Function Of State Research Articles

The influence of iron nutrition on the development of intestine and immune cell divergency in neonatal pigs

BackgroundAppropriate iron supplementation is essential for neonatal growth and development. However, there are few reports on the effects of iron overload on neonatal growth and immune homeostasis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iron nutrition on neonatal growth and intestinal immunity by administering different levels of iron to neonatal pigs.ResultsWe found that iron deficiency and iron overload resulted in slow growth in neonatal pigs. Iron deficiency and iron overload led to down-regulation of jejunum intestinal barrier and antioxidant marker genes, and promoted CD8+ T cell differentiation in jejunum and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of pigs, disrupting intestinal health. Moreover, iron levels altered serum iron and tissue iron status leading to disturbances in redox state, affecting host innate and adaptive immunity.ConclusionsThese findings emphasized the effect of iron nutrition on host health and elucidated the importance of iron in regulating redox state and immunity development. This study provided valuable insights into the regulation of redox state and immune function by iron metabolism in early life, thus contributing to the development of targeted interventions and nutritional strategies to optimize iron nutrition in neonates.

Structural Characterization of Mixed Metal Cathodes via in Operando X-Ray Diffraction

Complex metal oxides used in lithium-based energy storage technologies undergo distinct crystallographic changes based on chemical composition, specific voltage and current states, degree of lithiation, and more. Crystallographic studies via X-ray diffraction (XRD) are a critical part of understanding structure-property relationships and engineering devices to meet specific performance requirements. For the raw electrode materials, XRD provides information about exact crystal structure (e.g. symmetry, unit cell parameters, atomic site mixing) as well as the presence of impurity phases that might arise from a poor sintering process or non-stoichiometric starting reagents. For formed devices such as button- or pouch-cells, XRD can be used in operando to measure changes in phase composition, phase quantification, and crystal lattice expansion/contraction as a function of charge state. This can provide useful information such as the level of reversibility of a device or the onset of impurity phases during aging and long cycling.In this presentation, we will review diffraction data for case studies based on NMC electrodes and highlight key insights into reversible structural changes during device cycling. The figure attached to this abstract shows diffraction data as a function of charge state during a single charge/discharge cycle. The observed peaks show modifications to the crystalline lattice (expansion in one direction, contraction in another orthogonal direction). Figure 1

Insights into Battery Thermal Runaway Reactions Via in Situ gas Analysis during Heating

In order to prevent and mitigate lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, a better understanding of the chemical reactions responsible is needed. Here, we present an in situ method to quantitatively analyze gaseous products generated within lithium-ion battery cells during controlled heating. This laboratory-scale testing allows for cost- and time- effective evaluation of cell chemistries at early stages in the material development process. The findings combined with other techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry and temperature programmed decomposition provide insights into the reactions occurring in the lead-up to thermal runaway and provide a new method to assess thermal runaway propensity of lithium-ion battery cells as a function of chemistry (i.e., cathode, electrolyte) and state of charge.

Intelligence Oversight and Accountability in Poland: Has Anything Changed?

The years 1990 and 1991 marked the beginning of a sea change in this particular area of the functioning of the Polish state. The following phenomena were analyzed: Over three decades on from the restitution of the Polish democratic state, how have the focal issues of key intelligence oversight institutions been addressed? How successful was the political transition in the area of intelligence services? The article is composed of four main parts. The first part provides a discussion of the “special services” concept, which determines the Polish institutional framework for intelligence oversight and accountability. Subsequent sections focus on particular forms of intelligence oversight: executive control, parliamentary oversight, and independent oversight. Our focus is on the institutional dimension of state security. The article is intended as an overview of the issue and relies on traditional historical and institutionalist approaches. Our proposal is to conduct a detailed case study to present the current situation in a country in East Central Europe, with the aim of generating general findings that could be used to guide reform efforts.

A New High-Valent Fe Redox Couple in Intercalation Electrodes

The overwhelming majority of layered oxide cathode materials are based on the redox activity of expensive and scarce transition metals like Co and Ni. While the Fe-redox based material LiFePO4 has become increasingly attractive due to its low cost, its low gravimetric energy density and relatively low operating voltage limit its use cases. A high-voltage Fe-based layered oxide cathode would provide high energy density utilizing the redox-activity of the most abundant transition metal in Earth’s crust, but such a material that provides stable and reversible electrochemical performance remains elusive. Indeed, high-voltage Fe-redox in oxides is plagued by cation disorder and oxygen dimerization, which leads to capacity fading and large voltage hysteresis (> 1 V).[1]In contrast, the layered oxide cathode Li4FeSbO6 (equivalently, Li[Li1/3Fe1/3Sb1/3]O2, abbreviated LFSO) exhibits <0.2 V of hysteresis, and a discharge plateau at 4.2 V versus Li/Li+ with two-electron capacity.[2] Both the exceptional electrochemical reversibility of this material and its phase separating nature upon (de)intercalation raise questions about the origin of these properties that are unusual for layered Fe oxide cathodes. In this work, we will discuss our efforts to probe the electronic structure of LFSO with Fe L–edge x–ray absorption (XAS) and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, as well as O K–edge resonant inelastic x–ray scattering spectroscopy (RIXS). The combination of these element-specific and valence-state sensitive techniques, in conjunction with charge-transfer multiplet and density functional theory calculations, allows us to reveal the electronic structure changes at Fe and O as a function of state of charge for the first time. Correlating these electronic structure changes with synchrotron diffraction measurements, we reveal a unique redox compensation mechanism that readily rationalizes the exceptional electrochemical reversibility, unlocking a new direction for high-voltage, Fe-based redox systems.

Effect of Lithiation and Delithiation on the Mechanical Properties of Electrodeposited LiCoO2 Cathode

Mechanical degradation of cathode active material, such as cracks result from volume changes and phase transitions, is one of the main causes of capacity fading in lithium-ion batteries. Understanding the active material’s deformation behavior during cycling and the impact of electrochemical charging on mechanical properties is crucial for understanding the mechanical degradation mechanism and extending battery lifetime.Herein, we investigate the mechanical properties of an electroplated LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode with crystallographic texture as a function of state of charge/discharge. Nanoindentation mapping is used to detect the differences in mechanical behavior between grain boundary and grain interior region. To determine the charged LCO crystals’ mechanical properties and avoid the effects from grain boundaries and air-exposure, in-situ nanoindentation experiments are conducted in a custom mechanical testing system within a scanning electron microscope. Considering the anisotropy of LCO, electron backscatter diffraction analysis is utilized to clarify the crystallographic orientation of the electrodeposited LCO cathode. Our result shows a decreasing tendency in elastic modulus and hardness with state of charge, which can be attributed to the expansion of LCO layered structure. The recovery of mechanical properties after discharge indicates that the changes in measured mechanical properties mainly come from Li deintercalation and intercalation rather than intergranular fracture during cycling. By releasing the relationship between mechanical properties and degree of delithiation, our study provides an insight into modeling studies of electro-chemo-mechanics for electrode materials. Figure 1

Modulation of BDNF Expression by Bryophyllum pinnatum Extract: Implications for Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Function in Pain-induced Wistar Rats

This research work investigated modulatory effects of Bryophylum pinnatum extract on BDNF expression, and cognitive functions in repetitive pain-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Animals weighing between 80–100g were acquired from the animal house of the Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, and all animals received standard laboratory rat feeds and water ad libitum. The study was designed to assess the time dependent effects with a total of 30 rats divided into 6 groups. Group 1(Control), Group 2 (Pain Only), Group 3 (Pain + 5mg/kg Morphine), Group 4 (Pain + 10mg/kg Morphine), Group (Pain + 25mg/kg Bryophylumm Pinnatum), Group 6 (Pain + 50mg/kg Bryophylumm Pinnatum), Hydromethanolic extracts was prepared accordingly, and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis were carried out. Neurobehavioral studies were conducted weekly to assess the effects of the interventions on cognitive and neurological parameters, using radial maze and navigational maze test. Assay of BDNF was done using the Elisa method. The Results showed that Morphine and Bryophyllum pinnatum both significantly improved BDNF expression, showed antioxidant effects, improved cognitive functions, and provided possible mechanisms of pain relief. Pharmacokinetic studies on the binding affinities and drug-likeness properties of the active compounds from these extracts revealed some favorable properties with regard to management of oxidative stress and promotion of cognitive function in states of pain. The study therefore provide indication of the therapeutic potential of Bryophyllum pinnatum in the effective management of Pain, oxidative stress and cognitive functions.

Effect of Ca, Ba, Be, Mg, and Sr Substitution on Electronic and Optical Properties of XNb2Bi2O9 for Energy Conversion Application Using Generalized Gradient Approximation–Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof

Bismuth layered structure ferroelectrics (BLSFs), also known as Aurivillius phase materials, are ideal for energy-efficient applications, particularly for solar cells. This work reports the first comprehensive detailed theoretical study on the fascinating structural, electronic, and optical properties of XNb2Bi2O9 (X = Ca, Ba, Be, Mg, Sr). The Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof approach and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) are implemented to thoroughly investigate the structural, bandgap, optical, and electronic properties of the compounds. The optical conductivity, band topologies, dielectric function, bandgap values, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, extinction coefficient, refractive index, and partial and total densities of states are thoroughly investigated from a photovoltaics standpoint. The material exhibits distinct behaviors, including significant optical anisotropy and an elevated absorption coefficient &gt; 105 cm−1 in the region of visible; ultraviolet energy is observed, the elevated transparency lies in the visible and infrared regions for the imaginary portion of the dielectric function, and peaks in the optical spectra caused by inter-band transitions are detected. According to the data reported, it becomes obvious that XNb2Bi2O9 (X = Ca, Ba, Be, Mg, and Sr) is a suitable candidate for implementation in solar energy conversion applications.

Relationship Between Nostalgia Proneness, Generativity, and Ego Integrity.

This study examined the effect of nostalgia proneness on the level of achievement of developmental tasks during the later stages of adulthood (generativity and ego integrity) and the indirect effect of nostalgia on ego integrity. The level of nostalgia proneness changes with age and contributes to subjective well-being in old age. We assumed that nostalgia proneness affects generativity and ego integrity. To confirm the causal relationship between nostalgia proneness and achievement of developmental tasks, a longitudinal study was conducted. We conducted an Internet survey twice with 600 Japanese adults (aged 20-87). The first and second surveys (T1 and T2) were conducted in March 2021 and March 2022, respectively. The questionnaire comprised the Inventory of Psychosocial Balance scale, positive/negative nostalgia proneness scale, and state functions of the nostalgia scale. An autoregressive path model indicated that high and low levels of positive and negative proneness, respectively, predicted ego integrity. The results of the mediation analysis suggested that social connections have an indirect effect on ego integrity and that people who tend to feel positive emotions are less likely to feel negative emotions when they remember nostalgic memories, which leads to a sense of social connection and the acquisition of ego integrity. The findings provide an understanding of the processes through which developmental tasks are facilitated in later adulthood and elucidate the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in older adults.

Why the big bang never happened

&lt;p&gt;If general relativity is correct, then the origin of the universe is a simple mathematical problem. The Friedmann equation in cosmology is a well-structured ordinary differential equation, and the global properties of its solutions can be qualitatively analyzed by the phase-trajectory method. In this paper we show that the total energy density of matter in the universe is positive, and the total pressure near the Big Bang is negative. By analyzing the global properties of the solutions to the Friedmann equation according to these two conditions of state functions, we find that the Big Bang is impossible, and the space must be a closed 3-dimensional sphere, the cosmological constant is likely to be zero, and the evolution of the universe should be cyclic. The analysis and the proof are simple and straight forward, therefore these conclusions should be reliable.&lt;/p&gt;

Lattice dynamics and free energies of Fe–V alloys with thermal and chemical disorder

Molecular dynamics simulations of Fe-V binary alloys with body-centered cubic as the underlying lattice were performed using a classical potential for chemically ordered and disordered states at finite temperatures for a common set of volumes. The equation of state was fitted to the computational data to obtain temperature- and chemical-order-dependent state functions via the Moruzzi-Janak-Schwarz approximation. Additionally, vibrational entropies that account for both thermal and chemical disorder were calculated for the equiatomic compositions from phonon density-of-states curves computed using effective force constants obtained from fits to the simulations. The latter predicts that the vibrational entropy at room temperature at equiatomicity is higher for the ordered phase than for the solid solution, a peculiar behavior previously observed experimentally. The internal energy of mixing favors ordering at all compositions, with a maximum at equiatomicity that decreases as the solute concentration decreases. The configurational entropy contribution to the free energy of mixing is almost entirely responsible for the stability of the high-temperature disordered phase.

Abstract We053: Altered inflammatory state and mitochondrial function identified by transcriptomics in paediatric congenital heart patients prior to surgical repair

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) remains the most common birth defect, with surgical intervention required in complex cases. In contrast to adult heart disease which disproportionately affects the left ventricle, complex CHD can be characterized by increased right ventricular (RV) pressure, leading to RV hypertrophy and eventually failure, with RV function known to be a major predictor in sustained cardiac health in these patients. Methods: RV samples were collected from discarded myocardial tissue from paediatric patients (0-16 years) undergoing their first cardiac surgery at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children or obtained from autopsy subjects. RNA sequencing and subsequent cellular deconvolution was conducted in CHD samples and integrated with publicly available control dataset. Cellular deconvolution, pathway network analysis and gene ontology were conducted and changes in expression of markers was confirmed via histological analysis. Results: Presence of CHD drove divergence of transcriptome with 511 differentially expressed genes (log fold change≥±2, padj≤0.05), with 82% shared homology. Known CHD genes; TBX5 , JAG1, NOTCH2 and NOTCH1 were reduced in CHD compared to controls (padj=2.24 E-07 , 1.38 E-27 , 7.76 E-31 , 9.11 E-7 ) . Conversely, mitochondrial dysfunction genes RPPH1 and RMPR (padj=4.67 E-132 , 2.23 E-107 ) were increased. Gene set enrichment identified mitochondrial dysfunctional pathways.Negative regulation of mitochondrial functions and metabolism was identified in functional network analysis. T helper cell markers CD4 and SELL were significantly downregulated (p&lt;0.0001, p=0.003). Cytotoxic T cell markers CD8a, LAGE3 and CD49a were significantly increased in CHD compared to control (p=0.0006, p&lt;0.0001, p=0.0118) as was proinflammatory marker Caspase1 (p=0.0055). Histological analysis confirmed an increase in CD45 and CD8 positive cellular bodies with the CHD tissue, which was absent in control. Deconvolution of bulk RNAseq data suggests a reduction in CD4+ T cells (p=0.0067) and an increase in CD8+ T cells (p=0.0223). Network analysis identified positive regulation of the immune system and cytokine signalling clusters within the inflammation functional network as were lymphocyte activation and leukocyte differentiation. Conclusions: Utilizing RV tissue from paediatric patients undergoing CHD cardiac surgery this study identifies dysfunctional mitochondrial pathways and an increase in inflammatory T cell presence prior to reparative surgery.

The Effect of Emotional Intelligence and Work Environment on Organizational Citizenship Behaviour at Disdukcapil Surakarta

Government agencies are organizations chosen to carry out state functions. The most valuable possession of any organization is the human resources employed in its activities. Human resource management is thus needed in the control and rationalization of the administration of human resources in an organization. Emotional intelligence refers to the capability to identify and know one's own emotions and feelings. The work environment, too, might affect employees in the demonstration of OCB. OCB refers to employee behavior beyond their routine activities. It involves displaying personal interest in fellow employees, giving suggestions for the better performance of fellow employees, and respecting and committing to the company. This study, therefore, aims at ascertaining the extent to which Emotional Intelligence and Work Environment influence the organizational citizenship behavior of Disdukcapil employees. The research design employed in this research is quantitative, with primary data sources. The sample used in this research includes all staff members from the Disdukcapil in Surakarta City. Data obtained by the researcher were analyzed using SPSS version 27. The results of this study conclude that emotional intelligence has a significant effect on OCB, work environment has a significant effect on OCB, and emotional intelligence and work environment both have a significant influence on OCB.

Ni-MoTe2 as a gas-sensitive material for sevoflurane exposure detection: A fluorinated anesthetic agent

Sevoflurane (C4H3F7O) is a fast-acting anesthetic with low side effects and is widely used in surgery for adults and children. However, small amounts of sevoflurane gas may leak from the breathing apparatus during surgery, which can pose a serious health risk to healthcare workers. In this regard, a study on monitoring of accidental leakage of sevoflurane by different gas-sensitive materials is carried out in this paper. The modified structures of Ni, Pt and Ag on the MoTe2 surface are built. The stabilities of Ni-MoTe2, Pt-MoTe2 and Ag-MoTe2 are investigated by adsorption configurations, Independent Gradient Model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH), Electronic Location Function (ELF) and Density of States (DOS). The adsorption properties of three gas-sensitive materials on sevoflurane are subsequently investigated. The gas-sensitive materials with excellent performance are selected combining sensitivity and recovery time. The results show that Ni and Pt can be stably doped on the surface of MoTe2 with forming chemical bonds. The adsorption of Ni-MoTe2 on sevoflurane is chemisorption with the adsorption energy of −0.811 eV. The DOS and IGMH results also indicate that the force of Ni-MoTe2 on sevoflurane is mainly the attraction caused by chemical bonding. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of Ni-MoTe2 for sevoflurane is between 56.26 % and 50.84 %, and the recovery time is between 35.21 s and 0.01157 s, which can meet the requirements of the gas sensor. As a result, Ni-MoTe2 can be used as a gas-sensitive sensor to detect the concentration of sevoflurane in the environment.

On the Continuity of the Optimal Time As a Function of the Initial State for Linear Controlled Objects with Integral Constraints on Controls

On the Continuity of the Optimal Time As a Function of the Initial State for Linear Controlled Objects with Integral Constraints on Controls

A novel null-hypothesis approximation method of limit state function in multi-failure mode reliability analysis of structural system

A novel null-hypothesis approximation method of limit state function in multi-failure mode reliability analysis of structural system

Survival Probability, Particle Imbalance, and Their Relationship in Quadratic Models.

We argue that the dynamics of particle imbalance in quadratic fermionic models is, for the majority of initial many-body product states in the site occupation basis, virtually indistinguishable from the dynamics of survival probabilities of single-particle states. We then generalize our statement to a similar relationship between the non-equal time and space density correlation functions in many-body states, and the transition probabilities of single-particle states at nonzero distances. Finally, we study the equal-time connected density-density correlation functions in many-body states, which exhibit certain qualitative analogies with the survival and transition probabilities of single-particle states. Our results are numerically tested for two paradigmatic models of single-particle localization: the 3D Anderson model and the 1D Aubry-André model. This work gives an affirmative answer to the question of whether it is possible to measure features of single-particle survival and transition probabilities by the dynamics of observables in many-body states.

Legal problems of state regulation economic activities in a special period

The paper reveals the role and problems of determining the peculiarities of solving legal problems of state regulation of economic activity in a special period as one of the conditions for the development of a modern democratic society. A detailed study of this issue was conducted, aspects of the regulatory and legal environment and the problems of Ukrainian business work in such difficult conditions were considered. The last few years, the most difficult in the history of the state, have shown that there is a need to move from direct administrative assistance to the formation of a favorable economic and social environment for the improvement of mechanisms and tools for stimulating the development of business entities. It is the priority of state regulation and support of entrepreneurship in such conditions that will provide an opportunity not only to preserve business, but also to expand it with a simultaneous increase in the number of jobs, which is one of the foundations of the functioning of the welfare state. Any difficulties in economic activity quite often give rise to new opportunities for growth, the economy is being restructured, new niches are opening that can be used for growth, and in the future, filling the state and local budgets. The historical experience of the states that have gone through the war shows that the economic system and business development is a key area of further reform and modernization, and the main goal of this process is to create favorable conditions for economic activity, to activate the investment potential of the country and to create comfortable conditions for the functioning of the capital involved. One of the fundamental elements of creating a favorable business environment in Ukraine is the deregulation of economic activity, that is, the maximum simplification of business and government cooperation, the formation of a free market, a transparent permit system, and partnership relations with state regulatory and supervisory bodies. An important aspect of state regulation of economic activity in a special period of state development is, first of all, the conscious formation by state structures of appropriate direct and indirect business support tools, in particular, the creation of incentives, the use of material, financial and other resources that are attracted to its subjects. Special attention was paid to the need to develop and implement specialized legal acts that would regulate the protection of business activities in such emergency situations.

How caged motion in the contact layer enhances thermal tunneling across a liquid/solid interface

Ever more powerful and densely packed chips for applications like cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence generate such enormous heat fluxes that designers are pivoting from gas to liquid cooling to forestall damage from thermal runaway. Even with optimal flow patterns, however, the intrinsic thermal boundary resistance at the liquid/solid (L/S) interface poses an additional source of thermal impedance. There is a lingering misconception in the field that the higher the liquid contact density, the more frequent the L/S collision rate and the smaller the thermal slip length. Here we present an insightful counterexample based on nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of a simple liquid confined between two face centered cubic crystals at different temperatures aligned with the [001], [011] or [111] facet plane. Measurements of various static and dynamic quantities of the contact layer reveal the ways in which long-range order, anisotropy of the L/S potential, and correlated motion act to reduce thermal boundary resistance. Systems with the smallest thermal slip length exhibit two distinct features: 2D caged motion with stringlike alignment of liquid particles, unlike that observed in glassy systems, and larger nonergodicity parameter with shorter, not longer, caging times. This trapping and release mechanism suggests a paradigm for the design of L/S interfaces to maximize thermal exchange across a classical L/S interface. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A new active rehabilitation training mode for upper limbs based on Tai Chi Pushing Hands

Robot-assisted rehabilitation is a crucial approach to restoring motor function in the limb. However, the current training trajectory lacks sufficient theoretical or practical support, and the monotony of single-mode training is a concern. Tai Chi Pushing Hands, a beneficial and effective daily exercise, has been shown to improve balance function, psychological state, and motor function of the upper extremities in patients recovering from stroke. To address these issues, we propose a new active rehabilitation training that incorporates Tai Chi Pushing Hands movements and yin-yang balance principles. The training trajectory and direction are encoded by the velocity field and consist of two processes: yang (push) and yin (return). During yang, the limb actively pushes the robot to move, while during yin, the limb actively follows the robot’s movement. To provide necessary assistance, an admittance controller with self-adaptive parameters is designed. In addition, we introduce two indexes, the ‘Intention Angle’ (ϖ) and the time ratio (Γ), to evaluate motion perception performance. Our experiment was conducted on a 4-degree-of-freedom upper limb rehabilitation robot platform, and the subjects were separated into a familiar group and an unfamiliar group. The experiment results show that the training could be completed well no matter whether the subject is familiar with Tai Chi Pushing Hands or not. The parameters and the movement of the robot can be adjusted based on the interactive force to adapt to the ability of the subject.