bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of a new sulfadimidine Schiff base and their nano complexes as potential anti-COVID-19 and anti-cancer activity
Authors: Hosny Shimaa , Ragab Mona S. , Abd El-Baki Randa F.
Published: January 2023

The primary objective of this study was to describe the cytotoxicity on HEPG-2 cells and to study the COVID‑19 activities of the novel H2L ligand and its Cr and Cu nano-complexes. As well as exploring the chemistry of the prepared nano-complexes. In this paper novel Schiff base, N-(4, 6-dimethyl pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(((2-hydroxyl naphthalene-1-y l) methylene) amino) benzene—sulfonamidesulfonyl) amide has been synthesized. The novel Schiff base H2L is used to synthesize novel nano and micro-complexes with CrCl2.6H2O and CuCl2.2H2O. The prepared ligand and micro complexes were interpreted by different spectroscopic techniques. The nano-sized Cr and Cu complexes were synthesized in an environmentally friendly manner usingCoriandrum sativum(CS) media extract in ethanol. The structure, morphologies and particle size of the nano-sized complexes were determined using FT-IR, TEM, and PXRD. The results showed that the nano-domain complexes are on the Sub-nano scale. Furthermore, using TGA, we studied the effect of heat on the size of newly prepared nano-complexes. Experimental data were supported by DFT calculations. The findings revealed that the metal complexes investigated are more stable than the free ligand H2L. The antitumor activity was examined before and after heating the nano-complexes at 200 °C. The results reveal the Cr nano complex, after heating, exhibited strong antitumor activity with IC50value (3.349 μg/ml). The tested Cu nano-complex shows good DNA cleavage. The liver cancer and COVID19 proteins were examined using molecular docking to identify the potential binding energy of inhibitors.
Thermoelectric properties of topological chains coupled to a quantum dot
Authors: Lima A. C. P. , Ribeiro R. C. Bento , Correa J. H. , Deus Fernanda , Figueira M. S. , Continentino Mucio A.
Published: January 2023

Topological one-dimensional superconductors can sustain zero energy modes protected by different kinds of symmetries in their extremities. Observing these excitations in the form of Majorana fermions is one of the most intensive quests in condensed matter physics. We are interested in another class of one-dimensional topological systems in this work, namely topological insulators. Which present symmetry-protected end modes with robust properties and do not require the low temperatures necessary for topological superconductivity. We consider a device in the form of a single electron transistor coupled to the simplest kind of topological insulators, namely chains of atoms with hybridized sp orbitals. We study the thermoelectric properties of the device in the trivial, non-trivial topological phases and at the quantum topological transition of the chains. We show that the device’s electrical conductance and the Wiedemann–Franz ratio at the topological transition have universal values at very low temperatures. The conductance and thermopower of the device with diatomic sp-chains, at their topological transition, give direct evidence of fractional charges in the system. The former has an anomalous low-temperature behavior, attaining a universal value that is a consequence of the double degeneracy of the system due to the presence of zero energy modes. On the other hand, the system can be tuned to exhibit high values of the thermoelectric figure of merit and the power factor at high temperatures.
Accuracy of handgrip and respiratory muscle strength in identifying sarcopenia in older, community-dwelling, Brazilian women
Authors: Soares Luana Aparecida , Lima Liliana Pereira , Prates Ana Caroline Negreiros , Arrieiro Arthur Nascimento , Da Costa Teixeira Leonardo Augusto , Duarte Tamiris Campos , dos Santos Jousielle Márcia , da Silva Lage Vanessa Kelly , de Paula Fabiana Angélica , Costa Henrique Silveira , Figueiredo Pedro Henrique Scheidt , de Almeida Vike Maria Tamar Leão , de Sara Abreu Núbia , Costa Sabrina Paula , Brant Franciane Pereira , Lima Rávylla Rúbia , Thomasini Ronaldo Luis , Pereira Leani Souza Máximo , Pereira Fabiana Souza Máximo , Parentoni Adriana Netto , de Avelar Núbia Carelli Pereira , Leopoldino Amanda Aparecida Oliveira , Mendonça Vanessa Amaral , Lacerda Ana Cristina Rodrigues
Published: January 2023

Certain cut-off points for sarcopenia screening and diagnosis are arbitrary and based on European populations, with normative references often obtained from healthy young adults. Although respiratory skeletal muscle strength tests represent low-cost clinical measures commonly performed in clinical practice by health professionals, a gap remains regarding whether respiratory skeletal muscle strength tests are adequate and sensitive measures for sarcopenia screening. This study aimed to verify the value of handgrip and respiratory muscle strength as possible discriminators to identify sarcopenia and to establish cut-off points for sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling, Brazilian women. In a cross-sectional study, 154 community-dwelling, Brazilian women (65–96 years) were assessed for appendicular skeletal muscle mass, handgrip (HGS), and respiratory muscular strength, including maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). The data were analyzed using the ROC curve and the Youden Index determined cut-off points. Statistical significance was set at 5%. 88 participants (57%) were sarcopenic. MEP (OR 0.98 [95%CI 0.97, 1.00], p = 0.023) and HGS (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.75, 0.90], p < 0.001) were independent factors for sarcopenia in older. The optimal cut-off points for identifying sarcopenia were ≤ 77 cmH2O for MEP (AUC = 0.72), and ≤ 20 kg for HGS (AUC = 0.80). Simple muscular strength tests, including HGS and MEP, may be considered in the identification of sarcopenia in older, community-dwelling, Brazilian women. Future work is still needed to assess external validation of the proposed cut-offs before the clinical application.
Relationships between serotonin availability and frontolimbic response to fearful and threatening faces
Authors: Janet R. , Costes N. , Mérida I. , Derrington E. , Dreher J. C.
Published: January 2023

Serotonin is a critical neurotransmitter in the regulation of emotional behavior. Although emotion processing is known to engage a corticolimbic circuit, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, exactly how this brain system is modulated by serotonin remains unclear. Here, we hypothesized that serotonin modulates variability in excitability and functional connectivity within this circuit. We tested whether this modulation contributes to inter-individual differences in emotion processing. Using a multimodal neuroimaging approach with a simultaneous PET-3T fMRI scanner, we simultaneously acquired BOLD signal while participants viewed emotional faces depicting fear and anger, while also measuring serotonin transporter (SERT) levels, regulating serotonin functions. Individuals with higher activity of the medial amygdala BOLD in response to fearful or angry facial expressions, who were temperamentally more anxious, also exhibited lower SERT availability in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Moreover, higher connectivity of the medial amygdala with the left dorsolateral prefrontal and the anterior cingulate cortex was associated with lower levels of SERT availability in the DRN. These results demonstrate the association between the serotonin transporter level and emotion processing through changes in functional interactions between the amygdala and the prefrontal areas in healthy humans.
Deep learning-based hemorrhage detection for diabetic retinopathy screening
Authors: Aziz Tamoor , Charoenlarpnopparut Chalie , Mahapakulchai Srijidtra
Published: January 2023

Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal compilation that causes visual impairment. Hemorrhage is one of the pathological symptoms of diabetic retinopathy that emerges during disease development. Therefore, hemorrhage detection reveals the presence of diabetic retinopathy in the early phase. Diagnosing the disease in its initial stage is crucial to adopt proper treatment so the repercussions can be prevented. The automatic deep learning-based hemorrhage detection method is proposed that can be used as the second interpreter for ophthalmologists to reduce the time and complexity of conventional screening methods. The quality of the images was enhanced, and the prospective hemorrhage locations were estimated in the preprocessing stage. Modified gamma correction adaptively illuminates fundus images by using gradient information to address the nonuniform brightness levels of images. The algorithm estimated the locations of potential candidates by using a Gaussian match filter, entropy thresholding, and mathematical morphology. The required objects were segmented using the regional diversity at estimated locations. The novel hemorrhage network is propounded for hemorrhage classification and compared with the renowned deep models. Two datasets benchmarked the model’s performance using sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy metrics. Despite being the shallowest network, the proposed network marked competitive results than LeNet-5, AlexNet, ResNet50, and VGG-16. The hemorrhage network was assessed using training time and classification accuracy through synthetic experimentation. Results showed promising accuracy in the classification stage while significantly reducing training time. The research concluded that increasing deep network layers does not guarantee good results but rather increases training time. The suitable architecture of a deep model and its appropriate parameters are critical for obtaining excellent outcomes.
A new implicit high-order iterative scheme for the numerical simulation of the two-dimensional time fractional Cable equation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Asim , Alias Norma , Khan Ilyas , Salama Fouad Mohammad , Eldin Sayed M.
Published: January 2023

In this article, we developed a new higher-order implicit finite difference iterative scheme (FDIS) for the solution of the two dimension (2-D) time fractional Cable equation (FCE). In the new proposed FDIS, the time fractional and space derivatives are discretized using the Caputo fractional derivative and fourth-order implicit scheme, respectively. Moreover, the proposed scheme theoretical analysis (convergence and stability) is also discussed using the Fourier analysis method. Finally, some numerical test problems are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Human profiling from STR and SNP analysis of tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, for forensic science
Authors: Lim Li , Ab Majid Abdul Hafiz
Published: January 2023

Tropical bed bugs, Cimex hemipterus, which commonly feeds on human blood, may be useful in forensic applications. However, unlike the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, there is no information regarding tropical bed bug, C. hemipterus, being studied for its applications in forensics. Thus, in this study, lab-reared post-feeding tropical bed bugs were subjected to Short Tandem Repeat (STR) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analyses to establish the usage of tropical bed bugs in forensics. Several post-feeding times (0, 5, 14, 30, and 45 days) were tested to determine when a complete human DNA profile could still be obtained after the bugs had taken the blood meal. The results showed that complete STR and SNP profiles could only be obtained from the D0 sample. The profile completeness decreased over time, and partial STR and SNP profiles could be obtained up to 45 days post-blood meal. The generated SNP profiles, complete or partial, were also viable for HIrisPlex-S phenotype prediction. In addition, field-collected bed bugs were also used to examine the viability of the tested STR markers, and the STR markers detected mixed profiles. The findings of this study established that the post-blood meal of tropical bed bugs is a suitable source of human DNA for forensic STR and SNP profiling. Human DNA recovered from bed bugs can be used to identify spatial and temporal relations of events.
Three-dimensional soft tissue landmark detection with marching cube algorithm
Authors: Lee Yoonjung , Lee Ji-Min , Park Sun-Hyung , Choi Yoon Jeong , Choi Sung-Hwan , Hwang Jae Joon , Yu Hyung-Seog
Published: January 2023

Current method of analyzing three-dimensional soft tissue data, especially in the frontal view, is subjective and has poor reliability. To overcome this limitation, the present study aimed to introduce a new method of analyzing soft tissue data reconstructed by marching cube algorithm (Program S) and compare it with a commercially available program (Program A). Cone-beam computed tomography images of 42 patients were included. Two orthodontists digitized six landmarks (pronasale, columella, upper and lower lip, right and left cheek) twice using both programs in two-week intervals, and the reliability was compared. Furthermore, computer-calculated point (CC point) was developed to evaluate whether human error could be reduced. The results showed that the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of Program S (99.7–100% and 99.9–100%, respectively) were higher than that of Program A (64.0–99.9% and 76.1–99.9%, respectively). Moreover, the inter-examiner difference of coordinate values and distances for all six landmarks in Program S was lower than Program A. Lastly, CC point was provided as a consistent single point. Therefore, it was validated that this new methodology can increase the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of soft tissue landmark digitation and CC point can be used as a landmark to reduce human error.
Genetic variation and characterization of Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) verdc.] accessions under multi-environments considering yield and yield components performance
Authors: Esan Vincent Ishola , Oke Grace Oluwasikemi , Ogunbode Timothy Oyebamiji
Published: January 2023

Bambara groundnut has significant role to play in terms of food security, even though researchers in agriculture have paid very little attention to the crop in the past. This study aimed to investigate the high-yielding accessions in three environments. A total of 34 phenological, vegetative and yield traits were measured and analyzed statistically with R software. There were significant differences in all the traits except for plant height, initial plant stand, panicle length per stem, and petiole length. Across the three environments, TVSU-455 gave the highest values for the total number of pods (42.67), final plant stands (7.67), fresh seed weights (45.83), number of seeds per plant (46.62), hundred seed weight with a value (124.56), dry seed weight (27.14), fresh pod weight (92.65), harvest index of 0.57, yield per plot (45.83) and unshelled yield per plot (550.26). TVSU-455 was the only accession in cluster I of the dendrogram based on its superiority over other accessions. The clustering analysis produced a dendrogram categorizing the 15 accessions into 4 groups based on the vegetative, phenological, and yield traits. There were significant differences among the correlations of the 34 traits. The first two principle components explained 56.16% of the total variation with each dimension accounting for 39.85% and 16. 31% variation, respectively. TVSU-455 can be recommended for stability analysis.
Identifying molecular targets of Aspiletrein-derived steroidal saponins in lung cancer using network pharmacology and molecular docking-based assessments
Authors: Iksen Iksen , Witayateeraporn Wasita , Wirojwongchai Tanakrit , Suraphan Chutipa , Pornputtapong Natapol , Singharajkomron Natsaranyatron , Nguyen Hien Minh , Pongrakhananon Varisa
Published: January 2023

Lung cancer is one of the leading cancers and causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to its high prevalence and mortality rate, its clinical management remains a significant challenge. Previously, the in vitro anticancer activity of Aspiletrein A, a steroid and a saponin from Aspidistra letreae, against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was reported. However, the anticancer molecular mechanism of other Aspiletreins from A. letreae remains unknown. Using in silico network pharmacology approaches, the targets of Aspiletreins were predicted using the Swiss Target Prediction database. In addition, key mediators in NSCLC were obtained from the Genetic databases. The compound-target interacting networks were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape, uncovering potential targets, including STAT3, VEGFA, HSP90AA1, FGF2, and IL2. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis demonstrated that several pathways were highly relevant to cancer pathogenesis. Additionally, molecular docking and molecular dynamic analyses revealed the interaction between key identified targets and Aspiletreins, including hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals interaction. This study provides potential targets of Aspiletreins in NSCLC, and its approach of integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking is a powerful tool for investigating the mechanism of new drug targets on a specific disease.
Global patterns of allometric model parameters prediction
Authors: Wang Zixuan , Huang Xingzhao , Li Fangbing , Chen Dongsheng , Xu Xiaoniu
Published: January 2023

Variations in biomass-carbon of forest can substantially impact the prediction of global carbon dynamics. The allometric models currently used to estimate forest biomass face limitations, as model parameters can only be used for the specific species of confirmed sites. Here, we collected allometric models LnW = a + b*Ln(D) (n = 817) and LnW = a + b*Ln(D2H) (n = 612) worldwide and selected eight variables (e.g., mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), altitude, aspect, slope, soil organic carbon (SOC), clay, and soil type) to predict parameters a and b using Random Forest. LnW = a + b*Ln(D), drove mainly by climate factors, showed the parameter a range from − 5.16 to − 0.90 [VaR explained (model evaluation index): 66.21%], whereas parameter b ranges from 1.84 to 2.68 (VaR explained: 49.96%). Another model LnW = a + b*Ln(D2H), drove mainly by terrain factors, showed the parameter a range from − 5.45 to − 1.89 (VaR explained: 69.04%) and parameter b ranges from 0.43 to 1.93 (VaR explained: 69.53%). Furthermore, we captured actual biomass data of 249 sample trees at six sites for predicted parameters validation, showing the R2 (0.87) for LnW = a + b*Ln(D); R2 (0.93) for LnW = a + b*Ln(D2H), indicating a better result from LnW = a + b*Ln(D2H). Consequently, our results present four global maps of allometric model parameters distribution at 0.5° resolution and provides a framework for the assessment of forest biomass by validation.
Kinetic fingerprinting of metabotropic glutamate receptors
Authors: Kukaj Taulant , Sattler Christian , Zimmer Thomas , Schmauder Ralf , Benndorf Klaus
Published: January 2023

Dimeric metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are abundantly expressed in neurons. In mammals, eight subunit isoforms, mGluR1-8, have been identified, forming the groups I, II, and III. We investigated receptor dimerization and kinetics of these mGluR isoforms in excised membrane patches by FRET and confocal patch-clamp fluorometry. We show that 5 out of 8 homodimeric receptors develop characteristic glutamate-induced on- and off-kinetics, as do 11 out of 28 heterodimers. Glutamate-responsive heterodimers were identified within each group, between groups I and II as well as between groups II and III, but not between groups I and III. The glutamate-responsive heterodimers showed heterogeneous activation and deactivation kinetics. Interestingly, mGluR7, not generating a kinetic response in homodimers, showed fast on-kinetics in mGluR2/7 and mGluR3/7 while off-kinetics retained the speed of mGluR2 or mGluR3 respectively. In conclusion, glutamate-induced conformational changes in heterodimers appear within each group and between groups if one group II subunit is present.
MME+ fibro-adipogenic progenitors are the dominant adipogenic population during fatty infiltration in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Fitzgerald Gillian , Turiel Guillermo , Gorski Tatiane , Soro-Arnaiz Inés , Zhang Jing , Casartelli Nicola C. , Masschelein Evi , Maffiuletti Nicola A. , Sutter Reto , Leunig Michael , Farup Jean , De Bock Katrien
Published: January 2023

Fatty infiltration, the ectopic deposition of adipose tissue within skeletal muscle, is mediated via the adipogenic differentiation of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). We used single-nuclei and single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize FAP heterogeneity in patients with fatty infiltration. We identified an MME+FAP subpopulation which, based on ex vivo characterization as well as transplantation experiments, exhibits high adipogenic potential. MME+FAPs are characterized by low activity of WNT, known to control adipogenic commitment, and are refractory to the inhibitory role of WNT activators. Using preclinical models for muscle damage versus fatty infiltration, we show that many MME+FAPs undergo apoptosis during muscle regeneration and differentiate into adipocytes under pathological conditions, leading to a reduction in their abundance. Finally, we utilized the varying fat infiltration levels in human hip muscles and found less MME+FAPs in fatty infiltrated human muscle. Altogether, we have identified the dominant adipogenic FAP subpopulation in skeletal muscle.
Workplace Drug Testing
Authors: Walker Simon
Published: January 2023

Workplace drug testing is a specialism within the wider field of analytical toxicology. Many industry sectors in the UK and elsewhere in the world impose drug testing programmes on their employees and sub-contractors. When conducted properly, drug testing can provide a useful adjunct to a comprehensive drugs and alcohol policy. The correct application of drug testing includes measures for ensuring the integrity of the sample being tested (including chain-of-custody and the prevention of tampering with the sample), robust analytical procedures (including the confirmation of non-negative immunoassay-based results using a technique based on mass spectrometry) and a thorough review of test results to determine whether there is a legitimate explanation for the analytical findings. The entire process must be conducted in a manner cognizant of the sensitivity of the data obtained from drug testing and must respect the dignity of the individuals being tested.
Scheduling of Drugs in the United States
Authors: Hackett Jeffery
Published: January 2023

In this chapter, a brief history of the origin of the controlling of pharmaceuticals and drugs within the US is discussed. In a similar mode to countries such as the UK, control of drugs and pharmaceuticals is maintained by government issued legislation and not by commercial entities or bodies such a trade groups or associations. In the UK, drugs are controlled mainly by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 at its amendments enacted by Her Majesties government. Introduction of newer or novel drugs/pharmaceuticals into the general market place is overseen by agencies convened by the government of the USA. These agencies are namely the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the United States Food and Drug Agency (USDA). Part of their remit is to oversee the safety and efficacy of the drugs drugs/pharmaceuticals by ensuring the appropriate control by use of a scheduling code. In this chapter, the different types of schedules (I through V) are discussed with conditions of fulfilment for the particular drugs to be contained within that schedule. Examples of drugs contained in the particular schedules (I to V) are also given with usage and some pharmacology to assist the reader.
Nail Analysis in Forensic Toxicology
Authors: Lemos Nikolas P.
Published: January 2023

Nail has been sporadically explored as a non-conventional analytical specimen in forensic toxicology during the last half-century but remains underutilized and poorly understood. In this chapter, nail is introduced as one of the non-conventional biological specimens that may be relied upon to answer questions that other specimens may not be capable of doing. A brief synopsis of the anatomy and physiology of the nail follows and the chapter continues with a discussion of the current state of knowledge in the area of nail analysis in forensic and analytical toxicology, before concluding with a discussion of common challenges and further considerations regarding nail as a potentially useful specimen in post-mortem and human performance forensic toxicology cases.
Drugs in Oral Fluid
Authors: Akrill Peter
Published: January 2023

The analysis of oral fluid samples for drugs of abuse has been reported for over 30 years. With improvements in method and instrument sensitivity and the development of point of collection screening devices, the popularity of using oral fluid as a sample type for toxicological investigations has increased more recently. There are many considerations that need to be made prior to using oral fluid analysis within investigations and studies. These include an understanding of the physiology of oral fluid and the mechanisms by which drugs enter into oral fluid and the impacts of routes of administration, particularly in relation to the deposition of drugs taken orally, smoked or snorted in the oral or nasal cavities. The methods used for the collection of oral fluid samples can also impact on the detection of different drugs of abuse, through the stimulation of the production of saliva, retention of drugs of abuse on collection devices, instability of certain analytes and variation in the volume of oral fluid collected. This chapter investigates these issues as well as looking at other important factors when considering the use of oral fluid, such as the detection windows and the detection of inadvertent exposure to drugs.
Case Examples and Discussion
Authors: Slaughter John
Published: January 2023

A selection of toxicology cases, investigated by the author, is discussed to illustrate the broad range of cases that can be encountered by a forensic toxicologist. Emphasis is placed on the application of basic principles to address out of the ordinary problems and the utilization of non-standard toxicology methods drawn from other areas of forensic science. Contrast has been drawn with a few historic cases, albeit to illustrate the adage that nothing, at least in human behaviour, is new under the sun.
An Introduction to Process Control
Authors: Sorensen Eva
Published: January 2023

This chapter gives a brief summary of basic control theory as it is applied in most chemical processing plants. It starts with a discussion of process dynamics and why an understanding of the dynamics, or the transient behaviour, of a process is essential in order to achieve satisfactory control. Standard feedback controllers are then discussed and different strategies for tuning such controllers presented. A brief overview of more advanced control strategies, such as feed-forward control, cascade control, inferential control and adaptive control, and for which processes these may be suitable, is also given.
Economic Appraisal of Large Projects
Authors: Sutherland Ken
Published: January 2023

Much of what a chemical engineer does is connected, directly or indirectly, with large plant projects, either the building of a new one or the improvement of an old one. The aim of the new or improved plant is normally to make a profit for the company owning it and profitable operation is by no means assured, unless it is as carefully planned for as in the design process. This chapter takes the reader through the process of economic appraisal of such projects and how the planning for a profitable operation is undertaken.
Engineering Statistics, Process Integration, and Experimental Design
Authors: Menicucci Joseph , Aisenbrey Elizabeth , Cirillo Daniella
Published: January 2023

In this chapter, statistical tools are developed to evaluate the performance and optimisation of chemical processes. A case study – the large-scale production of poly(lactic acid) – allows not only for such statistical analysis, but also demonstrates how concepts learned in previous chapters are applied and integrated in production facilities.
Forensic Ecology
Authors: Wiltshire Patricia
Published: January 2023

Forensic ecology contributes to a wide range of criminal and civil investigations, and provides intelligence for investigators, and probative evidence for the courts, particularly in the UK. This chapter outlines the range of organic particulates (living or dead), and the plants, animals, and fungi, that produce valuable proxy indicators which provide trace evidence. It describes instances where this is useful, and provides an overview of methodologies. Factors that determine whether any specific proxy indicator will be found at a particular place are discussed. Forensic ecology is the study of organisms and their environments. The organism, or part of it, provides proxy evidence for the environment. Interactions between any biological community and its habitat are complex, and must be understood. If a proxy can be identified, as discussed in this chapter, predictive information can be obtained about its origin. Soil is pivotal to understanding ecosystems and, because they limit vegetation, plant proxies may inform on soil type, geology, and even local climate. Proxies in soil, sediment, dust, water, or on vegetation, can be transferred to clothing, footwear, hair, skin, nails, vehicles, and a wide range of other materials and objects. Whole plants, fungi (including lichens), and the soil surface can provide direct evidence, and also yield and transfer trace material to people and associated case exhibits. As identified in this chapter, palynological and mycological trace evidence is powerful, because of the number of independent markers involved.
Marks and Impressions
Authors: Baldwin David , O'Mahoney Caroline
Published: January 2023

This chapter on marks and impressions discusses the principles that apply to all marks examinations but concentrates on the main areas encountered in forensic casework, namely footwear marks, tool marks and manufacturing marks in plastic film. It provides a structured approach to the fundamental processes of marks examination including search and recovery, analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification. The use of footwear for intelligence is also included, as is a brief discussion of physical fits.
Drugs of Abuse
Authors: Cole Michael , Baron Mark
Published: January 2023

Legislation around controlled substances and associated offences is introduced in this chapter. The drug classes that are commonly encountered in forensic science laboratories are described. Methods for the analysis, quantification and comparison are highlighted, and the requirement for new methods to be found as drug control legislation develops are articulated. Drug profiling and comparison is considered, and the numerical methods available for the interrogation of data so generated are touched upon briefly. The use of DNA to identify and compare drugs derived from plants and fungi is also explored. Finally, the need for quality assurance in the laboratory is emphasised.
Analysis of Body Fluids
Authors: Watson Nigel
Published: January 2023

The chapter describes the basic principles of the current methods used in forensic laboratories to carry out human identification by DNA analysis. It commences with a brief description of the nature of biological evidence, and some alternative types of information that might be gained, before a more detailed discourse about the composition of the main biological fluids, blood, semen and saliva, encountered in a forensic context. The chapter progresses with a brief consideration of the biochemical tests used to find these different types of body fluid followed by a short coverage of the pre-DNA types of test. A detailed description of the nature of DNA and the method used to amplify selected parts of DNA is given, which includes a description of the use of polymerase enzymes and DNA primers in the DNA amplification process. The section concludes with an explanation of the use of multiplexing that allows a number of different regions to be tested at the same time and from the same sample. Following these fundamentals, several slightly more advanced themes are discussed. The nature of reporting practice and the use of a likelihood ratio are outlined, and this is further developed in the sections concerning the use of expert systems and in cognitive biases. The chapter concludes with a short discussion on recent advances.
General Introduction to Smart Materials
Authors: Shahinpoor Mohsen
Published: January 2023

Chapter 1 In this introductory chapter, the spirit and the structure of the book are presented. In general, some fundamental aspects of various smart materials are described, and the stage is set for the coverage of the current family of smart materials as special stimuli-responsive smart materials capable of a variety of actual functions needed for a large family of engineering, scientific, industrial and medical applications. These functions include actuation, energy harvesting, and sensing, plus some other complimentary physical or chemical properties changed by external or internal stimuli such as electric or magnetic fields, fluid-thermal fields, strain and stress fields plus others such as the ionic field within the materials.
Review of Piezoelectric Materials
Authors: Shahinpoor Mohsen
Published: January 2023

Chapter 2 reviews piezoelectric materials such as piezoceramics like PZT and piezo polymers like PVDF. The piezoelectric effect describes the reversible electrodynamic relationship in some solid crystalline structures with embedded dipoles. These crystalline solids possess microscopic regions containing dipole charges such that under applied mechanical stress they change their internal arrangements of embedded electrical dipoles subsequently generating a voltage across the material boundaries. Conversely, a voltage applied to a solid crystalline material changes the orientation of the embedded internal dipole charges and generates a deformation or strain in the solid.
Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) as Smart Materials
Authors: Shahinpoor Mohsen
Published: January 2023

Chapter 14 reviews shape memory polymers (SMPs). Shape memory polymers belong to the family of shape memory materials (SMMs), which can be deformed into a predetermined shape under some imposed specific conditions such as temperature, electric or magnetic field, as well as strain and stress. These shapes can be relaxed back to their original field-free shapes under thermal, electrical, magnetic, strain, stress, temperature, laser, or environmental stimuli. These transformations are essentially due to the elastic energy stored in SMMs during initial deformation. As a member of SMMs, SMPs are stimuli-sensitive polymers. Shape memory polymers normally use either heat or laser light energy as a stimulant to change shape. The thermally-induced shape memory effect can be observed by irradiation with infrared light, exposure to alternating magnetic fields, application of an electric field or immersion in water.
Review of Smart Ionic Liquids
Authors: Eftekhari Ali
Published: January 2023

Chapter 18 reviews smart ionic liquids. Ionic solids such as sodium chloride (table salt) have been known for centuries. To eliminate the role of a solvent, particularly in the realm of electrochemistry, molten salts became of interest. The very first examples were the groundbreaking endeavors of Sir Humphry Davy in the synthesis of alkali metals by electrolysis, which he discovered (isolated to be precise) via this approach. However, this needs a high temperature as the ionic bonds are strong. The electrolysis of sodium chloride should be conducted at a temperature higher than 801 °C. Since high temperatures are not technologically favorable, the melting point of such ionic solids can be reduced by weakening the ionic bonds in eutectic mixtures. One of the very first examples is the pioneering work of Charles Martin Hall in the synthesis of aluminum, which is still the dominant approach for the exploitation of metallic aluminum. The high melting point of these ionic liquids is due to the close arrangement of highly charged ions within the lattice. For instance, the sodium and chlorine are small atoms, which are closely located in a cubic lattice structure. Therefore, high energy is required to separate the anion and cation.
Smart Nanogels for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Vashist Arti , Kaushik Ajeet , Chinnapaiyan Srinivasan , Vashist Atul , Nair Madhavan
Published: January 2023

Chapter 22 Smart nanogels are one of the most important innovations that have emerged in the field of nanomedicine and biomedical applications. In recent advances in the applications of biomaterials, nanogels have emerged as novel candidates for drug delivery, biosensing, imaging, tissue engineering, and targeted delivery of bioactive compounds. The present chapter gives a basic understanding of the hydrogels and introduces the nanoparticle form of hydrogels known as “Nanogels.” Nanogels have synergistic properties due to their interpenetrating networks as well as nanoscale properties such as small size and high surface-to-volume ratio. These hybrid materials exhibit high drug loading, are capable of crossing strong barriers and are also highly biocompatible. In brief, this chapter describes the basic synthetic methodology and characterization techniques of nanogels. It also discusses the natural and synthetic polymers deployed for the synthesis of nanogels. Moreover, it highlights the important literature reported for the biomedical applications of nanogels.
How Do We Make Digital Light?
Authors: Lorch Mark
Published: January 2023

Gases, liquids and solids are not the only possibilities for states of matter, they aren't even the most common states. Plasma, from which stars are made, is much more dominant. The tremendous temperatures inside stars rips electrons from atoms forming gas-like plasma. What's more, there are many other states with exotic names like Fermionic condensates, superfluids and quantum spin liquids, which occur under a wealth of extreme conditions. Others states are commonplace in the world we inhabit and liquid crystals are one of them. This chapter takes a look at this odd state of matter and how it led to light emitting devices dominating our digital age.
Sustainable Heterogeneous Catalytic Reactions for the Fine and Pharma Industry
Authors: Roberts Felicity , Hellgardt Klaus
Published: January 2023

In order to cover most recent records of novel developments in the design and implementation of catalysts and reactors for sustainable processes it would be necessary to write a complete book. Thus this chapter covers only major reviews, journal papers and other developments which, in the subjective view of the authors, give a useful insight into current thinking and the future prospects of sustainable catalytic processes for the fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industry.
The Sustainable Synthesis of Methanol – Renewable Energy, Carbon Dioxide and an Anthropogenic Carbon Cycle
Authors: White Robin J.
Published: January 2023

The chapter looks at the sustainable synthesis of methanol in the context of renewable energy and the anthropogenic production of carbon dioxide. The limitations of the hydrogen economy are discussed together with the possibility of a methanol based economy. The synthesis of methanol, carbon dioxide capture, sustainable hydrogen and syn-gas production with methane as a fossil bridge in the methanol economy are described together with methanol as a hydrogen and energy vector. Commercial examples are given to illustrate the feasibility of the processes examined.
Gas Separations using Ionic Liquids
Authors: Moura Leila , Santini Catherine C. , Costa Gomes Margarida F.
Published: January 2023

Cryogenic distillation is the most used separation process for mixtures of gases. Implementation of alternative processes with improved economic and environmental performance is needed, especially for low molar mass gaseous hydrocarbon separation in the petrochemical industry. Ionic liquids have been suggested as separating agents for olefin/paraffin gas separation, as absorbents, or as solvents for the chemical complexation of olefins with silver or copper salts. This chapter presents current knowledge on the solubility of ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propane, propylene and methyl acetylene in pure ionic liquids. Whenever possible, the ionic liquid absorption capacity and ideal selectivity (solubility ratio) is calculated for ethane–ethylene, ethylene–acetylene, propane–propylene and propylene–methyl acetylene mixtures, enabling an assessment of the potential of each studied ionic liquid as a separating agent.
A regenerable electrochemical sensor for electro-inactive cyclovirobuxine D detection in biological samples
Authors: Dong Yongliang , Zhai Jiali , Zhang Ziwei , Peng Can , Zhang Yunjing , Zhang Zipin
Published: January 2023

A regenerable electrochemical sensor for CVB-D with using polymerized bromothymol blue (poly-BTB) as both a recognition element and an electrochemical probe, and the current decrease as the signal read-out.
Applications of MALDI-TOF-MS in structural characterization of synthetic polymers
Authors: Sun A. 'Bin , Li Siting , Kou Xinhui
Published: January 2023

MALDI-TOF-MS plays important roles in the characterization of various synthetic polymers, which can provide the molecular weight, repeat unit, end groups, polymerization mechanism and other information on the analyte polymers.
Trace analysis of dimethoxytrityl alcohol (DMT-OH) in oligonucleotide matrices using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Guan Bing , Yan Wuming , Stolee Jessica A.
Published: January 2023

Quantitation of DMT-OH and six small molecule impurities in various oligonucleotide matrices is enabled by a high throughput LC-MS/MS method.
Recent advances in label-free imaging of cell–matrix adhesions
Authors: Zhou Ping , Ding Lurong , Yan Yajuan , Wang Yafeng , Su Bin
Published: January 2023

Recent advances in label-free imaging of cell-matrix adhesions by ECL microscopy and SPR microscopy are summarized, which are further followed by mapping analysis of cell adhesive force based on molecular tension fluorescence microscopy.
Visible-light-induced protein labeling in live cells with aryl azides
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Tan Jiawei , Chen Yiyun
Published: January 2023

This feature article reviews the recent progress of protein labeling in live cells with aryl azides induced by visible-light irradiation.
Targeted delivery of oligonucleotides using multivalent protein–carbohydrate interactions
Authors: Kumar Vajinder , Turnbull W. Bruce
Published: January 2023

This review traces the development of targeted delivery of nucleic acids to liver cells using multivalent carbohydrate ligands.
Materials synthesizability and stability prediction using a semi-supervised teacher-student dual neural network
Authors: Gleaves Daniel , Fu Nihang , Dilanga Siriwardane Edirisuriya M. , Zhao Yong , Hu Jianjun
Published: January 2023

A semi-supervised deep neural network (TSDNN) model based on teacher-student architecture is developed for high-performance formation energy and synthesizability prediction by exploiting a large number of unlabelled samples.
An imidazole-based DES serving as a “courier” for the efficient coupling of HCl capture and conversion under mild conditions
Authors: Xiong Wenjie , Lu Yan , Li Chenzhou , Geng Jiao , Wu Youting , Hu Xingbang
Published: January 2023

This work reveals a novel and green insight into the selective capture and conversion of HCl under mild conditions using an imidazole-based DES.
Electrochemical oxidative intramolecular annulation of aryl phosphine compounds: an efficient approach for synthesizing π-conjugated phosphonium salts
Authors: Zhang Tianmei , Cai Min , Zhao Wenfeng , Liu Mao , Jiang Nan , Ge Qingmei , Cong Hang
Published: January 2023

A simple electrochemical oxidation cyclization strategy for the construction of polycyclic phosphonium salts skeletons from trivalent arylphosphines was established.
Imidazolium based ionic liquid-phase green catalytic reactions
Authors: Migowski Pedro , Lozano Pedro , Dupont Jairton
Published: January 2023

The interplay among the properties of catalysts, substrates, products, and ionic liquids (ILs) for a desired selective reaction is presented with selected examples. A guide to select the most adequate IL for a catalytic device is proposed.
Synthesis and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of 1,2,3-triazole, amide, and ester-based benzothiazole derivatives as potential molecular probes for tau protein
Authors: Wongso Hendris , Ono Maiko , Yamasaki Tomoteru , Kumata Katsushi , Higuchi Makoto , Zhang Ming-Rong , Fulham Michael J. , Katsifis Andrew , Keller Paul A.
Published: January 2023

A series of tau ligands was synthesized replacing the photoisomerisable trans-diene bridge of PBB3 with 1,2,3-triazole, amide, and ester moieties. Several ligands were able to visualise Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease.
Negatively charged Cu1.33S nanochains: endocytic pathway, photothermal therapy and toxic effect in vivo
Authors: Luo Le , Wang Zhenghua
Published: January 2023

Cu1.33S nanochains can induce redistributed charge at the cell membrane to overcome the electrostatic barrier, which leads to a high cellular uptake. In vivo, the nanochains achieve a high photothermal therapy effect for mice bearing 4T1 tumors.
Hydrogen production by steam reforming of methanol by Cu–Zn/CeAlO3 perovskite
Authors: Ranjekar Apoorva M. , Yadav Ganapati D.
Published: January 2023

In steam reforming of methanol (SRM), the efficacy of CeAlO3 perovskite as a support for a bimetal catalyst was investigated.
Anion recognition using enhanced halogen bonding through intramolecular hydrogen bonds – a computational insight
Authors: Orenha Renato Pereira , Furtado Saulo Samuel Pereira , Caramori Giovanni Finoto , Piotrowski Maurício Jeomar , Muñoz–Castro Alvaro , Parreira Renato Luis Tame
Published: January 2023

Anions have relevant roles in nature and in the chemistry industry. Here, structures containing halogen bond donors enhanced by hydrogen bonds have been tuned aiming to improve the anionic recognition.
First principles study of electronic properties and optoelectronic performance of type-II SiS/BSe heterostructure
Authors: Ullah S. S. , Din H. U. , Alam Q. , Idrees M. , Amin Bin , Khan W. , Farooq M. , Nguyen Cuong Q. , Nguyen Chuong V.
Published: January 2023

We perform first-principles calculations to explore the electronic structure, optical properties and photocatalytic performance of the SiS/BSe heterostructure.
Numerical simulation and optimization of a CsPbI3-based perovskite solar cell to enhance the power conversion efficiency
Authors: Hossain M. Khalid , Toki G. F. Ishraque , Alam Intekhab , Pandey Rahul , Samajdar D. P. , Rahman Md. Ferdous , Islam Md. Rasidul , Rubel M. H. K. , Bencherif H. , Madan Jaya , Mohammed Mustafa K. A.
Published: January 2023

Herein, we used TiO2 as the ETL and CBTS as the HTL in a CsPbI3-based PSC and optimized it using SCAPS-1D software, where the final optimization of the device gave a maximum PCE of 19.06%.
Flexible doctor blade-coated abiotic cathodes for implantable glucose/oxygen biofuel cells
Authors: Ghodhbane Myriam , Menassol Gauthier , Beneventi Davide , Chaussy Didier , Dubois Lionel , Zebda Abdelkader , Belgacem Mohamed Naceur
Published: January 2023

Implantable devices powered by batteries have been used for sixty years.
Revealing the crystal facet effect on N2O formation during the NH3-SCR over α-MnO2 catalysts
Authors: Guo Jundong , Gan Fengli , Zhao Yifan , He Jinglin , Wang Bangda , Gao Tao , Jiang Xia , Ma Shenggui
Published: January 2023

High-index facet of α-MnO2 (310) exhibits the best NH3-SCR catalytic performance and highest N2 selectivity compared to the (100) and (110) facets.
A review: studying the effect of graphene nanoparticles on mechanical, physical and thermal properties of polylactic acid polymer
Authors: Dehnou Kianoush Hatami , Norouzi Ghazal Saki , Majidipour Marzieh
Published: January 2023

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a linear aliphatic polyester thermoplastic made from renewable sources such as sugar beet and cornstarch.