Lower Values Research Articles

Prevalence and Correlates of Dry Eye in a German Population Sample.

In this cross-sectional survey, we assessed the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in a representative German population sample. In addition, we examined the associations between DED, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and level of fatigue. Finally, we further validated the German version of the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire and present norm data of the German population. A random sample of German residents aged 16 years and older was recruited between October and December 2021. All participants completed the SPEED, Short Form 36, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20 questionnaires. Of the 2495 participants who completed the survey, 450 (21.6%; 95% confidence intervals 20.0-23.1) reported a SPEED total score of ≥4, indicating a positive screening for DED. DED was significantly more common in women and older age. Participants who screened positive for DED reported significantly higher levels of fatigue and lower values in all domains of HRQoL. A receiver operating characteristic curve of the SPEED was generated using an ophthalmologist's diagnosis. The area under the curve was estimated to be 0.886 (95% confidence intervals 0.858-0.913). A cutoff score ≥4 seemed to be appropriate as an indicator of DED. Cronbach's α was excellent (0.95). DED is common in the German population. We confirmed associations with sex, age, HRQoL, and fatigue level, indicating a high burden of DED. The German version of the SPEED is a valid instrument for the assessment of DED symptoms.

Multiple faults detection in doubly-fed induction generator wind turbine using artificial neural network

The development of fault detection methods in wind turbine (WT), especially for single fault detection, is continuously increasing. However, the rapid growth of fault detection in WT leads to another challenge where multiple faults can occur. The single fault detection method in WT is no longer reliable, especially when multiple faults occur simultaneously. Therefore, multiple faults detection in doubly-fed induction generators (DFIG) WT was proposed using an artificial neural networks (ANN) model. These multiple faults include internal and external stator faults happening simultaneously. Internal stator faults cover inter-turn short circuit faults and open circuit faults, while external stator faults cover loss of excitation and external short circuit faults. The performance of the developed multiple faults detection model was measured using accuracy and the root mean square error (RMSE) value. The results show that the developed model performs well with high accuracy and a low RMSE value. Thus, the developed model can accurately detect the coexistence of multiple faults in DFIG WT.

Lungs Tumor Classification using Convolutional Neural Network

The research focuses on classifying lung cancer using the VGG-19 architecture. The datasets were sourced from Iraq-Oncology Teaching Hospital with 70% of the data allocated for training and 30% for testing. Performance metrics were computed to evaluate the effectiveness of the classification method. Python is utilized for designing the algorithm and executed using Goggle Colab. The lung tumor classification using VGG-19 offers an accuracy of 95%, sensitivity of 88.79%, specificity of 98.25 %, and F1-Score of 93.28%. However, the low sensitivity value indicates that the VGG-19 architecture is not accurately predicting benign and malignant cases.

Decision tree-based approach to extrapolate life cycle inventory data of manufacturing processes

Life cycle assessment (LCA) plays a crucial role in green manufacturing to uncover the critical aspects for alleviating the environmental burdens due to manufacturing processes. However, the scarcity of life cycle inventory (LCI) data for the manufacturing processes is a considerable challenge. This paper proposes a novel approach to extrapolate LCI data of manufacturing processes. Taking advantage of LCI data in the Ecoinvent datasets, decision tree-based supervised machine learning models, namely decision tree, random forest, gradient boosting, and adaptive boosting, have been developed to extrapolate the data of GHG emissions, i.e., carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and water vapor. Initially, a correlation analysis was conducted to derive the most influential factors on GHG quantities resulting from manufacturing activities. First, the collected data have been preprocessed and split into train and test sets (70% and 30%, respectively). Second, a five-fold cross-validation method was applied to tune the hyperparameters of the models. Then, the models were re-trained using the best hyperparameters and evaluated using the test set. The results reveal that the Gradient Boosting model has a superior predictive performance for extrapolating the GHG emission data, with average coefficients of determination (R2) on the test set <0.95. Moreover, the model predictions involve relatively low values of the average root mean squared error and an average mean percentage of error on the test set. The correlation and feature importance analyses emphasized that the workpiece material and manufacturing technology have a considerable effect on natural resource consumption, i.e., energy, material, and water inflows into the process. Meanwhile, energy consumption, water usage, and raw aluminum depletion were the most influential factors in GHG emissions. Eventually, a case study to extrapolate the inflows and the outflows for new manufacturing activities has been conducted using the validated models. The proposed GraBoost model provides a computational supplementary approach to estimate and extrapolate the GHG emissions for different manufacturing processes when LCI data are incomplete or don't exist within LCI databases.

Integration of a Bismuth-Based Tris-Mononuclear Complex with 2D Functional Materials for Highly Efficient and Durable Aqueous Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

The eminence of transitioning from traditional fossil fuel-based energy resources to renewable and sustainable energy sources is most evidently crucial. The potential of hydrogen as an alternative energy source has specifically focuses the electrocatalytic water splitting (EWS) as a promising technique for generating hydrogen. Development of efficient electrocatalysts to facilitate the EWS process while rationalizing the limitations of noble metal catalysts like platinum has become one of the daunting tasks. Consequently, porous functional materials such as metal complexes (MCs) and graphene oxide (GO) can act as potential catalysts for EWS. Therefore, a composite of GO and a mononuclear bismuth metal complex is synthesized through in situ facile synthesis, which is further utilized as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Several potential electrocatalytic MC@GO composite (BMGO-3,5,7) materials were prepared with compositional variation of GO (3, 5, and 7 wt %). The experimental results demonstrate that the BMGO5 composite exhibits excellent HER activity with a low overpotential value of 105 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a low Tafel slope of 44 mV dec-1 in 1 M KOH solution. Furthermore, a comprehensive investigation on the potentiality of the BMC-GO composite for hydrogen evolution from river water splitting was performed in order to address the issue of freshwater depletion. Inclusion of a mononuclear MC for facile synthesis of functional GO-based efficient electrocatalyst material is very scanty in the literature. This unique approach could assist future research endeavors toward designing efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable renewable energy generation. This is one of the first of its kind, where mononuclear MCs were utilized to develop GO-based functional composite materials for efficient electrocatalysis toward sustainable renewable energy generation.

Acid-catalyzed transformation of orange waste into furfural: the effect of pectin degree of esterification

The transformation of biomasses from agro-industrial waste can significantly impact the production of green chemicals from sustainable resources. Pectin is a biopolymer present in lignocellulosic biomass as Orange Peel Waste (OPW) and has possibilities for making platform compounds such as furfural for sustainable chemistry. In this work, we studied the transformation to furfural of OPW, pectins, and d-galacturonic acid (D-GalA), which is the main component (65 wt%) of pectin. We analyzed pectins with different degrees of esterification (45, 60 and 95 DE) in a one-pot hydrolysis reaction system and studied the differences in depolymerization and dehydration of the carbohydrates. The results show that the production of furfural decreases as the DE value increases. Specifically, low DE values favor the formation of furfural since the decarboxylation reaction is favored over deesterification. Interestingly, the furfural concentration is dependent upon the polysaccharide composition of pentoses and uronic acid. The obtained concentrations of furfural (13 and 14 mmol/L), d-xylose (6.2 and 10 mmol/L), and L-arabinose (2.5 and 2.7 mmol/L) remained the same when the galacturonic acid was fed either as a polymer or a monomer under the same reaction conditions (0.01 M SA, 90 min and 433 K). OPW is proposed as a feedstock in a biorefinery, in which on a per kg OPW dry basis, 90 g of pectin and 15 g of furfural were produced in the most favorable case. We conclude that the co-production of pectin and furfural from OPW is economically feasible.Graphical

Quantum support vector machine for forecasting house energy consumption: a comparative study with deep learning models

The Smart Grid operates autonomously, facilitating the smooth integration of diverse power generation sources into the grid, thereby ensuring a continuous, reliable, and high-quality supply of electricity to end users. One key focus within the realm of smart grid applications is the Home Energy Management System (HEMS), which holds significant importance given the fluctuating availability of generation and the dynamic nature of loading conditions. This paper presents an overview of HEMS and the methodologies utilized for load forecasting. It introduces a novel approach employing Quantum Support Vector Machine (QSVM) for predicting periodic power consumption, leveraging the AMPD2 dataset. In the establishment of a microgrid, various factors such as energy consumption patterns of household appliances, solar irradiance, and overall load are taken into account in dataset creation. In the realm of load forecasting in Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), the Quantum Support Vector Machine (QSVM) stands out from other methods due to its unique approach and capabilities. Unlike traditional forecasting methods, QSVM leverages quantum computing principles to handle complex and nonlinear electricity consumption patterns. QSVM demonstrates superior accuracy by effectively capturing intricate relationships within the data, leading to more precise predictions. Its ability to adapt to diverse datasets and produce significantly low error values, such as RMSE and MAE, showcases its efficiency in forecasting electricity load consumption in smart grids. Moreover, the QSVM model’s exceptional flexibility and performance, as evidenced by achieving an accuracy of 97.3% on challenging datasets like AMpds2, highlight its distinctive edge over conventional forecasting techniques, making it a promising solution for enhancing forecasting accuracy in HEMS.The article provides a brief summary of HEMS and load forecasting techniques, demonstrating and comparing them with deep learning models to showcase the efficacy of the proposed algorithms.

Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging of Space Targets Using Wideband Pseudo-Noise Signals with Low Peak-to-Average Power Ratio

With the number of new satellites increasing dramatically, comprehensive space surveillance is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, high-resolution inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging of satellites can provide an in-situ assessment of the satellites. This paper demonstrates that pseudo-noise signals can also be used for satellite imaging, in addition to classical linear frequency-modulated chirp signals. Pseudo-noise transmission signals offer the advantage of very low cross-correlation values. This, for instance, enables the possibility of a system with multiple channels transmitting instantaneously. Furthermore, it can significantly reduce signal interference with other systems operating in the same frequency spectrum, which is of particular interest for high-bandwidth, high-power systems such as satellite imaging radars. A new routine has been introduced to generate a wideband pseudo-noise signal with a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) similar to that of a chirp signal. This is essential for applications where the transmit signal power budget is sharply limited by the high-power amplifier. The paper presents both theoretical descriptions and analysis of the generated pseudo-noise signal as well as the results of an imaging measurement of a real space target using the introduced pseudo-noise signals.

POSSIBILITIES OF OBTAINING AND VALORIZING DIETARY FIBERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY

This article aimed to review the recent literature on the characterization of dietary fibers and their role in the human body, focusing on the methods of extraction of dietary fibers from agro-food waste as well as their use in various areas of the food industry. Dietary fibers are biologically active substances with beneficial effects on human health. Soluble dietary fiber is involved in reducing cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels, while insoluble dietary fiber helps regulate intestinal transit and maintain colon health. It would be useful to identify the extraction procedures and characterization of dietary fibers from agro-food waste. Fruit waste contains relevant amounts of bioactive compounds, such as: phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignins, carotenoids, etc. In addition, fruit waste contains significant amounts of dietary fiber with nutraceutical important activities, such as modulating the intestinal microbiota, lowering cholesterol, triglycerides and glycemic load in the blood. Hence, obtaining dietary fiber from agro-industrial waste can solve a number of economic and environmental problems that aim reducing waste, increasing the sustainability and profitability of companies in the Republic of Moldova. Dietary fiber can be used in various types of food, such as products of bakery and confectionery, meat, dairy products, and pasta. They can be used as stabilizers with an impact on food texture or ingredients with low caloric value, partially replacing caloric constituents such as fats, starch or sugars. Another important property is the prebiotic effect of dietary fibers. This property is determined by the fact that dietary fibers are indigestible or poorly digestible and are fermented selectively by intestinal microbiota, conferring health benefits to the host.

Delineation of aquifer storage potential in response to regional groundwater development

Developing aquifers as part of sustainability efforts toward groundwater development is a tactical approach to meeting water demand and management objectives. Delineation of aquifer storage potential (ASP) and longitudinal conductance (SL\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${S}_{L}$$\\end{document}) is a good approach to protect and manage groundwater resources. A Schlumberger configuration was applied to delineate fifteen (15) vertical electrical sounding (VES) stations alongside a 2D electrical resistivity imagery (ERI) profile and regional borehole data to characterize the regional ASP. The results of the study show that the layer resistivity and thickness values of the regional aquifer unit range from 39.9–105 Ωm and 15–44 m, respectively, while the overburden thickness overlays the regional aquifer unit varied between 5–10 m corresponding to the regional borehole data. The weathered/fractured basemen, which constitute the regional aquifer unit were delineated, which consists of shallow, moderate, and deep aquifer zones. The deep aquifer zones fall within the depth of 30–44 m and are considered suitable for groundwater prospective. The weathered layer with appreciably low resistivity values with thick aquifer regolith has also been identified as most suitable for borehole siting. The weathered/fractured encountered within thick aquifer regolith were mapped as the region with a high ASP for groundwater development. In addition, the values of longitudinal conductance, SL\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${S}_{L}$$\\end{document} and transverse resistance, RT\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${R}_{T}$$\\end{document} estimated from aquifer parameters vary between 0.21-0.85Ω-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0.21-0.85 \\,{\\Omega }^{-1}$$\\end{document} and 1695-3124Ωm2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$1695-3124\\, {\\Omega m}^{2}$$\\end{document}, respectively. The SL\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${S}_{L}$$\\end{document} values show that the study area falls within moderate (0.20-0.69Ω-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0.20-0.69 \\,{\\Omega }^{-1}$$\\end{document}) and good (0.7-4.9Ω-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0.7-4.9 \\,{\\Omega }^{-1}$$\\end{document}), which invariably determined the regional aquifer protective capacity. Thus, the DC geoelectrical approach has been successfully employed in a lateritic-based environment to delineate aquifer-promising zones for regional groundwater development.

An Updated Isotopic Database of Fertilizers Used in Intensive Organic Farming: A Case Study on Protein Hydrolyzed Derivatives and Chelated Nutrients

The global demand for organic food products has rapidly increased over the last years, becoming an emerging niche market targeting the high-income segment. The higher retailing price for organic food products may increase the risk of fraudulent practices at the different stages of the food supply chain, and consequently, substantial control is needed. Currently, the authentication of organic food products, such as those of plant origin, remains a key challenge in analytical chemistry. While stable isotopes have emerged as a powerful tool for this purpose, most studies have focused on crops, missing the agricultural inputs used for fertilization that influence the isotopic values of the crops. In this study, we aimed to isotopically characterize commonly used fertilizers, soil conditioners, and micronutrient fertilizers in intensive organic agriculture in the largest organic production region in the world (Almería, Spain). Our goal was to clarify the limitations that nitrogen isotopic fingerprinting presents for the fertilizer input industry and to characterize the organic inputs. The conventional fertilizers analyzed in this study showed low δ15N values compared to their organic counterparts, except for some plant-based fertilizers, protein hydrolyzed fertilizers, and chelated nutrients. Both protein hydrolyzed fertilizers and micronutrient fertilizers presented a wide range of variability in their δ15N values, including some very low or even negative values, more similar to those of conventional fertilizers. The results of this study highlight the challenges of authenticating organic foods in agriculture when using nitrogen isotope analysis.

Investigating the mechanism of interfacial tension reduction through the combination of low-salinity water and bacteria

In the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process, interfacial tension (IFT) has become a crucial factor because of its impact on the recovery of residual oil. The use of surfactants and biosurfactants can reduce IFT and enhance oil recovery by decreasing it. Asphaltene in crude oil has the structural ability to act as a surface-active material. In microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), biosurfactant production, even in small amounts, is a significant mechanism that reduces IFT. This study aimed to investigate fluid/fluid interaction by combining low biosurfactant values and low-salinity water using NaCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2 salts at concentrations of 0, 1000, and 5000 ppm, along with Geobacillus stearothermophilus. By evaluating the IFT, this study investigated different percentages of 0, 1, and 5 wt.% of varying asphaltene with aqueous bulk containing low-salinity water and its combination with bacteria. The results indicated G. Stearothermophilus led to the formation of biosurfactants, resulting in a reduction in IFT for both acidic and basic asphaltene. Moreover, the interaction between asphaltene and G. Stearothermophilus with higher asphaltene percentages showed a decrease in IFT under both acidic and basic conditions. Additionally, the study found that the interaction between acidic asphaltene and G. stearothermophilus, in the presence of CaCl2, NaCl, and MgCl2 salts, resulted in a higher formation of biosurfactants and intrinsic surfactants at the interface of the two phases, in contrast to the interaction involving basic asphaltene. These findings emphasize the dependence of the interactions between asphaltene and G. Stearothermophilus, salt, and bacteria on the specific type and concentration of asphaltene.

NEUT-RI, a surrogate marker of NETosis is lower in patients with strong IgM antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent venous or arterial thrombosis and/or pregnancy complications. Recently, thrombotic APS was linked to increased neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation, suggesting an association between NETs and the severity of APS-related thrombosis. We performed a retrospective study on patients tested for presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (990 negative and 374 positive) to evaluate the association between the neutrophil activation state, estimated by the neutrophil reactive index (NEU-RI), a parameter routinely available from some haematology analysers, and antiphospholipid antibodies. We do not observe a difference in NEU-RI values between positive and negative patients globally. However, interestingly, we highlight an association between high titers of IgM and low NEU-RI values indicating a lower neutrophil activation. Our data are in line with the recent questioning about the putative clinical consistency of positive solid-phase aPL IgM.

Conversion of Post-Refining Waste MONG to Gaseous Fuel in a Rotary Gasifier

Biodiesel manufacturing frequently employs sustainable materials like soybeans, microorganisms, palm extract, jatropha plant, and recycled frying oils. The expansion of biodiesel manufacturing has escalated the volume of waste byproducts, encompassing glycerin and non-glycerin organic matter (MONG), jointly known as raw glycerin. MONG is characterized by a low calorific value, a high autoignition temperature, and significant viscosity at room temperature. As a waste product, it negatively affects the natural environment due to the lack of viable disposal methods. Hence, there is a need for its conversion into high-calorific gaseous fuel with significantly less environmental impact. One of the methods for converting MONG into gaseous fuel is the pyrolysis process. This study describes the pyrolytic conversion of MONG conducted on a test stand consisting of a rotating chamber with a shell filled with liquid lead as a heating medium. Based on the measurements and balance calculations, the amount of heat required to preserve the autothermal process was determined. The calorific value and composition of the pyrolytic gas were measured, revealing that 70% of the gas involves compounds characterized by a high calorific value. As a result, the calorific value of dry, purified gas equals 35.07 MJ/kg. A life cycle assessment has been conducted, in order to determine if the produced gaseous fuel matches sustainable development criteria. MONG-based gas is a sustainable replacement of, e.g., natural gas, lignite, or hard coal; however, it allows us to avoid 233–416 kg/h CO2 emissions per 1 MWt of heat.

Compositional Diversity of Early Mesozoic Granites in South Qinling: Derivation from Heterogenous Basement Rocks in the Orogenic Belt

Granitic rocks forming in the syn- to post-orogenic stages can trace the compositional and structural complexity of the crust beneath an orogenic belt. The Qinling orogenic belt undertook multiple stages of tectonics and magmatism, resulting in the multifaceted evolution and compositional diversity of the crust. In the present study, the Guangtoushan and Miba plutons in South Qinling were chosen to reveal the crustal heterogeneity in study area via isotopic geochemistry and zircon geochronology. The Guangtoushan pluton was emplaced between ~215 Ma and ~202 Ma and the Miba pluton formed at ~213 Ma, as constrained by zircon U-Pb isotopic dating. Granitic rocks of the Miba pluton are characterized by amphibole bearing and homogeneous composition, with relatively depleted Sr-Nd isotopic compositions (initial 87Sr/86Sr values of 0.7060 to 0.7084 and initial εNd values of −5.4 to −9.5) and high Pb isotopic values. The Guangtoushan pluton contains muscovite and complex inherited zircon grains and has variable Sr-Nd isotopic composition (initial 87Sr/86Sr values of 0.7050 to 0.7091 and initial εNd values of −4.5 to −12.9) and low Pb isotopic values. Felsic magmas of the Guangtoushan pluton should be derived mainly from meta-sedimentary rocks beneath South Qinling, while the Miba pluton originated primarily from partial melting of meta-igneous rocks. The compositional diversity recorded in the Early Mesozoic plutons was caused by the heterogeneous crust, and partial melting was induced by heating of the up-welling asthenosphere in a post-collision setting.

Revolutionising pesticide detection: a high-sensitivity electrochemical sensor with CdS/g-C3N4/MWCNTs for paraquat monitoring

ABSTRACT Over a decade, the Malaysia National Poison Centre found that 40% of pesticide poisoning cases may be linked to excessive paraquat (PQ) in water, soil, or food, underscoring the widespread impact on public health and emphasising the importance of detecting even trace amounts of PQ residues in the environment. Thus, this study presents a novel electrochemical sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced cadmium sulphide co-anchoring on graphitic carbon nitride (CdS/g-C3N4) nanocomposites for PQ detection. The CdS/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was successfully synthesised and characterised through FTIR, XRD, EDX, FESEM and TEM analysis. The modified electrode (CdS/g-C3N4/MWCNTs PE) exhibited improved electrocatalytic activity, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance spectroscopy. The CdS/g-C3N4/MWCNTs PE displayed a high CV peak and low Rct value which corresponded to a higher electron transfer rate, reduced charge transfer resistance and enhanced mass transport properties. The electrochemical sensor’s performance was evaluated for the detection of PQ, and it demonstrated a linear response in a range of 1.0 µM to 0.1 mM with a limit of detection of 0.14 μM. Furthermore, the sensor exhibited selectivity with a less than 16% potential interference from various organic chemicals and inorganic ions. The sensor’s applicability was tested by quantifying PQ in real water samples, showing excellent recovery percentages ranging from 98.9% to 102.0%. The developed electrochemical sensor provides a practical solution for the rapid and accurate monitoring of PQ levels in the environment. This work establishes the foundation for the development of a selective electrochemical sensor for pesticide analysis, addressing both public health and environmental concerns.

Starch/chitosan nanoparticles bionanocomposite membranes for methylene blue dye removal.

This research aims to develop relatively new membranes from starch biopolymer incorporated with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20% w/w of solid starch) of chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) that can be used for water treatment. The membranes were fabricated using the solvent casting method while the CNP was produced using the ionic gelation method. The membranes were characterized in terms of morphology, porosity, water vapor permeability (WVP), and water contact angle. The application of the membranes to treat water was demonstrated on methylene blue solution because methylene blue is a commonly used dye in many industries. It was found that the starch/10% CNP membrane was the optimum membrane for methylene blue dye treatment because the membrane exhibits a smooth surface, high WVP (1.67 × 10-10g/Pa h m), high porosity (59.92%), low water contact angle value (44.8°), and resulted in the highest percentage removal of methylene blue (94.0%) after the filtration. After filtration, the starch/10% CNP membrane was still in good condition without breakage. In conclusion, the starch/CNP membranes produced in this study are promising for sustainable and environmentally friendly water treatment, especially for water containing methylene blue dye. This research aligns with current thematic trends in bionanohybrid composite materials utilization, offering innovative solutions for addressing water pollution challenges.

A First Look at Genetic Diversity of Metapenaeus ensis Populations in Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon, Vietnam

This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of the greasyback shrimp, Metapenaeus ensis (De Haan, 1844), within the Tam Giang – Cau Hai lagoon, Vietnam, by analyzing mtCOI genes from 91 individuals collected across four populations in nine sampling locations. High genetic diversity was found, with 34 unique haplotypes and 38 genetic variations identified. Most genetic variation occurred within populations (AMOVA), suggesting high gene flow. Low and non-significant Fst values and close genetic distances confirmed minimal differentiation among populations. These findings provide the first insights into M. ensis population genetics in this lagoon, informing conservation and management efforts. Understanding genetic diversity is crucial for sustainable management and conservation of marine species. This research aids in understanding population resilience, potential impacts of overfishing, and may assist in developing sustainable harvest strategies of this economically important shrimp species.

Can the presence of SLAP-5 lesions be predicted by using the critical shoulder angle in traumatic anterior shoulder instability?

Although SLAP-5 lesions are associated with recurrent dislocations, their causes and pathomechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between SLAP-5 lesions and scapular morphology in traumatic anterior shoulder instability (ASI). We hypothesized that there may be a relationship between SLAP-5 lesions and scapular morphology in traumatic ASI patients. The study included 74 patients with isolated Bankart lesions and 69 with SLAP-5 lesions who underwent arthroscopic labral repair for ASI. Critical shoulder angle (CSA) was measured on the roentgenograms, while glenoid inclination (GI) and glenoid version (GV) were measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by two observers in two separate sessions blinded to each other. Both groups were compared in terms of CSA, GI, and GV. The mean ages of Bankart and SLAP-5 patients were 28.4±9.1 and 27.9±7.7 (P=0.89), respectively; their mean CSA values were 33.1°±2.6° and 28.2°±2.4°, respectively (P<0.001). The ROC analysis's cut-off value was 30.5°, with 75.0% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity (AUC = 0.830). SLAP-5 lesions were more common on the dominant side than isolated Bankart lesions (P=0.021), but no difference was found between the groups in terms of GI and GV (P=0.334, P=0.081, respectively). In ASI, low CSA values appeared to be related to SLAP-5 lesions, and the cut-off value of CSA for SLAP lesion formation was 30.5° with 75.0% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity. Scapula morphology may be related to the SLAP-5 lesions, and CSA can be used as an additional parameter in provocative diagnostic tests and medical imaging techniques for the detection of SLAP lesions accompanying Bankart lesions. III retrospective case-control study.

Segmental Mobility in Linear Polylactides of Various Molecular Weights

In this work we synthesized and studied a series of linear polylactides (PLA) with a fixed L/D -lactide stereoisomer ratio, covering together the wide range of molecular weights, Mn, from ∼6 to ∼80 kg/mol. The basic aims are the segmental mobility mapping, in terms of time scale and fragility, the recording of the Mn dependences of the glass transition temperature and fragility, and, finally, the comparison with corresponding findings from the literature. Obviously, the direct Mn effects on Tg are assessed by preserving PLA at the amorphous state, i.e., via melting and relatively fast cooling. The segmental mobility is studied by conventional and temperature modulated calorimetry, whereas the molecular dynamics is assessed employing the technique of broadband dielectric spectroscopy in combination with proper critical analysis and evaluation routes. The calorimetric and dielectric Tg(Mn) trends were found consistent between each other as well as with previous findings in similar systems, both with respect to experimental findings and theoretic predictions for PLAs of similar L/D ratio. The Mn threshold of entanglements seems to lay between 13 and 28 kg/mol. The fragility index of the α relaxation, i.e., the dielectric analogue of the glass transition, exhibits a similar dependence to that of Tg(Mn). When decreasing Mn to very low values, the high fragility (∼150) drops down to 0 (Mn∼6 kg/mol), denoting the vanishing of the polymer chains’ cooperativity. Qualitatively interesting alternations are recorded in the dielectric strength of the α relaxation and the relaxation times width. The effects are discussed in terms of the various parameters co-affecting the polymer dynamics, namely, chain lengths, free volume and dynamical heterogeneities.