Energy Levels Research Articles

Consumption of energy drinks among medical university students in Kazakhstan

Abstract Objectives Due to lack of information and deceptive advertising, young people widely consume energy drinks, although they should be careful because of their contents. Energy drinks contain high amounts of caffeine, sugar, and other additives that can stimulate the body. They can cause irritability, anxiety, insomnia and can increase heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Aim of this research was to study consumption of energy drinks among medical university students in Kazakhstan. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect information. Students enrolled in various courses at the medical university, including interns and residents, were invited to participate. A total of 764 respondents took part in the survey. Results Among the trainees, 41.4 % had consumed caffeinated energy drinks in the past six months, and at the time of the survey, 16.2 % of the respondents had consumed these drinks. Respondents who do not drink alcohol are 3 times (p<0.001) more likely not to use energy drinks compared to those who drink alcohol. Those who do not exercise are 4.7 times (p<0.001) more likely not to consume energy drinks compared to active athletes. Participants who had not consumed caffeinated energy drinks in the past six months were 1.8 times (p<0.001) more likely not to consume energy drinks compared to those who drank them. Conclusions Consumption of energy drinks by students can temporarily increase physical and mental performance, improve mood and raise energy levels, while at the same time, they also come with serious health risks. Therefore, educating students about the potential risks and the importance of a healthy lifestyle is essential.

Roles of shallow energy level defect states on amplified spontaneous emission enhancement of CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite crystals

Abstract In this work, we demonstrated the role of shallow energy level defect states on the emission of CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite polycrystals under laser excitation. The perovskite polycrystals were synthesized by a simple, one-step, low-cost solution self-assembled method. By adjusting the sample preparation temperature from 303 to 373 K, we could manipulate the number of shallow energy level defect states, which were evaluated through low-temperature photoluminescence measurement. This led to an evolution of the CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite polycrystals’ emission from amplified spontaneous emission to random lasing emission. As a result, the most efficient lasing threshold of 4 μJ/mm2 was achieved with the CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite polycrystals synthesized at the optimum temperature of 333 K. Furthermore, the surface morphologies and the crystal structure of the CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite polycrystals were also taken into consideration to unravel the role of defects in the CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite polycrystals.

Preparation of novel fluorinated highly branched (A3 + B3)‐type hyperbranched poly(amide‐imides) for electrochromism and iodine adsorption

AbstractIn this study, a series of (A3 + B3)‐type fluorinated hyperbranched poly(amide‐imides) were successfully synthesized with carbazole and fluorene units as end‐capping moieties. All synthesized end‐capping hyperbranched PAIs showed over 70% branching as determined by 1H NMR, demonstrating good solubility and thermal stability (Tgs: 242–263°C, T10%: 576–629°C). The HOMO and LUMO energy levels of hyperbranched PAI films were measured at 4.65–4.73 and 1.51–1.66 eV, respectively, suggesting favorable reoxidation and reduction characteristics. PAI‐2 demonstrates a 46.6% transmittance variation (∆T, 418 nm), along with a coloring/bleaching process time of 2.3 s/1.6 s, a coloring efficiency (CE) of 310 cm2/C, and exceptional redox stability over 100 cycles. Furthermore, the synthesized PAIs containing electron‐withdrawing groups exhibited a high iodine adsorption capacity as determined by iodine adsorption tests (PAI‐1: 534 mg/g, PAI‐2: 579 mg/g, PAI‐3: 490 mg/g).

Conductivity optimisation of graphene oxide-M13 bacteriophage nanocomposites: towards graphene-based gas micronano-sensors

Graphene oxide (GO) and M13 bacteriophage can self-assemble to form ultra-low density porous structures, known as GraPhage13 aerogels (GPA). Due to the insulating nature of GPA and the challenges in producing highly conductive aerogels, it is paramount to explore ways to enhance the conductivity of GPA. Herein, we have developed a method to enhance the conductivity of GPA, via the integration and optimisation of 5 nm and 20 nm diameter gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into the aerogel structure and systematically analysed the morphology, composition and spectroscopic properties of the resulting GPA-Au nanocomposite. The fabricated GPA-Au nanocomposites exhibited remarkable increases in conductivity, with the integration of 5 nm AuNPs leading to a 53-fold increase compared to GPA, achieving a performance of up to 360 nS/cm, which is within the range suitable for miniaturised semiconductor devices. The mechanism behind the conductivity enhancement was further investigated and attributed to GO-AuNP interactions increasing the carrier density by introducing new energy levels in the GO band gap or shifting its Fermi level towards the conduction band. These findings demonstrate the potential of functionalised AuNPs to significantly improve the electrical properties of GPA, paving the way for their application in gas sensors for biological and chemical detection and a new range of advanced semiconductor devices.

Theoretical Investigation on Carbazole Derivatives as Charge Carriers for Perovskite Solar Cell

The study explores carbazole‐based organic molecules as transport layers in durable perovskite solar cells, focusing on their optoelectronic and charge transfer properties. Thirteen carbazole derivatives are systematically analyzed via density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand their structure and optoelectronic characteristics. Substituents like bromo, phenyl, thiophenyl, and pyridyl at positions 3,6‐ and 2,7‐ of carbazole were studied. Phenyl and thiophenyl substitutions lowered highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels, while bromo and pyridyl increased them, tuning HOMO energies from −5.45 to −6.03 eV. These energies align well with perovskite materials valence bands, with absorbance primarily below 400 nm, complementing perovskite absorption. The compounds showed high light‐harvesting efficiencies (LHEs) (0.22 to 0.94) and improved radiative lifetimes. Theoretical investigations identified most compounds as effective p‐type hole‐transport materials (HTM), except 3,6‐ and 2,7‐dithiophenyl carbazoles, which exhibited n‐type behavior due to low hole reorganization energies. Overall, the study highlights computational design's role in developing carbazole derivatives as promising charge carrier precursors for perovskite solar cells.

Energy spectra with the Dirac equation of the q-deformed generalized Pöschl-Teller potential via the Feynman approach for .

The diatomic molecules of potassium is widely used in industrial chemicals and alternative energy. Besides that, is very useful for researching molecular interactions and energy states, especially in the context of quantum chemistry and spectroscopy. In the present work, a newly proposed diatomic potential model within relativistic and non-relativistic quantum mechanics has been considered, to obtain corresponding energy eigenvalues and related normalized eigenfunctions. The Dirac equation has been solved for an arbitrary spin-orbit quantum number using the path integral technique with the -deformed generalized Pöschl-Teller potential . By including a Pekeris-type approximation to handle the centrifugal factor, it was possible to obtain the spin and pseudospin-symmetric solution of the relativistic energy eigenvalues and wave equation. To assess the correctness of this work, Maple software was used to present some numerical findings for various values of and . With the constraint , it was shown that in the situation of pseudospin symmetry, only bound states exist with negative energy. In the non-relativistic limits, the non-relativistic ro-vibrational energy expression of the diatomic molecule is derived from the relativistic energy equation under spin symmetry. Under Varshni conditions, both vibrational and ro-vibrational energies of the molecule were computed and compared with the data. The average absolute percentage deviations from the data obtained for the potassium molecule are . This demonstrates that the model is a very consistent model to study and characterize diatomic molecules.

In silico analysis predicts mutational consequences of CITED2, NUDT4, and Ar18B in patients with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood-related disorder, which can be portrayed as extreme shifts in energy, mood, and activity levels which can also be characterized by manic highs and depressive lows that can be often misdiagnosed as unipolar disorder due to primitive diagnostics techniques based on clinical assessments as well as diagnostic complexities arising due to its heterogeneous nature and overlapping symptoms with conditions like schizophrenia. leading to delays in treatment Strong evidence in support of genetic and epigenetic aspects of bipolar disorder, including mechanisms such as compromised hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune-inflammatory imbalances, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are found. Moreover, some previous research has already stated the role of genes like CITED2, NUDT4, and Arl8B in these processes. The primary goal of this study is to investigate the involvement of the genes in exploring and validating their potential as biomarkers for bipolar disorder. In silico tools like MutationTaster, PolyPhen2, SIFT, GTEx, PhenoScanner, and RegulomeDB were used to perform mutational and gene expression analyses. Results revealed potentially dangerous mutations caused in CITED2, NUDT4, and Arl8B, those which can have diverse outcomes. RegulomeDB, GTEx, and PhenoScanner reveal the involvement of these genes in various brain regions highlighting their relevance to bipolar disorder. This analysis suggests the potential utility of CITED2, NUDT4, and Arl8B as diagnostic markers hence shedding light on their roles to elaborate the molecular range of bipolar disorder. The study also contributes to providing valuable insights into the genetic and molecular basis of bipolar disorders.

Structural Insight into Wild Type of Arginine Deiminase Protein and its Three Mutated Versions in Complex with Arginine Molecule: A Computational Approach

Aims: This study aims to analyze the wild type of arginine deiminase and three mutant forms of it (G320L, A303R, and E304L) in complex with arginine molecule using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation to find the best enzyme form with a lower level of energy and more stability. Background: Arginine Deiminase (ADI) is an arginine-degrading enzyme that has an anticancer effect on some cancers, such as Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and melanoma. Methods: Homology models of native and mutant forms of ADI were generated and evaluated using the I-TASSER and other databases and prediction algorithms. All prepared enzyme structures via homology modeling were used as receptors in the molecular docking and MD simulation steps. Results: MD simulation results demonstrated that the G302L structure has the lowest value of Rg over MD simulation time, indicating its more appropriate intramolecular interactions than other structures. G302L has also established the most desirable interactions with arginine molecules during 80 ns MD simulation so that the G302L/ arginine complex has the maximum intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Arginine molecule in complex with G302L has the best position in the active site of ADI protein. Conclusion: The G302L mutant ADI from Mycoplasma hominis can be a good candidate for better stability in arginine deprivation therapy in arginine auxotrophic cancers.

Ultrafast Charge Transfer in a Core-shell CdS@Cu-TCPP-Pt Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Coupled with Selective Benzylamine Oxidation.

Photocatalytic selective oxidation of organic substances coupled with hydrogen production is believed to be one of the most favorable pathways to make full use of photogenerated charge carriers. However, this catalytic reaction is often discouraged due to the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers in practical applications. In this work, a core-shell CdS@Cu-TCPP-Pt nanorod heterojunction was dexterously designed for boosting the photocatalytic dehydrogenation performance of benzylamine. The transient absorption results revealed that the photogenerated electron-holes could be effectively separated by properly matching the energy levels in CdS@Cu-TCPP. Surprisingly, Pt embedded in Cu-TCPP not only provided abundant hydrogen production active sites but also facilitated ultrafast charge transfer, which endowed CdS@Cu-TCPP-Pt with remarkable photocatalytic performances for the coproductions of N-benzylidenebenzylamine (1 mL) with a conversion of 23.48% and H2 (20.75 mmol g-1 h-1) under visible irradiation, far surpassing those of CdS and Cu-TCPP. Obviously, the present work verifies that designing and fabricating a hybrid photocatalyst with high separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs is also a significant avenue for other high-performance cooperative dual-functional photocatalytic reactions.

Multi-scale Hierarchical Organic Photocatalytic Platform for Self-Suspending Sacrificial Hydrogen Production from Seawater.

The widespread application of photocatalysis for converting solar energy and seawater into hydrogen is generally hindered by limited catalyst activity and the lack of sustainable large-scale platforms. Here, a multi-scale hierarchical organic photocatalytic platform was developed, combining a photosensitive molecular heterojunction with a molecular-scale gradient energy level alignment and micro-nanoscale hierarchical pore structures. The ternary system facilitates efficient charge transfer and enhances photocatalytic activity compared to conventional donor-acceptor pairs. Meanwhile, the super-wetted hierarchical interfaces of the platform endow it with the ability to repeatedly capture light and self-suspend below the water surface, which simultaneously improves the light utilization efficiency, and reduces the adverse effects of salt deposition. Under a Xe lamp illumination, the hydrogen evolution rate of this organic platform utilizing a sacrificial agent can reach 165.8 mmol h-1 m-2, exceeding that of mostly inorganic systems as reported. And upon constructing a scalable system, the platform produced 80.6 ml m-2 of hydrogen from seawater within five hours at noon. More importantly, the outcomes suggest an innovative multi-scale approach that bridges disciplines, advancing the frontier of sustainable seawater hydrogen production driven by solar energy.

Fully relativistic energies, transition properties, and lifetimes of lithium-like Germanium

Abstract Employing two fully relativistic methods, the Multi-reference Configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) method and the Relativistic Many-Body Perturbation Theory (RMBPT) method, we report energies and lifetime values for the lowest 35 energy levels of the (1s$^2)nl$ configurations (where the principal quantum number $n$ = 2-6 and the angular quantum number $l$ = 0,...,$n$-1) of lithium-like Germanium (Ge XXX), as well as complete data on the transition wavelengths, radiative rates, absorption oscillator strengths, and line strengths between the levels. Both the allowed (E1) and forbidden (magnetic dipole M1, magnetic quadrupole M2, and electric quadrupole E2) ones are reported. The results from the two methods are consistent with each other and align well with previous accurate experimental and theoretical findings. We assess the overall accuracies of present RMBPT results to be likely the most precise ones to date. The present fully relativistic results should be helpful for soft X-ray laser research, spectral line identification, plasma modeling and diagnosing.

Nonlinear parametric generation and optical vortex transfer in graphene ensemble under Landau quantization

We explore the dynamics of nonlinear parametric generation and light beam propagation in a Landau-quantized graphene structure with three energy levels interacting with two laser pulses, utilizing the Maxwell-Bloch equations. By applying a laser field to one transition of the graphene sample while keeping the second beam initially absent, the distinctive preparation of the graphene sample, coupled with its weak interaction with laser radiation, results in the parametric generation of a new laser beam in a different transition. We investigate the influence of diverse system parameters on both the efficiency of the generated beam and the propagation dynamics of both beams. Our findings reveal that manipulating these parameters can induce oscillations in the intensity of propagated beams, mitigate absorption losses during propagation allowing for earlier relaxation, and enhance the efficiency of energy transfer from the initial to the generated beam. Additionally, we demonstrate the transfer of optical vortices within the graphene ensemble by introducing an optical vortex to the initial beam. This scheme holds promise for applications in high-dimensional quantum information processing.

Interface Energy‐Level Reorganization for Efficient Perovskite γ‐Ray Detectors

Metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for γ‐ray spectrum detectors. However, achieving high‐resolution energy spectra in single‐photon pulse‐height analysis mode remains challenging, due to the inevitable leakage currents degrade the recognizable fingerprint energies which is critical for resolving γ‐ray spectroscopy. We demonstrate under high bias voltage, a deficient contact barrier can lead to excessive surface charge injection, thereby increasing leakage current from electrodes to perovskites. Hence, we conceive to employ surface ligand engineering on perovskite single crystals to manipulate energy levels to suppress leakage current. In particular, anchoring a strong dipole ligand onto the perovskite induced surface charge‐density displacement, leading to a downward band bending and heightened the corresponding contact barrier. Consequently, the strategy minimized the detectors’leakage current by an order of magnitude, to as low as 44 nA cm‐2. The resulting detectors show a significant improvement in energy resolution, 3.9% for 22Na 511 keV γ‐rays has been achieved at room temperature. The resulting detector further resolves each fingerprint energy for 152Eu γ‐spectrum, representing one of the best γ‐rays perovskite detectors reported to date. Moreover, the detectors exhibited stabilized energy resolution without any degradation under a continuous electric field for over 300 minutes, representing the longest longevity reported to date.

Interface Energy-Level Reorganization for Efficient Perovskite γ-Ray Detectors.

Metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for γ-rayspectrum detectors. However, achieving high-resolution energy spectra in single-photon pulse-height analysis mode remains challenging, due to the inevitable leakage currents degrade the recognizable fingerprint energies which is critical for resolving γ-ray spectroscopy. We demonstrate under high bias voltage, a deficient contact barrier can lead to excessive surface charge injection, thereby increasing leakage current from electrodes to perovskites. Hence, we conceive to employ surface ligand engineering on perovskite single crystals to manipulate energy levels to suppress leakage current. In particular, anchoring a strong dipole ligand onto the perovskite induced surface charge-density displacement, leading to a downward band bending and heightened the corresponding contact barrier. Consequently, the strategy minimized the detectors'leakage current by an order of magnitude, to as low as 44 nA cm-2. The resulting detectors show a significant improvement in energy resolution, 3.9% for 22Na 511 keV γ-rays has been achieved at room temperature. The resulting detector further resolves each fingerprint energy for 152Eu γ-spectrum, representing one of the best γ-rays perovskite detectors reported to date. Moreover, the detectors exhibited stabilized energy resolution without any degradation under a continuous electric fieldfor over 300 minutes, representing the longest longevity reported to date.

Variational damage model: A novel consistent approach to fracture

The computational modeling of fractures in solids using damage mechanics faces challenge when dealing with complex crack topologies. One effective approach to address this challenge is by reformulating damage mechanics within a variational framework. In this paper, we present a novel variational damage model that incorporates a threshold value to prevent damage initiation at low energy levels. The proposed model defines fracture energy density (ϕ˜) and damage field (s) based on the energy density (ϕ), crack energy release rate (Gc), and crack length scale (ℓ). Specifically, if ϕ≤Gc2ℓ, then ϕ˜=ϕ and s=0; otherwise, ϕ˜=−Gc24ℓ21ϕ+Gcℓ and s=1−Gc2ℓ1ϕ. Furthermore, we extend the model with a threshold value to a higher-order version. Utilizing this functional, we derive the governing equation for fractures that evolve automatically with ease. The formulation can be seamlessly integrated into conventional finite element methods for elastic solids with minimal modifications. The proposed formulation offers sharper crack interfaces compared to phase field methods using the same mesh density. We demonstrate the capabilities of our approach through representative numerical examples in both 2D and 3D, including static fracture problems, cohesive fractures, and dynamic fractures. The open-source code is available on GitHub via the link https://github.com/hl-ren/vdm.

Multi‐scale Hierarchical Organic Photocatalytic Platform for Self‐Suspending Sacrificial Hydrogen Production from Seawater

The widespread application of photocatalysis for converting solar energy and seawater into hydrogen is generally hindered by limited catalyst activity and the lack of sustainable large‐scale platforms. Here, a multi‐scale hierarchical organic photocatalytic platform was developed, combining a photosensitive molecular heterojunction with a molecular‐scale gradient energy level alignment and micro‐nanoscale hierarchical pore structures. The ternary system facilitates efficient charge transfer and enhances photocatalytic activity compared to conventional donor‐acceptor pairs. Meanwhile, the super‐wetted hierarchical interfaces of the platform endow it with the ability to repeatedly capture light and self‐suspend below the water surface, which simultaneously improves the light utilization efficiency, and reduces the adverse effects of salt deposition. Under a Xe lamp illumination, the hydrogen evolution rate of this organic platform utilizing a sacrificial agent can reach 165.8 mmol h−1 m−2, exceeding that of mostly inorganic systems as reported. And upon constructing a scalable system, the platform produced 80.6 ml m−2 of hydrogen from seawater within five hours at noon. More importantly, the outcomes suggest an innovative multi‐scale approach that bridges disciplines, advancing the frontier of sustainable seawater hydrogen production driven by solar energy.

Ion Leakage Current Control for Polycrystalline Metal Halide Perovskite Direct X-ray Detectors.

Metal halide perovskites have emerged as promising materials for X-ray detection due to their high X-ray attenuation coefficients, defect tolerance, and suitability for large-area, low-temperature fabrication. However, the intrinsic high ion conductivity of these materials presents challenges, such as high dark current density and current drift, which impair the stability and sensitivity of perovskite X-ray detectors. This study introduces an approach to mitigating these issues by incorporating 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropylamine hydrochloride (PFH) into polycrystalline MAPbI3-xClx films using a one-step blade-coating method. PFH aggregates at grain boundaries, raising local vacuum energy levels and passivating surface defects, thereby reducing ion conductivity without affecting electron conductivity. As a result, this approach significantly reduces the dark current and enhances sensitivity, achieving a low detection limit of 14.7 nGyair/s. Additionally, it improves signal stability, consistency, and response speed of the detector. These findings suggest that PFH is a promising additive for advancing the performance and practical application of polycrystalline metal halide perovskite-based X-ray detectors.

Effects of Clinic-Based and Telerehabilitation-Based Motor Control Exercises in Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain - A Randomized Controlled Trial with 3-Month Follow-Up.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of clinic-based and telerehabilitation-based motor control exercises in individuals with chronic low back pain three months post-treatment. Forty-two participants were randomized to either clinic-based or telerehabilitation-based groups, performing exercises three times weekly for eight weeks. Assessments were conducted pre-intervention, post-intervention and one and three months after the intervention. The primary outcome was pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale) for low back pain. Both exercise approaches were found to be similarly effective in improving pain disability, quality of life (except for emotional response, energy level, sleep, and social isolation), and pain catastrophizing at all follow-up time points. The Visual Analog Scale showed a significant reduction in pain from baseline at all time points in both groups (P<0.001), with effect sizes ranging from moderate to strong. Nottingham Health Profile showed significant improvements in physical activity, pain, and total score, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to strong. No significant changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters were observed in either group. According to the post-intervention intention-to-treat analysis, lumbar flexion range of motion showed significant improvements in both groups with small effect sizes. Telerehabilitation-based motor control exercises proved as effective as clinic-based methods in treating chronic low back pain, offering a viable alternative tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

Infrared optical spectra of a silicene quantum dot modulated by spin-orbit coupling and uniaxial strain

Abstract We theoretically study the electronic structure and light absorption spectra of a triangular silicene quantum dot (TZSQD) modulated by spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and the uniaxial strain from a symmetry point of view. After considering the SOC, the symmetry of the system decreases and the degenerate energy level split, creating the absorption peaks in the far infrared region and some multimodal structures in the near-infrared region and visible region. In addition, the intensity of the SOC also affects the degree of splitting of the energy levels, which makes the absorption peaks in the far infrared region are blueshifted to the mid-infrared region, and absorption edge in the near infrared region is redshifted to the mid-infrared region. We also find that when a uniaxial strain and SOC coexist at the same time, the symmetry of the system is further reduced, and the number of absorption peaks is increased. Moreover, the uniaxial strain intensity can efficiently regulate the frequency position of the absorption edge in the near-infrared region, and make its spectral range greatly expanded.

Existence and asymptotical behavior of solutions of a class of parabolic systems with homogeneous nonlinearity

In this paper we investigate the global existence and asymptotical stability of solutions to a class of parabolic systems with homogeneous nonlinearity for both bounded and unbounded domains. First we prove both global existence and finite time blow-up of solutions of the system for different initial conditions by using the potential well method, and the asymptotic behavior of the solutions are also considered. On the other hand, we also obtain global existence and finite time blow-up of solutions for both Sobolev subcritical and critical cases. We use a method of comparing least energy levels with that of semitrivial solutions to overcome the difficulties here.