bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel highly dispersive soliton solutions in couplers for optical metamaterials: leveraging generalized Kudryashov’s Law of refractive index with eighth-order dispersion and multiplicative white noise
Authors: Zayed Elsayed M E , Alurrfi Khaled A E , Hasek Abeer M M , Arar Nouria , Arnous Ahmed H , Yildirim Yakup
Published: August 2024

This article represents a significant advancement in the understanding of highly dispersive optical solitons within the context of optical metamaterials, leveraging a generalized form of Kudryashov’s law of refractive index. By integrating eighth-order dispersion and multiplicative white noise into the analysis, crucial elements in the development and optimization of sophisticated optical metamaterials are accounted for in this current paper for the first time. Through an improved direct algebraic method, a diverse range of soliton solutions are derived, encompassing bright, dark, singular, and straddled solitons. Moreover, the study goes beyond mere derivation by presenting exact solutions expressed using Jacobi and Weierstrass’s elliptic functions. This mathematical framework offers deeper insights into the dynamics of solitons within the investigated context. These findings substantially expand the theoretical underpinnings governing optical solitons in metamaterials, with direct implications for the design, and implementation of next-generation optical devices. The bridging of theoretical advancements with practical applications underscores the significance of this work. By elucidating precise control over soliton properties, it lays the groundwork for innovative solutions in optical communications and beyond. Also, this research serves as a crucial stepping stone towards realizing the full potential of optical metamaterials in shaping the future of optical technologies.
Constructions of optimal-speed quantum evolutions: a comparative study
Authors: Rossetti Leonardo , Cafaro Carlo , Bahreyni Newshaw
Published: August 2024

We present a comparative analysis of two different constructions of optimal-speed quantum Hamiltonian evolutions on the Bloch sphere. In the first approach (Mostafazadeh’s approach), the evolution is specified by a traceless stationary Hermitian Hamiltonian and occurs between two arbitrary qubit states by maximizing the energy uncertainty. In the second approach (Bender’s approach), instead, the evolution is characterized by a stationary Hermitian Hamiltonian which is not traceless and occurs between an initial qubit state on the north pole and an arbitrary final qubit state. In this second approach, the evolution occurs by minimizing the evolution time subject to the constraint that the difference between the largest and the smallest eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian is kept fixed. For both approaches we calculate explicitly the optimal Hamiltonian, the optimal unitary evolution operator and, finally, the optimal magnetic field configuration. Furthermore, we show in a clear way that Mostafazadeh’s and Bender’s approaches are equivalent when we extend Mostafazadeh’s approach to Hamiltonians with nonzero trace and, at the same time, focus on an initial quantum state placed on the north pole of the Bloch sphere. Finally, we demonstrate in both scenarios that the optimal unitary evolution operator is a rotation about an axis that is orthogonal to the unit Bloch vectors that correspond to the initial and final qubit states.
Pattern formation on hydrophobic PDMS substrates by evaporating droplets: combined effect of substrate stiffness, relative humidity and particle size
Authors: D Choudhury Moutushi , Dutta Tapati , Chattopadhyay Ankur
Published: August 2024

Desiccation patterns left by micro-droplets of water impregnated with particles on hydrophobic substrates have been analyzed with respect to variations in the elastic stiffness of the substrates, particle size and relative humidity. The complex and unique patterns obtained, have been analyzed and explained in terms of the time scales of moving Triple Phase Line (TPL) on substrate and substrate relaxation rate. The rate of TPL movement is found to depend on the relative humidity and substrate stiffness. In turn, this affects the contact angle hysteresis. Particle movement is a result of viscous drag and inertia apart from electrostatic interactions. We have successfully explained the myriad patterns obtained from drying droplets via systematic rheological measurements along with an understanding of the role of all the effective forces and their time scales of action.
Symmetric two-electodes pseudosupercapacitor from trichalcogenide MoS3-MoO3-poly-O-amino-benzenethiol nanocomposite
Authors: Rabia Mohamed , Ben Gouider Trabelsi Amira , Alkallas Fatemah H , Esayed Asma M
Published: August 2024

A novel nanocomposite, MoS3-MoO3/poly-O-amino-benzenethiol (MoS3-MoO3/POABT), has been synthesized in a one-pot process and demonstrates promising applications as a material for a two-electrode configuration supercapacitor. This nanocomposite exhibits remarkable morphological characteristics, featuring uniform particles with an average diameter of 80 nm and a porous structure. The advantageous morphology contributes to the enhanced performance of the fabricated pseudo supercapacitor. The evaluation of the charge/discharge behavior and cyclic voltammetry curves of the redox reaction of the MoS3-MoO3/POABT nanocomposite reveals its efficacy as a supercapacitor material. The specific capacitance (CS) achieved for this fabricated supercapacitor is noteworthy at 152 F/g. Furthermore, the energy density (E) peaks at 12.6 W h kg−1 when operating at a current density of 0.2 A/g. This high energy density demonstrates the supercapacitor’s ability to store significant energy for practical use efficiently. Importantly, its stability remains strong, with an impressive 98% retention after 250 cycles, and even after 1000 cycles, it only slightly decreases to 95%. This remarkable stability over extended cycling periods underscores the durability of the materials in the supercapacitor. Such reliable performance establishes the MoS3-MoO3/POABT nanocomposite as a dependable choice for supercapacitor applications, ensuring longevity and consistent performance in diverse energy storage needs.
Study of one-step and two-step neutron transfer in the reaction 6Li + 9Be*
Authors: Azhibekov A.K. , Lukyanov S.M. , Penionzhkevich Yu.E. , Urazbekov B.A. , Naumenko M.A. , Samarin V.V. , Issatayev T. , Maslov V.A. , Mendibayev K. , Aznabayev D. , Zholdybayev T.K. , Temirzhanov A.
Published: August 2024

This paper presents the results of experiments conducted to measure the cross-sections for elastic scattering and nucleon transfer channels in the 6Li+9Be reaction at an incident energy of 68 MeV: 9Be(6Li,6Li)9Be, 9Be(6Li,7Li)8Be, 9Be(6Li,7Li)8Be2+, 9Be(6Li,8Li)7Be, and 9Be(6Li,7Be)8Li. The objective of the study is to elucidate the manifestation of the cluster structure of 9Be. Theoretical analysis of the contributions of the one-step and two-step neutron transfer mechanisms is performed using the distorted wave Born approximation method with the Fresco code. Good agreement between the calculations and the experimental data is obtained for the channels of elastic scattering 9Be(6Li,6Li)9Be, neutron 9Be(6Li,7Li)8Be, and proton transfer 9Be(6Li,7Be)8Li, as well as for the transfer of two neutrons 9Be(6Li,8Li)7Be. The dineutron cluster transfer mechanism makes a dominant contribution to the 9Be(6Li,8Li)7Be reaction channel at forward angles.
Photonuclear reactions on 59Co at bremsstrahlung end-point energies of 40–130 MeV*
Authors: Rasulova F. A. , Belyshev S. S. , Demichev M. A. , Demin D. L. , Evseev S. A. , Fursova N. Yu. , Gostkin M. I. , Khushvaktov J. H. , Kobets V. V. , Kuznetsov A. A. , Rozov S. V. , Ruziev E. T. , Solnyshkin A. A. , Tran T. N. , Yakushev E. A. , Yuldashev B. S.
Published: August 2024

Relative yields were measured in the 40−130 MeV bremsstrahlung induced reactions of 59Co. The experiments were performed with the beam from the electron linear accelerator LINAC-200 using the activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometric techniques. The bremsstrahlung photon flux was calculated with the Geant4 program. The cross sections were calculated by using the computer code TALYS-1.96 with different models and were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.
Feasible study on optimal utilization of blended fly ash and GGBS on the performance of concrete
Authors: Ashok Kumar M. , Vijay Kunamineni , Syam Babu D , Reddy Panga Narasimha , Sagar Tummala Santhi
Published: August 2024

Concrete is a blend of aggregate, water, and cement along with admixtures that are generally employed in the construction of structures all around the world. In this cement plays a major role as a binder in concrete. The cement manufacturing process liberates enormous amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Researchers have developed various alternative materials to cement. However, limitations are there for their higher utilization. The strength and durability are reduced if we use higher dosages of GGBS or fly ash as an additional material for cement. In this regard, there is a need to develop a ternary blended concrete by using GGBS and fly ash. In this study, the potential of using fly ash and GGBS as substitute materials for cement is evaluated. The combination of these materials to produce a binder opens up new opportunities for improving pozzolanic activities, which enhances concrete performance. The effect of several percentages of these two materials on the mechanical characteristics of the concrete was examined. There was an improved performance of the material so formed out of which replacing cement with an equal amount of fly ash and GGBS at 40% weight exhibited better performance. Further, the compressive strength prediction was assessed by using regression analysis. Applying the response surface method to the relationship between response variables and input parameters led to the regression equation. This strategy helps to predict the outcomes of experiments with a reasonable margin of error. The results of this study show that combining fly ash and GGBS as substitutes for cement enhances the performance of concrete.
Strength and Permeability Evaluation of hybrid steel –basalt fibres reinforced concrete
Authors: Thendral S , Vijaya Bhaskar Raju K , Venkata Krishnaiah R
Published: August 2024

By incorporating hybrid fiber (steel and basalt) reinforced concrete, this study aims to investigate the distinctive intensity of optimal concrete performance while also assessing its mechanical as well as chloride permeability properties. In the experimental setup, many concrete mixtures with 1.5% steel fibers and varying percentages of hybrid fibres 1.2SF0.3BF, 0.9SF0.6BF, 0.6SF0.9BF, and 0.3SF1.2BF, were painstakingly constructed and evaluated. Steel and hybrid fibers used in the volume of concrete were taken into consideration when calculating the percentages of fibers. Finding the point of saturation at which maximal influence is attained and identifying any other relevant elements were the main goals. Six mixtures were created, one of which was used as regular concrete and had no fibers at all. In this study, M30 grade concrete with a 1.5% steel fibers and hybrid fiber content of 1.2SF 0.3BF, 0.9SF 0.6BF, 0.6SF 0.9BF, and 0.3SF 1.2BF was used. Tested components shaped like prisms, cylinders, and cubes underwent 7 and 28 days of water curing before being carefully prepared and put through intensive laboratory tests. For every % of fiber, several mechanical properties were evaluated, including flexural strength, split tensile strength, and compressive strength. Furthermore, a rapid chloride permeability test evaluation was carried out on specimens with 0% fibers, 1.5 steel fibers, and 0.9SF 0.6BF. %. The fiber content of the concrete matrix appears to have improved ductility, as seen by the reduced frequency of cracks observed in hybrid fibers.
A Comparative Study on Design of Commercial Building using Etabs and Staad Pro
Authors: Jyothirmayee S , Dileep Kumar Reddy B , Rakesh M , Pooja S , Neha T , Kullai Naik G
Published: August 2024

Engineers are in charge of planning, developing, and completing projects on schedule. The investigation of the stiffness, strength, and stability of structures is known as structural design. A structural engineer constructs a structure in accordance with loading circumstances, including wind, seismic, live, and dead loads. There are several software programmes available to assess and design elements, but many students lack understanding of how to calculate loads, load combinations, and design parameters. It is not difficult to create a building; however, it is vital to create an efficient framework that will function without fail for many years. The objective of this study is to analyse and design of commercial building using ETABS and STAAD Pro with design aids provided in code book IS 456:2000, SP-16. The main aim of this study is to find improved analyses for constructing load situations, applying load combinations, support reactions, and column and beam reinforcement, among other things. Comparisons of design outcomes, such as displacement, axial force, shear forces, and bending moment along main and minor axes, may be made using the analytical results.
Towards Greener Construction: Assessing the Mechanical Properties of Concrete with Demolition Waste and Quarry Dust Blends
Authors: Sree Kumar K , Prasad Bokka Durga Vara , Manne Manikanta , Alisha Sk Subhan , Rambabu P
Published: August 2024

Concrete is a mass resembling stone prepared by pouring Cement, fine sand, and water into moulds and hardening them. It is well known that adding the right mineral admixtures with cement in the appropriate proportions enhances a number of concrete properties. The construction industry has been expanding at a rapid pace, to meet the growing demands of new infrastructure in various countries around the world for the past two decades. The fine aggregate used in all construction projects is river sand, which is dredged from riverbeds. There is an increasing need for river sand replenishment since increased riverbed dredging may cause soil erosion, coastal erosion, and environmental deterioration. River sand is substituted in concrete with ceramic grains, quarry stone dust, copper slag, foundry sand, and other components. Quarry dust and demolition waste are used together to create stronger concrete. This is then compared to regular concrete to see if the results are worth the extra effort. Even though the mixes presented promising strength parameters, these strength parameters were seen decreasing with the increase in percentage of replacement. Concrete mixes containing 25% of demolition waste and quarry dust replacement reported greater strength in compression, Splitting Tension & Flexure than the other concrete mixes with varying percentage of replacement.
Experimental study on coir fiber based crumb rubber concrete
Authors: Mounika Chalamani , Mounka M
Published: August 2024

The main objective of this project is to evaluate mechanical properties of concrete using rubber tire waste as an alternative of fine aggregate and coconut fiber powder as an alternative of cement with assorted percentages of 0%, 5%, 10% & 15% and 0%, 1%, 2% & 3% in concrete. The main requirement of the work is to provide safe environment and making concrete economical by using rubber waste and coir fiber as a substitutes to sand and cement. By this we can also prevent environmental issues produced from disposing of coconut husk and rubber tires waste partially. Fly ash was also added additionally with varying percentages of 5%, 10% and 15% as an alternative to cement in a concrete mix. Laboratory tests such as compressive, split tensile, flexural strength test, density of concrete and water absorption test etc., were conducted on concrete specimen to achieve the maximum usage of coir fiber powder and crumb rubber tire waste in preparation of concrete mix. It is observed that the maximum compressive strength values of coconut fiber based crumb rubber concrete was obtained at 1% of coir fiber + 5% of crumb rubber + 5% of fly ash are 15.11, 19.52 and 29.40N/mm2 for 3days, 7days and 28days of curing, maximum split tensile strength and flexural strength values of coir fiber based crumb rubber concrete block was also obtained at 1% of coir fiber + 5% of crumb rubber + 5% of fly ash i.e.,1.430, 1.599 & 2.791N/mm2 and 1.97, 2.92 and 4.68N/mm2 for 3, 7 and 28days of curing. From the final conclusion of the project, maximum usage of crumb rubberis 5% and coconut fiber powder is 3%.
Investigating the influence of fly ash and rice husk ash on the strength and durability properties of self compacting recycled aggregate concrete
Authors: Raju Nunna Venkata , Paluri Yeswanth , Sudheer Kankatala Sreenivasa , Hemanth A
Published: August 2024

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a type of concrete that has become increasingly popular in recent years because of its exceptional fluidity and cohesive properties. The incorporation of supplemental cementitious materials (SCM) is essential to attain the desired consolidation qualities and meet the durability criteria in this material. Utilizing waste or industrial by-products as a source of SCM might enhance the qualities of self-compacting concrete (SCC) and minimize the environmental consequences linked to the manufacturing of Portland Cement (PC). Because of the high environmental costs and limited availability of natural materials, recycled aggregates are being more and more advocated as an alternative for use in concrete. In light of these facts, the paper addressed the effects of SCMs (fly ash and rice husk ash) and recycled aggregates on the fresh, mechanical (compressive strength, and flexural strength) and durability (sorptivity and water absorption) properties of SCC. The workability of SCC decreases with recycled aggregates and cement replacements, while it increases with flyash and decreases with RHA. The fresh properties of all mixes met EFNARC criteria. Substituting RA for NA resulted in a decline in strength, while RA100’s strength properties were enhanced by supplementary cementitious materials. The combination of FA and RHA improved RAC’s strength and durability. This suggests that self compacting recycled aggregate concrete incorporating SCMs can be a sustainable alternative.
Assessment of Land use Land Cover Changes in West Godavari District Using Gis
Authors: Kyle Suseela , Devika Bandaru Mary , Priyadarshini Tallapudi Indira , Paul Sophia
Published: August 2024

Land-use land cover plays an essential role in planning and developing the use of natural resources in response to the gradual growth in human demands in the present-day surroundings. This study focuses on the use of geographic information systems (GIS) for land use to detect changes in the West Godavari district of the state of Andhra Pradesh (AP), India. The present study focuses on the features classification and detection of changes in land-use land cover between 2010 and 2020, considering a survey of India’s topographic map and satellite imagery. In recent times, multitemporal high- and medium-resolution satellite data have emerged to serve as vital tools for analyzing water bodies, vegetation crop areas, and deep forests. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies facilitate the study of landscape transitions on the surface of the earth. The results suggest that the study, the rate of increase and decrease in built-up area, the rate of water bodies, and the cover of vegetation may have a major effect on the ecology. This software can also identify changes in terrain, temperature differences, precipitation, and population pressure. To improve planning for future development, we will use the geographic information system to compare historical and present data for our study area.
A high-power four-path radial synthesizer
Authors: Li Fengxiu , Huang Wenchong , Wu Haoran , Hou Desheng , Tang Zhengming
Published: August 2024

Microwave energy is widely used in fields such as food processing, chemical industry, and pharmaceutical production. However, traditional power synthesizers are not suitable for microwave heating due to the limitations in output power, low synthesis efficiency, and poor heat dissipation performance. In this paper, we propose a new four-path high-power radial synthesizer. Magnetic probes and two-stage step coupling are added to both the input and output ports of the synthesizer to achieve better port matching. Moreover, the parameters of the proposed structure are optimized by electromagnetic calculation. The simulation results indicate that the transmission coefficient is less than -28 dB, the insertion loss is less than 0.1 dB, the amplitude and phase are basically the same, the VSWR is less than 1.1, and the synthesis efficiency is up to 97% in the range of 2.4 GHz-2.5 GHz. With low insertion loss, high synthesis efficiency, simple structure, and large power capacity, this synthesizer has a broad potential for application in microwave heating.
A new LED constant current driver
Authors: Jia Nan , Huang Shengming
Published: August 2024

A new type of LED constant current driving is proposed and designed in this paper, which controls the output current by receiving digital dimming signals. The output LED current can be accurately controlled with MOS transistors in the current mirror structure turned on and off. With a reference current of 10 uA, the dimmed output current range of the LED is 30 uA ∼ 270 uA. In a typical environment of 5 V and 27 °C, the phase margin and loop gain of the current reference generator amplifier are 62.5 deg and 114.75 dB, respectively, guaranteeing stable reference current and output LED current. At the same time, when the output current of the LED is a maximum of 270 uA, the channel has a fast-switching speed of 202.25 ns.
Emulsion electrospun epigallocatechin gallate-loaded silk fibroin/polycaprolactone nanofibrous membranes for enhancing guided bone regeneration
Authors: Chen Hong , Xu Jiya , Dun Zhiyue , Yang Yi , Wang Yueqiu , Shu Fei , Zhang Zhihao , Liu Mei
Published: August 2024

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes play an important role in oral bone regeneration. However, enhancing their bone regeneration potential and antibacterial properties is crucial. Herein, silk fibroin (SF)/polycaprolactone (PCL) core–shell nanofibers loaded with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were prepared using emulsion electrospinning. The nanofibrous membranes were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, water contact angle (CA) measurement, mechanical properties testing, drug release kinetics, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Mouse pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were used to assess the biological characteristics, cytocompatibility, and osteogenic differentiation potential of the nanofibrous membrane. Additionally, the antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were evaluated. The nanofibers prepared by emulsion electrospinning exhibited a stable core–shell structure with a smooth and continuous surface. The tensile strength of the SF/PCL membrane loaded with EGCG was 3.88 ± 0.15 Mpa, the water CA was 50°, and the DPPH clearance rate at 24 h was 81.73% ± 0.07%. The EGCG release rate of membranes prepared by emulsion electrospinning was reduced by 12% within 72 h compared to that of membranes prepared via traditional electrospinning. In vitro experiments indicate that the core–shell membranes loaded with EGCG demonstrated good cell compatibility and promoted adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, the EGCG-loaded membranes exhibited inhibitory effects on E. coli and S. aureus. These findings indicate that core–shell nanofibrous membranes encapsulated with EGCG prepared using emulsion electrospinning possess good antioxidant, osteogenic, and antibacterial properties, making them potential candidates for research in GBR materials.
Ti3C2Tx@PLGA/Icaritin microspheres-modified PLGA/β-TCP scaffolds modulate Icaritin release to enhance bone regeneration through near-infrared response
Authors: Gu Changyuan , Chen Hao , Zhao Yiqiao , Xi Hongzhong , Tan Xiaoxue , Xue Peng , Sun Guangquan , Jiang Xiaohong , Du Bin , Liu Xin
Published: August 2024

Porous poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate/Icaritin (PLGA/β-TCP/ICT, PTI) scaffold is a tissue engineering scaffold based on PLGA/β-TCP (PT) containing Icaritin, the main active ingredient of the Chinese medicine Epimedium. Due to its excellent mechanical properties and osteogenic effect, PTI scaffold has the potential to promote bone defect repair. However, the release of ICT from the scaffolds is difficult to control. In this study, we constructed Ti3C2T
x
@PLGA/ICT microspheres (TIM) and evaluated their characterization as well as ICT release under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. We utilized TIM to modify the PT scaffold and performed biological experiments. First, we cultured rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the scaffold to assess biocompatibility and osteogenic potential under on-demand NIR irradiation. Subsequently, to evaluate the osteogenic properties of TIM-modified scaffold in vivo, the scaffold was implanted into a femoral condyle defect model. TIM have excellent drug-loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency for ICT, and the incorporation of Ti3C2T
x
endows TIM with photothermal conversion capability. Under 0.90 W cm−2 NIR irradiation, the temperature of TIM maintained at 42.0 ± 0.5 °C and the release of ICT was accelerated. Furthermore, while retaining its original properties, the TIM-modified scaffold was biocompatible and could promote cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and biomineralization in vitro, as well as the osteogenesis and osseointegration in vivo, and its effect was further enhanced through the modulation of ICT release under NIR irradiation. In summary, TIM-modified scaffold has the potential to be applied in bone defects repairing.
A scalar field theory of 1+1-dimensional laser wakefield accelerators
Authors: Aleksiejuk Mark , Burton David A
Published: August 2024

A relativistic non-linear scalar field theory is developed from a 2+2-dimensional decomposition of the cold plasma field equations, and the theory is used to investigate a 1+1-dimensional description of a laser wakefield accelerator. The relationship between the properties of a compact laser pulse and its wake is explored. Non-linear solutions are sought describing a regular (i.e. unbroken) wake driven by a prescribed rectangular circularly-polarised laser pulse. An upper bound on the dimensionless amplitude a
0 of the laser pulse is determined as a function of the phase speed v of the wake. The asymptotic behaviour of the upper bound on a
0 as

v
→
c

is shown to agree with well-established, but approximate, results obtained using the conventional encoding of the plasma degrees of freedom. Our approach leads to a closed-form expression for the upper bound on a
0 which is exact for all values of the phase speed of the wake, unlike conventional results that are applicable only when v is sufficiently close to c.
3D in vitro modeling of the exocrine pancreatic unit using tomographic volumetric bioprinting
Authors: Sgarminato Viola , Madrid-Wolff Jorge , Boniface Antoine , Ciardelli Gianluca , Tonda-Turo Chiara , Moser Christophe
Published: August 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Initial lesions of PDAC develop within the exocrine pancreas’ functional units, with tumor progression driven by interactions between PDAC and stromal cells. Effective therapies require anatomically and functionally relevant in vitro human models of the pancreatic cancer microenvironment. We employed tomographic volumetric bioprinting, a novel biofabrication method, to create human fibroblast-laden constructs mimicking the tubuloacinar structures of the exocrine pancreas. Human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE) cells overexpressing the KRAS oncogene (HPDE-KRAS) were seeded in the multiacinar cavity to replicate pathological tissue. HPDE cell growth and organization within the structure were assessed, demonstrating the formation of a thin epithelium covering the acini inner surfaces. Immunofluorescence assays showed significantly higher alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) vs. F-actin expression in fibroblasts co-cultured with cancerous versus wild-type HPDE cells. Additionally, α-SMA expression increased over time and was higher in fibroblasts closer to HPDE cells. Elevated interleukin (IL)-6 levels were quantified in supernatants from co-cultures of stromal and HPDE-KRAS cells. These findings align with inflamed tumor-associated myofibroblast behavior, serving as relevant biomarkers to monitor early disease progression and target drug efficacy. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a 3D bioprinted model of exocrine pancreas that recapitulates its true 3-dimensional microanatomy and shows tumor triggered inflammation.
Droplet-based microfluidics for engineering shape-controlled hydrogels with stiffness gradient
Authors: Soliman Bram G , Chin Ian L , Li Yiwei , Ishii Melissa , Ho Minh Hieu , Doan Vinh Khanh , Cox Thomas R , Wang Peng Yuan , Lindberg Gabriella C J , Zhang Yu Shrike , Woodfield Tim B F , Choi Yu Suk , Lim Khoon S
Published: August 2024

Current biofabrication strategies are limited in their ability to replicate native shape-to-function relationships, that are dependent on adequate biomimicry of macroscale shape as well as size and microscale spatial heterogeneity, within cell-laden hydrogels. In this study, a novel diffusion-based microfluidics platform is presented that meets these needs in a two-step process. In the first step, a hydrogel-precursor solution is dispersed into a continuous oil phase within the microfluidics tubing. By adjusting the dispersed and oil phase flow rates, the physical architecture of hydrogel-precursor phases can be adjusted to generate spherical and plug-like structures, as well as continuous meter-long hydrogel-precursor phases (up to 1.75 m). The second step involves the controlled introduction a small molecule-containing aqueous phase through a T-shaped tube connector to enable controlled small molecule diffusion across the interface of the aqueous phase and hydrogel-precursor. Application of this system is demonstrated by diffusing co-initiator sodium persulfate (SPS) into hydrogel-precursor solutions, where the controlled SPS diffusion into the hydrogel-precursor and subsequent photo-polymerization allows for the formation of unique radial stiffness patterns across the shape- and size-controlled hydrogels, as well as allowing the formation of hollow hydrogels with controllable internal architectures. Mesenchymal stromal cells are successfully encapsulated within hollow hydrogels and hydrogels containing radial stiffness gradient and found to respond to the heterogeneity in stiffness through the yes-associated protein mechano-regulator. Finally, breast cancer cells are found to phenotypically switch in response to stiffness gradients, causing a shift in their ability to aggregate, which may have implications for metastasis. The diffusion-based microfluidics thus finds application mimicking native shape-to-function relationship in the context of tissue engineering and provides a platform to further study the roles of micro- and macroscale architectural features that exist within native tissues.
Vascular tissues bioprinted with smooth muscle cell-only bioinks in support baths mimic features of native coronary arteries
Authors: Figueroa-Milla Andre E , DeMaria William , Wells Derrick , Jeon Oju , Alsberg Eben , Rolle Marsha W
Published: August 2024

This study explores the bioprinting of a smooth muscle cell-only bioink into ionically crosslinked oxidized methacrylated alginate (OMA) microgel baths to create self-supporting vascular tissues. The impact of OMA microgel support bath methacrylation degree and cell-only bioink dispensing parameters on tissue formation, remodeling, structure and strength was investigated. We hypothesized that reducing dispensing tip diameter from 27 G (210 μm) to 30 G (159 μm) for cell-only bioink dispensing would reduce tissue wall thickness and improve the consistency of tissue dimensions while maintaining cell viability. Printing with 30 G tips resulted in decreased mean wall thickness (318.6 μm) without compromising mean cell viability (94.8%). Histological analysis of cell-only smooth muscle tissues cultured for 14 d in OMA support baths exhibited decreased wall thickness using 30 G dispensing tips, which correlated with increased collagen deposition and alignment. In addition, a TUNEL assay indicated a decrease in cell death in tissues printed with thinner (30 G) dispensing tips. Mechanical testing demonstrated that tissues printed with a 30 G dispensing tip exhibit an increase in ultimate tensile strength compared to those printed with a 27 G dispensing tip. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of precise control over bioprinting parameters to generate mechanically robust tissues when using cell-only bioinks dispensed and cultured within hydrogel support baths. The ability to control print dimensions using cell-only bioinks may enable bioprinting of more complex soft tissue geometries to generate in vitro tissue models.
Effect of viscosity of gelatin methacryloyl-based bioinks on bone cells
Authors: Rashad Ahmad , Gomez Alejandro , Gangrade Ankit , Zehtabi Fatemeh , Mandal Kalpana , Maity Surjendu , Ma Changyu , Li Bingbing , Khademhosseini Ali , de Barros Natan Roberto
Published: August 2024

The viscosity of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based bioinks generates shear stresses throughout the printing process that can affect cell integrity, reduce cell viability, cause morphological changes, and alter cell functionality. This study systematically investigated the impact of the viscosity of GelMA-gelatin bioinks on osteoblast-like cells in 2D and 3D culture conditions. Three bioinks with low, medium, and high viscosity prepared by supplementing a 5% GelMA solution with different concentrations of gelatin were evaluated. Cell responses were studied in a 2D environment after printing and incubation in non-cross-linked bioinks that caused the gelatin and GelMA to dissolve and release cells for attachment to tissue culture plates. The increased viscosity of the bioinks significantly affected cell area and aspect ratio. Cells printed using the bioink with medium viscosity exhibited greater metabolic activity and proliferation rate than those printed using the high viscosity bioink and even the unprinted control cells. Additionally, cells printed using the bioink with high viscosity demonstrated notably elevated expression levels of alkaline phosphatase and bone morphogenetic protein-2 genes. In the 3D condition, the printed cell-laden hydrogels were photo-cross-linked prior to incubation. The medium viscosity bioink supported greater cell proliferation compared to the high viscosity bioink. However, there were no significant differences in the expression of osteogenic markers between the medium and high viscosity bioinks. Therefore, the choice between medium and high viscosity bioinks should be based on the desired outcomes and objectives of the bone tissue engineering application. Furthermore, the bioprinting procedure with the medium viscosity bioink was used as an automated technique for efficiently seeding cells onto 3D printed porous titanium scaffolds for bone tissue engineering purposes.
Crude oil-water separation with the aid of carbon based materials
Authors: Mohiuddin Tariq , Al-Kamiyani Salim , Iqbal Taveer , Al Ghaferi Amal
Published: August 2024

Carbon-based materials are commonly utilized in water filtration and purification due to their affordability and environmental friendliness. This study investigates the effectiveness of four different carbon-based materials: activated carbon (AC), graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and polyethylene (PE) in crude oil–water separation. To test the effectiveness of the separation, light transmission measurements were carried out with the aid of Arduino UNO using a red, green, and blue (RGB) light spectral sensor. The results revealed that the emulsions with AC was the most effective material in the separation, followed by rGO, and GO was the least effective. To explain the mechanism behind the separation performance, the carbon materials have been characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The effectiveness of AC and rGO in the separation process was directly related to the quantity of surface oxides. The experimental results are perfectly agreed with published Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of HOMO–LUMO gap energies. AC shows the best performance and the smallest gap, which indicates that it requires less energy for electrons transition between the HOMO and LUMO. This phenomenon can be attributed to the affinity towards hydrogen in the hydrocarbon chains in crude oil.
What factors influence individuals’ willingness to pay for environmental protection: evidence from CGSS2021
Authors: Li Zhaoyang , Li Yisong
Published: August 2024

As global environmental issues become increasingly severe, research into individuals’ willingness to pay for environmental protection has gained prominence. This study aims to comprehensively explore the factors influencing individual willingness to pay for environmental protection in China. Utilizing the CGSS2021 data as a sample and employing hierarchical regression methods, we analyzed a large-scale, diverse dataset to examine factors affecting individual willingness to pay for environmental protection. The study reveals that income, environmental concern, knowledge, actions, public evaluation of government environmental efforts, and reliance on government environmental measures are significant factors influencing individual willingness to pay for environmental conservation. Additionally, the study conducted robustness checks on the model, verifying the stability and reliability of the results. This study not only provides a new perspective for academic research on environmental payment willingness but also offers more practical guidance for the formulation and implementation of environmental protection policies.
A pharmacist’s guide to mitigating sleep dysfunction and promoting good sleep in the intensive care unit
Authors: Patel Mona K , Kim Kristi Soyoung , Ware Lydia R , DeGrado Jeremy R , Szumita Paul M
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To review causes, risk factors, and consequences of sleep disruption in critically ill patients; evaluate the role of nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies for management of sleep in the intensive care unit (ICU); and discuss the role of pharmacists in implementation of sleep bundles.

Critically ill patients often have disrupted sleep and circadian rhythm alterations that cause anxiety, stress, and traumatic memories. This can be caused by factors such as critical illness, environmental factors, mechanical ventilation, and medications. Methods to evaluate sleep, including polysomnography and questionnaires, have limitations that should be considered. Multicomponent sleep bundles with a focus on nonpharmacological therapy aiming to reduce nocturnal noise, light, and unnecessary patient care may improve sleep disorders in critically ill patients. While pharmacological agents are often used to facilitate sleep in critically ill patients, evidence supporting their use is often of low quality, which limits use to patients who have sleep disruption refractory to nonpharmacological therapy. Dedicated interprofessional teams are needed for implementation of sleep bundles in the ICU. Extensive pharmacotherapeutic training and participation in daily patient care rounds make pharmacists vital members of the team who can help with all components of the bundle. This narrative review discusses evidence for elements of the multicomponent sleep bundle and provides guidance on how pharmacists can help with implementation of nonpharmacological therapies and management of neuroactive medications to facilitate sleep.

Conclusion

Sleep bundles are necessary for patients in the ICU, and dedicated interprofessional teams that include pharmacists are vital for successful creation and implementation.
A New Therapeutic Approach With Rose Stem-Cell-Derived Exosomes and Non-Thermal Microneedling for the Treatment of Facial Pigmentation
Authors: Theodorakopoulou Elina , Aguilera Shino Bay , Duncan Diane Irvine
Published: August 2024

Background

Facial dyspigmentation is a challenging concern which cannot easily be corrected. Although the application of topical exosomes has shown some efficacy, there is still scarce data addressing the role of plant-derived exosomes for skin hyperpigmentation.

Objectives

This study using rose stem-cell-derived exosomes (RSCE) was performed as a proof-of-concept case series to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microneedling and topical RSCE, for the reduction of pigmentation and photoaging in adult volunteers.

Methods

Twelve female volunteers were recruited, with a mean age of 46.64 years and a moderate-to-severe facial pigmentation, due to solar lentigines, melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and periorbital hyperpigmentation. Three treatments were performed at 3 weeks intervals. These consisted of the topical application of RSCE with microneedling and a 20 min LED light with an RSCE-infused mask. A 3D facial analyzer was used to quantify improvement in superficial, deep pigmentation, skin redness, and wrinkles at baseline, Weeks 3, 6, and 12. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), Dermatology Life and Quality Index (DLQI), and Melasma Quality of Life Scale (MELASQoL) scores were noted at the same time points.

Results

GAIS scores improved by at least 1 scale point. Superficial pigmentation and spots decreased by 12.95% and deep pigmentation improved by 15.9%, by Week 12. Skin redness was reduced by 7.34% at the same time point. The measured wrinkle reduction was 6.34%. DLQI scores were reduced by 10 points, and MELASQoL scores had a mean reduction of 30 points at Week 12.

Conclusions

Improvement of facial pigmentation is possible when combining nonthermal microneedling and the use of topical RSCE.

Level of Evidence: 4
A comparison of scRNA-seq annotation methods based on experimentally labeled immune cell subtype dataset
Authors: Fu Qiqing , Dong Chenyu , Liu Yunhe , Xia Xiaoqiong , Liu Gang , Zhong Fan , Liu Lei
Published: August 2024

Cell-type annotation is a critical step in single-cell data analysis. With the development of numerous cell annotation methods, it is necessary to evaluate these methods to help researchers use them effectively. Reference datasets are essential for evaluation, but currently, the cell labels of reference datasets mainly come from computational methods, which may have computational biases and may not reflect the actual cell-type outcomes. This study first constructed an experimentally labeled immune cell-subtype single-cell dataset of the same batch and systematically evaluated 18 cell annotation methods. We assessed those methods under five scenarios, including intra-dataset validation, immune cell-subtype validation, unsupervised clustering, inter-dataset annotation, and unknown cell-type prediction. Accuracy and ARI were evaluation metrics. The results showed that SVM, scBERT, and scDeepSort were the best-performing supervised methods. Seurat was the best-performing unsupervised clustering method, but it couldn't fully fit the actual cell-type distribution. Our results indicated that experimentally labeled immune cell-subtype datasets revealed the deficiencies of unsupervised clustering methods and provided new dataset support for supervised methods.
PGAT-ABPp: harnessing protein language models and graph attention networks for antibacterial peptide identification with remarkable accuracy
Authors: Hao Yuelei , Liu Xuyang , Fu Haohao , Shao Xueguang , Cai Wensheng
Published: August 2024

Motivation

The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens represents a formidable challenge to global health. Using computational methods to identify the antibacterial peptides (ABPs), an alternative antimicrobial agent, has demonstrated advantages in further drug design studies. Most of the current approaches, however, rely on handcrafted features and underutilize structural information, which may affect prediction performance.

Results

To present an ultra-accurate model for ABP identification, we propose a novel deep learning approach, PGAT-ABPp. PGAT-ABPp leverages structures predicted by AlphaFold2 and a pretrained protein language model, ProtT5-XL-U50 (ProtT5), to construct graphs. Then the graph attention network (GAT) is adopted to learn global discriminative features from the graphs. PGAT-ABPp outperforms the other fourteen state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy, F1-score and Matthews Correlation Coefficient on the independent test dataset. The results show that ProtT5 has significant advantages in the identification of ABPs and the introduction of spatial information further improves the prediction performance of the model. The interpretability analysis of key residues in known active ABPs further underscores the superiority of PGAT-ABPp.

Availability and implementation

The datasets and source codes for the PGAT-ABPp model are available at https://github.com/moonseter/PGAT-ABPp/.
Studies in the history of probability and statistics, LI: the first conditional logistic regression
Authors: Hanley J A
Published: August 2024

Statisticians and epidemiologists generally cite the publications of Prentice & Breslow (1978) and Breslow et al. (1978) as the first description and use of conditional logistic regression, while economists cite the book chapter by Nobel laureate McFadden (McFadden, 1973). We describe the until-now-unrecognized use of, and way of fitting, this model in 1934 by Lionel Penrose and Ronald Fisher.
Why keep monitoring coral reefs?
Authors: Edmunds Peter J
Published: August 2024

The high demand for information on how coral reefs are changing often exceeds the capacity of the scientific community to deliver the data necessary to meet this need. However, given the degraded state of coral reefs and the poor prognosis for their recovery, it is reasonable to ask whether coral reef monitoring should continue. Using my experiences from a 37-year study in the US Virgin Islands, I highlight the information that monitoring conveys on the changing state of coral reefs, and underscore how the interpretation of ecological trends matures with increasing longevity of records. Because the past is an imperfect predictor of the future, monitoring coral reefs remains an important endeavor. It offers the only opportunity to understand how reefs will continue to change, to connect patterns of change to the processes causing them to occur, and to create opportunities for management to best ensure their future.
A Theological Framework for Understanding Hope in the Clinic
Authors: Thornton Andrea
Published: August 2024

Appeals to the miraculous are common in healthcare, and arguments about end-of-life decision-making can quickly become theological. Assessments of hope have been recommended within the biopsychosocialspiritual model of medicine, but these assessments fail to account for the theological dimension of hope. Examples of failed assessments include recent efforts in palliative care and classic works, such as On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. To adequately address the patient’s and family members’ hopes without patronizing or harming the patient, assessments must be done by a person trained in theology.