Conformational Integrity Research Articles

Conformal Theoretical Modeling of Arbitrary Shape Flexible Electronic Sensors Mounted Onto General Curved Surface Substrates

Abstract Stretchable and flexible electronic sensors have been attracted to novel applications due to their conformal integration onto complex curved surfaces, whereas the mounting strains generated by the geometric mismatch of substrate surface and electronic sensors may cause non-conformal contact at the interface, thus would induce non-negligible effects on the performance of sensors. To investigate the influence rules of the shape of electronic sensors and their geometric parameters on conformal contacts, this paper presents a novel conformal model to study the arbitrary shaped films as flexible sensors mounted onto general curved-surface substrates. The energy minimization principle and the integral summation method play vital roles during the modeling, and three types of films with various shapes including rectangular, oval, and hexagonal mounted onto a bicurvature substrate are investigated. The influences of three dimensionless shape parameters of oval and hexagonal film/substrate contacts are analyzed for the dimensionless strain energy of conformal mounting. The strain and critical dimensionless strain energy of three films/bicurvature substrate contacts are calculated and compared under the same conformal area. The results demonstrated that the contour shape of electronic sensor has a considerable effect on conformal mounting and strain. Thus, the developed conformal model would have great significance in guiding the design of flexible electronic devices and sensors when applied to general curved surfaces.

Macromolecular Crowding Promotes Re-entrant Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation of Human Serum Transferrin and Prevents Surface-Induced Fibrillation.

Protein aggregation and inactivation upon surface immobilization are major limiting factors for analytical applications in biotechnology-related fields. Protein immobilization on solid surfaces often requires multi-step surface passivation, which is time-consuming and inefficient. Herein, we have discovered that biomolecular condensates of biologically active human serum transferrin (Tf) can effectively prevent surface-induced fibrillation and preserve the native-like conformation of phase-separated Tf over a period of 30 days. It has been observed that macromolecular crowding promotes homotypic liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Tf through enthalpically driven multivalent hydrophobic interactions possibly via the involvement of its low-complexity domain (residues 3-20) containing hydrophobic amino acids. The present LLPS of Tf is a rare example of salt-mediated re-entrant phase separation in a broad range of salt concentrations (0-3 M) solely via the involvement of hydrophobic interactions. Notably, no liquid-to-solid-like phase transition has been observed over a period of 30 days, suggesting the intact conformational integrity of phase-separated Tf, as revealed from single droplet Raman, circular dichroism, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. More importantly, we discovered that the phase-separated condensates of Tf completely inhibit the surface-induced fibrillation of Tf, illustrating the protective role of these liquid-like condensates against denaturation and aggregation of biomolecules. The cell mimicking compact aqueous compartments of biomolecular condensates with a substantial amount of interfacial water preserve the structure and functionality of Tf. Our present study highlights an important functional aspect of biologically active protein condensates and may have wide-ranging implications in cell physiology and biotechnological applications.

A Comprehensive Review on the Fejér-Type Inequality Pertaining to Fractional Integral Operators

A review of the results on the fractional Fejér-type inequalities, associated with different families of convexities and different kinds of fractional integrals, is presented. In the numerous families of convexities, it includes classical convex functions, s-convex functions, quasi-convex functions, strongly convex functions, harmonically convex functions, harmonically quasi-convex functions, quasi-geometrically convex functions, p-convex functions, convexity with respect to strictly monotone function, co-ordinated-convex functions, (θ,h−m)−p-convex functions, and h-preinvex functions. Included in the fractional integral operators are Riemann–Liouville fractional integral, (k−p)-Riemann–Liouville, k-Riemann–Liouville fractional integral, Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals with respect to another function, the weighted fractional integrals of a function with respect to another function, fractional integral operators with the exponential kernel, Hadamard fractional integral, Raina fractional integral operator, conformable integrals, non-conformable fractional integral, and Katugampola fractional integral. Finally, Fejér-type fractional integral inequalities for invex functions and (p,q)-calculus are also included.

Soft Robotic‐Adapted Multimodal Sensors Derived from Entirely Intrinsic Self‐Healing and Stretchable Cross‐Linked Networks

AbstractFlexible sensing technologies that play a pivotal role in endowing robots with detection capabilities and monitoring their motions are impulsively desired for intelligent robotics systems. However, integrating and constructing reliable and sustainable flexible sensors with multifunctionality for robots remains an everlasting challenge. Herein, an entirely intrinsic self‐healing, stretchable, and attachable multimodal sensor is developed that can be conformally integrated with soft robots to identify diverse signals. The dynamic bonds cross‐linked networks including the insulating polymer and conductive hydrogel with good comprehensive performances are designed to fabricate the sensor with prolonged lifespan and improved reliability. Benefiting from the self‐adhesiveness of the hydrogel, strong interfacial bonding can be formed on various surfaces, which promotes the conformable integration of the sensor with robots. Due to the ionic transportation mechanism, the sensor can detect strain and temperature based on piezoresistive and thermoresistive effect, respectively. Moreover, the sensor can work in triboelectric mode to achieve self‐powered sensing. Various information can be identified from the electrical signals generated by the sensor, including hand gestures, soft robot crawling motions, a message of code, the temperature of objects, and the type of materials, holding great promise in the fields of environmental detection, wearable devices, human‐machine interfacing, and robotics.

Repurposing Amphotericin B: anti-microbial, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies suggest inhibition potential of Amphotericin B against MRSA

Amphotericin B (AMPH) is an anti-fungal drug and this study, for the first time as best of our knowledge, reports the repurposing of the Amphotericin B. The drug was found to show significant antibacterial potential revealed by antimicrobial screening, molecular docking, and mode of action analysis targeting Penicillin Binding Protein 2a (PBP 2a protein) which is target of β-lactam drugs and is involved in cell wall synthesis. Mode of action analysis showed the drug to have hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with both C-terminal, trans-peptidase and non-penicillin binding domain of the protein. Additionally, to evaluate the impact of ligand binding on the protein's conformational dynamics, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used. Comparative Dynamical flexibility (RMSF) and Dynamics Cross Correlation (DCCM) followed by MD simulations revealed the complex formation significantly effecting structural dynamics of the enzyme significantly in the non-penicillin binding domain (327–668) and slightly in trans peptidase domain. Radius of gyration assessment further showed ligand binding also decreasing over all compactness of protein. Secondary structure analysis indicated the complex formation changing the conformational integrity in non-penicillin binding domain. Hydrogen bond analysis and MMPBSA, free energy of calculations followed by MD simulations, also complemented the antimicrobial and molecular docking revelations suggesting Amphotericin B to have substantial antibacterial potential.

A Study on the New Class of Inequalities of Midpoint-Type and Trapezoidal-Type Based on Twice Differentiable Functions with Conformable Operators

This paper derives some equalities via twice differentiable functions and conformable fractional integrals. With the help of the obtained identities, we present new trapezoid-type and midpoint-type inequalities via convex functions in the context of the conformable fractional integrals. New inequalities are obtained by taking advantage of the convexity property, power mean inequality, and Hölder’s inequality. We show that this new family of inequalities generalizes some previous research studies by special choices. Furthermore, new other relevant results with trapezoid-type and midpoint-type inequalities are obtained.

New conticrete inequalities of the Hermite-Hadamard-Jensen-Mercer type in terms of generalized conformable fractional operators via majorization

AbstractThe Hermite-Hadamard inequality is regarded as one of the most favorable inequalities from the research point of view. Currently, mathematicians are working on extending, improving, and generalizing this inequality. This article presents conticrete inequalities of the Hermite-Hadamard-Jensen-Mercer type in weighted and unweighted forms by using the idea of majorization and convexity together with generalized conformable fractional integral operators. They not only represent continuous and discrete inequalities in compact form but also produce generalized inequalities connecting various fractional operators such as Hadamard, Katugampola, Riemann-Liouville, conformable, and Rieman integrals into one single form. Also, two new integral identities have been investigated pertaining a differentiable function and three tuples. By using these identities and assuming∣f′∣| f^{\prime} |and∣f′∣q(q>1)| f^{\prime} {| }^{q}\hspace{0.33em}\left(q\gt 1)as convex, we deduce bounds concerning the discrepancy of the terms of the main inequalities.

CXCR4 Recognition by L- and D-Peptides Containing the Full-Length V3 Loop of HIV-1 gp120.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) recognizes one of its principal coreceptors, CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), on the host cell via the third variable loop (V3 loop) of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 during the viral entry process. Here, the mechanism of the molecular recognition of HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop by coreceptor CXCR4 was probed by synthetic peptides containing the full-length V3 loop. The two ends of the V3 loop were covalently linked by a disulfide bond to form a cyclic peptide with better conformational integrity. In addition, to probe the effect of the changed side-chain conformations of the peptide on CXCR4 recognition, an all-D-amino acid analog of the L-V3 loop peptide was generated. Both of these cyclic L- and D-V3 loop peptides displayed comparable binding recognition to the CXCR4 receptor, but not to another chemokine receptor, CCR5, suggesting their selective interactions with CXCR4. Molecular modeling studies revealed the important roles played by many negative-charged Asp and Glu residues on CXCR4 that probably engaged in favorable electrostatic interactions with the positive-charged Arg residues present in these peptides. These results support the notion that the HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop-CXCR4 interface is flexible for ligands of different chiralities, which might be relevant in terms of the ability of the virus to retain coreceptor recognition despite the mutations at the V3 loop.

Conformable fractional versions of Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities for twice-differentiable functions

In this paper, new inequalities for the left and right sides of the Hermite–Hadamard inequality are acquired for twice-differentiable mappings. Conformable fractional integrals are used to derive these inequalities. Furthermore, we provide our results by using special cases of obtained theorems.

Conformal Noble Metal High-Entropy Alloy Nanofilms by Atomic Layer Deposition for an Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The current synthesis methods of high-entropy alloy (HEA) thin-film coatings face huge challenges in facile preparation, precise thickness control, conformal integration, and affordability. These challenges are more specific and noteworthy for noble metal-based HEA thin films where the conventional sputtering methods encounter thickness control and high-cost issues (high-purity noble metal targets required). Herein, for the first time, we report a facile and controllable synthesis process of quinary HEA coatings consisting of noble metals (Rh, Ru, Pt, Pd, and Ir), by sequential atomic layer deposition (ALD) coupled with electrical Joule heating for post-alloying. Furthermore, the resulting quinary HEA thin film with a thickness of ∼50 nm and an atomic ratio of 20:15:21:18:27 shows promising potential as a platform for catalysis, exhibiting enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performances with lower overpotentials (e.g., from 85 to 58 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4) and higher stability (by retaining more than 92% of the initial current after 20 h with a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in 0.5 M H2SO4) than other noble metal-based structure counterparts in this work. The enhanced material properties and device performances are attributed to the efficient electron transfer of HEA with the increased number of active sites. This work not only presents RhRuPtPdIr HEA thin films as promising HER catalysts but also sheds light on controllable fabrication of conformal HEA-coated complex structures toward a broad range of applications.

A Wideband High-Gain Dielectric Horn-Lens Antenna for Wireless Communications and UWB Applications

A wideband high-gain dielectric horn-lens antenna (DHLA) for wireless communications and ultra-wideband (UWB) applications, featuring 122% fractional bandwidth, is presented. The antenna, consisting of a dielectric horn equipped with a spherical-axicon dielectric lens that increases and equalizes the gain within the operating band, is placed on a PCB featuring a wideband eight-shaped slot fed by a tapered microstrip line employed to excite the radiating system. The lens, integrated within the body of the dielectric horn, has the property of focusing the RF energy near its vertex on an extended frequency band, thus ensuring compact size, excellent field coupling with the antenna excitation system, and a significant increase of antenna gain. The antenna operates in the 3–12.4 GHz frequency range with relatively flat group delay, making it suitable for operating with narrowband, broadband, and impulsive UWB signals. The antenna can work properly without or with a metal reflector useful to enhance gain (up to 19 dBi), improve the front-to-back ratio, and reduce the impact of the antenna characteristics from the installation site. CST Studio Suite, implementing a full-wave locally conformal finite integration technique (FIT), was employed to design and characterize the antenna. The antenna characteristics estimated numerically were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results performed on an antenna prototype.

Long range, large charge, large N

We study operators with large charge j in the d-dimensional O(N) model with long range interactions that decrease with the distance as 1/rd+s, where s is a continuous parameter. We consider the double scaling limit of large N, large j with j/N=hat{j} fixed, and identify the semiclassical saddle point that captures the two-point function of the large charge operators in this limit. The solution is given in terms of certain ladder conformal integrals that have recently appeared in the literature on fishnet models. We find that the scaling dimensions for general s interpolate between {Delta }_jsim frac{left(d-sright)}{2}j at small hat{j} and {Delta }_jsim frac{left(d+sright)}{2}j at large hat{j} , which is a qualitatively different behavior from the one found in the short range version of the O(N) model. We also derive results for the structure constants and 4-point functions with two large charge and one or two finite charge operators. Using a description of the long range models as defects in a higher dimensional local free field theory, we also obtain the scaling dimensions in a complementary way, by mapping the problem to a cylinder in the presence of a chemical potential for the conserved charge.

Analysis of Hop Stunt Viroid Diversity in Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in Slovakia: Coexistence of Two Particular Genetic Groups

The hop stunt viroid (HSVd) is a widespread subviral pathogen infecting a broad spectrum of plant hosts including grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Despite its omnipresence in virtually all grapevine growing areas around the world, molecular data characterizing HSVd populations are missing from Slovakia. Analysis of the complete nucleotide sequences of 19 grapevine variants revealed the existence of two genetic HSVd groups in Slovakia (internally named the "6A" and "7A" groups based on the particular stretch of adenines at nucleotide positions 39-44/45, respectively). Despite their sampling at different times in various unrelated vineyards, the 6A and 7A groups are characterized by low intra-group divergence (~0.3 and 0.2%, respectively). On the other hand, inter-group divergence reached 2.2% due to several mutations, seven of which were found to be group-specific and mainly (except for one) located in the region of the pathogenic domain. Interestingly, in addition to their frequent co-existence within the same geographical location, the mixed infection of the 6A and 7A type sequence variants was also unequivocally and repeatedly proven within single grapevine plants. The RNA secondary structure analysis of representative isolates from each of these two genetic groups indicated a potential compensatory explanation of such mutations. These group-specific sites could be pointing towards the evolutionary selection linked to the necessity of the viroid to retain its structural conformational integrity, crucial for its functional biochemical ability to interact with specific grapevine cellular host factors required for HSVd propagation.

2D Titanium carbide printed flexible ultrawideband monopole antenna for wireless communications

Flexible titanium carbide (Ti3C2) antenna offers a breakthrough in the penetration of information communications for the spread of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Current configurations are constrained to multi-layer complicated designs due to the limited conformal integration of the dielectric substrate and additive-free Ti3C2 inks. Here, we report the flexible ultrawideband Ti3C2 monopole antenna by combining strategies of interfacial modification and advanced extrusion printing technology. The polydopamine, as molecular glue nano-binder, contributes the tight adhesion interactions between Ti3C2 film and commercial circuit boards for high spatial uniformity and mechanical flexibility. The bandwidth and center frequency of Ti3C2 antenna can be well maintained and the gain differences fluctuate within ±0.2 dBi at the low frequency range after the bent antenna returns to the flat state, which conquers the traditional inelastic Cu antenna. It also achieves the demo instance for the fluent and stable real-time wireless transmission in bending states.

Novel results on trapezoid-type inequalities for conformable fractional integrals

This paper establishes an identity for the case of differentiable $s-$convex functions with respect to the conformable fractional integrals. By using this identity, sundry trapezoid-type inequalities are proven by $s-$convex functions with the help of the conformable fractional integrals. Several important inequalities are acquired with taking advantage of the convexity, the Hölder inequality, and the power mean inequality. Moreover, an example using graph is given in order to show that our main results are correct. By using the special choices of the obtained results, we present several new results connected with trapezoid-type inequalities.

Some remarks on parameterized inequalities involving conformable fractional operators

In this paper, we prove an identity for differentiable convex functions related to conformable fractional integrals. Moreover, some parameterized inequalities are established by using conformable fractional integrals. To be more precise, parameterized inequalities are obtained by taking advantage of the convexity, the Hölder inequality, and the power mean inequality. Furthermore, previous and new results are presented by using special cases of the obtained theorems.

A study on conformable fractional version of Bullen-type inequalities

In this paper, we give an equality for the case of differentiable convex functions involving conformable fractional integrals. Bullen-type inequalities for the conformable fractional integrals are established by using this equality. Some important inequalities are obtained by taking advantage of the convexity, the Hölder inequality and the power mean inequality. By using special choices, we present some known results in the literature. Furthermore, we give an example using a graph in order to show that our main results are correct.

A Wideband High-Gain Circularly-Polarized Dielectric Horn Antenna Equipped With Lamé-Axicon Stacked-Disk Lens for Remote Sensing, Air Traffic Control and Satellite Communications

A wideband high-gain circularly polarized (CP) shaped dielectric horn-lens antenna (SDHLA) operating in the frequency band between 6.7 and 18.2 GHz [fractional impedance bandwidth (FIBW) of 92.4%] with a 3-dB axial-ratio in the frequency range from 8.1 to 16.3 GHz [fractional axial-ratio bandwidth (FARBW) of 67.2%], is presented. The antenna, composed of a suitably shaped dielectric horn, integrated with a super-ellipsoidal-axicon dielectric lens made out of stacked thin dielectric disks, is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) where a broadband microstrip line terminated with a radial stub is used to excite a S-shaped slot through which the circular polarization is achieved. Parameterized 3D Lamé curves describe the optimal geometries of horn and lens profiles. The antenna features a peak realized gain exceeding 13.1 dBi that is beneficial in a variety of applications, such as digital video broadcasting (DVB), remote sensing, weather monitoring, satellite communications, and air traffic control. The full-wave electromagnetic solver CST Studio Suite™, based on a locally conformal finite integration technique (FIT), was employed to design and characterize the antenna. The antenna characteristics estimated by FIT were found to be in good agreement with the experimental measurements performed on an antenna prototype.

On Cerone's and Bellman's generalization of Steffensen's integral inequality via conformable sense

<abstract><p>By making use of the conformable integrals, we establish some new results on Cerone's and Bellman's generalization of Steffensen's integral inequality. In fact, we provide a variety of generalizations of Steffensen's integral inequality by using conformable calculus.</p></abstract>

Washable, stretchable, and reusable core–shell metal nanowire network-based electronics on a breathable polymer nanomesh substrate

Polymer nanofiber-based porous structures, referred to as “breathable devices,” have been recently developed to minimize user discomfort. Although these devices enable conformal integration to the skin with gas permeability, their performance and durability are significantly lower than those of conventional film-based devices. In this study, an ultradurable embedded Ag–Au core–shell nanowire network (AANN) on a nanomesh substrate is fabricated using the intense pulsed light irradiation and electroplating (IPL-EP) process. The AANN is designed to achieve breathability and durability without sacrificing device performance. It can be used in breathable nanomesh electronics and exhibits a low sheet resistance (1.4 Ω sq−1), cycle stability (above 20,000 cycles), stability in chemicals (water-based solutions and highly corrosive H2O2 solution), washability (20 washings), and reusability. Additionally, it is used in reusable conductive electronic textiles, and its applications as a reusable strain sensor for motion detection and wearable heater for thermal therapy are demonstrated. Furthermore, the AANN-based conductive thread exhibits excellent electrical performance (0.3 Ω cm−1) with durability and maintains its electrical characteristics after 50 wash cycles. The proposed process can enable large-scale fabrication of highly durable breathable electronics, electronic textiles, and other biomedical devices.