Browse Articles

Electrothermal discharge by exploding of copper wires with different diameters

Abstract This paper explores the explosion behavior of copper wires with diameters between 0.16 mm and 0.50 mm, using an electrothermal discharge system comprising capacitors of total energy up to 1.11 kJ. To improve accuracy, this study incorporates the effects of thermal expansion, resistivity, specific heat capacity, and phase transformation. The variations of the different electrical properties of the copper wires were calculated as a function of the discharge time, wire temperature, and wire diameter. The temperature profile for copper was based on the melting point (1357 K) and boiling point (2835 K). The Shomate equation was used to calculate the specific heat capacity of the copper wires as a function of temperature; while the wire resistivity was determined using a fitting equation based on previous published data. The results indicate that the time needed for wire explosion decreases for the higher charging voltage, while it increases with larger wire diameter. The thermal expansion shows a 9.95% increase in length and a 19.9% increase in cross sectional area. Additionally, as the discharge occurs, the wire temperature rises, causing an increase in both of the specific heat and the wire resistivity. Furthermore, the specific action integral converges to a constant value of approximately 2.1 × 10 9 A 2  s/cm 4 for all diameters.

Large driftwood accumulations along arctic coastlines and rivers

Abstract Driftwood deposits along Arctic coastlines play key ecological roles and serve as indicators of past environmental conditions. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge regarding large-scale distribution patterns, which are important to assess its ecological and geomorphic impacts and carbon stocks. Here, we present a systematic mapping of Arctic driftwood in the North American low Arctic using PlanetScope nano-satellite imagery. We identify 19,717 driftwood deposits covering 22,960,000 m2 . Driftwood accumulates in clusters near major river deltas, strongly correlating with boreal forest cover within river catchments. Accumulation declines sharply beyond 200 km from river mouths, challenging current narratives of predominantly long-range redistribution. We compare the performance of driftwood-mapping using PlanetScope imagery with sub-metre aerial imagery. Our method underestimates the total driftwood area by 23.18% but captures large deposits with high accuracy (-4.28% bias). Our assessment highlights the abundance of driftwood on Arctic coastlines and forms a baseline for exploring its temporal variability across large regions, its role in coastal erosion mitigation, and its importance as a carbon sink.

Sequential factor delivery enables efficient workflow for universal gene editing in clinical grade iPS cells

An applied study to improve Le-Conte pear productivity and quality using potassium humate with hydrogen peroxide or irradiated licorice extract

Abstract Pears are popular among fruits around the world, but their production faces many challenges, the most important of which is fire blight, which affects productivity and tree quality. Foliar application of organic fertilizers and natural substances could maintain productivity and fruit quality. This study was conducted on fifteen-year-old Le-Conte pear trees to evaluate the feasibility of foliar application of potassium humate, hydrogen peroxide, and gamma-irradiated licorice extract to improve yield, quality, and control fire blight. Data revealed that all individual foliar spray treatments significantly improved the fruit’s physical and chemical characteristics and yield, while the percentage of fire blight infected fruits significantly decreased compared to the control (no spray). Combined sprays improved the above-mentioned parameters more than sole application. Gamma-irradiated licorice gave a more superior effect in most cases, while hydrogen peroxide was more effective in combating the fire blight infection. Combination of high levels of potassium and licorice gave the highest increment in TSS (28.1%), vitamin C (66%), and total sugars (37.5%) with maximum reduction of acidity (64.8%) while high levels of potassium and hydrogen peroxide gave the highest yield (85.3%) and maximum reduction of fire-blighted fruits (83.7%). In conclusion, Le-Conte pear trees productivity and quality can be increased, while fire blight affected fruits can be decreased, by using a foliar spray of potassium humate with hydrogen peroxide or irradiated licorice extract.

earEOG via periauricular electrodes to facilitate eye tracking in a natural headphone form factor

Abstract Eye tracking technology is frequently utilized to diagnose eye and neurological disorders, assess sleep and fatigue, study human visual perception, and enable novel gaze-based interaction methods. However, traditional eye tracking methodologies are constrained by bespoke hardware that is often cumbersome to wear, complex to apply, and demands substantial computational resources. To overcome these limitations, we investigated the application of Electrooculography (EOG) eye tracking using 14 electrodes positioned around the ears, integrated into a custom-built headphone form factor device. In a controlled laboratory experiment, 16 participants tracked a series of on-screen stimuli designed to induce smooth pursuits and saccades. Data analysis identified the optimal electrode pairs for tracking vertical and horizontal eye movements, benchmarked against gold-standard EOG and camera-based eye tracking. The electrode montage closest to the eyes provided the best results for horizontal eye movements. One-dimensional smooth pursuit eye movements measured via earEOG exhibited a high correlation with the gold-standard for horizontal 1D pursuits spanning $$2.5^{\circ }$$ to $$15^{\circ }$$ visual angle for the best performing electrode pair ( $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{EOG}} = 0.81, {\textrm{p}}=0.01$$ ; $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{CAM}} = 0.56, {\textrm{p}}=0.02$$ ). Vertical 1D smooth pursuits were only weakly correlated for the best performing pair ( $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{EOG}} = 0.32, {\textrm{p}}=0.03$$ ; $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{CAM}} = 0.31, {\textrm{p}}=0.05$$ ). Voltage deflections of earEOG and gold-standard EOG for saccades from $$2.5^{\circ }$$ to $$15^{\circ }$$ in the four cardinal directions are highly correlated for horizontal eye movement ( $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{left}} = 0.99, {\textrm{p}}<0.001$$ ; $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{right}} = 1.0, p<0.001$$ ) but not for vertical eye movements ( $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{up}} = 0.79, {\textrm{p}}=0.06$$ ; $${\textrm{r}}_{\textrm{down}} = 0.35, {\textrm{p}}=0.53$$ ). A regression model was employed to predict absolute gaze angle changes of horizontal saccades using earEOG and gold-standard EOG. In the left and right directions, the earEOG model achieved a mean absolute angular error of $$3.99 ^\circ \pm 3.45 ^\circ$$ , for saccades ranging from $$2.5^{\circ }$$ to $$15^{\circ }$$ . In comparison, gold-standard EOG attained mean absolute angular error of $$2.98 ^\circ \pm 2.44 ^\circ$$ . Overall, horizontal earEOG demonstrated strong performance, indicating its potential effectiveness in our setup. On the other hand, vertical earEOG showed significantly poorer results, suggesting that it may not be feasible with our current configuration.

Characterization and optimization of biogenic copper nanoparticles synthesized by Pseudomonas putida with cytocompatibility investigation

Abstract One area of science that is experiencing rapid growth is nanotechnology. The goal of nanotechnology research is to develop novel, economical, safe, and effective methods for creating nanoparticles. This study presents a green, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using the bacterium Pseudomonas putida. The biosynthesis process was optimized by manipulating the growth medium with various carbon sources, resulting in Pp-CuNPs approximately 91.28 nm in diameter with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 550 nm. Characterization techniques as Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) and High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) confirmed the successful formation and stability of the nanoparticles, with a surface charge indicating good colloidal stability. Cytocompatibility assessments demonstrated high safety of Pp-CuNPs for lung Wi38 normal cell lines, supporting their potential applications in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental fields. The findings underscore the feasibility and advantages of microbial-mediated copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) production, as well as their promising biomedical and ecological applications.

Macrophage polarization is associated with postoperative seroma development in breast cancer in the SerMa pilot cohort

Abstract Seroma formation is a frequent complication following mastectomy in the surgical treatment of breast cancer with profound consequences for the patients including possibly quality of life impairing implant complications. The pathogenesis remains unknown, leading to a lack of efficient preventive and curative strategies. The study’s objective was to determine whether the macrophage infiltration of the tumor microenvironment and surrounding adipose tissue at the time of primary surgery is associated with postoperative seroma development. The observational monocentric SerMa pilot study was conducted from 12/2019 to 12/2022. We included 91 breast cancer and 9 carcinoma in situ cases treated with mastectomy at the University Hospital Augsburg, Germany. Patients with previous malignancies, metastatic disease and known immunodeficiency were excluded. The patients underwent different mastectomy procedures with or without implant- or expander-based breast reconstruction. The study’s main outcome was seroma formation up to six months post-surgery, determined by clinical examination and fine needle aspiration of the seroma fluid if clinically necessary. Macrophage markers (CD68 and CD163) were immunohistochemically determined in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded slides containing the primary tumor and surrounding adipose tissue. Two groups were then formed as independent variables: cases with (seroma +) and without postoperative seroma formation (seroma-). Since all parameters in this study were not normally distributed, the non-parametric Mann–Whitney-U-test was used. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. CD68 + cells (cases with seroma (seroma +): median = 90.7 cells, IQR = 62.5–130.5; cases without seroma (seroma-): median = 64.3 cells, IQR = 47.0–115-0, p = 0.036) and CD163 + cells (seroma + : median = 58.3 cells, IQR = 33.0–91.4; seroma-: median = 40.7 cells, IQR = 28.3–55.3, p = 0.027) in the tumor microenvironment and in the surrounding adipose tissue (CD68 + cells (seroma + : median = 8.0 cells, IQR = 5.3–11.0; seroma-: median = 4.7 cells, IQR = 3.0–10.0, p = 0.013), CD163 + cells (seroma + : median = 11.0 cells, IQR = 6.7–15.0; seroma-: median = 6.7 cells, IQR = 3.0–9.7, p = 0.016)) were significantly higher in cases with postoperative seroma formation compared to cases without. In the SerMa pilot study macrophage polarization within the primary tumor and surrounding adipose tissue was associated with post-operative seroma formation in breast cancer patients. This might be a suitable biomarker for predicting a higher risk of seroma formation.

Biocontrol potential of Saccharomyces as a sustainable approach targeting Spodoptera frugiperda

Staphyloxanthin loaded niosomal nanocarrier augments its anthelmintic activity against Trichinella spiralis infection in mice

Abstract Trichinellosis, a resurgent zoonotic infestation, threatens public health due to recorded human outbreaks in various nations. The emergence of treatment resistance necessitates the exploration of efficient natural alternatives. Staphyloxanthin (STX), a membrane-associated secondary metabolite carotenoid pigment, underscores pro-oxidative traits, positioning it as a novel therapeutic candidate. Nanostructures demonstrated encouraging promise in overcoming low oral bioavailability, which could undermine the efficacy. Hence, the therapeutic outcome of STX-loaded niosomes was scrutinized both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the prepared niosomal nanovesicles exhibited a spherical form in the nanoscale spectrum. Our in vitro findings demonstrated that STX markedly diminished larval viability, associated with excessive cuticular deformities, numerous notches, and membrane blebbing. The preclinical evaluation revealed that the oral delivery of STX-niosomes showed a superiority of therapeutic efficacy in mice compared to the reference drug. This was reflected by the eradicated adult worms, enhanced histopathological attributes, and reduced larval count. It is noteworthy that the biological findings revealed a significant reduction in the inflammatory expression of TNF-α surrounding trichina capsules. The relationship between STX and the parasite was elucidated, with the promising antiparasitic efficacy being further corroborated through in silico homology modelling and molecular docking approaches. The 3D-modelled target protein structures exhibited excellent quality factors and favourable Ramachandran plot statistics. Intriguingly, in silico docking results obviously revealed the potential affinity of STX to bind and block target protein receptors. In conclusion, our results suggested that STX pigment may serve as a promising pioneering alternative in the anthelmintic fight against trichinellosis.

Effects of high-fat and low-calcium diets on the structure of filiform and fungiform tongue papillae in rats

Abstract This study investigated how high-fat and calcium-deficient diets affect the tongue’s structure and function in Wistar albino rats. These diets can lead to obesity, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which alter salivary gland function, impair taste bud regeneration, and disrupt epithelial integrity partly through changes in β-catenin signaling. The research examined histological changes in e filiform and fungiform papillae and evaluated β-catenin expression in the tongue epithelium. Forty-five male Wistar rats albino rats were divided into three groups: control, high-fat diet (HFD), and low calcium diet (LCD). The feeding period lasted 12 weeks. Tongue tissues were collected for histological examination using H&E staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and β-catenin immunohistochemistry. Blood samples were analyzed for calcium, insulin, glucose, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Both high-fat and calcium-deficient diets led to significant weight gain, increased insulin levels, and disrupted lipid profiles in rats. The high-fat diet caused moderate damage to histological tongue structures and reduced β-catenin expression. In contrast, the calcium-deficient diet resulted in more severe epithelial damage, complete papillary atrophy, and a significant decrease in β-catenin expression (p < 0.001). Both high-fat and calcium-deficient diets adversely affect the filiform and fungiform structure and function, with calcium deficiency showing a more severe and direct impact through disruption of β-catenin signaling and epithelial integrity.

Effect of maternal COVID-19 vaccination on mandibular molars development in albino rats offspring

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal vaccination by coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine on the development of mandibular first molar of albino rats offspring. Pregnant female rats were divided into control and vaccinated groups injected intramuscularly by 0.035 mL of either saline or AstraZeneca vaccine, respectively. The offspring were examined through serology, histology, histomorphometric and PCR analysis. Vaccinated mothers and their offspring showed mean antibody concentrations of 92.57 AU/mL and 100 AU/mL, respectively. Histologically, both groups were nearly at the same stages of odontogenesis on the third and ninth postnatal days. Higher bone deposition was quantified in the vaccinated group on the third and ninth postnatal days except below the tooth germ on the third day with statistically significant difference (p value ≤ 0.05). Significant increases in expression of Receptor activator of nuclear factor ligand (RANKL) gene (3.53 fold) and bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) gene (4.76 fold) were noted on the ninth postnatal day. However, osteoprotegrin (OPG) gene was downregulated (0.40 fold) on the ninth postnatal day with statistically significant differences (p value ≤ 0.05) between both groups. We conclude that AstraZeneca vaccine administration during pregnancy is generally safe regarding the teeth development in the offspring.

Machine learning prediction models for mode of delivery in prolonged pregnancies in Sweden

Abstract Induction of labour and not “expectant management” is often recommended to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes in late-term pregnancies, but no prognostic prediction model exists for an individualized decision-making. The present study used a data-driven approach to predict mode of delivery at or beyond 41 gestational weeks considering the obstetric management. Low-risk nulliparous women were derived from the nationwide Swedish Medical Birth Register (1998–2019). A two-day-wise prediction in four study groups with increasing gestational age (e.g. group 1: induced at 41+0-41+1, expectant management beyond 41+1 gestational weeks) was conducted. Forty-three features available at the time for decision-making on labour induction in each subgroup were used in the models, including the decision on labour induction itself. The subgroups contained 178,932, 129,449, 90,448 and 61,301 pregnancies, respectively, with imbalanced outcome rates (cesarean delivery < 27%, spontaneous birth > 55%, vaginal operative delivery < 18%). Five different classifiers were compared (random forest, mixed naïve bayes, support vector machine, neural network, logistic regression) with the highest value of the area under the curve being 69% in a hold-out sample. Although the considered features lacked predictive power, the study provides valuable methodological information for predicting the timing of labour induction beyond 41 gestational weeks.

Effect of phenolic anchor groups on enzymatic polymerization of coniferyl alcohol at cellulosic interfaces

Abstract The chemical recalcitrance of lignin limits the industrial processing of biomass, which could be addressed by so-called designer lignins. Dehydrogenation polymers (DHPs) formed by artificial lignification of monolignols, enable studies on structure-property relationships independently of genetic information. Thin films of phenolic acid esters of cellulose were prepared and used for quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) experiments to investigate surface polymerization in real-time. The phenolic anchor groups significantly influenced lignification speed, deposited mass, and rigidity of resulting DHP layers. Linkage types in the lignin structure were quantified by HSQC NMR spectroscopy. Polymerization efficiency was increased in the order ferulate < p-coumarate < caffeate. Among the tested anchors, protocatechuate groups were excellently performing the reaction, while vanillate and p-hydroxybenzoate led to minimal deposition of DHPs. Lignification behavior could be correlated with radical stability of phenolic anchor groups and the formation of benzodioxane structures of caffeate moieties. The presence of caffeate units that undergo trapping reaction, prevents cross-linking of cell wall components and enhances digestibility. Moreover, the benzodioxane motif increased rigidity and linearity of lignin, which is advantageous for material science applications, e.g. for bio-based carbon fibers.

Correction: New insights into the role of the CHI3L2 protein in invasive ductal breast carcinoma

Serial recall in spatial acoustic environments: irrelevant sound effect and spatial source alternations

Abstract This study investigated serial recall performance in a complex acoustic scene that included spatialised background sounds and location changes within the target sequence to reflect real-life challenges. The focus is on two effects: the irrelevant sound effect (ISE) and the spatial-source alternation effect (SSAE). Both represent impairment in short-term memory performance of to-be-remembered items: the ISE due to irrelevant background sounds, and the SSAE due to location changes within the target sequence. Although distinct, these effects typically occur together in real-world settings, e.g., listening to multiple speakers in noise, but have not been investigated together yet. Building on the theoretical frameworks of these two effects, this study combines principles from both the irrelevant sound effect (ISE) and the spatial-source alternation effect (SSAE) as a step towards enhancing acoustic complexity in established cognitive tasks. Experiment 1 examined auditory-verbal serial recall using spatially alternating target digits presented at a typical rate (1 item/1 s), with either meaningful or meaningless background speech. Results showed an ISE, with meaningful speech causing greater disruption, but no SSAE - possibly due to either the presentation rate or the spatialised audio scene. To further clarify this, Experiment 2 was conducted with a faster presentation rate (1 item/350 ms) consistent with a previous study, and more spatial target locations (monotic, $$\pm 10^{\circ }, \pm 45^{\circ }, \pm 60^{\circ }, \pm 90^{\circ }$$ ). An SSAE was revealed for all locations. These findings suggest that the SSAE may mainly be modulated by the presentation rate—given the spatial separation is audible and only emergent at rapid location changes—questioning its applicability to naturalistic listening scenarios. As an attempt to bridge the gap between controlled laboratory settings and more complex listening tasks, these findings help explain how cognitive systems manage competing demands in real-world auditory environments, such as separating speech streams in noise.

Transcriptome analysis identifies genes regulating self-compatibility, flowering time, and oil biosynthesis in Noug (Guizotia abyssinica)

Abstract Noug (Guizotia abyssinica) is an economically important oilseed crop in Ethiopia that contributes significantly to local edible oil production and is a good protein source in animal feed. Despite its agronomic importance, the molecular basis of key agronomic traits, such as self-compatibility, photoperiod sensitivity, and oil biosynthesis, remains poorly understood due to the limited availability of genomic resources. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted extensive transcriptome profiling of 30 phenotypically diverse noug genotypes through RNA sequencing and de novo assembly. Our analysis generated 409,309 unigenes with an N50 of 584 bp, representing an extensive transcriptomic resource currently available for this crop. A total of 2,547 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, among which 409 were particularly associated with fatty acid metabolism pathways. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed significant enrichment in lipid metabolism, stress response, and floral development pathways. Notably, many transcription factor families, such as bHLH, MYB, and WRKY, were differentially expressed between early- and late-flowering genotypes and high- and low-oil varieties, suggesting their regulatory roles in these traits. Transcriptome assembly revealed 58,852 putative transcription factors distributed in 51 families. This study provides fundamental genomic resources for marker-assisted breeding to improve productivity, oil quality, and stress resistance. The identified candidate genes present new opportunities for this underutilized yet agronomically valuable crop through modern biotechnological approaches.

Improved fault-clearing strategy for large renewable energy systems using advanced optimization and FLC

Synthesis of highly fluorescent green carbon quantum dots from Prunus armeniaca for the determination of lisinopril in human plasma

Abstract The environmentally friendly synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using natural precursors is garnering considerable interest. Nonetheless, questions may arise concerning the properties and efficacy of CQDs obtained from identical natural sources when originating from different geographical or botanical contexts. In this study, juice extracted from Prunus armeniaca (apricots) was employed as a natural precursor to produce N@CQDs using a one-step microwave-assisted technique. The photoluminescent properties of the synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N@CQDs) demonstrated significant superiority over previously reported quantum dots, achieved through a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthesis method. The quantum yield of these N@CQDs reached an impressive 37.1%, while their nanoscale dimensions (approximately 2.6 nm) and chemical composition remained consistent with those reported in earlier studies. Subsequently, these nanoprobes were evaluated for their ability to detect the antihypertensive drug lisinopril (LIS). The results indicated that the N@CQDs exhibited both selectivity and sensitivity for LIS detection in bulk powder and biological plasma samples, within a concentration range of 5.0–150.0 ng mL− 1. The lower limit of quantitation was determined to be 2.2 ng mL− 1. The presence of LIS resulted in a significant reduction in the luminescence intensity of the synthesized green and stable N@CQDs at 502 nm (with an excitation wavelength of 455 nm). Additionally, the reusability and stability of the proposed CQDs for LIS analysis were thoroughly validated.

Green hydrogen generation using mushroom-like shape bismuth molybdate-bismuth oxide/poly(1 H-pyrrole) core-shell nanocomposite from sanitation water

Impact of laparoscopic training, haptic feedback and visual haptic latency on virtual fine motor performance

Abstract Advancements in minimally invasive surgery, including haptic feedback and telesurgery systems, offer potential benefits for surgical education and patient outcomes. However, the impact of general visuomotor skills (GVS), laparoscopic experience, and system latency on performance remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate how these factors interact during fine motor task execution. Fifty-seven medical students participated, with one subgroup (n = 29) receiving proficiency-based laparoscopic training and another (n = 28) without training. GVS were measured using the Purdue Pegboard Test, and laparoscopic skills via the Peg Transfer task. Participants then performed a Virtual Reality Wire Loop Game (WLG) under varying feedback conditions: visual feedback (real-time [VF0] or 200 ms delay [VF200]) and haptic feedback (real-time [HF0], delayed [HF200], or absent [noHF]). Performance metrics included error times, task completion times, and subjective difficulty ratings. Trained participants demonstrated significantly fewer errors, shorter completion times, and reduced instrument path length on the Peg Transfer task (all p < 0.01), whereas no between‐group differences emerged in Purdue Pegboard Test scores (all p > 0.05). A 200 ms visual delay significantly worsened WLG performance (p < 0.001) and increased perceived difficulty (p < 0.001). Real-time haptic feedback was rated more useful, particularly without visual delay, and its perceived benefit increased with LE (p < 0.001). Minimizing visual latency is essential in telesurgery. Real-time haptic feedback enhances performance, especially for experienced users.