Differential Approach Research Articles

Advancing SERS label-free detection of bacteria: Sensing in liquid vs drop-cast

Rapid and reliable detection of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria is critical in combatting the growing threat of multi-drug resistance. Among all the available detection techniques, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a powerful tool for detecting a vast range of molecules and microorganisms, with significant potential for identifying bacterial strains. However, current studies using SERS predominantly utilize a drop-cast method, where a bacterial sample is dried with the SERS substrate to produce SERS spectra of bacteria. While effective, this method is time-consuming and less consistent. In this study, we propose a liquid-based SERS method for the rapid identification and differentiation of bacteria strains. Using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the SERS substrate, we focus on detecting and distinguishing Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in aqueous samples. Our study investigates multiple variables including nanoparticle size (30, 50, and 80 nm), surface charge/capping agent (negative and positive), and analyte suspension media (water and 0.9% NaCl). We found that fresh bacteria samples in 0.9% NaCl mixed with citrate coated AuNPs with the size of 50 nm yielded optimal parameters for bacteria detection. Comparing drop-cast and liquid methods for SERS detection, we determined that the liquid method provided clearer and more consistent SERS spectra, facilitating effective analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Our method reliably differentiated E. coli bacterial strains and identified molecular features responsible for their differentiation. Overall, this manuscript presents a reproducible, straightforward, and efficient approach for bacteria detection and differentiation using SERS, contributing to strategies aimed at combating the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Gene expression differences associated with intrinsic hindfoot muscle loss in the jerboa, Jaculus jaculus.

Vertebrate animals that run or jump across sparsely vegetated habitats, such as horses and jerboas, have reduced the number of distal limb bones, and many have lost most or all distal limb muscle. We previously showed that nascent muscles are present in the jerboa hindfoot at birth and that these myofibers are rapidly and completely lost soon after by a process that shares features with pathological skeletal muscle atrophy. Here, we apply an intra- and interspecies differential RNA-Seq approach, comparing jerboa and mouse muscles, to identify gene expression differences associated with the initiation and progression of jerboa hindfoot muscle loss. We show evidence for reduced hepatocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor signaling and an imbalance in nitric oxide signaling; all are pathways that are necessary for skeletal muscle development and regeneration. We also find evidence for phagosome formation, which hints at how myofibers may be removed by autophagy or by nonprofessional phagocytes without evidence for cell death or immune cell activation. Last, we show significant overlap between genes associated with jerboa hindfoot muscle loss and genes that are differentially expressed in a variety of human muscle pathologies and rodent models of muscle loss disorders. All together, these data provide molecular insight into the process of evolutionary and developmental muscle loss in jerboa hindfeet.

Clinical study of cervical caries treatment the effectiveness by assessing composite restorations condition

Background. Cervical caries is a fairly common teeth pathology and its treatment is carried out in complicated clinical conditions. Therefore, increasing the term of functioning of composite restorations is an urgent task. Aim. Identification of the effectiveness of a differential approach to dissection of hard dental tissues depending on the depth of enamel microcracks and implementation of professional hygiene in the treatment of cervical caries in the short- and long-term periods. Materials & Methods. The study involved 50 people (average age [23.28±5.52] years) in whom cervical caries was treated in 72 teeth. All patients were divided into three equal groups based on the number of restorations according to the selected dissection technique and the chara­cteristics of professional hygiene. The dissection technique depended on the depth of the enamel microcracks in Main Group I (MG I), the dissection was carried out within the limits of clinically intact hard dental tissues in Control Group (CG) and Main Group II (MG II). The dental biofilm was removed from the vestibular surface of the teeth by the method of air-abrasive cleaning using the erythritol-based powder in MG I and MG II, the vestibular surface of the tooth was cleaned of dental deposits with a polishing paste without fluoride in CG. The quality of restorations was assessed based on the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria on the day of restoration, 6 and 12 months later. The effectiveness of the prescribed treatment was identified by the dynamic indicators of the dental pulp electroexcitability and the electrical conductivity of the enamel. Results. There were no partial or completely destroyed restorations in all terms of the observation period. Composite restorations were preserved according to the criteria of "anatomical shape" and "color matching". One year later restoration defects were absent in 61 teeth (84.72%): in MG I – in 22 (91.67%), in CG – in 19 (79.17%), in MG II – in 20 (83.33%). Recurrent caries and symptoms of hypersensitivity were not identified in MG I. A slightly greater effectiveness of the treatment was noted in MG II group in comparison with CG (by 4.16%) that confirms the importance of removing the dental biofilm before restoration by the method of air-abrasive clea­ning using erythritol. Conclusions. The analysis of the state of restorations in the long-term period showed that the dissection technique and the features of professional hygiene affected their quality before restoration. The number of high-quality composite restorations was by 10.42% more on average in MG I than in the other groups. The obtained results make it possible to recommend the proposed method for using in practical dentistry. Keywords: electroodontology, electroodontometry, microcracks.

Low Speed Impact of an Elastic Ball with Tapes and Clay Court

The study aims to investigate the normal and oblique impact of an elastic sphere (tennis ball) on a granular surface (clay) and two different plastic tape lines. In this research, we model the impact force with a mathematical elastoplastic force model, and a differential approach is used. The model is applied for an impact with granular material (green clay) and plastic surfaces (line tapes). We investigated the normal and oblique impact dynamics of a sphere (tennis ball). The impact duration is divided into two phases: compression with an elastoplastic force and restitution with an elastic force. The laboratory experiments in various configurations are recorded with a high frame-per-second camera and analyzed using image processing methods. The mathematical model for the impact with rebounds is verified with the experimental set-up for the considered surfaces. The viscoelastic and elastic forces agree well with the experimental data. The impact parameters of the granular surface and plastic tapes are compared. The ANOVA test suggests robust statistical significance in the coefficient of restitution between granular surfaces and plastic tapes. Our force model for impact performs well, and the impact responses of the sphere on the granular surface and the plastic line tapes are significantly different.

Allah’s House to Domes of Secularism: Minoritization of Muslims in India

Disputes around the Babri masjid have been crucial for understanding the Muslim subject position in India, also because mosques are public expressions of Muslimness. I read the legal proceedings of the Babri masjid dispute leading to the Supreme Court’s controversial judgment in 2019, tracing the life of Babri masjid unfolding as a mosque, a disputed site and, finally, a Hindu temple. Focusing on the theological and secular claims of Hindu and Muslim litigants, I look at the differential approach to belief and historical claims within the legal adjudication. I especially analyse two strategies, disruption and description, that significantly led to the changes in the attributes of the mosque. Comparing the Babri dispute with the case of the Malappuram mosque dispute in the eighteenth century, this article analyses theological claims on a mosque, asking the question why the Muslim narrative shifted from one rooted in religious reverence, Allah’s house, to one anchored in secular symbolism, the domes of secularism? It would discreetly give an idea of the practice of secularism in India which, as different scholars contend, systematically erases Muslim religiosity from the public space. I suggest reading the anchoring of Muslim claims in secularism as pointing to the crucial changes in the Muslim subject position that is decisively framed through excessive powers of the modern nation-state.

Cognitive functioning associated with acute and subacute effects of classic psychedelics and MDMA - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Classic psychedelics and MDMA have a colorful history of recreational use, and both have recently been re-evaluated as tools for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Several studies have been carried out to assess potential long-term effects of a regular use on cognition, delivering distinct results for psychedelics and MDMA. However, to date knowledge is scarce on cognitive performance during acute effects of those substances. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigate how cognitive functioning is affected by psychedelics and MDMA during the acute drug effects and the sub-acute (“afterglow”) window. Our quantitative analyses suggest that acute cognitive performance is differentially affected by psychedelics when compared to MDMA: psychedelics impair attention and executive function, whereas MDMA primarily affects memory, leaving executive functions and attention unaffected. Our qualitative analyses reveal that executive functioning and creativity may be increased during a window of at least 24 h after the acute effects of psychedelics have subsided, whereas no such results have been observed for MDMA. Our findings may contribute to inform recommendations on harm reduction for recreational settings and to help fostering differential approaches for the use of psychedelics and MDMA within a therapeutic framework.

Impacts of dual carbon emission reduction technology and technology spillovers of deterioration reduction on supply chain system's performances considering government incentives and contract design

Investments in carbon emission reduction and deterioration reduction are important aspects for the firms to construct a low-carbon supply chain systems of deteriorating products with the increasing preferences of customers for environmentally friendly and fresh products. In this study we develop a two-echelon supply chain system consists of one manufacturer and one retailer. The manufacturer implements dual carbon emission reduction technology to strengthen the carbon emission reduction efficiency under cap-and-trade regulation and both manufacturer and the retailer invest in deterioration reduction technology to reduce the deterioration and increase the stock level of the fresh items. To increase the demand, the retailer takes the responsibility of promoting the low-carbon and fresh products among the customers. Deterioration reduction technology spills over from the manufacturer to the retailer. Then a differential game model is formulated and the equilibrium strategies are analysed by Stackelberg differential game approach in long term scenario. Numerical analysis has been done to analyse the theoretical results more rigorously by MATLAB software and sensitivity of some major parameters on the demand and profits of the manufacturer and the retailer have also been done to obtain some managerial insights. The impacts of implementing dual carbon emissions reduction technology and the effects technology spillovers are discussed. The results show that when the manufacturer invests in dual carbon emission reduction technology over single reduction technology, it increases the emission reduction level and hence the environmental performance and also the demand and hence economic profits of the both the supply chain members. If the deterioration reduction technology spills over from the manufacturer to retailer, it increases the profit of the manufacturer but the retailer will be beneficial when his/her marginal profit will be high. In addition, we have incorporated government subsidy on manufacturer's emission reduction investment and a cost-sharing contract on the promotional effort of the retailer in our work and then found that joint impacts of them on the supply chain system. We have shown that these two incentives provide the pareto improved solution for the supply chain system and take the supply chain members to a win-win situation as economically and environmentally. The discussions of the results of this study can be beneficial for the industries which produced deteriorating products and emits high carbon during the production process in terms of taking optimal decisions. It also gives a lesson to the government how to inspired the practitioners towards developing a sustainable system.

The Evolution of Firm Connections in Networks: A Differential Game Approach

Optimal control theory can be employed to gain novel insights on the self-organization and structure of networks. We develop a Cournot differential game to analyse the evolutionary dynamics of firm connections within a network. We determine the feedback (Markovian) Nash equilibrium strategies and the steady state of the model and identify the key factors affecting the strategic choice of network firms. Our model confirms the empirical evidence that network firms tend to increase their own connections over time; moreover, such growing connections are mainly affected by the market size and the spillover rate.

Surgical treatment of brain metastases: problems and nuances

Brain metastases are the most common type of intracranial tumor formation. Modern treatment of brain metastases is a complex problem and traditionally patients with central nervous system lesions have a poor prognosis. However, advances in systemic drug therapy, advances in radiation treatments, and a multidisciplinary approach that individualizes the differential approach to each patient have significantly improved survival rates in this group of patients. Surgical resection plays an important role in the treatment of brain metastases. In this article, we discuss the evolving role of surgery in the treatment of this diverse group of patients with brain metastases.

Kernel-based cumulative sum and differential cumulative sum approaches for resilient fault detection in LVDC microgrids

The energy industry is rapidly shifting from conventional to smart grid systems, involving advancements in microgrids and power management systems. However, achieving desired outcomes with the existing grid setup poses significant challenges. To address the above issues, adopting a Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC) distribution system provides successful operational advantages. The primary objective of this work is to improve the system's security by developing a more resilient fault detection scheme. The presented work has proposed a Kernel-based Cumulative Sum (K-CUSUM) and Kernel-based Differential Cumulative Sum (K-DCUSUM) technique which is designed to identify changes in data under fewer assumptions. Instead of using the classical Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) technique, the K-CUSUM and K-DCUSUM methods use a non-parametric MMD testing framework to evaluate incoming data by comparing it to reference distribution samples. Further, a comprehensive analysis is undertaken on an LVDC test system, considering fault scenarios involving pole-to-pole and pole-to-ground configurations. This research encompassed the determination of fault location, evaluation of fault resistance, examination of noise introduction, and an exploration of the influence of photovoltaic (PV) penetration. Moreover, the proposed approach is tested for a standard LVDC Microgrid. The results are compared with other contemporary techniques and recent literature.

Expansion and differentiation of human neural stem cells on synthesized integrin binding peptide surfaces

The extracellular matrix plays a crucial role in the growth of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) by forming a stem cell niche, both in vitro and in vivo. The demand for defined synthetic substrates has been increasing recently in stem cell research, reflecting the requirements for precise functions and safety concerns in potential clinical approaches. In this study, we tested the adhesion and expansion of one of the most representative hNSC lines, the ReNcell VM Human Neural Progenitor Cell Line, in a pure-synthesized short peptide-based in vitro niche using a previously established integrin-binding peptide array. Spontaneous cell differentiation was then induced using two different in vitro approaches to further confirm the multipotent features of cells treated with the peptides. Twelve different integrin-binding peptides were capable of supporting hNSC adhesion and expansion at varied proliferation rates. In the ReNcell medium-based differentiation approach, cells detached in almost all peptide-based groups, except integrin α5β1 binding peptide. In an altered differentiation process induced by retinoic acid containing neural differentiation medium, cell adhesion was retained in all 12 peptide groups. These peptides also appeared to have varied effects on the differentiation potential of hNSCs towards neurons and astrocytes. Our findings provide abundant options for the development of in vitro neural stem cell niches and will help develop promising tools for disease modeling and future stem cell therapies for neurological diseases.

Price and product innovation competition with network effects and consumers’ adaptive learning: A differential game approach

For many high-tech and Internet related products, the utility of consumers depends partly on the scale of user groups, which is called network effects. In this paper, we formulate a differential game model to investigate the joint price and product innovation competition in a market exhibiting network effects. In the spirit of behavior economics, the consumers’ adaptive learning about network size is considered. The unique steady-state equilibrium is analytically characterized under both committed and feedback information structures. Our analysis mainly shows that (i) the network effects have negative influence on the result of price competition but have nothing to do with the result of product innovation competition under the premise of low market density; (ii) the marginal impact of network effects on the steady-state price is decreasing with the consumers’ learning speed; (iii) in the long-run, the product price converges to the level either higher or lower than the stationary price, depending on the strength of network effects; (iv) in a market where the consumers are extremely sensitive to the product price, the quality provision is insufficient compared with the first-best optimal level regardless of the choice of solution concept. The dynamic evolution patterns of the price and product innovation competition are illustrated by numerical experiments.

Novel Caputo fractional differential approach and hybrid control scheme for finite‐time synchronization of nonidentical delayed reaction–diffusion neural networks

AbstractThis work focuses on the finite‐time synchronization (F‐TS) for nonidentical delayed neural networks (DNNs) including Caputo fractional partial differential operator and reaction–diffusion terms. A novel F‐TS lemma is proposed by constructing a new Caputo differential inequality. Applying the new lemma and designing two hybrid controllers with time delay and the sign function, the F‐TS criteria on the introduced Caputo reaction–diffusion nonidentical DNNs under the Neumann boundary condition are derived by making use of the Filippov differential inclusion, Green's theorem, and fractional Razumikhin theorem. The conditions are expressed through the algebraic inequality which can greatly decrease the computation in checking the F‐TS performance. Moreover, the validity and correctness of the F‐TS results are illustrated by selecting various orders, spatial positions, and diffusion parameters.

A peridynamic differential operator modeling approach for ceramic matrix composites microstructure with uniform or non-uniform discretization

Based on the theory of peridynamic differential operator (PDDO), a novel three-dimensional (3D) peridynamic (PD) model for isotropic and orthotropic material is proposed to investigate the elastic mechanical behaviors and stress distribution of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) microstructure. The non-local expressions of strain and stress tensors are derived by employing PDDO and the classical constitutive equations. The bond forces in interface region crossing two different constituent materials are obtained by converting the partial differential terms into the non-local forms. The weak form of PD equations of motion is derived by using the principle of virtual work and PDDO. The validity of this approach is verified by predicting the elastic response and stress distributions of isotropic and orthotropic materials under uniaxial tension and pure shear deformation. Finally, simulations are conducted on a CMC microstructure with fiber and matrix under periodic boundary conditions. It is demonstrated that the current approach can effectively build 3D CMC microstructure with uniform or non-uniform discretization, and accurately predict the stress fields and effective elastic properties.

Polatuzumab vedotin in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma therapy: Literature review and experience of the Oncohematology Division of the Lapino Clinical Hospital

Study of molecular and genetic features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) suggests differential approach to treatment of this aggressive B-cell disorder characterized by short remission after each subsequent therapy line. Therefore, more effective regimens should be used at earlier stages. Identification of biological markers and their integration into prognostic scales can help to personalize therapy, especially in patients with high risk of quick progression and increase survival.Our own experience of using immunoconjugate polatuzumab vedotin in therapy of patients with DLBCL. The use of Pola-BR combination in a patient with refractory non-GCB DLBCL allowed to achieve full remission alongside satisfactory tolerability and absence of significant adverse events. An evaluation of the Pola-R-CHP regimen in treatment of a patient with newly diagnosed generalized GCB DLBCL is presented.

Natural Hydrogels Support Kidney Organoid Generation and Promote In Vitro Angiogenesis.

To date, strategies aiming to modulate cell to extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions during organoid derivation remain largely unexplored. Here renal decellularized ECM (dECM) hydrogels are fabricated from porcine and human renal cortex as biomaterials to enrich cell-to-ECM crosstalk during the onset of kidney organoid differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Renal dECM-derived hydrogels are used in combination with hPSC-derived renal progenitor cells to define new approaches for 2Dand 3Dkidney organoid differentiation, demonstrating that in the presence of these biomaterials the resulting kidney organoids exhibit renal differentiation features and the formation of an endogenous vascular component. Based on these observations, a new method to produce kidney organoids with vascular-like structures is achieved through the assembly of hPSC-derived endothelial-like organoids with kidney organoids in 3D. Major readouts of kidney differentiation and renal cell morphology are assessed exploiting these culture platforms as new models of nephrogenesis. Overall, this work shows that exploiting cell-to-ECM interactions during the onset of kidney differentiation from hPSCs facilitates and optimizes current approaches for kidney organoid derivation thereby increasing the utility of these unique cell culture platforms for personalized medicine.

Achieving local differential location privacy protection in 3D space via Hilbert encoding and optimized random response

The widespread use of spatial location-based services not only provides considerable convenience, but also exposes the downsides of location privacy leakage. Most of the existing user-side location privacy protection techniques are limited to planar locations. However, the extensive use of aircraft, sensor equipment and acquisition devices with positioning functions promotes the urgency of protecting the privacy of 3D spatial locations. Therefore, this study suggests a local differential privacy protection approach for 3D spatial locations. A 3D spatial decomposition and Hilbert encoding method are designed to reduce the 3D location data into one-dimensional encoding. The optimized random response mechanism was utilized to perturb the dimensional-reduced location encoding, which not only achieves user-side location privacy protection but also improves the accuracy of aggregated data on the server-side. Experiments on the real spatial location datasets show that the suggested method can reduce spatial location service quality loss, maintain the availability of perturbed spatial location and improve the operation efficiency of the spatial location perturbation algorithm.

Altruistic behavior and international environmental agreements: a differential game approach

AbstractIn the last three decades International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) have been widely analyzed. Classic models predict that only coalitions formed by a few countries can be stable, generating a rich literature devoted to solving the small coalition puzzle. The fundamental idea behind the great part of the literature is that players are selfish: to achieve a large stable coalition it is necessary to design an agreement that includes a credible system of incentives or punishments. The aim of this model is to study the effects, on equilibrium strategies and on the stability of an IEA, of players that do not look only at their own interests, but that take care of the wellness of the other players in coalition. Following the approach of the Paris Agreement in 2015, countries that join the coalition do not decide emissions collectively, but each of them sets their own emissions. The model is the usual two-step game: first the players have to choose whether they want to join the coalition or not, in the second step they solve a Nash differential game to find the optimal emissions. The stability of the coalition is studied in two cases: (i) with the classic internal and external stability, (ii) defining an altruistic stability condition.

An efficient measure for controlling pollution in the dye industry: Experimental and DFT investigations on direct determination of 3-(N,N-diethylamino)acetanilide

The rapid expansion of the dye industry has led to severe environmental pollution. The lack of real-time direct determination methods for dye intermediates is a key factor in high pollution emissions and low product quality in the continuous synthesis of dyes. This study proposes an accessible, fast, and precise approach for the clean and direct determination of 3-(N,N-Diethylamino)acetanilide (DEAA), a dye intermediate used in the synthesis of the azo dye Disperse Violet 93:1. For precise DEAA quantification, we developed a multi-pathlength and multi-wavelength coupled differential photometric approach based on the absorption spectra characteristics of DEAA at various concentrations and optical pathlengths. A relatively stable analytical sensitivity (0.5671–66.2630) and a large concentration range of 0.01–11% were obtained. Compared to the traditional single-optical pathlength and single-wavelength quantification, this new method possessed 119 times higher sensitivity. The maximum quantitative relative error decreased from 9.17% to 2.44%. The orbital contribution and distinctive peak electronic excitation mechanism of DEAA were uncovered using TD-DFT. By comparing the oscillator strength and peak position variations between the target DEAA and coexisting sulfuric acid, the unique spectral behavior of DEAA, such as its high sensitivity and selectivity, was explained. In addition to providing a reference for real-time industrial dye and intermediate monitoring, this study lays the methodological groundwork for future research. In light of the new method's short time consumption and non-secondary pollution benefits, we further believe it will be crucial in controlling the industrial synthesis process in order to improve product quality, resource conversion efficiency, and effectively prevent excessive pollution generation.

Multi-agent dynamic financial portfolio management: a differential game approach

Multi-agent dynamic financial portfolio management: a differential game approach