Degree Of Disorder Research Articles

Transforming Residual Lithium Compounds on the LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 Surface into a Li-Mn-P-O-Based Composite Coating for Multifaceted Improvements.

LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) is the most promising cathode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the chemical instability of the material during air exposure leads to the formation of residual lithium compounds (RLCs: LiOH and Li2CO3) on the surface and inhibits its practical application. Here, we propose a chemical conversion process to remove RLCs by utilizing them and forming a hybrid coating layer on the surface of NMC811 that contains Li3PO4, LiMn2O4, and LiMnPO4 phases, yielding multifaceted benefits. The hybrid layer on the surface protects the material from undesirable side reactions. It improves the cycle life of NMC811 by retaining 80% of its initial capacity after 300 cycles and 66% after 500 cycles at a 0.5C rate in the operating voltage of 3.0-4.3 V. The process enables high-voltage (4.7 V vs Li+/Li) operation by stabilizing the electrode-electrolyte interface, reduces the degree of cationic disorder and the voltage polarization for phase transitions, improves Coulombic efficiency and ion diffusion kinetics, and minimizes the secondary particle crack formation over long-term cycling. In fact, the coating reduces the detrimental effects of RLCs, leaves the surface for better Li+ transport, and hence significantly improves the electrochemical performance of NMC811.

Glycemic Variability and the Thickness of Retinal Layers in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with and without Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes

Purpose Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at risk to develop CF related diabetes (CFRD) and subsequently even diabetic neuro- and/or vasculopathy. We sought to determine if there are typical signs of diabetes-related retinal alterations present in CF patients with preserved and impaired glycemic control. Methods During routine annual examination CF patients were offered an additional 7-day period of real time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) and an ophthalmological examination including retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients were categorized according to the glycemic control, i.e. the results of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and rtCGM were taken into consideration. OCT data was analyzed by our previously published visual analysis software generating dedicated and spatially resolved deviation maps for visualization and quantification of differences in total retinal thickness and thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) as well as ganglion cell layer (GCL) in comparison to age-matched healthy controls and patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results Results of the rtCGM and/or OGTT enabled discrimination between patients with normal glycemic control (CFNG; n = 6), with abnormal glycemic control (CFAG; n = 6) and overt CFRD (n = 4). OCT data indicates gradually increasing retinal thinning in all 3 groups, depending on the degree of glucose metabolism disorder compared to healthy controls. At the foveal region total retinal thickness and GCL thickness were significantly thinner in CFRD patients compared to CFNG patients (total retinal thickness: 260.4 µm (239.3–270.8) vs. 275.4 µm (254.3–289.5); GCL: 11.82 µm (11.16–15.25) vs. 17.30 µm (13.95–19.82); each p < 0.05). Conclusion Although we investigated a rather small number of patients, we obtained evidence that intraretinal neurodegenerative changes occur in each of our subgroups (CFNG, CFAG, CFRD). Beyond this, our results favor the detrimental role of additional diabetes, as the deviations from healthy controls were most pronounced in the CFRD group and are similar to those seen in patients suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Borderline personality disorder in adolescents as a predictor of social anxiety

IntroductionBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder characterized by unstable relationships, a tendency to self–destruction, affective and behavioral dysregulation and BPD are a clinical problemObjectivesEarly detection and timely intervention for BPD is becoming a new public health priority as it helps prevent the adverse personal, social and economic consequences of the disorder. Borderline personality disorder first manifests itself, as a rule, in adolescence, so it is easy to mistake it for manifestations of “difficult age” characteristic of the period of growing up. In this sense, the typical signs of borderline personality disorder are not original: low self-esteem, emotional excitability, impulsive behavior and sudden mood swings, to one degree or another characteristic of all adolescents. An alarming exception is, perhaps, only a tendency to self-harm and, the so-called, desocialization of a teenager, the loss of social skills and connections (for example, friendships). Recently, experts have increasingly mentioned desocialization in connection with the development of Internet technologies and gadgets that replace communication in real life for many teenagersMethodsAn anonymous survey of 57 older teenagers conducted. The degree of borderline personality disorder assessed using IPDE, STAI, and CDI. Statistical processing of the results carried out in Microsoft Excel using measures of the central trend (arithmetic mean, standard deviation) and correlation analysis. The significance of the differences between the groups was determined using the Student’s t-test (p &lt; 0.05)ResultsOn average, the level of BPD among the respondents was at a low level of 9.81 (±4.43) points. The severity of personal anxiety was at a high level of 45.02 (±13.25) points, situational anxiety was also at a high level of 41.14 (±14.93). The severity of depression was above average and amounted to 55.84 (±14.33) pointsConclusionsTeenage girls are more prone to anxiety and depression than boys are. High anxiety causes a tendency to depression, and these two factors affect the occurrence of PRL. The average score does not affect the manifestations of anxiety, depression and the occurrence of BPDDisclosure of InterestNone Declared

Nutritional support in patients with acute pancreatitis. Review of published studies

Acute pancreatitis is a common disease that occurs in 5—10% of patients with urgent pathology of the abdominal cavity. The most prevalent metabolic disorders affecting this group of patients are hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism syndromes, which are accompanied by excessive consumption of carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids, increased oxygen intake, and carbon dioxide production.&#x0D; Objective — to analyse the current state of the problem of nutritional support for patients with acute pancreatitis.&#x0D; The degree of nutritional disorders in patients with acute pancreatitis varies depending on the etiological factors and severity of the disease, necessitating a differential approach to their correction. Patients with acute pancreatitis experience disruption of the intestinal microflora due to the antibiotic therapy, nutrient and fiber deficiency, and lack of microbial antagonism. This disruption leads to excessive growth of bacteria, particularly gram‑negative microflora. The effectiveness and safety of enteral tube feeding are determined by a complex of factors: the timing of recovery of peristalsis and the absorption function of the intestinal wall, the type of mixture, and the method of its administration. Restoration of intestinal absorption in patients with severe acute pancreatitis occurs on average 48 hours after the start of complex conservative therapy. The use of antiflatulents as part of a mixture for enteral nutrition allows to improve the laboratory indicators of blood serum and reduce the frequency of intestinal complications on the 7th day by 21.5% (χ2=4.88, 95% CI 2.3—39.5, p=0.03). Nasogastric nutritional support in patients with severe acute pancreatitis is safe and leads to a 25.8% reduction in the incidence of local infectious complications (χ2=4.59, 95% CI 2.43—45.53, p=0.03), length of hospital stay by 16 days (p=0.04), and deaths by 21.4% (χ2=4.13, 95% CI 0.81—39.68, p=0.04) in comparison with parenteral nutrition. Nutritional support should be started with nasogastric administration of a food mixture, and in case of complications (intolerance, aspiration, etc.), nasojejunal administration. Parenteral nutrition should be used if enteral nutrition is impossible or not tolerated.&#x0D;

Impact of hydrogenation on the stability and mechanical properties of amorphous boron nitride

Interconnect materials with ultralow dielectric constant, and good thermal and mechanical properties are crucial for the further miniaturization of electronic devices. Recently, it has been demonstrated that ultrathin amorphous boron nitride (aBN) films have a very low dielectric constant, high density (above 2.1 g cm−3), high thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The excellent properties of aBN derive from the nature and degree of disorder, which can be controlled at fabrication, allowing tuning of the physical properties for desired applications. Here, we report an improvement in the stability and mechanical properties of aBN upon hydrogen doping. With the introduction of a Gaussian approximation potential for atomistic simulations, we investigate the changing morphology of aBN with varying H doping concentrations. We found that for 8 at% of H doping, the concentration of sp 3-hybridized atoms reaches to a maximum which leads to an improvement of thermal stability and mechanical properties by 20%. These results will be a guideline for experimentalists and process engineers to tune the growth conditions of aBN films for numerous applications.

PHYSICAL REHABILITATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED A STROKE (EARLY PERIOD)

The aim - is to increase the effectiveness of the physical therapy program for patients with the consequences of a hemorrhagic stroke with the help of differentiated application of rehabilitation measures depending on the severity of the neurological disorder and concomitant diseases. Materials and methods. 100 patients were observed in the neurorehabilitation center of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital. (50 men and 50 women, average age 63.57 ± 0.43 years) in the early post-stroke recovery period. All patients were clinically and neurologically examined according to a specially developed protocol according to modern scales - NIHSS, mRS on the 10th, 30th, 90th and 180th day of the disease and differentiated treatment in accordance with the standards and protocols of care for patients who have suffered a stroke. The patients were divided into four groups of 25 patients each. The first group included patients with hemorrhagic stroke, among whom the severity of post-stroke disorders was mild (NIHSS score ≤ 7 points), without concomitant diseases. The second group consisted of patients with a mild degree of post-stroke disorders (NIHSS score ≤7 points) and concomitant pathology (heart pathology, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of the II stage). The third group included patients with intracerebral stroke, among whom the severity of post-stroke disorders was moderate and obvious (NIHSS score &gt; 7 points), without concomitant pathology. The fourth group consisted of patients with moderate severity of post-stroke disorders (NIHSS status &gt; 7 points) and accompanying pathology. A statistical analysis of the use of descriptive statistics methods was carried out. The relationship between qualitative features was assessed using the χ2Pearson test. The results. According to the results of treatment, among the patients of group I, 20 patients (80.0%) (mRS index 0–2) had a favorable course. In group I, a relatively favorable result (mRS index ≥3 points) was achieved only in 5 patients (20.0%); in the II group, a positive result was achieved in 17 patients (72.0%), a relatively favorable result was achieved in 8 (28.0%); in group III - a favorable result was achieved in 15 patients (60.0%), relatively favorable - in 10 (40.0%), and in group IV - a favorable result was found only in 14 patients (56.0%), relatively favorable – in 11 (44.0%).&#x0D; Conclusions. The assessment of the functional state of disabled people in the early period of a stroke made it possible to establish that the basis of their low motor activity lies in: walking disorders (41% of disabled people), balance functions (35.9%), a decrease in the strength and endurance indicators of muscle groups that have preserved their functionality, low level of adaptive potential of the circulatory system (56.4%), dysregulation of neuropsychological processes&#x0D; Differentiated application of the program of rehabilitation and physical therapy in post-stroke patients in different groups, taking into account the severity of neurological disorders of the recovery period and the selection of methods and methods of treatment, leads to a significant increase in the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures.

Визначення величини енергетичної невпорядкованості в аморфних оксидних напівпровідниках

The amorphous material films are resistant to high-energy irradiation. Therefore, devices built using the properties of these materials can work in conditions of increased radiation much longer than devices using the properties of crystals. An important characteristic of these materials is their degree of disorder. To determine this characteristic, a model of random fluctuations of the local edge of the conduction band is considered for the theoretical study of magnetoconductivity in amorphous oxide semiconductors. The effective medium approximation is used. An approach to determining the amount of energy disorder based on experimental measurement of changes in longitudinal and transverse electrical conductivity in a magnetic field is proposed.

Анализ нарушений функции гипофизарно-гонадной регуляции у пациентов с наличием новообразований яичек.

Introduction. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) is the most important part of the hormonal system that controls testicular function in men. It is known that testicular neoplasms (TN) can disrupt the regulation of HPG due to the occurrence of hormonal imbalance. However, changes in HPG in patients with TN have been little studied, especially before the start of treatment. Aim: to assess the degree of hormonal disorders affecting HPG in men with TN before treatment. Material and methods. The study included 49 patients with newly diagnosed TN. The concentration of total testosterone (T), free testosterone (cT), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and prolactin (PRL), as well as tumor markers (β-HCG, AFP) were measured in all men; the body mass index (BMI), tumor size, bad habits and surgical history (treatment of cryp- torchidism, varicocele) were evaluated. Clinically significant T deficiency (DT) was defined as the level of total T &lt;8 nmol/l or the level of T in the range of 8-12.1 nmol/l, taking into account free T &lt;243 pmol/L. Results. There were statistically significant differences in hormone levels between patients with normal 30 (61,2%) and high 19 (38,8%) values of cancer markers (p&lt;0,05). A high concentration of β-hCG was associated with a decrease in the level of FSH and LH below normal values (p&lt;0,001) and an increase in the level of total T (p=0.019), cT (p=0,01) and E2 (p=0,003) compared with patients without hypertension. an increase in this cancer marker. Laboratory signs of DT were found in 15 (30,6%) patients, mostly with normal β-hCG values (p=0,025). However, a causal relationship was not established due to a small sample in this subgroup. The probability of developing DT in men with a history of cryptorchidism (22,4%) was 6,56 times higher (95% CI: 1,532 – 28,120; p=0,021). Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between LH (p=-0,351; p=0,014), FSH (p=-0,3; p=0,041), E2 (p=0,323; p=0,03) and tumor size. When analyzing hormone levels depending on age, smoking and BMI, no statistically significant differences were obtained (p&gt;0,05). Conclusion. Abnormalities in HPG were detected in 30% of patients with TN before treatment. One third of the men had laboratory signs of DT. Further studies involving more patients are required to develop practical recommendations.

Predicting nuclear G-quadruplex RNA-binding proteins with roles in transcription and phase separation

RNA-binding proteins are central for many biological processes and their characterization has demonstrated a broad range of functions as well as a wide spectrum of target structures. RNA G-quadruplexes are important regulatory elements occurring in both coding and non-coding transcripts, yet our knowledge of their structure-based interactions is at present limited. Here, using theoretical predictions and experimental approaches, we show that many chromatin-binding proteins bind to RNA G-quadruplexes, and we classify them based on their RNA G-quadruplex-binding potential. Combining experimental identification of nuclear RNA G-quadruplex-binding proteins with computational approaches, we build a prediction tool that assigns probability score for a nuclear protein to bind RNA G-quadruplexes. We show that predicted G-quadruplex RNA-binding proteins exhibit a high degree of protein disorder and hydrophilicity and suggest involvement in both transcription and phase-separation into membrane-less organelles. Finally, we present the G4-Folded/UNfolded Nuclear Interaction Explorer System (G4-FUNNIES) for estimating RNA G4-binding propensities at http://service.tartaglialab.com/new_submission/G4FUNNIES.

Static and dynamic disorder in ion-implanted silica glass

Structural disorder in solid-state materials has a direct impact on the complex of its physicochemical properties and functional characteristics of developed devices. The purpose of this work is to establish the influence of ion irradiation of SiO2 glass on static and dynamic disorder separately. Silica glasses implanted with carbon ions were studied using optical absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The temperature behavior of the fundamental absorption edge was considered in terms of the Urbach rule. The dose dependences of the root-mean-square atomic displacements caused by static and dynamic disorder were obtained. Analysis of Raman spectra confirmed the optical spectroscopy data and revealed a decrease in the medium-range order size along with topological changes in the SiO2 structure after ion implantation. The described step-by-step technique for quantitatively assessing the degree of static and dynamic disorder is universal and can be used to analyze other materials.

Recent Design Strategies for M‐N‐C Single‐Atom Catalysts in Oxygen Reduction: An Entropy Increase Perspective

AbstractRecently, a diverse array of novel metal‐nitrogen‐carbon (M‐N‐C) single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have rapidly evolve, particularly in the realm of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Despite the plethora of proposed design and improvement strategies for SACs, a comprehensive review systematically compiling the components in M‐N‐C from a unified perspective is notably absent. For the first time, a thorough examination of each component in M‐N‐C is conducted, focusing on the perspective of entropy increase in the active sites of SACs. For the single M‐N4 sites and the whole M‐N‐C system, an increase in entropy implies an elevated degree of disorder and chaos. Broadly, the entropy‐increasing modification of M (single mental sites) and guest groups entails an augmentation of chaos, with the most effective co‐catalytic synergy achieved by establishing multiple active sites through a “cocktail effect”. Concerning N (nitrogen and other heteroatoms) and C (carbon supports), the entropy increase modification induces heightened disorder, with symmetry breaking more likely to drive M‐N4 toward adsorbing oxygen molecules to attain an equilibrium symmetric structure. All these innovative design strategies have led to a remarkable improvement in the ORR activity and stability and offer a guiding criterion for the future preparation of SACs.

Diseases of the Biliary System in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The course of type 1 diabetes in childhood and its prognosis generally depends on the degree of development of metabolic disorders and the functional state of internal organs, in particular the state of the biliary system. The study was conducted at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health. 69 children aged 5 to 17 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus and damage to the biliary system in the form of biliary dyskinesia and hepatic steatosis were examined. As a result of the study, it was revealed that the development and progression of diseases of the biliary system in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus have a direct relationship with the degree of metabolic disorders, in particular with disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.

Sociodemographics, playing Habits, adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, dietary supplements intake, physical activity level, and degree of Internet gaming disorder of Portuguese chess players

Introduction: Lifestyle and gaming habits may influence chess players' adhesion to healthy dietary patterns. This study aims to characterize Portuguese chess players sociodemographics, playing traits, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), dietary supplement (DS) consumption, physical activity level, degree of internet gaming disorder (IGD) and to study predictors of adherence to the MD. Methods: Data was gathered using an online survey disseminated through social networks, which included questions regarding sociodemographics, chess playing habits, the PREDIMED questionnaire, DS consumption, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale. Results: The 192 respondents (93.8 % males) had a mean of 41 years (SD = 14), high education (mean = 15.1 y, SD = 1.7), and played chess for 6.3 hours (SD = 9.7) a week. Most (58.9 %, n = 113) reported moderate adherence to the MD, 30.2 % (n = 58) ingested DS, 64.1 % (n = 123) adhered to the WHO Physical Activity Recommendations, and no subject was classified with IGD. Higher Elo scores correlated with higher red/processed meat consumption (OR = 4.935, p = 0.005). A greater volume of chess play related to higher consumption of pastries and sweets (OR = 3.127, p = 0.007). Higher IGD scores were associated with lower adhesion to the MD (OR = 1.067, p = 0.019). Conclusions: The most dedicated chess players may be less concerned with maintaining a balanced diet and may require supervision from health professionals. Funding: None to disclose.

Partitioning of SWCNT mixtures using amphiphilic carbohydrate-based surfactants

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have substantial application potential in many branches of technology. Considering that the spatial order of carbon atoms in SWCNTs determines their properties, the characteristics of a material can be adjusted for a specific application by using only selected types of SWCNTs. Unfortunately, SWCNT purification is challenging as the mechanisms of the currently available sorting techniques are not fully understood. The aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) method is a promising approach in this context as it offers SWCNT separation in an aqueous environment, so elucidation of its workings is essential. To come closer to achieving this goal, we synthesized a new range of surfactants based on ionic liquids equipped with amphiphilic carbohydrate moieties. We then examined how the modification of their structure influences SWCNT partitioning in two-phase systems composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran. We concluded that the capacity of the ATPE method for purification of SWCNTs depended upon establishing a sufficient degree of order or disorder in the aqueous medium caused by the introduction of chemical compounds of a kosmotropic and chaotropic nature, respectively.

An investigative study of anxiety, depression and sleep quality in college students after the COVID-19 pandemic - the moderating effect of physical activity

To explore the current situation of anxiety, depression and sleep quality among college students after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the moderating effect of physical activity on negative emotions, and to provide a theoretical basis for colleges and universities to formulate corresponding interventions. An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out by convenience sampling method on 801 college students from China through the General Information Questionnaire (GIQ), Anxiety Self-Rating Scale (ASRS), Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PQIS), and Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS). Data were analysed using SPSS 25.0 software and Pearson correlation was used to explore the correlations between variables. The scores of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and physical activity level of the 801 college students included in the study after the Covid-19 pandemic were 37.15, 40.93, 2.9, and 14.44, respectively; and the detection rates of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and sleep disorders were 41.09%, 42.89%, and 30.82%, respectively. The detection rate of negative emotions was significantly higher in females than in males, and the senior group was significantly higher than the junior group in terms of depression and anxiety symptoms. The amount of physical activity of college students was significantly negatively correlated with anxiety (r=-0.691, P&lt;0.001), depression (r=-0.767, P&lt;0.001), and sleep quality (r=-0.814, P&lt;0.001); anxiety was positively correlated with depression (r=0.622, P&lt;0.001) and sleep quality (r=0.598, P&lt;0.05); and positive correlation between depression and sleep quality (r=0.512, P&lt;0.05). After the Covid-19 pandemic, college students showed different degrees of anxiety, depression and sleep disorders, the appropriate frequency of exercise can effectively improve the negative emotions of college students, and colleges and universities should pay attention to guiding the students and give them enough care and support to improve their mental health status.

The state of microcirculation in patients with periodontal diseases and disorders of the occlusal relationships of the dentition

Background. The study of microcirculation disorders, as one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, is relevant in clinical dentistry. Premature contacts, acting as provoking factors for occlusal disorders, cause overload of individual teeth and aggravate the severity of inflammatory periodontal pathology. Objective registration of capillary blood flow and associated changes in the microvessels of the arteriolar and venular units in patients with periodontopathies and occlusal dis-orders will allow us to assess the degree and nature of tissue blood flow disorders in the gum tissue.Goal. Increasing the efficiency of diagnosing microcirculatory disorders in periodontal tissues in patients with chronic generalized mild periodontitis and disorders of the occlusal relationships of the dentition.Materials and methods. Using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), the state of mi-crocirculation in the periodontium was studied in 78 people aged 21–35 years with intact dentition and physiological occlusion, of which 33 people (group 1) had clinically healthy periodontium and the absence of occlusal disorders (group 1), with generalized chronic pulmonary periodontitis degree and premature occlusal contacts – 45 people (group 2). The microcirculation index (M), standard deviation (σ), and coefficient of variation (КV) were assessed. To obtain objective diagnostic data, amplitude-frequency analysis of the harmonic rhythms of LDF-grams was used with spectral decomposition into harmonic components of physiological oscillations of tissue blood flow (wavelet analysis).Results. In patients of group 2, in comparison with patients of group 1, a decrease in the level of periodontal blood perfusion, a reduction in the fluctuation of erythro-cyte flow and vasomotor activity of microvessels is determined, while a decrease in “active” and an increase in «passive» modulation of tissue blood flow contributes to an increase in the volume of circulating blood at arteriovenular anastomoses when the intensity of blood flow through the vessels of the capillary bed decreases.Conclusions. Patients of group 1 were diagnosed with a normoemic type of LDF-gram, which provides a relatively high degree of intensity of tissue blood flow, balance of regulatory mechanisms, and optimal trophism of periodontal tissues. In patients of group 2 with a spastic type of LDF-gram, characterized by a reduced level of perfusion, flux, vasomotor activity of microvessels, indicators of tissue blood flow and trophic function are significantly reduced.

Understanding the behaviors of ZIF-67 reinforced electrospun carbon nanofibers in the preparation and stabilization

MOFs-reinforced electrospun carbon nanofibers offer a wide range of applications in the field of energy storage. In this study, ZIF-67 nanoparticles were produced and combined with polyacrylonitrile for electrospinning before being stabilized and carbonized to form a carbon nanofiber. BET, FT-IR, EA, DSC, and other techniques were used to investigate the stabilizing behaviors of PAN electrospun fiber with varying ZIF-67 concentrations at different temperatures. Under the same stabilizing settings, it was discovered that PAN electrospun fiber containing ZIF-67 nanoparticles could absorb more oxygen, promoting a higher degree of cyclization and crosslinking. Therefore, it was preferred to prepare carbon nanofibers at a lower stabilization temperature. Importantly, the degree of stability and disorder of the PAN/ZIF-67 stabilized fiber has been described by the FT-IR and the Raman spectra. This research deepens understanding about the formation of MOF-reinforced carbon nanofibers and expands our knowledge of the stability of PAN/MOF hybrid fibers.

Characterization of a Novel System of Bismuth Lead Borosilicate Glass Containing Copper

Objectives: The primary objective of the present investigation was to examine the impact of Bi3+ ions on the optical, radiation shielding, dielectric and structural characteristics of lead borosilicate glasses doped with CuO. Method: In this view, we planned to utilize the conventional rapid melt quenching method to produce glasses with the following chemical composition: 25 PbO + 15 B2O3 + 0.1 CuO + (59.9-x) SiO2 :x Bi2O3 (0≤x≤12). Findings: The samples' non-crystalline characteristics were validated through XRD and SEM analysis, respectively, while their glass-forming capabilities were assessed through DTA studies. Utilizing the FT–IR and Raman analyses, the numerous structural units were determined. According to the findings of the FT-IR, and Raman analyses, the degree of disorder in the glass network increased. By means of optical absorption experiments, the optical properties of glasses were determined. The results obtained from optical absorption spectral investigations indicated that the concentration of octahedral Cu2+ ions increased gradually as the Bi2O3 concentration increased to 12 mol %. The dielectric properties of the glasses, suggested that the dielectric constant values of glasses containing Bi2O3 in concentrations below 12 mol% increase gradually. Additionally, the radiation shielding properties of the glasses are investigated. The values of radiation protection ability found to be purely function of Bi2O3 concentration. Novelty: The results suggest that the glasses' thermal stability, dielectric constant, optical band gap and radiation shielding ability values purely function of Bi2O3 concentration. Keywords: Borosilicate glasses, Thermal stability, Optical absorption, Radiation shielding properties, Dielectricsq

Anomalies in the short-range local environment and atomic diffusion in single crystalline equiatomic CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy

Multi-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy combined with reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulations was used to probe the details of element-specific local coordinations and component-dependent structure relaxations in single crystalline equiatomic CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy as a function of the annealing temperature. Two representative states, namely a high-temperature state, created by annealing at 1373 K, and a low-temperature state, produced by long-term annealing at 993 K, were compared in detail. Specific features identified in atomic configurations of particular principal components indicate variations in the local environment distortions connected to different degrees of compositional disorder at the chosen representative temperatures. The detected changes provide new atomistic insights and correlate with the existence of kinks previously observed in the Arrhenius dependencies of component diffusion rates in the CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy.

Branched-chain amino acid supplementation drives dynamic changes in gut microbiota without impairing glucose and lipid homeostasis at the different stages of insulin resistance in mice on a high-fat diet

ObjectiveThe potential role of dietary branched-chain amino acids on circulating branched-chain amino acid levels and their relationship with metabolic health are complex, and the literature is inconsistent. We aimed to explore the dynamic effects of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on glucose and lipid homeostasis at different stages of insulin resistance in high-fat diet–fed mice. MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice were fed with a normal chow diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat diet supplemented with 100% branched-chain amino acids for 12 or 24 wk. Metabolic parameters and gut microbiota profiling were performed at these two time points. ResultsHigh-fat diet feeding caused varying degrees of branched-chain amino acid metabolic disorders in two different stages of insulin resistance. Supplementing with branched-chain amino acids further exacerbated branched-chain amino acid accumulation in the early stage of insulin resistance (12 wk), while adding branched-chain amino acids did not further elevate branched-chain amino acid levels in the hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia stage (24 wk). Compared with the high-fat diet group, branched-chain amino acid supplementation did not affect body weight; liver total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels; and serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as glucose tolerance at these two time points but triggered dynamic changes in the gut bacterial diversity and gut microbiota composition and abundance, especially in the genus associated with obesity and related metabolic disorders. ConclusionDietary branched-chain amino acid supplementation drives dynamic changes in circulating branched-chain amino acid levels and gut microbiome without subsequent effects on glucose and lipid homeostasis in high-fat diet–induced obese mice within the parameters of our study.