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In this paper, the rare earth europium complex Eu(FTFA)3TPPO2 (EuFT) was synthesized by using europium as the central ion, 4‐trifluoro‐1‐(2‐furanyl)‐1,3‐butanedione (FTFA) as the first ligand, and triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) as the second ligand. The structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the photoluminescence process was investigated by UV and fluorescence spectra. The luminescent film was prepared by adding EuFT and the compatibilizer POE‐g‐PHEMA into the POE matrix, which can convert the UV light to the red light, and improve the photovoltaic conversion efficiency while reducing the effect of UV aging on the cell. Experimental results show that the complex can absorb UV light (200–400 nm) and emit red light (612 nm), the luminescent film also maintains good luminescence performance. The peel strength of POE/POE‐g‐PHEMA/EuFT film achieves 23.9 N cm−1，while that of POE film is 12.8 N cm−1. The silicon cell prepared by POE/POE‐g‐PHEMA/EuFT film also showed higher EQE in UV region, and its current density–voltage (J–V) curve revealed that Jsc increased from 33.05 to 34.25 mA/cm2, the conversion efficiency increased from 12.99% to 13.39%, and the relative efficiency increased by 3.08%. The rare earth europium complex effectively improved the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To separate the oil/water mixtures, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber mats were produced using electrospinning. Additionally, PVDF films were made using the solvent evaporation method, and the effectiveness of their separation was evaluated against that of nanofiber mats. By choosing oxygen‐functionalized graphene (with HNO3) as a nano reinforcement, the hydrophobic properties of the PVDF materials made using both techniques were transformed into hydrophilic ones. It has been determined how the characteristics of the solution (viscosity, conductivity, molecular weight, surface tension, and contact angle) relate to the diameter of the nanofiber. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy‐attenuated total reflection (FT‐IR/ATR), x‐rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA)/DTG, and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) have been used to study the chemical and crystal structures, morphology, and thermal behavior of PVDF materials. The addition of oxygen‐functionalized graphene was found to cause a peak in the PVDF composites' FT‐IR/ATR spectrum, roughly in the wavenumber 1400 cm−1, which was identified as the C‐OH bending vibration. Together with the shift in peak strengths, the lack of a discernible shift in the PVDF peak location in the XRD patterns indicates that the addition of oxygen‐functionalized graphene has caused a phase transition in the PVDF in the semi‐crystal structure. Surface hydrophobicity has also been measured using contact angle measurements. The addition of oxygen‐functionalized graphene has been seen to decrease the PVDF's contact angle, resulting in the development of a hydrophilic characteristic. These PVDF‐based materials' oil/water separation capabilities have also been evaluated. PVDF composite films were not as effective as PVDF nanofiber mats with oxygen‐functionalized graphene in the studies to separate the oil/water mixtures. The permeate flux value was determined to be 240 Lm−2 h−1, and the oil/water separation efficiency of nanofibers containing 10% (m/m) PVDF534000 combined with oxygen‐functional graphene was found to be 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZrO is a well-studied metal monoxide because of its astrophysical importance in characterizing S stars. The bands of the d 3Φ–a3Δ system (γ system) with v ′ ≤ 4 and v ″ ≤ 5 are rotationally analyzed using the PGOPHER program to provide spectroscopic constants. The high-resolution ZrO emission spectrum was recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer using a high-temperature carbon furnace source. New ab initio calculations of the transition dipole moment were carried out in order to determine the vibronic band strengths. The spectroscopic constants, along with the band strengths, are used to calculate a line list for the γ system. This line list can be used to determine Zr abundances in S stars. We also correct the line strengths for the B 1Π– A 1Δ transition calculated in our previous work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectroscopy (RS) is used increasingly for disease detection, including diseases of the nervous system (CNS). This Perspective presents RS basics and how it has been applied to disease detection. Research that focused on using a novel Raman-based technology—Rametrix® Molecular Urinalysis (RMU)—for systemic disease detection is presented, demonstrated by an example of how the RS/RMU technology could be used for detection and management of diseases of the CNS in companion animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of vibrational spectroscopy, the study examines the structure of matrix materials synthesized through the quenching of sodium-rubidium aluminoborosilicate melts with the addition of zirconium. Zirconium was found to have a significant effect on the ratio of the main structural units and the distribution of modifier cations among them in the glass structure. The obtained results were used to explain changes in the glass-melt transition temperature and synthesized material density; they can be useful in adjusting the composition and synthesis parameters of matrix materials for the immobilization of high-level radioactive waste containing significant amounts of zirconium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalides represent a notable category of secondary metabolites that are prevalent in various plant species, certain fungi, and liverworts. The significant pharmacological properties of these compounds have led to the synthesis of a novel phthalide derivative. The current study focuses on investigating the binding interactions of a newly synthesized 3-substituted phthalide derivative, specifically 3-((4-chloro-6-methyl pyrimidine-2-yl)amino) isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (Z11), with double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA). Research in the pharmaceutical and biological fields aimed at developing more potent DNA-binding agents must take into account the mechanisms by which these newly synthesized compounds interact with DNA. This investigation seeks to explore the binding dynamics between dsDNA and our compound through a variety of analytical techniques, such as electrochemistry, UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermal denaturation. The binding constant (Kb) of Z11 with DNA was determined using both spectroscopic and voltammetric approaches. The research revealed that Z11 employs a groove binding mechanism to associate with dsDNA. To further explore the interactions between Z11 and dsDNA, the study utilized density functional theory (DFT) calculations, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. These analyses aimed to ascertain the potential for a stable complex formation between Z11 and dsDNA. The results indicate that Z11 is situated within the minor groove of the dsDNA, demonstrating the ability to establish a stable complex. Furthermore, the findings imply that both π-alkyl interactions and hydrogen bonding play significant roles in the stabilization of this complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband spectral measurements of the ballistic transmission of scattering samples are challenging. The presented work shows an approach that includes a broadband system and an automated adjustment unit for compensation of angular distortions caused by non-plane-parallel samples. The limits of the system in terms of optimal transmission and detected forward scattering influenced by the scattering phase function are investigated. We built and validated a setup that measures the collimated transmission signal in a spectral range from 300 nm to 2150 nm. The system was validated using polystyrene spheres and Mie calculations. The limits of the system in terms of optimal transmission and detected forward scattering were researched. The optimal working parameters of the system, analyzed by simulations using the Monte Carlo method, show that the transmission should be larger than 10% and less than 90% to allow for a reliable measurement with acceptable errors caused by noise and systematic errors of the system. The optimal transmission range is between 25% and 50%. We show that the phase function is important when considering the accuracy of the measurement. For strongly forward-scattering samples, errors of up to 80% can be observed, even for a very small numerical aperture of 6.6 · 10 − 4 , as used in our experimental system. We also show that errors increase with optical thickness as the ballistic transmission decreases and the multiscattered fraction increases. In addition, errors caused by multiple reflections in the sample layer were analyzed and also classified as relevant for classical absorption spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the neural pattern activation during mirror therapy (MT) and explore any cortical reorganization and reducing asymmetry of hemispheric activity for upper limb rehabilitation in post-stroke patients. Methods: A box containing a mirror was placed between the arms of the patients to create the illusion of normal motion in the affected limb by reflecting the image of the unaffected limb in motion. We measured the cerebral hemodynamic response using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). We enrolled ten right-handed stroke patients. They observed healthy hand movements in the mirror (MT condition) while performing various tasks (MT condition), and then repeated the same tasks with the mirror covered (N-MT condition). Results: Significant activation of some brain areas was observed in the right and left hemiparesis groups for the MT condition, while lower levels of activation were observed for the N-MT condition. The results showed significant differences in hemodynamic response based on oxygenated (HbO) concentrations between MT and N-MT conditions across all tasks in sensorimotor areas. These neural circuits were activated despite the motor areas being affected by the brain injury, indicating that the reflection of movement in the mirror helped to activate them. Conclusions: These results suggest that MT promotes cortical activations of sensory motor areas in affected and non-affected brain sides in subacute post-stroke patients, and it encourages the use of these tools in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with circulatory failure have high mortality rates and require prompt assessment of microcirculation. Despite the improvement in hemodynamic parameters, microcirculatory dysfunction persists. We measured subcutaneous regional tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can assess microcirculation in patients with circulatory failure. Methods: A finger-worn oximeter with NIRS measured rSO2 in the forehead, thenar eminence, thumb, and knees. First, the rSO2 was measured in healthy adult volunteers (n = 10). Circulatory failure was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mmHg and lactate ≥ 2 mmol/L. The study included 35 patients without circulatory failure and SOFA score of 0 at ICU admission and 38 patients with circulatory failure at ICU admission. Both groups included a single-center prospective study of patients who were transported to the ICU of the Nihon University Hospital. The rSO2 was measured only on ICU admission in the non-circulatory failure group and later in the circulatory failure group. Results: In the volunteer group, rSO2 at each site was approximately 58%. The rSO2 was significantly lower in the circulatory failure group than in the non-circulatory failure group (knee, p < 0.01). In the circulatory failure group, knee rSO2 showed a significant negative correlation with SOFA score (Day 0, ρ = −0.37, p = 0.02; Day 1, ρ = −0.53, p < 0.01; Day 2, ρ = −0.60, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Subcutaneous knee rSO2 was associated with SOFA score and was considered an indicator of microcirculatory dysfunction and organ damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explored the in vitro inhibitory mechanism of polyphenol-rich rose extracts (REs) from an edible rose flower against α-glucosidase using multispectral and molecular docking techniques. Results showed that REs had an inhibitory effect on α-Glu activity (IC50 of 1.96 μg/mL); specifically, the samples pretreated by tri-frequency ultrasound (20/40/60 kHz) exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) stronger inhibitory effect on α-Glu activity with an IC50 of 1.33 μg/mL. The Lineweaver–Burk assay indicated that REs were mixed-type inhibitors and could statically quench the endogenous fluorescence of α-Glu. REs increased the chance of polypeptide chain misfolding by altering the microenvironment around tryptophan and tyrosine residues and disrupting the natural conformation of the enzyme. Molecular docking results showed that polyhydroxy phenolics had a high fit to the active site of α-Glu, so REs with high polymerization and numerous phenolic hydroxyl groups had a stronger inhibitory effect. Therefore, this study provides new insights into polyphenol-rich REs as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Al₂O₃–13% TiO₂ coating was applied to M2 high-speed steel using the d-gun process. The surface properties were compared between uncoated samples, coated samples before cryogenic treatment (CBCT), and coated samples after cryogenic treatment (CACT). The mean particle size was ~17.07 μm, with average coating thicknesses of 212 μm for CBCT and 196 μm for CACT. CACT exhibited 3.19% and 24.65% higher microhardness than CBCT and uncoated samples, respectively. All samples exhibited hydrophilic wettability, with CBCT showing 59.41% and 67.43% higher Ra values, along with 56.03% and 59.70% higher Rz values than CACT and uncoated samples. CBCT also exhibited 32.96% and 98.14% higher porosity than CACT and uncoated samples. CACT showed reduced abrasion loss by 54.05% and 36.25% compared to CBCT and uncoated samples. CBCT has better corrosion resistance of 90.25% and 95.89% than CACT and uncoated samples. The Raman shift revealed increased particle size formation in CACT than other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Fricke gel dosimeters are appropriate candidates for gamma dosimetry. Polyvinyl alcohol Fricke gel dosimeters are the most recent introduced gel dosimeters which have low ion diffusion. In this work, samples of ferrous-xylenol orange-polyvinyl alcohol gel dosimeters were prepared and characterized using optical spectroscopy. Using win XCOM program and the elemental composition of the gel, the mass attenuation coefficients for photons were evaluated. The results exhibited that the prepared gel is the nearly radiological blood-, soft tissue- and water-equivalent. The 60Co gamma cell unit was used to irradiate the gel samples. A dose range response was found linear from 10 to 30 Gy and suitable for blood irradiation dosimetry. Additionally, the gel response good repeatability was confirmed by the coefficient of variation calculations. Furthermore, chemical yield of the gel was estimated to be 34.6. The good characteristics of the prepared gel make it appropriate for dosimetry of blood irradiators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of bacterial biofilms in the human body and on medical devices is a serious human health concern. Infections related to bacterial biofilms are often chronic and difficult to treat. Detailed information on biofilm formation and composition over time is essential for a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms of biofilm formation and its response to anti-biofilm therapy. However, information on the chemical composition, structural components of biofilms, and molecular interactions regarding metabolism- and communication pathways within the biofilm, such as uptake of administered drugs or inter-bacteria communication, remains elusive. Imaging these molecules and their distribution in the biofilm increases insight into biofilm development, growth, and response to environmental factors or drugs. This systematic review provides an overview of molecular imaging techniques used for bacterial biofilm imaging. The techniques included mass spectrometry-based techniques, fluorescence-labelling techniques, spectroscopic techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), micro-computed tomography (µCT), and several multimodal approaches. Many molecules were imaged, such as proteins, lipids, metabolites, and quorum-sensing (QS) molecules, which are crucial in intercellular communication pathways. Advantages and disadvantages of each technique, including multimodal approaches, to study molecular processes in bacterial biofilms are discussed, and recommendations on which technique best suits specific research aims are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aimed to get mechanistic insights on the evolution of major quality attributes of meat‐analogue (MA) based batter‐coated fried products. Wheat and rice flour‐based batter systems were used to coat a MA. The products were deep‐fried at 180°C for 4 min in canola oil and their post‐fry quality changes at room environment (RE, 25°C) and under IR‐heating (65 °C) were investigated. Results showed that in addition to moisture‐fat profile, batter coating substantially (P < 0.05) influenced the development of thermal, textural, colour and microstructural traits of MA. Post‐fry colour changes (ΔE value: 3.1 to 10.4) in MA‐based coated product continued under IR‐heating (65 °C). Evolution of the thermal, textural and colour attributes of MA‐based coated products were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the formulation of outer batter coatings. Moisture migration occurred from high moisture (ranged from 1.07 to 1.25 g g−1 dry matter) containing core to dry (moisture ranged from 0.15 to 0.59 g g−1 dry matter) crust region of MA‐based coated fried product, where the moisture migration was interlaced with batter formulations. Holding environment and duration substantially (P < 0.05) impacted the textural properties (hardness, brittleness and crispiness) of MA‐based coated fried product. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of coated fried products were ranged between −20.4 to −23.0 °C, that explains quality changes at RE and under IR‐heating. Scanning electron microscopic image analysis (surface openings: 5.7 to 27.31%; fractal dimension: 2.555 to 2.702) revealed the impact of surface microstructure and mass‐transfer modulated textural development in MA‐based coated products. FTIR spectroscopy revealed surface chemical profile in relation to colour evolution of MA‐based fried products. Principal component analysis outcome (PC1: 52.9.% and PC2: 25.8%) revealed varying extent of correlation between studied thermomechanical and physicochemical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate classification of transients obtained from spectroscopic data are important to understand their nature and discover new classes of astronomical objects. For supernovae (SNe), SNID, NGSF (a Python version of SUPERFIT), and DASH are widely used in the community. Each tool provides its own metric to help determine classification, such as rlap of SNID, chi2/dof of NGSF, and Probability of DASH. However, we do not know how accurate these tools are, and they have not been tested with a large homogeneous data set. Thus, in this work, we study the accuracy of these spectral classification tools using 4646 SEDMachine spectra, which have accurate classifications obtained from the Zwicky Transient Facility Bright Transient Survey (BTS). Comparing our classifications with those from BTS, we have tested the classification accuracy in various ways. We find that NGSF has the best performance (overall Accuracy 87.6% when samples are split into SNe Ia and Non-Ia types), while SNID and DASH have similar performance with overall Accuracy of 79.3% and 76.2%, respectively. Specifically for SNe Ia, SNID can accurately classify them when rlap > 15 without contamination from other types, such as Ibc, II, SLSN, and other objects that are not SNe (Purity > 98%). For other types, determining their classification is often uncertain. We conclude that it is difficult to obtain an accurate classification from these tools alone. This results in additional human visual inspection effort being required in order to confirm the classification. To reduce this human visual inspection and to support the classification process for future large-scale surveys, this work provides supporting information, such as the accuracy of each tool as a function of its metric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the microfabrication process of plasma reactors, from the production of micro-reactors to the addition of through silicon vias (TSV) using proprietary etching techniques and on site cleanroom facilities. The investigation focuses on both newly fabricated closed and open-cavity micro-hollow cathode discharge (MHCD) reactors, with particular emphasis on electrical and optical diagnostics to characterize their plasma properties. All experiments, including those on closed-cavity reactors, were specifically conducted for this study under identical conditions to ensure a rigorous comparison between reactor types. When electrical diagnostics were carried out in helium at various pressures, interesting phenomena such as the evolution of voltage breakdown were observed. These diagnostics also provided new insights into the impact of surface electrode and overall geometry properties and pressure on reactor performance. Additional investigation into instability mechanisms revealed self-pulsing oscillations, with different reactor types having different oscillation amplitudes for similar operating conditions. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) emerged as a strong tool for spatial plasma analysis, revealing consistent gas temperature distributions across reactor diameters. The Inglis-Teller series provided an estimate of the upper limit of electron density, while the Stark broadening analysis of H α offered valuable insights into electron density variations, particularly in the self-pulsing regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to address critical challenges such as global warming and energy sustainability by targeting the reduction of high NOx emissions in diesel engines. The effects of acetone (AC) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) as additives in improving the physicochemical properties of biodiesel derived from renewable, nonedible Pistacia terebinthus oil, which is abundant in Turkey and has a high free fatty acid (FFA) content of 5.8%, were investigated. Due to the high FFA content, a two‐step (esterification followed by transesterification [TR]) method was used for biodiesel production. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of biodiesel obtained by both single (TR) and two‐step methods was performed to address a gap in the literature. The addition of AC and MgO NPs to B20 (80% diesel fuel and 20% biodiesel) fuel resulted in reductions in the rate of pressure rise, instantaneous energy release, cylinder pressure, mean gas temperature, and cumulative heat release rate. However, brake‐specific fuel consumption increased, and brake thermal efficiency decreased. Emissions analyses showed a reduction in CO emissions by 6.65% with AC and 2.10% with AC + MgO, and a reduction in NOx emissions by 41.64% with AC and 46.03% with AC + MgO. However, hydrocarbon emissions increased by 26.48%. The study highlights the synergistic benefits of AC and MgO additives in biodiesel, presenting a viable strategy for improving the environmental and performance metrics of biodiesel blends. It provides new insights into alternative fuel formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal and apiculture preparations are examples of products with a very long history of medicine and human body care use. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activity and reduction potential of Tilia cordata honey solution (TCH) and inflorescence Tilia cordata infusion (ITC) as well as their analysis in the ratio of ITC: TCH 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2 (v/v). All performed tests were done with the use of spectroscopic techniques. It was shown that ITC infusion has stronger antioxidant activity and higher reduction properties than TCH solution and the mixtures with a higher proportion of ITC infusion than TCH solution. The highest antioxidant activity and higher reduction properties had samples within the ratio of ITC: TCH 2:1. A synergistic effect in the area of both antioxidant and reduction potential has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, nitrogen‐based ruthenium complexes have become an important material for dye‐sensitized solar cells and photo‐catalytic H2O and CO2 reduction research and applications, thanks to their charge transfer feature from the metal to the ligand. The electronic and spectral properties of such materials can be easily modified by changing the substituents and ligands. In this study, a new ruthenium (II) complex with N‐functionalized pyrrole derivative ([Ru(bpy)2(bpyCONHArPy)]+2 complex) was successfully synthesized and characterized. Its optical and electrochemical properties were studied by means of fluorescence, UV‐vis spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. These results were compared with that of its components (4‐(1H‐pyrrol‐1‐yl) aniline, N4,N4′‐bis(4‐(1H‐pyrrol‐1‐yl)phenyl)‐[2,2′‐bipyridine]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide and ligand [Ru(bpy)3]+2). Related theoretical studies were also studied to find energy levels of complex. The present work is carried out to understand what chemical changes bring when combination of all the pieces of the puzzle into a chemical structure step by step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the reproductive biology of fishes is essential for effective fisheries management. Information derived from an understanding of fish reproduction, such as size and age at maturity, is used in models to assess fish stocks and can affect estimates of important ecological processes such as recruitment, abundance, and trophic interactions. Common practices for determining the reproductive status of teleost fishes include macroscopic evaluation of gonads as well as histological analysis. However, macroscopic evaluation can be biased and histological analysis is time-consuming, resulting in limitations to spatial and temporal data availability. Here, we explore Raman spectroscopy of ovaries as a novel approach to rapidly determine the reproductive status of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), a commercially and ecologically important species in theNorth Pacific. We used a twostage partial least-squares (PLS) regression analysis followed by a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to classify walleye pollock ovary samples as physiologically mature or immature and to subsequently predict their histologically-determined reproductive stage based on the Raman spectra. Biologically mature samples with visible yolk differentiated from mature and immature samples (non-yolked; 99% accuracy). Nonyolked ovaries that were physiologically mature (either mature non-developing or previously spawned) were further differentiated from physiologically immature ovaries (93% accuracy). In addition, detailed, histologically-determined reproductive stages of yolked samples also differentiated via Raman spectroscopy, but with reduced accuracy (79% - 86% accuracy). Our results indicate that accurate identification of maturity status and the reproductive staging of oocytes of walleye pollock based on spectral data from ovaries is possible. This can provide a fast and efficient way to increase the availability of a key component of reproductive data to inform fisheries research and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casimir forces arise if the spectrum of electromagnetic fluctuations are restricted by boundaries. There is great interest both in fundamental science and technical applications to better understand and technically control these forces. In this work, the influence of five different self‐assembled bio and organic monolayer thin films on the Casimir force between a plate and a sphere is experimentally investigated. It is found that the films, despite being a mere few nanometers thick, reduce the Casimir force by up to 14%. Spectroscopic data indicate a broad absorption band whose presence can be attributed to the mixing of electronic states of the underlying gold layer and those of the molecular film due to charge rearrangement. Using Lifshitz theory, it is calculated that the observed change in the Casimir force is consistent with the measured change in the effective dielectric properties. The nanometer‐sized molecules can penetrate small cavities, and cover any surface with high efficiency. This process seems compatible with current methods in the production of micro‐electromechanical systems (MEMS), which cannot be miniaturized beyond a certain size due to 'stiction' caused by the Casimir effect. This approach can therefore offer a practical solution for this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited charge carriers are studied in micron‐scale crystals composed of the inorganic perovskite CsPbBr3 with time‐resolved terahertz spectroscopy. Exciting with photon energy close to the band edge, it is found that a fast (<10 ps) decay emerges in the terahertz photoconductivity with increasing pump fluence and decreasing temperature, dominating the dynamics at 4 K. The fluence‐dependent dynamics can be globally fit by a nonlinear recombination model, which reveals that the influence of different nonlinear recombination mechanisms in the studied pump fluence range depends on temperature. Whereas the Auger scattering rate decreases with decreasing temperature from 77 to 4 K, the radiative recombination rate increases by three orders of magnitude. Spectroscopically, the terahertz photoconductivity resembles a Drude response at all delays, yet an additional Lorentz component due to an above‐bandwidth resonance is needed to fully reproduce the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a versatile class of materials. Understanding the structural and chemical properties of MOFs is essential for tailoring their performance to suit specific applications. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy, a non‐destructive vibrational spectroscopic technique, has evolved into a powerful tool for characterizing MOFs. Beyond spontaneous Raman scattering, numerous advanced Raman techniques have been developed to amplify the inherently weak Raman signal. These innovations have significantly enhanced the spatial resolution, frame rate, and sensitivity of Raman imaging, thereby opening up new possibilities for applications, such as label‐free sensing. This tutorial work is designed to demystify the fundamental theory and instrumentation of Raman spectroscopy, elucidating the differences between commonly used Raman techniques. Particular emphasis is placed on their advantages and limitations when applied to MOF materials. Furthermore, this work showcases how Raman techniques are employed in studying MOF systems to address societal needs and explore future directions. Ultimately, this review emphasizes the crucial role of Raman spectroscopy and the development of novel Raman‐based in situ techniques to conquer the field of MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the influence of radio-mode feedback on the properties of the cool circumgalactic medium (CGM). To this end, we assemble a statistical sample of approximately 30,000 radio galaxies with background quasars by combining optical spectroscopic measurements of luminous red galaxies and quasars from the year 1 data set of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and radio sources from the LOw-Frequency ARray Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) DR2 catalog and the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) quick-look catalog. Galaxies with similar optical properties but with no radio counterparts in LoTSS and VLASS are selected as the control group. We measure the cool CGM properties of radio galaxies and their control samples traced by Mg ii absorption lines, including covering fraction, rest equivalent width, and gas kinematics. Our results show no significant difference in the properties of gas around radio galaxies and their control sample, indicating that the operating radio-mode feedback of massive galaxies does not produce detectable effects on the properties of the cool CGM. Finally, we show that the CGM of radio galaxies contains a nonnegligible amount of cool gas with approximately 1010 M ⊙. This abundance can place a stringent constraint on the radio-mode feedback models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed wide-field, ultra-low-surface-brightness H α emission-line mapping around NGC 1068 with the newly commissioned Circumgalactic H α Spectrograph. NGC 1068 is notable for its active galactic nucleus, which globally ionizes gas in the disk and halo. Line-emitting diffuse ionized gas is distributed throughout the galactic disk and large-scale ionized filaments are found well beyond the disk, aligned with the cone angle of the central jet. We report the discovery of a new ribbon of ionized gas around NGC 1068 beyond even the known outer filamentary structure, located 20 kpc from the galaxy. The H α surface brightness of this ribbon is on the order of the bright telluric lines, ranging from 4 to 16 R, with fainter regions on the order of the sky background continuum. Unlike previous extended emission, the ribbon is not as well aligned with the current axis of the central jet. It is not associated with any galactic structure or known tidal features in the halo of NGC 1068, though it may originate from a larger distribution of unmapped neutral atomic or molecular gas in the halo. The morphology of the ribbon emission in H α is correlated with extended UV emission around NGC 1068. H α -to-UV flux ratios in the ribbon are comparable to extended emission-line ratios in the halos of NGC 5128, NGC 253, and M82. The H α excess in the ribbon gas suggests ionization by slow shocks or a mixture of in situ star formation and photoionization and collisional ionization processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study highlighted the differences between the biochemical compositions of urinary stones from patients with type 1 diabetes versus those with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This study included patients diagnosed with kidney stones and diabetes who were referred to the Urological Clinic of the Dr. C. I. Parhon Hospital in Iasi from April 2017 to April 2024. We analyzed the spectroscopic stone composition from 128 lithiasis patients treated in our Clinic. In the current study, the distribution of the biochemical composition of stones varied significantly between diabetic patients with type 2 diabetes, who formed primarily mixed uric acid stones, and diabetic patients with type 1 diabetes, who mainly developed pure uric acid stones (p < 0.001). Patients with uric acid stones had significantly higher mean creatinine values than the other stone types (p < 0.001). Urinary pH levels were abnormal for all biochemical subtypes of stones, indicating acidic urine. However, patients with uric acid stones had lower pH values than the group average. From the Kaplan–Mayer analysis, patients with pure uric acid stones had a shorter time to stone recurrence compared to patients with other biochemical types identified. Conclusions: These findings, which highlight the prevalence of pure uric acid stones in patients with type 1 diabetes and the impact of this on the strategy for dissolving pure stones, represent a significant advancement in understanding urinary lithiasis in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical stratification in marine sediment profiles indicates physical and chemical sedimentary processes and, thus, is the first step in sedimentary research and in studying their relationship with global climate change. Traditional technologies for studying vertical stratification have low efficiency; thus, new technologies are highly needed. Recently, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIR) has been explored to rapidly determine sediment parameters, such as clay content, particle size, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and so on. Here, we explored vertical stratification in a sediment column in the South China Sea using VNIR. The sediment column was 160 cm and divided into 160 samples by 1 cm intervals. All samples were classified into three layers by depth, that is, 0–50 cm (the upper layer), 50–100 cm (the middle layer), and 100–160 cm (the bottom layer). Concentrations of TC and TN in each sample were measured by Elementa Vario EL III. Visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra of each sample were collected by Agilent Cary 5000. A global model and several classification models for vertical stratification in sediments were established by a Support Vector Machine (SVM) after the characteristic spectra were identified using Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling. In the classification models, K-means clustering and Density Peak Clustering (DPC) were employed as the unsupervised clustering algorithms. The results showed that the stratification was successful by VNIR, especially when using the combination of unsupervised clustering and machine learning algorithms. The correct classification rate (CCR) was much higher in the classification models than in the global model. And the classification models had a higher CCR using K-means combined with SVM (94.8%) and using DPC combined with SVM (96.0%). The higher CCR might be derived from the chemical classification. Indeed, similar results were also found in the chemical stratification. This study provided a theoretical basis for the rapid and synchronous measurement of chemical and physical parameters in sediment profiles by VNIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterfly wing scales feature complex nanostructures that influence wing coloration and various mechanical and optical properties. This configuration plays a key role in ecological interactions, flight conditions, and thermoregulation, facilitated by interactions with environmental electromagnetic energy. In tropical forests, butterflies occupy distinct vertical habitats, experiencing significant light and temperature variations. While wing nanostructures have been widely studied, their variation across different vertical flight preferences remains underexplored. This study investigates the wing nanostructures of 12 tropical butterfly species from the Nymphalidae family, focusing on their optical, morphological, and thermal properties across different forest strata. We analyzed the optical response through diffuse reflectance in the UV, Vis, and NIR ranges, correlating these findings with nanostructural configuration and thermal stability using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Our results reveal a significant correlation between flight stratification and wing optical responses, alongside distinct nanostructural features within each stratum. This study demonstrates the variability in butterfly wing nanostructures along the vertical stratification of the forest to cope with environmental conditions, raising new questions for future research on eco-evolutionary flight and thermal adaptations. Additionally, this underscores the importance of understanding how these structural adaptations influence butterfly interactions with their environment and their evolutionary success across different forest strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxin contamination of foods is a major concern for food safety and public health worldwide. The contamination of agricultural commodities employed by humankind with mycotoxins (toxic secondary metabolites of fungi) is a major risk to the health of the human population. Common methods for mycotoxin detection include chromatographic separation, often combined with mass spectrometry (accurate but time-consuming to prepare the sample and requiring skilled technicians). Artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced as a new technique for mycotoxin detection in food, providing high credibility and accuracy. This review article provides an overview of recent studies on the use of AI methods for the discovery of mycotoxins in food. The new approach demonstrated that a variety of AI technologies could be correlated. Deep learning models, machine learning algorithms, and neural networks were implemented to analyze elaborate datasets from different analytical platforms. In addition, this review focuses on the advancement of AI to work concomitantly with smart sensing technologies or other non-conventional techniques such as spectroscopy, biosensors, and imaging techniques for rapid and less damaging mycotoxin detection. We question the requirement for large and diverse datasets to train AI models, discuss the standardization of analytical methodologies, and discuss avenues for regulatory approval of AI-based approaches, among other top-of-mind issues in this domain. In addition, this research provides some interesting use cases and real commercial applications where AI has been able to outperform other traditional methods in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and time required. This review aims to provide insights for future directions in AI-enabled mycotoxin detection by incorporating the latest research results and stressing the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration among food scientists, engineers, and computer scientists. Ultimately, the use of AI could revolutionize systems monitoring mycotoxins, improving food safety and safeguarding global public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of differentiation is important for regenerative medicine and developmental biology. This study aims to characterise the role of the glycolysis/oxidative phosphorylation balance as a driver of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. Cells were maintained in normal conditions or stimulated towards the MSC trilineage cell types over 21 days. Multispectral imaging of cell autofluorescence was applied as a non-invasive methodology to continuously image cultures in situ. Spectral signals for collagen, NAD(P)H, and flavins were unmixed. MSCs cultured under chondrogenic conditions exhibited increased collagen levels relative to controls. Following osteogenic induction, MSCs showed increased collagen levels relative to controls during the earlier stages of culture; however, control cells increased their collagen levels as they became confluent. MSCs cultured under adipogenic conditions exhibited lower levels of collagen than controls. The redox ratio (RR; NAD(P)H/flavins) immediately decreased during chondrogenesis, with this early effect persisting throughout the culture compared to control cells, which appeared to increase their RR, similar to osteogenesis. Adipogenesis resulted in a small increase in RR on day 2 relative to control cells, followed by a persistent decrease. Chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation favoured oxidative phosphorylation, whereas osteogenesis and MSC overgrowth resulted in a glycolytic metabolism. Following consideration of these findings, as well as the diverse reports in the literature, it is concluded that neither enhanced oxidative phosphorylation nor glycolysis are fundamental to the canonical modes of differentiation, and researchers should avoid interpreting shifts as indicating differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the dose-dependent brain temperature effects of transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM). Thirty adult subjects with major depressive disorder were randomized to three t-PBM sessions with different doses (low: 50 mW/cm2, medium: 300 mW/cm2, high: 850 mW/cm2) and a sham treatment. The low and medium doses were administered in continuous wave mode, while the high dose was administered in pulsed wave mode. A 3T MRI scanner was used to perform proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). A voxel with a volume of 30 × 30 × 15 mm3 was placed on the left prefrontal region. Brain temperature (°C) was derived by analyzing 1H-MRS spectrum chemical shift differences between the water (~ 4.7 ppm) and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) (~ 2.01 ppm) peaks. After quality control of the data, the following group numbers were available for both pre- and post-temperature estimations: sham (n = 10), low (n = 11), medium (n = 10), and high (n = 8). We did not detect significant temperature differences for any t-PBM-active or sham groups post-irradiation (p-value range = 0.105 and 0.781). We also tested for potential differences in the pre-post variability of brain temperature in each group. As for t-PBM active groups, the lowest fluctuation (variance) was observed for the medium dose (σ2 = 0.29), followed by the low dose (σ2 = 0.47), and the highest fluctuation was for the high dose (σ2 = 0.67). t-PBM sham condition showed the overall lowest fluctuation (σ2 = 0.11). Our 1H-MRS thermometry results showed no significant brain temperature elevations during t-PBM administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present investigation deals with the structural and pharmacokinetic properties of hydantoin‐based drug molecules such as phenytoin, mephenytoin, and ethotoin. Hydantoin‐based drugs are widely used as anticonvulsants in the treatment of epilepsy. In this study, optimized structures, and theoretical vibrational wavenumbers of phenytoin, mephenytoin, and ethotoin molecules were determined using Gaussian 09 program with density functional theory (DFT) and B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) basis set, vibration mode assignments were performed with the GAR2PED program, and the theoretical results were supported by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, thermodynamic parameters, Mulliken charge values, HOMO‐LUMO, natural bond orbital, MEP, hyperpolarizability analyzes of hydantoin‐based molecules were performed. Docking analysis of all molecules with the GABA‐AT receptor, which has an important place in epilepsy studies, were also carried out. Then, the molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the hydantoin‐based drugs‐GABA‐AT complexes were realized for 50 ns. ADMET profiles of all molecules were determined and presented by parameters of toxicity and drug‐likeness. Additionally, to determine the effects of hydantoin‐based drugs on glioblastoma cells, cytotoxic effects of phenytoin, mephenytoin, and ethotoin were evaluated on U‐87 Human glioblastoma cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers some problems related to the application of the concept of integral, which is one of the main sections of mathematical analysis, in various fields of chemistry. It is known that many mathematical discoveries were made as a result of observing natural phenomena, and mathematical concepts and theorems are closely related to real life. Chemistry, which studies the properties of substances and their transformations, and the events that occur during these transformations, is also an experimental science. Many properties of substances are expressed with the help of numbers. The study of the mechanism of chemical reactions, the study of the structure of substances is based on the use of modern physical theories and methods. Many chemical processes are accompanied by a heat effect. The temperature dependence of the thermal effect of a chemical reaction is expressed by the Kirchhoff equation. In practical calculations, it is more convenient to integrate the Kirchhoff equation. The Clausius equation, which is a mathematical expression of the second law of thermodynamics, can be written in differential and integral form. Thermodynamics studies energy transitions and energy changes of substances in various processes. The integral is important in solving the basic equations of thermodynamics. The field of studying the spectra of substances is also used for the analysis of the energy levels of integral molecules. It is important to use the integral to convert the spectral data in the time interval to the frequency interval in infrared spectroscopy, which is important in the formation of chemical bonds between atoms in the substances. How to apply integrals for reactions of different designs is described in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers different methods of divertor plasma diagnostics planned for using in the T‑15MD tokamak. Technical problems arising during operation of optical systems in the divertor zone are discussed, including degradation of in-vessel optical elements. The main attention is paid to the conceptual design of the "Passive Spectroscopy in Divertor" diagnostic system. The optical system, including in-vessel mirrors, and methods for protecting its components from the negative effects of plasma are described in detail. Using synthetic diagnostics and numerical simulation methods, the possibility of solving the problem of tomographic reconstruction of the two-dimensional profile of plasma radiation in the T-15MD divertor is demonstrated. Based on the results presented, it was concluded that passive spectroscopy can be used for obtaining data on plasma parameters in the divertor with good spatial resolution, which will make it possible to study the physics of processes and monitor the operation of the T-15MD divertor, including the operation in detachment regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation conditions play a key role in tailoring the properties of ceramic materials, including ferrite, to suit efficient industrial and technological applications. This manuscript is concerned with correlating the structural, spectroscopic, optical, transport, and dielectric properties of nickel zinc ferrite nanoparticles (NZNs) to the sintering temperature as an effective preparation condition controlled through the coprecipitation technique. Techniques for studying the various features of the synthesized compounds include x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the LCR bridge. XRD data showed the as-prepared samples' single-phase inverse spinel structure and an increase in crystallinity with increasing sintering temperature. SEM images show the nanosized range with semi-spherical particles for all the NZN fabricated samples. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy results showed that the four distinct active modes (Eg, F2g(2), A1g(2), and A1g(1)) for the NZN compounds have the same lattice strain tendency. The direct and indirect optical energy gap values (2-3.82) eV of the synthesized compounds span a wide range in the visible and ultraviolet spectrum, making them candidates for optoelectronic applications. In general, sintering temperature plays an outstanding role in increasing the values of some features such as crystallite size, optical energy gap, and electrical conductivity, and correspondingly decreasing other features such as unit cell volume dissociation density, absorption bands, and dielectric parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Localized shimming in single‐voxel MRS often results in large B0 inhomogeneity outside the volume‐of‐interest. This causes unacceptable degradation in motion navigator images. Switching back and forth between whole‐brain shim and localized shim is possible for linear shims, but not for higher‐order shims. Here we propose motion navigators largely insensitive to B0 inhomogeneity for prospective motion‐corrected MRS with localized higher‐order shimming. Methods: A recent fast high‐resolution motion navigator based on spiral‐in/out k‐space trajectories and multislice‐to‐volume registration was modified by splitting the readout into multiple shot interleaves which shortened the echo time and reduced the effect of B0 inhomogeneity. The performance of motion correction was assessed in healthy subjects in the prefrontal cortex using a sLASER sequence at 3T (N = 5) and 7T (N = 5). Results: With multiple spatial interleaves, excellent quality navigator images were acquired in the whole brain in spite of large B0 inhomogeneity outside the MRS voxel. The total duration of the navigator in sLASER remained relatively short even with multiple shots (3T: 10 spatial interleaves 94 ms per slice; 7T: 15 spatial interleaves 103 ms per slice). Prospective motion correction using the multi‐shot navigators yielded comparable spectral quality (water linewidth and metabolite SNR) with and without subject motion. Conclusion: B0‐insensitive motion navigators enable prospective motion correction for MRS with all first‐ and second‐order shims adjusted in the MRS voxel, providing optimal spectral linewidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a wide variety of measurement techniques that produce spectra as output datasets. Existing data analysis software and some open-source macros are useful but not sufficient for non-experts to perform peak-fitting analysis and interpretation. Therefore, we have investigated analysis method using unsupervised machine learning for highthroughput and automated peak deconvolution analysis of spectra without prior knowledge of experimental techniques and material databases. In this paper, we will introduce the open-source package called "EMPeaks", including development chronology, specific usage, current issues, and analysis examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is an established noninvasive measurement method to determine temperature distributions and local gas concentrations in combustion processes with high spatial and temporal resolution. This work presents high-precision LIF spectra of acetone and other tracers at ambient conditions. By using a large UV-sensitive sCMOS camera instead of an image intensified camera, many issues like nonlinearity, varying sensitivity, vignetting, limited resolution etc. could be minimized or eliminated. Particular care was taken to remove residual stray light and to calibrate the spectra with metrological traceability to the International System of Units SI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This perspective article focuses on the innovative field of materials-based bacterial engineering, highlighting interdisciplinary research that employs material science to study, augment, and exploit the attributes of living bacteria. By utilizing exogenous abiotic material interfaces, researchers can engineer bacteria to perform new functions, such as enhanced bioelectric capabilities and improved photosynthetic efficiency. Additionally, materials can modulate bacterial communities and transform bacteria into biohybrid microrobots, offering promising solutions for sustainable energy production, environmental remediation, and medical applications. Finally, the perspective discusses a general paradigm for engineering bacteria through the materials-driven modulation of their transmembrane potential. This parameter regulates their ion channel activity and ultimately their bioenergetics, suggesting that controlling it could allow scientists to hack the bioelectric language bacteria use for communication, task execution, and environmental response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) was mapped by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)/Mid‐Infrared Instrument (4.9–27.9 μ ${\upmu }$m) in July and August 2022. These observations took place alongside a suite of visual and infrared observations from; Hubble, JWST/NIRCam, Very Large Telescope/VISIR and amateur observers which provided both spatial and temporal context across the jovian disc. The stratospheric temperature structure retrieved using the NEMESIS software revealed a series of hot‐spots above the GRS. These could be the consequence of GRS‐induced wave activity. In the troposphere, the temperature structure was used to derive the thermal wind structure of the GRS vortex. These winds were only consistent with the independently determined wind field by JWST/NIRCam at 240 mbar if the altitude of the Hubble‐derived winds were located around 1,200 mbar, considerably deeper than previously assumed. No enhancement in ammonia was found within the GRS but a link between elevated aerosol and phosphine abundances was observed within this region. North‐south asymmetries were observed in the retrieved temperature, ammonia, phosphine and aerosol structure, consistent with the GRS tilting in the north‐south direction. Finally, a small storm was captured north‐west of the GRS that displayed a considerable excess in retrieved phosphine abundance, suggestive of vigorous convection. Despite this, no ammonia ice was detected in this region. The novelty of JWST required us to develop custom‐made software to resolve challenges in calibration of the data. This involved the derivation of the "FLT‐5" wavelength calibration solution that has subsequently been integrated into the standard calibration pipeline. Plain Language Summary: Regularly observed for over 150 years, Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) is one of the best documented storms in the Solar System. Despite the frequency of observations, crucial questions remain unanswered regarding the internal composition, dynamics and driving mechanism for the storm. Mid‐infrared observations acquired by the James Webb Space Telescope allowed us to peer past the colorful clouds to assess the composition and dynamics of the jovian weather layer. Data from the mid‐infrared instrument was modeled in the 7.30–10.75 μ ${\upmu }$m range to "retrieve" the temperature distribution. Further modeling of these temperatures allowed us to derive the wind speeds throughout the vortex, enabling us to assess the dynamics of the GRS and how the vortex interacts with its surroundings. In addition, a series of hot‐spots were observed above the GRS that could be the result of atmospheric wave activity. The distribution of ammonia was also mapped in this spectral range. Comparison of the distribution of ammonia to the cloud distribution implied that this molecule may condense into the thick layers of cloud above the GRS. Finally phosphine, indicative of upwelling air was mapped and allowed us to identify a small convective storm north‐west of the GRS. Key Points: Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) was observed by James Webb Space Telescope/Mid‐Infrared Instrument in 2022 to study the 3D structure of temperature, aerosols and gaseous speciesA series of stratospheric hot‐spots were discovered to be co‐moving with the GRS in the longitude directionElevated phosphine and a complex distribution of ammonia gas were observed inside the GRS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following research paper concerns the analysis and characterisation of commercially available surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. SERS has long been a potentially very powerful method with a great deal of interest around it; however, there are still many obstacles which do not allow SERS to be easily applied to real-world detection and analysis problems. As such, research around the various types of substrates is ongoing, in the hope of streamlining and improving the Raman enhancement mechanism. Scanning electron microscope images were obtained for each of the three substrates, and their features and scales were described. Enhanced Raman spectra for Rhodamine B were obtained for a range of concentrations using each of the three substrates, and, in addition, surface enhancement maps are presented. Enhancement factors were calculated for the 1358 cm−1 peak of Rhodamine B. Complementing the experimental work, theoretical FEM modelling in COMSOL Multiphysics was performed, with the resulting calculations yielding an enhancement prediction adequately accurate to the real substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescent polymer composites based on polystyrene and polycarbonate doped with boron difluoride curcuminoids containing various substituents in the phenyl ring have been synthesized. The effect of substituents, polymer matrix, and luminophore concentration on the spectral properties of the polymer composites has been studied. It has been found that the effect of the electron-donating force of luminophore substituents on the emission characteristics of the films is similar to the effect of solutions. The films doped with luminophores containing alkyl substituents (1a–5a) do not change their emission characteristics upon switching to another polymer matrix, while the 6a-doped composites are characterized by positive solvatochromism. A bathofluoric shift of luminescence with an increase in the luminophore concentration to 0.5% is observed for all the films. It has been found that the 6a-doped films exhibit delayed fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPLs) and nanoplastics (NPLs) are smaller particles derived from larger plastic material, polymerization, or refuse. In context to environmental health, they are separated into the industrially-created "primary" category or the degradation derivative "secondary" category where the particles exhibit different physiochemical characteristics that attenuate their toxicities. However, some particle types are more well documented in terms of their fate in the environment and potential toxicological effects (secondary) versus their industrial fabrication and chemical characterization (primary). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR/µ-FTIR), Raman/µ-Raman, Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H-NMR), Curie Point-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (CP-gc-MS), Induced Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), Field Flow Fractionation-Multiple Angle Light Scattering (FFF-MALS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetry (TGA), Differential Mobility Particle [Sizing] (DMPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Scanning Transmission X-ray Microspectroscopy (STXM) are reviewed as part of a suite of characterization methods for physiochemical ascertainment and distinguishment. In addition, Optical-Photothermal Infrared Microspectroscopy (O-PTIR), Z-Stack Confocal Microscopy, Mueller Matrix Polarimetry, and Digital Holography (DH) are touched upon as a suite of cutting-edge modes of characterization. Organizations, like the water treatment or waste management industry, and those in groups that bring awareness to this issue, which are in direct contact with the hydrosphere, can utilize these techniques in order to sense and remediate this plastic polymer pollution. The primary goal of this review paper is to highlight the extent of plastic pollution in the environment as well as introduce its effect on the biodiversity of the planet while underscoring current characterization techniques in this field of research. The secondary goal involves illustrating current and theoretical avenues in which future research needs to address and optimize MPL/NPL remediation, utilizing nanotechnology, before this sleeping giant of a problem awakens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the physicochemical characterisation of interpenetrating hydrogel networks (IHNs) composed of either poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate, p(HEMA)) or poly(methacrylic acid, p(MAA)), and Pluronic block copolymers (grades F127, P123 and L121). IHNs were prepared by mixing the acrylate monomer with Pluronic block copolymers followed by free radical polymerisation. p(HEMA)–Pluronic blends were immiscible, evident from a lack of interaction between the two components (Raman spectroscopy) and the presence of the glass transitions (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC) of the two components. Conversely, IHNs of p(MAA) and each Pluronic were miscible, displaying a single glass transition and secondary bonding between the carbonyl group of p(MAA) and the ether groups in the Pluronic block copolymers (Raman and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy). The effect of storage of the IHNs in Tris buffer on the physical state of each Pluronic and on the loss of Pluronic from the IHNs were studied using DSC and gravimetric analysis, respectively. Pluronic loss from the IHNs was dependent on the grade of Pluronic, time of immersion in Tris buffer, and the nature of the IHN (p(HEMA) or p(MAA)). At equilibrium, the loss was greater from p(HEMA) than from p(MAA) IHNs, whereas increasing ratio of poly(propylene oxide) to poly(ethylene oxide) decreased Pluronic loss. The retention of each Pluronic grade was shown to be primarily due to its micellization; however, hydrogen bonding between Pluronic and p(MAA) (but not p(HEMA)) IHNs contributed to their retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a case of processing X‐ray computed tomography (CT) data for pork scans using chemometric latent space modeling. The distribution of voxel intensities is shown to exemplify a multivariate, multi‐collinear signal mixture. While this concept is not novel, it is revisited here from a chemometric perspective. To extract meaningful information from such multivariate signals, latent space modeling based on partial least squares (PLS) is an ideal solution. Furthermore, a robust PLS approach is even more effective for latent space modeling, as it can extract latent spaces unaffected by outliers, thereby enhancing predictive modeling. As an example, lean meat percentage is predicted using X‐ray CT data and robust PLS regression. This method is applicable to X‐ray CT quantification analysis, particularly in cases where unclear, erroneous, and outlying observations are suspected in the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to provide an overview of the progress in protein‐based artificial photosystem design and their potential to uncover the underlying principles governing light‐harvesting in photosynthesis. While significant advances have been made in this area, a gap persists in reviewing these advances. This review provides a perspective of the field, pinpointing knowledge gaps and unresolved challenges that warrant further inquiry. In particular, it delves into the key considerations when designing photosystems based on the chromophore and protein scaffold characteristics, presents the established strategies for artificial photosystems engineering with their advantages and disadvantages, and underscores the recent breakthroughs in understanding the molecular mechanisms governing light‐harvesting, charge separation, and the role of the protein motions in the chromophore's excited state relaxation. By disseminating this knowledge, this article provides a foundational resource for defining the field of bio‐hybrid photosystems and aims to inspire the continued exploration of artificial photosystems using protein design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempting to compute the excess Raman spectra, the authors found that the method of spectral normalization greatly influences not only the intensity but also the shape of the excess spectra. We here present a method for the computation of normalized excess Raman spectra that is regarded as thermodynamically consistent. In the presented method, the normalized excess Raman spectra are computed from molar Raman spectra, which cannot be measured directly. It is therefore described how they can be obtained from intensity‐normalized Raman spectra and a regression of mixture Raman spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we address two problems associated with data‐limited dynamic spacecraft exploration: data‐prioritization for transmission, and data‐reduction for interpretation, in the context of ESA ExoMars rover multispectral imaging. We present and explore a strategy for selecting and combining subsets of spectral channels captured from the ExoMars Panoramic Camera, and attempt to seek hematite against a background of phyllosilicates and basalts as a test case scenario, anticipated from orbital studies of the rover landing site. We compute all available dimension reductions on the material reflectance spectra afforded by 4 spectral parameter types, and consider all possible paired combinations of these. We then find the optimal linear combination of each pair whilst evaluating the resultant target‐vs.‐background separation in terms of the Fisher Ratio and classification accuracy, using Linear Discriminant Analysis. We find ∼50,000 spectral parameter combinations with a classification accuracy >95% that use 6‐or‐less filters, and that the highest accuracy score is 99.6% using 6 filters, but that an accuracy of >99% can still be achieved with 2 filters. We find that when the more computationally efficient Fisher Ratio is used to rank the combinations, the highest accuracy is 99.1% using 4 filters, and 95.1% when limited to 2 filters. These findings are applicable to the task of time‐constrained planning of multispectral observations, and to the evaluation and cross‐comparison of multispectral imaging systems at specific material discrimination tasks. Plain Language Summary: Specially designed cameras used by Mars rovers can see not just with the red, green and blue colors of trichromatic vision, but through a dozen or so distinct color channels, some of which extend into the near‐infrared. This super‐human color vision allows for the distinction of a greater diversity of materials, such as types of rocks and soils, than 3‐color vision. This extra color information requires extra data, but there is a limit to the data than can be transmitted from Mars back to Earth each day. If only some of these colors can be transmitted, then which should be chosen? And once transmitted, how should these channels be combined and contrast‐stretched to best convey the content of the scene? That is the problem we address in this paper. We have used mathematical methods from linear algebra to efficiently trial >200,000 possible combinations and contrast stretches of the 12 available color channels of the ExoMars rover Panoramic Camera to find the best combination that uses the smallest number of channels, for finding the water‐related mineral hematite at the landing site of the ExoMars rover. We've found that only 2–6 channels are needed for an accuracy of >99%. Key Points: Method for ranking the ability of multispectral channel combinations to separate target from background material reflectance spectraUsed to seek minimal number of spectral channels needed by the ExoMars Rover PanCam multispectral imager to find hematite at Oxia PlanumFind ∼50,000 combinations with >95% accuracy using six‐or‐less channels, and find that >99% accuracy can be achieved with 2 channels [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]