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The successful preparation of Tb3+-doped NaCaVO4 green-emitting phosphor powders via combustion synthesis is presented in this report. X-ray diffraction technique was used to confirm the orthorhombic phase of the prepared samples. Modified Debye–Scherrer analysis was employed for calculating crystallite size. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the elemental composition and oxidation states of several elements present in the sample were examined. Four emission bands were identified using photoluminescence spectroscopy, and the strongest band located at 545 nm due to the transition 5D4→7F5 is ascribed to green emission out of the phosphor material with enhanced colour purity when excited by near-UV. Using diffuse reflectance spectra, optical parameters including bandgap, metallization criterion and refractive index were also calculated for all concentrations of Tb3+ ions (ranging from x = 0–0.055). For the optimum molar concentration, numerical values of these parameters were estimated to be 3.41 eV, 0.412 and 2.294. Based on the above findings, it was concluded that the title phosphor may be explored as green-emitting component near-UV pumped phosphor for white light-emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, nanocomposites of CuO/TiO2 were initially fabricated using drop casting method. Later on, these nanocomposites were irradiated for the first time by a beam of Argon ions (Ar+) by keeping the fluence rates of 1×1014 ions cm−2, 1×1015 ions cm−2, and 1×1016 ions cm−2, respectively. In order to observe structural and optical properties of un-irradiated and irradiated nanocomposites, Raman Spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Photoluminescence (PL) and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) analysis were performed. From Raman analysis, vibration modes confirmed the presence of different phases of TiO2 and CuO. EDX analysis clearly demonstrates the presence of Cu, Ti, and O peaks. SEM images depict agglomerated spherical nanoparticles having diameters in the range of 40–94nm. From TEM analysis, mean diameter of 56.1nm is observed for unirradiated and 33.7nm for Ar+ irradiated CuO/TiO2 nanoparticles in nanocomposite for fluence rates of 1×1014 ions cm−2, 1×1015 ions cm−2, and 1×1016 ions cm−2. HR-TEM and SAED images represent the polycrystalline nature of these nanocomposites.Among the three peaks of PL spectra in UV–Visible region, first two peaks were observed at 356nm, and 419nm but the third peak is little shifted from 488nm with the increase in fluence rate. Values of band gap are reduced from 3.29eV to 3.17eV as the fluence rate is increased, as calculated from results of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cricket, a highly captivating sport, particularly popular in South Asian countries, heavily relies on umpires to make critical decisions in accordance with the cricket laws. Given the fallibility of human judgment, errors occasionally occur, leading to time-consuming reviews by the third umpire to ensure precision. To address this challenge, We introduce an AI-based umpiring system aimed at refining decision-making precision and fairness in cricket matches. Through the integration of computer vision and machine learning, our system scrutinizes live video feeds to provide umpires with instantaneous decision-making support. Critical events like ball trajectory and player movements are identified by computer vision algorithms, offering umpires immediate assistance. The system's capabilities evolve through continuous machine learning, leveraging historical match data to enhance accuracy progressively. A key feature includes instant replay provisions, empowering teams to contest decisions and fostering transparency. Our study underscores the transformative role of AI in sports officiating, presenting a blueprint for its adoption across various sporting domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a regression model of paddy soil properties using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was developed to replace chemical soil analysis as a more efficient alternative. Soil samples were collected and analyzed from saltwater paddy fields located in Jeongnam-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do in the Republic of Korea, and the spectral data of wet and dry soil were collected. The regression models were compared and analyzed using partial least squares regression (PLSR) with Savitzky–Golay smoothing (SG smoothing) and Standard Normal Variate (SNV) preprocessing to predict the soil properties. Analysis showed that the predictive regression model of wet soil with SG smoothing and an SNV did not meet the evaluation criteria of a fair model. However, the regression model of dry soil with SG smoothing was fair for clay, pH, EC, and TN at RPD = 1.90, 1.87, 1.60, and 1.43 and R2 = 0.79, 0.81, 0.64, and 0.64, respectively, while the regression model of dry soil with an SNV was good for clay, pH, EC, and TN at RPD = 2.21, 1.96, 1.70, and 1.44 and R2 = 0.84, 0.81, 0.76, 0.69, respectively. When developing predictive regression models of soil properties, the accuracy for dry soil was higher than that for wet soil, and when applying a single round of preprocessing, the regression model with SNV preprocessing was more accurate than that with SG smoothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This explores strategies to augment the connectivity among users within Hierarchical Non-Terrestrial Networks (HNTNs) dedicated to Disaster Relief Services (DRS). The primary goal is to optimize radio resources, computing capacities, and the trajectories of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at each time slot, aiming to maximize the number of satisfactory connections (NSCs). UAVs function as aerial base stations (ABSs), establishing links for reduced capability (RedCap) user equipment (UE) using power domain non-orthogonal multiple access (PD-NOMA). Given the potential inoperability of terrestrial networks during disasters, swift data transmission is critical for mission-critical (MC) UEs. Therefore, end-to-end (E2E) delay is a crucial quality of service (QoS) constraint. The proposed problem is solved using a multi-agent recurrent deterministic policy gradient (MARDPG) algorithm, where the ABSs collaborate to maximize the NSCs and determine their optimal policy by interacting with the environment. Additionally, a sharing experience module (SEM) is incorporated, enabling agents to encode actions and observations using long short-term memory (LSTM), allowing each agent to utilize the historical actions and observations of other agents. To demonstrate the superiority of MARDPG, three algorithmic benchmarks and four different system models are implemented. The numerical results demonstrate the impact of various parameters, such as the number of subcarriers, users, and the maximum tolerable E2E delay on the NSCs. Furthermore, different scenarios indicate that MARDPG outperforms the benchmarks, achieving approximately a 6 percent optimality gap and a 91 percent fairness for achievable rate among users.

Nanocrystalline magnesium oxide powders (MgO) were prepared using a hydrothermal method. In various fuel-to-oxidizer ratios (F/O) and precursor solutions with pH levels from 8 to 12, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate Mg(NO3)2 was utilized as an oxidizer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a fuel. To improve crystallinity and phase purity, these materials were annealed for two hours at varied temperatures. XRD, FTIR, EDS, FESEM and DRS were used to study the MgO nanopowders' structure, vibration, elemental and optical properties. The fuel-to-oxidizer ratios, annealing temperatures and pH values greatly affected the samples' properties. The synthesized powders had a particle size distribution in the range of 18–49 nm. The XRD results showed that the crystallite percent of the MgO phase grew with an increase in the F/O from 0.5 to 0.75, and then, it decreased at F/O = 1. The maximum percent of crystallites was observed at pH = 8. By increasing the annealing temperatures, the crystallite size of the samples increased from 22.82 nm to 49.06 nm, while the specific surface area and dislocation density decreased from 20.59 m2/g to 7.83 m2/g and 0.0006 nm−2 to 0.0001 nm−2, respectively. FTIR spectra results indicated that the MgO band peaking at (418–688 cm−1) was high at pH value 8, then it reduced at pH 10 and finally, this peak had the smallest size at pH = 12. Further confirmation of MgO presence and its homogeneity in the final product was approved through EDS measurements. DRS spectra were used to obtain energy gap using Kubelka–Munk relation and noticed in the range of 5.72–5.89 eV for MgO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, different doses of γ‐irradiation were applied to 2,6‐diamino‐3,5‐dinitropyrazine‐1‐oxide (LLM‐105) to examine the way in which their optical properties and electronic structure can be affected. The UV absorption spectrum of LLM‐105 was calculated based on the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT). The analyses of hole‐electron distribution and charge‐transfer spectra (CTS) revealed the type of electronic transitions and elucidated the nature of each excited state in the LLM‐105 molecule. For the pristine LLM‐105, the band gap (Eg) value of 2.76 eV was obtained using the Kubelka‐Munk model. Moreover, the band gap of LLM‐105 increased with the irradiation dose. The increase in relevant UV‐Vis absorption peak intensity, implying the increase in band gap is due to the formation of a larger conjugated structure in LLM‐105 under γ‐irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delirium is an acute confusional state characterized by changes in the mental status, level of consciousness, impaired cognition, and inattention. It can develop within hours or days. Cortisol release from the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) is vital for the host survival in stress. Biomarkers are used as an indicator of pathogenic processes or to assess the responses to a therapeutic intervention. To improve delirium recognition and care, investigators have identified possible biomarkers that may help in diagnosing individuals with delirium, assessing the severity of delirium. Cortisol has been suggested as biomarker for the diagnosis of delirium. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate and compare levels of serum cortisol in patients with alcohol withdrawal delirium with delirium due to other disorders. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional prospective observational study. A total of 30 patients in Group A and 32 in Group B were included. The participants were evaluated based on delirium rating scale (DRS). Results: It was seen that in alcohol withdrawal delirium group, there was significant positive correlation between DRS score and serum cortisol level, i.e., with increase in DRS score, there was increase in serum cortisol levels and vice versa. Conclusion: Serum cortisol levels are associated and directly correlate with the occurrence and severity of delirium. Further studies are needed to elucidate the implications of this association for diagnosis and treatment.

In this study, a regression model of paddy soil properties using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was developed to replace chemical soil analysis as a more efficient alternative. Soil samples were collected and analyzed from saltwater paddy fields located in Jeongnam-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do in the Republic of Korea, and the spectral data of wet and dry soil were collected. The regression models were compared and analyzed using partial least squares regression (PLSR) with Savitzky–Golay smoothing (SG smoothing) and Standard Normal Variate (SNV) preprocessing to predict the soil properties. Analysis showed that the predictive regression model of wet soil with SG smoothing and an SNV did not meet the evaluation criteria of a fair model. However, the regression model of dry soil with SG smoothing was fair for clay, pH, EC, and TN at RPD = 1.90, 1.87, 1.60, and 1.43 and R2 = 0.79, 0.81, 0.64, and 0.64, respectively, while the regression model of dry soil with an SNV was good for clay, pH, EC, and TN at RPD = 2.21, 1.96, 1.70, and 1.44 and R2 = 0.84, 0.81, 0.76, 0.69, respectively. When developing predictive regression models of soil properties, the accuracy for dry soil was higher than that for wet soil, and when applying a single round of preprocessing, the regression model with SNV preprocessing was more accurate than that with SG smoothing.

Green synthetic methods are currently preferred in industry over other physicochemical methods. Herein, we present a facile, environmentally friendly, non-toxic approach for the fabrication of MgO using jamun fruit extract. The phytochemicals present in the fruit extract, such as kaemferol, glucoside, anthocyanins, ellagic acid, myricetin, and isoquercetin, facilitate the bio-reduction of Mg(NO3)2. Pure and Sm3+ (1–7 mol %) doped MgO nanomaterials were synthesized using this bio-mediated synthetic method. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanomaterials were studied using Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The effect of Sm3+ ions on the host matrix for the photo-catalytic oxidation of Fast Orange-Red (FOR) dye was investigated under UV light irradiation. MgO: Sm3+(3 mol %) exhibited superior (94 %) degradation of the dye compared to pristine and other doped catalysts, attributed to the maximum migration of charge carriers at the catalyst's surface. Additionally, the 3 mol % Sm3+ doped MgO electrode demonstrated a smaller charge transfer resistance, indicating superior capacitive properties compared to pristine and other doped electrodes. The synthesized materials also exhibited effective bacterial activity against pathogens. This research demonstrates the potential of the synthesized nanomaterials for environmental pollution purification, as well as their utility as electrode materials for supercapacitors, batteries, sensors, and antibacterial applications.

Photocatalytic technology is known as a green technology in solving energy problems and pollution problems, which can generate clean energy and degrade pollutants. In order to study the degradation performance of carbon nitride and its composites on air pollutants and water pollutants, this paper constructs TiO2/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts by compositing graphite-like phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with titanium dioxide (TiO2) using titanium tetrachloride and melamine as raw materials in a water bath method. The physicochemical properties of the prepared complexes were analytically characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their degradation activities were examined and compared. The results of all the tests showed that the prepared 5 wt% TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites performed better compared to other mass percentages of nanomaterials. The degradation of pollutants also resulted in better photocatalytic performance of the 5 wt% nanomaterials, with catalytic efficiencies of 54.2% and 99.5% for NO and methylene blue, respectively, at 30 min, and the good photocatalytic activity remained after five cycles.

Rocks and minerals buried in the earth's surface usually undergo weathering processes and change color in the burying environment. A kind of yellow Chinese stamp stone named "Lumu stone", which is buried in a yellowish weathering crust (yellowish soil), was selected to investigate its color changes in the weathering processes. In this study, the appearance features, mineral components, micromorphology, spectroscopy characteristics, and color causation of the "Lumu stone" were studied by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS), and a UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrum. The "Lumu stone" usually exhibits a darker yellow outer layer and a lighter yellow core, suggesting that yellow color permeated into the stone from the surface to the core gradually and the color is secondary forming. The results from XRD and SEM show the studied samples are mainly composed of dickite and illite. The individual particles of the dickite and illite are about 2–5 μm, randomly distributing in the three-dimensional space and constituting voids among the particles. The acid pickling experiments using HCl coupled with KSCN confirmed that the mineral phases that caused the yellow color of the matrix are iron oxide and hydroxide. On the other hand, goethite and hematite were observed gathering in the yellow and brown-red cracks on the "Lumu stone" by SEM study. However, iron oxide and hydroxide in the matrix were difficult to observe and detect among the dickite and illite aggregates by SEM and XRD methods. It indicates that they may be nanoscale in size and very low in content. According to the calculation of the second derivative of Kubelka-Munk (K-M) transformed diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) curves obtained from UV-Vis, the characteristic peaks of goethite and hematite were found in the yellow matrix, and their contributions to the color were confirmed. The concentrations of goethite and hematite were calculated to be 0.32 to 1.87 g/kg and 0.22 to 0.93 g/kg in the studied samples, respectively. In this study, a series of methods were employed to detect very low levels of goethite and hematite in the samples undergoing weathering processes. Additionally, nanoscale goethite and hematite were considered newly formed minerals when buried in the weathering processes and may gradually move into the voids among phyllosilicate particles. Therefore, they turned the "Lumu stone" yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Yttrium-doped barium cerate (BCY15) was used as ceramic matrix to obtain Ni/BCY15 anode cermet for application in proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (pSOFC). Ni/BCY15 cermets were prepared in two different types of medium, namely deionized water (W) and anhydrous ethylene glycol (EG) using wet chemical synthesis by hydrazine. An in-depth analysis of anodic nickel catalyst was made aiming to elucidate the effect of anode tablets' preparation by high temperature treatment on the resistance of metallic Ni in Ni/BCY15-W and Ni/BCY15-EG anode catalysts. On purpose reoxidation upon high-temperature treatment (1100 °C for 1 h) in air ambience was accomplished. Detailed characterization of reoxidized Ni/BCY15-W-1100 and Ni/BCY15-EG-1100 anode catalysts by means of surface and bulk analysis was performed. XPS, HRTEM, TPR, and impedance spectroscopy measurements experimentally confirmed the presence of residual metallic Ni in the anode catalyst prepared in ethylene glycol medium. These findings were evidence of strong metal Ni network resistance to oxidation in anodic Ni/BCY15-EG. Enhanced resistance of the metal Ni phase contributed to a new microstructure of the Ni/BCY15-EG-1100 anode cermet getting more stable to changes that cause degradation during operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were incorporated in EPDM matrix in an internal mixer. Characterization of the prepared MWCNTs/EPDM composites using RAMAN spectroscopy reveals a minor deterioration of the CNTs' structure, in terms of intensities ratio of D and G bands (ID/IG ratio), probably due to the intensive mixing conditions of internal mixer. The thermal stability of MWCNTs/EPDM composites was improved, as it was observed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results, whereas the glass transition temperature (Tg) remained almost unaffected. In addition, MWCNTs/EPDM composites showed significant improvement in their modulus of elasticity and a decrease in swelling after immersion in benzene, in comparison with the pristine elastomer. The study of dielectric properties for MWCNT's/EPDM nanocomposites determined the percolation threshold between 2 and 3 phr MWCNTs content. Enhancement in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of MWCNTs/EPDM composites was also recorded by the increase of filler content in the elastomeric matrix, with the reflectance being the main shielding mechanism. A slight increase in thermal diffusivity and conductivity was observed at EPDM composites with low MWCNTs content (1–5 phr) which became more significant at higher loads (8 & 10 phr). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the use of leaf diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for plant disease detection. A smartphone-operated, compact diffused reflectance spectrophotometer is used for field collection of leaf diffuse reflectance spectra to enable pre-symptomatic detection of the progression of potato late blight disease post inoculation with oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Neural-network-based analysis predicts infection with >96% accuracy, only 24 h after inoculation with the pathogen, and nine days before visual late blight symptoms appear. Our study demonstrates the potential of using portable optical spectroscopy in tandem with machine learning analysis for early diagnosis of plant diseases. Graphical Abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delirium is an acute confusional state characterized by changes in the mental status, level of consciousness, impaired cognition, and inattention. It can develop within hours or days. Cortisol release from the hypothalamic--pituitary--adrenal axis (HPA) is vital for the host survival in stress. Biomarkers are used as an indicator of pathogenic processes or to assess the responses to a therapeutic intervention. To improve delirium recognition and care, investigators have identified possible biomarkers that may help in diagnosing individuals with delirium, assessing the severity of delirium. Cortisol has been suggested as biomarker for the diagnosis of delirium. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate and compare levels of serum cortisol in patients with alcohol withdrawal delirium with delirium due to other disorders. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional prospective observational study. A total of 30 patients in Group A and 32 in Group B were included. The participants were evaluated based on delirium rating scale (DRS). Results: It was seen that in alcohol withdrawal delirium group, there was significant positive correlation between DRS score and serum cortisol level, i.e., with increase in DRS score, there was increase in serum cortisol levels and vice versa. Conclusion: Serum cortisol levels are associated and directly correlate with the occurrence and severity of delirium. Further studies are needed to elucidate the implications of this association for diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEarly screening is crucial for early autism spectrum disorders (ASD) diagnosis and intervention. ASD screening tools have mostly been constructed based on the Western cultural context. We hypothesized that their use in Mali may require a prior validation.ObjectiveTo validate the modified checklist for autism in toddlers-Revised (M-CHAT-R) and the social communication questionnaire (SCQ) in the Malian sociocultural context for ASD screening.Study designWe administered M-CHAT-R and SCQ in 947 toddlers aged 16-30 months old at the district and community health centers in Bamako and 120 patients (60 autistic and 60 age and sex matched controls) aged ≥4 years old at the psychiatry department in Bamako. Toddlers at moderate to high risk of ASD underwent M-CHAT-R/F and clinical evaluation by an ASD multidisciplinary team. M-CHAT-R and SCQ were evaluated for cultural appropriateness by Malian anthropologists. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV were determined for both M-CHAT-R and SCQ. Health professionals have been trained during ASD seminary on how to use M-CHAT-R and SCQ for ASD screening in Bamako.ResultsWe found for the M-CHAT-R a sensitivity of 50%, a specificity of 100%, a PPV of 100% and a NPV of 87%. The SCQ had a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 72%, a PPV of 73% and a NPV of 70%. We have found four out of 20 items on the M-CHAT-R that were culturally inappropriate in the Malian context.DiscussionM-CHAT-R and SCQ can be used for early autism screening in Mali. In the future, we plan to train a descent number of Malian physicians in chief and pediatricians at the district hospitals across the country to integrate the early ASD screening into the national health system.ConclusionM-CHAT-R has a perfect specificity and SCQ a fair diagnostic accuracy for ASD in Mali.

The yellow seal stone from northern Laos is one possible substitute for the Tianhuang Stone, the most famous Chinese seal stone, because of its similar yellow to orange-yellow appearance and the same main mineral composition. The colour causation of the yellow seal stone from northern Laos was studied. The samples' phase, micro-morphology and chemical components were studied by Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The yellow seal stone from northern Laos is mainly composed of dickite, occasionally with minor impurity minerals, such as hematite, anatase, barite, diaspore and pyrite. Micro- to nano-sized iron oxides/hydroxides were observed and detected by SEM and EDS in the yellow to orange-yellow part of the samples. Moreover, these iron oxides/hydroxides were suggested to cause the yellow to orange-yellow in the seal stone from northern Laos. The UV-Vis spectrum and its second derivative, the Kubelka-Munk spectra, were used to identify and quantify hematite and goethite. The samples' colour parameters were obtained with the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1931 standard space. According to the observation of the samples and the results obtained from experiments and calculations, the colour of the yellow parts (L* = 33.56~47.99, a* = 0.35~3.65, b* = 4.55~9.89) correlated with goethite (goethite is about 0.175~0.671 g/kg, the content of hematite was too low to be figured out in the yellow parts). In contrast, the colour of the orange-yellow parts (L* = 33.99~46.27, a* = 3.98~12.39, b* = 8.04~22.14) was more closely related with the content of hematite (goethite is about 0.096~0.691 g/kg, hematite is about 0.258~2.383 g/kg). The results of correlation analysis also support that the contents of iron oxides or hydroxides influence the samples' colour. Therefore, it is suggested that micro- to nano-scaled hematite and goethite caused the colour of yellow and orange-yellow in the studied seal stone. Hematite can strengthen the red hue and change the colour from yellow to orange-yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the history of two key organizations in interwar Danish–Soviet relations, the Danish–Soviet Association (DRS) and the Danish Union of Friends of the Soviet Union (SUV). Drawing on a large selection of primary sources and literature, the article navigates considerable archival fragmentation and presents a comprehensive analysis of two parallel but separate national nodes in the wider transnational framework of Soviet cultural diplomacy. The analysis explains the background, structures, activities, and relevance of the Comintern-organized SUV and the non-party-affiliated DRS and demonstrates how both associations were relatively successful in both the Danish and Scandinavian contexts throughout the interwar period. The organizations' resilience was bolstered by the comparatively good cohesion of the Danish Communist Party, and widely respected people in key positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary chalcostibite (CuSbS 2) is a non-toxic and earth-abundant thin-film solar cell material with an optimal band gap, high optical absorption coefficient, and p-type electrical conductivity. Large-grained CuSbS 2 thin films are crystallized by sulfurizing thermally evaporated Cu/Sb/Cu precursor stacks at 450 °C for a short duration of 1–10 min. The precursor stacks sulfurized at 450 °C for 1 min resulted in the formation of a Cu-deficient (to a small extent) and Sb-rich large-grained thin-films of CuSbS 2 without any secondary phases. Increasing the sulfurization duration from 5 min to 10 min resulted in the formation of near-stoichiometric CuSbS 2 films with columnar growth and more uniformly sized grains. The direct band gap of the films is found to be 1.42 eV. The electrical resistivity decreases from 28.6 to 16.7 Ω cm upon increasing the sulfurization duration from 1 to 10 min, respectively, and the hole mobility is in the range of 0.44–0.56 cm2 V−1 s−1. The solar cells fabricated using the CuSbS 2 films sulfurized for a duration of 5 min exhibited a maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.5% with an open-circuit voltage of 568.7 mV and a short-circuit current density of 13.8 mA/cm2. This study provides a pathway for the development of high-efficiency CuSbS 2 solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS) provides the direct access to native RNA strands with full-length information, shedding light on rich qualitative and quantitative properties of gene expression profiles. Here with NanoTrans, we present an integrated computational framework that comprehensively covers all major DRS-based application scopes, including isoform clustering and quantification, poly(A) tail length estimation, RNA modification profiling, and fusion gene detection. In addition to its merit in providing such a streamlined one-stop solution, NanoTrans also shines in its workflow-orientated modular design, batch processing capability, all-in-one tabular and graphic report output, as well as automatic installation and configuration supports. Finally, by applying NanoTrans to real DRS datasets of yeast, Arabidopsis, as well as human embryonic kidney and cancer cell lines, we further demonstrate its utility, effectiveness, and efficacy across a wide range of DRS-based application settings., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, investigations have been carried out by choosing the nano-sized ATH (30–50 nm) particles as filler content in silicone rubber to acquire a deep insight to understand the use of nano ATH fillers in silicone rubber on its performance, to use it as insulation structure as an outdoor insulator. Variation in the surface condition of silicone rubber nanocomposites due to corona aging and the recovery characteristics analysis carried out through contact angle measurement. Nano ATH added in silicone rubber, up to 3 wt% of filler, shows increased dielectric constant with less loss factor. Water droplet-initiated discharges on silicone rubber nano ATH composites under DC voltage measured using UHF technique and the damage caused zone is analyzed through AFM studies and by surface potential measurement, which indicates higher surface roughness and increased charge trap depth. It is observed that negative DC voltage has higher CIV followed by positive DC and AC voltage. Laser Induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) studies show a direct correlation between plasma temperature and material surface hardness. Also, on laser shining on the surface of the specimen, its temperature was measured on the backside of the specimen through thermal imaging confirming increased diffusivity of temperature. Laser flash analysis shows a direct correlation between filler content in base polymer and thermal conductivity and diffusivity. Higher storage modulus and activation energies measured from the dynamic mechanical analysis indicate the significance of prepared composites as an excellent mechanical support structure for the power system network.

This work reports the successful synthesis of an efficient near infra-red (NIR) emitting KSrVO 4 :Yb3+ phosphor using the combustion method. The X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) confirmed the orthorhombic phase of a material whereas X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyzed the elemental makeup and chemical states of the phosphor components. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis revealed that the phosphor exhibit superior thermal stability and emit in the NIR region when activated by near-UV light. An upsurge in emission intensity occurs upon the incorporation of Bi3+ as a co-dopant. Using diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), optical band gap, metallization constant, and refractive index were computed for all ion concentrations in KSr (1- x) VO 4 : x Yb3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.06). For the optimized concentration of Yb3+ into the host, numerical values of these parameters were also estimated. The studies reveal that the produced material may be applied as a solar spectrum converter to improve the efficiency of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of mobile technology, the library reference service has dramatically changed. Targeting the new requirements, this paper aims to design a new library reference service system in Cordova-based hybrid frameworks, which caters to the web service embedded in two major mobile platforms, iOS and Android, as well as the PC platform. The new system adopts the WebSocket based technology to realize the function of independent online reference, which improves the quality of the normal digital reference service. The newly designed system also applies the ECS cloud server technology, thereby significantly slashing the hardware setup cost, extending the basic reference service, and improving its fitness-for-use and convenience, and optimizing the allocation of local resources.

Rare earth (RE) ions activated ZnO thin films were prepared via sol-gel route and the thin films be categorized by various techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies display the hexagonal wurtzite structure of the prepared thin films. Scherrer's formula was utilized to calculate the average crystallite size (25–40 nm) with different Sm3+ concentrations. The optical energy gap was calculated by Diffused Reflectance spectra (DRS). The Acid Red (AR) dye was degraded under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation with ZnO: Sm3+(1-9 mol %) nanostructured thin films and the highest photodegradation (95 %) was observed for 7 mol % of Sm3+ doped ZnO catalyst. All the obtained results suggest that prepared material could be a prominent material as photocatalyst.

In this research, the dependence of the optical band gap of nano gamma alumina on the OH/Al ratio and concentration of aluminum sulfate is measured through diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in the range of 900-1100nm. The samples were prepared via sol-gel method. The results showed that the band gap is pH and concentration-dependent but in a different way. The direct band gap of alumina was determined to be 3.40, 4.37, 3.90, and 3.65 eV for samples prepared at pH 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively. A decreasing trend was observed with increasing pH (except for pH6). The lowering of the band gap may be associated with the variations in particles size during synthesis due to the quantum size effect. The values of the band gap increased significantly through increasing concentration from 3.90 to 5.65 eV for 0.1M to 0.3M. The role of concentration in band gap control is remarkably more than pH.

By meansof combined use of non-destructive and non-invasive in situ analysis, diagnostic research has been carried outon pigments and underlayersused to fabricate anoil painting representing the "Morte di Santa Orsola", corresponding to the second half of XVIII century, from the churchofSaints Leonardo andErasmo (Roccagorga - Latina, Italy). The aim of the work has been the evaluation of the materials employed and the state of conservationof the artwork. The structural and morphological properties of the painting were defined in detail using different and complementary analysis such asUV-Vis-P, IR-R, ED-XRF, Raman, DRS andFT-IR. The results showed that the palette was composed mainly of ochre and earth pigments except for the blue, red and white hatchings, constituted respectively asPrussian blue, cinnabar and white lead. At the time, the preparatoryunderlayer essentially had a gypsum, animal glue and white lead composition. Moreover, using infrared reflectography it was possible to discover a pentimentoof the artist during the creative process. Such valuable informationallowed the conservators to better understand the features of painting from a conservation point of view in order to define the best restoration strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many applications in tissue optics, knowledge of the scattering coefficient or at least the reduced scattering coefficient is essential. In addition, its spectral dependence is also an important feature, as this provides information about scatterer sizes. While the characterization of the spectral dependence should be a simple fit, experimental results show strong fluctuations even for the same tissue type. For in‐vivo measurements, this problem is even greater. Therefore, it is the aim of this study to analyze the instabilities of the scattering characterizations and find a solution for it by means of Bayesian inference. In this study, this behavior is investigated using the example of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. It can be shown that the currently used fitting functions are unstable for the fitting as both parameters for characterizing the reduced scattering coefficient describe the spectral dependence as well as the scattering strength. However, by a simple coordinate transform, a stable mathematical description of the scattering is derived. By the fact that a posteriori probability of the reduced scattering coefficient narrows down significantly with the Bayesian inference, the new fitting function is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass fiber reinforced epoxy nanocomposites are synthesized with different weight percentages of MgO nanofillers to improve their mechanical and electrical properties, especially for aerospace and high voltage insulation applications. Static contact angle studies have shown that 3 wt% MgO nanofiller added specimen has a higher contact angle, indicating a better surface profile. Marginal increment in real relative permittivity and dielectric loss tangent have been observed with the inclusion of MgO nanofillers. Pulsed Electro Acoustic (PEA) method was adopted for space charge measurement, which has shown hetero-charge accumulation in all the tested specimens. The amount of accumulated space charge density during poling period is lower and its decay rate during depoling is higher in 3 wt% MgO added specimen. Reduction in initial surface potential and increment in its lst decay rate was noticed after incorporation of MgO nanofillers. 3 wt% specimen has reflected a higher surface potential decay rate with reduced trap depth in comparison with other samples. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) studies have shown increased storage modulus with a slight reduction in tan δ value after the inclusion of MgO nanofillers. In addition, the glass transition temperature and the activation energy of 3 wt% specimen were found to be higher compared to other specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ZnO and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized by a facile approach. • Ag/ZnO (20 %) showed colossal permittivity (105) at 100 Hz, with minimal tangent loss. • Ag/ZnO showed enhanced photocatalytic performance due to the reduced electron-hole recombination. • Ag/ZnO nanocomposites are useful for low-frequency and environmental applications. This study investigates the effect of Ag incorporation on dielectric and photocatalytic properties of the ZnO matrix. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), impedance spectroscopy, and UV–visible infrared spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites without any secondary phase. SEM micrographs showed discs and rods-like morphology of ZnO and Ag NPs, respectively. Furthermore, an increased agglomeration was also observed in the nanocomposite as the concentration of Ag NPs was increased in Ag/ZnO Nanocomposite. The dielectric study revealed that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (Nps) increased the dielectric constant of ZnO by 100 times (102 Hz), with minimal tangent loss in Ag/ZnO (20 %). Complex plane plots disclosed the presence of two relaxation processes with different relaxation times in the synthesized samples. The metallic nature of Ag NPs contributed to the reduction of the charge transfer resistance of the nanocomposite. Furthermore, the enhanced dielectric behavior was ascribed to the formation of micro/nano capacitors due to the interaction of conductive Ag NPs with relatively less conducting ZnO grains. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized nanocomposites was also evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue. The presence of Ag NPs increased the photocatalytic activity due to its enhanced conductivity and sluggish electron-hole recombination. Ag/ZnO (20 %) nanocomposite showed the best photocatalytic activity with a reaction rate of 0.239 min−1. The exceptional dielectric properties demonstrate the potential of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites for low-frequency applications. Furthermore, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO upon Ag inclusion discloses the potential of the synthesized nanocomposite for water remediation applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium Zinc Phosphate (MgZn 2 (PO 4) 2 = MZP) nanopowder, both undoped and doped with Eu3+ ions, were synthesized using the Solid State Reaction Method (SSR). Structural and optical characterization of synthesized samples using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) was evaluated. The XRD analysis shows both in monoclinic phase and high degree of crystallinity with an average size of crystallites approximately 26 nm and 30 nm for the undoped and Eu3+ doped host samples, respectively. From the DRS study, the sample exhibits broad optical direct band gap values of 3.01 eV for MZP and 2.88 eV for MZP doped with Eu3+ ions. The surface morphology of the prepared samples reveals that they are arranged in stone like shapes. The PL results of the MZP doped with Eu3+ ions exhibited the luminescence. The excitation at 394 nm and emission observed at 612 nm in the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum is attributed to an electric dipole transition whereas the emission detected at 591 nm in the orange region is commonly associated with a magnetic dipole transition. [Display omitted] • The Magnesium Zinc Phosphate (MgZn 2 (PO 4) 2 = MZP) nanopowder doped with 0.01 mol % of Eu3+ were prepared by SSR method. • The most intense emission peak is found at 591 nm, which is attributed to the transition 5D 0.→7F 1 (MD). • The ratio of intensities of MD to ED transitions is found to be 2.5, which suggest that the dopant occupies local identical symmetry site. • The CCT (2825 K), value calculated from the emission spectrum suggests that the material is suitable for warm-emitting LEDs and other solid-state lighting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. With currently available therapies, only 20% ~ 30% patients can survive this disease for more than 5 years. TRAIL, a natural ligand for death receptors that can induce the apoptosis of cancer cells, has been explored as a therapeutic agent for cancers, but it has been reported that many cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL, limiting the potential clinical use of TRAIL as a cancer therapy. Meanwhile, Periplocin (CPP), a natural compound from dry root of Periploca sepium Bge, has been studied for its anti-cancer activity in a variety of cancers. It is not clear whether CPP and TRAIL can have activity on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells, or whether the combination of these two agents can have synergistic activity. Methods We used MTS assay, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay to detect the effects of CPP alone or in combination with TRAIL on ESCC cells. The mechanism of CPP enhances the activity of TRAIL was analyzed by western blot, dual luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. The anti-tumor effects and the potential toxic side effects of CPP alone or in combination with TRAIL were also evaluated in vivo. Results In our studies, we found that CPP alone or in combination with TRAIL could inhibit the proliferation of ESCC cells and induce apoptosis, and we certificated that combination of two agents exert synergized functions. For the first time, we identified FoxP3 as a key transcriptional repressor for both DR4 and DR5. By down-regulating FoxP3, CPP increases the expression of DR4/DR5 and renders ESCC cells much more sensitive to TRAIL. We also showed that CPP reduced the expression of Survivin by inhibiting the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. All these contributed to synergistic activity of CPP and TRAIL on ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion Our data suggest that CPP and TRAIL could be further explored as potential therapeutic approach for esophageal cancer.

When light is illuminated using a broad spectrum and detected without physical contact between source and detector the method is often referred as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Combined with newest computational algorithms, DRS may reach high performance in near future in tissue characterization and pathology. In this study, we show that DRS can be used to automatically differentiate untreated fresh liver tissue from heat-induced and chemically induced tissue denaturation in bovine liver ex vivo. For this, we used a thresholding algorithm that was developed and tested using 10-fold cross validation. Our results indicate that DRS has potential to detect pathological tissue processes that result in tissue injury and ultimately tissue necrosis. The detection of necrosis is important for many medical applications, not least for tissue sampling by biopsy needle, where additional guidance to commonly used ultrasound would be welcome. Furthermore, cancer tissue is prone to necrosis as a result of tissue hypoxia and due to cancer treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]