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The Hf/Ti ratio was precisely controlled at monolayer thickness using atomic partial layer deposition (APLD). HfxTi1−xO2 films with varying Hf concentrations were deposited by adjusting the pulse time of Hf precursors within a single atomic layer. Characterization using x-ray reflectivity, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry confirmed the presence of Hf, Ti, and O in the films. Increasing the Hf content caused the binding energies of the O 1s peak to shift to higher values, indicating a chemical environment change from TiO2-like to HfO2-like. A higher Hf content also increased the relative atomic percentages of Hf, Ti, and O, altering the film properties. The mass density and optical properties were notably sensitive to changes in the Hf/Ti ratio at monolayer thickness. The potential of APLD to reduce dimensionality through precise control of both thickness and composition renders it especially appropriate for applications requiring highly specific material properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to finding the optimal parameters of the HgTe/CdHgTe multi-quantum-well structure for the generation of two-dimensional plasmon-phonons under optical excitation. It is shown that a decrease in the bandgap and an increase in the number of quantum wells lead to two consequences. The first is a decrease in the nonequilibrium carrier threshold concentration and the threshold power density of optical excitation required for the plasmon-phonon gain. The second is a significant (tens of times) decrease in the effective refractive index of the generated plasmon-phonons, which improves the output of the plasmon-phonon radiation from the edge of the structure. The value of the optimal bandgap and the optimal number of quantum wells in the structure for plasmon-phonon gain are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial growth rate, commonly reported in terms of doubling time, is frequently determined by one of two techniques: either by measuring optical absorption of a growing culture or by taking samples at different times during their growth phase, diluting them, spreading them on agar plates, incubating them, and counting the colonies that form. Both techniques require measurements of multiple repeats, as well careful assessment of reproducibility and consistency. Existing literature using either technique gives a wide range of growth rate values for even the most extensively studied species of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. This work aims to apply several methods to reliably determine the growth rate of a recently identified species of Enterobacteriaceae, called Enterobacter sp. SM3, and to compare that rate with that of a well-known wildtype E. coli strain KP437. Results: We extend conventional optical density (OD) measurements to determine the growth rate of Enterobacter sp. SM3. To assess the reliability of this technique, we compare growth rates obtained by fitting the OD data to exponential growth, applying a relative density method, and measuring shifts in OD curves following set factors of dilution. The main source of error in applying the OD technique is due to the reliance on an exponential growth phase with a short span. With proper choice of parameter range, however, we show that these three methods yield consistent results. We also measured the SM3 division rate by counting colony-forming units (CFU) versus time, yielding results consistent with the OD measurements. In lysogeny broth at 37oC, SM3 divides every 21 ± 3 min, notably faster than the RP437 strain of E. coli, which divides every 29 ± 2 min. Conclusion: The main conclusion of this report is that conventional optical density (OD) measurements and the colony-forming units (CFU) method can yield consistent values of bacterial growth rate. However, to ensure the reproducibility and reliability of the measured growth rate of each bacterial strain, different methods ought to be applied in close comparison. The effort of checking for consistency among multiple techniques, as we have done in this study, is necessary to avoid reporting variable values of doubling time for particular species or strains of bacteria, as seen in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to investigate a novel structure based on 1‐methylpiperazine cation [Co(NCS)4(OH2)2]·(C5H14N2)·H2O. The novel complex, 1‐methylpiperazine‐1,4‐diium diaquatetrakis (thiocyanato)‐cobalt hydrate, was investigated using DRX, differential thermogravimetry analysis, FTIR, UV–vis, impedance complex analysis, and density functional theory (DFT). Based on the reported results of these characterization tools, the desired complex phases were confirmed. In the title compound, the aromatic ring in the cationic entity adopts a slightly distorted chair conformation, which ensures coordination stability. FTIR analysis were occurred, which supported the presence of surface ligand groups of thiocyanates, and UV–vis spectroscopy of the electronic transition. Explorations of impedance spectroscopy on [Co(NCS)4(OH2)2]·(C5H14N2)·H2O reveal a fascinating electrical behavior which reveals that the Co complex component can be used as an electronic chip and under certain conditions. The electronic structure and optical properties of the complex were explored using the DFT, confirming it as a direct bandgap semiconductor with a predicted bandgap of 2.89 eV. Optical anisotropic features of the complex, aligning with its monoclinic structure, were identified via analysis of the dielectric function across the [100], [010], and [001] crystallographic directions. The thermal analysis was used to confirm the crystal thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Objective markers describing corneal optical density (COD), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), and anterior (ARC) and posterior (PRC) surface radii over the 3 mm thinnest region of the cornea were investigated to provide a model for estimating corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) after corneal cross-linking (CXL) in keratoconus. Methods: CDVA, COD, TCT, ARC, and PRC were monitored (using Pentacam™) over 1 year in patients with (1) keratoconus treated with routine CXL (2) relatively stable untreated keratoconus, and (3) age/gender-matched controls. Results: In group 1 (n = 77), the median logMAR CDVA (mode, interquartile range) improved significantly (p < 0.01) from 0.26 (0.22, 0.12–0.65) to 0.07 (0.00, 0.02–0.21). The mean (± standard deviation, 95% confidence interval) COD (in 0–100 grey scale units) in the 0–2 mm central anterior corneal region (0–2 ant), TCT (µm), ARC (mm), and PRC (mm) changed significantly (p < 0.01), from 21.2 (± 3.70, 20.4–22.0), 454 (± 40.0, 446–462), 6.49 (± 0.71, 6.33–6.65), and 4.81 (± 0.65, 4.66–4.96) to 31.5 (± 9.19, 29.5–33.6), 423 (± 49.3, 412–434), 6.78 (± 0.80, 6.60–6.98), and 4.74 (± 0.64, 4.59–4.88), respectively, but remained stable in groups 2 (n = 23) and 3 (n = 24). Significant relationships (p < 0.01) were uncovered between postop CDVA and preop values of COD, TCT, ARC, and PRC. Multilinear regression revealed significant correlations between CDVA at 1 year and preop COD, TCT, ARC, and PRC (r2 = 0.533, r20-2ant = 0.126, r2TCT = 0.321, r2ARC = 0.506, r2PRC = 0.467). Including preop CDVA further enhanced this correlation (r2 = 0.637, r2LogMAR CDVApreop = 0.566). Conclusion: CXL improved CDVA, increased COD and ARC, and reduced TCT and PRC. The chance of correctly estimating the CDVA at 1 year after CXL using preoperative markers of COD, TCT, ARC, and PRC is 53%, improving to 64% with the inclusion of preoperative CDVA. Objective measurements taken at the preoperative screening stage may be useful to estimate the likely postoperative CDVA when preoperative CDVA measures are unreliable or unobtainable. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT06522789. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular senescence is a major driver of aging and age-related diseases. Quantification of senescent cells remains challenging due to the lack of senescence-specific markers and generalist, unbiased methodology. Here, we describe the Fully-Automated Senescence Test (FAST), an image-based method for the high-throughput, single-cell assessment of senescence in cultured cells. FAST quantifies three of the most widely adopted senescence-associated markers for each cell imaged: senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity (SA-β-Gal) using X-Gal, proliferation arrest via lack of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, and enlarged morphology via increased nuclear area. The presented workflow entails microplate image acquisition, image processing, data analysis, and graphing. Standardization was achieved by (i) quantifying colorimetric SA-β-Gal via optical density; (ii) implementing staining background controls; and (iii) automating image acquisition, image processing, and data analysis. In addition to the automated threshold-based scoring, a multivariate machine learning approach is provided. We show that FAST accurately quantifies senescence burden and is agnostic to cell type and microscope setup. Moreover, it effectively mitigates false-positive senescence marker staining, a common issue arising from culturing conditions. Using FAST, we compared X-Gal with fluorescent C12FDG live-cell SA-β-Gal staining on the single-cell level. We observed only a modest correlation between the two, indicating that those stains are not trivially interchangeable. Finally, we provide proof of concept that our method is suitable for screening compounds that modify senescence burden. This method will be broadly useful to the aging field by enabling rapid, unbiased, and user-friendly quantification of senescence burden in culture, as well as facilitating large-scale experiments that were previously impractical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar-mediated microbial degradation is receiving increased attention for remediating organic pollutants. However, the mechanism of biochar-facilitated bioremediation is poorly understood. This study demonstrated that wheat straw biochar could significantly enhance roxarsone biodegradation by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. The average rate constants were calculated to be 0.0410, 0.0477, 0.0575, and 0.0441 h−1 for treatments with 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 g/L biochar, respectively, which were all higher than that in treatment with only MR-1 (0.0363 h−1). The impact of biochar dosage on roxarsone degradation followed as 0.5 g/L > 0.1 g/L > 1.0 g/L > 0.05 g/L biochar. The high specific surface area of biochar provided more opportunity for contact with MR-1, which was certified by the scanning electron microscope images. The extracellular polymeric substances were affected by the addition of biochar. The concentrations of protein and polysaccharide were lower with various concentrations of biochar to the system with only MR-1. The cell proliferation was promoted by the addition of biochar and the optical density value of MR-1 followed 0.5 g/L biochar group > 0.1 g/L biochar group > 1 g/L biochar group > 0.05 g/L biochar group > only MR-1. These results improved our understanding of biochar-mediated biodegradation and showed that an optimized dosage of wheat straw-derived biochar could be a microbial growth activator, accelerating the roxarsone conversion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the structural, optical, and electrical properties of dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) deposited by electron beam deposition under ultra-vacuum on porous p-type GaAs. A porous GaAs layer was produced by electrochemical anodic etching of a (100)-heavily doped p-type GaAs substrate in hydrofluoric acid (HF) and ethanol C2H5OH solution. The surface topography of the elaborated Dy2O3 layer was determined based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) images. AFM studies showed that the structure and roughness of the Dy2O3 layer were strongly dependent on the roughness and surface of porous GaAs. Dy2O3 is polycrystalline and exhibits a cubic crystalline structure, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The optical properties of Dy2O3/p-porous GaAs were analyzed using various techniques including ellipsometry and photoluminescence (PL) to obtain information on surface and interface quality, bandgap, optical constants, dielectric constant, and thickness. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed an intense peak at 835 nm and additional weak emission peaks at 473 nm and 540 nm, respectively. The observed intense peak can be directly attributed to the interband recombination process of free carriers in the direct bandgap of p-GaAs, while the weak emission peaks at 473 nm and 540 nm correspond to 4F9/2-6H15/2 and 4F9/2-6H13/2 transitions, respectively. In the spectral region of 350 nm to 500 nm, the average thickness of the Dy2O3 layer was determined to be 11 nm. The electrical properties of the (Co/Au)/Dy2O3/p-porous GaAs metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) capacitor were investigated via capacitance–voltage (C–V) and conductance–voltage (G/ω–V) measurements in the temperature range of 100–400 K and frequency range of 50 Hz to 1 MHz, respectively. The experiments demonstrated that both capacitance and conductance were influenced by temperature and frequency. Additionally, the effect of temperature on interface state density (Nss) was studied, which showed that an increase in temperature led to a decrease in the interface state density (Nss) of the (Co/Au)/Dy2O3/p-porous GaAs (MOS) capacitor, as calculated by the Hill–Coleman method. The mean values of Nss for the (Co/Au)/Dy2O3/p-porous GaAs (MOS) capacitor were determined to be approximately 1012 eV−1 cm−2, making it suitable for electronic device applications. The lower values of Nss can be attributed to a low amount of local defect microstructure at the Dy2O3/p-porous GaAs interface due to the incorporation of the Dy2O3 layer into the porous GaAs. The electrical conductivity of the (Co/Au)/Dy2O3/p-porous GaAs (MOS) capacitor was studied using impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 1 MHz at temperatures ranging from 80 K to 450 K. At low frequencies, the conductivity of alternating current (σAC) remained nearly constant, whereas at high frequencies, it increased rapidly, representing σDC and σAC, respectively. The Arrhenius plot of σAC shows two distinct slopes corresponding to two activation energies, 35 MeV and 10 MeV, in the chosen temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms shield the bacteria from antibiotics and the body's defenses, often leading to chronic infections that are challenging to treat. This study aimed to assess the impact of sub-lethal doses of antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (sAPDI) utilizing carbon dots (CDs) derived from gentamicin and imipenem on biofilm formation and the expression of genes (pelA and pslA) associated with P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. The anti-biofilm effects of sAPDI were evaluated by exposing P. aeruginosa to sub-minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations (sub-MBIC) of CDsGEN-NH2, CDsIMP-NH2, CDsGEN-IMP, and CDsIMP-GEN, combined with sub-lethal UVA light irradiation. Biofilm formation ability was assessed by crystal violet (CV) assay and enumeration method. Additionally, the impact of sAPDI on the expression of pelF and pslA genes was evaluated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Compared to the control group, the sAPDI treatment with CDsGEN-NH2, CDsIMP-NH2, CDsGEN-IMP, and CDsIMP-GEN resulted in a significant reduction in biofilm activity of P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (P < 0.0001). The CV assay method demonstrated reductions in optical density of 83.70%, 81.08%, 89.33%, and 75.71%, while the CFU counting method showed reductions of 4.03, 3.76, 4.39, and 3.21 Log10 CFU/mL. qRT-PCR analysis revealed decreased expression of the pelA and pslA genes in P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 following sAPDI treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The results indicate that sAPDI using CDs derived from gentamicin and imipenem can decrease the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa and the expression of the pelA and pslA genes associated with its biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical switching technology is emerging as a solution to the limitations of traditional electronic switching. Combining optical switching with mode‐division multiplexing effectively overcomes the limitations of expanding switching capacity solely by increasing the number of ports. This paper introduces a compact four‐mode 2 × 2 optical switch and a four‐mode reconfigurable non‐blocking 4 × 4 optical switch matrix based on the Beneš architecture. The multimode 2 × 2 switch achieves an extinction ratio larger than 15 dB for all modes in the wavelength range of 1530–1590 nm. The multimode 4 × 4 switch matrix has an extinction ratio exceeding 9 dB for all modes and states in the C‐band, with a compact size (1.46 × 0.23 mm2) and low power consumption (0–154 mW). It supports high‐integrity 50 Gbaud PAM4 signal transmission with a bit error rate below the forward error correction limit. These devices pave the way for enhanced integration density and capacity in optical switching systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, optical characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) suspension has been performed by using Fluorescence spectroscopy. Optical density (OD) and plate count methods have been employed as a reference for the analysis of emission spectra of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water suspension. Emission spectra of PA suspension has been acquired by using excitation wavelengths from 270 to 420 nm with step of 10 nm to explore its spectral behavior. It has been found that emission spectra of tryptophan, tyrosine, NADH and FAD, the intracellular biomolecules of bacteria, can be used as finger prints for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the effect of water matrix on the spectral emission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been investigated that might be one of the limitation of Fluorescence spectroscopy for complex water matrices. Moreover, a calibration curve has been produced between ODs600 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspensions of different bacterial load and integrated intensities of the emission spectra of same samples. These ODs600 and integrating intensities have been further vetted through plate count method by determining their corresponding colony forming units per ml (CFU/ml). This calibration curve may be used to determine CFU/ml of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water sample by determining integrating intensity of its emission spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiochromic film (RCF) and image plates (IPs) are both commonly used detectors in diagnostics fielded at inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and high-energy-density physics (HEDP) research facilities. Due to the intense x-ray background in all ICF/HEDP experiments, accurately calibrating the optical density of RCF as a function of x-ray dose, and the photostimulated luminescence per photon of IPs as a function of x-ray energy, is necessary for interpreting experimental results. Various measurements of the sensitivity curve of different IPs to x rays have been performed [Izumi et al., Proc. SPIE 8850, 885006 (2013) and Rosenberg et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 90(1), 013506 (2019)]; however, calibrating RCF is a tedious process that depends on factors such as the orientation in which the RCF is scanned in the film scanner and the batch of RCF used. These issues can be mitigated by cross-calibrating RCF with IPs to enable the use of IPs for the determination of dose on the RCF without scanning the RCF. Here, the first cross-calibration of RCF with IPs to quasi-monoenergetic titanium, copper, and molybdenum K-line x rays is presented. It is found that the IP-inferred dose rates on the RCF for the Ti and Mo x rays agree well with the measured dose rates, while the IP-inferred dose rate for the Cu x rays is larger than the measured dose rate by ∼ 2 ×. Explanations for this discrepancy and plans for future work are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges to feed the world in 2050 are becoming more and more apparent. This calls for producing more with fewer inputs (most of them under scarcity), higher resource efficiency, minimum or zero effect on the environment, and higher sustainability. Therefore, increasing the circularity of production systems is highly significant for their sustainability. This study investigates the utilization of waste streams from greenhouse hydroponic drainage nutrient solutions for the cultivation of the microalgae Desmodesmus sp. The cultivation was done in an automatically controlled container-scale closed tubular Photo Bio-Reactor (PBR). The study included lab-scale open-pond system experiments and in situ container-scale experiments in the greenhouse wastewater system to assess biomass growth, optical density, nitrogen consumption, and the influence of enzymatic complexes on microalgae cell breakdown. A batch-harvesting process was followed, and the harvested microalgae biomass was pre-concentrated using FeCl3 as a flocculant that has demonstrated efficient sedimentation and biomass recovery. Following microalgae sedimentation, the produced biomass was used for biostimulant production by means of a biocatalysis process. The enzymatic complexes, "EnzProt", "EnzCell", and "EnzMix" were tested for cell breakdown, with "EnzMix" at a dosage of 10% showing the most promising results. The results demonstrate successful biomass production and nitrogen uptake in the lab-scale open-pond system, with promising upscaling results within container-scale cultivation. The findings contribute to a better assessment of the needs of Desmodesmus sp. culture and highlight the importance in optimizing culture conditions and enzymatic processes for the production of biostimulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a reading of Mike Mills's 2016 film 20th Century Women (US), arguing that the film's aesthetic and ethical project is cognate with practices of surface reading, while also offering necessary points of friction and departure. Surface reading makes a compelling argument against the excavation of so-called deeper meaning; however, its claims to objective truthfulness cannot adequately account for the multiplicity of the surface itself — that which ultimately resists the stability that proponents claim it confirms. Instead, as I will argue, we might turn to a method like surface reading not as a tool with which to diagnose true meaning or claim certainty but to think about the surface as a zone that voids knowability, as a site where we find not the transparent but the opaque, and where we encounter fundamental forms of alterity. Drawing primarily on the aesthetic properties of the film, including color, mise-en-scène, cinematography, and editing, I argue that 20th Century Women recuperates the surface, but the surface does not clarify or confirm meaning; rather, as Mills attests, it remains a zone of lasting mystery. This is at the heart of the film's ethical intervention, which resists the possibility of total, appropriative knowledge and coordinates other forms of attention premised on openness and nonmastery instead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel and sensitive analytical technique was proposed for estimating perindopril (angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor) in formulations using acidic dye as chromogenic reagent. The study was established on the development of colour species formation between perindopril erbumine and chromogenic reagent such as azocarmine G (ACG). Proposed method consists formation of an ion-pair association complex with azocarmine-G. The optical density was measured at λmax of 540 nm. Regression analysis of proposed method showed that the linearity lies within the concentration limits of 20-100 µg mL-1. Molar absorptivity (∈max) values of developed method are found to be as 3.22 x 10Á L mol-1 cm-1. Investigated method was found to have linear correlation coefficient (r) value of 0.9999. Proposed method obeyed Lambert-Beer' law with reproducible results. Percentage recovery was found to be within the limits of 99.7 - 100.1 (± 0.41 SD, ± 0.57 SD). All the parameters were validated statistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peculiarities of the decoration of gravure imprints on cardboard using fluorescent inks are considered. The influence of the number of fluorescent impurities added to gravure printing ink on the optical indicators of printed image quality, particularly optical density, and gloss, is investigated. Increasing the number of fluorescent impurities added to the ink from 10 to 30% helps to increase the gloss on imprints from 2 to 15 units. Conducted thermogravimetric studies show the resistance of fluorescent imprints to the influence of temperatures during drying in the printing process. The topography of the surface of the substrates and its influence on the quality of imprints is studied. Conducted electron microscopic studies of imprints obtained with inks with different amounts of fluorescent impurities show their uniform distribution on the surface of the substrate. Studies of the fluorescence spectra of the ink and the imprints formed by it confirm the phenomenon of an increase in the intensity of the glow of printed images. The studies confirm the well-known influence of substrate roughness on the smoothness of gravure imprints. It is established that the absence of significant macro irregularities on the surface of Koppargloss FBB cardboard is due to the presence of two coating layers. Analysis of the surface profiles of FBB cardboard shows that its roughness parameter (Ra = 0.424 μm) is three times smaller compared to Incada Silk C GC1 cardboard (the roughness parameter Ra = 1.28 μm), with a single-layer coating. Such a pattern is also preserved on the imprints, which is reflected in their quality accordingly. Studies show that for imprints on GC1 cardboard, the average ΔE value is 2.23, for imprints on FBB cardboard, the average ΔE value is 3.71, which is due to the presence of double coating. The factors that can influence the process of fluorescence of printed images are outlined. The technological characteristics of inks for gravure printing on packaging are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-acne erythema (PAE) is a bothering skin condition that emerges from inflammatory acne and persists after its resolution. It is characterized by telangiectasia and erythematous macules. the role of 1064-nm Nd: YAG when combined with low-dose isotretinoin in the acne erythema treatment. forty-eight PAE patients were involved in the study. They were divided into two groups; group (A) patients administering a low dose of oral isotretinoin (10 mg/day) and underwent a total of six two-week interval sessions of 1064 ND-YAG laser treatment, group (B) patients administering a low dose of oral isotretinoin (10 mg/day) only. All adverse effects experienced during the course of therapy were documented, and photos were taken before the start of the treatment and following the end of the treatment duration. Following the completion of the therapeutic intervention, a significant improvement in clinical condition was observed in both groups, with more improvement in group (A) compared to group (B) as evidenced by a notable improvement in the score on the Clinician Erythema Assessment Scale (CEAS) and also a significant decrease in the mean value of optical density of the erythema. combined 1064-nm Nd: YAG with low-dose isotretinoin may be an efficient and secure line in the PAE treatment. Also, the combined therapy had superior results when compared to low-dose isotretinoin alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key parameter in the printing process is the evenness of applying the ink layer on the printing substrate. It determines the quality of the produced prints. One of the many factors affecting the final evenness of the ink layer on the print is the phenomenon of mottling, which is caused by the non-uniform internal structure of the paper. The aim of this work was to analyze the influence of basic printing parameters on the value of the mottling index. The research showed a significant effect of the pressure in the printing unit of the offset machine and the thickness of the ink layer on the printing substrate on the value of the primary mottling index. In addition, the research revealed that the properties of the printing substrate have a significant impact on the value and nature of changes in the mottling index. In this work, using the Fourier analysis, the frequency of optical density fluctuations in solid tone area related to the mottling phenomenon was also studied. No influence of pressure changes in the Nip of the printing unit on this print parameter was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and validation of two uncomplicated, selective, and non-extraction-based visible spectrophotometric methods was carried out for the quantification of a tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline hydrochloride as pharmaceutical tablets as well as in its pure form. The methods rely on the formation of ion pair complexes between amitriptyline base and two acidic dyes, bromothymol blue and bromocresol purple, which were subsequently measured at 410 and 400 nm, respectively. The developed methods included numerous reaction variables that were examined and improved. Beer's law is applicable under optimal conditions for the bromothymol blue and bromocresol purple methods, respectively, over concentrations from 0.5 to 12.5 μg mL−1 and from 0.5 to 10.0 μg mL−1 amitriptyline hydrochloride. The computed values of molar absorptivity were 1.79 × 104 and 2.32 × 104 L.mol−1.cm−1 for bromothymol blue and bromocresol purple methods, respectively, with Sandell's sensitivity values of 0.0155 and 0.0119 μg cm−2. Both detection limits and quantification limits were computed and determined to be 0.55 and 1.67 μg mL−1 for bromothymol blue method, and 0.49 and 1.49 μg mL−1 for bromocresol purple method, respectively. The developed methods were successfully applied to estimate the concentration of amitriptyline hydrochloride in bulk form and commercial pills. Therefore, these methods demonstrate promising potential for testing this drug in labs for quality control. Spectrophotometric quantification of amitriptyline hydrochloride in pharmaceutical tablets: method development and validation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) causes dental caries. S. mutans biofilms are inhibited by the antibacterial properties of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam (Z. mauritiana Lam). Purpose: Evaluating the potential of Z. mauritiana Lam in inhibiting the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans ATCC 25175 in vitro. Methods: This study used the ethanolic extract of Z. mauritiana Lam as the test material and S. mutans as the research subject. Spectrophotometry (620 nm) was used to assess the growth of S. mutans, the inhibition of S. mutans biofilm using a 1% crystal violet staining was measured by spectrophotometry (520 nm), and the visualization of the biofilm mass was conducted with an electric microscope (200x). Results: At all concentrations, Z. mauritiana Lam displayed excellent growth inhibition of S. mutans 0.04-0.09 (< 300 CFU/mL) and was able to inhibit the formation of S. mutans biofilm with a strong scale of optical density (OD) 0.4 at 24 hours incubation time. At the same time, the incubation time of 48 and 72 hours tended to have moderate-scale biofilm inhibition (OD 0.2-3.9). At a concentration of 25%, the biofilm mass decreased by a relatively small size, the same as the positive control group. At 50%, 12.5%, and 6.25%, it was seen that the S. mutans biofilm mass experienced a dominant loss. Conclusion: Z. mauritiana Lam can be bacteriostatic against the growth of S. mutans and can inhibit the formation of biofilms by degrading the structure and mass of S. mutans biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a curdlan-producing bacterium was isolated from Cow pea soil and identified as Priestia megaterium based on 16 S rRNA sequencing. To identify the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources for curdlan production, submerged fermentation studies with different sources was carried out. To enhance the curdlan yield, optimization by one-factor-at-a-time approach was conducted. The optimal fermentation media consisted of 15% (w/v) sucrose, 0.1% (w/v) urea, 0.1% (w/v) KH2PO4, 0.04% (w/v) MgSO4·7H2O, trace elements, initial pH of 7.0 with 10% (v/v) inoculum size and agitation speed of 180 rpm. Kinetics of growth, curdlan yield, sucrose and ammonia depletion were studied for a period of 168 h. Maximum curdlan yield (0.31 g/L) was achieved at 96 h of fermentation. At this point, the fermentation media had an optical density of 9.68, biomass concentration of 4.26 mg/mL, and viable count of 2.4 × 104 CFU/mL. Additionally, the maximum percentage consumption of sucrose and ammonia over 168 h of fermentation were 75 and 62.5%, respectively. Finally, the identity of biopolymer curdlan was validated through characterization techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Some characteristic features of curdlan such as the β-1,3-linkage was depicted by the absorption band at 890 cm−1 in FTIR, flaky granules with irregularities as seen in SEM, and thermal degradation between 235 and 350 °C by TGA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on curdlan production from Priestia megaterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the functional and morphological variations of retinal vessels in diabetes with no clinically detectable retinopathy (NDR) and mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and to establish a high-performance mild NPDR diagnostic model. Methods: Normal subjects and type 2 diabetes patients with NDR and mild NPDR were recruited. Oxygen-saturation-related functional parameter (optical density ratio ODR) and morphological characteristics (fractal dimension Df, vessel area rate VAR, mean vascular diameter Dm, vessel tortuosity τ) of different vascular areas were extracted with single fundus photography and comprehensively analyzed among groups. An interpretable model combining marine predator algorithm (MPA) and support vector machine (SVM) based on characteristic selection was proposed for mild NPDR diagnosis. Results: A total of 91 NDR subjects, 75 mild NPDR subjects, and 111 sex- and age-matched normal controls were analyzed. Increased main vessels ODR, while lower VAR of all areas except outer ring macula, lower Dm of all vessels and decreased τ of all areas were associate with NDR (e.g. main vessels ODR: OR [95%CI] 1.42[1.07–1.89], full macula τ:0.53[0.38–0.74]). Increased ODR of all areas, higher Dm of all areas except inner ring macula, increased inner ring macula τ, while decreased Df of full and inner ring macula, lower VAR of all areas were associate with mild NPDR (e.g. main vessels ODR:5.68[3.03–10.65], inner ring macula VAR: 0.48[0.33–0.69]). The MPA-SVM model with selected characteristics obtained the best diagnosis performance (AUC:0.940 ± 0.014; Accuracy:90.4 ± 3.9%; Sensitivity:89.2 ± 6.4%; Specificity:91.3 ± 6.4%). Conclusions: More significant retinal vascular variations are associate with the incidence of mild NPDR than NDR. High-precision mild NPDR diagnosis is achieved combining the morphological and functional vascular characteristics based on characteristic selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose Materials and methods Results Conclusion Radiochromic film (RCF) dosimeters with their high spatial resolution and tissue equivalent properties are conveniently used for two‐dimensional and small‐field dosimetry. OC‐1 is a new model of RCF dosimeter that was commercially introduced recently. Due to its novelty there is a need to characterize its response in various radiation beam types.To study the response of OC‐1 RCFs to megavoltage clinical x‐ray, electron, and proton beams, as well as kilovoltage x‐ray beams used in a small animal research irradiator.OC‐1 RCFs were cut into ∼4 × 4 cm2 pieces. RCF samples were irradiated at various dose levels in the range 0.5–120 Gy using different modalities; a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) (220 kVp), a medical linear accelerator (6 MV, 10 MV, 15 MV, 6 MV FFF, 10 MV FFF photon beams, as well as 6 and 20 MeV electron beams), and a gantry‐mounted proton therapy synchrocyclotron. In order to study any dependency on the fractionation scheme, same dose was delivered at several fractions to a set of films. Different dose rates in the range 200–600 MU/min were delivered to a set of films to investigate any dose rate dependency. The films were scanned pre‐irradiation and at 48 h post‐irradiation using a flatbed scanner. The net optical density (OD) was measured for red, green, and blue color channel for each film. The orientation dependency was studied by scanning the films at eight different orientations. In order to study the temporal evolution of the response of the films, film samples were irradiated at 10 and 50 Gy using 6 MV photon beams and were scanned upon irradiation at certain time intervals up to 3 months. The spectral response of the films were studied over the visible range using a spectrometer.For megavoltage photon, electron, and plateau region of the proton beams, we did not observe a significant dependency on the beam quality, dose rate, and fractionation scheme. At the kV beam, an unusual over‐response was observed in the films’ net OD. An orientation dependency in the response of the films with a sinusoidal trend was observed. The response of the films increased with time following a double or triple exponential trend. The spectral absorption peaks were blue‐shifted with dose.OC‐1 RCFs were found to be reliable dosimeters with no significant energy dependency in MV range for photon and electron beams including the FFF beams. They over‐respond when irradiated by kV x‐ray beams compared to MV x‐ray beams. Caution must be exercised to maintain the orientation of the films when scanning. Due to the temporal growth in the net OD of the films, same post‐irradiation time interval must be used for scanning the calibration and test films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to replicate associations of GWAS-significant loci with severe COVID-19 in the population of Central Russia, to investigate associations of the SNPs with thromboinflammation parameters, to analyze gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions. Materials and Methods: DNA samples from 798 unrelated Caucasian subjects from Central Russia (199 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 599 controls with a mild or asymptomatic course of COVID-19) were genotyped using probe-based polymerase chain reaction for 10 GWAS-significant SNPs: rs143334143 CCHCR1, rs111837807 CCHCR1, rs17078346 SLC6A20-LLZTFL1, rs17713054 SLC6A20-LLZTFL1, rs7949972 ELF5, rs61882275 ELF5, rs12585036 ATP11A, rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1, rs12610495 DPP9, rs9636867 IFNAR2. Results: SNP rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 was associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 in the entire group (risk allele A, OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.22-2.6, p = 0.003), obese individuals (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.52-3.5, p = 0.0002, (pbonf = 0.0004)), patients with low fruit and vegetable intake (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.15-2.58, p = 0.01, (pbonf = 0.02)), low physical activity (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.26-2.94, p = 0.0035, (pbonf = 0.007)), and nonsmokers (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.11-2.46, p = 0.02). This SNP correlated with increased BMI (p = 0.006) and worsened thrombodynamic parameters (maximum optical density of the formed clot, D (p = 0.02), delayed appearance of spontaneous clots, Tsp (p = 0.02), clot size 30 min after coagulation activation, CS (p = 0.036)). SNP rs17078346 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 was linked with increased BMI (p = 0.01) and severe COVID-19 in obese individuals (risk allele C, OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.15-2.58, p = 0.01, (pbonf = 0.02)). SNP rs12610495 DPP9 was associated with increased BMI (p = 0.01), severe COVID-19 in obese patients (risk allele G, OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.09-2.01, p = 0.01, (pbonf = 0.02)), and worsened thrombodynamic parameters (time to the start of clot growth, Tlag (p = 0.01)). For rs7949972 ELF5, a protective effect against severe COVID-19 was observed in non-obese patients (effect allele T, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.47-0.95, p = 0.02, (pbonf = 0.04)), improving thrombodynamic parameters (CS (p = 0.02), stationary spatial clot growth rates, Vst (p = 0.02)). Finally, rs12585036 ATP11A exhibited a protective effect against severe COVID-19 in males (protective allele A, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.32-0.83, p = 0.004). SNPs rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1, rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1, rs7949972 ELF5, rs9636867 IFNAR2--were involved in two or more of the most significant G×G interactions (pperm = 0.01). The pairwise combination rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1 × rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 was a priority in determining susceptibility to severe COVID-19 (it was included in four of the top five most significant SNP-SNP interaction models). Conclusion: Overall, this study represents a comprehensive molecular-genetic and bioinformatics analysis of the involvement of GWAS-significant loci in the molecular mechanisms of severe COVID-19, gene-gene and geneenvironmental interactions, and provides evidence of their relationship with thromboinflammation parameters in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phage therapy is a promising antibacterial strategy, especially given that drugresistant bacterial infections are escalating worldwide. Because phages are not active against all strains of a given species, phages being considered for therapeutic use would ideally be tested against bacterial isolates from individual patients prior to administration. Standardized, clinically validated phage susceptibility testing (PST) methods are needed for assessing in vitro phage activity. This study compared two high-throughput liquid-based PST assays. The first, using the Biolog Omnilog™, assessed changes in microbial respiration leading to color changes based on a tetrazolium dye. The second, Agilent BioTek Cytation 7, assessed changes in optical density. Both used 96-well microtiter plate formats. A total of 55 diverse phages with activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, or Enterococcus faecalis were studied against their respective susceptible bacterial hosts and non-susceptible controls, with susceptibility defined based on plaque assay. PST was performed by both assays in replicates, with results compared in terms of hold times (time through which bacterial growth is inhibited by phage compared to controls). Coefficients of variance and interclass correlation coefficients were used to assess inter- and intra-assay reproducibility. Based on a ≤50% coefficient of variance cutpoint, 87% of Biolog and 84% of Agilent assays were considered valid for susceptible bacteria, with 100% considered valid for non-susceptible bacteria by both systems. Using a 8 h hold time cutpoint, 100% of the results matched between the two assays. The interclass correlation coefficient showed 26% excellent agreement, 35% good agreement, and 17% moderate agreement between the two assays for susceptible isolates and 100% excellent agreement for non-susceptible isolates. Overall, the assays compared provided good/fair statistical reproducibility for the assessment of phage susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of faricimab intravitreal injections in patients with exudative age macular degeneration (nAMD) after the loading dose using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Methods: In this observational prospective study, we enlisted a total of 12 consecutive eyes of 12 patients (six females, six males; mean age 70.47 ± 2.46 years) affected by nAMD who consecutively presented to the Eye Clinic of the University of Naples "Federico II" and Monaldi Hospital of Naples, from June 2023 to December 2023. All patients received four once-monthly intravitreal injections of faricimab (6 mg/0.05 mL) (loading phase). At baseline and 1 month after the fourth faricimab monthly injection, all patients underwent assessment of best correct visual acuity (BCVA) and ophthalmic examination, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure (IOP), fundus biomicroscopy, SD-OCT, and MPOD. Results: A total of 12 eyes of 12 patients (six women, six men; mean age 70.47 ± 2.46 years) were included in this study. A statistically significant raise in BCVA and MOPD parameters was shown between baseline and after the loading phase (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Intravitreal injections of faricimab led in the short term to a significant functional and MPOD improvement along with a decrease in central macular thickness (CMT) and thus appears to be an effective treatment option without relevant adverse effects. MOPD may be considered as a prognostic factor associated with a good visual prognosis after intravitreal injections treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next-generation energy-efficient photonic integrated systems, such as neuromorphic computational chips require efficient heterogeneous integration of ultracompact light sources and photodetectors through highly dense waveguide circuits. However, interconnecting these devices in emitter-receiver communication circuits remains a challenge and an obstacle towards upscaling heterogeneous photonic chips. Here we report on versatile air-cladded free-standing 3D polymer waveguides (OrmoCore, n≈1.5) spanning up to 900 µm in length without intermediate mechanical support structures, microprinted via two-photon polymerization. The presented waveguides are suitable for on-chip out-of-plane light coupling as well as non-connected 3D crossings, needed for high density optical circuits. The waveguides show optical transmission losses of 1.93 dB mm−1 at λ = 635 nm, and of 3.71 dB mm−1 at λ = 830 nm in the wavelength range of GaAs-based microLEDs spectral emission. On-chip imaging for high-precision alignment and TPP microfabrication are performed seamlessly by utilizing the same laser source for both steps, allowing accurate 3D printing on microstructured substrates. As proof of concept, we interconnect two GaAs-based microLEDs via an on-chip microprinted 3D waveguide. Such combined systems can serve as building blocks of future complex integrated heterogeneous photonic networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects more than 10% of the world's population. Monitoring urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) has become the gold standard for nephropathy diagnosis and control. The objective of the present study was to develop a simple, accurate, sensitive, and rapid point-of-care test (PoCT) device, MyACR, for uACR measurement, intended for use in community healthcare to screen for the risk and monitor the progress of CKD. Albumin and creatinine concentrations in urine samples were determined using spectrophotometric dye (tetrabromophenol blue)-binding and colorimetric Jaffe assay, respectively. Urine samples were diluted with distilled water (1:80) and mixed separately with albumin and creatinine reaction mixture. The creatinine reaction was incubated at room temperature (25 °C) for 30 min before analysis. Optical density (OD) was measured at the wavelengths of 625 nm (albumin) and 515 nm (creatinine). All calibration curves (0–60 mg/L and 0–2 mg/dL for albumin and creatinine) yielded linear relationships with correlation coefficients (R2) of >0.997. Good accuracy (% deviation of mean value (DMV) ≤ 5.42%) and precision (% coefficients of variation (CV) ≤ 12.69%) were observed from both the intra- and inter-day assays for the determination of albumin and creatinine using MyACR. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of albumin and creatinine in urine samples determined using MyACR and a laboratory spectrophotometer were 5 mg/L and 0.25 mg/dL, respectively, using 37.5 μL urine spiked samples (n = 5). The device was well-applied with clinical samples from 20 CKD patients. The median (range) of %DMV of the central (hospital) laboratory method (immune-based assay) was 3.48 (−17.05 to 21.64)%, with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.98). In conclusion, MyACR showed satisfactory test performance in terms of accuracy, reproducibility, and sensitivity. Cost-effectiveness and improvement in clinical decision making need to be proven in future multisite community and home studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond laser-induced valence state conversion (VC) in solid materials has attracted significant research attention due to its potential application in ultra-high density optical storage, boasting advantages such as ultra-high recording speed, easy reading, and high signal-to-noise ratio. However, identifying appropriate materials and technological solutions conducive to efficient single-laser-shot recording remains a pivotal challenge for practical applications. In this work, we report single femtosecond laser pulse–induced VC in BaFCl: Sm3+ nanocrystals utilizing a 4F-configuration optical imaging system comprising two-dimensional scan galvo mirrors. For the first time, we experimentally reveal the luminescence mechanisms and channels of multiphoton absorption-induced Sm2+ ions under both single and multiple 800 nm fs laser pulses. Leveraging the highly efficient single femtosecond laser pulse induced VC, we demonstrate a prototype optical storage experiment by sweeping the recording laser pulse. Remarkably, a threshold pulse energy as low as ∼100 nJ for effective single-laser-shot recording in BaFCl: Sm3+ nanocrystals is obtained under the current experimental conditions. Our investigations offer profound insights into the physical mechanisms underlying femtosecond laser induced VC in solid materials, thereby promoting the prospects of VC based optical storage toward practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusions\nTRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCEThe objective of this study was to observe the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and the relationship between MPOD and retinal thickness in Chinese primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients by the one-wavelength reflectometry method.This study was a prospective comparative observational study, including 39 eyes from 39 PACG patients (15 men and 24 women, mean age 61.89 ± 12.30) and 41 eyes from 41 controls (20 men and 21 women, mean age 63.24 ± 14.02). We measured the MPOD 7-degree area by the one-wavelength reflectometry method and analyzed both the max and mean optical density (OD). The central retinal thickness (CRT) and the total thickness of the macular ganglion cell layer (GCL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL)were measured by spectral-domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Statistical methods such as Shapiro–Wilk test, Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, two independent samples test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used to observe the differences in the MPOD between normal subjects and PACG patients and the correlation between the MPOD and retinal thickness.The max optical density (Max OD) (PACG group: 0.302 ± 0.067d.u, control group: 0.372 ± 0.059d.u., p < .001) and mean optical density (Mean OD) (PACG group: 0.124 ± 0.035d.u., control group: 0.141 ± 0.028d.u., p < 0.05) were significantly reduced in PACG patients compared with control subjects. Significant decreases in GCL + IPL thickness (PACG group: 74.71 ± 39.56 μm, control group:113.61 ± 8.14 μm, p < 0.001) and CRT (PACG group: 254.49 ± 41.47 μm, control group:329.10 ± 18.57 μm, p < 0.001) were also observed in PACG eyes. There was no statistically significant correlation between the MPOD and GCL + IPL thickness (p = .639, p = .828).MPOD was significantly lower in Chinese PACG patients than in the control group, potentially due to thinning of the GCL + IPL thickness. This study provides insights for the pathophysiology, assessment of PACG and potential guidance for lifestyle modifications.In this study, we measured the MPOD values of Chinese PACG patients for the first time using the one-wavelength reflectance method and clarified that the MPOD of PACG patients was significantly lower than that of the normal group. This study provides insights for the pathophysiology, assessment of PACG and potential guidance for lifestyle modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increased resistance rate of Salmonella to third-generation cephalosporins represented by ceftriaxone (CRO) may result in the failure of the empirical use of third-generation cephalosporins for the treatment of Salmonella infection in children. The present study was conducted to evaluate a novel method for the rapid detection of CRO-resistant Salmonella (CRS). Methods: We introduced the concept of the ratio of optical density (ROD) with and without CRO and combined it with matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to establish a new protocol for the rapid detection of CRS. Results: The optimal incubation time and CRO concentration determined by the model strain test were 2 h and 8 µg/ml, respectively. We then conducted confirmatory tests on 120 clinical strains. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the ROD cutoff value for distinguishing CRS and non-CRS strains was 0.818 [area under the curve: 1.000; 95% confidence interval: 0.970–1.000; sensitivity: 100.00%; specificity: 100%; P < 10− 3]. Conclusions: In conclusion, the protocol for the combined ROD and MALDI-TOF MS represents a rapid, accurate, and economical method for the detection of CRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans, an opportunistic oral pathogen, synergizes with Staphylococcus aureus, allowing bacteria to co-invade and systemically disseminate within the host. Studying human-microbe interactions creates the need for a universal culture medium that supports fungal, bacterial, and human cell culturing, while allowing sensitive analytical approaches such as OMICs and chromatography techniques. In this study, we established a fully defined, customizable adaptation of Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM), allowing multi-kingdom culturing of S. aureus, C. albicans, and human oral cell lines, whereas minimal version of DMEM (mDMEM) did not support growth of S. aureus, and neither did supplementation with dextrose, MEM non-essential amino acids, pyruvate, and Glutamax. This new medium composition, designated as "mDMEM-DMP," promoted growth of all tested S. aureus strains. Addition of 25 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) further improved growth, while higher concentrations did not improve growth any further. Higher concentrations of HEPES did result in prolonged stabilization of medium pH. mDMEM-DMP promoted (hyphal) C. albicans monoculturing and co-culturing on both solid and semi-solid surfaces. In contrast to S. aureus, addition of HEPES reduced C. albicans maximum culture optical density (OD). Finally, only buffered mDMEM-DMP (100 mM HEPES) was successful in maintaining the metabolic activity of human oral Ca9-22 and HO1N1 cell lines for 24 hours. Altogether, our findings show that mDMEM-DMP is a versatile and potent culture medium for both microbial and human cell culturing, providing a customizable platform to study human as well as microbial molecular physiology and putative interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop polyomavirus VP1 recombinant protein-based immunoassay, the expression of two polyomavirus (Karolinska Institute Polyomavirus; KIPyV, and Washington University Polyomavirus; WUPyV) VP1s in insect cells was investigated using an improved baculovirus system (BacMagic). The reliability of the purified VP1 to serve as antigens in serological tests was confirmed by the establishment of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two panels of serum samples were used, with Panel I comprising 60 sera (20 KIPyV-positive, 20 WUPyV-positive, and 20 negative) and Panel II consisting of 134 sera with unknown status. The seroprevalence of KIPyV and WUPyV in the study population was determined to be 62% and 50%, respectively. Antibody-negative sera exhibited low reactivities in both ELISAs, whereas antibody-positive sera displayed high reactivity with median optical density values of 1.37 and 1.47 in the KIPyV and WUPyV ELISAs, respectively. The differences in seroreactivities between antibody positive and negative for each virus were statistically significant (p < 0.0001; with 95% confidence interval). The study suggests that seroconversion for KIPyV and WUPyV occurs in childhood, with KIPyV seropositivity reaching 70% and WUPyV seropositivity reaching 60% after the age of 5 years. Adult seroprevalence for polyomaviruses was high, with more than 64% and 51% of the adult population being seropositive for KIPyV and WUPyV, respectively. The constant prevalence of KIPyV and WUPyV antibody in the age groups suggested that this antibody persists for life. The fact that antibody titers were generally stable over time revealed a persistent infection of polyomaviruses in the human population. The insect cell-derived recombinant VP1-based ELISA has been demonstrated to be valuable as a serological assay, offering a valid, reliable, fast, nonlaborious, and economical procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardened gated x-ray detectors use photographic film as the data recording medium due to its low sensitivity to the high-yield neutron environments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The photographic film is digitized with a Photometric Data Systems (PDS) microdensitometer, which measures the film's optical density. The PDS scanner is able to measure a dynamic range of 0–5 OD; however, raster scanning the film is time consuming and maintenance of the instrument is challenging due to legacy technology. Since film usage at NIF is expected to continue in the foreseeable future, a digitization platform that is faster and more maintainable would benefit the NIF's current and future operations. This work presents the characterization of the digital transitions (DT) atom, a CMOS camera-based digitization platform that records film data in a single image capture very quickly and has widely available user support. The preliminary results suggest that the DT atom is able to reconstruct exposures accurately enough to be a competitive alternative to the PDS Scanner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this work, in order to optimize the structure of histidine-containing antifungal peptides with a "linear" type of amphipathicity (LTA), we carried out the synthesis and comparative screening of the antifungal activity of a series of histidine-containing SAMPs (F2H7, F2H10, F2H13, F2H16, H10, H10F2) with a "linear" type of amphipathicity that we constructed de novo. We also aimed to study their hemolytic properties, to assess their therapeutic index, and to compare the obtained results with similar data for the antifungal histidine-rich 12-mer peptide P113 (AKRHHGYKRKFH), a drug candidate known as PAC-113, one of the shortest and most active analogues of the natural antifungal histidine-rich peptide Hst 5. Methods: Peptides were synthesized by a solid phase method using a Fmoc-based strategy. To determine the antifungal activity of the peptides, we used the opportunistic fungus strain Candida albicans EMTK 34. The number of microorganisms (titer) in the suspension was determined by optical density at a wavelength of 595 nm. To determine the antifungal activity of the peptides, cell cultures were co-incubated with the studied peptides in 96-well plates. The cells were incubated with the drug for 24 h at 37°C. To assess the antifungal activity of the studied peptides, their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC50) were determined, i.e. such peptide concentration at which the growth of microorganisms was suppressed by 50%. To assess the toxicity of the peptides, their hemolytic activity was determined, which was tested against fresh human erythrocytes using a photometric method. To assess the selectivity of the action of peptides, the values of the minimum hemolytic concentration (MHC) of the peptides were determined and the values of their therapeutic index (TI) were calculated as the ratio of the minimum hemolytic concentration (MHC) to the MIC50 value. Results and Discussion: It was shown that the antifungal activity of the studied SAMPLTA increases with an increase in the number of histidine residues in their composition, reaching the maximum value for the histidine-containing peptide F2H16 (MIC50 = 1.0 µM). It has been shown that as the chain length of peptides increases, their hemolytic toxicity also increases. The TI values for these peptides were 233, 247, 79, and 60, respectively. It has been shown that, against C. albicans, histidine-containing SAMP-LTA derivatives with phenylalanine residues at the N-terminus of the peptide (F2H10) are less effective compared to similar peptides (H10F2) containing phenylalanine residues at the C-terminus. Among the studied peptides, the most active was the H10 peptide (MIC50 = 0.7 µM), which does not contain phenylalanine residues, which in its antifungal activity is not only more effective than all other histidine-containing peptides, including the F2H16 peptide with 16 histidine residues, but also 4– 5 times more effective than the antifungal peptide P113 (MIC50 = 3.4 µM), a short active fragment of natural Hst 5, well known from the literature. Among all the studied peptides, H10 and P113 have minimal (almost zero) values of hemolytic activity. However, due to its higher antifungal activity, the selectivity of the H10 peptide (TI > 1400) exceeds the selectivity of the P113 peptide (TI > 340) by more than 4 times. Conclusions: Thus, peptide H10, due to its high antifungal activity, low hemolytic toxicity and, accordingly, high therapeutic significance, can be used as a promising antifungal peptide drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare diagnostic power for different severities of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) of two-dimensional macular pigment optical densities (2D-MPOD) and spatially matched objective perimetry, with standard perimetry and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Methods: The ObjectiveField Analyser (OFA) provided objective perimetry, and a Heidelberg Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) measured 2D-MPOD in AMD patients, both completed twice over 0.99 ± 0.16 years. From each 2D-MPOD image, we extracted 20 regions/macula, matched to the 20 OFA stimuli/macula. For each region, we calculated 7 measures from the 2D-MPOD pixel values and correlated those with OFA sensitivities and delays. We quantified 2D-MPOD changes, the ability of 2D-MPOD and OFA to discriminate AMD stages, and the discriminatory power of Matrix perimetry and BCVA using percentage area under receiver operator characteristic plots (%AUROC). Results: In 58 eyes of 29 subjects (71.6 ± 6.3 years, 22 females), we found significant correlations between 2D-MPOD and OFA sensitivities for Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS)-3 and AREDS-4 severities. Delays showed significant correlations with AREDS-2. For AREDS-4, correlations extended across all eccentricities. Regression associated with the Bland–Altman plots showed significant changes in 2D-MPOD over the study period, especially variability measures. MPOD per-region medians discriminated AREDS-1 from AREDS-3 eyes at a %AUROC of 80.0 ± 6.3%, outperforming OFA, Matrix perimetry, and BCVA. Conclusions: MPOD changes correlated with central functional changes and significant correlations extended peripherally in later-stage AMD. Good diagnostic power for earlier-stage AMD and significant change over the study suggest that 2D-MPOD and OFA may provide effective biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local droplet-etched-based GaAs quantum dots are promising candidates for high-quality single and entangled photon sources. They have excellent optical and spin properties thanks to their size, shape and nearly strain-free matrix integration. In this study, we investigate the onset of aluminum nanodroplet formation for the local droplet etching process. Using molecular beam epitaxy, we grew several local droplet-etched quantum dot samples with different arsenic beam equivalent pressures. In each sample, we varied the etch material amount using a gradient technique and filled the nanoholes with GaAs to form optically active quantum dots after overgrowth. We repeated the local droplet etching process without the filling process, enabling us to characterize surface nanoholes with atomic force microscopy and compare them with photoluminescence from the buried quantum dots. We found a linear dependency on the arsenic beam-equivalent pressures for a critical aluminum amount necessary for nanohole formation and analyzed shape, density and optical properties close to this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant obstacle in bone tissue engineering is the creation of biodegradable bone replacements with the requisite mechanical and biological capabilities to treat more severe and intricately shaped injuries. Baghdadite has recently indicated that active biological ions such as silicon (Si4+) and zirconium (Zr4+) have been proven to increase bone growth considerably. In this study, we produced 3D-printed PCL-based scaffolds containing different amounts of Baghdadite using the robocasting solvent technique. Notably, PCL with 40 and 60 wt.% Baghdadite scaffolds (PB40 and PB60) promoted a more biomimetic environment for in vitro bone growth as their proper bioactivity and cell viability results were obtained without the addition of osteoinductive components. The printing process produced 3D scaffolds with a compressive strength of 7.94 MPa and elastic modulus of 29.95 MPa in PB40. According to the analytical prediction models in PB40, the elastic modulus was 24.7 and 26.89 MPa. Also, adding 60 wt.% Baghdadite increased the degradation rate to 5.1% in two months, more than six times that of PCL-based scaffolds. Cell proliferation assay demonstrated that the optical density of MG63 cells after 7 days of culture increased from 1.43 ± 0.03 to 1.82 ± 0.20 in PB40 as compared to pure PCL scaffold. Furthermore, bioactivity evaluation, ion release assessment, and morphological observation results further revealed that incorporating Baghdadite into a 3D-printed PCL-based scaffold could improve bone regeneration. Our findings demonstrate that the PCL/Baghdadite composite scaffold may be efficiently manufactured using 3D-printing technology and is extremely promising for bone tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct optical spherical recursion flux for optical spherical f s -magnetic curve with optical normalized microscale by sonic magnetic crystal. Also, we design optical spherical magnetic normalized density of optical spherical f s -magnetic curve. Then, we illustrate new version of optical spherical recursional flux of optical spherical f s -magnetic curve. Moreover, we characterize total magnetical normalized density with optical ferromagnetic model for optical spherical f s -magnetic curve. The obtained spherical recursion flux and optical graphical representations visualize geometry of sonic magnetic crystal media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the factors that influence shrimp cultivation is the presence of algae. Precise knowing algae content in the pond is essential for effective management. Most research in the field of algae species carried out by researchers were observing Chlorella Sp. more than the other algae species, with a particular emphasis on substance concentrations. This study proposed non-invasive techniques for quantifying algae abundance, utilizing optical density (OD) and image processing (IP) methods. Three different algae species are frequently found in Indonesia i.e., Chlorella Sp., Thalassiosira Sp., and Skeletonema Sp. are used as sample. Those samples are cultured and prepared in a certain volume with a certain quantity. For experimental and observation purposes, those samples are then diluted into water based on percentage value. The experimental results provided RGB values, which were then used to establish polynomial equations. To verify these equations, two approaches were employed: synthetic image analysis and evaluation using additional data. The mean average error (MAE) was found to be 3.467 for IP method and 3.513 for OD method. It shows that IP method give better result compared to OD method in this study. However, it is very possible that the two methods will complement each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outermost layer of a fire proximity suit needs to conform to a strict requirement of radiant protection performance (RPP) ≥ 20s, which is indicative of its ability of offering a protection for at least 20s duration from second degree burn upon radiant heat exposure (84 kW/m2). Typically, this layer is fabricated by laminating a single‐side metallized PET (SMPET) layer with glass fabric. However, upon erosion of the deposited metal, this laminate is rendered unsuitable due to loss of reflectivity. Here, we explore the possibility of replacing the SMPET with its dual‐metallized analogue (DMPET) and determine the effect of increasing the optical density (OD) on the adherence and protection level. Metallized films with OD varying from 2.2 to 4.8 were laminated with glass fabrics of twill, satin and plain weave pattern using a silicone adhesive. The peel adhesion strength of laminates prepared using DMPET was found to be higher (1.01 ± 0.03 N/mm), as compared to SMPET (0.63 ± 0.03 N/mm) and the resulting films did not undergo delamination during flexing. Laminates prepared from satin woven glass fabric exhibited lowest flexural rigidity followed by twill and plain woven glass fabric. Protection offered by the laminate from convective heat was quantified in terms of the thermal protective performance (TPP), and the abraded laminate prepared using DMPET (OD‐4.8) was found to meet all the mandatory requirements of proximity clothing, offering an RPP of 27 s and a TPP of 62 cal/cm2 s. In comparison, SMPET laminates exhibited lower level of adhesion and offered an RPP of only 7.5 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced antibody responses in varied antigenic and serological prior exposures can guide optimal vaccination strategies for enhanced immunogenicity. We evaluated spike (S)-directed IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody optical densities (ODs) and concentrations to the two-dose ChAdOx1-S Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S, Covishield) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in 67 Ugandans, categorised by prior infection and baseline S-IgG histories: uninfected and S-IgG-negative (n = 12); previously infected yet S-IgG-negative (n = 17); and previously infected with S-IgG-positive status (n = 38). Antibody dynamics were compared across eight timepoints from baseline till nine months. S-IgG antibodies remained consistently potent across all groups. Individuals with prior infections maintained robust S-IgG levels, underscoring the endurance of hybrid immunity. In contrast, those without prior exposure experienced an initial surge in S-IgG after the primary dose but no subsequent significant increase post-boost. However, they reached levels parallel to the previously exposed groups. S-IgM levels remained moderate, while S-IgA persisted in individuals with prior antigen exposure. ChAdOx1-S, Covishield vaccine elicited robust and sustained antibody responses in recipients, irrespective of their initial immune profiles. Hybrid immunity showed higher responses, aligning with global observations. Early post-vaccination antibody levels could predict long-term immunity, particularly in individuals without virus exposure. These findings can inform vaccine strategies and pandemic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate determination of atom numbers is an ubiquitous problem in the field of ultracold atoms. For modest atom numbers, absolute calibration techniques are available, however, for large numbers and high densities, the available techniques neglect many-body scattering processes. Here, a spatial calibration technique for time-of-flight absorption images of ultracold atomic clouds is presented. The calibration is obtained from radially averaged absorption images and we provide a practical guide to the calibration process. It is shown that the calibration coefficient scales linearly with optical density and depends on the absorbed photon number for the experimental conditions explored here. This allows for the direct inclusion of a spatially dependent calibration in the image analysis. For typical ultracold atom clouds the spatial calibration technique leads to corrections in the detected atom number up to ≈ 12 % and temperature up to ≈ 14 % in comparison to previous calibration techniques. The technique presented here addresses a major difficulty in absorption imaging of ultracold atomic clouds and prompts further theoretical work to understand the scattering processes in ultracold dense clouds of atoms for accurate atom number calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) are promising nanostructures in the field of photonics owing to the ease of fabrication, tunable and efficient emission. Gallium phosphide (GaP) nanowires are known for high surface area, optical density, waveguiding, resonant optical properties but lacking the luminescence due to the indirect bandgap. Here, hybrid photonic structures – GaP nanowires decorated with the CDs are fabricated and studied. Feasible drop‐casting deposition technique allows fabrication of dense vertical structures exhibiting efficient photoluminescence. Deposition of the CDs over the nanowires does not affect their luminescent properties demonstrating tolerance of the approach toward the surface aggregation. Tuning of the emission spectrum is obtained via variation of the excitation wavelength and CDs' synthesis protocol. The structures emitting throughout the visible range are obtained. Analysis of the photoluminescence of an individual structure demonstrates the most intense and fast recombination processes at the ends of a nanowire. It is shown that the luminescence of the CDs' covering a nanowire acting as a Fabry–Perot cavity is enhanced up to a factor of 3 governed by the Purcell effect. The obtained results unveil a path for fabrication of novel photonic devices via decoration of optically dense nanowires with CDs for enhanced and directed broadband emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CsPbX 3 (X = Cl/Br, Br, Br/I, I) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) glasses have enormous application potential in the field of long wavelength pass (short wavelength cutoff) filters. In this work, the CsPbX 3 (X = Cl/Br, Br, Br/I, I) QDs doped with Se4+ were prepared in the borogermanate glass matrix. To quench strong exciton emission of QDs, the CsPbX 3 (X = Cl/Br, Br, Br/I, I) perovskite QDs glasses were doped with Se4+ at different concentrations of 0, 0.05 %, 0.1 % and 0.2 %, respectively. The nanocrystal structure, transmittance, optical density, photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation and PL decay have been investigated. The working wavelength of filters has been extended to wide range from 440 nm to 650 nm. The samples have large optical density in cutoff region, excellent steepness in the transition region, and high transmittance in transmission region. As Se4+ concentration increases, the PL intensity is quenched and the PL lifetime is decreased obviously for CsPbX 3 QDs glasses, whereas the absorption and transmittance characteristics for filters are less affected. The quenching mechanism is attributed to nonradiative recombination by deep energy level traps. The Se4+ doped CsPbX 3 QDs glasses can meet requirements for the long wavelength pass filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nIntroduction: Serologic characterization of antihuman platelet antigen (HPA) alloantibodies is crucial in fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. The gold standard MAIPA assay requires fresh platelets from HPA-genotyped donors, which is challenging for some laboratories. Megakaryocytes express HPA epitopes and offer an alternative source for detecting anti-HPA antibodies. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a novel assay called monoclonal antibody immobilization of megakaryocyte antigens (MAIMA) for detecting anti-HPA antibodies. Methods: CD34+ cells from buffy coats were differentiated into megakaryocytes in vitro. The performance of the MAIMA assay was evaluated using WHO reference reagents for HPA-1a, HPA-3a, and HPA-5b, along with sera samples from patients who had well-characterized anti-HPA antibodies. Results: The WHO anti-HPA-1a reference reagent showed similar binding to megakaryocytes and platelets in MAIMA and MAIPA, respectively. On the other hand, optical density (OD) values for the WHO anti-HPA-3a reference reagent were lower in MAIMA than in MAIPA. Anti-HPA-5b antibodies were not detectable in MAIMA. Patients’ sera containing anti-HPA-1a antibodies were successfully detected in MAIMA in all clinical samples. Moreover, OD values in MAIPA and MAIMA showed high correlation (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). MAIMA was reactive for samples with anti-HPA-3a as well as anti-HPA-3b; however, OD values were lower compared to MAIPA. Interestingly, all patient samples with anti-HPA-5b antibodies were tested negative in MAIMA. Conclusion: In vitro generated megakaryocytes can be used to detect anti-HPA-1a alloantibodies. However, despite this potential, they may be less suitable for the detection of alloantibodies against other HPAs such as HPA-5b. The identification of antibodies to human platelet antigens (HPA) is crucial. The standard test (MAIPA assay) is difficult because it requires fresh platelets from specific donors. This study investigated a new method, monoclonal antibody immobilization of megakaryocyte antigens (MAIMA), using in vitro generated megakaryocytes from CD34+ cells. The assay was tested against WHO reference reagents and patient samples with known anti-HPA antibodies. Results showed that MAIMA successfully detected anti-HPA-1a antibodies and correlated well with MAIPA. However, MAIMA had lower sensitivity for anti-HPA-3a and anti-HPA-5b antibodies. Notably, anti-HPA-5b antibodies were not detectable by MAIMA. In conclusion, in vitro generated megakaryocytes can effectively detect anti-HPA-1a antibodies. However, MAIMA may be less suitable for antibodies against other HPAs, such as HPA-5b. This study highlights the potential of MAIMA as an alternative assay and provides insight into its strengths and limitations in detecting specific anti-HPA antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the extended effects and interrelations of corneal biomechanics, corneal optical density (COD), corneal thickness (CT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) following cataract surgery. Sixteen eyes were analyzed prospectively. The Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (Corvis ST) device assessed corneal biomechanics, while the Pentacam AxL® (Pentacam) measured COD and CT. Postoperative data were collected around six months after surgery, with a subgroup analysis of data at nine months. The Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between surgical-induced changes in corneal biomechanics and COD. At six months, significant postoperative differences were observed in various biomechanical indices, including uncorrected IOP (IOPuct) and biomechanics-corrected IOP (bIOP). However, many indices lost statistical significance by the nine-month mark, suggesting the reversibility of postoperative corneal changes. Postoperative COD increased at the anterior layer of the 2−6 mm annulus and incision site. The changes in COD correlated with certain biomechanical indices, including maximal (Max) deformative amplitude (DA) and stiffness parameter (SP). In conclusion, despite significant immediate postoperative changes, corneal biomechanics, COD, and IOP experienced a gradual recovery process following cataract surgery. Clinicians should maintain vigilance for any unusual changes during the short-term observation period to detect abnormalities early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The density of contrast medium in digital subtraction angiography (DSA) have been used to evaluate the cerebral circulation function. Our aim was to study the effect of difference in arteriovenous peak optical density (POD) after thrombectomy on functional outcomes. Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion who underwent thrombectomy were reviewed. We processed DSA images with ImageJ software to measure the POD of internal carotid artery (ICA) and cortical veins. The average POD of cortical veins (PODVA) and the POD difference between ICA and cortical veins (PODICA-CV) were calculated. Primary outcome was good functional outcome (modified Rankin scale score of 0-2 at 90 days). Results: One hundred sixty-six patients were finally included in the study. Patients with good functional outcome had lower ipsilateral PODVA (median [interquartile range (IQR)], 257.198 [216.623-296.631] vs. 290.944 [248.647-338.819], p < 0.001) and lower ipsilateral PODICA-CV (median [IQR], 128.463 [110.233-153.624] vs. 182.01 [146.621-211.331], p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that ipsilateral PODVA (odds ratio [OR] 0.991, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.984-0.999, p = 0.019) and ipsilateral PODICA-CV (OR 0.975, 95% CI 0.963-0.986, p < 0.001) were associated with good functional outcome. The predictive ability was significantly enhanced in the model including ipsilateral PODICA-CV (0.893 vs. 0.842, p = 0.027). No correlation was found between ipsilateral PODICA-CV and expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grades (r = -0.133, p = 0.099). Conclusion: Ipsilateral PODICA-CV is an additional indicator of cerebral reperfusion status and predicts functional outcomes after thrombectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical properties of bulk AuCu3-type ordered superconducting binary compounds ScGa3 and LuGa3 have been experimentally investigated for the first time in the wide spectral range and explained in terms of the band structure. First-principles calculations of electronic densities of states and optical conductivities are performed within the framework of LSDA+U method using the LMTO-ASA software package. The measured dielectric functions spectra for both materials exhibit a strong absorption region above ∼ 1 eV, which are in a reasonable agreement with the calculated metal-like energy structures of compounds. Features of quantum light absorption are discussed on the basis of a comparative analysis of experimental and theoretical spectra of interband optical conductivity. Plasma and relaxation frequencies of conduction electrons are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]