Browse Articles

Kinetic alfven-acoustic waves at relativistic and ultra-relativistic Fermi energies

Impact of Grafting Density on the Assembly and Mechanical Properties of Self-Assembled Metal–Organic Framework Monolayers

Optimized FOPID controller for steam condenser system in power plants using the sinh-cosh optimizer

Half-Sandwich Ru(II) Complexes Featuring Metal-Centered Chirality: Configurational Stabilization by Ligand Design, Preparation via Kinetic Resolution, and Application in Asymmetric Catalysis

Enhancement of thermofluid characteristics via a triple-helical tube heat exchanger

Abstract An investigation of the thermal and hydraulic performance of a novel triple-helical tube heat exchanger, the THTHE, is presented. The novel design is a modified design of a DHTHE created by adding a third tube to a DHTHE tube. The third passage is expected to enhance the thermal performance of the DHTHE as a result of an increase in the temperature gradient between the hot and cold fluids. The effects of the coil radius, inner annulus spacing, water inlet temperature, direction of flow arrangement, and Dean number were explored. Five test samples with different coil radii of 150 mm, 125 mm, and 90 mm and different inner annulus spacings of 6.2 mm, 9 mm, and 12 mm were examined. The test samples were designed, fabricated, and tested to demonstrate the influence of design parameters on the thermal and hydraulic performance of the triple-helical tube heat exchanger. The experimental runs were conducted on the hot water side with the water inlet temperature T h,i ranging from 50:80 °C. Moreover, at Dean number 400 ≤ De h  ≤ 5500, corresponding to Reynolds number 2700 ≤ Re h  ≤ 31,000. Compared with the double-helical tube heat exchanger, the THTHE resulted in a higher Nusselt number by 146.1% and 109.3% for both the counterflow and parallel-flow arrangements, respectively. Furthermore, lowering the hot water source temperature from 80 to 50 °C results in a 60.6% increase in the Nusselt number of 60.6%, with no increase in the pumping power. Additionally, with a decreasing coil radius from 150 to 90 mm and inner annulus spacing from 12 to 6.2 mm, a significant increase in Nu occurs by 58.2% and 130.4%, respectively. A general correlation was presented for predicting Nu, f, and ε.

Bioorthogonal Reaction of <i>β</i>-Chloroacroleins with <i>meta</i>-Aminothiophenol to Develop Near-Infrared Fluorogenic Probes for Simultaneous Two-color Imaging

Whole genome sequencing of promising Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains isolated from Egyptian dairy products for probiotic characteristics

Abstract Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when given in an adequate dose, have a healthy impact on human well-being. With global interest in self-care, dietary supplements especially probiotics is expanding rapidly due to their supported health effects. In this study, a total of twenty-two samples were collected from dairy products in Egypt’s markets, firstly isolated then identified and screened for probiotic properties under stressful conditions as NaCl, acid and bile salt conditions. After evaluation of the antimicrobial effect against widespread gram negative and gram positive human infecting bacteria, besides the antiviral assessment against (SARS-CoV-2) virus which has disturbed the world, the antibiotic susceptibility test was done. Only three promising isolates were subjected for whole genome sequence with high-output next generation technology and the obtained data was subjected to a full bioinformatics analysis. The results obtained stated the advance of our isolates to tolerate the stress factors that can struggle in the human gut as well as the antimicrobial effects. All these bright characteristics were confirmed and illustrated in detail through different and reliable genome analysis tools. Our isolates were founded to have stable genome through containing mobile genetic elements like phages and CRISPR clusters that confirm the safety and quality for human health.

Endogenous HClO-Gated Cascade MicroRNA Imaging for Precise Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis In Vivo

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Patient Self-Advocacy Scale using classical test theory and item response theory

Abstract Background: Patient self-advocacy plays a crucial role in improving cancer patients’ quality of life, but there is no validated instrument to assess this concept among Chinese head and neck cancer patients. This study aimed to cross-culturally translate the Patient Self-Advocacy Scale (PSAS) and evaluate its psychometric properties using classical test theory and item response theory. Methods: The PSAS underwent cross-cultural adaptation based on Brislin’s translation model and a cross-sectional survey of 302 head and neck cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in Tianjin was conducted from November 2023 to August 2024. Classical test theory was used for item analysis and validation of reliability (internal consistency, test-retest reliability) and validity (content validity, construct validity). Item response theory was applied to evaluate model fit, reliability, item difficulty, and measurement invariance. Results: Classical test theory analysis demonstrated good item discrimination with item-total correlations ranging from 0.776 to 0.942 and critical ratios from 13.269 to 33.170 (p &lt; 0.05), as well as good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.942 for the total scale) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.840 for the total scale, p &lt; 0.001). I-CVI values ranged from 0.80 to 1.00, with an S-CVI of 0.95. The three-factor model demonstrated good fit (χ2/df = 2.595, RMSEA = 0.090, SRMR = 0.072, CFI = 0.966, IFI = 0.966, TLI = 0.956). Rasch analysis indicated a good model fit and reliability (person/item separation index &gt; 1.5, person/item reliability coefficient &gt; 0.9). The Wright map showed good matching between item difficulty and person ability. Differential item functioning (DIF) analysis revealed no significant differences across gender. Conclusion: The Chinese version of PSAS demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties among head and neck cancer patients and provides healthcare providers with a tool to assess patients’ self-advocacy, potentially facilitating patient-centered care and self-management in clinical practice and improving patients’ health and quality of life outcomes.

Host–Guest Chemistry-Mediated Biomimetic Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Complex Glycosphingolipids

Similar but different assembly processes of bacterial and micro-eukaryotic communities in an urban river

Catalytic Phosphorylation of Tyrosine via a Radical Arbuzov Reaction

Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18

Nonlinear responses of coupled socioecological systems to land use and climate changes in the Yangtze river basin

Efficient Color Conversion in Metal–Organic Frameworks Boosts Optical Wireless Communications beyond 1 GB/s Data Rate

Investigation of an innovative savonius turbine in practice

Abstract The current study recommends a novel design that includes lightweight flapping gates that open when the convex side is facing the wind source in order to reduce negative torque and increase the efficiency of Savonius wind turbines. Very light leaf or torsional springs can be used to ensure that the gates close smoothly by returning them to their closed state. The efficiency of the turbine is increased when the flapping gates open because there is less drag force and resistive torque applied to the turbine shaft. Two turbines, one with the conventional shape and the other with flapping gates, were created in order to achieve this. The two turbines were then compared to one another under similar circumstances. To collect the necessary readings, an experimental setup with a variety of sensors was developed. Experiments were carried out at various air velocities to calculate the static torque coefficient and power coefficient. It was proved that the new design, which has a higher static torque and power coefficient, is more effective than the conventional design. The power coefficient increases by an average of 25% at middle speed ranges, but only by about 16.914% at higher tip speed ratios.

Animal-Encoded Nonribosomal Pathway to Bursatellin Analogs

Quantitative autofluorescence is increased in clinically unaffected fellow eyes from patients with posterior uveitis

Abstract The purpose of this prospective case-control study is to investigate differences in quantitative autofluorescence (qAF) in clinically affected and unaffected eyes of patients with inactive posterior uveitis compared to healthy, age-matched controls. Patients with posterior uveitis and healthy controls were imaged using fundus autofluorescence (488 nm excitation; Spectralis HRA + OCT; Heidelberg Engineering) to measure qAF values using the proprietary HEYEX software. Mean background qAF (excluding vessels and retinal lesions) across all segments (as previously defined by Delori et al.) and in the segment with the highest mean qAF value were compared between affected and unaffected eyes from patients with posterior uveitis, and healthy age-matched control eyes using the Kruskal-Wallis-test. A total of 83 eyes from 83 patients were included: 33 affected eyes (33 patients with uni-/bilateral posterior uveitis), 21 clinically unaffected eyes (21 patients with unilateral posterior uveitis), and 29 healthy, age-matched control eyes (29 patients). Mean qAF values were significantly higher (p-value &lt; 0.0001) in both clinically affected (177.0 ± 83.8 qAF arbitrary units [qAF a.u.]) and unaffected (173.8 ± 56.4 qAF a.u.) eyes compared to healthy, age-matched controls (135.7 ± 41.8 qAF a.u.). Likewise, mean qAF in the segment with the highest mean qAF value was significantly higher (p-value: &lt;0.01) in affected (243.2 ± 103.1 qAF a.u.) and unaffected eyes (227.1 ± 63.4 qAF a.u.) in comparison to controls (168.9 ± 48.5 qAF a.u.). In conclusion, both clinically affected and unaffected eyes from patients with posterior uveitis demonstrated increased fundus autofluorescence. The results of our study could indicate subclinical inflammation in currently inactive and (yet) unaffected eyes of posterior uveitis patients. This could be caused by accumulation of fluorophores or an increased metabolic activity generated by low-grade inflammation. As these changes may precede future inflammation in yet unaffected eyes, additional longitudinal studies including analysis of eyes with active disease are warranted.

Analysis the diagnostic performance of H4C6/SOX1-OT gene methylation in bladder cancer based on urine sample

Aligning the Induced Anisotropy of Isotropic Nanoparticles with Liquid Crystals