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CaCu3Fe2Re2O12and LaCu3Fe2Re2O12quadruple perovskite oxides are well known for their high ferrimagnetic Curie temperatures and half-metallic electronic structures. By A-site chemical substitution with lower valence state Na+, an isostructural compound NaCu3Fe2Re2O12with both A- and B-site ordered quadruple perovskite structures in Pn–3 symmetry was prepared using high-pressure and high-temperature techniques. The X-ray absorption study demonstrates the valence states to be Cu2+, Fe3+, and Re5.5+. A ferrimagnetic phase transition is found to take place at the Curie temperature TC≈ 240 K, which is much less than that observed in A = Ca (560 K) and La (710 K) analogues. NaCu3Fe2Re2O12possesses a larger saturated magnetic moment up to 9.4 μB/f.u. as well as a remarkably reduced coercive field less than 10 Oe at 2 K. Theoretical calculations suggest that NaCu3Fe2Re2O12displays a half-metallic electronic band structure with complete spin polarization of conduction electrons in the minority-spin bands. The magnetic properties and electronic structures of the ACu3Fe2Re2O12family are compared and discussed.

Monitoring toxic volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) by metal-oxide–semiconductor (MOS) sensors has gained much attention for various applications including smart factory and health screening. Although room temperature (RT) operation is highly preferred due to tiny power consumption and minimal explosion risk of VSCs, poor selectivity and insufficient molecule features acquired at RT pose a big challenge. Herein, a 16-channel MOS-based electronic nose (e-nose) has been integrated in a glass wafer with ITO interdigital electrode arrays, visible light modulation, and three kinds of feature extraction methods have been proposed to extract the (subtle) features of those VSCs molecules. Combining the transient e-nose response characteristics generated by visible light modulation and convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm, a high prediction accuracy of 99.2% toward five kinds of VSCs with varying concentrations could be achieved. Furthermore, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) approach has been used to estimate the contribution of individual sensors in prediction models for the optimization of model computational complexity and sensor array size. This work sheds light on the rational screening of useful sensors for constructing high-performance e-nose with minimal costs for various applications.

Passive mode-locking plays a crucial role in generating ultrafast laser pulses and high-quality beams. However, traditional figure-of-eight laser cavities often require additional intra-cavity amplitude modulators, tapping or a two-gain-segment design to initiate mode-locking, leading to increased complexity and loss within the cavity. Here we propose a novel approach utilizing a 3×3 optical coupler to address these challenges. This work was performed at the novel communication O-band using bismuth-doped phosphosilicate glass fiber, where most rare-earth-doped silica fibers are inaccessible. By integrating a bismuth-doped nonlinear-amplifying-loop-mirror with a 3×3 optical coupler operating at 1310 nm, we achieve stable mode-locking at a significantly reduced pump power of 119.9 mW. Notably, the incorporation of a 120-degree (2π/3) phase difference results in an initiation threshold reduction of at least by 45% for NALM laser cavity using a symmetrical 2×2 optical coupler, lower pump power that maintain stable mode-locking by 26% compared to using an asymmetrical 2×2 optical coupler (70:30), and at least a twofold increase in output power of up to 6.839 mW. These findings underscore the potential of our optimized structure for improving performances of fiber lasers operating at the optical communication O-band.

Two-dimensional (2D) superconductors that reside on substrates must be influenced by Rashba spin–orbit coupling (SOC). The intriguing effect of Rashba-type SOCs on iron-based superconductors (IBSs) has remained largely a mystery. In this work, we unveil modified Landau-level spectroscopy and the intricate band splitting of FeSe monolayers through the precision of scanning tunneling spectroscopy, which unequivocally demonstrates the presence of Rashba SOC. The discovery sheds light on a nonparabolic electron band at the X and/orY point, displaying a distinctive Landau quantization behavior characterized by En∝ (nB)4/3. The theoretical model aligns with our experimental insights, positing that the k4-term of the electron band becomes predominant and profoundly reshapes the band structure. Our results underscore the pivotal role of the Rashba SOC effect on 2D superconductors and set the stage to probe new quantum states in systems with remarkably low carrier concentrations.

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) pose a significant global health challenge, exacerbated by the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study introduces a high-throughput platform designed to identify sustainable antibacterial surfaces, exemplified by a copper–silver–zirconium (CuAgZr) alloy library. Utilizing combinatorial synthesis and advanced characterization techniques, material libraries (MatLibs) are generated and evaluated to rapidly screen diverse alloy compositions. The results demonstrate the ability to reproducibly create alloys with significant antimicrobial properties and high hardness, making them suitable for biomedical applications. The study highlights the critical role of compositional precision in developing materials that balance mechanical strength with antibacterial efficacy. Additionally, this approach ensures significant cost-effectiveness, facilitating the identification of economically viable alloy compositions. This research underscores the potential of high-throughput materials science to expedite the discovery of sustainable solutions for reducing HCAIs and addressing AMR, signaling a leap forward in sustainable healthcare material development.

Composite structures, coupling properties from different materials, are systematically evaluated, examined with different fabrication processes. In this work, a hybrid fabrication process is proposed for steel-Cu metal-metal composites: Laser Powder Bed Fusion is utilized for printing 316L stainless steel lattices, which are later infiltrated with CuCrZr alloy powder, melted through induction heating. Microstructure characterization is accompanied by neutron imaging analysis, providing insight into critical aspects of the structures regarding the texture and strain distribution after each fabrication step, and the austenite-to-ferrite transformation on the steel-Cu interface. Thermodynamic modeling of the induction melting process examines the elemental interdiffusion phenomena, showing the impact of inter-difussion in the formation of a ferritic band on the steel-Cu interface. The mechanical performance of the composites is characterized by nano hardness indentation and compression testing, revealing the impact of the 316L lattice in reinforcing the overall hardness and strength of the composites. The current work proposes an alternative fabrication route for crack free steel-Cu composites, where the AM structure and the induction heating condition can be used as a tool to control the microstructure and the mechanical performance of the composites.

Decarboxylative cross-coupling of carboxylic acids and aryl halides has become a key transformation in organic synthesis to form C(sp2)–C(sp3) bonds. In this report, a base metal pairing between Fe and Ni has been developed with complementary reactivity to the well-established Ir and Ni metallaphotoredox reactions. Utilizing an inexpensive FeCl3cocatalyst along with a pyridine carboxamidine Ni catalyst, a range of aryl iodides can be preferentially coupled to carboxylic acids over boronic acid esters, triflates, chlorides, and even bromides in high yields. Additionally, carboxylic acid derivatives containing heterocycles, N-protected amino acids, and protic functionality can be coupled in 23–96% yield with a range of sterically hindered, electron-rich, and electron-deficient aryl iodides. Preliminary catalytic and stoichiometric reactions support a mechanism in which Fe is responsible for the activation of carboxylic acid upon irradiation with light and a NiIalkyl intermediate is responsible for activation of the aryl iodide coupling partner followed by reductive elimination to generate product.

We probe the stability of water clusters by means of their metastable decay probability extracted from two-dimensional reflectron time-of-flight mass spectra. Two different methods are used to ionize and potentially excite the clusters and trigger the evaporation: (i) attachment of electrons with near-zero energies, producing negatively charged (H2O)n−clusters, and (ii) electron impact ionization, producing protonated (H2O)nH+clusters. The electron attachment is a soft ionization and therefore provides information about the size distribution of the neutral clusters in the beam due to a very limited amount of post-ionization loss of water molecules. A dependence of metastable fractions on the conditions of neutral clusters production prior to the electron attachment is reported. For the cations, the higher energy electron impact ionization leads to a more extensive metastable loss of water molecules. The results are discussed in the light of neutral cluster excitation energy distributions and, for negative clusters, also in terms of binding energies. The experiments demonstrate clearly the role of the excess electron vs the excess proton in the two different charge states of the clusters around sizes N= 50–55, for which binding energies of the anions are derived from the data.

The Eden Model in Rnconstructs a blob as follows: initially a single unit hypercube is infected, and each second a hypercube adjacent to the infected ones is selected randomly and infected. Manin, Roldán, and Schweinhart investigated the topology of the Eden model in Rnby considering the possible shapes which can appear on the boundary. In particular, they give probabilistic lower bounds on the Betti numbers of the Eden model. In this paper, we prove analogous results for the Eden model on any infinite, vertex-transitive, locally finite graph: with high probability as time goes to infinity, every “possible” subgraph (with mild conditions on what “possible” means) occurs on the boundary of the Eden model at least a number of times proportional to an isoperimetric profile of the graph. Using this, we can extend the results about the topology of the Eden model to non-Euclidean spaces, such as hyperbolic n-space and universal covers of certain Riemannian manifolds.

Nanostructured ultraviolet (UV) light sources represent a growing research field in view of their potential applications in wearable optoelectronics or medical treatment devices. In this work, we report the demonstration of the first flexible UV-A light emitting diode (LED) based on AlGaN/GaN core–shell microwires. The device is based on a composite microwire/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane with flexible transparent electrodes. The electrode transparency in the UV range is optimized: namely, we demonstrate that single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes provide a stable electrical contact to the membrane with high transparency (70% at 350 nm). The flexible UV-A membrane demonstrating electroluminescence around 345 nm is further applied to excite Zn–Ir–BipyPDMS luminophores: the UV-A LED is combined with the elastic luminophore-containing membrane to produce a visible amber emission from 520 to 650 nm. The obtained results pave the way for flexible inorganic light-emitting diodes to be employed in sensing, detection of fluorescent labels, or light therapy.

Investigational therapeutics that target toxic species of α-synuclein (αSyn) aim to slow down or halt disease progression in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here this 44-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center phase 1 study investigated safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of UB-312, an active immunotherapeutic targeting pathological αSyn, in patients with PD. The primary outcome measures were adverse event frequency and change in anti-αSyn antibody titers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Exploratory outcomes were changes in clinical scales and biomarker-based target engagement as measured by seed amplification assays. Twenty patients were randomized 7:3 (UB-312:placebo) into 300/100/100 μg or 300/300/300 μg (weeks 1, 5 and 13) intramuscular prime-boost dose groups. Safety was similar across groups; adverse events were mostly mild and transient. Two patients experienced three serious adverse events in total, one possibly treatment related; all resolved without sequalae. Anti-αSyn antibodies in serum from 12/13 and CSF from 5/13 patients who received three UB-312 doses confirmed immunogenicity. Mean serum titers (in log-dilution factor) increased from baseline by 1.398 and 1.354, and peaked at week 29 at 2.520 and 2.133, for 300/100/100 μg and 300/300/300 μg, respectively. CSF titers were 0 at baseline and were 0.182 and 0.032 at week 21, respectively. Exploratory analyses showed no statistical differences in clinical scales but a significant reduction of αSyn seeds in CSF of a subset of UB-312-treated patients. These data support further UB-312 development. ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT04075318.

How does a fast-moving organization tackle a multi-year, shared-service change effort? The Coast Guard is deploying a human-centered approach that prioritizes communication, transparency, and accountability today to prepare for tomorrow's [...]

Apes possess two sex chromosomes—the male-specific Y chromosome and the X chromosome, which is present in both males and females. The Y chromosome is crucial for male reproduction, with deletions being linked to infertility1. The X chromosome is vital for reproduction and cognition2. Variation in mating patterns and brain function among apes suggests corresponding differences in their sex chromosomes. However, owing to their repetitive nature and incomplete reference assemblies, ape sex chromosomes have been challenging to study. Here, using the methodology developed for the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) human genome, we produced gapless assemblies of the X and Y chromosomes for five great apes (bonobo (Pan paniscus), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)) and a lesser ape (the siamang gibbon (Symphalangus syndactylus)), and untangled the intricacies of their evolution. Compared with the X chromosomes, the ape Y chromosomes vary greatly in size and have low alignability and high levels of structural rearrangements—owing to the accumulation of lineage-specific ampliconic regions, palindromes, transposable elements and satellites. Many Y chromosome genes expand in multi-copy families and some evolve under purifying selection. Thus, the Y chromosome exhibits dynamic evolution, whereas the X chromosome is more stable. Mapping short-read sequencing data to these assemblies revealed diversity and selection patterns on sex chromosomes of more than 100 individual great apes. These reference assemblies are expected to inform human evolution and conservation genetics of non-human apes, all of which are endangered species.

In recent decades, a lot of research has been conducted to explore poultry feeding behavior. However, up to now, the processes behind poultry feeding behavior remain poorly understood. The review generalizes modern expertise about the hormonal regulation of feeding behavior in chickens, focusing on signaling pathways mediated by insulin, leptin, and ghrelin and regulatory pathways with a cross-reference to mammals. This overview also summarizes state-of-the-art research devoted to hypothalamic neuropeptides that control feed intake and are prime candidates for predictors of feeding efficiency. Comparative analysis of the signaling pathways that mediate the feed intake regulation allowed us to conclude that there are major differences in the processes by which hormones influence specific neuropeptides and their contrasting roles in feed intake control between two vertebrate clades.

A preliminary conceptual approach is suggested to assess the suitability of onshore deep saline aquifers in major sedimentary basins of Russia for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The assessment is based on several regional and subregional criteria developed especially concerning the existing international and national legislation on the disposal of CO2, plant effluents, and toxic wastes, and to the construction and monitoring of underground gas storage sites. Potential long-term storage of CO2in deep saline aquifers is evaluated according to hydrogeological, hydrodynamic, tectonic, lithological, geothermal, and environmental conditions. Russia’s sedimentary basins and aquifers are classified as highly, moderately, poorly suitable, or unsuitable for CO2disposal. As a result, 42 highly suitable, 17 moderately suitable, and 32 poorly suitable aquifers have been identified on the regional scale. The best prospects are expected from basins in the East European, East Siberian, and West Siberian hydrogeological provinces. The artesian basins of Azov-Kuban, East-Fore-Caucasus, Ergen, East-Donets, Kama-Vyatka, and Emben in the East European province, the Pechora basin in the Pechora-Barents Sea plate, and the Taz-Pur and Irtysh-Ob basins in West Siberia show high suitability for CCS projects. East Siberia has the Pyasina-Yenisei and Balakhna basins in the Arctic sector and the Putorana, Lower Tunguska, Katanga, and Angara basins farther in the south. This is the case of the Moscow artesian basin where 16 traps have been revealed, with a primary storage capacity of 150.6 Gt for dissolved CO2and 13.4 Gt for supercritical CO2.

The fast and accurate conformation space modeling is an essential part of computational approaches for solving ligand and structure-based drug discovery problems. Recent state-of-the-art diffusion models for molecular conformation generation show promising distribution coverage and physical plausibility metrics but suffer from a slow sampling procedure. We propose a novel adversarial generative framework, COSMIC, that shows comparable generative performance but provides a time-efficient sampling and training procedure. Given a molecular graph and random noise, the generator produces a conformation in two stages. First, it constructs a conformation in a rotation and translation invariant representation─internal coordinates. In the second step, the model predicts the distances between neighboring atoms and performs a few fast optimization steps to refine the initial conformation. The proposed model considers conformation energy, achieving comparable space coverage, and diversity metrics results.

Human centromeres have been traditionally very difficult to sequence and assemble owing to their repetitive nature and large size1. As a result, patterns of human centromeric variation and models for their evolution and function remain incomplete, despite centromeres being among the most rapidly mutating regions2,3. Here, using long-read sequencing, we completely sequenced and assembled all centromeres from a second human genome and compared it to the finished reference genome4,5. We find that the two sets of centromeres show at least a 4.1-fold increase in single-nucleotide variation when compared with their unique flanks and vary up to 3-fold in size. Moreover, we find that 45.8% of centromeric sequence cannot be reliably aligned using standard methods owing to the emergence of new α-satellite higher-order repeats (HORs). DNA methylation and CENP-A chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments show that 26% of the centromeres differ in their kinetochore position by >500 kb. To understand evolutionary change, we selected six chromosomes and sequenced and assembled 31 orthologous centromeres from the common chimpanzee, orangutan and macaque genomes. Comparative analyses reveal a nearly complete turnover of α-satellite HORs, with characteristic idiosyncratic changes in α-satellite HORs for each species. Phylogenetic reconstruction of human haplotypes supports limited to no recombination between the short (p) and long (q) arms across centromeres and reveals that novel α-satellite HORs share a monophyletic origin, providing a strategy to estimate the rate of saltatory amplification and mutation of human centromeric DNA.

Produced by Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergey Melkumov; directed by Kantemir Balagov; screenplay by Kantemir Balagov and Alexander Terekhov; cinematography by Ksenia Sereda; production design by Sergey Ivanov; costume design by [...]

One-pot synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines, fused with an isoindole core, was proposed starting from maleic anhydride and azomethines easily available from tryptamines and 3-(hetaryl)acroleins. This sequence includes four key steps: an acylation of the aldimine with maleic anhydride, a Pictet–Spengler cyclization, an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction, and a concluding [1,3]-Hshift. As a result, six- or seven-nuclear alkaloid-like heterocyclic systems, containing a benzo[1,2]indolizino[8,7-b]indole fragment annulated with furan, thiophene, or pyrrole, are formed in a diastereoselective manner.

Neutrinos are one of the most abundant fundamental particles in the universe. They come in three flavours: electron neutrino, muon neutrino and tau neutrino. A neutrino is similar to an [...]

Metals, renowned for their high reflectivity, find extensive use in various technological applications, from mirrors to optical coatings in radars, telescopes, and mobile communications. However, their potential in antireflective coatings has remained largely untapped. In this study, we demonstrate that by applying an ultrathin metallic film onto an oxide layer, we can achieve a flawless optical surface with zero reflectivity. This phenomenon has been successfully observed across various metals, including Sn, Ag, Au, Pt, Bi, and Nb, showcasing its broad applicability. The underlying principle lies in the emergence of surface states, where the Rashba effect is strong, which give rise to the formation of Rashba metamaterial and metasurface (RMM) structures. Remarkably, these RMMs can be fine-tuned to act as high-resolution Veselago lenses. To illustrate, we achieved zero reflectivity with an RMM consisting of a 1 nm thick Sn metal film on a 1 nm Ge buffer, situated on a 60 nm Al2O3/Si substrate. Similar results were observed for other metals (Pt, Au, Ag, and Nb) and semimetals (Bi) by adjusting the film thickness to 2, 3, 5, 10, and 6 nm, respectively. The revelation of RMMs with zero reflectivity (R= 0) has tremendous potential to revolutionize optical device technologies, covering renewable energy, optoelectronics, and the telecommunications industry.

The North Caucasus played a key role during the ancient colonization of Eurasia and the formation of its cultural and genetic ancestry. Previous archeogenetic studies described a relative genetic and cultural continuity of ancient Caucasus societies, since the Eneolithic period. The Koban culture, which formed in the Late Bronze Age on the North Caucasian highlands, is considered as a cultural “bridge” between the ancient and modern autochthonous peoples of the Caucasus. Here, we discuss the place of this archeological culture and its representatives in the genetic orbit of Caucasian cultures using genome-wide SNP data from five individuals of the Koban culture and one individual of the early Alanic culture as well as previously published genomic data of ancient and modern North Caucasus individuals. Ancient DNA analysis shows that an ancient individual from Klin-Yar III, who was previously described as male, was in fact a female. Additional studies on well-preserved ancient human specimens are necessary to determine the level of local mobility and kinship between individuals in ancient societies of North Caucasus. Further studies with a larger sample size will allow us gain a deeper understanding of this topic.

In this article, we present the results of the research aimed at improving the fabrication process of a SIS-mixer for operation at frequencies close to 1 THz. We study the impact of buffer aluminum oxide layer and anodization effects on the properties of superconducting NbTiN films which form the electrodes of the transmission lines in THz-range devices. These layers are traditionally used in technological processes. The measurements of THz response are performed using terahertz time-domain spectrometer at frequencies from 0.3 to 2.0 THz. It was found that the critical temperature, normal-state conductivity just above the transition temperature, superconducting gap value and London penetration depth of the NbTiN film sputtered on aluminum oxide buffer layer are almost the same as of the film sputtered directly onto the substrate. The difference between the parameters is comparable to the measurement uncertainty for NbTiN films with and without additional surface layers of aluminum and anodization.

Let Ebe an elliptic curve and π:E→P1a standard double cover identifying ±P∈E. It is known that for some torsion points Pi∈E, 1⩽i⩽4, the cross ratio of {π(Pi)}i=14is independent of E. We will give a complete classification of such quadruples.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is an important target for the discovery of new therapeutic drugs against hormone-dependent breast cancer. A series of phosphoryl-substituted steroidal pyridazines (Pho-STPYRs) were synthesized and biologically evaluated as potent ERα inhibitors. Pho-STPYRs showed cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells with IC50values of 5.9 μM and higher. Pho-STPYRs 33and 34[IC50(MCF7) = 6.5 and 5.9 μM, respectively] were found to block the expression of ERα, the main driver of breast cancer growth, and modulate the ERK, cyclin D1, and CDK4 pathways. Compound 34showed selectivity, anti-estrogenic potency and high antiproliferative efficacy in combination with the AKT inhibitor. Molecular docking was used to more accurately define the binding mode of lead compounds 33and 34to ERα. The selectivity analysis showed that lead compounds 33and 34produce no effects on cytochromes P450, including CYP7A1, CYP7B1, CYP17A1, CYP19A1, and CYP21A2. In a word, Pho-STPYRs 33and 34are promising ERα inhibitors for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer.

This study provides insight into the synthesis, optimization, and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) employing a highly promising Trichodermaisolate. The effectiveness of the synthesized ZnONPs was assessed against two plant pathogenic fungi, Phomopsis vexans, which causes Phomopsisblight in brinjal, and Colletotrichum capsici, which causes fruit rot in chili. ZnONP synthesis was optimized through systematic parameter adjustments, including different ratios of Zn to culture filtrate, varying pH ranges, and different time intervals of synthesis. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized through diverse analytical techniques, including UV‒vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and others. The UV–visible spectra exhibited absorption peaks within the range of 240–380 nm, indicating the formation of ZnO nanoparticles. The size of ZnONPs during SEM and TEM analysis was found to be 20–30 nm and 9–25 nm, respectively. These analyses yielded valuable insights into the morphology, size distribution, crystalline structure, and functional groups present in the nanoparticles and their antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, the antifungal efficacy of the synthesized ZnONPs was assessed against P. vexansand C. capsiciat various concentrations. The nanoparticles demonstrated strong antifungal activity in vitro at 200–500 ppm concentrations against both pathogens. The outcome of this study highlights the potential of using Trichoderma-derived ZnONPs as a sustainable and effective approach for managing plant fungal diseases. Overall, this research contributes to the expanding field of nanoparticle-based agricultural solutions and underscores the significance of understanding nanoparticle-fungus interactions for practical applications in crop protection.

Geriatric rehabilitation inpatients have high levels of sedentary behaviour (SB) and low levels of physical activity (PA). Biological age predicted by blood biomarkers is indicative of adverse outcomes. The objective was to determine the association between blood biological age at rehabilitation admission and levels of SB and PA during rehabilitation in geriatric inpatients. Inpatients admitted to geriatric rehabilitation wards at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne, Australia) from October 22, 2019, to March 29, 2020, in the REStORing health of acute unwell adulTs (RESORT) observational cohort were included. Blood biological age was predicted using SenoClock-BloodAge, a hematological ageing clock. Patients wore an inertial sensor to measure SB and PA. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. A total of 111 patients (57.7% female) with mean age 83.3 ± 7.5 years were included in the analysis. The mean blood biological age was 82.7 ± 8.4 years. Patients with 1-year higher blood biological age had higher odds of having high SB measured as non-upright time greater than 23 h/day (odds ratio (OR): 1.050, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.000–1.102). Individuals having 1-year higher age deviation trended towards lower odds of having high levels of PA measured as stepping time greater than 7.4 min/day (OR: 0.916, CI: 0.836–1.005) and as greater than 19.5 sit-to-stand transitions/day (OR: 0.915, CI: 0.836–1.002). In conclusion, higher biological age was associated with higher levels of SB and trended towards lower PA. Incorporating blood biological age could facilitate resource allocation and the development of more tailored rehabilitation plans.

The combination of liquid hydrogen and superconducting cables presents a unique opportunity to distribute both hydrogen and bulk electricity in the same infrastructure. In particular, liquid hydrogen around 20 K is ideally suited for cooling the MgB2 superconductor, resulting in a compact power cable that also leaves sufficient place for the hydrogen flow. Such a hybrid system operating in the MVDC range at 25 kV and 20 kA constitutes one of the main goals of the European project SCARLET. After a description of the rationale and benefits of the electricity – hydrogen system, various possible applications and a first distribution system are presented. Furthermore, the different cable components already designed are discussed along with the research challenges and general strategy for the development.

Superconducting cables have been proven in a variety of pilot projects and utility installations, demonstrating several of their advantages, including compact size and low energy losses, which can make the technology economically attractive for certain applications. It is clear though that different applications impose different requirements and challenges, but also opportunities for the cables. An interesting application is high-power DC transfer at medium voltage (MVDC). The high-current capability of the superconductor allows for a reduction in voltage while maintaining or increasing the power transfer level. In this way, one MVDC superconducting cable can replace one or more conventional high-voltage DC cables. In the European project Superconducting cables for sustainable energy transition (SCARLET), two types of MVDC cables will be developed, one based on HTS and one on MgB2 materials. Additionally, protection requirements will be considered, including the development of a modular DC fault current limiter for 10 kA. A main motivation for the development is the elimination of costly high-voltage converter stations when going from high to medium voltage, e.g., for offshore wind power plants. Another feature is the combined hydrogen and electricity transmission from generation sites to industry or mobility end users. This paper describes the superconducting MVDC cable concept as well as the main challenges and research needed to develop and type test the cables.

Polymer composite materials (PCM) are increasingly used in various fields of technology, primarily in the aviation industry, due to their high specific characteristics of structural properties and high manufacturability of molding methods for products of various functionality and undeniable advantages over traditional metal materials. The volume of PCM application in the airframe design of a number of modern and promising passenger aircraft is currently beginning to exceed 40% by weight and 80% by the area of the external contour of the aircraft. The development of automated technologies for laying out prepregs determines global trends in this direction, which consist in replacing traditional, manual methods of forming packages with automated methods of laying out. This gives significant advantages, such as a significant increase in the speed and accuracy of the process of laying out a semi-finished composite. The high demand for automation is due to increased requirements for the mechanical and precision characteristics of products. The key place in the article is given to determining the economic efficiency of methods of manufacturing composite parts for civil aviation equipment. The results of a comparative analysis of the technological cost of manufacturing parts from composite materials are presented, including assessment of the labor intensity of manufacturing work piece, material usage coefficients, share of manual labor, and degree of automation for polymer products through manual and automated technological calculations. It is shown that the use of automated technologies in the production of standard large-sized PCM panels makes it possible to reduce the consumption of basic materials by 15%, the labor intensity of manufacturing by 36% and the total manufacturing time by 28% compared to the existing level of pilot production. The key indicator of waste-free technological process (material utilization coefficient (MUC)) reaches values of 0.85–0.95.

Abstract: In this article we prove an effective version of the classical Brauer’s Theorem for integer class functions on finite groups.

Abstract: We study applications of divisibility properties of recurrence sequences to Tate’s theory of abelian varieties over finite fields.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of anticlastic deformation on the coated conductor (CC) tape wound in multilayer round cable. As the edges of the CC tapes tend to lift after bending (effect of anticlastic deformation), in multilayer round cable with tapes in opposite directions, this causes local contact stress between the layers and consequently crossover kinking of the outer tape. The impact of tape kinking was investigated as a comparison between critical currents (Ic) measured on the tapes wound in a single-layer (not affected by kinking) and outer tapes wound in double-layer configuration (affected by crossover kinking) at the same winding parameters. The investigation was performed on the tapes wound by using tensioning force of 3 N, lay angle of 45° and tube diameters of 8 mm and 6 mm. The results showed that Ic of the tape affected by kinking is approx. 19% lower at tube diameter of 6 mm and 15% lower at tube diameter of 8 mm compared to tape not affected by kinking. The SEM analysis showed delamination of the REBCO layer in the place of contact stress that was obviously responsible for Ic degradation of the outer tapes in double-layer configuration.

The high brightness and photostability of the green fluorescent protein StayGold make it a particularly attractive probe for long-term live-cell imaging; however, its dimeric nature precludes its application as a fluorescent tag for some proteins. Here, we report the development and crystal structures of a monomeric variant of StayGold, named mBaoJin, which preserves the beneficial properties of its precursor, while serving as a tag for structural proteins and membranes. Systematic benchmarking of mBaoJin against popular green fluorescent proteins and other recently introduced monomeric and pseudomonomeric derivatives of StayGold established mBaoJin as a bright and photostable fluorescent protein, exhibiting rapid maturation and high pH/chemical stability. mBaoJin was also demonstrated for super-resolution, long-term live-cell imaging and expansion microscopy. We further showed the applicability of mBaoJin for neuronal labeling in model organisms, including Caenorhabditiselegansand mice.

Nucleoside analogs have broad clinical utility as antiviral drugs. Key to their systemic distribution and cellular entry are human nucleoside transporters. Here, we establish that the human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (CNT3) interacts with antiviral drugs used in the treatment of coronavirus infections. We report high-resolution single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures of bovine CNT3 complexed with antiviral nucleosides N4-hydroxycytidine, PSI-6206, GS-441524 and ribavirin, all in inward-facing states. Notably, we found that the orally bioavailable antiviral molnupiravir arrests CNT3 in four distinct conformations, allowing us to capture cryo-electron microscopy structures of drug-loaded outward-facing and drug-loaded intermediate states. Our studies uncover the conformational trajectory of CNT3 during membrane transport of a nucleoside analog antiviral drug, yield new insights into the role of interactions between the transport and the scaffold domains in elevator-like domain movements during drug translocation, and provide insights into the design of nucleoside analog antiviral prodrugs with improved oral bioavailability.

Diversely substituted, partially saturated benzo[f]isoindole-4-carboxylic acids were synthesized by a new three-component reaction (3CR) starting from cinnamic amines (3-arylallylamines), maleimides, and maleic anhydride. The process consists of N-acylation of the amines by maleic anhydride, intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition in vinylarenes (the IMDAV reaction), and the concluding Alder-ene reaction between Diels–Alder intermediates and maleimides. All of the reaction steps proceed in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner, furnishing five adjacent chiral centers and leading to a single diastereoisomer of the title compound. The efficiency of the transformation is secured by thermal conditions or utilization of soft Lewis acids (Yb(OTf)3) as catalysts. The kinetics and mechanism of the 3CR were studied by using dynamic 19F NMR. Based on the NMR data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the IMDAV, not the Alder-ene, reaction is the rate-limiting step of the entire process.

In this article, we perform systematic study of electrodynamic properties of superconducting NbTiN films at frequencies 0.2–2.5 terahertz (THz) and in temperature range from 4 to 15 K using time-domain spectrometer. The goal is to achieve the best parameters of the films at THz frequencies; that is to reach а tradeoff between the highest possible normal state conductivity σ0, the smallest London penetration depth λL, and the highest energy gap and critical temperature Tc. To do this, it is necessary to determine the optimal manufacturing conditions; to this end, a set of NbTiN films of various compositions was fabricated, controlled by the nitrogen pressure in the magnetron chamber. As a result, the film with parameters σ0 = 11·103 1/(Ohm·сm), λL = 280 nm, and Tc = 14.4 K were obtained. To fit the experimental data, two models with and without taking intragap states into account were used, and both of them are in good agreement with experiment.

The hydraulic turbine is considered as a heart of the hydropower plant because of its important function in the whole process of electrical energy production. Turbine´s efficiency calculation is analytically demanding and dependent on parameters that are often obtained only by a theoretical estimation. Therefore, using its accurate model, which takes into account its efficiency, is necessary to achieve realistic and relevant results. The article briefly surveys current knowledge and methods of designing the hydraulic turbine model. The new idea consists in that a fuzzy system was used to create turbine´s efficiency model based on a measured operating data of the turbine flow rate and its mechanical speed without any need of knowing exactly the turbine parameters. Such a model can be used in the design and development process of an optimal energy control of a hydraulic turbine, as well as in the effective process of determination the actual turbine’s wear rate. The achieved results were obtained using the computational tools of the Fuzzy Toolbox in the MATLAB.

A narrow-linewidth bismuth-doped fiber laser (BDFL) with the random cavity and operational wavelength at 1.67 µm was demonstrated. The laser cavity was formed by an array of weakly reflecting fiber Bragg gratings inscribed in the active fiber core directly during the fiber drawing process. Taking into account the performed analysis of optical and laser properties, the viability of this approach as applied to Bi-doped fibers with high-GeO$_{2}$-SiO$_{2}$ glass core is shown, even despite the high sensitivity of bismuth active centers (BACs) to laser irradiation, i.e. processing does not lead to the destruction of the BACs. The maximum output power of the developed BDFL in a simple linear configuration with the use of 200 m-long bismuth-doped active fiber was $\sim$20 mW at room temperature when pumped by Er-Yb fiber laser at a wavelength of 1568 nm and the total power of 450 mW. The achieved width of the laser emission line was narrower than 0.02 nm. We studied the laser behavior in various configurations, and it was revealed that the laser wavelength can vary within the spectral range of 1.669–1.674 µm in dependence on the length and the ambient temperature of the active fiber. It was most likely caused by inhomogeneous distribution of the written gratings structures along the active fiber length that was induced due to the peculiarities of the used active fiber, namely, a significant core ellipticity. In addition, we demonstrated the possibility of the output power scalability of this type of lasers by using a homemade Bi-doped fiber power amplifier. As a result, the optical power of the random BDFL was increased up to 240 mW.

Highly efficient rectangular pulse emission is significant in high energy O-band applications due to the zero dispersion of standard telecom optical fiber in the second telecommunication window. The rectangular pulse emission offers the peak power clamping, which avoids wave-breaking and maintains the fundamental repetition frequency with arbitrarily widened temporal pulse width of ultrafast laser at high pump powers. The current technology in the O-band rectangular pulse emission achieves the maximum pulse energy of ∼30 nJ with an efficiency of ∼1.06%. Here, we fabricated a single-mode bismuth-doped phosphosilicate optical fiber by the modified chemical vapour deposition technique. The Bi-doped phosphosilicate optical fiber was characterized by a peak absorption of ∼0.6 dB/m at 1250 nm and a high gain coefficient of ∼0.22 dB/m at 1320 nm. These parameters contribute to the generation of rectangular pulse with a pump power threshold of ∼227.7 mW in a figure-of-nine laser cavity. The maximum pulse energy was achieved as ∼197.7 nJ, whereas the laser efficiency is ∼14.3%. We presented an O-band rectangular pulse emission with the highest pulse energy and efficiency as compared to previous studies, whilst its all-fiber laser setup is robust and feasible for high pulse energy applications.

Reaction of sulfonimidoyl fluorides with anilines and Ca(NTf2)2results in the formation of chiral sulfonimidamides. The reaction proceeds with inversion of the stereocenter at a sulfur atom. Enantiospecificity of the reaction was observed for all studied non-heterocyclic anilines. Combined experimental and computational mechanistic studies highlight chelate-type coordination of the sulfonimidoyl group to Ca(NTf2)2and the formation of a SN2-like transition state, in which leaving F–coordinates with the Ca2+ion.

Critical current (Ic) variations along the coated conductor (CC) have a significant impact on the conductor stability and quench behavior. In the direct current (DC) transport case, localized Ic minimum can lead to the formation of a region with a higher electric field. Joule heating in such a region can disable the operational functionality of the device. Then a sufficiently detailed knowledge of the longitudinal profile of the conductor Ic is in the first place necessary in assessing the conductor eligibility for a specific application. In the second place, it serves to design appropriate electro-thermal stabilization, securing an effective operation, and reducing the probability of conductor degradation during the quench. We report on the experimental investigation of longitudinal Ic homogeneity of CC observed by means of transport and magnetization measurements. Basic information is the CC data from the producer on Ic profiles obtained with ∼1-milimeter spatial resolution by TapestarTM XL. We compare it with the result obtained by multi-channel DC transport measurement with 3-millimeter spatial resolution between neighboring contacts on a multiprobe device. Then the whole sample is characterized by a complex AC susceptibility experiment. We analyze possible causes of observed discrepancies between respective methods and discuss the relevance of various techniques for the determination of longitudinal Ic profiles in commercial CC.

Hercinothrips femoralis(O.M. Reuter, 1891) is an important polyphagous pest species that feeds on a variety of ornamental plants and may cause severe damage to them. The species is known to be easily spread by anthropochory. The lethal and protective efficiency of 5 plant extracts was evaluated against adults of H. femoralisin the laboratory. A well-shaken essential oil of a certain concentration was sprayed from a distance of 15 cm into the inner space of a plastic box with leaves and thrips specimens. Standard protective and lethal concentrations and doses of selected oils were specified. The results showed differences in repellency and lethality among essential oil product types and their concentrations. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) oil was identified (p< 0.05) as the most rapid (after 30 min of exposure) and effective biopesticide with the highest protective and lethal effect (PC50 = 0.66%, LC50 = 15,80%) compared with oils from rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), dill (Anethum graveolens), black pepper (Piper nigrum), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptussp.). Moreover, the protective effect of rosemary oil (PC50: 28.11%) and the lethal effect of dill oil (LC50: 42.85%) were identified as statistically significant. The application of cinnamon oil is proposed as eco-safe plant protection against H. femoralis, especially in households and indoor spaces, where the use of less toxic biopesticides is environmentally friendly.

In this work, we have investigated two series of Nb/Cu samples deposited by HiPIMS technique, and differing in Nb deposition conditions, Nb film thickness and Cu substrate polishing techniques. All the films were additionally irradiated by Nd:YAG laser to smooth their surfaces. The impact of the magnetic field enhancement at the surface defects on the premature start of magnetic field penetration into the superconducting film was studied, combining experiments and numerical calculations. Compared to previous study, improved numerical calculations by using the Finite Element Method (FEM) served to calculate the maximum field enhancement factor βm, reflecting impact of the most crucial surface defects found in the samples. Magnetization measurements at 4.2 K in DC magnetic field, oriented parallel to the film, were employed to determine the start of the field penetration Hen. The SEM and AFM analyses served to investigate the Nb surface morphology. In some samples, deviations from the Hen(βm) dependence were observed. It was found that the magnetic field penetration could start from the Nb/Cu interface rather than from the free Nb surface due to visibly better quality of the free Nb surface observed by SEM analysis, and that could lead to the deterioration of Hen(βm) dependence.