A Multi-Phase Analytical Model for Effective Electrical Conductivity of Polymer Matrix Composites Containing Micro-SiC Whiskers and Nano-Carbon Black Hybrids.

Multifunctional polymer composites containing micro/nano hybrid reinforcements have attracted intensive attention in the field of materials science and engineering. This paper develops a multi-phase analytical model for investigating the effective electrical conductivity of micro-silicon carbide (SiC) whisker/nano-carbon black (CB) polymer composites. First, CB nanoparticles are dispersed within the non-conducting epoxy to achieve a conductive CB-filled nanocomposite and its electrical conductivity is predicted.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Neuroinflammation Intervention with Medicinal Plants: A Critical and Narrative Review of the Current Literature.

Neuroinflammation is a key factor in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, driven by the dysregulation of molecular pathways and activation of the brain's immune system, resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory and oxidative molecules. This chronic inflammation is exacerbated by peripheral leukocyte infiltration into the central nervous system. Medicinal plants, with their historical use in traditional medicine, have emerged as promising candidates to mitigate neuroinflammation and offer a sustainable alternative for addressing neurodegenerative conditions in a green healthcare framework.

Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-Based Lock-In Amplifier System with Signal Enhancement: A Comprehensive Review on the Design for Advanced Measurement Applications.

Lock-in amplifiers (LIAs) are critical tools in precision measurement, particularly for applications involving weak signals obscured by noise. Advances in signal processing algorithms and hardware synthesis have enabled accurate signal extraction, even in extremely noisy environments, making LIAs indispensable in sensor applications for healthcare, industry, and other services. For instance, the electrical impedance measurement of the human body, organs, tissues, and cells, known as bioelectrical impedance, is commonly used in biomedical and healthcare applications because it is non-invasive and relatively inexpensive.

Spatio-Temporal Joint Trajectory Planning for Autonomous Vehicles Based on Improved Constrained Iterative LQR.

With advancements in autonomous driving technology, the coupling of spatial paths and temporal speeds in complex scenarios becomes increasingly significant. Traditional sequential decoupling methods for trajectory planning are no longer sufficient, emphasizing the need for spatio-temporal joint trajectory planning. The Constrained Iterative LQR (CILQR), based on the Iterative LQR (ILQR) method, shows obvious potential but faces challenges in computational efficiency and scenario adaptability.

A Comprehensive Analysis of a Social Intelligence Dataset and Response Tendencies Between Large Language Models (LLMs) and Humans.

In recent years, advancements in the interaction and collaboration between humans and have garnered significant attention. Social intelligence plays a crucial role in facilitating natural interactions and seamless communication between humans and Artificial Intelligence (AI). To assess AI's ability to understand human interactions and the components necessary for such comprehension, datasets like Social-IQ have been developed.

Compact High-Zoom-Ratio Mid-Wavelength Infrared Zoom Lens Design Based on Particle Swarm Optimization.

This paper presents an automated method for solving the initial structure of compact, high-zoom-ratio mid-wave infrared (MWIR) zoom lenses. Using differential analysis, the focal length variation process of zoom lenses under paraxial conditions is investigated, and a model for the focal power distribution and relative motion of three movable lens groups is established. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is introduced into the zooming process analysis, and a program is developed in MATLAB to solve for the initial structure.

Evaluating the Reliability and Consistency of Treadmill Gait Analysis Using an RGB-D Camera: Effects of Assistance and No Assistance.

This study aimed to assess the intraday reliability of markerless gait analysis using an RGB-D camera versus a traditional three-dimensional motion analysis (3DMA) system with and without a simulated walking assistant. Gait assessments were conducted on 20 healthy adults walking on a treadmill with a focus on spatiotemporal parameters gathered using the RGB-D camera and 3DMA system. The intraday reliability of the RGB-D camera was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 1, 1), while its consistency with the 3DMA system was determined using ICC (2, 1).

Benzo[1,2-b:6,5-b']dithiophene-4,5-diamine: A New Fluorescent Probe for the High-Sensitivity and Real-Time Visual Monitoring of Phosgene.

The detection of highly toxic chemicals such as phosgene is crucial for addressing the severe threats to human health and public safety posed by terrorist attacks and industrial mishaps. However, timely and precise monitoring of phosgene at a low cost remains a significant challenge. This work is the first to report a novel fluorescent system based on the Intramolecular Charge Transfer (ICT) effect, which can rapidly detect phosgene in both solution and gas phases with high sensitivity by integrating a benzo[1,2-b:6,5-b']dithiophene-4,5-diamine (BDTA) probe.

DynamicVLN: Incorporating Dynamics into Vision-and-Language Navigation Scenarios.

Traditional Vision-and-Language Navigation (VLN) tasks require an agent to navigate static environments using natural language instructions. However, real-world road conditions such as vehicle movements, traffic signal fluctuations, pedestrian activity, and weather variations are dynamic and continually changing. These factors significantly impact an agent's decision-making ability, underscoring the limitations of current VLN models, which do not accurately reflect the complexities of real-world navigation.

Reusable Biosensor for Easy RNA Detection from Unfiltered Saliva.

Biosensors are transforming point-of-care diagnostics by simplifying the detection process and enabling rapid, accurate testing. This study introduces a novel, reusable biosensor designed for direct viral RNA detection from unfiltered saliva, targeting SARS-CoV-2. Unlike conventional methods requiring filtration, our biosensor leverages a unique electrode design that prevents interference from saliva debris, allowing precise measurements.

Supervised or Home-Based? Exploring the Best Exercise Approach for Knee Osteoarthritis Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating condition affecting older adults, often progressing to advanced stages and requiring total joint replacement. Exercise therapy is widely recognized as the first-line approach for the prevention and initial management of OA. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of home-based exercises (HBEs) compared to supervised exercises in alleviating pain and reducing disability among patients with knee OA.

Sustainable CO Capture: N,S-Codoped Porous Carbons Derived from Petroleum Coke with High Selectivity and Stability.

CO capture from the flue gas is a promising approach to mitigate global warming. However, regulating the carbon-based adsorbent in terms of textural and surface modification is still a challenge. To overcome this issue, the present study depicts the development of cost-effective and high-performance CO adsorbents derived from petroleum coke, an industrial by-product, using a two-step process involving thiourea modification and KOH activation.

Tuning Electrical Conductivity and Ultrafast Optical Nonlinearity of Reduced-GO Films Ablated by Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing.

Carbon-based nanomaterials with excellent electrical and optical properties are highly sought after for a plethora of hybrid applications, ranging from advanced sustainable energy storage devices to opto-electronic components. In this contribution, we examine in detail the dependence of electrical conductivity and the ultrafast optical nonlinearity of graphene oxide (GO) films on their degrees of reduction, as well as the link between the two properties. The GO films were first synthesized through the vacuum filtration method and then reduced partially and controllably by way of femtosecond laser direct writing with varying power doses.

A Photocontrolled Molecular Rotor Based on Azobenzene-Strapped Mixed (Phthalocyaninato)(Porphyrinato) Rare Earth Triple-Decker.

Effectively regulating the rotary motions of molecular rotors through external stimuli poses a tremendous challenge. Herein, a new type of molecular rotor based on azobenzene-strapped mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) rare earth triple-decker complex is reported. Electronic absorption and H NMR spectra manifested the reversible isomerization of the rotor between the configuration and the configuration.

Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin Gallate Interactions with Copper-Serum Albumin.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), an abundant phytochemical in green tea, is an antioxidant that also binds proteins and complex metals. After gastrointestinal absorption, EGCg binds to serum albumin in the hydrophobic pocket between domains IIA and IIIA and overlaps with the Sudlow I site. Serum albumin also has two metal binding sites, a high-affinity N-terminal site (NTS) site that selectively binds Cu(II), and a low-affinity, less selective multi-metal binding site (MBS).

Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Extraction and Antioxidant and Antiglycation Activities of (Poly)phenols from .

Phenolic compounds have antiglycation activity, but the changes occurring during thermal treatment (TT) in these activities are not completely understood. The effects of the extraction conditions of (poly)phenols from fruits, before and after TT, on their antioxidant and antiglycation effects were assessed. (Poly)phenol-enriched extracts (PEEs) from raw and TT (90 °C, 1 h) were extracted using three solvent mixtures (ethanol/water/acetic acid) with increasing water content (0, 24, and 49%) and three solvent-to-solid ratios (5, 10, and 20 mL/g).

Unraveling TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR Transcription Factors in Safflower: A Blueprint for Stress Resilience and Metabolic Regulation.

Safflower ( L.), a versatile medicinal and economic crop, harbors untapped genetic resources essential for stress resilience and metabolic regulation. The TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factors, exclusive to plants, are pivotal in orchestrating growth, development, and stress responses, yet their roles in safflower remain unexplored.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Oxidative Coupling of Methane over Metal-Loaded TiO Nanowires.

The photocatalytic oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) on metal-loaded one-dimensional TiO nanowires (TiO NWs) was performed. With metal loading, the electric and optical properties of TiO NWs were adjusted, contributing to the improvement of the activity and selectivity of the OCM reaction. In the photocatalytic OCM reaction, the 1.

From Powders to Performance-A Comprehensive Study of Two Advanced Cutting Tool Materials Sintered with Pressure Assisted Methods.

This paper presents a comprehensive study of two tool materials designed for the machining of Inconel 718 superalloy, produced through two distinct sintering techniques: High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) sintering and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). The first composite (marked as BNT), composed of 65 vol% cubic boron nitride (cBN), was sintered from the cBN-TiN-TiSiC system using the HPHT technique at a pressure of 7.7 GPa.

Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Performance of ZnO Nanowires for Green Hydrogen Production and Organic Pollutant Degradation.

With growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable energy, multifunctional materials that can simultaneously address water treatment and clean energy production are in high demand. In this study, we developed a cost-effective method to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires via the anodic oxidation of zinc foil. By carefully controlling the anodization time, we optimized the Zn/ZnO-5 min electrode to achieve impressive dual-function performance in terms of effective photoelectrocatalysis for water splitting and waste water treatment.

Innovative Powder Pre-Treatment Strategies for Enhancing Maraging Steel Performance.

Maraging steel is a high-performance material valued for its exceptional properties, making it ideal for demanding applications such as aerospace, tooling, and automotive industries, where high strength, toughness, and precision are required. These steels can be prepared by powder metallurgy techniques, which offer new processing possibilities. This paper introduces novel thermal powder pre-treatment and its impact on the final mechanical properties.

Effect of Inherent Mg/Ti Interface Structure on Element Segregation and Bonding Behavior: An Ab Initio Study.

To provide insight into the interface structure in Ti particle-reinforced Mg matrix composites, this study investigates the inherent Mg/Ti interface structure formed during the solidification of supercooled Mg melt on a (0001)Ti substrate using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations and density function theory (DFT) calculation. The resulting interface exhibits an orientation relationship of 0001Mg//0001Ti with a lattice mismatch of approximately 8%. Detailed characterizations reveal the occurrences of 0001Mg plane rotation and vacancy formation to overcome the lattice mismatch at the inherent Mg/Ti interface while allowing Mg atoms to occupy the energetically favorable hollow sites above the Ti atomic layer.

SO Removal from Flue Gas by Char-Supported Fe-Zn-Cu Sorbent.

In this study, the mechanisms of SO adsorption on lignite char and char-supported Fe-Zn-Cu sorbent (FZC sorbent) were investigated. The FZC sorbent was prepared by the impregnation of metal components on raw coal followed by steam gasification. Flue gas desulfurization experiments were carried out on a fixed-bed reactor at 100-300 °C by using simulated flue gas containing SO/O/HO balanced by N.

Effects of Pre-Deformation in Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth of Al-Mg-Zn Alloy.

This study investigated the effect of pre-deformation on the corrosion fatigue crack propagation (CFCG) of Al-Mg-Zn alloy in a corrosive environment. Tensile tests at different pre-deformation levels and molecular dynamics simulations analyzed changes in dislocation density. Corrosion fatigue experiments were conducted in a 3.

All-Fiber Micro-Ring Resonator Based p-Si/n-ITO Heterojunction Electro-Optic Modulator.

With the rapid advancement of information technology, the data demands in transmission rates, processing speed, and storage capacity have been increasing significantly. However, silicon electro-optic modulators, characterized by their weak electro-optic effect, struggle to balance modulation efficiency and bandwidth. To overcome this limitation, we propose an electro-optic modulator based on an all-fiber micro-ring resonator and a p-Si/n-ITO heterojunction, achieving high modulation efficiency and large bandwidth.