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Premature life exposure, meaning an immature central nervous system, presents a significant challenge for the development of postural control and, in turn, overall motor development. Preventing motor delay thus requires identifying, characterizing, and quantifying deficit in postural control as early as possible. In our study, we reviewed the procedures used in past studies to assess postural control among individuals born preterm, specifically the characterization of participants, the instruments and motor tasks involved, the types of data collected and analyzed, and the outcomes. To that end, we performed a literature search on PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and Scopus using Boolean logic and assessed the quality of the studies with a standardized assessment based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Of 35 potential studies, 24 were included; all evaluated infants born preterm, but six did not include a control group of full-term infants. Although the heterogeneity of measurements, variability of instruments, and divergence in motor tasks examined limit definitive conclusions based on quantitative synthesis and the generalization of the results, most studies revealed dysfunctional postural control among individuals born preterm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate how well an implant stability quotient (ISQ) represents resonance frequency. Materials and Methods: Benchtop experiments on standardized samples that replicated a mandibular premolar site were conducted to correlate an ISQ value and a resonance frequency to synthetic bone density and an incremental insertion torque; then, a frequency spectrum analysis was performed to check the validity of the resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Brånemark Mk III implants (4 × 11.5 mm; Nobel Biocare) were placed in Sawbones test models of five different densities (40, 30, 40/20, 20, and 15 PCF). An incremental insertion torque was recorded during implant placement. To perform stability measurements, the test models were partially clamped in a vise (unclamped volume: 10 × 20 × 34 mm). A MulTipeg (Integration Diagnostics) was attached to the implants, and a Penguin (Integration Diagnostics) RFA measured ISQ. Simultaneously, the MulTipeg motion was monitored via a laser Doppler vibrometer and processed by a spectrum analyzer to obtain the resonance frequency. Tightness of the clamp was adjusted to vary the resonance frequency. A statistical analysis produced a linear correlation coefficient (R) among the measured ISQ, resonance frequency, and incremental insertion torque. Results: The resonance frequency had high correlation to the incremental insertion torque (R = 0.978), confirming the validity of using RFA for this study. Measured ISQ data were scattered and had low correlation to the resonance frequency (R = 0.214) and the incremental insertion torque (R = 0.386). The spectrum analysis revealed the simultaneous presence of multiple resonance frequencies. Conclusions: For the designed benchtop tests, resonance frequency does indicate implant stability in view of Sawbones density and incremental insertion torque. However, ISQ measurements do not correlate to the resonance frequency and may not reflect the stability when multiple resonance frequencies are present simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that causes balance deficits, even in early stages. Evidence suggests that people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) rely more on vision to maintain balance, and challenging balance with optical flow perturbations may be a practical screening for balance deficits. Whether these perturbations affect standing balance in PwMS is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how optical flow perturbations affect standing balance in PwMS. We hypothesized that perturbations would cause higher variability in PwMS compared with matched controls during standing and that standing balance would be more susceptible to anterior–posterior (A–P) perturbations than medial–lateral (M–L) perturbations. Thirteen PwMS and 13 controls stood under 3 conditions: unperturbed, M–L perturbation, and A–P perturbations. A–P perturbations caused significantly higher A–P trunk sway variability in PwMS than controls, although both groups had similar center-of-pressure variability. Both perturbations increased variability in A–P trunk sway and center of pressure. Trunk variability data supported the hypothesis that PwMS were more susceptible to optical flow perturbations than controls. However, the hypothesis that A–P perturbations would affect balance more than M–L perturbations was partially supported. These results suggest potential for optical flow perturbations to identify balance deficits in PwMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work introduces a simplified deposition procedure for multidimensional (2D/3D) perovskite thin films, integrating a phenethylammonium chloride (PEACl)-treatment into the antisolvent step when forming the 3D perovskite. This simultaneous deposition and passivation strategy reduces the number of synthesis steps while simultaneously stabilizing the halide perovskite film and improving the photovoltaic performance of resulting solar cell devices to 20.8%. Using a combination of multimodal in situ and additional ex situ characterizations, it is demonstrated that the introduction of PEACl during the perovskite film formation slows down the crystal growth process, which leads to a larger average grain size and narrower grain size distribution, thus reducing carrier recombination at grain boundaries and improving the device's performance and stability. The data suggests that during annealing of the wet film, the PEACl diffuses to the surface of the film, forming hydrophobic (quasi-)2D structures that protect the bulk of the perovskite film from humidity-induced degradation.

Despite being one of the oldest data structures in computer science, hash tables continue to be the focus of a great deal of both theoretical and empirical research. A central reason for this is that many of the fundamental properties that one desires from a hash table are difficult to achieve simultaneously; thus many variants offering different trade-offs have been proposed. This article introduces Iceberg hashing, a hash table that simultaneously offers the strongest known guarantees on a large number of core properties. Iceberg hashing supports constant-time operationswhile improving on the state of the art for space efficiency, cache efficiency, and low failure probability. Iceberg hashing is also the first hash table to support a load factor of up to 1-o(1) while being stable, meaning that the positionwhere an element is stored only ever changes when resizes occur. In fact, in the setting where keys are T(logn) bits, the space guarantees that Iceberg hashing offers, namely that it uses at most log x |U | n x +O(n log logn) bits to store n items froma universeU, matches a lower bound by Demaine et al. that applies to any stable hash table. Iceberg hashing introduces new general-purpose techniques for some of the most basic aspects of hashtable design. Notably, our indirection-free technique for dynamic resizing, which we call waterfall addressing, and our techniques for achieving stability and very-high probability guarantees, can be applied to any hash table that makes use of the front-yard/backyard paradigm for hash table design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are infamous for their batch-to-batch and lab-to-lab irreproducibility in terms of stability and performance. Reproducible fabrication of PSCs is a critical requirement for market viability and practical commercialization. PSC irreproducibility plagues all levels of the community; from institutional research laboratories, start-up companies, to large established corporations. In this work, the critical function of atmospheric humidity to regulate the crystallization and stabilization of formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) perovskites is unraveled. It is demonstrated that the humidity content during processing induces profound variations in perovskite stoichiometry, thermodynamic stability, and optoelectronic quality. Almost counterintuitively, it is shown that the presence of humidity is perhaps indispensable to reproduce phase-stable and efficient FAPbI3-based PSCs.

Topic models are becoming a frequently employed tool in the empirical methods repertoire of information systems and management scholars. Given textual corpora, such as consumer reviews and online discussion forums, researchers and business practitioners often use topic modeling to either explore data in an unsupervised fashion or generate variables of interest for subsequent econometric analysis. However, one important concern stems from the fact that topic models can be notorious for their instability, i.e., the generated results could be inconsistent and irreproducible at different times, even on the same dataset. Therefore, researchers might arrive at potentially unreliable results regarding the theoretical relationships that they are testing or developing. In this paper, we attempt to highlight this problem and suggest a potential approach to addressing it. First, we empirically define and evaluate the stability problem of topic models using four textual datasets. Next, to alleviate the problem and with the goal of extracting actionable insights from textual data, we propose a new method, Stable LDA, which incorporates topical word clusters into the topic model to steer the model inference toward consistent results. We show that the proposed Stable LDA approach can significantly improve model stability while maintaining or even improving the topic model quality. Further, employing two case studies related to an online knowledge community and online consumer reviews, we demonstrate that the variables generated from Stable LDA can lead to more consistent estimations in econometric analyses. We believe that our work can further enhance management scholars' collective toolkit to analyze ever-growing textual data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Department stores invest in loyalty strategies that largely focus on retaining current high value customers in response to increasing competition in retail shopping. In this study, we examine the contribution of the top 20% customers for transaction frequency and value ("heavy buyers") to the total sales, and the consistency of this contribution across departments within a store. We also investigate the heavy buyer stability over time across 3 years, from over 550 million transactions from a department store chain in East Asia. The results show that the Pareto ratio of the top 20% spenders account for 71% of revenue (and 52% of the total transactions), and the top 20% transactors represent 58% of revenue (and 62% of total transactions), which may signal the role of such heavy buyers to overall stores sales. At each department level, the heavy buyers (by value) contribute from 65% to 86% of the department revenue. Despite this, the stability of the top 20% segment over time varies greatly by department from 11% to 74%. Finally, whether high value customers in one department store also translate across departments, depends mainly on the department size in terms of its shopper penetration. The research furthers our knowledge on Pareto Law, with important implications for customer retention strategies and loyalty programs especially for retailers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While shifts in gut microbiota have been studied in diseased states, the temporal variability of the microbiome in cats has not been widely studied. This study investigated the temporal variability of the feline dysbiosis index (DI) and the abundance of core bacterial groups in healthy adult cats. The secondary aim was to evaluate the relationship between the fecal abundance of Clostridium hiranonis and the fecal concentrations of unconjugated bile acids. A total of 142 fecal samples collected from 17 healthy cats were prospectively included: nine cats with weekly collection over 3 weeks (at least four time points), five cats with monthly collection over 2 months (three time points), and three cats with additional collections for up to 10 months. The DI remained stable within the reference intervals over two months for all cats (Friedman test, p > 0.2), and 100% of the DI values (n = 142) collected throughout the study period remained within the RI. While some temporal individual variation was observed for individual taxa, the magnitude was minimal compared to cats with chronic enteropathy and antibiotic exposure. Additionally, the abundance of Clostridium hiranonis was significantly correlated with the percentage of fecal primary bile acids, supporting its role as a bile acid converter in cats.

Abstract: Theory predicts intraguild predation (IGP) to be unstable despite its ubiquity in nature, prompting exploration of stabilizing mechanisms of IGP. One of the many ways IGP manifests is through inducible trophic polymorphisms in the intraguild (IG) predator, where a resource-eating predator morph competes with the intraguild (IG) prey for the shared resource while a top predator morph consumes the IG prey. Cannibalism is common in this type of system due to the top predator morph’s specialization on the trophic level below it, which includes the resource-eating predator morph. Here, we explore the consequences of inducible trophic polymorphisms in cannibal predators for IGP stability using an IGP model with and without cannibalism. We employ linear stability analysis and identify regions of coexistence based on the top predator morph’s preference for conspecifics vs. heterospecifics and the IG prey’s competitive ability relative to the resource-eating morph. Our findings reveal that preferential cannibalism (i.e., the preferential consumption of conspecifics) stabilizes the system when the IG prey and resource-eating morph have similar competitive abilities for the shared resource. Though original IGP theory finds that the IG prey must be a superior resource competitor as a general criterion for coexistence, this is not typically the case when the predator has an inducible trophic polymorphism and the resource-eating morph is specialized in resource acquisition. Preferential cannibalism may therefore be a key stabilizing mechanism in IGP systems with a cannibalistic, trophic polymorphic IG predators, providing further insight into what general mechanisms stabilize the pervasive IGP interaction.

This paper is concerned with the time‐dependent acoustic–elastic interaction problem associated with a bounded elastic body immersed in a homogeneous air or fluid above an unbounded rough surface. The well‐posedness and stability of the problem are first established by using the Laplace transform and the energy method. A perfectly matched layer (PML) is then introduced to truncate the interaction problem above a finite layer containing the elastic body, leading to a PML problem in a finite strip domain. We further establish the existence, uniqueness, and stability estimate of solutions to the PML problem. Finally, we prove the exponential convergence of the PML problem in terms of the thickness and parameter of the PML, based on establishing an error estimate between the DtN operators of the original problem and the PML problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a two‐species generalist predator–prey model in closed advective environments. Compared with the model in open advective environments to the generalist predator–prey model, the dynamics of our system are different. It is easy to verify that the generalist predator can always invade. Meanwhile, we provide the dynamical behaviors of the model in terms of the intrinsic growth rates, the carrying capacity of both species, the predation rate, and the trophic conversion efficiency. More precisely, we establish the local/global stability of the semi‐trivial steady states and a unique positive equilibrium for the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to examine the stability of a class of nonlinear stochastic operators on a finite‐dimensional simplex. We identify a number of properties of the set of the class of stochastic operators, including the stability of each operator. We then use these operators to define non‐homogeneous Markov measures that rely on initial data and carry out an investigation into the absolute continuity and singularity of these measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs first-principles calculations to comprehensively investigate the structural, dynamic, electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of A 2 BH 6 (A = K, Rb; B Ge, Sn) perovskite hydrides. Mechanical, thermodynamic, and dynamic stabilities are confirmed through calculations of elastic constants, formation energies, and phonon dispersion. The B/G ratio, below 1.75, indicates a brittle nature and a preference for covalent bonding. Electronic property analysis reveals that these hydrides are indirect band gap semiconductors with band gap values of 1.897 eV, 2.468 eV, 2.129 eV, and 2.657 eV, respectively. Optical property studies demonstrate high ultraviolet absorption. A key focus of this study is the gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities, which are found to be 3.84 wt% for K 2 GeH 6 , 2.97 wt% for K 2 SnH 6 , 2.48 wt% for Rb 2 GeH 6 , and 2.09 wt% for Rb 2 SnH 6. These findings not only enrich the research on the physical properties of perovskite hydrides but also provide an important theoretical basis and new options for the development of efficient hydrogen storage materials. The crystal structure, hydrogen storage capacity and band gap value of A 2 BH 6 (A = K, Rb; B Ge, Sn). [Display omitted] • A 2 BH 6 (A = K,Rb; B Ge,Sn) perovskite has been investigated using first-principles. • A 2 BH 6 (A = K, Rb; B Ge, Sn) exhibits thermodynamic, mechanical and dynamical stability. • A 2 BH 6 (A = K, Rb; B Ge, Sn) is a medium width indirect band gap semiconductor. • A 2 BH 6 (A = K, Rb; B Ge, Sn) has a hydrogen storage capacity of 2.09 W% to 3.84 W%. • The desorption temperature is found to be 221.1 K for K 2 SnH 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) has been regarded as a promising technology for green hydrogen production due to its efficient combination with intermittent renewable energy sources. Ir/Ru-based catalysts are primarily focused to promote the anodic sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) because of their outstanding intrinsic activity and the high anti-corrosion stability in acidic electrolytes. To achieve a comprehensive insight into the Ir/Ru-based catalysts, this review highlights the recent progress of Ir/Ru-based catalysts to improve their electrochemical performance in terms of low overpotential and high stability, with a focus on the strategies of controlling preferred facet and enhancing atomic utilization. In addition, the applications of in-situ characterization methods are also discussed to understand the real active sites and reveal the reaction mechanisms of Ir/Ru-based catalysts. The objective of this review is to provide new insights into developing efficient Ir/Ru-based catalysts. [Display omitted] • Presenting the development status of hydrogen production by PEMWE. • Focusing on the Ir/Ru-based catalysts for anode. • Discussing strategies to enhance the intrinsic activity and stability. • Providing future prospects of Ir/Ru-based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using symmetrical electrodes with the same material compositions can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce cost, and enhance the stability and reliability of solid oxide cells. Herein, we report for the first time the potential application of the La 0.3 Sr 0.7 Fe 0.7 Cr 0.3 O 3-δ (LSFC) perovskite as a symmetrical electrode for reversible protonic ceramic cells (RPCCs). The LSFC exhibits robust chemical stability in oxidizing and reducing environments and favorable chemical compatibility with BaZr 0.4 Ce 0.4 Y 0.15 Zn 0.05 O 3-δ electrolyte below 950 °C. Using LSFC as a symmetrical electrode, the electrolyte-supported RPCC delivers a maximum power density of 76 mW cm−2 in fuel cell (FC) mode at 700 °C, and a maximum current density of 30 mA cm−2 in electrolysis cell (EC) mode at 1.5 V; no significant degradation is shown under both FC and EC modes during 100 h continuous operation. The LSFC shows remarkably low polarization resistances (R p) of 0.06 and 0.07 Ω cm2 at 700 °C in dry and wet air, which allows it to be used directly as an air electrode; while it is 3.46 Ω cm2 at 700 °C in 5%H 2 /Ar, which needs to improve its catalytic activity to enhance the overall performance of symmetrical electrode. These results allow us to propose a feasible strategy for applying symmetrical electrodes in RPCCs. [Display omitted] • LSFC is proposed as a symmetrical electrode for reversible protonic ceramic cells. • LSFC has good chemical compatibility with BZCYZ electrolyte below 950 °C. • LSFC shows favorable stability in both oxidizing and reducing environments. • LSFC electrode exhibits remarkably low polarization resistance in dry and wet air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This piece of work circles around the investigation of a predator–prey model that incorporates nonlinear harvesting and group defense, both of which are important phenomena occurring in the ecosystem. To analyze the proposed model, both analytical and numerical methods are employed. The model experiences a series of bifurcations, including saddle-node, Hopf and Bogdanov–Takens. The system exhibits bifurcations of codimension one and two but no bifurcation of codimension three emerged. Phase portrait diagrams are also presented to confirm the validity of both the analytical and numerical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi−2D perovskite films with multiple quantum well structures can provide a large Stokes shift and efficient photoluminescence (PL), which have great potential in the application of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). However, its low photoelectric conversion efficiency and poor stability remain obstacles to commercial application. Here, a multifunctional molecule additive octyltriphenylphosphonium bromide is introduced to prepare high‐quality perovskite LSCs. The multifunctional molecule can simultaneously passivate perovskite cations and anions, reducing the defect sites and improving the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the perovskite nanocrystals. Triphenylphosphine groups with high steric hindrance effect can hinder ion migration; the hydrophobic properties of the long alkyl chain prevent water erosion, which together improves the stability of the perovskite films. The multifunctional molecule passivated perovskite film has a high PLQY of 100% and retains 96% of the initial PL intensity after 30 days of indoor storage. The perovskite LSC device achieves a maximum optical efficiency of 6.5% at a geometric factor of 3.1. The findings open a new way to boost the performance of perovskite‐based LSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) with carbazole‐based self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) is an effective method toward the formation of highly efficient hole‐selective contacts, enabling the fabrication of high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the lack of long‐term structural and performance stability of the TCO/SAM/perovskite stack endangers the market entry of PSCs. Here, it is demonstrated that these challenges can be overcome by employing dyes as multi‐functional SAMs, simultaneously facilitating charge transport, passivating interfacial defects, and acting as a “molecular adhesive” layer, preserving structural integrity of the contact stack. Particularly, the surface modification of ITO with a dye (N719) monolayer is shown to create a hole‐selective contact for the fabrication of p–i–n PSCs with power conversion efficiencies reaching 24%. The N719 SAM‐based PSCs have also shown superior stability compared to state‐of‐the‐art PSCs incorporating carbazole SAMs and polyarylamine hole‐selective contacts by preserving ≈90% of their initial PCE under continuous light and thermal stress tests for 1000 h. The robustness of the ITO/N719/perovskite stack is attributed to its low interfacial trap density, UV resilience and strong adhesion capability. These findings place dye SAMs as a promising alternative for improving the performance of next‐generation photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins, a significant subclass of polyphenols, are prevalent across various plant species. Known for their vibrant colors, which make them desirable as natural pigments, anthocyanins have also garnered attention for their diverse biological activities, leading to their widespread use in food processing and supplement development. However, their structural instability poses a challenge, as it directly impacts their bioavailability and, consequently, their nutritional efficacy. This review paper delves into the chemical structure and food sources of anthocyanins and examines strategies to enhance their stability and bioavailability, particularly through improved understanding of their digestion and absorption in the human body. Additionally, it explores the broad spectrum of anthocyanins' biological activities, including their antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anticancer, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, analyzing these properties from a mechanistic perspective. Factors such as pH, temperature, light exposure, solvent interactions, and metal ions are known to negatively affect anthocyanin stability. Thus, future research should prioritize processing techniques that can preserve their structure more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 2-δ (wt.70 %)-Sm 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 1- x Cu x O 3-δ (wt.30 %) (SDC-SSFC) dual-phase oxygen permeable membranes were prepared by one-pot EDTA-citric acid combined complexing method. Effects of copper doping content on crystallographic phase, microstructure and oxygen permeability were deeply investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). Systematic studies reveal that SDC as oxygen ion conductors and SSFC as electron conductor display an excellent synergistic effect only if a suitable doping content of copper was adopted. It can be found that Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 2-δ -Sm 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.9 Cu 0.1 O 3-δ exhibits the highest oxygen permeation flux of up to about 0.61 ml cm−2 at 950 °C and lower oxygen permeation activation energy, which displays nearly a two-fold increase in oxygen permeability compared with the sample without any copper doping. If the copper doping content in B-site of SSFC perovskite exceeds about 30 %, a third phase, i.e., CuO, would appear in the bulk of SDC-SSFC dual-phase membrane and the grain size of CuO tend to gradually increase which would degrade the oxygen permeability of SDC-SSFC dual-phase membrane. Kinetical analysis showed that the critical membrane thickness (L c) of Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 2-δ -Sm 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.9 Cu 0.1 O 3-δ membrane is close to approximately 0.6 mm, i.e., if the membrane thickness is larger than 0.6 mm, its rate-determining step would transform into the bulk-diffusion exchange from surface exchange. Meanwhile, Ce 0.8 Sm 0.2 O 2-δ -Sm 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.9 Cu 0.1 O 3-δ membrane exhibits a stable oxygen permeation flux of up to 0.32 ml cm−2·min−1 in pure CO 2 atmosphere for more than 120 h without any degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite oxides have huge potential applications in carbon capture and utilization as oxygen transport membranes (OTM) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrodes. SrFeO 3- δ -based perovskite material, as the promising candidate, possesses high mixed ionic-electronic conductivity, but its partial application is impeded by poor stability under CO 2 conditions. In this work, SrFe 0.9 M 0.1 O 3- δ (SFM, M = Fe, Al, Zr, Nb, W) ceramic membranes were synthesized to study the effects of different valence B-site ions doping on the stability and CO 2 adsorption process of perovskite oxides. The phase structure, thermal expansion property, CO 2 tolerance, and CO 2 absorption mechanism on surfaces of SFM were investigated systematically. B-site doping stables the pure cubic structure, improves the high-temperature structural stability, and reduces the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) by increasing the lattice parameters and metal-oxygen average binging energy (ABE) of SFM. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that although B-site ions doping promotes the adsorption of CO 2 on the FeO 2 -terminated, it inhibits CO 2 adsorption on the Sr-O-Sr site after Zr4+, Nb5+, and W6+ doping, causing the reduction of the CO 2 desorption. The results offer new insights for designing perovskite oxides in the carbon neutralization field. • Different valence ions B-site dope SrFeO 3- δ perovskite oxide used in the CCUS. • SrFe 0.9 M 0.1 O 3- δ (SFM, M = Fe, Al, Zr, Nb, W) ceramic membranes are synthesized. • The increase of lattice parameters stabilizes the cubic structure of SFM. • The structure stability at high temperatures is improved by B-site ion doping. • The CO 2 adsorption mechanism on the SFM surfaces is revealed by DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining safety objectives with stability objectives is crucial for safety-critical systems. Existing studies generally unified these two objectives by constructing Lyapunov-type barrier functions. However, insufficient analysis of key set relationships within the system may render the proposed safety and stability conditions conservative, and these studies also did not provide how to use such conditions to design safety-stability control strategies. This paper proposed a feasible and constructive design to achieve stabilization of safety-critical systems by a relaxed converse Lyapunov-barrier approach. By analyzing the relationships between a series of sets associated with the safety-critical system, the stability and safety conditions can be appropriately relaxed. Then, with the help of relaxed converse control Lyapunov-barrier functions (RCCLBFs), a theoretical result was obtained for the stability of affine nonlinear systems with safety constraints. Subsequently, a constructive method was developed for a second-order strict-feedback system to transform the process of solving RCCLBFs into a Lyapunov-like stabilization problem. Finally, the proposed safety-stability control method is exerted on a robotic system and demonstrated by simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developed specifically to address leakage and stability concerns inherent in liquid electrolytes, this study presents a significant advancement in polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) formulation by combining potassium iodide (KI), ammonium iodide (AI) salts, and polyvinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐co‐HFP) as a host polymer. The tape casting method was employed to deposit the standard TiO2 paste as the photoanode and platinum paste as the counter electrode. N3 dye was incorporated, and PVDF‐co‐HFP was used as the PGE between the electrodes. The conductivity of PGE was measured by using a digitized conductivity meter. The quasi solid‐state solar cell (QS‐DSSC) assembled using single salts (KI, and AI), and mixed cations PGE was examined via photocurrent–voltage characteristics, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The augmented ionic conductivity directly influences the efficiency of DSSCs. Notably, incorporating a mixed salt (KI + AI) within the PGE enhances ionic conductivity compared to single‐salt‐based counterparts. The resultant DSSCs using mixed salt PGE exhibit a Voc of 600 mV, Jsc of 1.01 mA/cm2, FF of 0.6089, and an efficiency of 0.369%, outperforming those using KI or AI. This highlights the perceptible advantages of employing this innovative electrolyte composition to enhance solar cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hole‐transporting material (HTMs) are crucial for obtaining the stability and high efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the current state‐of‐the‐art n‐i‐p PSCs relied on the use of 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) exhibit inferior intrinsic and ambient stability due to the p‐dopant and hydrophilic Li‐TFSI additive. In this study, a new spiro‐type HTM with a critical quasi‐planar core (Z‐W‐03) is developed to improve both the thermal and ambient stability of PSCs. The results suggest that the planar carbazole structure effectively passivates the trap states compared to the triphenylamine with a propeller‐like conformation in spiro‐OMeTAD. This passivation effect leads to the shallower trap states when the quasi‐planar HTMs interact with the Pb‐dimer. Consequently, the device using Z‐W‐03 achieves a higher Voc of 1.178 V compared to the spiro‐OMeTAD's 1.155 V, resulting in an enhanced efficiency of 24.02 %. In addition, the double‐column π–π stacking of Z‐W‐03 results in high hole mobility (~10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1) even without p‐dopant. Moreover, when the surface interface is modified, the undoped Z‐W‐03 device can achieve an efficiency of nearly 23 %. Compared to the PSCs using spiro‐OMeTAD, those with Z‐W‐03 exhibit enhanced stability under N2 and ambient conditions. This superior performance is attributed to the quasi‐planar core structure and the presence of multiple CH/π and π–π intermolecular stacking in Z‐W‐03. The multiple CH/π and π–π intermolecular contacts of HTMs can improve the hole hopping transport. Therefore, it is imperative to focus on further molecular structure design and optimization of spiro‐type HTMs incorporating quasi‐planar cores and carbazole moieties for the commercialization of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochromic technology plays a pivotal role in various industries, offering significant benefits in energy efficiency and sustainability. By efficiently modulating sunlight, it reduces dependence on traditional climate control systems, thus decreasing overall energy consumption. Among electrochromic materials, tungsten oxide (WO 3) is highly favored for its outstanding stability and superior optical modulation amplitude. However, the escalating demands of commercial applications necessitate enhancements in electrochromic performance, achievable through doping or composite designs. This study investigates the electrochromic characteristics of novel niobium tungsten oxide (Nb 18 W 16 O 93) thin films, employing a gel electrolyte and examining their structural, optical, and electrochemical attributes. Compared to pure WO 3 , the Nb 18 W 16 O 93 -based electrochromic device exhibited a significant optical modulation of 55.1% in the visible spectrum and 31.3% in the near-infrared region. The gel-based device not only provides safety benefits over liquid electrolytes by mitigating leakage risks but also features rapid switching response times, with a coloration duration of 3.9 s and a bleaching interval of 3.6 s. Moreover, the device showcases exceptional long-term stability, retaining a ΔT of nearly 72% after 10,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Two novel Cr (III) and Ru (III) salen complexes based on {3,4‐Bis‐[(5‐chloro‐2‐hydroxy‐benzylidene)‐amino]‐phenyl}‐phenyl‐methanone ligand (CSAB) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized using various spectral and analytical methods. The catalytic performance of the CSAB complexes was investigated via a four‐component condensation reaction involving aromatic aldehydes, rhodamine, morpholine, and 5‐aminotetrazole under mild, environmentally friendly conditions. Different Lewis acids, bases, ionic liquid catalysts, solvents, and catalyst amounts were assessed to optimize the reaction parameters. Both catalyst systems demonstrated robust catalytic activity under strictly managed conditions, with the heterogeneous catalyst CSAB‐Ru showing superior efficacy compared to the homogeneous CSAB‐Cr catalyst. The study confirmed the catalytic capabilities of both complexes and evaluated their recyclability and reusability. The heterogeneous catalyst (CSAB‐Ru) could be reused seven times, whereas the homogeneous catalyst (CSAB‐Cr) could be recycled four times. Both complexes demonstrated strong catalytic activity and selectivity, resulting in high product yields. The study provides insights into the synthetic applications of novel CSAB complexes, highlighting their potential in organic transformations. It emphasizes their ease of use, safety, stability, component availability, quick reaction times, and high yields, making them promising for future industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present a nonlocal reaction‐diffusion‐advection system that models the predator–prey relationship between zooplankton and phytoplankton species in a eutrophic vertical water column. The invasion dynamics of zooplankton are analyzed in terms of the spontaneous death rates and buoyant/sinking velocities of both phytoplankton and zooplankton. Our analysis reveals that the zooplankton species can successfully invade and coexist with the phytoplankton only under conditions of low spontaneous death rates and matching buoyant/sinking velocities with phytoplankton. Additionally, we derived asymptotic profiles for the unique positive steady state of this system when one of the sinking or buoyant velocities of either phytoplankton or zooplankton approaches infinity, while the other velocity remains fixed. These findings highlight the significant role of advection due to buoyancy in shaping the dynamics of plankton ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, the authors have developed a mathematical model to examine the interaction between dystrophin protein and tumor. The authors formulated a system of ordinary differential equations to describe the dynamics of the dystrophin-tumor interaction system. Jacobian matrix and Routh–Hurwitz stability techniques were used to determine equilibrium points, perform stability and bifurcation analysis, and establish the conditions required for the stability of the proposed model. Numerical simulations are performed using Euler's method to investigate the temporal evolution of the proposed model under different parameter values, such as tumor growth rate and feedback strength of dystrophin protein. The numerical results are presented in tables, and corresponding to each table, a graphical analysis is done. The graphical analysis includes creating phase portraits to visually represent stability regions around the equilibrium points, bifurcation diagrams to identify critical points, and time series analysis to highlight the behavior of the proposed model. The authors explore how variations in dystrophin expression impact tumor progression, identifying potential therapeutic implications of maintaining higher dystrophin levels. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the dystrophin-tumor interaction, providing a basis for further experimental validation and potential therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion is a promising technology for the treatment of food waste (FW) but it requires optimization to improve its performance. This study investigated whether combining the addition of biochar with lipase pretreatment could improve the anaerobic digestion of FW. The results showed that biochar stimulated the release of soluble substances, resulting in an increase in the methane yield of groups with added biochar by 16.24% to 19.36% in comparison with the group without biochar. Lipase pretreatment substantially shortened the fermentation time required to complete the anaerobic digestion, from 15 to 9 days. Lipase pretreatment further improved microbial abundance and promoted the enrichment of functional microbes in the anaerobic digestion of FW mediated by biochar. It also changed the methane production pathway from acetotrophic to hydrogenotrophic, thereby ensuring the stability of the anaerobic digestion system in the presence of a high ammonia nitrogen concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the initial-boundary value problem of a diffusive three-species intraguild predation model, in which the variable-carrying capacity is proportional to the biotic resource and the biotic resource follows the logistic law. We mainly discuss the stabilities of the constant equilibrium points at different levels of enrichment, including the linear local, global stability and nonlinear stability. Finally, the non-existence of non-constant positive steady states has been shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to explore the influence of the guar and xanthan gum complex (GG/XG) on the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and sizing efficiency of alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) loaded emulsions. The centrifugal stability of the emulsions was measured using a Turbiscan equipment, the droplets morphology through an optical microscopy, the size of droplets and its distribution through a Mastersizer, and the sizing efficiency through the penetration method. Furthermore, Cryo-SEM and CLSM were used to elucidate the adsorption mechanism of polysaccharides at the ASA-water interface. When the concentration of GG/XG exceeded 0.35%, the ASA emulsions displayed excellent stability and low viscosity, and no water separation was observed even after high-speed centrifugation. By absorbing GG/XG at the oil-water interface, a dense interfacial film was formed, which blocked any interaction between the oil and water, thus hindering the hydrolysis of ASA. The sizing degree of the paper sized by ASA emulsion stored for 2 h was still higher than 88 s. By encapsulating ASA in emulsions that are stabilized exclusively by natural polysaccharides, the need for surfactants is eliminated, which in turn decreases the amount of foam present in the papermaking process, thus making it a more environmentally friendly production method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), a crucial area influencing global climatic patterns and water resources, is experiencing a unique climatic paradox, particularly evident in the Three Rivers Source Region (TRSR). A striking summer asymmetry in the increases of near-surface temperature and precipitation is observed from 1989 to 2018: the rate of daily minimum temperature (0.64°C decade−1) surpasses the daily maximum temperature (0.52°C decade−1), while the daytime precipitation intensity (0.40 mm day−1 decade−1) increases at a faster rate compared to nighttime (0.30 mm day−1 decade−1). Despite these trends, the summer mean nighttime precipitation intensity consistently remains higher than the daytime average. Notably, this pattern is accompanied by an increasing trend of moisture transport during both daytime and nighttime in TRSR. This paper deciphers the thermodynamic and dynamic processes behind this trend. The daytime warmth not only alters the stability of atmosphere but also modulates convective inhibition (CIN), thereby reshaping precipitation mechanics and potentially dampening or delaying daytime convection. Thermodynamically, a shift from unstable to stable anomalies in the summer troposphere suppresses precipitation development. The combination of increased CIN during those period leads to fewer but more intense rainy days. Dynamically, the shift from a consistent downward motion anomaly throughout troposphere to an upward motion anomaly becomes dominant during nighttime, exhibiting a similar transition but only below 500 hPa during daytime. These findings reveal the complex interplay between thermodynamics, dynamics, and precipitation, highlighting the need for refined climatic models that can accurately simulate these summer diurnal processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the asymptotic expansion for the homogeneous model of wind‐driven oceanic circulation with the nonslip boundary condition when both of the beta‐plane parameter and the Reynolds number go to infinity. By asymptotic analysis under certain constraints on wind tensor, we derive a formal expansion including the geophysical boundary layer in the large beta‐plane parameter and high Reynolds number limit, from which one sees that the external force, wind tensor, has an important effect on the behavior of the boundary layers. Moreover, when the external force and initial data satisfy certain constraints, to exclude the appearance of strong boundary layers, we construct approximate solutions with steady boundary layers to the homogeneous model of wind‐driven oceanic circulation in the large beta‐plane parameter and high Reynolds number limit. By using an energy method, we obtain the L∞$$ {L}^{\infty } $$‐stability of small perturbation around this approximate solutions, which verifies the validity of the asymptotic expansion of weak boundary layers in the large beta‐plane parameter and high Reynolds number limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Inverted (p‐i‐n) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are favored by researchers owing to their superior compatibility with flexible substrates and tandem device fabrication. Additionally, the hole transport layer (HTL) serves as a template for perovskite growth, which is critical for enhancing the device performance. However, the current research on how the HTL promotes perovskite crystallization is insufficient. Here, 4PADCB, a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) hole transport material, was optimized as a superior template for perovskite growth through comparative analysis; accordingly, compact perovskite film with vertical growth was prepared. The better matched energy level alignment between 4PADCB and perovskite suppressed nonradiative recombination at the interface and enabled rapid hole extraction. Moreover, high‐quality perovskite film growth on 4PADCB exhibited lower Young's modulus and less residual stress. By integrating 4PADCB into p‐i‐n PSCs, the optimal device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 24.80%, with an open‐circuit voltage of 1.156 V, thus achieving the best rank among devices without perovskite post‐treatment, additives, dopants, or intermediate layers. Furthermore, the unencapsulated device demonstrated exceptional thermostability and photostability under maximum power point tracking. Thus, this work provides a new understanding for the development of novel SAMs and perovskite growth, and it is expected to further improve device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of the parametric resonance of a controlled stay cable with time delay is investigated. The in-plane nonlinear equations of motion are initially determined via the Hamilton principle. Then, utilizing the method of multiple scales, the modulation equations that govern the nonlinear dynamics are obtained. These equations are then utilized to investigate the effect of time delays on the amplitude and frequency-response behavior and, subsequently, on the stability of the parametric resonance of the controlled cable, that it is shown to depend on the excitation amplitude and the commensurability of the delayed-response frequency to the excitation frequency. The stability region of the parametric resonance is shifted, and the effects of control on the cable become worse by increasing time delay. The work plays a guiding role in the parametric design of the control system for stay cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the stability of a special magnetic Bénard system near equilibrium, where there exists Laplacian magnetic diffusion and temperature damping but the velocity equation involves no dissipation. Without any velocity dissipation, the fluid velocity is governed by the two-dimensional incompressible Euler equation, whose solution can grow rapidly in time. However, when the fluid is coupled with the magnetic field and temperature through the magnetic Bénard system, we show that the solution is stable. Our results mathematically illustrate that the magnetic field and temperature have the effect of enhancing dissipation and contribute to stabilize the fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPickering Emulsions are commonly applied in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries. The use of natural particles as stabilizers provides access to surfactant-free dispersions with reduced toxicity and environmental impact. This work investigates the use of three commercial organoclays (C15A, C10A, and C30B) and hydrophilic sodium montmorillonite (Mt) as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions. Emulsion stability was evaluated through macroscopic and microscopic morphological observations and the emulsion microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy and DLS measurements to assess creaming and coalescence. The influence of different experimental parameters on emulsion stability was evaluated, including organoclay content, emulsification time, emulsification speed, and oil–water ratio. The results showed that emulsions based on C15A exhibit better stability against coalescence as compared to emulsions prepared with the other clays. This was attributed to the wettability of the particles and solution viscosity. Droplet size decreased as emulsification time and stabilizer content increased and reached a minimum value at 1 wt.% of C15A and for emulsification time of 5 min and oil–water ratio O/W (v/v: 50/50). The experimental parameters also impacted emulsion viscosity, increasing it for high clay content and as the stirring speed and emulsification time increased. The results of the heat and cold resistance stability tests indicated that 25 °C represents the optimal storage temperature for the prepared emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractQuantitative analysis of peptides in biological fluids offers a high diagnostic and prognostic tool to reflect the pathophysiological condition of the patient. Recently, methods based on liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the quantitative determination of intact peptides have been replacing traditionally used ligand-binding assays, which suffer from cross-reactivity issues. The use of “top-down” analysis of peptides is rapidly increasing since it does not undergo incomplete or non-reproducible digestion like “bottom-up” approaches. However, the low abundance of peptides and their peculiar characteristics, as well as the complexity of biological fluids, make their quantification challenging. Herein, the analytical pitfalls that may be encountered during the development of an LC-MS method for the analysis of intact peptides in biological fluids are discussed. Challenges in the pre-analytical phase, stability after sampling and sample processing, significantly impact the accuracy of peptide quantification. Emerging techniques, such as microextractions, are becoming crucial for improved sample cleanup and enrichment of target analytes. A comparison between the roles of high-resolution and low-resolution mass spectrometry in the quantification of intact peptides, as well as the introduction of supercharging reagents to enhance ionization, will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a mathematical model of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is considered as a moving boundary problem in cylindrical coordinates. Using the front-fixing technique, first, we transform the problem into a nonlinear parabolic problem on a fixed domain, and then some essential properties of the solution, such as the uniqueness of the solution, are shown. A numerical approach based on the finite difference method is established for solving the fixed domain problem. The solvability of the proposed finite difference method is proved, and the stability and convergence of the numerical solution are shown. For a test case problem, analytical and numerical results are compared to demonstrate the ability and effectiveness of the numerical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storage of rAAV vectors for gene therapy applications is critical for ensuring a constant product quality and defined amount of medication at the time of administration. Therefore, we determined the influence of different storage conditions on the physicochemical and biological properties of rAAV8 and rAAV9 preparations. Particular attention was paid to short-term storage, which plays a crucial role in both the manufacturing process and in clinical applications. Additionally, we addressed the question, of viability of rAAV8 and rAAV9 when subjected to very low-temperature storage conditions (below −65 °C) or lyophilization. To determine the impact on rAAV vectors, various analyses were used, including the quantification of capsid and genome titers, as well as biopotency assessments, which are pivotal determinants in characterizing vector behavior and efficacy. Our data showed that freeze/thaw cycles hardly affected the functionality of rAAV9-aGAL vectors. In contrast, prolonged storage at room temperature for several days, resulted in a discernible decrease in biopotency despite consistent capsid and genome titers. When the storage temperature was further increased, the rAAV8-aGAL decay accelerated. For example, a short-term exposure of + 40 °C and more, led to a reduction in the physical viral titer and to an even faster decline in efficacy determined by biopotency. However, the addition of sucrose and sorbitol to the rAAV9-aGAL and rAAV9-GAA preparations reduced the temperature sensitivity of rAAV and improved its stability. Furthermore, exposure of rAAV9-aGAL to highly acidic conditions (pH 2.5) dramatically reduced its biopotency by 70% or more. Most interestingly, a long-term storage of rAAV9-aGAL and rAAV8-FVIII vectors over 12 and 36 months, respectively, demonstrated exceptional stability at storage temperatures below −65 °C. Also, lyophilization conserved functionality for at least 10 months. Our data showed how to maintain rAAV biopotency levels over the time without substantial loss. Storage at very low temperatures (below −65 °C) preserved its effectiveness over years. Overall, pH and temperature conditions during the manufacturing process, storage and clinical application are worth considering. Consistency in the rAAV capsid titer determination did not necessarily indicate the preservation of biopotency. In conclusion, our approach determined several options for maximizing rAAV stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of genotype × environment interaction is crucial for plant breeders to introduce new cultivar(s) with improved and stable yield performance. The productivity of chickpea crops is very low in Pakistan. It requires the selection of genotypes with optimal productivity for diverse environmental conditions. Fourteen different chickpea genotypes were assessed using the linear mixed model to evaluate genotypes across four diverse chickpea growing regions, including Attock (Punjab), Bhakkar (Punjab), Karak (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), and Larkana during the year 2017–19. The environmental effect was pronounced and contributed significantly to variation (25.8%) in grain yield. Analysing genotype × environmental interactions at multiple locations facilitates ranking superior genotypes that excel in specific or diverse environments. Notably, the genotypes, viz., Fakhr-e-Thal and Bhakkar-2011, demonstrated superior performance in terms of overall grain yield. Utilising a multitrait stability index, Bittal-2016 and Thal-2006 exhibited the most stable genotypes across various environments and were observed suitable for diverse growing regions. While, for specific environmental conditions, genotypes, i.e., KK-1, Noor-2013 and Fakhr-e-thal, exhibited higher yields and stability. This showed their adaptability to the particular environment. The present study revealed that Larkana as the mega environment was conducive to higher yield, while Attock, Bhakkar, and Karak sites were less favorable for KK-3, DG-89, and Dasht. The BLUP outperformed the AMMI in our analysis of evaluating multi-location trials. The integration of WAASBY and MTSI indices proved useful in differentiating between high yielding genotypes and those with stable performance. These tools are essential for breeders aiming to select genotypes that will perform consistently across diverse environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the effectiveness of three loss functions Asymmetric Unified Focal Loss (AUFL), Dice Similarity Coefficient Loss (DSCL), and Cross‐Entropy (CE) for segmenting COVID‐19 lung infections in computed tomography images. Detailed analyses using the intersection over union metric assessed each function's accuracy. AUFL achieved an average Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 85.18% ± 8.86%, outperforming DSCL 85.18% ± 8.86%, which had the same average DSC but less precise segmentation, and CE, which had an average DSC of 78.31% ± 11.93%. Segmentations using AUFL demonstrated more defined contours and better alignment with actual anatomical structures than those obtained with DSCL and CE. Observations revealed that AUFL‐generated segmentations had more precise boundaries and were more consistent with the expected anatomical regions of lung infections. This study is the first to quantitatively and qualitatively compare the effectiveness of AUFL, DSCL, and CE in segmenting COVID‐19 lung infections, providing concrete evidence of AUFL's superiority in segmentation performance and reliability for clinical applications. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate loss functions to enhance segmentation in medical imaging, highlighting their crucial role in improving image‐based diagnostics and treatment. The study emphasizes the need for ongoing research to optimize these segmentation techniques further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the Boussinesq equations with magnetohydrodynamics convection, in which the temperature obeys degenerate damped wave equations. Under the influence of an equilibrium, we prove that the 2D magnetic Bénard system remains stable in the whole space ℝ2$$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}^2 $$. In particular, we obtain the decay rate and large‐time behavior. Without the coupling, the 2D MHD system with only vertical dissipation is not known to be stable. It is revealed that both the thermal damping and the horizontal background magnetic field are indispensable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]