishes the superhalogenic behavior. The vibrational frequency, dissociation energy through the HF channel, and optimized geometries are utilized to discuss the stability of HPtFn (n = 1–6). The deprotonation energy of HPtFn is used to calculate the acidic strength of HPtFn (n = 1–6). The acidity of protonated PtFn (n = 1–6) is directly related to its counterpart superhalogen anions. The computed correlation factor (R2 = 0.9754) shows that VDE is directly associated with acidity. The mechanism of acidity of HPtFn (n = 1–6) is described by using natural bond orbital analysis charges on atoms. The electronic properties of HPtFn (n = 1–6) are calculated using the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy. The nature of chemical reactivity is also determined by the HOMO–LUMO plot of HPtFn (n = 1–6). It has formed the supersalts using superacids HPtFn (n = 1–6) and superbase (OLi3OH), and the nature of supersalts is compared with traditional salt LiF. The most stable conformers of supersalts PtFnOLi3 (n = 2–6) are analyzed for optoelectronic properties. It has computed the dissociation of supersalts through neutral and anions through superhalogns and superalkalis. The computed results show that PtF4OLi3 favors dissociation through anions as in traditional salts. The nonlinear optical parameters are calculated using dipole moment, mean polarizability, anisotropic polarizability, molar reflectivity (MR), order parameters, and hyperpolarizability of PtFnOLi3 (n = 2–4). The estimated nonlinear optical properties parameters are compared with corresponding parameters of traditional salt LiF by the same level theory.
Improvement in the Performance of Composite Cathode via Solid Electrolyte for High Electrochemical Performance of Li–S Battery
Authors: Patodia Tarun , Sahu Rajesh , Tripathi Balram , Ichikawa Takayuki , Jain Sushil Kumar , Jain Ankur
Published: February 2024

Commercialization of Li–S in present scenario is obstructed by poor performance of cathode and its compatibility with electrolyte used. Here in this work, in order to improve the electrochemical performance all solid state Li–S battery, solid electrolyte (SE) formed by composition of lithium sulfide (Li2S) and phosphorus pentasulfide (P2S5) combinedly called LPS is used. The modified carbon in the form of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as additive is used to provide better electron conduction pathway. High conductivity of the order 10−4 S cm−1 of prepared LPS overcomes the major drawback of insulating nature of sulfur. The coin cells are fabricated by using above mentioned material as a cathode material, LPS as SE, and lithium foil as anode. The prepared nanocomposites are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study structural and morphological properties. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) images of the cathode surface confirms the uniform spreading of material. The electrochemical performance of coin cell is studied by Galvanostatic charge‐discharge plot at 0.1 C to check the compatibility of composite and electrolyte prepared. The cells having additive material GO and rGO with host sulfur show better results as compared to the cell having pristine sulfur.
Electrical and Structural Properties of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Doped Potassium Iodide (KI) Solid Polymer Electrolyte
Authors: Singh Ritika , Singh Pramod K. , Pandey Shri Prakash , Kakroo Sunanda , Tripathi Pankaj K. , Kumar Rohit , Bajaj Yashika
Published: February 2024

A high‐conducting salt‐doped polymer electrolyte layer has been created here for use in photocell technologies. The solution casting method is used to produce ion conducting film where poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is used as the host polymer and potassium iodide (KI) as the dopant. The conductivity and amorphic increases of the polymer electrolytes with the addition of salt concentrations helps in the enhancement of the charge transfer properties. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), ionic conductivity is evaluated where maximum conductivity is 3.99 × 10−6 S cm‐1 at 20 wt% KI concentration. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) shows the reduction in crystallinity by salt doping, while Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) shows the complexation as well as composite nature of the film. Ionic transference number (tion) measurement shows the predominantly ionic nature of this polymer electrolyte.
A novel Picard–Ishikawa–Green's iterative scheme for solving third‐order boundary value problems
Authors: Amechi Okeke Godwin , Victor Udo Akanimo , Rasulov Zaur
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel fixed point iterative scheme based on Green's function, called the Picard–Ishikawa–Green's iterative scheme and use it in approximating the solution of boundary value problems (BVPs). It is proved that Picard–Ishikawa–Green's scheme converges strongly for an integral operator which represents the solution of BVP and the scheme is stable. Moreover, we prove that the integral operator is a contraction. Furthermore, it is shown that the novel scheme converges faster than all of Ishikawa–Green's, Khan–Green's, and Mann–Green's schemes. Finally, numerical examples are given to substantiate the validity of our results for third‐order BVPs. Our results extend and generalize several other results in literature.
A Comparison of Otolaryngology Residency Applicants Over Time and to Other Surgical Applicants
Authors: Lin Matthew E. , Kharidia Khush , Choe Deborah , Bagrodia Neelesh , Luu Neil N. , Chambers Tamara
Published: February 2024

Objective

Understand how otolaryngology residency applicant characteristics have changed over time and compare them to those of other surgical subspecialties.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis of academic, extracurricular, and application data in the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency databases.

Setting

Applicants to otolaryngology, neurological surgery, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, urology, and orthopedic surgery applicants from 2019 to 2023.

Methods

Kruskal‐Wallis, Wilcoxon rank sum, Fischer's exact, and Mann‐Whitney U tests were used to compare temporal, match‐based, and subspecialty differences in applicant characteristics.

Results

Across 4 match cycles and 541 otolaryngology applicants, significant differences were found in the average number of honored clerkships per applicant (P = 0.044), the percentage of matched applicants (P = 0.017), and the average number of research experiences (P < 0.001), peer‐revied publications (P = 0.002), applied programs (P < 0.001), and interviews received (P = 0.041). Relative to their unmatched counterparts, matched applicants frequently received more interviews, belonged to higher academic quartiles, and were more likely to belong to academic honor societies (all P < 0.05). Matched applicants exhibited significant differences in the number of research experiences (P = 0.002), peer‐reviewed publications (P = 0.004), and applied programs across cycles (P < 0.001). Relative to applicants from other surgical subspecialties, otolaryngology applicants exhibited high amounts of extracurricular involvement, were on par in terms of research output, and received a low proportion of interviews despite applying to a high number of programs.

Conclusion

Matching into otolaryngology has become increasingly competitive and is as competitive as peer surgical subspecialties. Strong academic performance, judicious program signaling, increased research involvement, and holistic factors like letters of recommendation may help applicants successfully match.
Bio‐marine shell powder‐filled jute fabric/epoxy composites: Chemical, combustion, and mechanical properties
Authors: Li Luming , Yu Huiling , Gui Chengsheng , Hu Lingling , Zou Miao , Ren Suhong , Huan Weiwei , Yu Xiaohong , Wang Xue
Published: February 2024

Natural fiber/resin composites exhibit poor fiber–matrix compatibility and easy combustion. In this study, jute‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy resin was used to prepare composite materials by adding marine shell powder, which is a natural non‐combustible inorganic filler that originates from a variety of sources. The morphology, composition, thermal stability, combustion performance, and mechanical properties of the prepared composites were tested using several characterization methods. The results show that the marine shell powder was evenly distributed in the epoxy resin and did not affect the adhesion between the epoxy resin and the jute fiber. When 20% marine shell powder (SMJF20) was added to the jute‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy resin composite, the pyrolytic residual content was 21.88% (60.2% higher than that without), and the maximum heat release rate was 350.75 kW/m2 (22.8% lower than that without). The total heat release and total smoke release of SMJF20 were also 13.9% and 30% lower than that of MJF, respectively. The addition of marine shell powder did not significantly affect the tensile strength, whereas the tensile modulus of SMJF20 increased by approximately 13.9%, the fracture strain decreased by approximately 13.4%, and the bending strength and modulus decreased by approximately 12.9% and 13.0%, respectively. Marine shell powder is an ideal biomass filler for jute‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy resins.

Highlights

Jute‐fiber‐epoxy composites fortified with non‐combustible marine shell powder.

Effective filler distribution without compromising epoxy‐jute fiber adhesion.

20% marine shell powder significantly reduces heat release and smoke release.

Tensile strength unaffected; tensile modulus and residual content increased.

Marine shell powder proves ideal for enhancing epoxy resin with jute fibers.
Exceptional Entanglement and Quantum Sensing with a Parity‐Time‐Symmetric Two‐Qubit System
Authors: Zhang Ji , Zhou Yan‐Li , Zuo Yunlan , Zhang Huilai , Chen Ping‐Xing , Jing Hui , Kuang Le‐Man
Published: February 2024

Parity‐time (PT) symmetric systems with gain‐loss balanced structures can have entirely real eigenenergy spectra despite their non‐Hermitian nature, leading to peculiar discoveries such as single‐mode lasers, wireless power transfer, and non‐reciprocal light propagation. Recently, the study of PT‐symmetry has extended to the quantum realm, inspiring a search for PT‐symmetric quantum effects as well as their unique applications. Here, quantum entanglement and sensing with a PT‐symmetric system of two qubits are studied with Ising‐type interaction. It is shown that exceptional points (EPs) can induce exceptional entanglement phenomena such as collapse‐revival and steady‐state entanglement on the two sides of EPs. The entanglement in the PT‐symmetric system is also found to be generated more quickly than that in the Hermitian counterpart. In addition, a scheme for realizing EP‐enhanced quantum sensing is proposed by calculating the quantum Fisher information to estimate the parameters of the system. The work provides new insights into EP‐engineered quantum effects and can benefit a wide range of applications based on non‐Hermitian quantum devices.
Observer‐based fault diagnosis for autonomous systems
Authors: Hasan Agus
Published: February 2024

With the advancement in sensor and communication technology, autonomous systems have been incrementally reshaping the execution of tasks in commercial and military sectors. Since the systems are designed to complete tasks without or with minimal human intervention, fault diagnosis based on sensor data has been crucial to preventing accidents and fatalities. In this paper, fault diagnosis for autonomous systems is designed based on nonlinear adaptive observers, tested in numerical simulations, and implemented in a robotic platform. To this end, we utilize the persistence of excitation conditions on the parametric model of the faults. We derive sufficient conditions for the nonlinear adaptive observer in terms of linear matrix inequality to ensure the convergence of the estimates. Furthermore, we consider one‐sided Lipschitz conditions to obtain less conservative results. The main advantage of using the nonlinear adaptive observer is that the method converges quickly to the actual fault and requires minimum computational effort. However, solving the linear matrix inequality might not be trivial. Numerical simulations based on a single‐link flexible joint robot model and experimental tests in an autonomous quadcopter are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Measuring the circular economy in Europe: Big differences among countries, great opportunities to converge
Authors: Claudio‐Quiroga Gloria , Poza Carlos
Published: February 2024

The main aim of this article is to analyze the circular economy (CE) transition of European countries between 2014 and 2021, using the European Commission approach of production and consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials, and competitiveness and innovation. To do so, we have built a multidimensional Circular Economy Index that classifies European countries according to their progress towards a circular economy. We used data from the Eurostat database and extracted all circular economy indicators for the EU27 countries plus Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Iceland. The time series starts in 2014 and ends in 2021 and we have used 15 variables grouped in four dimensions by means of a second order factor analysis with a Promax rotation. We have also applied a hierarchical cluster analysis to group countries by circular economy performance. Our results suggest an improvement in circular economy performance between 2014 and 2021 in Europe. We likewise find there is a ‘four‐speed Europe’ in terms of a circular economy, highlighting the good results of the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Belgium.
Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Based D‐π‐A Fluorescent Sensor for Detection of Diethylcyanophosphonate
Authors: Dhamapurkar Yashasvi Anant , Chaudhran Preeti Ashokkumar , Chandrakar Lokesh , Bahiram Yogita Motiram , Sharma Abha
Published: February 2024

Herein, two fluorescent probes IM‐MN and IM‐ECA based on D‐π‐A system were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their photophysical properties. The probes were found to exhibit solvatochromic properties showing the range of fluorescence color in different polar solvents. The solvatochromism of the probes was further employed for DCNP detection. Both the probes showed excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards DCNP with fluorescence quenching response in the presence of DCNP, under UV lamp (365 nm). The probe IM‐ECA was found more sensitive in comparison to IM‐MN for detecting the presence of DCNP even at the nanomolar range. The SEM analysis has revealed the phenomenon of aggregation upon interaction of probe with DCNP that led to fluorescence quenching further, blue shift of the absorption band in UV spectra indicated formation of H‐ aggregates. Also, probes IM‐MN and IM‐ECA were fabricated into portable paper strips for real‐time detection that also resembles the response obtained in the solution phase.
A Spatiotemporal Controllable Biomimetic Skin for Accelerating Wound Repair
Authors: Chen Yuewei , Lu Weiying , Zhou Yanyan , Hu Zihe , Wu Haiyan , Gao Qing , Shi Jue , Wu Wenzhi , Lv Shang , Yao Ke , He Yong , Xie Zhijian
Published: February 2024

Skin injury repair is a dynamic process involving a series of interactions over time and space. Linking human physiological processes with materials’ changes poses a significant challenge. To match the wound healing process, a spatiotemporal controllable biomimetic skin is developed, which comprises a three‐dimensional (3D) printed membrane as the epidermis, a cell‐containing hydrogel as the dermis, and a cytokine‐laden hydrogel as the hypodermis. In the initial stage of the biomimetic skin repair wound, the membrane frame aids wound closure through pre‐tension, while cells proliferate within the hydrogel. Next, as the frame disintegrates over time, cells released from the hydrogel migrate along the residual membrane. Throughout the process, continuous cytokines release from the hypodermis hydrogel ensures comprehensive nourishment. The findings reveal that in the rat full‐thickness skin defect model, the biomimetic skin demonstrated a wound closure rate eight times higher than the blank group, and double the collagen content, particularly in the early repair process. Consequently, it is reasonable to infer that this biomimetic skin holds promising potential to accelerate wound closure and repair. This biomimetic skin with mechanobiological effects and spatiotemporal regulation emerges as a promising option for tissue regeneration engineering.
A note about why deep learning is deep: A discontinuous approximation perspective
Authors: Li Yongxin , Qi Haobo , Wang Hansheng
Published: February 2024

Deep learning has achieved unprecedented success in recent years. This approach essentially uses the composition of nonlinear functions to model the complex relationship between input features and output labels. However, a comprehensive theoretical understanding of why the hierarchical layered structure can exhibit superior expressive power is still lacking. In this paper, we provide an explanation for this phenomenon by measuring the approximation efficiency of neural networks with respect to discontinuous target functions. We focus on deep neural networks with rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation functions. We find that to achieve the same degree of approximation accuracy, the number of neurons required by a single‐hidden‐layer (SHL) network is exponentially greater than that required by a multi‐hidden‐layer (MHL) network. In practice, discontinuous points tend to contain highly valuable information (i.e., edges in image classification). We argue that this may be a very important reason accounting for the impressive performance of deep neural networks. We validate our theory in extensive experiments.
Evaluation of Voltage Unbalance Definitions for Voltage Control in Distribution Systems with Photovoltaic Penetration
Authors: Nakadomari Akito , Krishnan Narayanan , Furukakoi Masahiro , Hemeida Ashraf Mohamed , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: February 2024

This paper examines the impact of different voltage unbalance definitions on voltage control in unbalanced distribution systems. Traditional voltage regulation methods for unbalanced systems rely on a single voltage unbalance definition with inconsistent adoptions. In such a situation, voltage control performance can vary between definitions, and improper choice leads to control failures. In this study, we perform numerical analysis and simulations to investigate the impact of different definitions. In the numerical analysis, two definitions quantifying negative and zero sequence components are used as reference definitions, and the theoretical error range of the remaining definitions is identified. The results are further verified by the simulations on the IEEE 123 node test system with phase‐by‐phase controlled three‐phase step voltage regulators and smart photovoltaic inverters. The control of the devices is optimized to minimize or limit a specific definition. The results show that the values of each definition at the same voltage condition can differ significantly, and inappropriate definitions may lead to significant uncertainty in the voltage control. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Granzyme B+ B cells detected by single-cell sequencing are associated with prognosis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma following liver transplantation
Authors: Zhu Ji-Qiao , Zhu Ying , Qi Man , Zeng Ye , Liu Zhen-Jia , Ding Cheng , Zhang Tao , Li Xian-Liang , Han Dong-Dong , He Qiang
Published: February 2024

B cells possess anti-tumor functions mediated by granzyme B, in addition to their role in antigen presentation and antibody production. However, the variations in granzyme B+ B cells between tumor and non-tumor tissues have been largely unexplored. Therefore, we integrated 25 samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and analyzed the tumor immune microenvironment. The findings uncovered significant inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Notably, single-cell data showed higher proportions of granzyme B+ B cells in tumor samples compared to control samples, and these levels were positively associated with disease-free survival. The elevated levels of granzyme B+ B cells in tumor samples resulted from tumor cell chemotaxis through the MIF- (CD74 + CXCR4) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the anti-tumor function of granzyme B+ B cells in tumor samples was adversely affected, potentially providing an explanation for tumor progression. These findings regarding granzyme B+ B cells were further validated in an independent clinic cohort of 40 liver transplant recipients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Our study unveils an interaction between granzyme B+ B cells and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, opening up potential avenues for the development of novel therapeutic strategies against this disease.
Intestinal microbiota regulates the gut-thyroid axis: the new dawn of improving Hashimoto thyroiditis
Authors: Zhu Xiaxin , Zhang Chi , Feng Shuyan , He Ruonan , Zhang Shuo
Published: February 2024

Intestinal microbiota plays an indispensable role in the host's innate immune system, which may be related to the occurrence of many autoimmune diseases. Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, and there is plenty of evidence indicating that HT may be related to genetics and environmental triggers, but the specific mechanism has not been proven clearly. Significantly, the composition and abundance of intestinal microbiota in patients with HT have an obvious difference. This phenomenon led us to think about whether intestinal microbiota can affect the progress of HT through some mechanisms. By summarizing the potential mechanism of intestinal microflora in regulating Hashimoto thyroiditis, this article explores the possibility of improving HT by regulating intestinal microbiota and summarizes relevant biomarkers as therapeutic targets, which provide new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Hashimoto thyroiditis.
Addressing hunger among households with children utilizing food assistance resources: an analysis of food pantry users
Authors: Hicks Jacqueline , Nelson Eva , Rhoads Elizabeth , Codner Alyson , Keung Lok Hang Kristina , Mascary Jemima , Greece Jacey A.
Published: February 2024

Aim

Households with children have higher rates of food insecurity compared to households without children. Financial instabilities, including job loss, decreased income, and family structure changes are food insecurity risk factors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, programs were implemented to alleviate the impacts on food insecurity, but those expanded benefits were decreased in March 2023, leaving many families with economic burden.

Subject and methods

This study used a cross-sectional survey administered to food pantry users across ten food pantries in Eastern Massachusetts from June to August 2018, with 279 users reporting at least one child in the household. The outcome, hunger, was assessed using a modified version of the Household Hunger Scale. Households were categorized (one child, two children, or three or more children). Mixed-effects logistic regression models assessed the relationship between hunger categories and number of children in the household.

Results

This study found that having more children in the household increases the severity of hunger. Households with at least three children had 1.46 times the odds (95% CI: 1.08, 1.97) of moderate hunger and 1.85 times the odds (95% CI: 1.11, 3.07) of severe hunger compared to one-child households. Severe hunger was associated with monthly household income, with higher incomes having a protective effect for severe hunger.

Conclusion

Programs and policies addressing food insecurity are critical for supporting households with children already accessing supports, so removal of benefits may impact food insecurity. A multi-pronged approach including government-funded benefits and food pantry services is most effective in alleviating food insecurity.

Significance

Previous studies show that food insecurity increases with more children in the household compared to households without children, but focus less on populations already utilizing food assistance programs such as food pantries. This study examines hunger in households with children who are already at risk for food insecurity and receive food pantry services. Studying this population is essential given the recent decision by the US government to remove expanded COVID-19 benefits addressing food insecurity. Households with children experiencing food insecurity now depend upon those benefits and will be affected by their removal. These study findings can inform future resource allocation.
A novel generalized similarity measure under intuitionistic fuzzy environment and its applications to criminal investigation
Authors: Dutta Palash , Banik Abhilash Kangsha
Published: February 2024

In our contemporary world, where crime prevails, the expeditious conduct of criminal investigations stands as an essential pillar of law and order. However, these inquiries often grapple with intricate complexities, particularly uncertainties stemming from the scarcity of reliable evidence, which can significantly hinder progress. To surmount these challenges, the invaluable tools of crime linkage and psychological profiling of offenders have come to the forefront. The advent of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets (IFS) has proven pivotal in navigating these uncertain terrains of decision-making, and at the heart of this lies the concept of similarity measure-an indispensable tool for unraveling intricate problems of choice. While a multitude of similarity measures exists for gauging the likeness between IFSs, our study introduces a novel generalized similarity measure firmly rooted in the IFS framework, poised to surpass existing methods with enhanced accuracy and applicability. We then extend the horizon of practicality by employing this pioneering similarity measure in the domain of clustering for crime prediction-a paramount application within the realm of law enforcement. Furthermore, we venture into the domain of psychological profiling, a potent avenue that has the potential to significantly fortify the arsenal of crime investigations. Through the application of our proposed similarity measure, we usher in a new era of efficacy and insight in the pursuit of justice. In sum, this study not only unveils a groundbreaking similarity measure within the context of an Intuitionistic fuzzy environment but also showcases its compelling applications in the arena of criminal investigation, marking a significant stride toward swifter and more informed decisions in the realm of law and order.
Text-Vision Relationship Alignment for Referring Image Segmentation
Authors: Pu Mingxing , Luo Bing , Zhang Chao , Xu Li , Xu Fayou , Kong Mingming
Published: February 2024

Referring image segmentation aims to segment object in an image based on a referring expression. Its difficulty lies in aligning expression semantics with visual instances. The existing methods based on semantic reasoning are limited by the performance of external syntax parser and do not explicitly explore the relationships between visual instances. This article proposes an end-to-end method for referring image segmentation by aligning ’linguistic relationship’ with ’visual relationships’. This method does not rely on external syntax parser for expression parsing. In this paper, the expression is adaptively and structurally parsed into three components: ’subject’, ’object’, and ’linguistic relationship’ by the Semantic Component Parser (SCP) in a learnable manner. Instances Activation Map Module (IAM) locates multiple visual instances based on the subject and object. In addition, the Relationship Based Visual Localization Module (RBVL) firstly enables each instance of the image to learn global knowledge, then decodes the visual relationships between these visual instances, and finally aligns the visual relationships with the linguistic relationships to further accurately locate the target object. The experimental results show that the proposed method improves performance by 4– 9% compared with baseline method on multiple referring image segmentation datasets.
Seasonal impact of acid mine drainage on water quality and potential ecological risk in an old sulfide exploitation
Authors: Gomes Patrícia , Valente Teresa
Published: February 2024

Sulfides are usually associated with deposits of metals and coal. The reactive wastes from their exploitation, typically stored in piles and tailings dams, are often the mining sector’s primary source of environmental problems. The surrounding river waters can present signs of acid mine drainage, responsible for aquatic ecosystem degradation. So, the main target of the present study is to investigate the impact of this process on the water’s environmental quality and potential ecological risk. The study area is located at the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in an old sulfide exploitation, closed without environmental rehabilitation measures. The results exhibit high sulfate concentrations (410,601 mg/L) and potentially toxic elements, with prominence of Fe (134,000 mg/L), overcoming many other extreme cases of AMD pollution. The Ficklin diagram exposes that most samples are classified as “high-acid, high-metal.” Two of them have extreme classifications (high-acid, extreme-metal). The pH value is well below the acceptable range for the environmental quality of superficial waters (5–7), measuring at a minimum of 0.84. Regarding seasonal variability, the study showed a higher degree of contamination in dry conditions (e.g., 4,420 mg/L of Cu), while the rainy month had lower concentrations of PTE (186.8 mg/L of Cu for the same sampling point). In addition, the water does not accomplish the environmental objectives established by the EU Water Framework Directive. According to the new approach developed based on a scale adjustment, the potential ecological risk index studied indicates that most sampled sites present strong, very strong, and even extremely potential ecological risk. With a typical Mediterranean climate, the region suffers from water scarcity, predicting increasingly in the future more degrading scenarios for water environmental quality. Consequently, urgent mitigation and remediation measures are necessary to improve and preserve water quality and fulfill the objectives of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.