Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) such as CuO, and ZnO can have significant effects on plant root cells, depending on factors like concentration, size, and surface properties of the nanoparticles. These metal oxide nanoparticles can cause toxic and genotoxic effects on plant root cells, affecting overall plant growth and development. This study evalaute the cytological and oxidative effect of varying concentration (100v/v, 80 v/v, 40 v/v and 20 v/v) of CuO-NPs, ZnO-NPs and CuO/ZnO-NPs on Onion (Allium cepa L) root tip cells. The synthesized CuO-NPs, ZnO-NPs and CuO/ZnO-NPs were of average particle sizes of 12.78nm, 13.76 nm and 13.35 nm respectively as revealed from the XRD study. The SEM analysis showed that CuO-NP and ZnO-NP appeared to have an irregular and granular particle shape, while the CuO/ZnO-NPs appeared to have a flower like structure. The chromosomal aberrations of nanopartcle treated Allium cepa L exhibited anormolies. The study revealed that at higher concentration (100% and 80%) of CuO-NPs, ZnO-NPs and CuO/ZnO-NPs exhibited higher chromosomal damage as evidence from the higher abnormality percentage (72.50 and 56.2%), (69.10% and 61.20%), and (81.10% and 74.25%) respectively. The effect of concentration revealed that the mitotic index was concentration dependent with 20v/v concentration showing reduced mitotic activities across all samples. The study reveals that the uncontrolled application of these nanoparticles may have harmful effect on plants cell growth when exposed in polluted soil.

Given a set of distinct non-negative integers X^n and a target certificate S in parametrized form: ∃X^k⊆X^n,∑_(x_i∈X^k)▒x_i =S (k=|X^k |,n=|X^n |). We present a polynomial solution of the subset sum problem with time complexity T≤O(kn)≤O(n^2) and space complexity S≤O(((n-1)n)/2)≤O(n^2 ), so that P = NP.

In this study the processes taking place on the surfaces of nanostructurized Cu/CuO and Cu/CuO/Pd electrodes at different potential, $E$, values in the solutions of 0.1 M KOH in H$_2$O and D$_2$O (heavy water) were probed by the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and analysis of electrochemical reactions occurring under experimental conditions is presented. Bands of the SERS spectra of Cu/CuO/Pd electrode observed in the range of $E$ values from +0.3~V to 0 V~(SHE) at 1328 - 1569~cm$^{-1}$ are consistent with the existence of species which are adsorbed or weakly bound to the surface with the energy of interaction close to 15 - 21~kJ mol$^{-1}$. These bands can be attributed to the ad(ab)sorbed (H$_3$O$^+$)$\rm{_{ad}}$, (H$_2^+$)$\rm{_{ab}}$ and (H$_2^+$)$\rm{_{ad}}$ ions as intermediates in reversible HER/HOR processes taking place on Cu/CuO/Pd electrode. There was no isotopic effect observed; this is consistent with a dipole nature of electron-ion pair formation of adsorbed (H$_3$O$^+$)$\rm{_{ad}}$ and (H$_2^+$)$\rm{_{ad}}$ or (D$_3$O$^+$)$\rm{_{ad}}$ and (D$_2^+$)$\rm{_{ad}}$. In accordance with literature data SERS bands at 125-146~cm$^{-1}$ and $\sim 520-565$~cm$^{-1}$ were assigned to Cu(I) and Cu(II) oxygen species. These findings corroborate the mechanism of cascading reduction of water.

Macroalgae seaweeds such as Ulva lactuca and Gracilaria verrucosa cause problems on the Northern Coast of the Italian Adriatic Sea because their overabundance hinders the growth of cultivated clams, Rudatapes philippinarum. This study focused on the green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles from U. lactuca and G. verrucosa. The biosynthesized CuO NPs were successfully characterized using FTIR, XRD, HRTEM/EDX, and zeta potential. Nanoparticles from the two different algae species are essentially identical, with the same physical characteristics and almost the same antimicrobial activities. We have not investigated the cause of this identity, but it seems likely to arise from the reaction of Cu with the same algae metabolites in both species. The study demonstrates that it is possible to obtain useful products from these macroalgae through a green synthesis approach and that they should be considered as not just a cause of environmental and economic damage but also as a potential source of income.

A series of supported CuO-based nanoparticle catalysts were prepared by impregnation method and used for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and CO2 in the presence of 2-cyanopyridine as a dehydrant and DMF as a solvent. The effects of supports (activated alumina, silicon dioxide, graphene oxide, graphene, and activated carbon), CuO loading amount, calcination temperature, and reaction parameters on the catalytic activity of catalyst were investigated in detail. XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, and CO2-TPD were used for the characterization of the prepared catalysts. It is found that CuO/Al2O3 shows a higher catalytic activity, which depends on the CuO loading amount and calcination temperature. The surface area and amount of basic sites of the catalyst exhibit crucial effect on the catalytic activity of CuO/Al2O3. Furthermore, there is a synergistic effect between the catalyst and 2-cyanopyridine that the former has higher activation ability for glycerol and the latter acts not only as a dehydrant, but also as a promoter for CO2 activation. Recycling experiments reveal that this catalyst can be reused at least five cycles without any inactivation. Based on the experiment results and FTIR characterization, a possible reaction mechanism for the carbonylation of glycerol and CO2 is proposed.

Lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death in the world. In addition to smoking, estrogen is supposed to play an important role in the lung cancer development because women have a higher proportion of adenocarcinoma than men. In the environment, there are many metabolites and wastes that mimic human estrogen structurally and functionally. As an oral contraceptive, 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is released to wastewater after being utilized. Moreover, 4-nonylphenol (NP) exiting in the petrochemical products and air pollutants has estrogenic activity. In our study, 17β-estradiol (E2), EE2, and NP are administered to stimulate A549 male lung adenocarcinoma cells and H1435 female lung adenocarcinoma cells. The results demonstrate that EE2 and NP stimulate A549 and H1435 cells proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent trend. Both estrogen receptor α and β are activated simultaneously during these processes. Up-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ERK expression is involved in response to estrogens. In conclusion, we first time report that EE2 and NP exert biotoxic effect to stimulate the proliferation of both male and female lung cancer cells in a dose- and time- response manner. New challenges from environmental hormones to lung cancer deserved further investigation.

Water electrolysis is a highly efficient route to produce ideally clean H2 fuel with excellent energy conversion efficiency and high gravimetric energy density, without producing carbon trace unlike steam methane reforming, and resolves the issues of environmental contamination via replacing the conventional fossil fuel. Of special importance lies in the advancement of highly effective non-precious catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The electrocatalytic activity of an active catalyst mainly depends on the material conductivity, accessible catalytically active sites, and intrinsic OER reaction kinetics, which can be tuned via introducing heteroatom N in the catalyst stricture. Herein, an efficacious nitrogenation of CuS has been accomplished, which was synthesized using hydrothermal procedure, and characterized for their electrocatalytic activity towards OER. The nitrogen-doped CuO@CuS (N,CuO@CuS) electrocatalyst exhibits superior OER activity than pristine CuS (268 and 602 mV), achieving the low overpotential of 240 and 392 mV at a current density of 10 and 100 mA/cm2, respectively, ascribed to the favorable electronic structural modification triggered by nitrogen incorporation. The N,CuO@CuS also exhibits excellent endurance under varied current rates and a static potential response over 25 h stability measured at 10 and 100 mA/cm2.

The involved components of formulated blending, CNF and CuO NPs, were individually obtained by using a biorefinery strategy for agricultural waste valorization together with an optimized chemical precipitation, assisted by ultrasounds. The optimization of synthesis parameters for CuO NPs have avoided the presence of undesirable species which usually requires of later thermal treatment with associated costs. The aerogels-based structure, obtained by conventional freeze-drying, acted as 3D support for CuO NPs providing a good dispersion within the cross-linked structure of the nanocellulose and facilitating direct contact of the antibacterial phase against undesirable microorganisms. All samples showed a positive response against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. An increase of the antibacterial response of the aerogels, measured by agar disk diffusion test, has been observed with the increase of CuO NPs incorporated, obtaining width of the antimicrobial “halo” (nwhalo) from 0 to 0.6 and 0.35 for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Furthermore, the aerogels have been able to deactivate S. aureus and E. coli in less than 5 hours when the antibacterial assays have been analyzed by broth dilution method. From CNF-50CuO samples, an overlap nanoparticles effect produced a decrease of the antimicrobial kinetic.

Two important types of metal oxide nanoparticle catalysts Copper (II) oxide (CuO) and Cerium oxide (CeO₂) are prepared by a suitable method which was traditional precipitation (PT) method at calcination temperature of 400^oC for 5h and used for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate GC (C₄H₆O₄) from the direct reaction by the carbonylation of Glycerol GL (C₃H₈O₃) with Carbone Dioxide. The precipitation (PT) was an important route for the preparation of nanoparticles catalyst. The effects of performance of (CuO and CeO₂) nanoparticle catalysts on the conversion of glycerol GL, yield of glycerol carbonate GC, selectivity of glycerol carbonate are researched. XRD, XPS, BET, FT-IR, CO₂-TPD, H₂-TPR are used for the characterization of the prepared catalysts. Comparing the optimal performance between them under reaction conditions were 150 ^oC, 4MPa (40 bar.), 5h, and both CuO and CeO₂ catalyst amount 37.6 % (based on ratio of glycerol weight) by using 2-pyridinecarbonitrate (C₆H₄N₂) as dehydrating agent and dimethylformamide (DMF), (C₃H₇NO) as solvent. The glycerol conversion (X_GL), glycerol carbonate yield (Y_GC) and glycerol carbonate selectivity (S_GC) over 0.7g CuO are 57.151%, 47.524%, and 83.156%, respectively, and glycerol carbonate yield over 0.7 CeO₂ is 36.2185% or 35.076%, and the yield of GC could reach as high as 78.234% over 1.73g CeO₂, the both catalysts could be easily regenerated by washing with methanol and water after a reaction and then dried at 60 ^oC overnight after that calcination at 400 ^oC for 5h without loss of activity after five recycling times, In addition to, the (ICP- MS) results confirmed that the leaching of CuO and CeO₂ was below the detection limit.

The optical characteristics and electrical behavior of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO-NR) and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) were investigated using advanced scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The study revealed that the ZnO nanorods have a length of about 350 nm, while the Ag nanoparticles are spherical with heights ranging from 5 to 14 nm. Measurements with Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) showed that the work functions of ZnO nanorods are approximately 4.55 eV, higher than that of bulk ZnO, and the work function of Ag nanoparticles ranges from 4.54 to 4.56 eV. The electrical characterization of ZnO nanorods, silver nanoparticles, and their hybrid was also conducted using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) to determine the local current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, which revealed a characteristic similar to that of a Schottky diode. The current-voltage characteristic curves of ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles both show an increase in current at around 1V, and the hybrid ZnONRs/AgNP exhibits an increase in turn-on voltage at around 2.5 Volts. This suggests that the presence of Ag nanoparticles enhances the electrical properties of ZnO nanorods, improving charge carrier mobility and conduction mechanisms through a Schottky junction. The investigation also explored the optical properties of ZnO-NR, AgNP, and their hybrid, revealing absorption bands at 3.11 eV and 3.18 eV for ZnO-NR and AgNP, respectively. The hybrid material showed absorption at 3.13 eV, indicating enhanced absorption, and the presence of AgNP affected the optical properties of ZnO-NR, resulting in increased photoluminescence intensity and slightly changes in peak positions.

We successfully fabricated Ag@Cu2O core-shell decorated on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites (ACRN) by a simple and convenient in situ substitution method. The properties of these ACRN with heterostructure layers were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopies and absorption spectroscopy. We used p-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a probe molecule to determine the chemical catalytic activity of the ACRN. Upon introduction of rGO, a high electron transfer efficiency was achieved; thus, the catalytic activity was improved significantly. Therefore, the ACRN exhibited significantly improved catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP and showed the high application value in the removal of toxic and harmful substances from water. In addition, the fabricated ACRN was used for the reduction of organic dyes and explosive pollutants to generate nontoxic products. Furthermore, the high charge redistribution and transfer among Ag, Cu2O and rGO in the ACRN induced the high catalytic reduction of organic pollutants, indicating the excellent potential of these materials for applications in water pollution treatment.

CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst is a commonly used catalyst for rea methanol steam reforming reaction. Oxalic acid was as precipitant in preparing oxalate precursor of CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst by co-precipitation, deionized water and ethanol were as solvents, microwave irradiation and water bath were as aging heating manner respectively. It indicated that ethanol selected crystal phase composition of oxalate precursors and restricted their growth. Microwave irradiation prompted the isomorphous substitution between Cu2+ of CuC2O4 and Zn2+ of ZnC2O4 in mother liquid, forming the master phase (Cu,Zn)C2O4 in precursor, the solid solution Cu-O-Zn formed after calcination, which exhibited nano-fibriform morphology. It possessed small CuO grains, large surface area and strong synergy between CuO and ZnO, which is beneficial to improve the catalytic performance of methanol steam reforming, the STY of H2 reached 516.7 mL·g-1·h-1, and the selectivity of CO was only 0.29%.

Different materials prepared by appropriate synthesis methods and applying different post syn-thesis processes could be used as hole transport layer in perovskite solar cells. In the present work annealing was employed to enhance physical properties of copper oxide (CuO) thin films fabricated via spin coating technique and the effects of annealing on their optical, morphological, electrical and structural properties were investigated. The XRD findings revealed the polycrystalline structure with large crystallite size. Optical spectra showed larger transmission beyond the visible region, reduced absorption, and a decrease in bandgap energy from 1.93 eV to 1.81 eV. The Ag phonon modes at 299.22 and 304 cm-1 shown by the Raman shift confirmed the development of the CuO pure phase. FTIR spectra showed the Cu-O stretching band at 759, 764 and 446 cm−1. SEM revealed the agglomeration of nano crystallites with large grains on the surface. The carrier type conductivity of annealed CuO thin films was determined via two-point hot probe technique. Low resistivity values were determined via four-point probe method. These findings indicate that CuO thin films may be successfully used as a companion with an n-type layer in p-n junction solar cells, and a hole transport layer in perovskite solar cells.

New advances in creating effective and affordable copper-based catalysts for water splitting represent a promising strategy for driving sustainable energy technologies. However, ma- terials containing copper are susceptible to corrosion and agglomeration. In this study, we describe a synthesis route to produce olamine-functionalized CuO nanoparticles using the Hot Injection method. Nanoparticles were obtained and subsequently deposited on FTO substrates, undergoing thermal treatment at 500°C and 600°C in atmospheres containing O2 and N2, aiming to enhance the adhesion of the active material to the substrate and modify its oxidation state. Microstructural properties were analyzed using XRD, SEM, and TEM, while electrochemical properties were studied using CV, LSV, and EIS. Electrodes treated thermally in an N2 atmosphere at 600°C exhibited higher ESCA, indicating a greater area of active sites exposed to surface reactions and, therefore, superior catalytic activity in Hy- drogen Evolution Reaction (HER). These findings show an interesting strategy for avoiding rapid electron-hole recombination and, consequently, CuO corrosion. For Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), samples treated thermally in O2 atmosphere at 500°C and 600°C appear to be more effective.

The ultimate objective of this research work is to design a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for efficient detection of ascorbic acid (AA), a vital antioxidant found in blood serum that may serve as a biomarker for oxidative stress. To achieve this, we utilized a novel Yb2O3.CuO@rGO nanocomposite (NC) as the active material to modify the glassy carbon working electrode (GCE). The structural properties and morphological characteristics of the Yb2O3.CuO@rGO NC were investigated using various techniques to ensure their suitability for the sensor. The resulting sensor electrode was able to detect a broad range of AA concentrations (0.5 - 1571 µM) in neutral phosphate buffer solution with a high sensitivity of 0.4341 µAµM-1cm-2 and a reasonable detection limit of 0.062 µM. The sensor's great sensitivity and selectivity allowed it to accurately determine the levels of AA in human blood serum and commercial vitamin C tablets. It demonstrated high levels of reproducibility, repeatability, and stability, making it a reliable and robust sensor for the measurement of AA at low overpotential. Overall, the Yb2O3.CuO@rGO/GCE sensor showed great potential in detecting AA from real samples.

High purity TiO2 and CuO powders were synthesized by the Pechini method, an inexpensive and easy-to-implement procedure to synthetize metal oxides. The variables of synthesis were the ethylene glycol:citric acid molar ratio and the pH. High reproducibility of the anatase and tenorite phase was obtained for all synthesis routes. The degree of purity of the powders was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, UV-vis absorption and XPS spectra. SEM and TEM images revealed the powders are composed by micrometer grains that can have a spherical shape (only in the TiO2) or formed by a non-compacted nanocrystalline conglomerate. FTIR spectra only vibrational modes associated to the TiO2 or CuO with a nanoparticle behavior. UV-vis absorption spectra revealed the values of maximum absorbance percentage of both systems are reached in the ultraviolet region, with percentages above 83 % throughout the entire visible light spectrum for the CuO system, a relevant result for solar cell applications. Finally, XPS experiments allow the observation of the valence bands and the calculation of the energy bands of all oxides.

Oxide semiconductors are conventionally being used as sensing materials in gas sensors, limiting the detection of gases at room temperature (RT). In this work, a hybrid of copper oxide (CuO) with functionalized graphene (rGO) is proposed to achieve gas sensing at RT. The combination of high surface area and presence of many functional groups in CuO/rGO hybrid material makes it highly sensitive for gas absorption and desorption. To prepare the hybrid material, a copper oxide suspension synthesized using copper acetate precursor is added to the graphene oxide solution during its reduction using ascorbic acid. Material properties of CuO/rGO hybrid and its drop-casted thin films are investigated using Raman, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and four-point probe measurement systems. We find that the hybrid material is enriched with oxygen functional groups (OFGs) and defective sites along with electrical conductivity (~1.5 kΩ/□). The fabricated QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) sensor with a thin layer of CuO/rGO hybrid, demonstrates a high sensing response which is twice the response of the rGO-based sensor for CO₂ gas at RT. We believe that the CuO/rGO hybrid can be highly suitable for existing and future gas sensors used for domestic and industrial safety.

Cervi cornu has been extensively used in traditional medicine as an antioxidant and for the treatment of various disorders, including osteoporosis. However, since it is not easy to separate the active ingredient, absorption is not performed well. In this study, we extracted the low molecular weight (843Da) collagen NP-2007 from cervi cornu by enzyme hydrolyzation, and evaluated the therapeutic effect in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rat osteoarthritis model, and identified their molecular mechanisms. NP-2007 was orally administered at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 21 d. Efficacy was evaluated based on serum parameters, inflammatory mediators, and mor-phological and histopathological analyses of knee joints. Production of matrix metalloproteinases, including MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9, in the serum was higher in MIA-treated rats; however, these levels decreased after NP-2007 treatment. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 were lower in the NP-2007 group than in the MIA group. Furthermore, the administration of NP-2007 resulted in effective preservation of both the synovial membrane and knee cartilage, and significantly decreased the transformation of fibrous tissue. This study indicates that NP-2007 can prevent and alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis and have applications as a novel arthritis treatment.

Consider a robot that is navigating in a space modeled by a graph, and that wants to know its current location. It can send a signal to determine how far it is from each landmark among a set of fixed landmarks. We study the problem of computing the minimum required number of landmarks, and where they should be placed so that the robot can always determine its location. Since the problem is an NP-complete problem, the robot's responses to the actions are slow. To accelerate this response, we can use the parallel version of this problem. In this work, we introduce a new parallel implementation for determining the metric dimension of a given graph. We run the proposed algorithm on a symmetric multi-processing (SMP) cluster using C programming language and the Message Passing Interface (MPI) library. Finally, we run our implementation on four categories of graphs (the tracks in which the robot moves): a cycle graph Cn, a path graph Pn, a triangular snake graph and a ladder graph Ln. Preliminary computational results indicate that the metric dimension problem is an NP-complete problem and prove the ability of the proposed algorithm to achieve a speedup of 6 for 8 processors.

As the demand for high-frequency and high-power electronic devices has increased, gallium nitride (GaN), particularly in the context of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), has attracted considerable attention. However, the ‘self-heating effect' of GaN HEMTs represents a significant limitation in terms of both performance and reliability. Diamond, renowned for its exceptional thermal conductivity, represents an optimal material for the enhancement of thermal management in HEMTs. This paper puts forward a novel method for directly depositing diamond films onto N-polar GaN (NP-GaN) epitaxial layers. This eliminates the complexities of the traditional diamond growth process and the need for temporary substrate steps. Given the relative lag in N-polar material growth technologies, which are marked by surface roughness issues, and the recognition that the thermal boundary resistance (TBRGaN/diamond) represents a critical factor constraining efficient heat transfer, our study introduced a series of optimisations with the objective of enhancing the quality of the diamond nucleation layer while ensuring that the integrity of the GaN buffer layer remains intact. Moreover, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technology was employed to effectively reduce the surface roughness of the NP-GaN base, thereby providing a more favourable foundation for diamond growth. The optimisation trends observed in the thermal performance test results were encouraging. The integration of diamond films onto highly smooth NP-GaN epitaxial layers demonstrated a reduction in TBRGaN/Diamond compared to diamond layers deposited onto NP-GaN with higher surface roughness that had undergone no prior process treatment.

This article introduces a novel three-phase angular perturbation technique for solving the School Bus Problem (SBP), an NP-hard combinatorial optimization challenge. The three phases—initial solution, global and local search, and solution exploration—focus on optimizing school bus routes by minimizing sharp turns and reducing travel distances. The performance of three metaheuristic algorithms (GAACOSA-AP, BFSPSO-AP, RL-AP) is evaluated, and significant improvements in routing efficiency are observed. we evaluated the performance of our hybrid algorithm against the industry-leading optimization software, CPLEX, and other optimization techniques across multiple school scenarios. The results show that the GAACOSA-AP algorithm consistently outperforms its counterparts, achieving substantial reductions in travel distances, particularly for complex routes with numerous stops. The integration of Angular Perturbation was key to improving route geometry by, reducing sharp turns, and enhancing overall path optimization by an average reduction of 27.12% compared to 22.37% without Angular Perturbation.

In this paper, the P versus NP problem is studied based on a six-dimensional space-time perspective. The gap between the P-class and NP-class arises from the relationship between time and the solution, as well as the answer that is independent of time. The complexity of solving a problem depends on the time dependence of the answer. Solving problems whose answers do not depend on the passage of time is very difficult and impossible. Like the description of the gravitational factor in Newtonian physics, NP class problems require different mathematical tools. Based on the generalization of physical facts in mathematics, based on six-dimensional space-time, a method to solve problem P versus NP problem has been stated. The results of this study offer a fresh insight into information processing that occurs independent of the passage of time.

Graph coloring is a manifestation of graph partitioning, wherein, a graph is partitioned based on the adjacency of its elements. Partitioning serves potentially as a compartmentalization for any structural problem. Vertex coloring is the heart of the problem which is to find the chromatic number of a graph. The fact that there is no general efficient solution to this problem that may work unequivocally for all graphs opens up the realistic scope for combinatorial optimization algorithms to be invoked. The algorithmic complexity of graph coloring is non-deterministic in polynomial time (NP) and hard. To the best of our knowledge, there is no algorithm as yet that procures an exact solution of the chromatic number comprehensively for any and all graphs within the polynomial (P) time domain. However, several heuristics as well as some approximation algorithms have been attempted to obtain an approximate solution for the same. Here, we present a novel heuristic, namely, the 'trailing path', which returns an approximate solution of the chromatic number within polynomial time, and, with a better accuracy than most existing algorithms. The ‘trailing path’ algorithm is effectively a subtle combination of the search patterns of two existing heuristics (DSATUR and Largest First), and, operates along a trailing path of consecutively connected nodes (and thereby effectively maps to the problem of finding spanning tree(s) of the graph) during the entire course of coloring, where essentially lies both the novelty and the apt of the current approach. The study also suggests that the judicious implementation of randomness is one of the keys towards rendering an improved accuracy in such combinatorial optimization algorithms. Apart from the algorithmic attributes, essential properties of graph partitioning in random and different structured networks have also been surveyed, followed by a comparative study. The study reveals the remarkable stability and absorptive property of chromatic number across a wide array of graphs. Finally, a case study is presented to demonstrate the potential use of graph coloring in protein design – yet another hard problem in structural and evolutionary biology.

A super-porous hybrid platform can offer significantly increased number of reaction sites for the analytes and thus can offer advantages in the biosensor applications. In this work, a significantly improved sensitivity and selectivity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) cancer sensor is demonstrated by a super-porous hybrid CuO/Pt NP platform. The super-porous hybrid platform is fabricated by a physiochemical approach combining the physical vapor deposition of Pt NPs and electrochemical deposition of super-porous CuO structures by adopting a dynamic hydrogen bubble technique. Under an optimized condition, the hybrid CuO/Pt biosensor demonstrates a very high sensitivity of 2,205 µA/mM∙cm2 and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 140 nM with a wide range of H2O2 detection. This is meaningfully improved performance as compared to the CuO-based H2O2 sensors as well as to the previously reported metal oxide based H2O2 sensors. The hybrid CuO/Pt platform exhibits excellent selectivity against other interfering molecules such as glucose, fructose, dopamine, and ascorbic acid. Due to the synergetic effect of highly porous CuO structures and underlying Pt NPs, the CuO/Pt architecture offers extremely abundant active sites for the H2O2 reduction and electron transfer pathways.

Using assembly theory, we investigate the assembly pathways of binary strings of length N formed by joining bits present in the assembly pool and the strings that entered the pool as a result of previous joining operations. We show that the string assembly index is bounded from below by the shortest addition chain for N, and we conjecture about the form of the upper bound. We define the degree of causation for the minimum assembly index and show that for certain N it features regularities that can be used to determine a shortest addition chain. We show that a string with the smallest assembly index for N can be assembled by a binary program of length equal to this index if the length of this string is expressible as a product of Fibonacci numbers. We conjecture that there is no binary program that has a length shorter than the length of the string having the largest assembly index for N that could assemble this string. The results confirm that four Planck areas provide a minimum information capacity that corresponds to a minimum thermodynamic (Bekenstein-Hawking) entropy. Knowing that the problem of determining the assembly index is at least NP-complete, we conjecture that this problem is NP-complete, while the problem of creating the string so that it would have a predetermined largest assembly index is NP-hard. The proof of this conjecture would imply P ≠ NP, since every computable problem and every computable solution can be encoded as a finite binary string.

We developed a sensor optimized for joint motion monitoring by exploring the effects of stitch pattern, yarn thickness, and NP number on the performance of knitted strain sensors. We conducted stretching experiments with basic weft-knit patterns to select the optimal stitch pattern and analyze its sensitivity and reproducibility. The plain stitch with a conductive yarn located on the reverse side exhibited the highest gauge factor value (143.68) and achieved excellent performance, with a stable change in resistance even after repeated sensing. For in-depth analysis, we developed six sensors using the aforementioned pattern with different combinations of yarn thickness (1-ply, 2-ply) and NP number (12, 13, 14). Based on bending experiments, the GF across all sensors was 60.2–1092, indicating noticeable differences in sensitivity. However, no significant differences were observed in reproducibility, reliability, and responsiveness, confirming that all the sensors are capable of joint motion monitoring. Therefore, the plain-patterned plating stitch structure with conductive yarn on the reverse side is optimal for joint motion monitoring, and the yarn thickness and NP numbers can be adjusted to suit different purposes. This study provides basic data for developing knitted strain sensors and offers insights into how knitting methods impact sensor performance.

The independent set, IS, on a graph $G=(V,E)$ is $V^{*}\subseteq V$ such that no two vertices in $V^{*}$ have an edge between them. The MIS problem on G seeks to identify an IS with maximum cardinality, i.e. MIS. $V^{*}\subseteq V$ is a vertex cover, i.e. VC of $G=(V,E)$ if every $e\in E$ is incident upon at least one vertex in $V^{*}$ . $V^{*}\subseteq V$ is dominating set, DS, of $G=(V,E)$ if $\forall v\in V$ either $v\in V^{*}$ or $\exists u\in V^{*}$ and $(u,v)\in E$ . The MVC problem on G seeks to identify a vertex cover with minimum cardinality, i.e. MVC. Likewise, MCV seeks a connected vertex cover, i.e. VC which forms one component in G, with minimum cardinality, i.e. MCV. A connected DS, CDS, is a DS that forms a connected component in G. The problems MDS and MCD seek to identify a DS and a connected DS i.e. CDS respectively with minimum cardinalities. MIS, MVC, MDS, MCV and MCD on a general graph are known to be NP-complete. Polynomial time algorithms are known for bipartite graphs, chordal graphs, cycle graphs, comparability graphs, claw-free graphs, interval graphs and circular arc graphs for some of these problems. We introduce a novel graph class, layered graph, where each layer refers to a subgraph containing at most some k vertices. Inter layer edges are restricted to the vertices in adjacent layers. We show that if $k=\Theta (log\mid V\mid )$ then MIS, MVC and MDS can be computed in polynomial time and if $k=O\left({(log\mid V\mid )}^{\alpha }\right)$ , where $\alpha <1$ , then MCV and MCD can be computed in polynomial time. If $k=\Theta \left({(log\mid V\mid )}^{1+ϵ}\right)$ , for $ϵ>0$ , then MIS, MVC and MDS require quasi-polynomial time. If $k=\Theta (log\mid V\mid )$ then MCV, MCD require quasi-polynomial time. Layered graphs do have constraints such as bipartiteness, planarity and acyclicity.

The RSA cryptosystem has long been a fundamental component of contemporary public key in- frastructure. However, recent developments in quantum computing and mathematical theory have introduced signicant challenges to its security. A fully operational quantum computer would allow for the application of Shor's algorithm, enabling the ecient factoring of large integers, thereby com- promising the integrity of RSA and other cryptographic methods dependent on discrete logarithms. Although Grover's algorithm poses a comparatively smaller threat to symmetric encryption systems, it still presents a vulnerability by accelerating key search processes. The looming threat from quan- tum technologies has driven a surge in research aimed at developing quantum-resistant cryptography. These eorts focus on cryptographic techniques grounded in error-correcting codes, lattice structures, and multivariate public key systems, all of which leverage the complexity of NP-hard problemssuch as solving multivariate quadratic equationsto preserve security in a post-quantum world. This pa- per reviews the current progress in quantum-resistant encryption methods, particularly emphasizing the role of robust trapdoor functions. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive analysis of critical multivariate cryptosystem frameworks, such as Matsumoto-Imai, Oil and Vinegar, and Polly Cracker schemes. It also examines advances in lattice-based systems like Kyber and Crystals-Dilithium, which are undergoing assessment by NIST for potential standardization. As quantum computing continues to evolve, the demand for cutting-edge cryptographic solutions to safeguard digital communications grows increasingly pressing.

This paper examines the correlation between numbers of computer cores in parallel genetic algorithms. The objective to determine the linear polynomial complementary equation in order represent the relation between number of parallel processing and optimum solutions. Model this relation as optimization function (f(x)) which able to produce many simulation results. F(x) performance is outperform genetic algorithms. Compression results between genetic algorithm and optimization function is done. Also the optimization function give model to speed up genetic algorithm. Optimization function is a complementary transformation which maps a TSP given to linear without changing the roots of the polynomials.

Background. Escalating global plastic production, expected to reach 34,000 million tons by 2050, poses a significant threat to human and environmental well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP), which originate from the degradation of plastics, are of concern due to their potential bioaccumulation and uptake of pollutants. This study addresses identification methods and focuses on insect meal, a raw material for aquaculture feed. Methods. By using different techniques, the study was able to detect MP and NP in insect meal samples. Chemical digestion with KOH at 60°C efficiently removed organic matter without affecting the synthetic polymer polyethylene (PE). Filtration, confocal Raman microscopy, SEM and TEM were used for comprehensive analysis and integrity tests on PE films were performed using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed the presence of PE microplastic particles in the insect meal, which was confirmed by correlative Raman and SEM mapping on a positively charged surface. In addition, the increased resolution of the Raman microscope identified submicrometric PE NP (800 nm). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed plastic-like structures in the insect meal, highlighting the presence of PE plastics characterized by irregular shapes and some agglomeration. The higher carbon concentration in the EDX analysis supported the plastic nature, which was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Conclusions. The study provides a robust method for the detection of MP and NP in insect meal and provides valuable insight into the possible presence of plastics in insect-based aquafeeds. The combination of different analytical methods increases the reliability of the results and sets the stage for future investigations that could focus on the quantification of NP and the assessment of their potential environmental impact.

Traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT), a clinical cancer therapeutic approach using light in killing cancer cells, is often limited by insufficient light penetration, inefficient photosensitizer energy transfer, and inadequate oxygen in hypoxic tumors. Employing X-ray to activate photosensitizer in PDT can potentially overcome these limitations. Here, we compared protocols to synthesize a novel nano-photosensitizer composed of a europium-doped yttrium oxide core with a silica shell (Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂) which can be utilized in such therapeutic method, i.e., X-ray activated PDT (XPDT). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dihydroethidium (DHE) were utilized to evaluate the effects of various synthesis conditions on the characteristics of Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ and their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The in vivo tumor suppression effects of the Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ were assessed by ¹⁸F-fluorothymidine position emission tomography (¹⁸F-FLT PET) in human ovarian cancer xenografts using radiation sensitive CAOV3 and radiation resistant SKOV3 cell lines. Our data revealed a positive correlation between nanoparticle condensation time and core size as well as a negative correlation between urea concentrations and core size. Addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) during core synthesis enhanced particle dispersion. Two silica coating conditions showed the greatest efficiency in the enhancement of ROS generation. Furthermore, our in vivo study revealed suppression of tumor growth by Y₂O₃:Eu@SiO₂ administration when compared to non-treated control. Silica shell provides flexibility to conjugate moieties that specifically target to cancers. This nano-photosensitizer demonstrates the significant promise for overcoming limitations of conventional PDT and combating various cancers in clinical applications.