Improved precision and accuracy of electron energy-loss spectroscopy quantification via fine structure fitting with constrained optimization.

By working out the Bethe sum rule, a boundary condition that takes the form of a linear equality is derived for the fine structure observed in ionization edges present in electron energy-loss spectra. This condition is subsequently used as a constraint in the estimation process of the elemental abundances, demonstrating starkly improved precision and accuracy and reduced sensitivity to the number of model parameters. Furthermore, the fine structure is reliably extracted from the spectra in an automated way, thus providing critical information on the sample's electronic properties that is hard or impossible to obtain otherwise.

Relativistic EELS scattering cross-sections for microanalysis based on Dirac solutions.

The rich information of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) comes from the complex inelastic scattering process whereby fast electrons transfer energy and momentum to atoms, exciting bound electrons from their ground states to higher unoccupied states. To quantify EELS, the common practice is to compare the cross-sections integrated within an energy window or fit the observed spectrum with theoretical differential cross-sections calculated from a generalized oscillator strength (GOS) database with experimental parameters. The previous Hartree-Fock-based and DFT-based GOS are calculated from Schrödinger's solution of atomic orbitals, which does not include the full relativistic effects.

The effect of smokeless tobacco (SLT) excise taxes on SLT use among youth.

Background: Smokeless Tobacco (SLT) use prevalence among youth in the United States (US) is comparable to youth prevalence of cigarette smoking. However, it is in general understudied compared to cigarettes and draws less attention nowadays compared to e-cigarettes (ECs).

Aim: We estimate the own- and cross-tax elasticities of SLT use among US youth and explicitly test how SLT use changes in response to taxes on SLT, cigarettes, ECs, and beer.

Flood resilience assessment of metro station entrances based on the PSR model framework: A case study of the Donghaochong Basin, Guangzhou.

Increasingly frequent intense rainfall events have caused flood disasters of metro systems worldwide. Flood management based on flood resilience is a novel strategy for dealing with floods. Nevertheless, limited research has been conducted on the correlation between metro systems and flood resilience.

Deciphering a reliable synergistic bispecific strategy of rescuing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 escape variants, including BA.2.86, EG.5.1, and JN.1.

The game between therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and continuously emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has favored the virus, as most therapeutic mAbs have been evaded. Addressing this challenge, we systematically explored a reproducible bispecific antibody (bsAb)-dependent synergistic effect in this study. It could effectively restore the neutralizing activity of the bsAb when any of its single mAbs is escaped by variants.

Urban airborne PM induces pulmonary fibrosis through triggering glycolysis and subsequent modification of histone lactylation in macrophages.

Airborne fine particulate matter (PM) can cause pulmonary inflammation and even fibrosis, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of PM exposure have not been fully appreciated. In the present study, we explored the dynamics of glycolysis and modification of histone lactylation in macrophages induced by PM-exposure in both in vivo and in vitro models. Male C57BL/6 J mice were anesthetized and administrated with PM by intratracheal instillation once every other day for 4 weeks.

Research trends and hotspots of exercise for people with sarcopenic: A bibliometric analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the trends and themes in exercise and sarcopenia research using a bibliometric approach. The Web of Science citation database was used to identify papers published on exercise and sarcopenia. The retrieved data on institutions, journals, countries, authors, journal distribution, and keywords were analyzed scientometric ally using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Study on the Effect of Calcium Alloy on Arsenic Removal from Scrap-Based Steel Production.

Scrap steel is a kind of resource that can be recycled indefinitely. However, the enrichment of arsenic in the recycling process will seriously affect the performance of the product, making the recycling process unsustainable. In this study, the removal of arsenic from molten steel using calcium alloys was investigated experimentally, and the underlying mechanism was explored based on thermodynamic principles.

Fast generation of calculated ADF-EDX scattering cross-sections under channelling conditions.

Advanced materials often consist of multiple elements which are arranged in a complicated structure. Quantitative scanning transmission electron microscopy is useful to determine the composition and thickness of nanostructures at the atomic scale. However, significant difficulties remain to quantify mixed columns by comparing the resulting atomic resolution images and spectroscopy data with multislice simulations where dynamic scattering needs to be taken into account.

Element Specific Atom Counting at the Atomic Scale by Combining High Angle Annular Dark Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy.

A new methodology is presented to count the number of atoms in multimetallic nanocrystals by combining energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF STEM). For this purpose, the existence of a linear relationship between the incoherent HAADF STEM and EDX images is exploited. Next to the number of atoms for each element in the atomic columns, the method also allows quantification of the error in the obtained number of atoms, which is of importance given the noisy nature of the acquired EDX signals.

Measuring Multidimensional Health Poverty in China.

This article defines the concept of "multidimensional health poverty," considering both the monetary aspects and multidimensional health deprivation of health poverty. Moreover, we set up the multidimensional health poverty index (MHPI) to measure health poverty in China by revising the traditional A-F MPI method, specifically we use the Catastrophic Health Expenditure (CHE) as a sufficient condition and income poverty as a necessary condition, and take physical, mental, and social health into account. The measurement result evidences that physical health, monetary dimensions (CHE and income poverty), and mental health contribute most to health poverty in China.

Levels and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wood vinegars from pyrolysis of biomass.

A method quantifying 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wood vinegars (WVs) obtained from slow pyrolysis of biomass with ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (USALLE/GC-MS) was established. The recovery range was 83-128%, and the relative standard deviations (RSD%) were less than 15% except naphthalene, acenaphthylene and acenaphthene. Acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were observed in all samples and the other 9 compounds, including benzopyrene (B[a]P), were not detected.

Ovarian Dysfunction Induced by Chronic Whole-Body PM2.5 Exposure.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution arouses public health concerns over the world. Increasing epidemiologic evidence suggests that exposure to ambient airborne PM2.

Urban airborne PM-activated microglia mediate neurotoxicity through glutaminase-containing extracellular vesicles in olfactory bulb.

Emerging evidence has showed that exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM) is associated with neurodegeneration. Our previous studies in vitro found that PM exposure causes primary neurons damage through activating microglia.

Transforming solid-state precipitates via excess vacancies.

Many phase transformations associated with solid-state precipitation look structurally simple, yet, inexplicably, take place with great difficulty. A classic case of difficult phase transformations is the nucleation of strengthening precipitates in high-strength lightweight aluminium alloys. Here, using a combination of atomic-scale imaging, simulations and classical nucleation theory calculations, we investigate the nucleation of the strengthening phase θ' onto a template structure in the aluminium-copper alloy system.

Epitranscriptomic 5-Methylcytosine Profile in PM-induced Mouse Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Exposure of airborne particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM) is epidemiologically associated with lung dysfunction and respiratory symptoms, including pulmonary fibrosis. However, whether epigenetic mechanisms are involved in PM-induced pulmonary fibrosis is currently poorly understood.

High areal capacitance of vanadium oxides intercalated TiC MXene for flexible supercapacitors with high mass loading.

Flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors (ASSSs) have caught the scientific attention to meet the explosive demand for portable and wearable electronic devices. However, it is difficult for flexible electrode materials to obtain a high areal capacitance at a high mass loading, which limits their commercial applications. In this study, vanadium oxide (VO) nanoparticles are introduced into TiC flakes with the aid of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).

A Simple, Yet Multifunctional, Nanoformulation for Eradicating Tumors and Preventing Recurrence with Safely Low Administration Dose.

Designing simple-structured nanomedicine without lacking key functionalities, thereby avoiding incomplete damage or relapse of tumor with the administration of a safe dose, is pivotal for successful cancer nanotherapy. We herein presented a nanomedicine of photodynamic therapy (PDT) that simply assembled amphiphilic macromolecules of poly-l-lysine conjugating with photosensitizers onto hydrophobic upconverting nanoparticles. We demonstrated that the nanoformulation, despite its simple structure and synthesis, simultaneously possesses multiple features, including substantial payload of photosensitizers, avid cellular internalization both in vitro and in vivo, efficient diffusion and broad distribution in tumor lesion, and potent fatality for cancer stem cells that are refractory to other therapy modalities.

The effect of exposure time and concentration of airborne PM on lung injury in mice: A transcriptome analysis.

The association between airborne fine particulate matter (PM) concentration and the risk of respiratory diseases has been well documented by epidemiological studies. However, the mechanism underlying the harmful effect of PM has not been fully understood. In this study, we exposed the C57BL/6J mice to airborne PM for 3 months (mean daily concentration ~50 or ~110 μg/m, defined as PM-3L or PM-3H) or 6 months (mean daily concentration ~50 μg/m, defined as PM-6L) through a whole-body exposure system.

An efficient RFID authentication protocol to enhance patient medication safety using elliptic curve cryptography.

Medication errors are very dangerous even fatal since it could cause serious even fatal harm to patients. In order to reduce medication errors, automated patient medication systems using the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology have been used in many hospitals. The data transmitted in those medication systems is very important and sensitive.