Empirical equations representing, interpolating and smoothing groups of measurement results by regression methods are in widespread use in metrology and other fields of science and engineering. Standard equations for the propagation of measurement uncertainties to values computed from such equations are available but suffer from a lack of general acceptance and are only infrequently applied in practice. One reason for the slow uptake is the lack of clear methods to account for systematic error. In this paper, uncertainty propagation equations in terms of covariance matrices are generalized to allow for systematic errors in least-squares regression, and effects of the resulting uncertainties are investigated analytically. A stochastic ensemble model of systematic error is proposed for the computation of the non-diagonal elements of the weight matrix of the Generalized Least-Squares method (GLS) from the measurement uncertainty. A GLS projector formalism is described which separates the effects of measurement scatter on values calculated by the equation from those on the related “residuals”, i.e., the residual errors in the fitted data. The same projectors act similarly on the associated uncertainties and covariance matrices and permit the effects of systematic errors on the simulation covariance to be quantified. It is demonstrated that, in order to include systematic errors in the uncertainty estimates of GLS, covariance matrices may be substituted by novel, specifically defined dispersion matrices that are not specified yet by the GUM[1]. Systematic measurement errors may be estimated from various sources; a particularly easy way suggested here involves analyzing the structure in the regression residuals. It is demonstrated that GLS projectors exhibit inherent features of “error blindness” also with respect to systematic errors. [1] GUM: Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/guides

The discovery of solitonlike coherent structure (SCS) in boundary layer flows is crucial for understanding turbulence origins and in particular for laminar-turbulence transition. However, the task of finding solutions for solitonlike coherent structure from the Navier-Stokes equations poses a significant challenge. In this paper, based on the author's previous work [B.H. Sun, Exact similarity solutions of unsteady laminar boundary layer flows, Preprints 2023, 2023092117], we are able to study convergent flow boundary layers, whose solution encompasses both shock wave and solitary wave solutions, and their superposition gives rise to solitary-like waves, namely solitonlike coherent structure. It is found that the solitonlike coherent structure can only be obtained by combining the Navier-Stokes equations and mass conservation, since the combined equations will have the third order derivatives respect to coordinate $x$, in other words, without the mass conservation condition, the Navier-Stokes equations does not contain solitonlike coherent structure by itself. Finally proved solitonlike coherent structure is a universal motion form of viscous fluid.

This paper delves into the dynamics of asset pricing within Bachelier’s market model (BMM), elucidating the representation of risky asset price dynamics and the definition of riskless assets. It highlights the fundamental differences between BMM and the Black-Scholes-Merton market model (BSMMM), including the extension of BMM to handle assets yielding a simple dividend. Our investigation further explores Bachelier’s term structure of interest rates (BTSIR), introducing a novel version of Bachelier’s Heath-Jarrow-Morton model and adapting the Hull-White interest rate model to fit BMM. The study concludes by examining the applicability of BMM in real-world scenarios, such as those involving environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-adjusted stock prices and commodity spreads.

The layout of deep chamber for coal-gangue separation (DCCS) based on the horizon of the weak stratum can affect the stability of its surrounding rocks. First, the work summarized the main structural characteristics of DCCS. Similar simulation tests were performed to analyze the deformation and failure law of surrounding rocks of DCCS under different horizons of the weak stratum. Then, 60 numerical simulation schemes were designed by considering the lateral pressure coefficient and the thickness and horizon of the weak stratum. A comprehensive evaluation method was proposed for the stability of surrounding rocks. The optimal layout methods of the DCCS were determined based on the thickness and horizon of the weak stratum in different ground stress fields. If the thickness of the weak stratum was large and lateral pressure coefficient λ < 0.6 or λ > 1, the stability of surrounding rocks was optimal to arrange the side of DCCS along the weak stratum. When 0.6 ≤ λ ≤ 1, the optimal approach for controlling surrounding rocks was to position the floor of DCCS along the weak stratum. If the thickness of the weak stratum was small and λ<0.6 or λ>1, the stability of surrounding rocks was optimal to arrange the side of DCCS near roof along the weak stratum. When 0.6 ≤ λ ≤ 1, the optimal approach for controlling surrounding rocks was to arrange the side of DCCS near the floor along the weak stratum. The results can provide an important theoretical reference for the spatial layout and support design of DCCS.

This paper proposes an AI-based approach to overcome the limitations of the SHM system in measuring global stress with limited sensors. Feature elements are selected based on correlation analysis among finite elements and used as stress-measured points. An ANN is used to establish the solution relationship between the feature and correlation elements. The proposed method is applied to the connector structure of an offshore platform, and an optimal ANN is established to optimize accuracy by considering factors like the number of sensors, neural network framework, and convergence criteria. The accuracy of the ANN is verified through a real-scale model test, demonstrating 93.6% accuracy. This technology represents a significant advancement, enhancing the practicality of the structural health monitoring (SHM) system from “point monitoring" to “field monitoring".

Iron-based materials are widely applied in Fenton chemistry and they have promising prospects in the processing of wastewater. The composition complexity and rich chemistry of iron and/or oxides, however, hamper the precise understanding on the active sites and the working mechanism which still remain highly controversial. Herein, iron oxides of four different model systems are designed through a conventional precipitation method plus H2 reduction treatment. These systems feature Fe@Fe3O4 with abundant oxygen vacancy, Fe0 and Fe3O4 particles with interface structures, and Fe3O4-dominated nanoparticles of different sizes. These materials are applied in the decomposition of methyl orange as a model reaction to assess the Fenton chemistry. The Fe@Fe3O4 with core-shell structures exhibited significantly higher decomposition activity than the other Fe3O4-rich nanoparticles. A thin Fe3O4 layer formed by auto-oxidation of iron particles when exposing to air can boost the activity as compared with the Fe0 and Fe3O4 particles with interface structures but poor oxygen vacancy. The unique hetero-structure with the co-existence of both metallic iron and oxygen vacancy displayed excellent redox propensity which might account for the superior Fenton activity. This finding provides a new perspective to understand and design highly efficient iron-based Fenton catalysts.

The recent covid crisis has proven important lessons for academia and industry regarding digital reorganization. Among fascinating lessons from these times is the huge potential of data analytics and artificial intelligence. The crisis exponentially accelerated the adoption of analytics and artificial intelligence, and this momentum is predicted to continue into the 2020s and over. Moreover, drug development is a costly and time-consuming business, and only a minority of approved drugs return the revenue that exceeds the research and development costs. As a result, there is a huge drive to make drug discovery cheaper and faster. With modern algorithms and hardware, it is not too surprising that the new technologies of artificial intelligence and other computational simulation tools can help drug developers. In only two years of covid research, many novel molecules have been designed/identified using artificial intelligence methods with astonishing results in terms of time and effectiveness. This paper will review the most significant research on artificial intelligence in the de novo drug design for COVID-19 pharmaceutical research.

In laser joining of copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) sheets, the Al sheet is widely chosen as the top surface for laser irradiation because of increased absorption of laser beam and lower melting temperature of Al in contrast to Cu. This research focus on welding from Cu side to Al sheet. The main objective of irradiating the laser beam from the copper side (Cu on top) is to exploit higher solubility of Al in Cu. A significantly lower laser power can be used with 515 nm laser in comparison to 1030 nm. In addition to low laser power, a stable welding is obtained with 515 nm. Because of this advantage, 515 nm is selected for the current research. By fusion of Cu and Al the two sheet metals are welded, with presence of beneficial Cu solid solution phase and Al+Al2Cu in the joint with the brittle phases intermixed between the ductile phase. Therefore the mixed composition strengthens the joint. However excessive mixing leads to formation of more detrimental phases and less ductile phases. Therefore optimum mixing must be maintained. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicate that large amount of beneficial Cu solid solution and Al rich phases is formed in the strong joint. From the tensile shear test for a strong joint, fracture is obtained on the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of Al. Therefore the key for welding from copper side is to have optimum melt with beneficial phases like Cu and Al+ Al2Cu and the detrimental phases intermixed between the ductile phases

For the better part of a century researchers across disciplines have sought to explain the crystallography of the elemental transition metals: hexagonal close packed, body centered cubic, and face centered cubic in a form similar to that used to rationalize the structure of organic molecules and inorganic complexes. Pauling himself tried with limited success to address the origins of transition metal stability. These early investigators were handicapped, however, by incomplete knowledge regarding the structure of metallic charge density. Here we exploit modern approaches to charge analysis to first comprehensively describe transition metal charge density. Then, we use topological partitioning and quantum mechanically rigorous treatments of kinetic energy to account for the structure of the density as arising from the interactions between metallic tetrahedra. We argue that the crystallography of the early transition metals results from charge transfer from the so called “octahedral” to “tetrahedral holes” while the face centered cubic structure of the late transition metals is a consequence of antibonding interactions that increase octahedral hole kinetic energy.

Comparison of the influence of conditioning temperature of microspheres made of medical grade poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and polylactide with 4wt.% of D-lactide content (PLA), on its thermal and structural properties is presented. The microspheres were fabricated by solid-in-oil-in-water method for application in additive manufacturing. The microspheres were annealed below glass transition temperature (Tg), above Tg but below onset of cold crystallization, and at two temperatures selected from the range of cold crystallization corresponding to crystallization of α’ and α form of poly(L-lactide) respectively, i.e., at 40°C, 70°C, 90°C and 120°C, in order to verify the influence of conditioning temperatures on sinterability of microspheres set as sintering window (SW). Based on differential scanning calorimetry measurements SW of microspheres were evaluated with consideration of existence of cold crystallization and reorganization of crystal polymorph. The results indicate that the conditioning temperature influence on availability and range of SW that depending on the D-lactide presence. We postulate the need for an individual approach for polylactide powders in determining the SW as a temperature range free of any thermal events. Moreover, other core powder characteristic, such as residual solvent content, morphology, particle size distribution, powder flowability and thermal conductivity, as a key property for successful laser sintering, are characterized. The microspheres are close to sphere and the size of microspheres are below 100 µm. Residual solvents content decreases with the increase of annealing temperature. The thermal conductivity is 0.073 W/mK and 0.064 W/mK for PLA and PLLA microspheres, respectively, and it depends on the spherical shape of the microspheres. Furthermore, the WAXD studies prove that an increase in the conditioning temperature causes a slight increase in crystallinity degree for PLLA microspheres and clear increase in crystallization for PLA microspheres.

Experimental evidence showed how various complex systems, characterized by a fluctuation scaling, satisfy the well-known Taylor's law. The present work aims to apply for the first time Taylor's law, given its general treatment, for a flow field at $Re$ around $10^4$, since activity of each fluid particle is highly fluctuating, especially in the context of vortex shedding. In addition, the further element of innovation is the use of an innovative thin-films based device consisting of an elastic piezoelectric flapping flag that is proposed as a measuring instrument of the flow field. The oscillations of the flapping flag, due to the vortexes release downstream to an obstacle of cylindrical shape, generate an alternating piezoelectric voltage whose time history is similar to the chaotic components of the fully developed turbulent speed. Preliminary experimental results about the use of thin-films based device in a flume channel are reported together with a second order analysis on the voltage difference and a scaling law of the exponent scale.

The combination of chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry is currently a progressive technology for deriving structural information of proteins and protein complexes. In addition, chemical cross-linking is a powerful tool for stabilizing macromolecular complexes for single particle cryo-electron microscopy. Broad pallets of cross-linking chemistry, currently available for the majority of cross-linking experiments, still rely on the amine-reactive N-hydroxysuccinimide esters targeting mainly N-termini and lysine side chains. These cross-linkers are divided into two groups: water soluble and water insoluble; and research teams prefer one or another speculating on the benefits of their choice. However, the effect of cross-linker polarity on the outcome of cross-linking reaction has never been studied. Herein, we use both polar (bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) glutarate) and non-polar (disuccinimidyl glutarate) cross-linkers and systematically investigated the impact of cross-linker hydrophobicity on resulting distance constraints, using bovine serum albumin as a model protein.

The nondestructive testing of reinforced concrete chimneys, especially the high ones, is an important element of the assessment of their condition, making it possible to forecast their safe service lifespan. Industrial chimneys are often exposed to the strong action of acidic substances – they are adversely affected by the flue gas condensate on the inside and by acid precipitation on the outside. Initially, this results in the corrosion of the shell concrete and then in the corrosion of the reinforcing steel. During the service life of such chimneys their condition should monitored in order to prevent structural failures and indicate the most endangered parts of the structure. Owing to thermographic surveys one can monitor the hazards leading to the degradation of the chimney structure, which is particularly vital when due to the character of the production process the chimney cannot be put out of operation. The methods for the interpretation of results from thermovision studies to determine the safety and durability of industrial chimneys are shown.

Coatings of reliable materials of thickness in few atoms to several microns on a viable substrate is the basic need of society which attend regular attention of scientific community working in various fields. Decorative and protective coatings, transparent and insulating coatings, coatings of medical implants and surgical instruments, coatings for drug delivery and security purposes, ultra-precision machine coatings and coatings of other miscellaneous uses are in routine demand for research and commercial purposes. Different hard coatings develop with significant composition of different nature atoms where their force-energy behaviors when recovering certain transition states provide provision for electron of outer ring belonging to gas atom to react for another clamp of energy knot clamping unfilled state of outer ring belonging to solid atom. Set suitable process conditions regulate switching force-energy behaviors of different nature atoms, which are nearly opposite to the ones originally existing in them. Thus, different nature transition state atoms locate points of developing hard coating between their original ground points as the gaseous nature atoms increase their potential energy as per increasing the gravitational force exerting at electron level while the solid atoms decrease their potential energy as per decreasing the gravitational force exerting at electron level. Ti-atom to Ti-atom binding is taken place under the difference of expansion level of lattice in the just land atom and landed atom where the position of nitrogen atoms becomes nearly at their interstitial site. Thus, different nature transition state atoms accommodate to be deposited at substrate surface positioned in the deposition chamber under suitable set parameters. In random arc-based vapor deposition system, depositing different nature atoms at substrate surface depends on the supplied energy where non-conserved forces are remained engage to keep adherence. On undertaking electron (of gas atom), another clamp of energy knot (of solid atom) is being endorsed by the mutually adjusting expansion-contraction of lattices belonging to two different nature atoms developing structure in the form of hard coating, which is known since antiquity. Different properties and characteristics of hard coatings emerged as per engaged forces under the set conditions of involved energy. The present study sets new trends not only in the field of films and coatings but also in the diversified class of materials, wherever, atoms recall their roles.

Shear connectors are used in steel beam–concrete slabs of composite frame and bridge structures to transfer shear force according to design loads. The existing Y-type perfobond rib shear connectors are designed for girder slabs of composite bridges. Therefore, the rib and transverse rebars of the conventional Y-type perfobond rib shear connectors are extremely large for the composite frames of building structures. We performed push-out tests of stubby Y-type perfobond rib shear connectors for composite frames. These shear connectors have relatively small ribs than conventional Y-type perfobond rib shear connectors. To confirm the shear resistance of these stubby shear connectors, we performed an experiment by using transverse rebars D13 and D16. The results indicate that these shear connectors have suitable shear strength and ductility for application in composite frame structures. The shear strengths obtained using D13 and D16 were not significantly different. However, the ductility of the shear connectors with D16 was 45.1% higher than that of the shear connectors with D13.

This study proposes a machine-learning-based framework for detecting mechanical damage in pipelines, utilizing physics-informed datasets collected from simulations for mechanical damage. The framework provides an effective workflow from dataset generation to damage detection and identification for three types of pipeline events: welds, clamps, and corrosion defects. While the study initially focused on optimizing the CNN structure using various advanced optimizers, it also investigated the impact of sensing systems on data classification and the effect of noise on classification performance. The study's analysis highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate sensing system for the specific application. The authors also found that the proposed framework is robust to experimentally relevant levels of noise, suggesting its applicability in real-world scenarios where noise is present. Overall, this study contributes to the development of a more reliable and effective method for detecting mechanical damage in pipelines. The proposed framework provides an effective workflow for damage detection and identification, and the findings on the impact of sensing systems and noise on classification performance add to its robustness and reliability.

We propose that quarks and gluon flux tubes emerge from networks of standing vacuum waves. Each unbound nucleon, in its ground state, may be electromagnetically modeled as massless quantized charge on two pairs of orbiting arcs. Each charge arc is associated with a superposition of radially-oriented vacuum fundamental harmonics. These quantum superpositions of radial waves are coupled to nucleon mass-energy. The charge arcs orbit on the two surfaces of a spindle torus with polar charge-exclusion zones. These ground-state models of unbound nucleons may be interpreted as pairs of virtual Möbius bands. The optimal triangular Möbius band may explain proton uniqueness. These unbound proton and neutron models are shown to be precisely connected via a parameter dependent on neutron mass and the sum of the up and down bare quark masses. Due to this precise connection, and the relatively high experimental precision of proton magnetic moment, neutron magnetic moment is calculated about two orders of magnitude more precisely than the most accurate experiments to date. This quantum network-based approach to modeling unbound low-energy nucleons calculates several other measurable parameters.

The theory of heavy ion double charge exchange (DCE) reactions proceeding by effective rank–2 isotensor interactions is presented. Virtual pion–nucleon charge exchange interactions are investigated as the source for induced isotensor interactions, giving rise to the Majorana DCE (MDCE) reaction mechanism. MDCE is of a generic character, proceeding through pairs of complementary (π±,π∓) reactions in the projectile and target nucleus. The dynamics of the elementary processes is discussed where the excitation of pion–nucleon resonances are of central importance. Investigations of initial and final state ion–ion interactions show that these effects are acting as vertex renormalizations. In closure approximation, well justified by the finite pion mass, the second order transition matrix elements reduce to pion potentials and effective two–body isotensor DCE interactions, giving rise also to two–body correlations in either of the participating nuclei. Connections to neutrinoless Majorana double beta decay (MDBD) are elucidated at various levels of dynamics, from the underlying fundamental electro–weak and QCD scales to the physical scales of nuclear MDBD and MDCE physics. It is pointed out that heavy ion MDCE reactions may also proceed by competing electro–weak charge exchange processes, leading to lepton MDCE by electrons, positrons, and neutrinos.

In the process of use and manufacture, carbon fiber foam sandwich structures were often damaged by low-energy impact, resulting in performance degradation. Therefore, it was necessary to study the damage caused by low-speed impact of composite sandwich structures. In this paper, based on Hashin failure criterion, an equivalent finite element model of carbon fiber foam sandwich panel under low velocity impact was established. The model was used to simulate the damage of foam sandwich panel with [±45°/±45°/ (core) /±45°/±45°] ply structure under the impact energy of 10.58J, 21.17J, 31.75J and 42.34J. The simulation results of impact damage depth were compared with the experimental results. The error was less than 10%, which proved the rationality of the impact equivalent model. The model was used to predict and analyze the damage of foam sandwich panels with [±45°/ (core) /±45°], [±45°/ (0°, 90°) / (core) /±45°] and [±45°/ (0°, 90°) (core) / (0°, 90°) /±45°] ply structures under 21.17J impact energy. By comparing and analyzing the damage situation, impact force response time and impact velocity response time, the low energy impact resistance was analyzed. The results showed that increasing the number of ply structure of [±45°] can reduce the impact damage degree and improve the bearing capacity of sandwich panels.

This work deals with a novel porous TiNi-based material for ophthalmic orbital implants that was produced by high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and possesses a specific microstructure of its surface pores, which makes it attractive for biomedical use in implants. After preparation via SHS, the obtained porous TiNi material was etched in acidic environment, to get rid of its surface Ti2Ni secondary-phase particles. This was found to improve the material’s surface morphology, adding micro-roughness to its macro-rough pores. As a result, cell growth tests conducted on the material demonstrated improved cell adhesion and growth kinetics on such a porous material with improved roughness. Finally, the material was tested in vivo as an ophthalmic orbital implant, demonstrating good biocompatibility, good degree of biointegration with surrounding eyeball tissues, and no signs of rejection after as long as 180 days. Thus, the novel porous TiNi-based material shows promise for its use in ophthalmic implantology, for instanse for manufacturing musculoskeletal stumps of the eyeball after evisceration, as it is biocompatible, has a high tissue-implant integration potential and demonstrates reduced risks of exposure and rejection of the implant.

Intrinsic disorder accounts for the flexibility of protein loops, molecular building blocks that are largely responsible for the processes and molecular functions of the living world. While loops likely represent early structural forms that served as intermediates in the emergence of protein structural domains, their origin and evolution remains poorly understood. Here, we conduct a phylogenomic survey of disorder in loop prototypes sourced from the ArchDB classification. Tracing prototypes associated with protein fold families along an evolutionary chronology revealed ancient prototypes tended to be more disordered than their derived counterparts, with ordered prototypes developing later in evolution. This highlights the central evolutionary role of disorder and flexibility. While mean disorder increased with time, a minority of ordered prototypes exist that emerged early in evolutionary history, possibly driven by the need to preserve specific molecular functions. We also revealed percolation of evolutionary constraints from higher to lower levels of organization. Percolation resulted in trade-offs between flexibility and rigidity that impacted prototype structure and geometry. Our findings provide a deep evolutionary view of the link between structure, disorder, flexibility and function, as well as insights into the evolutionary role of intrinsic disorder in loops and their contribution to protein structure and function.

Cretan lyra is a stringed instrument very popular on the island of Crete, Greece and an important part of its musical tradition. For stringed musical instruments, the air mode resonance plays a vital part in their sound, especially in the low frequency range. For this study, the air mode resonance of a Cretan lyra is investigated with the use of finite element method (FEM). Two different FEM acoustic models were utilized: first, a pressure acoustics model with the Cretan lyra body treated as rigid was used to provide an approximate result; secondly, an acoustic-structure interaction model was applied for a more accurate representation. In addition, acoustic measurements were performed to identify the air mode resonance frequency. Results of this study reveal that the acoustic-structure interaction model has a 3.7% difference regarding the actual measurements of the resonance frequency. In contrast, the pressure acoustics solution is approximately 13.8% too high compared with the actual measurements. Taken together, findings of this study support the idea that utilizing FEM acoustic-structure interaction models could possibly predict more accurately the vibroacoustic behavior of musical instruments, which in turn can enable the determination of key aspects that can be used to control the instrument’s tone and sound quality.

Long span cable-stayed bridge is the main bridge type with a span of more than 400 meters. It is generally designed as a double tower long-span structure with good spanning capacity and economic performance. Wind resistance safety performance is the main index to control the long-span cable-stayed bridge structure. During the operation of long-span cable-stayed bridge structure, because the service life of the cable is far less than the design life of the structure, the wind resistance performance of the structure will inevitably deteriorate significantly, which will seriously affect the structural service performance of symmetric cable-stayed bridge. Based on symmetric reliability theory, this paper takes flutter and static wind stability of long-span cable-stayed bridge structure as the main design control index, uses positive reliability theory to calculate the reliability index of symmetric cable-stayed bridge structure, uses inverse reliability theory to calculate the safety factor of symmetric cable-stayed bridge structure, and evaluates the wind resistant time-varying performance of long-span cable-stayed bridge structure by comprehensively considering the reliability index and safety factor. Taking a practical project of a long-span cable-stayed bridge as a specific case, the wind resistant time-varying reliability of the bridge during its operation for more than 30 years is analyzed, and the parameter sensitivity is analyzed. The results show that the wind resistance performance of the cable-stayed bridge structure is obviously affected by the cable, and the degradation of the cable performance will have an important impact on the wind resistance time-varying performance of the structure, especially the critical wind speed of the structure has obvious time-varying characteristics. The safety factor and reliability index can objectively evaluate the wind resistance time-varying performance of the long-span cable-stayed bridge structure.

The Apetala2/ethylene response factor superfamily refers to a group of transcription factors that share a conserved AP2 DNA binding domain. These factors have been found to have different roles in plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Samples of hexaploid wheat, tetraploid pasta (or durum wheat), and diploid wheat progenitors were selected. The 29 dehydration-responsive element binding transcription factors in these samples were downloaded from NCBI GenBank for six different countries: Iran, China, Italy, France, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan. The AP2 domain sequences were identified from the dehydration-responsive element binding transcription factors using PROSITE, ProDom, and SMART software. Next, all sequences were aligned using Multalin and Jalview software. The aligned sequences were then analyzed to identify amino acid locations, types, and frequencies. The multiple alignments showed that approximately 76% of the amino acid residues in the AP2 domains are conserved. According to the amino acid analysis, alanine, serine, and glutamic acid are the most abundant amino acids found in three motifs. The performed phylogenetic analysis illustrates the role of geographical effects on the transcription factor sequences of bread wheat in the Middle East. Significant differences were found between Iranian and Chinese transcription factor sequences. Moreover, genetic variation was observed in the transcription factors of Italian sequences found in pasta and wheat progenitors. Motif structures play a critical role in the domain organization of wheat proteins to enhance the characteristics of assorted metabolic pathways. The structure of the AP2 domain was analyzed by several programs, I-TASSER for instance, to identify the α-helix, β-sheets, and the regions of some significant amino acids in the 3-D model.

ORF7b-2 is an accessory protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus of only 43 amino acids. It has been implicated in various functional hypotheses, some of which predict its involvement as a trans-membrane protein. In this study, ORF7b-2 has often been compared to ORF7b-1 of the SARS virus to highlight differences and similarities with a protein that should have a similar biological role. Structural analysis of ORF7b-2 and its electrostatic characteristics show a polypeptide with both ends negatively charged and a diffuse negative charge over the entire structure. Therefore, its behavior in solution is like that of a weak negative polyelectrolyte, more precisely a polyanion with a net charge of – 4 at neutral pH. Its structure was modeled with two different modeling systems, one of which was ab initio. The two best models are similar, as confirmed by the Ramachandran plot, and show a central alpha-helical structure with two disordered and mobile ends. A normal mode analysis characterized the low-frequency dynamic aspects of the protein. The analysis of the structural shows a rigid central segment with mobile and fluctuating extremities, involved in a conformational equilibrium of the helix ↔ coil type. The calculation of the dipole moment shows its vector is not aligned with the main axis of the structure with an outward tilt of 24°. Molecular dynamics simulations were also conducted and the one in water is in good agreement with the previous results. While, the simulation performed by inserting a pre-oriented dimer (OMP) into a solvated lipid showed the low tendency of the protein to solvate in the apolar environment of the membrane. ORF7b-2 also shows a widespread distribution of negative surfaces that dynamically adjust to changes in structural organization. The BioGrid platform's [Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets] through the BioGrid COVID-19 Coronavirus Curation Project shows a very large number of experimentally proven physical interactions unique to ORF7b-2, some of them with cytoplasmic proteins. These features of ORF7b-2, evaluated together, suggest a remarkable propensity of ORF7b-2 to interact with multiple molecular partners on both an electrostatic and hydrophobic basis. All this makes it unreasonable that the only biological function of this protein should be that exerted as an intramembrane protein.

Objective: The study aimed to manage and to analyse the results of the laboratory tests, available nowadays, used from routine clinical practice, for screening of hepatitis C. Methods: comparison of ELISA method results (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and chemiluminescence methods results. Beside previously mentioned, the study show the structural comparison of normal liver and pathologic liver with hepatic cirrhosis, using permanent samples colored after the technique protocol. Statistical analysis of this study results, was performed using the laboratory informatic system. Results: The results of the study are substantial and intricate. For this purpose, the results of preliminary EСL screening method of patients at risk for HCV who took part in the study, are presented in tables and figures. Results of this study are various and are correlate from different perspectives. Also good to mention that the correlations of results were used in order to identify a possible relationships between indicators of ELISA method and ECL index. More than, correlations antibodies detected in ECL and ELISA are point out. Conclusion: EСL and ELISA method results, are relevant for screening and for diagnostic confirmation in HCV risk patients. Unfotunately in the present study, were impossible to conclude about false-negative results. Good to know our opinion that RT-PCR technique, it is considered proper for the diagnosis of HCV.

Avian sex chromosomes evolved after the divergence birds and crocodilians from their common ancestor, so they are much younger than the better-studied chromosomes of mammals. It has long been recognized that there may have been several stages to the evolution of avian sex chromosomes. For example, the CHD1 undergoes recombination in paleognaths but not neognaths. Genome assemblies have suggested there may be variation in the timing of barriers to recombination among Neognathae, but there remains little understanding of the extent of this variability. Here, we look at partial sequences of ATP5F1A, which is on the avian Z and W chromosomes. It is known that recombination of this gene has independently ceased in Galliformes, Anseriformes, and at least five neoavian orders, but whether there are other independent cessations of recombination among Neoaves is not understood. We used a combination of data extracted from published chromosomal-level genomes with data collected using PCR and cloning to identify Z and W copies in 22 orders. Our results suggest there may be at least 19 independent cessations of recombination within Neognathae, and 3 clades that may still be undergoing recombination (or have only recently ceased recombination). Analyses of ATP5F1A protein sequences revealed an increased amino acid substitution rate for W chromosome gametologs, suggesting relaxed purifying selection on the W chromosome. Supporting this hypothesis, we found that the increased substitution rate was particularly pronounced for buried residues, which are expected to be more strongly constrained by purifying selection. This highlights the dynamic nature of avian sex chromosomes, and that this level of variation among clades means they should be a good system to understand sex chromosome evolution.

Stenting is a common method for treating atherosclerosis. A metal or polymer stent is deployed to open the stenosed artery or vein. After the stent is deployed, the blood flow dynamics influence the mechanics by compressing and expanding the structure. If the stent does not respond properly to the resulting stress, vascular wall injury or re-stenosis can occur. In this work, Discrete Multiphysics is used to study the mechanical deformation of the coronary stent and its relationship with the blood flow dynamics. The major parameters responsible for deforming the stent are sort in terms of dimensionless numbers and a relationship between the elastic forces in the stent and pressure forces in the fluid is established. The blood flow and the stiffness of the stent material contribute significantly to the stent deformation and affect the rate of deformation. The stress distribution in the stent is not uniform with the higher stresses occurring at the nodes of the structure.

The forest transition – or forest-area transition – has been put forward as a land-use concept by A.S. Mather in 1992 (The forest transition. Area 24, 367-379), to describe the historical trend generally observed in the forest area of developed countries, embodied in a V-shaped curve of the forest area over time, and that may serve as a paradigm to understand and anticipate deforestation in the developing world. Well in line with a geographical approach to forests, forest transition has thus been defined as one-dimensional, forest area being the reference state variable. From a forestry perspective, the analysis appears to be reductive, as forests are described by many other state variables than area, including forest growing stock, composition in tree species, or stand structure. Whether the drivers of forest transition (population dynamics, economic modes of production and consciousness, as classified by Mather) also impact these other forest state variables in a general way thus comes forth as a logical issue.From a deductive analysis of forest transition drivers, and from forest trends brought to light in Europe, France, and at other places in the world, we here argue that the forest transition concept can be extended to a multi-dimensional space of forest attributes, characterized by typical ideal dynamics. Cumulative impacts onto forests and irreversible losses in forest biodiversity over a forest transition are hence highlighted. Global change, as a parallel consequence of countries’ developing process, further appears as one additional albeit less coupled dimension of forest transition, as it modifies forest productivity and vitality over time. Since forest ecosystem services and forest profitability primarily depend on such attributes, we argue that the extension of the forest transition concept has significance for land-use change and forest protection issues. A prospect on future changes in the forests of developed countries with the European space as a benchmark is finally proposed that leads to extend the temporal significance of forest transition. Though poorly described, returning forests on abandoned agricultural lands are significant, and deserve greater attention.

For crystal periodic structure prediction, a new and concise approach based on the principles of statistical physics was employed to derive a new form of the equation to determine their period vectors (cell edge vectors), under general external stress. Then the new form is applicable to both classical physics and quantum physics. It also turned out to be the equation of state and the mechanical equilibrium condition for crystals under external stress and temperature. It should be helpful in piezoelectric and piezomagnetic studies, as the period vectors were changed by the external stress. For linear elastic crystals, it is actually also the microscopic but temperature-dependent form of the generalized Hooke's law, then can be used to calculate the corresponding elastic constants of the law, for given temperatures.

Synthetic chalcomenite-type cupric selenite CuSeO₃∙2H₂O has been studied at room temperature under compression up to pressures of 8 GPa by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and density-functional theory. According to X-ray diffraction, the orthorhombic phase undergoes an isostructural phase transition at 4.0(5) GPa with the thermodynamic character being first-order. This conclusion is supported by Raman spectroscopy studies which have detected the phase transition at 4.5(2) GPa and by the first-principles computing simulations. The structure solution at different pressures has provided information on the change with pressure of unit-cell parameters as well as on the bond and polyhedral compressibility. A Birch-Murnaghan equation of state has been fitted to the unit-cell volume data. We found that chalcomenite is highly compressible with a bulk modulus of 42 – 49 GPa. The possible mechanism driving changes in the crystal structure is discussed, being the behavior of CuSeO₃∙2H₂O mainly dominated by the large compressibility of the coordination polyhedron of Cu. On top of that, an assignation of Raman modes is proposed based upon density-functional theory and the pressure dependence of Raman modes discussed. Finally, the pressure dependence of phonon frequencies is also reported.

Diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is one of the leading causes of mortality in children under five years of age and is a great burden on developing countries. The major virulence factor of the bacterium is the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), a close homologue of the cholera toxin. The toxins bind to carbohydrate receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to toxin uptake and, ultimately, to severe diarrhoea. Previously, LT from human- and porcine-infecting ETEC (hLT and pLT, respectively) were shown to have different carbohydrate-binding specificities, in particular with respect to N-acetyllactosamine-terminating glycosphingolipids. Here, we probed eleven single-residue variants of the heat-labile enterotoxin with surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and compared the data to the parent toxins. In addition we present a 1.45 Å crystal structure of pLTB in complex with branched Lacto-N-neohexaose (Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta6[Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3]Galbeta4Glc). The largest difference in binding specificity is caused by mutation of residue 94, which links the primary and secondary binding sites of the toxins. Residue 95 (and to a smaller extent also residues 7 and 18) also contribute, whereas residue 4 shows no effect on monovalent binding of the ligand and may rather be important for multivalent binding and avidity.

Managing sidelobe levels (SLLs) in metasurface-driven beam-steering antennas poses a significant challenge due to intrinsic factors leading to grating lobes. Our proposed method employs an equivalent model to optimize large periodic metasurfaces efficiently. This model predicts complete metasurface performance, accounting for mutual coupling between patches. We introduce an evolutionary optimization algorithm based on the Cross Entropy (CE) method to enhance PGM-based beam-steering antennas and suppress sidelobes. Two strategies were employed: first is to optimize the patch dimensions for a sidelobe-free pattern and the second is to maintain the PGM dimensions while optimizing feed array amplitudes. Both strategies effectively suppressed sidelobes, offering insights into the CE method's applicability and effectiveness for CPU-intensive electromagnetic optimization challenges. The proposed CE method variant retains its simplicity while improving monitoring capabilities, addressing this limitation. Smaller generations yield better improvements per evaluation

Limiting harm to organisms via genetic sampling is an important consideration for rare species. Nondestructive sampling techniques have been developed to address this issue in freshwater mussels. Two methods, visceral swabbing and tissue biopsies, have proven to be effective for DNA sampling, though it is unclear as to which method is preferable for genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Tissue biopsies may cause undue stress and damage to organisms, while visceral swabbing potentially reduces the chance of such harm. Our study compared the efficacy of these two DNA sampling methods for generating GBS data for the Unionid freshwater mussel, Texas Pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi). Our results find both methods generate quality sequence data, though some considerations are in order. Tissue biopsies produced significantly higher DNA concentrations and larger numbers of reads when compared to swabs, though there was no significant association between starting DNA concentration and number of reads generated. Swabbing produced greater sequence depth (more reads per sequence) while tissue biopsies revealed greater coverage across the genome (at lower sequence depth). Patterns of genomic variation as characterized in principal component analyses were similar regardless of the sampling method, suggesting that the less invasive swabbing is a viable option for producing quality GBS data in these organisms.

A novel cytoplasmic dye decolorizing peroxidase from Dictyostelium discoideum was investigated that oxidizes anthraquinone dyes, lignin model compounds and general peroxidase substrates like ABTS efficiently. Unlike related enzymes, an aspartate residue replaces the first glycine of the conserved GXXDG motif in Dictyostelium DyPA. In solution, Dictyostelium DyPA exists as a stable dimer with the side chain of Asp146 contributing to the stabilization of the dimer interface by extending the hydrogen bond network connecting two monomers. To gain mechanistic insights, we solved the Dictyostelium DyPA structures in the absence of substrate as well as in the presence of potassium cyanide and veratryl alcohol to 1.7, 1.85, and 1.6 Å resolution, respectively. The active site of Dictyostelium DyPA has a hexa-coordinated heme iron with a histidine residue at the proximal axial position and either an activated oxygen or CN^- molecule at the distal axial position. Asp149 is in an optimal conformation to accept a proton from H₂O₂ during the formation of compound I. Two potential distal solvent channels and a conserved shallow pocket leading to the heme molecule were found in Dictyostelium DyPA. Further, we identified two substrate-binding pockets per monomer in Dictyostelium DyPA at the dimer interface. Long-range electron transfer pathways associated with a hydrogen-bonding network that connects the substrate-binding sites with the heme moiety are described.

Small peptides are an important component of the vertebrate immune system. They are important molecules for distinguishing proteins that originate in the host from proteins derived of a pathogenic organism, such as a virus or bacterium. Consequently, these peptides are central for the vertebrate host response to intracellular and extracellular pathogens. Computational models for prediction of these peptides have been based on a narrow sample of data with an emphasis on the position and chemical properties of the amino acids. In past literature, this approach has resulted in higher predictability than models that rely on the geometrical arrangement of atoms. However, protein structure data from experiment and theory are a source for building models at scale, and, therefore, knowledge on the role of small peptides and their immunogenicity in the vertebrate immune system. The following sections introduce procedures that contribute to theoretical prediction of peptides and role in immunogenicity. Lastly, deep learning is discussed as it applies to immunogenetics and the acceleration of knowledge by a capability for modeling the complexity of natural phenomena.

Recent advancements in experimental and computational methods for RNA secondary structure detection have revealed the crucial role of RNA structural elements in diverse molecular processes within living cells. It has been demonstrated that the secondary structure of the entire viral genome is often responsible for performing crucial functions in the viral life cycle and also influences virus evolution. To investigate the role of viral RNA secondary structure, alongside experimental techniques, the use of bioinformatics tools is important for analyzing various secondary structure patterns, including hairpin loops, internal loops, multifurcations, external loops, bulges, stems, and pseudoknots. Here, we have introduced a Python package for analyzing RNA secondary structure elements in viral genomes, which includes the recognition of common secondary structure patterns, the generation of descriptive statistics for these structural elements, and the provision of their basic properties. We applied the developed package to analyze the secondary structures of complete viral genomes collected from the literature, aiming to gain insights into viral function and evolution. Both the package and the collection of secondary structures of viral genomes are available at http://github.com/KazanovLab/RNAsselem.

Hemolysin II (HlyII) – one of the pathogenic factors of Bacillus cereus, a pore-forming β-barrel toxin – possesses a C-terminal extension of 94 amino acid residues, designated as the C-terminal domain of HlyII (HlyIICTD), which plays an important role in the functioning of the toxin. Our previous work described a monoclonal antibody (HlyIIC-20), capable of strain-specific inhibi-tion of hemolysis caused by HlyII, and demonstrated the dependence of the efficiency of hemol-ysis on the presence of proline at position 324 in HlyII outside the conformational antigenic de-terminant. In this work, we studied 16 mutant forms of HlyIICTD. Each of the mutations, ob-tained by multiple site-directed mutagenesis leading to the replacement of amino acid residues lying on the surface of the 3D structure of HlyIICTD, led to a decrease in the interaction of HlyIIC-20 with the mutant form of the protein. Changes in epitope structure confirm the high conformational mobility of HlyIICTD required for the functioning of HlyII. Comparison of the effect of the introduced mutations on the effectiveness of interaction between HlyIICTD and HlyIIC-20 and a control antibody recognizing a non-overlapping epitope enabled identifying the amino acid residues N339, K340 included in the conformational antigenic determinant rec-ognized by HlyIIC-20.

Considering rotation-induced centrifugal stiffening, spin softening, and Coriolis effects, the three-dimensional finite element model of a rotating blade with a dovetail structure is built through the contact dynamics theory. The fixed-interface component mode synthesis method is then adopted to reduce the model for high computational efficiency and adequate model accuracy. The effects of the number of normal modes on the first-six-order modal characteristics of the model varying with the rotating speed are studied between the reduced and full models. Next, the influence of rotating speed and friction factor on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the model under the action of aerodynamic force are elaborately discussed. The results show that: (1) tenon-mortise joint contact-induced nonlinearity under low rotating speeds results in the intermittent interference of contact surfaces and frequency multiplications of aerodynamic excitation frequency in the spectrum cascades, while that under high rotating speeds causes the continuous interface contact and asynchronous excitation at the tenon-mortise joint; (2) the increase of friction factor results in a lower contact pressure distribution and the right shift of the resonance peak (i.e., hard nonlinearity).

TiNi alloys are very widely used materials for implant fabrication. When applied as rib replacement, they are required to be manufactured as combined porous-monolithic structure, ideally with a thin porous part well-adhered to its monolithic substrate. Additionally, good biocompatibility, high corrosion resistance and mechanical durability are also highly demanded. So far, all these parameters were not achieved in one material, which is why active search in the field is still underway. In the present work, we prepared new porous-monolithic TiNi materials by sintering a TiNi powder (0-100 µm) on monolithic TiNi plates followed by surface modification with high-current pulsed electron beam. The obtained materials were evaluated by a set of surface and phase analysis methods, after which their corrosion resistance and biocompatibility (hemolysis, cytotoxicity, and cell viability) were evaluated. Finally, cell growth tests were conducted. In comparison with flat TiNi monolith, the newly-developed materials were found to have better corrosion resistance, also demonstrating good biocompatibility and potential for cell growth on their surface. Thus, the newly-developed porous-on-monolith TiNi materials with different surface porosity and morphology show promise as potential new-generation implants for rib endoprostheses.

This article describes the transition of an undirected active network, used for numerical and logical analysis, and made up of communicating operators and nodes, and being self-extensible, into a network of semantic structures, and the extensions necessary to handle language. The network, called Active Structure, was infused with knowledge in the form of tens of thousands of definitions taken from a human-readable dictionary. Where the dictionary fell short, from circularity, lack of a hierarchical form for its senses and sub senses, or inadequate detail around verbs, the entries were extensively curated. The result is a machine which has access to every meaning of every word in its vocabulary, and needs to manage the right meaning for every use of a word, a task that our unconscious minds now handle. To demonstrate that such a network can aspire to human-level tasks, we have begun loading an Anti-Money Laundering Act so that the machine can devise and test strategies against money launderers. There is a higher goal being aimed at, the breaking of the Four Pieces Limit. That is, the network is not intended to save money on human cognitive labor, but to raise an absurdly low limit on it.

We present a finite element model updating technique for soil-structure system identification of the Millikan Library building using the seismic data recorded during the 2002 Yorba Linda earthquake. A detailed finite element (FE) model of the Millikan Library building is developed in OpenSees and updated using a sequential Bayesian estimation approach for joint parameter and input identification. A two-step system identification approach is devised. First, the fixed-base structural model is updated to estimate the structural model parameters (including effective elastic modulus of structural components, distributed floor mass, and Rayleigh damping parameters) and some uncertain components of the foundation-level motion. Then, the identified structural model is used for soil-structure model updating wherein the Rayleigh damping parameters, the stiffness and viscosity of the soil subsystem (modeled using a substructure approach), and the foundation input motions (FIMs) are estimated. The identified model parameters are compared with state-of-practice recommendations. While a specific application is made for the Millikan Library, the present work offers a framework for integrating large-scale FE models with measurement data for model inversion. By utilizing this framework for different civil structures and earthquake records, key structural model parameters can be estimated from the real-world recorded data, which can subsequently be used for assessing and improving, as necessary, state-of-the-art seismic analysis and structural modeling techniques. This paper presents an effort towards using real-world measurements for large-scale FE model updating in the soil and structure, uniform soil time domain for joint parameter and input estimation, and thus paves the way for future applications in system identification, health monitoring and diagnosis of civil structures.

The structural transitions RNAs undergo during trafficking are not well-understood. Here, we used the well-developed yeast Ty1 retrotransposon to provide the first structural model of genome (g) RNA in the nucleus from a retrovirus-like transposon. Through a detailed comparison of nuclear Ty1 gRNA structure with those established in the cytoplasm, virus-like particles (VLPs), and synthesized in vitro, we detected Ty1 gRNA structural alternations that occur during retrotransposition. Full-length Ty1 gRNA serves as the mRNA for Gag and Gag-Pol proteins and as the genome that is reverse transcribed within VLPs. We show that about 60% of base pairs predicted for the nuclear Ty1 gRNA appear in the cytoplasm, and active translation does not account for such structural differences. Most of the shared base pairs are represented by short-range interactions, while the long-distance pairings seem unique for each compartment. Highly structured motifs tend to be preserved after nuclear export of Ty1 gRNA. In addition, our study highlights the important role of Ty1 Gag in mediating critical RNA:RNA interactions required for retrotransposition.

In this study, Fe-based superconductors (SCs) are described with a model showing a novel attractive force. First, we describe this novel force using an analog from electromagnetism. From electromagnetism, it was found that this force is a Lorentz force in which two electrons orbit around a Fe-ion with the same velocity. Then, we consider a wave function of an electron. Consequently, due to the property of the proposed attractive force and the quantum-field Hamiltonian, we clarified that the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) ground state can be reused. Afterward, attractive force energy was calculated according to the presented model. In Fe-based SCs, a structure transition is essential. Considering that the derived attractive force energy is relatively large, we employ the expanded T_c-equation from the BCS theory that includes the structure transition effect and the derived attractive force energy. In addition, we succeed in analytically reproducing T_c-dome diagrams in various types of Fe-based SCs. Moreover, we discuss the universal property a general SC should have as well as the quantum critical point.

The IgM and IgT classes were previously identified and characterized in the Antarctic teleost Trematomus bernacchii, a species belonging to the Perciform suborder Notothenoidei. Herein we characterized the gene encoding the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in the same species and compared it to pIgR of multiple teleost species belonging to five perciform sub-orders, including 11 Antarctic and one non-Antarctic (Cottoperca gobio) notothenioid species, the latter living in less cold periantarctic sea. Antarctic pIgR genes displayed particularly long in-trons marked by sites of transposable elements and transcription factors. Furthermore, analysis of T. bernacchii pIgR cDNA unveiled multiple amino acid substitutions unique to Antarctic species, all introducing adaptive features, including N-glycosylation sequons. Interestingly, C. gobio shared most features with the other perciforms rather than with the cold adapted relatives. T. bernacchii pIgR transcripts were predominantly expressed in mucosal tissues, as indicated by q-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis. These results suggest that in cold adapted species pIgR preserved its fundamental role in mucosal immune defense, although remarkable gene structure modifications occurred.

This paper describes research on a unique propulsion system design for a low-speed Biomimetic Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (BUUV). It is biomimetic in the sense that it mimics the movement of aquatic organisms. The undulating propulsion system has numerous advantages over the rotary impeller and is becoming more popular in underwater robotics. The analysis of an artificial seal’s propulsion system with two tail fins is described here. The contrast between the previous undulating propulsion system and the new one is detailed using mathematical analysis and experimental data. The experimental comparison was carried out on a laboratory test stand equipped with specialist sensor equipment to determine the energy efficiency of various types of propulsion systems. Due to a patent procedure, the innovative propulsion system presented in this work has never been published previously. The fins have extra joints, which is the subject of patent claims. The extra joint is intended to improve energy efficiency and reduce fatigue wear on the fins.

In the current manuscript we assess to what extent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is a suitable tool for probing the dipoles formed at interfaces between self-assembled monolayers and metal substrates. To that aim, we perform dispersion-corrected, slab-type band-structure calculations on a number of biphenyl-based systems bonded to a Au(111) surface via different docking groups. In addition to changing the docking chemistry (and the associated interface dipoles), also the impacts of polar tail-group substituents and varying dipole densities are investigated. We find that for densely-packed monolayers the shifts of the peak positions of the simulated XP-spectra are a direct measure for the interface dipoles. In the absence of polar tail-group substituents they also directly correlate with adsorption-induced work-function changes. At reduced dipole-densities this correlation deteriorates, as work function measurements probe the difference between the Fermi-level of the substrate and the electrostatic energy far above the interface, while core level shifts are determined by the local electrostatic energy in the region of the atom from which the photoelectron is excited.

Caribbean sponges of the genus Smenospongia are a prolific source of chlorinated secondary metabolites. The use of molecular networking as a powerful dereplication tool revealed the presence in the metabolome of S. aurea of two new members of the smenamide family, namely smenamide F (1) and G (2). The structure of smenamide F (1) and G (2) was determined by spectroscopic analysis (NMR, MS, ECD). The relative and the absolute configuration at C-13, C-15, and C-16 was determined on the basis of the conformational rigidity of a 1,3-disubstituted alkyl chain system (i.e. the C-12/C-18 segment of compound 1). Smenamide F (1) and G (2) were shown to exert a selective moderate antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, while being inactive against MG-63.

Full waveform (FW) LiDAR holds great potential for retrieving vegetation structure parameters at a high level of detail, but this prospect is constrained by practical factors such as lack of available handy processing tools and technical intricacy of waveform processing. This study introduces a new product, named the Hyper Point Cloud (HPC) derived from FW LiDAR data, and explore its potential applications such as tree crown delineation using the HPC-based intensity and percentile height (PH) surfaces, which show a promising solution to the constraints of using FW LiDAR data. Results of the HPC present a new direction to handle FW LiDAR data and offer prospects for studying the mid-story and understory of vegetation with high point density (~ 182 points/m2). The intensity-derived digital surface model (DSM) generated from the HPC shows that the ground region has larger maximum intensity (MAXI) and mean intensity (MI) than the vegetation region while having smaller total intensity (TI) and number of intensities (NI) at the given grid cell. Our analysis of intensity distribution contours at individual tree level exhibit similar patterns, indicating that the MAXI and MI are decreasing from the tree crown center to tree boundary while a rising trend is observed for TI and NI. These intensity variable contours provide a theoretical justification for using HPC-based intensity surfaces to segment tree crowns and exploit their potential for extracting tree attributes. The HPC-based intensity surfaces and the HPC-based PH Canopy Height Models (CHM) demonstrate promising tree segmentation results comparable to the LiDAR derived CHM for estimating tree attributes such as tree locations, crown widths and tree heights. We envision that products such as the HPC and the HPC-based intensity and height surfaces introduced in this study can open new perspectives to use FW LiDAR data and alleviate the technical barrier of exploring FW LiDAR data for detailed vegetation structure characterization.

Starting from Thomas Friedrich’s work “Weak Spin(9) structures on 16-dimensional Riemannian manifolds”, we review several interactions between Spin(9) and geometries related to octonions. Several topics are discussed in this respect: explicit descriptions of the Spin(9) canonical 8-form and its analogies with quaternionic geometry, the role of Spin(9) both in the classical problems of vector fields on spheres and in the geometry of the octonionic Hopf fibration. Next, we deal with locally conformally parallel Spin(9) manifolds in the framework of intrinsic torsion. Finally, we discuss applications of Clifford systems and Clifford structures to Cayley-Rosenfeld planes and to three series of Grassmannians.

The present review paper aims at collecting and discussing the research work, numerical and experimental, carried out in the field of Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) in one-dimensional (1D) pressurized transient flow in the time-domain approach. Background theory and basic definitions are provided for the proper understanding of the assessed literature. A novel frame of reference is proposed for the classification of FSI models based on pipe degrees-of-freedom. Numerical research is organized according to this classification, while an extensive review on experimental research is presented by institution. Engineering applications of FSI models are described and historical accidents and post-accident analyses documented.

Light and heat resources are ample in Xinjiang plain oasis region. Planting structure is single in irrigation area, which leads to severe seasonal water shortages due to high concentration of water utilization. Therefore, how to make full use of light and heat resources to develop oasis agriculture without expanding planting scale has become the focus of research. The biannual cropping patterns are possible solutions to the problem. Manas River Irrigation area, which is located on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain in Xinjiang in China is regarded as a typical case study to analyze the suitable planting structure and planting scale for biannual cropping pattern. The effects of optimizing planting patterns on alleviating the contradiction between water supply and water need，and the efficiency of water resources utilization was also studied. The results of the study show that：(1) the suitable planting scales of Manas River irrigation area in wet year (P = 25%), normal year (P = 50%), and low flow year (P = 75%) are about 72.66%, 78.73% and 83.91% of the current planting scale. (2) After the planting structure was optimized, the water use process in the irrigation area extends from May to August at present to April to November. The water use ratio at the peak period of water use decreased from 0.847 to 0.601, and the water use peak was significantly dispersed. (3) Economic benefits per cubic metre of water of the biannual cropping patterns increased from 8.65 yuan·m⁻³ at present to 9.45 yuan·m⁻³, 10.31 yuan·m⁻³ and 11.43 yuan·m⁻³ in wet year (P = 25%), in normal year (P = 50%) and low flow year (P = 75%) respectively, which proved that replanting crops could improve the efficiency of water resources utilization in irrigated areas. Therefore, the optimal planting pattern can be implemented to improve the utilization efficiency of soil and water resources in irrigation area in the arid oasis with single planting pattern with excessive concentration of water use peak and serious water shortage.

Warren Weaver, writing about the function that science should have in mankind’s developing future, ideas and ideals, proposed to classify scientific problems into ‘problems of simplicity’, ‘problems of disorganised complexity’, and ‘problems of organised complexity’ — the huge complementary class to which all biological, human, and social problems belong. Problems of simplicity have few components and variables and have been extensively addressed in the last 400 years. Problems of disorganised complexity have a huge number of individually erratic components and variables, but possess collective regularities that can be analysed by resourcing to stochastic methods. Yet, problems of organised complexity do not yield easily to classical or statistical treatment since interrelations among phenomenon elements change during its evolution alongside commonly used state variables, affecting behaviour and outcome. Moreover, organisation, the focal point in this complementary class, is still an elusive concept despite the gigantic efforts undertaken since a century ago to tame it. This paper addresses the description, representation and study of phenomena in the ‘problems of organised complexity’ class. Grounded on relational mathematical constructs, a theoretical framework providing operational definitions and schemes for formally modelling organisations and interaction of organisations is introduced. This framework extends the general systems’ concept and provides a novel perspective for addressing organised complexity phenomena as a collection of interacting organisations.

Soil-structure interaction (SSI) leads to a modification of dynamic properties of a structure, but due to the complexity on analysis, it is traditionally assumed in seismic designs that the structure is fixed-supported at the ground, which unavoidably gives potential dangers to seismic performances of the structure. This study focuses on the possibility of the detrimental effects of SSI by comparing the dynamic responses of SSI system to fixed-base structure. The SSI model consists of an oscillator, a three-dimensional foundation and a multilayered half-space. In indirect boundary element method is employed, combined with non-singular Green’s functions of distributed loads to calculate the foundation impedances for substructure method. Although the SSI mechanism dampens peak amplitude of structure response in frequency domain, case studies on four buildings to 42 earthquakes in time history show a possibility of 15%-20% that SSI amplifies the dynamic responses, depending on the frequency component of incident waves. Also, a neural network algorithm is proposed to provide a new idea of involving SSI analysis into the traditional seismic designs, to eliminate potential hazards of SSI.

The severe volumetric expansion of silicon nanoparticles (~400 %) limits their practical application as an anode material for next-generation lithium–ion battery (LIB). Here, we describe the fabrication and characterization of conformal polydopamine carbon shell encapsulating rattle-type silica@silicon nanoparticles (PDA−PEI@PVP−SiO2@Si) with tunable void structure prepared following a dual SiO2 template using (3–aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as a self-catalytic, structure-directing agent to tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) pretreated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30) via modified Stöber process. Polyethylene imine (PEI) crosslinking facilitated the construction of interconnected three-dimensional bubble wrap-like carbon matrix structure through hydrothermal treatment, pyrolysis, and subsequent surface-protected etching. The composite anode material delivered 539 mAh·g−1 capacity after 100 cycles at 0.1 A·g−1, and 453 mAh·g−1 rate performance at 5 A·g−1. The satisfactory electrochemical performance of the PDA−PEI@PVP−SiO2@Si was attributed to the following: the rattle-type structure providing void space for Si volume expansion, PVP K30-pretreated APTES/TEOS SiO2 seeds via catalyst-free, hydrothermal-assisted Stöber protecting Si/C spheres upon etching, carbon coating strategy increasing Si conductivity while stabilizing the solid electrolyte interface (SEI), and PEI carbon crosslinks providing continuous conductive pathways across the electrode structure. The present work realizes a promising strategy to synthesize the tunable yolk–shell C@void@Si composite anode materials for high power/energy-density LIB applications.

The approval of sucrose fatty acid esters (SFAEs) as food additives/preservatives has triggered enormous interest in discovering new applications for these materials. Accordingly, many researchers reported that SFAEs consist of various sugar moieties, and hydrophobic side chains are highly active against certain fungal species. The combination of chain length and site of acylation is crucial in endowing the SFAE with high antimicrobial potency against Aspergillus species. Following several important studies, we herein present the synthesis and an assessment of the effects of acylation site and chain length (i.e., C-6 vs. C-2, C-3, C-4, and long-chain vs. short-chain) on the antimicrobial activity of mannopyranoside fatty acid esters. In vitro tests revealed that the fatty acid chain length in mannopyranoside esters significantly affects the antifungal activity where C12 chains are more potent against Aspergillus species. In terms of acylation site, mannopyranoside esters with a C8 chain substituted at the C-6 position are more active in antifungal inhibition. Molecular docking also revealed that these mannopyranoside esters had comparatively better stable binding energy, and hence better inhibition, with the fungal enzymes lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (3LD6), urate oxidase (1R51), and glucoamylase (1KUL) than the standard antifungal drug fluconazole. Additionally, the thermodynamic, orbital, drug-likeness, and safety profiles of these mannopyranoside esters were calculated and discussed, along with the structure-activity relationships (SAR). This study thus highlights the importance of the acylation site and lipid-like fatty acid chain length that govern the antimicrobial activity of mannopyranoside-based SFAE.

In order to study the collapse failure of shaft wall of high depth inclined ore-pass under ore impact wear behavior, 25 ore-passes in a deep mine in Yunnan, China were investigated. Considering the ore-pass structural characteristics and the impact wear effect of ore on shaft wall, the shaft wall damage model of high depth inclined ore-pass is constructed based on the contact mechanics theory. Furthermore, No. 1#, 2#, 3# and 9# ore-passes of the mine are taken as examples for analysis, and the three results of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and engineering case are used for comparison and verification. The shaft wall damage degree is predicted, and the damage mechanism between total shaft wall damage volume Qtol and ore-pass depth H, ore-pass dip angle θ, inclined angle of chute α, shaft diameter D and ore block size P is quantitatively investigated. The results show that the rationality of the proposed model is verified by numerical analysis and field engineering situations. Moreover, the deeper ore-pass depth H, the more shaft wall damage volume Qtol with the increase of collision frequency. Qtol increases exponentially with P and increases gradually with D. With the increase of θ or α, Qtol increases generally first and then decreases. Therefore, Qtol can be effectively reduced by selecting the appropriate structure parameters of ore-pass and adopting the technology of drilling straight ore-pass. This work provides technical support for long period safe operation of high depth inclined ore-pass.

Standards are not only crucial for obtaining a certification for practical use, but also an essential guidance for inferring how and what to simulate as well test experimentally. This paper examines the potential applicability of existing standards from various domains, including aerospace and automotive, to Wing-Structure- Integrated high-pressure Hydrogen Tanks (SWITHs). It highlights the associated challenges and uncertainties, acknowledging the absence of a single, all-encompassing standard for SWITHs. We embark on an exploration aimed at identifying alternative standards that are best suited for SWITHs. The analysis scrutinizes existing standards that could potentially facilitate SWITH certification, with a particular focus on the inclusivity of externally loaded hydrogen tanks. Assessment criteria are established to filter standards that best meet the needs of SWITHs. Through this process, we identify two key standards that present themselves as the most promising alternatives. Moreover, we delineate the technical constraints involved in selecting the maximum nominal working pressure for high-pressure tanks intended for burst tests. Our findings reveal a current upper limit of 525 bar, imposed by the limitations of existing test facilities. The study underscores that these standards should serve as flexible guiding frameworks rather than rigid protocols, encouraging progressive development in the SWITH field.

To improve the understanding of soil–pile interaction of laterally loaded piles, the quasi-static test of pile group foundation in silty clay with 5 foundation piles arranged in cross shape is carried out. The direct measurement-based p–y curves at different depths showed nonlinear behavior, in which the initial stiffness and ultimate soil reaction increased as the depth increased. The loading displacement amplitude corresponding to the failure of each foundation pile in the high axial compression reinforced concrete pile group foundation is given as follows: the front-end nappe foundation pile (#3 pile) is 6mm, the middle pile is 16mm, the front-end nappe foundation pile is 20mm, and the loading displacement amplitude of side pile is 24mm. In silty clay, due to the existence of pile group effect, the edge effect has little effect on the horizontal foundation bed coefficient of foundation pile in pile group, while the influence of masking effect on the horizontal foundation bed coefficient of each foundation pile in pile group is not related to the position of pile, but only to the existence of masking effect, and the influence of different columns of masking effect on the horizontal foundation bed coefficient is the same.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) play an important role in many fields, including medical education, practice, and research. Many medical educators started using ChatGPT at the end of 2022 for many purposes. The aim of this article was to explore the potential uses, benefits and risks of using ChatGPT in integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious disease module education. This study was an experimental study with content analysis of the potential applications of the ChatGPT model for integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious diseases module education was performed. The findings of this study shows that there are many potential uses, benefits and risks associated with the use ChatGPT. In conclusion, medical and health sciences educators can use ChatGPT as a guide in many aspects related to the integrated pharmacotherapy of infectious disease curriculum development, syllabus design, lecture notes preparation and exam preparation with caution.

PTB7-Th is an important donor copolymer used in construction of many organic devices and other industrial applications. In this work, we investigate the structure and energetics of PTB7-Th. We employ density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP), dispersion corrected DFT (B3LYP-D3) and long-range corrected DFT (CAM-B3LYP, LC-BLYP, and ωB97xD) to analyze the conformational structures and their corresponding energies to determine the lowest energy state of PTB7-Th. The role of the alkane side chains is carefully investigated. Our findings indicate that, when branched ethylhexyl side chains are present, the lowest energy structure of PTB7-Th has fluorine in the same plane and the same side as the double bonded oxygen in the TT-CF part of the monomer and S-C-C-S dihedral angles along the chain backbone are cis-like having values in the range of 20-30 degrees in most cases. Without these side chains the polymer, not unexpectedly, has many near conformational degeneracies.

The COVID-19 pandemic first observed in December 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has influenced every individual on the planet. The virus has influenced our lifestyle, education, economy and the environment. Though the vaccines against COVID-19 have provided protection against the disease; new strains of the virus have lowered the efficiency of the vaccines. There is still no effective therapy for the treatment of the disease. Understanding the protein structure of the virus may lead to the development of effective therapies for the disease. We recently mapped the structural proteins and non-structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. The accessory proteins (Open reading frames, Orfs) of SARS-CoV-2 modulate the host environment to favor virus replication. This paper reports mapping the accessory proteins (Orfs) of SARS-CoV-2.

The article studies the Venetsiansky (Hydropark) Island (the Dnipro River, Kyiv, Ukraine) landscape structure applying the genetic landscape science method and the European landscape classification (LANMAP) approach. The aim of the article is to determine the best way to study the river islands landscapes analyzing the Venetsiansky Island landscape structure by the both methods. Methodology. The genetic landscape science method consists in the next steps: 1) the island’s territory information collecting; 2) the preliminary landscape map creating; 3) field study; 4) the final landscape map creating. The LANMAP method consists on: 1) the climate study; 2) the altitude study; 3) the parent material study; 4) the land cover study. The results. The genetic landscape science method demonstrates that the Venetsiansky Island is not a landscape, but a structural part of the landscape – the tract. The LANMAP study reveals that the Venetsiansky Island is naturally homogeneous, but land cover differs. The conclusion. The both methods’ study shows that the river island cannot be the entire landscape by the natural criteria, but only the part of it. The genetic landscape science explores the landscape forming while the LANMAP reveals the current state of the landscape.

This topical review describes the results of recent research into and development of silicon nitride, a ceramic material with unique properties. The outcome of this ongoing research strongly encourages the use of monolithic silicon nitride and coatings as contemporary and future biomaterial for a variety of medical applications. Crystallographic structure, synthesis and processing of monolithic structures and coatings, and examples of their medical applications are covered that relate to spinal, orthopedic and dental implants, bone grafts and scaffolds, platforms for intelligent synthetic neural circuits, antibacterial and antiviral particles and coatings, optical biosensors, and nano-photonic waveguides for sophisticated medical diagnostic devices. The examples provided show convincingly that silicon nitride is destined to become a leader to replace titanium and other entrenched biomaterials in many fields of medicine.

While the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein is defined as the primary severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor, the viral serine molecule might be mobilized by the host's transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2) enzyme from the viral spike (S) protein and hijack the host’s N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) metabolism. The resulting hybrid, serologically A-like/Tn (T-nouvelle) structure potentially acts as a host–pathogen functional molecular bridge. In humans, this intermediate structure will hypothetically be replaced by ABO(H) blood group-specific, mucin-type structures, in the case of infection hybrid epitopes, implicating the phenotypically glycosidic accommodation of plasma proteins. The virus may, by mimicking the synthetic pathways of the ABO(H) blood groups, bind to the cell surfaces of the blood group O(H) by formation of a hybrid H-type antigen as the potential precursor of hybrid non-O blood groups, which does not affect the highly anti-glycan aggressive anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinin activities, exerted by the germline-encoded nonimmune immunoglobulin M (IgM). In the non-O blood groups, which have developed from the H-type antigen, these IgM activities are downregulated by phenotypic glycosylation, while adaptive immunoglobulins might arise in response to the hybrid A and B blood group structures, bonds between autologous carbohydrates and foreign peptides, suggesting the exertion of autoreactivity. The non-O blood groups thus become a preferred target for the virus, whereas blood group O(H) individuals, lacking the A/B phenotype-determining enzymes and binding the virus alone by hybrid H-type antigen formation, have the least molecular contact with the virus and maintain the critical anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinin activities, exerted by the ancestral IgM, which is considered the humoral spearhead of innate immunity.

The construction of molecular robotic-like objects that imitate living things is an important challenge for current chemists. Such molecular devices are expected to perform their duties robustly to carry out mechanical motion, process information, and make independent decisions. Dissipative self-organization plays an essential role in meeting these purposes. To produce a micro-robot that can perform the above tasks autonomously as a single entity, a function generator is required. Although many elegant review articles featuring chemical devices that mimic biological mechanical functions have been published recently, the dissipative structure, which is the minimum requirement, has not been sufficiently discussed. This article aims to show clearly that dissipative self-organization is a phenomenon involving autonomy, robustness, mechanical functions, and energy transformation. Moreover, the author details the recent experimental results of an autonomous light-driven molecular device that achieves all of these features. In addition, a chemical model of cell-amplification is also discussed to focus on the generation of hierarchical movement by dissipative self-organization. By reviewing this research, it may be perceived that mainstream approaches to synthetic chemistry have not always been appropriate. In summary, the author proposes that the integration of catalytic functions is a key issue for the creation of autonomous microarchitecture.

Victor Vasarely’s (1906-1997) important legacy to the study of human perception is brought to the forefront and discussed. A large part of his impressive work conveys the appearance of striking three-dimensional shapes and structures in a large-scale pictorial plane. Current perception science explains such effects by invoking brain mechanisms for the processing of monocular (2D) depth cues. Here in this study, we illustrate and explain the local effects of 2D color and contrast cues on the perceptual organization in terms of figure-ground assignments, i.e. which local surfaces are likely to be seen as “nearer” or “bigger” in the image plane. Paired configurations are embedded in a larger, structurally ambivalent pictorial context inspired by some of Vasarely’s creations. The figure-ground effects these configurations produce reveal a significant correlation between perceptual solutions for “nearer” and “bigger” when no other monocular depth cues are given in the image. In consistency with previous findings on similar, albeit simpler visual displays, a specific color may compete with luminance contrast in resolving the planar ambiguity of a complex pattern context. Vasarely intuitively understood, and successfully exploited, this kind of subtle context effect in his art, well before empirical investigations had set out to study and explain their genesis in terms of information processing by the visual brain.

Since crystals are made of periodic structures in space, predicting their three period vectors starting from any values based on the inside interactions is a basic theoretical physics problem. For the general situation where crystals are under constant external stress, we derived dynamical equations of the period vectors in the framework of Newtonian dynamics, for pair potentials recently (doi:/10.1139/cjp-2014-0518). The derived dynamical equations show that the period vectors are driven by the imbalance between the internal and external stresses. This presents a physical process where when the external stress changes, the crystal structure changes accordingly, since the original internal stress can not balance the external stress. The internal stress has both a full kinetic energy term and a full interaction term. It is extended to many-body interactions in this paper. As a result, all conclusions in the pair-potential case also apply for many-body potentials.

In this study, a high energy conversion efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was successfully fabricated by attaching a double anti-reflection (AR) layer which is composed of a subwavelength moth-eye structured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) film and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. The efficiency is up to 6.79%. The moth-eye structured PMMA film was fabricated by using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template which is simple, low-cost and scalable. The nano-pattern of AAO template has been precisely reproduced onto PMMA film. The photoanode is composed of Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) with diameter of 25 nm deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate and the sensitizer N3. The double AR layer can effectively improve the short-circuit current density (JSC) and conversion efficiency from 14.77 to 15.79 mA/cm² and from 6.26% to 6.79%, respectively.

This paper first explains the theory of the origin of force from a new perspective, explaining that the origin of all forces is caused by the "missing of energy in the time dimension" (non-conservation in a certain period of time), and constructs a unified theory of force on this basis. Then, through the unified theory of force, the following phenomena are reinterpreted: (1) The common origin of the inverse square law of gravitation and electromagnetic force; (2) The origin of the repulsive force of electrons and protons at small distances; (3) The mystery of the rotation curve of galaxies and the new explanation of "dark matter"; (4) explain the origin of the magnetic field; (5) Predict that moving magnets have the same radiation effect as charged particles (electron magnetic moments also have radiation effects); (6) Reinterpret Maxwell's displacement current; (7) Reinterpret synchrotron radiation and bremsstrahlung; (8) Explain that the strong and weak forces are short-range forces; (9) Predict the true structure of black holes and the origin of gravitational waves;(10) Possible explanation for the origin of the speed of light.

Background: Glioblastoma remains a challenging brain tumor to treat due to its infiltrative nature. Accurately identifying tumor boundaries during surgery is crucial for successful tumor resection. This study introduces an innovative intraoperative visualization method utilizing a surgical fluorescence microscope to precisely locate tumor cells. The focus of the study is on IR-Glint, a novel preparation comprising Cy7.5-labeled aptamers Gli-233nt and Gli-55_3L specific to human glioblastoma. Methods: The aptamers were modified using molecular modeling and quantum chemical techniques. The effectiveness of the preparation was assessed using flow cytometry and microscopy on primary cultures of human glioblastoma. In vivo studies were conducted on mouse and rabbit models, employing orthotopic xenotransplantation of human brain glioblastoma with various imaging techniques, including PET/CT, in vivo fluorescence visualization, confocal laser scanning, and surgical microscopy. Results: The experiments validated the potential of IR-Glint for intraoperative visualization of glioblastoma using infrared imaging. Surface application of the aptamer-based formulation on the brain allowed clear visualization of the tumor, aiding surgeons in tumor resection. This approach also reduces the dosage required and mitigates potential toxic effects on the patient. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the promising potential of using in-frared dye-labeled aptamers for intraoperative visualization of glioblastoma. By improving surgical treatment outcomes in neurosurgery, this novel approach may pave the way for future advancements in the field.

An efficient design method is proposed for a compact common-mode rejection (CMR) filter utilizing dumbbell-shaped defected ground (DS-DG) structures and gap-coupled stub (GCS) resonators. A CMR filter for differential lines helps to improve the signal integrity of high-speed digital signals on printed circuit boards. The proposed CMR filter design is based on the equivalent circuit models, while the previous designs depended heavily on the DS-DG structure optimization using the EM simulations. The proposed CMR filter effectively reject the common-mode components with minimally affecting the differential signals. To prove the simplified design approach, a 5th-order Chebyshev band-stop filter has been designed with three DS-DG structures and two GCS resonators. From the simulated and measured results, it is found that the proposed CMR filter provides ~90% fractional frequency bandwidth with more than 20 dB of common-mode rejection ratio and less than 0.6 dB of insertion loss of the differential signal.

The aim of this study is to propose and validate the state space mode decomposition technique for precise mode separation of non-classical damping systems and closely distributed modal systems. To assess the reliability and applicability of this technique, a 40-story building with a tuned mass damper is investigated, and acceleration responses measured by the building's health monitoring system are used for the verification of the technique. The mode separation results reveal that the separated modal power spectrum becomes distorted at neighboring natural frequency ranges when the performance index only considers the concentration of power spectral energy at the target natural frequency. However, by introducing an augmented performance index that includes a constraint condition to account for distortion, more accurate mode decomposition can be achieved.

Thunderstorm electrification has been studied for hundreds of years. Several mechanisms have been proposed to elucidate the electrification, including convective charging, inductive precipitation charging, and ice crystal-graupel collision charging. Field observations and model studies have demonstrated the vital roles that graupel and ice crystals play in the electrification, but the mechanism of the collision charging is still unclear. The fundamental essence of relative growth rate theory used for explaining the tripole charge structure in thunderclouds also needs a further exploration. We analyze the processes of ice crystal-graupel collision charging from charge migration inside hydrometeors to charge separation between two hydrometeors. The driving effects of temperature gradient and chemical potential gradient in charge migration are clarified, as well as the applicability of the relative growth rate theory, thermoelectric effect and surface tension gradient in different humidities. Based on the understanding from these electrification mechanisms, we propose that the essence of charge separation is driven by non-thermal equilibrium, and future studies on thunderstorm electrification should focus on the dynamical non-thermal equilibrium of cloud particles.

Transition between the unfolded and native states of the ordered globular proteins is accompanied by accumulation of several intermediates, such as pre-molten globule, wet molten globule, and dry molten globule. Structurally equivalent conformations can serve as native functional states of intrinsically disordered proteins. This overview captures the characteristics and importance of these molten globules in both structured and intrinsically disordered proteins. It also discusses examples of engineered molten globules. The formation of these intermediates under the conditions of macromolecular crowding and their interactions with nanomaterials are also reviewed.

Small-scale facilities play a significant role in the landscape of nuclear physics research in Europe. They address a wide range of fundamental questions and are essential for teaching and training personnel in accelerator technology and science, providing them with diverse skill sets, complementary to large projects. The current status and perspectives of nuclear physics research at small-scale facilities in Europe will be given.

Longitudinal image registration of pulmonary computed tomography (PCT) images may serve as an essential tool for investigating the relationship between radiation dose distribution and the occurrence and phenotype of radiation-induced lung disease (RILD). Although numerous longitudinal registration algorithms have been developed for PCT, most similarity-based approaches are not suitable for PCT involving RILD due to the complex tissue variation between two PCT images. Moreover, conventional feature-based approaches might fail to find a sufficient number of matched pairs of feature points due to the disparate lung deformation caused by breathing and RILD. To overcome the challenges resulting from RILD, component structure coherence point drift (CSCPD) was proposed to establish a deformation model by decomposing the chest into several components and matching them with individual parameters based on coherence point drift (CPD). Moreover, a regional vascular point matching (RVPM) algorithm was proposed to generate a vascular subtree and to substantially increase the number of corresponding pairs between two images. Eventually, the components were recomposed and aligned by a thin plate spline algorithm. A performance assessment on 15 pairs of PCT images of patients with RILD yielded recall and precision values of 0.85 and 0.89 for RVPM, respectively. Moreover, the target registration error of CSCPD with RVPM (2.3 ± 1.79) was significantly better than that of conventional CPD with RVPM (2.95 ± 1.89) and conventional CPD (5.04 ± 2.87). Therefore, the proposed registration system is robust enough to address the disparate deformation of lungs with RILD, and it improves registration accuracy within the parenchyma.

One of the problems, which make it difficult to solve the mystery of the origin of life, would be how life emerged in chemically complex messy environments on the primitive Earth. It is considered that three main points contributed to open the way to the emergence of life. (1) A characteristic inherent in [GADV]-amino acids, which are easily produced with prebiotic means. (2) Protein 0th-order structure or [GADV]-amino acid composition generating water-soluble globular protein with some flexibility, which can be produced even by random joining of [GADV]-amino acids. (3) Formation of versatile [GADV]-microspheres, which can grow, divide, proliferate even without genetic system, was the emergence of proto-life. (4) [GADV]-microspheres with a higher proliferation ability than others could be selected. The proto-Dawin evolution made it possible to proceed forward to creation of the core life system composed of (GNC)n gene, anticodon stem-loop tRNA or AntiC-SL tRNA (GNC genetic code) and [GADV]-protein. (5) Eventually, the first genuine life with the core life system emerged. Thus, the formation processes of [GADV]-protein and (GNC)n gene in chemically complex messy environments were the steps to the emergence of genuine life.

Bone tissue engineering has developed significantly in recent years as the increasing demand for bone substitutes due to trauma, cancer, arthritis, and infections. The scaffolds for bone regeneration need to be mechanically stable and have a 3D architecture with interconnected pores. With the advances in additive manufacturing technology, these requirements can be fulfilled by 3D printing scaffolds with controlled geometry and porosity using a low-cost multistep process. The scaffolds, however, must also be bioactive to promote the environment for the cells to regenerate into bone tissue. To determine if a low-cost 3D printing method for bespoke SiOC(N) porous structures can regenerate bone these structures were tested for osteointegration potential by using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). This includes checking the general biocompatibilities under the osteogenic differentiation environment (cell proliferation and metabolism). Moreover, cell morphology was observed by confocal microscopy and gene expressions on typical osteogenic markers at different stages for bone formation were determined by real-time PCR. The results of the study showed the pore size of the scaffolds had a significant impact on differentiation. A certain range of pore size could stimulate osteogenic differentiation, thus promoting bone regrowth and regeneration.

Below T_CO=157 K the quasi-one-dimensional charge-transfer salt (TMTTF)_2SbF_6 undergoes a pronounced phase transition to a charge-ordered ground state. We have explored the non-linear and photoconductive behavior as a function of applied voltage, laser pulse energy and temperature. Besides a decay of the photoconductive signal in a double exponential fashion in the millisecond range, we discover current oscillations in the kHz range induced by the application of short laser pulses. While the resonance frequencies do not depend on voltage or laser intensity and vary only slightly with temperature, the amplitude changes linearly with the laser intensity and voltage. The findings are discussed and compared to comparable phenomena in other low-dimensional electron systems.

Different bacterial species have dramatically different generation times, from 20-30 minutes in Escherichia coli to about two weeks in Mycobacterium leprae. The translation machinery in a cell needs to synthesize all proteins for a new cell in each generation. The three subprocesses of translation, i.e., initiation, elongation, and termination, are expected to be under stronger selection pressure to optimize in short-generation bacteria (SGB) such as Vibrio natriegens than in the long-generation Mycobacterium leprae. The initiation efficiency depends on the start codon decoded by the initiation tRNA, the optimal Shine-Dalgarno (SD) decoded by the anti-SD (aSD) sequence on small subunit rRNA, and the secondary structure that may embed the initiation signals and prevent them from being decoded. The elongation efficiency depends on the tRNA pool and codon usage. The termination efficiency in bacteria depends mainly on the nature of the stop codon and the nucleotide immediately downstream of the stop codon. By contrasting SGB with long-generation bacteria (LGB), we predict that 1) SGB to have more ribosome RNA operons to produce ribosomes, and more tRNA genes for carrying amino acid to ribosomes, 2) SGB to have a higher percentage of genes using AUG as start codon and UAA as stop codon than LGB, 3) SGB to exhibit better codon and anticodon adaptation than LGB, and 4) SGB to have weaker secondary structure near translation initiation signals than LGB. These differences between SGB and LGB should be more pronounced in highly expressed genes than lowly expressed genes. We present empirical evidence in support of these predictions.

In this work, a novel single crystal (3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl)methyl benzenesulfonate has been synthetized via a one-pot sequential strategy under sonication. A single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was reported. In the crystal, a layer structure is generated by C—H···O and C—H···N hydrogen bonds. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H···H (28.9%), H···O/O···H (26.7%) and H···C/C···H (15.8%) interactions. The optimized structure calculated using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6–311 G+(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined structure in the solid state. The calculated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap is 4.6548 eV.

As a matter of course, the first gene must be formed in the absence of gene. On the other hand, many biopolymers including gene are produced under the genetic system in extant organisms. Thus far, no idea explaining how the first gene was formed in the absence of gene, has been proposed except the idea based on the GADV hypothesis. GADV means four amino acids; Gly [G], Ala [A], Asp [D] and Val [V]. In this article, a reliable answer to the question, how the first gene was generated, is provided. The idea is as follows. The first gene (genetic information) was formed by random joining of anticodons, GNCs, which were carried by primeval anticodon stem-loop (AntiC-SL) tRNAs produced during repeated cycles of random joining of nucleotides and degradation of oligonucleotides. However, it might be difficult for many persons to accept the idea, because tRNAs and metabolic pathways using various proteins, which are produced under genetic functions, must be used to form the first gene. Then, it is reconsidered based on definition of genetic information and minimum necessary things to generate the first gene in this article, how the first gene was generated. Consequently, it could be reconfirmed that five prototypes of members (genetic code, tRNA, metabolism, cell structure and protein) composing the fundamental life system, except gene, are certainly necessary to generate the first gene. Namely, it can be concluded that the first gene was formed through nucleotide metabolism with immature [GADV]-proteins, primeval AntiC-SL tRNA formation with immature [GADV]-proteins, formations of single-stranded (GNC)n codon sequence by random joining of anticodons, GNCs, carried by AntiC-SL tRNAs, double-stranded (ds)-(GNC)n RNA and maturation of an immature [GADV]-protein, which was produced from one strand of the ds-RNA. Thus, the first gene was formed using the five primitive or prototypes of members, which were produced in the absence of gene. There would be no other way for generating the first gene.

ORF6 is responsible for suppressing the immune response of cells infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is also the most toxic protein of SARS-CoV-2, and its actions are associated with the viral pathogenicity. Here we study in silico and in vitro the structure of the protein, its interaction with RAE1, and the mechanism of action behind its high toxicity. We show both computationally and experimentally that SARS-CoV-2 ORF6, embedded in the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, binds to RAE1 and sequesters it in the cytoplasm, thus depleting its availability in the nucleus and impairing nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport. This negatively affects the cellular genome stability by compromising the cell cycle progression into the S-phase and by promoting the accumulation of RNA-DNA hybrids. Understanding the multiple ways in which ORF6 affects DNA replication may also have important implications for elucidating the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate its deleterious effects on host cells.

This study introduces a remote sensing application using satellite imagery to survey a network-scale aggregate stockpile inventory. First, a real scale aggregate quarry site was surveyed using a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) to produce digital terrain models that enabled analysis of aggregate pile geometry. Second, a lab experiment was designed and performed to validate the applicability of close-range Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry for measuring aggregate piles' physical properties such as volume and density. The other part of the lab experiment delved into direct measurement of aggregate density under varying compaction efforts. These experimental results, in conjunction with some simplifying assumptions, enabled the calculation of aggregate stockpile volumes and estimated weights from satellite imagery. We estimated that an inventory of 4.4 and 1.1 million metric tons of crushed aggregates and Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), respectively, stockpiled in Washington State for asphalt production in 2017. The merit of producing such database was further showcased in an example on the economic and environmental impacts of material transportation. We approximated that hauling aggregates from quarry plants to construction sites within Washington State incurs a cost of about $50 thousand to over $4 million, consumes about 0.25 to 20 TJ of energy, and emits 20 to over 1,500 tons of CO₂-eq per asphalt plant annually.

Swift and diligent resilience response is mandatory in sustainable geo-distributed ecosystems. The real-time geo-spatial resilience requires agility in millions of parallel and distributed data processing tasks on data acquired from regional condition monitoring(RCM) systems. These tasks include expiditous resolution of complex sustainability conflict sets, promptly anomalies characterization in chaos sets, and resilience response uniqueness. This work is an archetype of a paragon geo-resilience support system(GRSS) for regional sustainability using a novel melioration in DADO production machine. The proposed expert system capitalized the synergic strengths of RETE, TREAT, LEAPS and GATOR networks was designed and implemented as a synthetic DADO machine(SDM). The generic architecture of DADO machine was improved in this work by enrichment in rule set conditions and solution set for regional scale resilience rule set conditions. The condition left-hand side(LHS) X equal to the solution set 2X for right-hand side (RHS) was the goal achieved by working memory(WM) optimization and conflict resolution strategy(CRS) in alpha and beta networks rules. A round-trip time of 80.2 seconds for first event response set using 1492 segment size and sequence number 360,000 with maximum packets at a single geospatial structure was 21 packets/sec was a noticeable landmark in this work. LEAPS and Concurrent-read algorithm for GATOR cluster networks in the proposed synthetic DADO machine architecture was the overall implementation that enabled urban scale resilient system practically possible on physical SHM deployment.

Background: Recent developments in our understanding of the interactions between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and cellular components have improved treatment approaches for various human diseases including cancer, vascular diseases, and neurological diseases. Although investigation of specific lncRNAs revealed their role in the metabolism of cellular RNA, our understanding of their contribution to post-transcriptional regulation is relatively limited. In this study, we explore the role of lncRNAs in modulating alternative splicing and their impact on downstream protein-RNA interaction networks. Results: Analysis of alternative splicing events across 39 lncRNA wildtype and knockout RNA-sequencing datasets from three human cell lines: HeLa (Cervical Cancer), K562 (Myeloid Leukemia), and U87 (Glioblastoma), resulted in high confidence (fdr < 0.01) identification of 4432 skipped exon events and 2474 retained intron events, implicating 759 genes to be impacted at post-transcriptional level due to the loss of lncRNAs. We observed that a majority of the alternatively spliced genes in a lncRNA knockout were specific to the cell type, in agreement with the finding that genes affected by alternative splicing also displayed enriched functions in a cell type specific manner. To understand the mechanism behind this cell-type specific alternative splicing patterns, we analyzed RNA binding protein (RBP)-RNA interaction profiles across the spliced regions. Conclusions: Despite limited RBP binding data across cell lines, alternatively spliced events detected in lncRNA perturbation experiments were associated with RBPs binding in proximal intron-exon junctions, in a cell type specific manner. The cellular functions affected by alternative splicing were also affected in a cell type specific manner. Based on the RBP binding profiles in HeLa and K562 cells, we hypothesize that several lncRNAs are likely to exhibit a sponge effect in disease contexts, resulting in the functional disruption of RBPs due to altered titration of the RBPs from their target loci. We propose that such lncRNA sponges can extensively rewire the post-transcriptional gene regulatory networks by altering the protein-RNA interaction landscape in a cell-type specific manner.

Biomimicry in additive manufacturing often refers to topology optimization and the use of lattice structures, due to the organic shape of the topology-optimized designs, and the lattices often looking similar to many light-weight structures found in nature such as trabecular bone, wood, sponges, coral, to name a few. Real biomimetic design however involves the use of design principles taken in some way from natural systems. In this work we use a methodology whereby high resolution 3D analysis of a natural material with desirable properties is “reverse-engineered” and the design tested for the purpose. This allows more accurate replication of the desired properties, and adaption of the design parameters to the material used for production (which usually differs from the biological material). One such example is the impact-protective natural design of the glyptodont body armour. In this paper we report on the production of body armour models in metal (Ti4Al4V) and analyze the resulting mechanical properties, assessing their potential for impact protective applications. This is the first biomimetic study using metal additive manufacturing to date.

The nitrogen-doped amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) thin film transistors (TFTs) with double-stacked channel layers (DSCL) were prepared and characterized. The DSCL structure composed of nitrogen-doped amorphous InGaZnO and InZnO films (a-IGZO:N/a-IZO:N or a-IZO:N/a-IGZO:N) made the corresponding TFT devices exhibit quite large field-effect mobility due to the existence of double conduction channels. Especially, the a-IZO:N/a-IGZO:N TFTs showed even better electrical performance (μ_FE = 15.0 cm²·V^-1·s^-1, SS = 0.5 V/dec, V_TH = 1.5 V, I_ON/I_OFF = 1.1×10⁸) and stability (V_TH shift of 1.5, -0.5, and -2.5 V for positive bias-stress, negative bias-stress and thermal stress tests, respectively) than the a-IGZO:N/a-IZO:N TFTs. Based on the X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements and energy band analysis, it was assumed that the optimized interface trap states, the less ambient gas adsorption, and the better suppression of oxygen vacancies in the a-IZO:N/a-IGZO:N hetero-structures might be responsible for the better behaviors of the corresponding TFTs.

The study conducted in this paper is focused on a predominantly residential area of the City of Ljubljana – Koseze, which is characterized by generally favorable (bio)climatic conditions. Nonetheless, thermal satellite imaging showed that residential neighborhoods within the Koseze district display unexpected variations in summer temperatures. This observation called into question the benefits of existing bioclimatic features and indicated the need to investigate and compare two neighborhoods with similar urban parameters, with the aim to identify morphological differential characteristics impacting urban heat island (UHI) intensity. By applying the study methodology based on a literature review, surveys of key precedents, detailed mapping in two Koseze locations, in situ measurements, observations and recordings, thermal imaging and the analyses of statistical data, as well as by defining the four main categories of morphological urban parameters – structure, cover, fabric and metabolism, it was concluded that both neighborhoods have common morphological elements mitigating the UHI effect. Additionally, it was found that the neighborhood with higher UHI intensity has several less favorable features, such as busier roads, larger surface of parking corridors, and the existence of underground parking space. The traffic as an element of urban morphology hence represents the main cause of differences among UHI levels in the two Koseze neighborhoods.

Alkyl moieties—open chain or cyclic—are common in drug molecules and can be internal or terminal. The open-chain alkyls can be linear or branched; the cyclic alkyls may be substituted. Usually, the branches in open-chain alkyls and substituents in cycloalkyls influence both the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a drug molecule. The hydrophobicity of alkyl moieties in drug molecules is modified by metabolic hydroxy functionalization via free-radical intermediates to give primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohols depending on the class of the substrate carbon. The hydroxymethyl groups resulting from the functionalization of methyl groups are mostly oxidized further to carboxyl groups to give carboxy metabolites. As observed from the surveyed cases in this review, hydroxy functionalization leads to loss, attenuation, or retention of pharmacologic activity with respect to the parent drug. On the other hand, carboxy functionalization leads to a loss of activity with the exception of only a few cases in which activity is retained. The exceptions are those groups in which the carboxy functionalization occurs at a position distant from a well-defined primary pharmacophore. Some parent-drug equiactive hydroxy metabolites have been developed into metabolite ester prodrugs, while some of the parent-drug carboxy metabolites have been developed into metabolite drugs. In this review, we present and discuss the above state of affairs for a variety of drug classes, using selected drug members to show the effect on pharmacologic activity as well as dependence of the metabolic change on drug molecular structure. Some subtexts found to manifest from the hydroxy and carboxy functionalization of alkyl moieties in drug molecules are presented and discussed. The review provides basis for informed predictions of (i) structural features required for metabolic hydroxy and carboxy functionalization of alkyl moieties in existing or planned small drug molecules; and (ii) whether the resulting metabolites will possess pharmacologic activity or be devoid of it.

In the following article, we analyzed a variable present in the ISTAT-BES dataset, namely "People You Can Count On"-PYCC for the Italian regions. Following an analysis of the time series aimed at highlighting the trends of the regions, we created a clustering with a k-Means algorithm optimized with the Silhouette coefficient. The data shows the presence of two clusters. We then present an econometric model aimed at estimating the value of PYCC based on a set of socio-economic variables. The results are also discussed in light of the economic policy implications.

This paper examines some of the largely neglected areas of opportunity to utilize skeletal space structure systems in support of modular, industrialized, economical, sustainable and digital future of the construction industry. In this context, the feasibility of future use of skeletal space structures is studied for a few classes of engineering structures, namely, residential apartment buildings, and offshore platforms, along with their suitability for reconstruction, renovation, modernization and retrofit of damaged buildings and urban areas of cultural heritage significance. Finally, the particulars of lean project management of space structures are discussed with emphasis on engineering and economic factors, production management, environmental aspects, quality management, and reliability, maintainability and sustainability considerations. This article concludes that skeletal space structures can fulfil many of the essential construction requirements of modern societies, especially those facing environmental challenges, all while allowing for design flexibility and mass customization.

The theory of heterogeneous nucleation was initially developed as a part of condensed matter physics and later it was used as an important engineering tool to design metallurgical processes. The success leads to wide applications of the theory in metallurgical practice. For example, engineering heterogeneous nucleation in ductile iron has been used to reduce shrinkage defects, suppress cementite formation, and modify size and shape of micro-structural constituencies. This demonstrates how theoretical knowledge could benefit industry practice. This overview aims to summarize the authors’ published studies in co-authorship with colleagues and students, which covered different aspects of engineering heterogeneous nucleation in multiphase cast alloys. Several approaches for engineering heterogeneous nucleation using thermodynamic simulation and practical methods for improving efficiency of nucleation using co-precipitation technique and a local transient melt supersaturation were suggested. Automated Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy-Dispersive-X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis and a high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to verify simulation predictions. Practical examples of controlling micro-porosity shrinkage in cast irons with spheroidal graphite are presented to illustrate the power of engineering heterogenous nucleation. The authors appreciate the great efforts that the co-authors have made on the original, overviewed articles here.

We conducted a comparative study on the development of two synthetic methods. The solvent-free synthesis is a green chemistry method developed in a bid to ameliorate environmental adverse effects of the conventional solvent-based synthesis. The synthesis of novel dichloro and polymethoxy p-nitrophenylhydrazones through solvent free technique gave moderate to high yields which were however lower than those of the solvent-based method. The established solvent-free approach has several benefits, including universality and simplicity of the approach, catalyst-free conditions, non-use of an organic solvent, quick reaction time, fast and efficient workup, and un-solvated pure products in moderate to high yields.

In the present work we revise and extend the Characteristic Crystallographic Element (CCE) norm, an algorithm used to simultaneously detect radial and orientational similarity of computer-generated structures with respect to specific reference crystals and local symmetries. Based on the identification of point group symmetry elements, the CCE descriptor is able to gauge local structure with high precision and finely distinguish between competing morphologies. As test cases we use computer-generated monomeric and polymer systems of spherical particles interacting with the hard-sphere and square-well attractive potentials. We demonstrate that the CCE norm is able to detect and differentiate, between others, among: hexagonal close packed (HCP), face centered cubic (FCC), hexagonal (HEX) and body centered cubic (BCC) crystals as well as non-crystallographic fivefold (FIV) local symmetry in bulk 3-D systems; triangular (TRI), square (SQU) and honeycomb (HON) crystals, as well as pentagonal (PEN) local symmetry in thin films of one-layer thickness (2-D systems). The descriptor is general and can be applied to identify the symmetry elements of any point group for arbitrary atomic or particulate system in two or three dimensions, in the bulk or under confinement.

The design and usage of the addressed combined fiber-optic sensors (ACFOS) and the multisensory control systems of the greenhouse gas concentration on their basis are investigated. The main development trend of the combined fiber-optic sensors (CFOS), consisting of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and the Fabry-Perot resonator (FPR), which are successively formed at the optical fiber end, is highlighted. The addressed fiber Bragg structures (AFBS) usage instead of the FBG in the CFOS leads not only to significant cheapening of the sensor system due to microwave photonics interrogating methods, but also to increasing its metrological characteristics. The structural scheme of the multisensory gas concentration monitoring system is suggested. The suggested scheme allows detecting four types of the greenhouse gases (СО2, NO2, CH4, OX) depending on the material and thickness of the polymer film, which is the FPR sensitive element. The usage of Karunen-Loeff transform (KLT), which allows separating each component contribution to the reflected spectrum according to its efficiency, is proposed. In the future, it allows determining the gas concentration at the AFBS address frequencies. The estimations have shown that the ACFOS design in the multisensory system allows measuring the environment temperature in the range of −60…+300 °C with an accuracy of 0.1–0.01 °C, and the gas concentration in the range of 10…90% with the accuracy of 0.1–0.5%.

Proteins having a variety of functions play many essential roles in maintaining various life activities in organisms. Various methods, by which new protein functions can be artificially produced, have progressed rapidly upon development in recombinant DNA technology and effective screening techniques. However, the obtainable scope of the new functions has been restricted in a narrow range, because only functions of presently existing proteins can be used. On the other hand, it has been considered that it would be impossible to create an entirely new protein, which does not show any meaningful homology with any other amino acid sequences of previously existing proteins. The reason is because one amino acid sequence for a protein cannot be selected out from an extraordinary large amino acid sequence diversity as ~10130. As a matter of course, it is impossible to design an amino acid sequence of a protein in advance and a gene encoding the protein cannot be also formed through random process. Nevertheless, extant organisms have generated a variety of entirely new proteins in some way to make full use of them. This means that extant organisms have equipped a mechanism with which entirely new proteins can be produced under the present core life system composed of protein, tRNA (genetic code) and gene. In this article, first I introduce the mechanism, with which entirely new proteins are created in extant organisms, and further propose a novel strategy for application of the mechanism to protein engineering through creation of entirely new proteins, which could contribute to development of various industries.

A model to predict the relative levels of respiratory and fecal-oral transmission potentials of coronaviruses (CoVs) by measuring the percentage of protein intrinsic disorder (PID) of the M (Membrane) and N (nucleoprotein) proteins in their outer and inner shells, respectively, was built before the MERS-CoV outbreak. Application of this model to the 2003 SARS-CoV indicated that this virus with M_PID = 8.6% and N_PID = 50.2% falls into group B, which consists of CoVs with intermediate levels of both fecal-oral and respiratory transmission potentials. Further validation of the model came with MERS-CoV (M_PID = 9%, N_PID = 44%) and SARS-CoV-2 (M_PID = 5.5%, N_PID = 48%) falling into the groups C and B, respectively. Group C contains CoVs with higher fecal-oral but lower respiratory transmission potentials. Unlike SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 with M_PID = 5.5% has one of the hardest outer shells among CoVs. This shell hardness is believed to be responsible for high viral loads in the mucus and saliva making it more contagious than SARS-CoV. The hard shell is able to resist the anti-microbial enzymes in body fluids. Further searches have found that high rigidity of outer shell is characteristic for the CoVs of burrowing animals, such as rabbits (M_PID = 5.6%) and pangolins (M_PID = 5-6%), which are in contact with the buried feces. A closer inspection of pangolin-CoVs from 2017-19 reveals that these animals provided a unique window of opportunity for the entry of an attenuated SARS-CoV-2 precursor into the human population in 2017 or earlier, with the subsequent slow and silent spread as a mild cold that followed by its mutations into the current more virulent form. Evidence of this lies in the similarity of shell disorder and genetic proximity of the pangolin-CoVs to SARS-CoV-2 (~90%). A 2017 pangolin-CoV strain shows evidence of higher levels of attenuation and higher fecal-oral transmission associated with lower human infectivity via having lower N_PID (44.8%). Our shell disorder analysis also revealed that lower inner shell disorder is associated with the lesser virulence in a variety of viruses.

Understanding the mechanism, how entirely new (EntNew) gene/protein or the first ancestral gene/protein of a family was created, should be one of the most important issues in the biological sciences. However, the mechanism is totally unknown still now. On the other hand, it is well known that mature protein is generally rigid and one catalytic center exists on the protein. Creation of such a mature EntNew gene/protein should be, of course, carried out through random process, because it cannot be designed in advance. However, the EntNew gene/protein never be created by random polymerization of the respective monomeric units, because of the extraordinary large sequence diversities of ~10¹⁸⁰ and ~10¹³⁰, respectively. Protein 0^th-order structure or a specific amino acid composition, in which immature but water-soluble protein can be produced even through random process, holds the key for solving the difficult problem. As it was fragmentally described in the previous papers how and where EntNew gene/protein was created, I describe in detail in this review three processes generating EntNew gene/protein with some flexibility under three genetic codes, the universal genetic code, SNS primitive code and GNC primeval code, and discuss why the mature gene/protein could be created through the processes.