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Purpose: Major orthopedic surgeries of the lower extremities, which heavily injure the metaphyseal region, are strongly associated with the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study aims to investigate the role of metaphyseal trauma as an independent risk factor for DVT. Methods: Patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery of the hip and knee had their existing DVT risk factors recorded. Metaphyseal trauma was defined by the extent of bone injury during these surgeries. The samples were categorized into three surgery groups: total arthroplasty group (TA), hemiarthroplasty group (HA), and the open reduction internal fixation group (ORIF). Logistic regression test between significant existing risk factors and surgery groups determines the independent association between risk factors and DVT. Result: The study found a 24.8% incidence of asymptomatic DVT in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgeries, with the highest prevalence (37.2%) in TA, which had the largest extent of metaphyseal trauma and the least existing DVT risk factors. TA showed 6.2 OR and 95% CI (p = 0.036) compared to the other existing risk factor in relation to DVT incidence. Conclusion: Metaphyseal bone trauma in the hip and knee major orthopedic surgery is an independent risk factor for deep vein thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streck tubes are commonly used to collect blood samples to preserve cell-free circulating DNA. They contain imidazolidinyl urea as a formaldehyde-releasing agent to stabilize cells. We investigated whether the released formaldehyde leads to crosslinking of intracellular proteins. Therefore, we employed a shotgun proteomics experiment on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that were isolated from blood collected in Streck tubes, EDTA tubes, EDTA tubes containing formaldehyde, or EDTA tubes containing allantoin. The identified crosslinks were validated in parallel reaction monitoring LC/MS experiments. In total, we identified and validated 45 formaldehyde crosslinks in PBMCs from Streck tubes, which were also found in PBMCs from formaldehyde-treated blood, but not in EDTA- or allantoin-treated samples. Most were derived from cytoskeletal proteins and histones, indicating the ability of Streck tubes to fix cells. In addition, we confirm a previous observation that formaldehyde crosslinking of proteins induces a +24 Da mass shift more frequently than a +12 Da shift. The crosslinking capacity of Streck tubes needs to be considered when selecting blood-collection tubes for mass-spectrometry-based proteomics or metabolomic experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the reliability of surface electromyography (EMG) assessed at seven muscles during three repeated 2000 m rowing ergometer sessions. Methods: Twelve male well-trained rowers participated in a repeated measures design, performing three 2000 m rowing ergometer sessions interspersed by 3–7 days (S1, S2, S3). Surface electrodes were attached to the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, erector spinae, vastus medialis, rectus abdominis and latissimus dorsi for EMG analysis. Results: No differences existed between 2000 m sessions for EMG amplitude for any of the seven muscles (p = 0.146–0.979). Mean coefficient of variation of EMG for 6 of 7 muscles was 'acceptable' (12.3–18.6%), although classed as 'weak' for gastrocnemius (28.6%). Mean intra-class correlation coefficient values across muscles ranged from 'moderate' to 'very large' (0.31–0.89). Within-session EMG activation rates of vastus medialis were greater during 0–500 m and 1500–2000 m segments, compared with 500–1000 m and 1000–1500 m (p < 0.05). Values for biceps femoris and gluteus maximus were significantly higher during 1500–2000 m compared to 500–1000 m and 1000–1500 m (p < 0.05). The general pattern was for higher activation rates during 0–500 m and 1500–2000 m compared to 500–1000 m and 1000–1500 m. However, there were no between-sessions differences in EMG for any of the 500 m segments (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Reliability of EMG values over repeated 2000 m sessions was generally 'acceptable'. However, EMG was seemingly not sensitive enough to detect potential changes in neural activation between-sessions, with respect to changes in pacing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of nuclear activities have left a legacy of hazardous radioactive waste, which must be isolated from the biosphere for over 100,000 years. The preferred option for safe waste disposal is a deep subsurface geological disposal facility (GDF). Due to the very long geological timescales required, and the complexity of materials to be disposed of (including a wide range of nutrients and electron donors/acceptors) microbial activity will likely play a pivotal role in the safe operation of these mega-facilities. A GDF environment provides many metabolic challenges to microbes that may inhabit the facility, including high temperature, pressure, radiation, alkalinity, and salinity, depending on the specific disposal concept employed. However, as our understanding of the boundaries of life is continuously challenged and expanded by the discovery of novel extremophiles in Earth’s most inhospitable environments, it is becoming clear that microorganisms must be considered in GDF safety cases to ensure accurate predictions of long-term performance. This review explores extremophilic adaptations and how this knowledge can be applied to challenge our current assumptions on microbial activity in GDF environments. We conclude that regardless of concept, a GDF will consist of multiple extremes and it is of high importance to understand the limits of polyextremophiles under realistic environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA origami purification is essential for many fields, including biophysics, molecular engineering, and therapeutics. The increasing interest in DNA origami has led to the development of rate-zonal centrifugation (RZC) as a scalable, high yield, and contamination-free method for purifying DNA origami nanostructures. RZC purification uses a linear density gradient of viscous media, such as glycerol or sucrose, to separate molecules according to their mass and shape. However, many methods for creating density gradients are time-consuming because they rely on slow passive diffusion. To expedite the preparation time, we used a LEGO gradient mixer to generate rotational motion and rapidly create a quasi-continuous density gradient with a minimal layering of the viscous media. Rotating two layers of differing concentrations at an angle decreases the time needed to form the density gradient from a few hours to minutes. In this study, the density gradients created by the LEGO gradient mixer were used to purify 3 DNA origami shapes that have different aspect ratios and numbers of components, with an aspect ratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:100 and the number of components up to 2. The gradient created by our LEGO gradient mixer is sufficient to purify folded DNA origami nanostructures from excess staple strands, regardless of their aspect ratios. Moreover, the gradient was able to separate DNA origami dimers from DNA origami monomers. In light of recent advances in large-scale DNA origami production, our method provides an alternative for purifying DNA origami nanostructures in large (gram) quantities in resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex motility of bacteria, ranging from single-swimmer behaviors such as chemotaxis to collective dynamics, including biofilm formation and active matter phenomena, is driven by their microscale propellers. Despite extensive study of swimming flagellated bacteria, the hydrodynamic properties of their helical-shaped propellers have never been directly measured. The primary challenges to directly studying microscale propellers are 1) their small size and fast, correlated motion, 2) the necessity of controlling fluid flow at the microscale, and 3) isolating the influence of a single propeller from a propeller bundle. To solve the outstanding problem of characterizing the hydrodynamic properties of these propellers, we adopt a dual statistical viewpoint that connects to the hydrodynamics through the fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT). We regard the propellers as colloidal particles and characterize their Brownian fluctuations, described by 21 diffusion coefficients for translation, rotation, and correlated translation-rotation in a static fluid. To perform this measurement, we applied recent advances in high-resolution oblique plane microscopy to generate high-speed volumetric movies of fluorophore-labeled, freely diffusing Escherichia coli flagella. Analyzing these movies with a bespoke helical single-particle tracking algorithm, we extracted trajectories, calculated the full set of diffusion coefficients, and inferred the average propulsion matrix using a generalized Einstein relation. Our results provide a direct measurement of a microhelix's propulsion matrix and validate proposals that the flagella are highly inefficient propellers, with a maximum propulsion efficiency of less than 3%. Our approach opens broad avenues for studying the motility of particles in complex environments where direct hydrodynamic approaches are not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnobotany genomics is gaining popularity, and there is a renewed interest in traditional medicine around the world. Ethnobotany genomics is proving useful not only for the conservation of biodiversity and agricultural productivity but also for drug discovery. In terms of traditional medicine and biodiversity, India is one of the world's richest countries. However, as industrialisation, population pressures, migrations, and urbanisation have increased, socio-environmental changes have become more dynamic and complex. This has raised concerns about sustainable production and consumption, as well as governance. As a result, the current paper is an attempt to map the emerging innovation system in Indian ethnobotany genomics. The paper examines the actors', agencies', and institutions' responses to the emerging innovation system's requirements. Finally, this paper provides new insights into the opportunities and challenges of developing Indian ethnobotany genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Technical challenges and a perceived higher risk of complications hinder a wide adoption of minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy. We aim to further define the place of minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy by comparison with the traditional open approach. Methods: A comparison of the surgical outcomes and survival after laparoscopic (LPD) versus open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) was retrospectively performed from a prospectively kept database. To reduce the effect of bias and confounding, baseline characteristics of both groups were matched using propensity score matching (NCT05110573; Nov 8, 2021; retrospectively registered). Results: From a total of 67 LPD and 105 OPD patients, propensity score matching resulted in two balanced groups of 38 patients. In both groups, 87% of surgeries were performed for cancer. In the LPD group, conversion rate was 22.4%. Mean operative time was significantly longer after LPD versus OPD (320.1 ± 53.8 vs. 277.7 ± 63.8 min; p =.008). Hospital stay was significantly shorter after LPD versus OPD (median 13.5 vs. 17.0 days; p =.039). No significant differences were observed in blood loss, total complication rate (73.7% vs. 86.8%; p =.249), major complication rate (26.5% vs. 10.5%; p =.137), postoperative pancreatic fistula rate (13.2% vs. 7.9%; p =.711), 90-day mortality rate (5.3% vs. 0%; p =.493), R0 resection rate (85.4% vs. 85.8%), or number of lymph nodes (median 10.0 vs. 8.5; p =.273). In cancer patients, no significant differences were observed in overall survival (median 27.1 vs. 23.9 months; p =.693), disease-free survival, or recurrence rate. Conclusion: LPD provided acceptable short-term and oncological outcomes. Compared to OPD, we noted a higher major complication rate, without compromising surgical safety or oncological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) J.F. Gmel and U. tomentosa (Willd. Ex Roemer & Schultes) DC., both species popularly known as cat's claw. They are recognized for their use in traditional medicine and for their commercial potential in the pharmaceutical industry. The increasing interest in the marketing of plants such as cat's claw has led to intensive extraction in primary forests without taking into account aspects of sustainability. Despite its importance in the international market, few experiences are known about the agroecological management of these species in Peru and Costa Rica has researched exclusively U. tomentosa. Through the participatory analysis of the agroecological management of cat's claw, it was found that the Tikuna communities know the morphological characteristics of the species, the growth areas, the natural regeneration, control of weeds and the bark extraction methods. However, they have technical deficiencies for the implementation of practices such as species inventory, multiplication of plant material, agroforestry associations and bark processing. The structuring of the network of values allowed to identify both the social actors and the activities required to carry out the productive initiatives. Those can be integrated into the tourist and artisanal activities, typical of these communities. It is expected that this study will provide additional information that will lead to the use of Uncaria species, as well as the autonomy and sustainable management of Amazonian indigenous populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study published in Neurology India describes a rare presentation of drug-resistant tuberculosis in a 28-year-old male patient. The patient presented with neck pain, stiffness, and weakness in the right upper arm after a minor neck injury. Further examination revealed neurological symptoms and imaging showed severe spinal stenosis and cord compression. The patient underwent surgery to relieve airway compression and was diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis. The study highlights the life-threatening nature of tuberculosis of the craniovertebral junction and the challenges in its surgical management. [Extracted from the article]

Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed malaria parasite affecting humans worldwide, causing ~5 million cases yearly. Despite the disease's extensive burden, there are gaps in the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which P. vivax invades reticulocytes. In contrast, this crucial step is better understood for P. falciparum, the less widely distributed but more often fatal malaria parasite. This discrepancy is due to the difficulty of studying P. vivax's exclusive invasion of reticulocytes, which represent 1–2% of circulating cells. Its accurate targeting mechanism has not yet been clarified, hindering the establishment of long-term continuous in vitro culture systems. So far, only three reticulocyte invasion pathways have been characterised based on parasite interactions with DARC, TfR1 and CD98 host proteins. However, exposing the parasite's alternative invasion mechanisms is currently being considered, opening up a large field for exploring the entry receptors used by P. vivax for invading host cells. New methods must be developed to ensure better understanding of the parasite to control malarial transmission and to eradicate the disease. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on cellular and molecular mechanisms of P. vivax's merozoite invasion to contribute to a better understanding of the parasite's biology, pathogenesis and epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 45% of all under-five child deaths are among newborn infants, babies in their first 28 days of life, or the neonatal period every year in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region. To facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2, innovative interventions are needed to address this challenge. Thus, this scoping review aims to map research evidence on perinatal asphyxia among neonates in the WHO Africa Region. Methods: This scoping review will be guided by the Arksey and O'Malley framework, Levac et al. recommendations, and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for scoping reviews. Relevant published literature will be searched using a combination of keywords, Boolean terms, and Medical Subject Headings in the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Web of Science from January 2016 onwards. We will further search the World Health Organization and government websites, as well as the reference list of included studies for potentially eligible studies. This scoping review will include research evidence involving countries in the WHO Africa Region, with a focus on the burden of perinatal asphyxia, contributory/associated factors of perinatal asphyxia, clinical interventions for perinatal asphyxia, and interventions/strategies for the prevention of perinatal asphyxia in the SDGs era. Two reviewers will independently sort the studies to include and exclude, guided by the eligibility criteria. Also, the data from the included studies will be extracted and any discrepancies resolved using a third reviewer. Thematic analysis will be conducted, and the findings reported using both qualitative tables and figures. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) will be followed to report this study's results. Quality appraisal of the included studies will be done utilising the mixed methods appraisal tool version 2018. Conclusion: This scoping review results may reveal research evidence gaps to inform future primary studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses; and possibly contribute towards the realisation of the SDG 3.2 by countries in the WHO Africa Region. The finding of this review will be disseminated using multiple channels such as workshops, peer review publications, conferences, and social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients are facing many gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea. International guidelines advise early enteral tube feeding as the first option of nutritional support in children undergoing myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. When using enteral feeding tubes for nutritional purposes as well as drug administration, some pharmaceutical, nursing, and technical issues have to be taken into account. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone, widely used because of its broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. However, its co-administration with polyvalent cations (as present in enteral feeding) makes the absorption of ciprofloxacin more difficult and may alter the pharmacokinetic parameters. Literature data are conflicting on how long the enteral feeding should be discontinued for patients receiving ciprofloxacin via an enteral feeding tube, ranging from 2 h before to 6 h after the administration of ciprofloxacin. Our research question was guided by challenges and concerns of nurses about the delay time between ciprofloxacin administration and restart of the enteral feeding without compromising the nutritional intake of the children. Our guideline was adapted, nurses were instructed accordingly, and patient leaflets with correct information were created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chemotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains ineffective due to insufficient penetration of therapeutic agents across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and into the GBM tumor. Herein, is described, the optimization of the lipid composition and fabrication conditions for a BBB- and tumor penetrating terpolymer-lipid-hybrid nanoparticle (TPLN) for delivering doxorubicin (DOX) to GBM. Methods: The composition of TPLNs was first screened using different lipids based on nanoparticle properties and in vitro cytotoxicity by using 23 full factorial experimental design. The leading DOX loaded TPLNs (DOX-TPLN) were prepared by further optimization of conditions and used to study cellular uptake mechanisms, in vitro cytotoxicity, three-dimensional (3D) glioma spheroid penetration, and in vivo biodistribution in a murine orthotopic GBM model. Results: Among various lipids studied, ethyl arachidate (EA) was found to provide excellent nanoparticle properties e.g., size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, and colloidal stability, and highest anticancer efficacy for DOX-TPLN. Further optimized EA-based TPLNs were prepared with an optimal particle size (103.8 ± 33.4 nm) and PDI (0.208 ± 0.02). The resultant DOX-TPLNs showed ~ sevenfold higher efficacy than free DOX against human GBM U87-MG-RED-FLuc cells in vitro. The interaction between the TPLNs and the low-density lipoprotein receptors also facilitated cellular uptake, deep penetration into 3D glioma spheroids, and accumulation into the in vivo brain tumor regions of DOX-TPLNs. Conclusion: This work demonstrated that the TPLN system can be optimized by rational selection of lipid type, lipid content, and preparation conditions to obtain DOX-TPLN with enhanced anticancer efficacy and GBM penetration and accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile sol–gel method is presented and used to optimize LixMn2-yTiyO4 spinel-type materials for Li-ion battery cathodes while maintaining nanostructured features and minimizing the formation of TiO2 impurities. LiMn1.8Ti0.2O4 exhibited the best initial specific capacity of 215 mA h g−1 at 30.8 mA g−1 in a window potential of 4.6 – 2.0 V vs. Li|Li+. The addition of Ti improved the specific capacity thanks to possibility of using both Mn4+|Mn3+ and Mn3+|Mn2+ transitions. However, capacity fading issues persist. The effect of Ti incorporation and degradation processes during cycling were studied by cyclic voltammetry, charge/discharge cycling and EIS, the latter was analyzed by seldom used distribution of relaxations times (DRT) and compared to the results obtained by fitting to equivalent electrical circuits. Cathode materials were characterized by XPS, Raman and BET surface area and at different cycling stages by XRD, Synchrotron XRD and SEM. The results showed undesired structure modifications for the transition Mn3+|Mn2+ and the formation of irreversible tetragonal phase that increased charge transfer resistances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofeedback (BFb) is a useful tool to accelerate the skill development process. Limited research has applied BFb to the whole lower-limb in a complex skill therefore the aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a biofeedback intervention targeting whole lower limb kinematics. Thirty-two healthy participants were randomized to a BFb (n = 16) and a Control group (n = 16). Participants visited a motion capture laboratory on three occasions during one week, and returned for retention testing at 4–6 weeks. Following introduction to a novel lunge-touch task, visual BFb on lower limb joint kinematic extension angular velocities (ω) and timing were provided following each lunge. BFb was effective in increasing Hipω (F = 3.746, p = 0.03) and Kneeω (F = 10.241, p = 0.01). Peak Ankleω remained unchanged (F = 1.537, p = 0.23, η2 = 0.05), however Peak Ankleθ (F = 10.915, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.27) and AnkleROM (F = 9.543, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.24) significantly increased. Despite kinematic changes, there were no significant changes in any external kinetics. No significant correlations were found between Hipω, Kneeω or Ankleω and horizontal impulse (ImpulseY: r = 0.20, p = 0.26; r = −0.11, p = 0.24; and r = 0.22, p = 0.28, respectively). Findings demonstrate that BFb can be used to alter multiple kinematic variables in a complex skill, but do not necessarily alter associated kinetic variables not directly targeted by BFb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The CS-DS (Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale) was designed and validated in 1985 and to date its applications in research studies are unknown. Objective: To analyze the uses of the CS-DS scale through a systematic review and compare scores of indirect self-destructive in different population groups in the period 1985-2019. Methods: Systematic review in five multidisciplinary databases with three search strategies following Cochrane recommendations, the phases of the PRISMA guide and the MOOSE guide criteria. The selection of the studies and the extraction of the variables was carried out by two researchers guaranteeing reproducibility. The methodological quality was evaluated and meta-analysis of indirect measures was performed by type of population studied, random effects meta-analysis for difference of means according to sex and meta-regression by scale dimensions. Results: were included 23 studies with 6,382 individuals. The lowest self-destructiveness was found in a healthy population and psoriasis, the highest in drug addiction, followed by suicide attempts, delinquency, anxiety or depression and schizophrenia. In healthy population, no differences were found according to sex and in people with suicidal intent there was greater self-destructiveness in men in the dimensions of personal and social negligence, lack of planning and impotence and passivity in the face of problems. Conclusion: The CS-DS scale has been applied basically in the United States and Poland, in different populations of healthy and sick people. CS-DS demonstrates discriminating ability to profile self-destructiveness in different populations, mainly with mental disorders, while its dimensions have a differential profile by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cat's claw (Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) J.F. Gmel and U. tomentosa (Willd. ex Roemer & Schultes) DC.) has been used in the traditional indigenous medicine. This plant stands out for its medicinal properties, which has generated a commercial interest. So far, there are many studies of U. tomentosa related with agroforestry management and propagation methods. However, the available information of Uncaria guianensis is limited, especially with its management in communities. With the aim to contribute with information about the management of these species and their propagation, It were conducted interviews, field trips with local guides and planting trials in Tikuna communities. It was found that the management of cat's claw species, mainly of the Uncaria guianensis, focuses both on the extraction and planting practices by stakes, as well as on the conservation of their natural regeneration. It was found that Uncaria tomentosa had a high mortality rate in the natural environment, since it was more susceptible to the adverse effects of environmental conditions. Otherwise, Uncaria guianensis had a greater survival especially in stubbles where stakes were treated with rooting hormones and it were planted and in soils enriched with organic fertilizer. The results of this research may contribute to the formulation of integrative management strategies, that allows a sustainable use of natural populations of cat's claw species in Amazonian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis can be an early manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or be present at all stages of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic, clinical, dermatological, and histopathological characteristics of four patients with comorbidity of psoriasis and the infection with the HIV-AIDS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series. From 1976 to 2016, 1473 records from the Laboratorio de Dermatopatología at Universidad de Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia, were cases of psoriasis. Four cases were diagnosed in patients infected with HIV/AIDS. Medical records and histological plaques were reviewed. RESULTS: The cases were men, aged 27 to 48 years (mean 35.25 ± 8.99). Three of them had moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris and AIDS, three received highly active antiretroviral therapy, and showed a CD4+ T-cell count below 200 cells/µL. Skin biopsies displayed hyaline thickening of the wall of the small blood vessels, prominent endothelium, hypertrophic nerve fillets, and perivascular and perineural edemas. These findings are particular for the concomitance psoriasis-HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: All patients were adult men, and the psoriasis vulgaris occurred in a severe phase of the disease caused by the HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal Stem Rot (BSR), caused by Ganoderma spp., is one of the most important emerging diseases of oil palm in Colombia and is so far restricted to only two producing areas in the country. However, despite the controls established to prevent its spread to new areas, containment has not been possible. This study aimed to understand BSR's propagation mechanisms and related environmental conditions by measuring Ganoderma basidiospores' concentrations at various heights using four 7-day Burkard volumetric samplers in a heavily affected plantation. Meteorological data, including solar radiation, temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed, were also recorded. Analysis revealed higher basidiospore concentrations below 4 m, peaking at 02:00 h, with increased levels towards the study's end. Spore concentrations were not directly influenced by temperature, humidity, or precipitation, but showed higher releases during drier periods. A significant correlation was found between wind speed and spore concentration, particularly below 1.5 m/s, though higher speeds might aid long-distance pathogen spread. This study highlights the complexity of BSR propagation and the need for continued monitoring and research to manage its impact on Colombia's oil palm industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: High‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spinal cord is important to provide accurate diagnosis and pathological assessment of injuries. MEDIC (Multiple Echo Data Image Combination) sequences have been used in clinical MRI; however, a comparison of the performance of 2D and 3D MEDIC for cervical spinal cord imaging has not been reported. The aim of this study is to compare axial 2D and 3D MEDIC for the visualisation of the grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the human cervical spinal cord. Methods: Eight healthy participants were scanned using Siemens Prismafit 3T MRI. T2*‐weighted gradient spoiled 2D and 3D MEDIC sequences were acquired at 0.4 × 0.4 × 3.0 and 0.3 × 0.3 × 3.0 mm resolutions, with the acquisition times of 6 and 7 min, respectively. Quantitative analyses of the images were made based on the image signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) and non‐uniformity (NU). Two independent radiologists (CS and FN), each provided Likert scoring assessments of anatomical visibility of the GM and WM structures and image clarity for all samples. Results: Quantitative evaluation showed that 3D MEDIC provided higher SNR, higher CNR and lower NU than 2D MEDIC. However, 2D MEDIC provided better anatomical visibility for the GM, WM and CSF, and higher image clarity (lower artefacts) compared to 3D MEDIC. Conclusions: 2D MEDIC provides better information for depicting the internal structures of the cervical spinal cord compared to 3D MEDIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permeable base transistors (PBTs) fabricated by vacuum deposition or solution process have the advantages of easy fabrication and low power operation and are a promising device structure for flexible electronics. Intrinsic delay of PBT, which characterizes the speed of the transistor, is investigated by solving the three-dimensional Poisson equation and drift-diffusion equation self-consistently using finite element method. Decreasing the emitter thickness lowers the intrinsic delay by improving on-current, and a thinner base is also preferred for low intrinsic delay because of fewer carriers in the base region at off-state. The intrinsic delay exponentially decreases as the emitter contact Schottky barrier height decreases, and it linearly depends on the carrier mobility. With an optimized emitter contact barrier height and device geometry, a sub-nano-second intrinsic delay can be achieved with a carrier mobility of ~10 cm²/V/s obtainable in solution processed indium gallium zinc oxide, which indicates the potential of solution processed PBTs for GHz operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the absence of calibrated soil test and proper nutrient recommendations for crop growth, Haitian farmers suffer from suppressed and uneconomical yields. Thus, decisions made by farmers are mostly ineffective not only economically but also resulted on negative impacts on the soils. This mismanagement is also observed in the low level of crop yield in Haiti, especially black bean, where it recorded the lowest yield among the Caribbean nation in 2016, 660 kg ha−1. Other than the inappropriate nutrient management, smallholders also face a lack of resources (technical, human, and financial inputs) needed to increase crop production. Furthermore, soils in tropical and subtropical regions are known to be deficient in exchangeable potassium (K) due to fixation on clay and poor water management. Supplying sufficient K is vital for crop growth and quality characteristics and K deficiency typically becomes a limiting factor in crop production. To understand how black beans respond to K fertilization, a pot study was conducted with two different soils (Kenscoff, acidic and Cabaret, alkaline) in Haiti using a completely randomized block design, replicated four times with four K (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg K ha−1) rates. All treatments received 55 kg ha−1 of phosphorus (P). As a result, black beans in the alkaline soil recorded highest yield of 3053 kg ha−1, when no K was applied, Additional amount of K, when the soil already tested high, in fact, reduced K uptake by the plants. However, the acidic soil recorded optimum yield at 20 kg K ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria remains a large-scale public health problem, killing more than 400,000 people and infecting up to 230 million worldwide, every year. Unfortunately, despite numerous efforts and research concerning vaccine development, results to date have been low and/or strain-specific. This work describes a strategy involving Plasmodium falciparum Duffy binding-like (DBL) and reticulocyte-binding protein homologue (RH) family-derived minimum functional peptides, netMHCIIpan3.2 parental and modified peptides' in silico binding prediction and modeling some Aotus major histocompatibility class II (MHCII) molecules based on known human molecules' structure to understand their differences. These are used to explain peptides' immunological behaviour when used as vaccine components in the Aotus model. Despite the great similarity between human and Aotus immune system molecules, around 50% of Aotus allele molecules lack a counterpart in the human immune system which could lead to an Aotus -specific vaccine. It was also confirmed that functional Plasmodium falciparum' conserved proteins are immunologically silent (in both the animal model and in-silico prediction); they must therefore be modified to elicit an appropriate immune response. Some peptides studied here had the desired behaviour and can thus be considered components of a fully-protective antimalarial vaccine. • Functionally conserved regions in parasite proteins are not presented by MHCII. • Many modified peptides are required to reach a full protective efficacy in vaccines. • Half of the Aotus MHCII molecules do not have a counterpart in humans. • Relevant proteins' conserved regions must be modified to be useful in vaccines. • This methodology could be used for any infectious diseases vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haiti experiences one of the lowest yields of black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the world (660 Kg/ha), although is the most consumed among all kind of beans. This is primarily due to poor soil and agronomic management, improper balance of soil nutrients, and limited fertilizer applications, which can lead to malnutrition, ecosystem degradation, and food insecurity, common to developing countries. Phosphorous (P) remains one of the major limitations for black bean production in both lowland and upland areas of Haiti. Included in nucleic acids, P plays a large role in plant reproduction and grain production. When soil does not have enough P available, it impacts plant growth and enhances micronutrient deficiencies, which will affect the physiological maturity. To evaluate black bean growth and yield, a pot study was conducted with two different soils (Kenscoff, acidic and Cabaret, alkaline) in Haiti using a completely randomized block design, replicated four times with four P rates (0, 44, 55, and 66 Kg/ha). Black bean in the alkaline soil achieved its highest yield when 55 Kg/ha was applied, and the acidic soil reached its optimum yield with the application of 44 Kg/ha. High amount of fertilizer is needed to meet the crop requirements, particularly when soil test P is low, especially when P can be potentially fixed by Fe or Al (acidic soil) or by Ca (alkaline soil). This study contributes to the first step in optimizing black bean production through better interpretation and nutrient recommendation of soil tests for Haitian soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide strategies between 2010 and 2017 aimed at controlling malarial parasites (mainly Plasmodium falciparum) led to a reduction of just 18% regarding disease incidence rates. Many biologically-derived anti-malarial vaccine candidates have been developed to date; this has involved using many experimental animals, an immense amount of work and the investment of millions of dollars. This review provides an overview of the current state and the main results of clinical trials for sporozoite-targeting vaccines (i.e. the parasite stage infecting the liver) carried out by research groups in areas having variable malaria transmission rates. However, none has led to promising results regarding the effective control of the disease, thereby making it necessary to complement such efforts at finding/introducing new vaccine candidates by adopting a multi-epitope, multi-stage approach, based on minimal subunits of the main sporozoite proteins involved in the invasion of the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increased need for quick screening tools enabling the detection of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and in particular brominated flame retardants (BFRs), in polymeric materials. Unfortunately, common laboratory techniques might face matrix effects or encounter long sample preparation times. Therefore, an ambient desorption mass spectrometric technique such as Direct Analysis in Real Time - High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (DART-HRMS) might provide fast BFR identification in polymeric objects. Within this pilot-study, the potential of DART-HRMS for the detection of WEEE fractions has been tested on WEEE impacted consumer goods such as toys and food contact articles. The identification of polymeric material containing WEEE to date has relied on measuring multiple parameters such as; polymer purity, bromine and antimony content, as well as presence of rare earth elements (REEs). In this respect DART-HRMS demonstrated an excellent ability to identify BFRs in samples at WEEE relevant concentrations, and in certain cases, volatile antimony species could be detected. DART-HRMS can be used complementary to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and thermal desorption GC-MS. However, more efforts to characterize DART-HRMS sensitivity limits for antimony detection are needed to ensure DART-HRMS adds value as a stand-alone screening technique for WEEE in contaminated polymers and consumer goods. • The presence of certain BFRs could be revealed by DART-HRMS in all samples. • DART-HRMS detected WEEE traces in consumer goods (toy and food contact material). • Beside BFRs as well volatile antimony species appearing in WEEE were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) have been the subject of intense research because of their potential for flat panel display and solid state lighting applications. While small molecule OLEDs with very high efficiencies have been demonstrated, solution processable devices are more desirable for large size flat panel display and solid state applications because they are compatible with low cost, large area roll-to-roll manufacturing process. In this review paper, we will present the recent progress made in solution processable OLEDs. The paper will be divided into three parts. In the first part of the paper, we will focus on the recent development of fluorescent polymer OLEDs based on conjugated polyfluorene copolymers. Specifically, we will present results of carrier transport and injection measurements, and discuss how the charge transport and injection properties affect the device performance. In the second part of the paper, we will focus on the recent progress on phosphorescent dye-dispersed nonconjugated polymer OLEDs. Specifically, we will present our recent results on high efficiency green and blue emitting devices based on the dye-dispersed polymer approach. Similar to fluorescent conjugated polymer OLEDs, charge transport and injection properties in dye-dispersed polymer OLEDs also play an important role in the device performance. In the third part of this paper, we will present our results on white emitting phosphorescent OLEDs. Two approaches have been used to demonstrate white emitting OLEDs. First, white emitting OLEDs were made using blue emitting OLEDs with downconversion phosphors. Second, white emitting OLEDs were made by dispersing red, green, and blue phosphorescent dyes into the light emitting layer. High efficiency devices have been demonstrated with both approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the bipolar transport properties of the LUMATION™ (Sumitomo Chemical) 1300 Series green-emitting polymer investigated by means of admittance spectroscopy. Analysis of the inductive response in single-carrier polymer diodes yields electron and hole mobilities which are in excellent agreement with the results of independent measurements. Admittance measurements in dual injection diodes, in combination with the analysis of current-voltage characteristics, provide evidence that the dual injection diodes operate in space-charge-limited regime, indicative of strong recombination within the material. Our results provide strong evidence that the space-charge-related admittance response of dual-carrier diodes is dominated by combined electron-hole response, which corresponds to the sum of electron and hole mobilities. This implies that electron and hole mobilities cannot be obtained separately from admittance measurements in space-charge-limited dual-carrier devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and building materials are subject to abrasion wear in a variety of routine applications. The objective of this paper was to investigate the abrasion resistance of metakaolin-based geopolymer concretes. A geopolymer mixture with only metakaolin as precursor material and another mixture with the replacement of 10% of metakaolin by rice husk ash were investigated. Three accelerated abrasion tests were performed. The inorganic abrasion test studies the wear caused by the imposition of sand on the concrete surface. The hydraulic abrasion test wears the concrete surface with metallic spheres in an aquatic environment. The deep abrasion test measures abrasion through wear on a stainless-steel cylinder using silicon carbide. A natural validation step through the exposure of slabs in a natural environment was created to confirm the performance of the geopolymers. The abrasion resistance of geopolymers was the same or better than the abrasion resistance shown in the literature for Portland cement concrete. This behavior is related to the great adhesion of the geopolymer matrix with the aggregates. The performance was validated in the natural exposure of geopolymer concrete slabs to low vehicle traffic. • 10% replacement of metakaolin by rice husk ash were investigated. • Three accelerated abrasion tests were performed. • Geopolymer concrete slabs were exposed to low vehicle traffic. • Abrasion resistance of geopolymers was similar than Portland cement concrete. • Geopolymer concrete showed great adhesion of aggregates in cement matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism was investigated of hydrogen sulfide splitting in alkaline aqueous solutions using spray-pyrolysed SnIV-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 photo-anodes in a photo-electrochemical cell. In principle, hydrogen sulfide splitting can be used to treat hydrogen sulfide in natural and process gases and simultaneously to produce hydrogen using solar energy. A comparison with conventional water splitting demonstrated the lower energy requirements to achieve the same photocurrent densities, while producing soluble polysulfide ions and elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide oxidation. However, neither splitting process was spontaneous using SnIV-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 photo-anodes without inputs of electrical energy; two judiciously chosen photo-electrodes are required to achieve that objective. The effects were also studied of stirring, hydrogen sulfide ion concentration, electrode potential and annealing of SnIV-doped α-Fe 2 O 3 films on titanium substrates. Under potentiostatic conditions during photo-assisted electrolysis, the photo-anodes exhibited no compositional or morphological changes after 18 h. In a bench-scale reactor (0.1 dm3), stable photocurrent densities of ca. 12.5 A m−2 were recorded over 12 h at an electrode potential of 1.17 V vs. RHE and an effective irradiance of 2670 W m−2. Similarly, photocurrent densities corresponding to ca. 4.3 A m−2 were achieved in an up-scaled reactor under an effective irradiance of 457 W m−2. Charge yields for formation of polysulfide ions were close to unity when operating at optimised potentials and hydrogen sulfide ion concentrations. The shift towards lower electrode potentials of photocurrent densities for hydrogen sulfide splitting compared with those for water splitting was associated with increased charge transfer rates due to decreased interfacial electron-hole recombination rates. The potential dependences of sulfur coverage and oxygen evolution rates were also estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hexanuclear gold(I) selenido cluster and its sulfido counterpart, [Au6{μ‐Ph2PN(CH2‐o‐Py)PPh2}3(μ3‐E)2](ClO4)2 (E = S, Se), with bridging bis(diphenylphosphino)amine ligands were synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structure of the selenido cluster was determined, with the gold core possessing a distorted heterocubane structure. Intramolecular aurophilic interactions with short Au(I)⋯Au(I) contacts of around 3.09–3.13 Å were observed. The complexes were found to emit strongly in the solid state with orange to red emission colors. Their electronic absorption and emission properties were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method was developed to determine low concentrations of polysulfide ions (S n 2− expressed as zero-valent sulfur) in situ and in the presence of high concentrations (0.5 mol dm−3) of hydrogen sulfide ions, HS−, at pH 14. UV–visible spectrophotometry was used to determine absorbances at 295 and 420 nm using an immersion probe, designed for highly corrosive environments. Three absorbance trends were found, corresponding to three concentration ranges of zero-valent sulfur: low (0–1.2 × 10−3 mol dm−3), medium (1.2–3.6 × 10−3 mol dm−3) and high (3.6–10 × 10−3 mol dm−3). The non-linear dependence of absorbance on concentration over the range studied was due to disproportionation of polysulfides. Determination of these species is well known to be problematic at low concentrations due to the effects of adventitious oxygen in solution, meta-stability and speciation of polysulfide species: S 2 2− – S 8 2−. Oxygen concentrations must be minimised in the inert gas used to de-oxygenate sulfide solutions and for the same reason, their contact with atmospheric oxygen should be minimised. During potentiostatic oxidation of alkaline solutions containing HS− ions in the anolyte of electrochemical reactors incorporating cation-permeable membranes, temporal changes in anolyte absorbance and charge were used to estimate polysulfide concentrations. Charge yields for sulfide to polysulfide oxidation were close to unity, confirming the utility of the technique developed. Molar attenuation coefficients of the predominant polysulfide ions S 3 2− at 420 nm and S 4 2− at 295 nm were also estimated as 289 and 3609 dm3 mol−1 cm−1, respectively, and comparable to values of (190, 206) and (3420, 3690) dm3 mol−1 cm−1 reported previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial data from the 10 biggest Indonesian mining companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), from the period of 2011 to 2015, were collected and analyzed. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship among working capital components, including financial performance as measured by return on assets (ROA). The results of the study indicated that there are some weak positive correlations between working capital elements and profitability (return on assets), and some negative correlations between working capital elements and ROA. Overall, the correlations were weak and not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Growth of ultrathin quaternary InAlGaN barrier layer for HEMT application by MOCVD. • Growth temperature effect to the InAlGaN growth rate and composition is investigated. • Higher unintentional Ga incorporation to the InAlN with higher growth temperature. • Better 2DEG properties of InAlGaN/GaN HEMT is achieved at the growth temperature between 900 °C and 950 °C. Abstract We report the effects of the growth temperature on the structural and electrical properties of the InAlGaN/GaN heterostructures grown on c-plane sapphire substrates. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy measurements results indicate that the InAlGaN layer properties is strongly dependent on the growth temperature. It is observed that the Gallium incorporation increases with the increase of the growth temperature. Meanwhile, the surface roughness decreases from 0.49 nm to 0.34 nm with the increase of growth temperature. The variation of structural properties, composition and surface morphology influences the transport properties of the InAlGaN/GaN heterostructures. High 2DEG electron density, low sheet resistance and good C-V response with a steep slope for InAlGaN/GaN HEMT were achieved at an optimized growth temperature window between 900 °C and 950 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiphysics model was developed for a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell at the device level to simulate water splitting operating under concentrated irradiation (between 50 to 600 kW m−2). The 2D model couples charge, heat, mass, photon, and momentum transfer to predict local current densities, potential distributions, temperature profiles, volumetric gas fractions, pressure, and velocities profiles in the electrolyte. Electrode kinetics and electrolyte resistance were considered for the electrochemical processes, and two-phase bubbly-flow under laminar conditions for momentum transfer. The effects of bubbles on the incident photon flux and the thermal and electrical conductivities of the electrolyte were also considered. Photocurrent densities were estimated using a semiempirical correlations dependent on potential, charge transfer efficiencies, and temperature. The model was applied to a custom-made cell utilising a spray pyrolysed Sn-doped Fe 2 O 3 photoanode, a material with well-known photoelectrochemical behaviour and stability. Transparent conductive glass and titanium foil were investigated as two possible photoanode substrates. Predictions indicate that commercial conductive glasses are not suitable substrates due to a significant ohmic drop caused by high current densities. The model illustrates that thermal and bubble management are critical to improving the overall performance of a PEC cell subjected to high photon flux. Furthermore, the model can be used to decouple the phenomena that occur under such conditions and could assist in the study of photoelectrode materials under high irradiance. [Display omitted] • A PEC cell model accounting for heat, mass, photon, momentum, and charge transfer was developed. • Energetic losses due to bubbles and ohmic resistances are significant under high photon fluxes. • Thermal management is required to avoid localised high temperatures. • Properties as function of temperature are needed for accurate photocurrent predictions. • Commercial FTO as substrate is not suitable for high photon flux water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vancomycin is a commonly prescribed antibiotic to treat gram-positive infections. The efficacy of vancomycin is known to be directly related to the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) index of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) divided by the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the pathogen. However, in most countries, steady-state plasma concentrations are used as a surrogate parameter of target AUC/MIC, but this practice has some drawbacks. Hence, direct AUC-guided monitoring of vancomycin using model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) tools has been proposed for earlier attainment of target concentrations and reducing vancomycin-related nephrotoxicity. However, solid scientific evidence for these benefits in clinical practice is still lacking. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the clinical utility of MIPD dosing of vancomycin administered via continuous infusion in hospitalized adults. Methods: Participants from 11 wards at two Belgian hospitals are randomly allocated to the intervention group or the standard-of-care comparator group. In the intervention group, clinical pharmacists perform dose calculations using CE-labeled MIPD software and target an AUC24h of 400 to 600 mg × h/L, whereas patients in the comparator group receive standard-of-care dosing and monitoring according to the institutional guidelines. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients reaching the target AUC24h/MIC of 400–600 between 48 and 72 h after start of vancomycin treatment. Secondary endpoints are the proportion of patients with (worsening) acute kidney injury (AKI) during and until 48 h after stop of vancomycin treatment, the proportion of patients reaching target AUC24h/MIC of 400–600 between 72 and 96 h after start of vancomycin treatment, and the proportion of time within the target AUC24h/MIC of 400–600. Discussion: This trial will clarify the propagated benefits and provide new insights into how to optimally monitor vancomycin treatment. Trial registration: EudraCT number: 2021-003670-31. Registered June 28, 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05535075. Registered September 10, 2022. Protocol version 3, protocol date: April 21, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gate leakage mechanism for InAlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is systematically studied using temperature‐dependent gate current–voltage characteristics. The electric field across the barrier layer is calculated through the extracted polarization charge and dielectric constant of the InAlGaN/GaN HEMT. The gate current of the InAlGaN/GaN HEMT is analyzed by fitting the experimental data using Themionic Emission (TE), Poole–Frenkel (PF), and Fowler–Nordheim (FN) tunneling. The results show that 1) reverse leakage current in the thin InAlGaN barrier layer is dominated by FN tunneling due to triangular barrier formation; 2) for thicker barrier layer, the reverse leakage current at low electric field (<2.23 MV cm−1) is dominated by PF emission; 3) at high electric field near the threshold voltage the FN tunneling dominates. Extraction of effective barrier height by fitting the experimental data with models leads to the suggestion for the improvement of the device leakage current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefit of charcoal for growing crops has been well established. In a tropical sub- optimal soil, however, use charcoal only may not provide sufficient nutrient to crops. Therefore, adding compost with charcoal is expected to not only provide nutrition also improve soil biology and chemical properties. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of Compost+Charcoal (CC) on soil properties and their effect on plant top biomass of maize (Zea mays) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). The treatments were maize and cowpea grown on a) soil only, and b) treated with CC only. In order to estimate the N balances in the plant-soil system, main parameters were measured, namely the amount of nitrogen (N) from soil mineralisation, leached N and N uptake. The results showed that the use of CC caused the net N balance in the plant-soil system to decrease. The negative N balance may be due to N loss via denitrification resulting from higher water holding capacity of the soil treated with CC than soil only. The N loss due to denitrification might be minimised by managing the watering system when charcoal is present in the soil. It was also found that CC application only significantly increased dry matter yield and N uptake of maize, but, it did not have the same result with cowpea. The effect of CC in decreasing the leaching of N was only noticed in the early growth of maize and cowpea. However, the significant decrease of N leaching was affected by maize and cowpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an application of a state estimation algorithm as a tool for re-synchronization of distributed generation in a distribution system. The estimation results can be used to operate a distributed generation in grid and off-grid mode. The estimated state variables are utilized as input data to control a Diesel generator while resynchronizing as well as for a grid mode loss predictor. The proposed state estimator, with branch currents as state variables, was solved by the weighted least squares method using singular value decomposition. To ensure the observability of the distribution system, a detailed numerical observability analysis was carried out with complex power measurements and unconventional branch current phasor measurements. In the algorithm, phasor measurement units and pseudo-measurements can be incorporated. Conditions that ensure system observability and redundancy increasing are derived when those measurements are included. The approach was tested in the IEEE 13 node test feeder, to which a distributed generation was connected for external network feeding. The algorithm shows stability, convergence, allowing the distributed generation re-synchronization to the distribution system. This feature could help improve self-healing capability in microgrids that use synchronous generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of post-deposition annealing at 400 and 500 °C on the photo-electrochemical performance of Sn IV -doped α-Fe 2 O 3 photo-anodes are reported. Samples were fabricated by spray pyrolysis on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and on titanium substrates. Photo-electrochemical, morphological and optical properties were determined to explain the shift in photocurrent densities to lower electrode potentials and the decrease of maximum photocurrent densities for alkaline water oxidation after annealing. Annealing at 400 and 500 °C in air did not affect significantly the morphology, crystallinity, optical absorption or spatial distributions of oxygen vacancy concentrations. However, XPS data showed a redistribution of Sn IV near Sn IV -doped α-Fe 2 O 3 | 1 M NaOH interfaces after annealing. Thus, electron-hole recombination rates at photo-anode surfaces decreased after annealing, shifting photocurrents to lower electrode potentials. Conversely, depletion of Sn IV in the α-Fe 2 O 3 bulk could increase recombination rates therein and decrease photon absorption near 550 nm, due to an increased dopant concentration in the semiconductor depletion layer. This accounted for the decrease of maximum photocurrents when electron-hole recombination rates were suppressed using HO 2 − ions as a hole scavenger. The flat band potential of Sn IV -doped α-Fe 2 O 3 remained relatively constant at ca. 0.7 V vs. RHE, irrespective of annealing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]