Usage In Applications Research Articles

NANOBIOMATERIALS/BIOINKS BASED SCAFFOLDS IN 3D BIOPRINTING FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING AND ARTIFICIAL HUMAN ORGANS

Bioinks are combinations of live cells and biomaterials that are sometimes blended with tissue factor or other biomolecules for the purpose of extrusion if the desired effect is desired. The term “bioprinting” refers to a relatively new method that involves the application or depositing of biomaterial solutions or bioinks in order to produce three-dimensional (3D) constructions that have topologies and mechanical/biological qualities that are similar to those of genuine human tissue or organs. Printed structures are widely used in tissue engineering to heal or repair damaged tissues or organs, as well as in vitro tissue modeling to test and validate newly created medications and vaccinations before being administered to patients. Supporting and directing cell development toward its native surroundings. When it comes to the formation of biological structures, one of the most important challenges is to ensure that specific physicochemical and biological signals are present in a harmonious manner in order to regulate the activity of cells. Additionally, in order to stimulate stem cell differentiation toward certain tissues, exact arrays of stimuli must be established. The introduction of bioactive material with a nanoscale can control the destiny of cells, contributing to their differentiation and enabling the biofabrication of useful structures. Using nano-composite bio-ink, it is possible to create scaffolds that are instructive for cells or cells can be high quality images onto the media. In addition, the addition of nano into 3D printed configurations may make it possible for these structures to be manipulated by a range of external physical stimuli, thereby providing an additional instrument for usage in healthcare applications. With that being said, there is an interest in the development of biological systems that have functionalities such as motion, shape alteration or sensing. In this study, we emphasize how the use of nano-biomaterials in bioprinting techniques results in strategies for tissue regeneration that show promise.

Rapid fabrication, magnetic, and radiation shielding characteristics of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles

This study aims to prepare NiFe2O4 nanoparticles using a glycine assisted auto-combustion method. Characterization of the investigated ferrite was achieved by XRD, FTIR and TEM techniques. In addition, the magnetic properties of the as prepared ferrite using the VSM technique were determined. Furthermore, using MCNPX code, the X-ray/gamma ray shielding characteristics of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles in the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV have been evaluated. In this study, a comparison was made between the shielding properties of the prepared sample and other typical gamma-ray shielding materials (Ordinary concretes, basalt magnetite, hematite serpentine, and Ilmenite limonite), and various shielding materials (P2 Polymer Guanine, T1, PCNK60, VR3 volcanic rock, SLGC-E5, LBZ4, RS-360, BBSN5.7, and TZE-F). The obtained results show that the current prepared sample provides full (100%) x-ray protection and effective performance for gamma-ray shielding at energies up to 15 MeV. The current work creates new opportunities for the low-temperature, simple, effective, and affordable synthesis of nanomaterials for usage in display device applications and X-ray/gamma-ray shielding.

Unveiling the mechanical, structural, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic potential of K2NaGaBr6 and K2RbTlBr6 double perovskites for sustainable technologies

Double perovskite halide's remarkable physical qualities and ease of synthesis have drawn much interest in the past few years. To analyze the structural and thermodynamic stability, elastic traits, optical, and thermoelectric analysis of the double perovskites K2NaGaBr6 and K2RbTlBr6, FP-LAPW technique is employed in current work. Exchange correlation effects are treated with PBE-GGA and TB-mBJ approximations. Thermodynamic stability of structures is ensured with computed phonon curves and negative formation energies. Goldsmith tolerance factor and octahedral tilting justify the cubic phase of both perovskites. Mechanical attributes justify Born’s stability criteria and double perovskites' anisotropic and ductile nature. The semiconducting nature is confirmed by electronic band structures with direct bandgap of 1.43 eV and 3 eV for K2NaGaBr6 and 1.48 eV and 2.51 eV for K2TlRbBr6 with PBE-GGA and TB-mBJ, respectively. Optical properties for K2NaGaBr6 and K2RbTlBr6 reveal significant absorption of electromagnetic waves in visible and UV regions. Furthermore, thermoelectric response for both double perovskites is computed using BoltzTraP code, which reveals their significant abilities for usage in thermoelectricity and renewable energy applications.

Reduction of the received signal strength variation with distance using averaging over multiple heights and frequencies

As a simple and inexpensive channel characteristic, received signal strength (RSS) finds extensive usage in localization applications. However, the quick changes in signal strength impact the localization precision. By averaging over access points (APs) with multiple frequencies and/or heights, this article suggests a novel approach to lowering RSS fluctuation. Initially focused on the plane-earth loss model, the study was later extended to include a multipath indoor propagation scenario that was simulated. We used ray-tracing software to model the indoor propagation situation. This research takes into account the results of three distinct methods for averaging RSS: height averaging, frequency averaging, and hybrid frequency and height (FH) averaging, which combines the two. We discovered that the Height-only strategy considerably decreased the RSS variation with distance for both settings we looked at. Using the frequency-only method even further reduced the variation. Using the Hybrid FH technique greatly enhances the results. Root mean square error values of 4.427 dB, 3.70 dB, and 3.5 dB, respectively, are provided for the averaging approaches and the ideal scenario in which no variance occurs. Another finding is that averaging with APs that have double the height or frequency will not improve the RSS distance variation.

The Influence of 3D Printing Parameters on the Mechanical Behavior of PLA

Additive technologies are continually evolving and are crucial in numerous industries, including medical, aerospace, and automotive, but they can also play an important role in the prototyping phase. Due to additive manufacturing, amateurs and enthusiasts can construct simple projects as well as large projects with specialized usage in specific applications. When it comes to complex pieces, traditional manufacturing technologies such as milling, chipping, drilling, and so on have specific constraints, often need even additional production processes to complete the item. All of these constraints can be solved with additive technologies. This work investigates Fused Deposit Modeling (FDM) printing of many specimens with varying properties in order to analyze PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) material behavior following tensile testing. The collected findings will be analyzed in order to determine the specimens with the most significant behavior according on the modified parameters.

The effect of organic ligand length on structural, vibrational and electrical properties of low-dimensional cobalt hybrid perovskites

Recently, two-dimensional hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (2D-HOIPs) have emerged in popularity due to ease of tunability in terms of the structure and properties. However, a systematic chemistry and physical description of cobalt-based system is lacking. In this study, we employ X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques to investigate the effect of the organic ligand length on the structural, vibrational, and electrical properties of A2CoCl4 [A = methylammonium (MA), ethylammonium (EA) and butylammonium (BA)] perovskite. Results from the measurements showed a noticeable difference and showed potential usage in future applications in the field of electronics.

A review of algorithms and software for real-time electric field modeling techniques for transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a device-based neuromodulation technique increasingly used to treat brain diseases. Electric field (E-field) modeling is an important technique in several TMS clinical applications, including the precision stimulation of brain targets with accurate stimulation density for the treatment of mental disorders and the localization of brain function areas for neurosurgical planning. Classical methods for E-field modeling usually take a long computation time. Fast algorithms are usually developed with significantly lower spatial resolutions that reduce the prediction accuracy and limit their usage in real-time or near real-time TMS applications. This review paper discusses several modern algorithms for real-time or near real-time TMS E-field modeling and their advantages and limitations. The reviewed methods include techniques such as basis representation techniques and deep neural-network-based methods. This paper also provides a review of software tools that can integrate E-field modeling with navigated TMS, including a recent software for real-time navigated E-field mapping based on deep neural-network models.

The implications of exosomes in psoriasis: disease: emerging as new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

As the largest human organ, the skin is continuously exposed to various external and internal triggers that affect body homeostasis. Psoriasis is a persistent inflammatory skin condition that has a major bearing on patients' physiological functioning as well as their mental well-being. It is an autoimmune disorder and has been the focus of extensive research efforts in recent years. Cells secrete exosomes into the environment surrounding them, which comprises a lipid bilayer. The movement of cellular components like microRNAs, mRNAs, DNA, lipids, metabolites, and cell-surface proteins is mediated by exosomes. Exosomes are crucial for inducing communication between cells. There has been extensive study of exosomes, both preclinical and clinical, looking at their potential role in autoimmune diseases. Besides the role that they play in the body's basic processes, exosomes are also considered an increasingly essential part as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In the following article, we conduct a literature review of current studies related to molecular and structural aspects of exosomes. We emphasis on the function of exosomes in pathogenesis, as well as the possibility of their usage in medicinal applications and as biomarkers.

Codon-optimization in gene therapy: promises, prospects and challenges.

Codon optimization has evolved to enhance protein expression efficiency by exploiting the genetic code's redundancy, allowing for multiple codon options for a single amino acid. Initially observed in E. coli, optimal codon usage correlates with high gene expression, which has propelled applications expanding from basic research to biopharmaceuticals and vaccine development. The method is especially valuable for adjusting immune responses in gene therapies and has the potenial to create tissue-specific therapies. However, challenges persist, such as the risk of unintended effects on protein function and the complexity of evaluating optimization effectiveness. Despite these issues, codon optimization is crucial in advancing gene therapeutics. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current metrics for codon-optimization, and its practical usage in research and clinical applications, in the context of gene therapy.

Optical characterization and dispersion analyses of plasma polymerized methyl acrylate thin films

This work reports the structural characteristics, surface morphology, linear and nonlinear optical properties of 110 to 225 nm thick plasma polymerized methyl acrylate (PPMA) thin films. X-ray diffraction analyses confirm the amorphous nature of the films. Field emission scanning electron micrographs of the films display cluster-based surface morphology. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the chemical structural changes in the films. The optical properties were studied based on the absorbance, transmittance, and reflectance spectra measured by an ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer within the wavelength ranges from 200 to 800 nm. The direct optical band gap and Urbach values are increased from 3.66 to 3.83 eV and 0.28 to 0.45 eV, respectively with increasing film thickness. The extinction coefficient and refractive index were evaluated, and discussed a correlation between the refractive index and the optical bandgap. The real and imaginary dielectric constants, volume/surface energy loss functions and skin depth were deduced. The oscillator energies and parameters were analyzed using the concept of Wemple-DiDomenico and Sellmeier models, respectively for a single oscillator. Static linear refractive index for the studied films exhibits normal dispersion behavior with film thicknesses and satisfied Moss, Ravindra-Gupta, and Herve-Vandamme rules. The linear susceptibility, third-order nonlinear susceptibility and the non-linear refractive index are considerably reduced from 0.20, 29.5 × 10−14 esu, and 5.89 × 10−12 esu with increasing optical band gap energies. The outcomes from the analyses of PPMA demonstrated their potential for usage in electronic, optoelectronic, and non-linear device applications.

Structural bioinformatics studies of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine transporters and their AlphaFold2 predicted water-soluble QTY variants and uncovering the natural mutations of L->Q, I->T, F->Y and Q->L, T->I and Y->F.

Monoamine transporters including transporters for serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine play key roles in monoaminergic synaptic signaling, involving in the molecular etiology of a wide range of neurological and physiological disorders. Despite being crucial drug targets, the study of transmembrane proteins remains challenging due to their localization within the cell membrane. To address this, we present the structural bioinformatics studies of 7 monoamine transporters and their water-soluble variants designed using the QTY code, by systematically replacing the hydrophobic amino acids leucine (L), valine (V), isoleucine (I) and phenylalanine (F) with hydrophilic amino acids (glutamine (Q), threonine (T) and tyrosine (Y). The resulting QTY variants, despite significant protein transmembrane sequence differences (44.27%-51.85%), showed similar isoelectric points (pI) and molecular weights. While their hydrophobic surfaces significantly reduced, this change resulted in a minimal structural alteration. Quantitatively, Alphafold2 predicted QTY variant structures displayed remarkable similarity with RMSD 0.492Å-1.619Å. Accompanied by the structural similarities of substituted amino acids in the context of 1.5Å electron density maps, our study revealed multiple QTY and reverse QTY variations in genomic databases. We further analyzed their phenotypical and topological characteristics. By extending evolutionary game theory to the molecular foundations of biology, we provided insights into the evolutionary dynamics of chemically distinct alpha-helices, their usage in different chemotherapeutic applications, and open possibilities of diagnostic medicine. Our study rationalizes that QTY variants of monoamine transporters may not only become distinct tools for medical, structural, and evolutionary research, but these transporters may also emerge as contemporary therapeutic targets, providing a new approach to treatment for several conditions.

Exploring the influence of pressure-induced semiconductor-to-metal transition on the physical properties of cubic perovskites FrXCl3 (X = Ge and Sn)

Even though lead halide perovskites have outstanding physiochemical properties and improved power conversion efficiency, most of these compounds threaten their future commercialization because of their instability and highly toxic nature. Thus, it is preferable to use stable alternative elements rather than lead to make environmentally friendly perovskite material that will have comparable optical and electronic properties to those constructed from Pb-based perovskites. However, devices constructed from lead-free perovskites typically display a lower power conversion efficiency. Applying hydrostatic pressure could be deemed an effective method to alter the physical properties of these compounds. This not only improves their performance in application but also reveals significant correlations between structure and properties. This work uses DFT to investigate the structural, electronic, optical, and elastic properties of non-toxic, francium-based halide perovskites FrXCl3 (X = Ge, Sn) at different levels of hydrostatic pressures that vary from 0 to 10 GPa. The estimated structural parameter's strong correlation with the data from earlier studies ensures the accuracy of the current findings. Pressure causes the Fr−Cl and Ge (Sn)–Cl bonds to shorten and become stronger. The electronic property calculations demonstrated that both compounds are direct band-gap semiconductors. The application of pressure leads to a linear reduction in the band gap (semiconducting to metallic state) and raises the electronic density of states around the Fermi level by forcing the valence band electrons upward, indicating that the optoelectronic device's performance can be tuned and improved. The values of the dielectric constant, absorptivity and reflectivity showed an increasing tendency with pressure. As the pressure applied to the compounds increases, the absorption spectra show a redshift. These findings suggested that the FrXCl3 (X = Ge and Sn) compound becomes more appropriate for usage in optoelectronic applications under pressure. Furthermore, our examination of the mechanical properties indicates that both FrGeCl3 and FrSnCl3 exhibit mechanically stability, and ductility. Interestingly, we observe an increase in ductility as pressure levels rise.

Facile crosslinking of PVA scaffolds using quercetin for biomaterial applications

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is water soluble and biodegradable polymer known for its biocompatibility, low protein adhesion and minimal toxicity. However, inadequate mechanical stability limits its usage in various biomedical applications. This study explored the usage of quercetin as a promising crosslinking agent for PVA to significantly improve mechanical strength and water resistance. PVA was crosslinked with four concentrations of quercetin in ratios (1:0.005, 1:0.01, 1:0.015, 1:0.02 w/w). Scaffolds of uniform thickness (0.5 mm) were prepared using freeze-drying technique. The crosslinking efficiency and durability of PVA and PVA-quercetin scaffolds were studied based on residual weight ratio upon swelling, thermogravimetric, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. Results indicate that PVA-quercetin (1:0.02) showed better crosslinking efficiency with enhanced stability when compared with uncross-linked PVA which was further confirmed by the reduction of solubility in water which is substatiated by lower hydroxyl peak at 3200 cm−1. Further, the present work describes a facile methodology to crosslink PVA for developing a biomaterial with the potential antioxidant ability of quercetin.

System for Analysis of Wind Collocations (SAWC): A Novel Archive and Collocation Software Application for the Intercomparison of Winds from Multiple Observing Platforms

Accurate atmospheric 3D wind observations are one of the top priorities for the global scientific community. To address this requirement, and to support researchers’ needs to acquire and analyze wind data from multiple sources, the System for Analysis of Wind Collocations (SAWC) was jointly developed by NOAA/NESDIS/STAR, UMD/ESSIC/CISESS, and UW-Madison/CIMSS. SAWC encompasses the following: a multi-year archive of global 3D winds observed by Aeolus, sondes, aircraft, stratospheric superpressure balloons, and satellite-derived atmospheric motion vectors, archived and uniformly formatted in netCDF for public consumption; identified pairings between select datasets collocated in space and time; and a downloadable software application developed for users to interactively collocate and statistically compare wind observations based on their research needs. The utility of SAWC is demonstrated by conducting a one-year (September 2019–August 2020) evaluation of Aeolus level-2B (L2B) winds (Baseline 11 L2B processor version). Observations from four archived conventional wind datasets are collocated with Aeolus. The recommended quality controls are applied. Wind comparisons are assessed using the SAWC collocation application. Comparison statistics are stratified by season, geographic region, and Aeolus observing mode. The results highlight the value of SAWC’s capabilities, from product validation through intercomparison studies to the evaluation of data usage in applications and advances in the global Earth observing architecture.

Comprehensive DFT investigation of X2MgSe4 (X = Dy, Tm) spinels for opto-spintronic and thermoelectric devices

Herein, a computational technique known as full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) is applied for the analysis of magnetic, structural, optical, electronic, and thermoelectric features of X2MgSe4 (X= Dy, Tm) spinels within the density functional theory (DFT). Structural and thermodynamic stabilities are confirmed through the computation of tolerance factor (0.77) and formation enthalpies (-ve) for both spinels. Dy2MgSe4 behaves as a semiconductor with a 1.5 eV direct bandgap (Eg) in the majority spin state but as a metal in the minority spin state, resulting in its half-metallic ferromagnetic (HMF) nature. While Tm2MgSe4 demonstrated a semi-conducting nature in both spin up/down channels, with Eg of 1.41/1.34 eV, respectively. Absorption spectrum displays linear trend with peaks appearing at 6.10 eV for Dy2MgSe4 and 6.46 eV for Tm2MgSe4. Since peaks are appeared in the Ultraviolet (UV) region making them suitable materials for various optoelectronic application, including optical memory devices, sensors and optical filters. The calculated ZT values are 0.77 (at 800 K) and 0.766 (at 300 K), for Dy2MgSe4 and Tm2MgSe4, correspondingly. Overall, the study of X2MgSe4 (X = Dy, Tm) has shown a great potential for their potential usage in energy harvesting and spintronic applications.

Multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking studies for the pH-dependent interaction of β-lactoglobulin with (−)-epicatechin gallate and/or piceatannol: Influence on antioxidant activity and stability

(−)-Epicatechin gallate (ECG) and piceatannol (PIC) are commonly polyphenols with excellent biological activities. β-Lactoglobulin (BLG) is a food-grade globule protein and its morphologies are sensitive to pH. This study used experimental and computational methods to determine the interaction of single or combined ECG and PIC with BLG at different pHs. The static quenching process was determined through fluorescence and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Compared with ECG, PIC could significantly bind to BLG with higher affinity. Their binding affinity for BLG with different morphologies followed the tendency of monomer > dimer > tetramer. The negative contribution of van der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonds to ΔHo exceeded the positive contribution of hydrophobic interactions in the spontaneous and exothermic process. The reduced binding affinity in the ternary systems demonstrated the competitive binding between ECG and PIC on BLG, and the hinder effect of ECG or PIC was enhanced with increasing pH. Molecular docking studies revealed the same binding sites of ECG and PIC on various conformations of BLG and identical driven forces as thermodynamic results. Tryptophan and tyrosine were the main participators in the BLG + ECG and BLG + PIC systems, respectively. The conformational changes in the binary and ternary systems could be ascertained through synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism, and dynamic light scattering. Furthermore, the effects of pH and BLG encapsulation on the antioxidant capacity and stability of ECG or PIC were also implemented. ECG or PIC was the most stable in the (BLG + PIC) + ECG system at pH 6.0. This study could clarify the interaction mechanism between ECG/PIC and BLG and elucidate the pH effect on their binding information. The results will provide basic support for their usage in food processing and applications.

Machine learning assisted analysis of equivalent circuit usage in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy applications.

Electrical equivalent circuits are a widely applied tool with which electrical processes can be rationalized. There is a wide-ranging selection of fields from bioelectrochemistry to batteries to fuel cells making use of this tool. Enabling meta-analysis on the similarities and differences in the used circuits will help to identify commonly used circuits and aid in evaluating the underlying physics. We present a method and an implementation that enables the conversion of circuits included in scientific publications into a machine-readable form for generating machine learning datasets or circuit simulations.

Advanced Path Planning for Autonomous Street-Sweeper Fleets under Complex Operational Conditions

In recent years, autonomous mobile platforms have seen an increase in usage in several applications. One of which is street-sweeping. Although street-sweeping is a necessary process due to health and cleanliness, fleet operations are difficult to plan optimally. Since each vehicle has several constraints (battery, debris, and water), path planning becomes increasingly difficult to perform manually. Additionally, in real-world applications vehicles may become inactive due to a breakdown, which requires real-time scheduling technology to update the paths for the remaining vehicles. In this paper, the fleet street-sweeping problem can be solved using the proposed lower-level and higher-level path generation methods. For the lower level, a Smart Selective Navigator algorithm is proposed, and a modified genetic algorithm is used for the higher-level path planning. A case study was presented for Uchi Park, South Korea, where the proposed methodology was validated. Specifically, results generated from the ideal scenario (all vehicles operating) were compared to the breakdown scenario, where little to no difference in the overall statistics was observed. Additionally, the lower-level path generation could yield solutions with over 94% area coverage.

Physics informed token transformer for solving partial differential equations

Solving partial differential equations (PDEs) is the core of many fields of science and engineering. While classical approaches are often prohibitively slow, machine learning models often fail to incorporate complete system information. Over the past few years, transformers have had a significant impact on the field of Artificial Intelligence and have seen increased usage in PDE applications. However, despite their success, transformers currently lack integration with physics and reasoning. This study aims to address this issue by introducing Physics Informed Token Transformer (PITT). The purpose of PITT is to incorporate the knowledge of physics by embedding PDEs into the learning process. PITT uses an equation tokenization method to learn an analytically-driven numerical update operator. By tokenizing PDEs and embedding partial derivatives, the transformer models become aware of the underlying knowledge behind physical processes. To demonstrate this, PITT is tested on challenging 1D and 2D PDE operator learning tasks. The results show that PITT outperforms popular neural operator models and has the ability to extract physically relevant information from governing equations.

Enzymatic synthesis of biologically active fructose-based saccharides by Aspergillus niger MK788296 levansucrase

Fructose-based saccharides (FBS) and levans received much attention in recent years because of their diverse biological activities and safety which help in their usability in several medical and pharmaceutical applications. In the present study, FBS and levan were synthesized by Aspergillus niger MK788296 levansucrase. Fifteen fructose-based saccharides were synthesized through the interaction between levansucrase concentration (units), duration of synthesis and substrate (sucrose) concentration through a central composite design (CCD). The synthesized FBS and levans exhibited several biological activities including prebiotic, anti-microbial, fibrinolytic, antioxidant and antitumor activities. The prebiotic effect was emphasized by its promotion effect on the growth of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactobacillus plantarum DMS 20174. They also exerted antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. In addition, they exerted prominent antitumor activity against colorectal, liver and breast cancer cell lines.