The Effect of Molecular Structure on the Properties of Fluorene Derivatives for OLED Applications.

A new family of symmetrical fluorene derivatives with different types of substituents attached to the C-2 and C-7 positions of the fluorene core synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reactions is reported. The electronic structures and the properties of the compounds investigated by means of photoelectron emission spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescent spectroscopy as well as by DFT and TD-DFT theoretical calculations are discussed. It is shown that the nature of substituents influences the π-conjugation of the molecules.

Effect of Star-like Polymer on Mechanical Properties of Novel Basalt Fibre-Reinforced Composite with Bio-Based Matrix.

This study is aimed at developing a fibre-reinforced polymer composite with a high bio-based content and to investigate its mechanical properties. A novel basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composite with bio-based matrix modified with different contents of star-like n-butyl methacrylate (-BMA) block glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymer has been developed. -BMA blocks have flexible butyl units, while the epoxide group of GMA makes it miscible with the epoxy resin and is involved in the crosslinking network.

Wheat Bran and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Biomass' Effect on Aerobic and Anaerobic Degradation Efficiency of Paper Composite.

This study is a continuation of research on sustainable food packaging materials made from locally available feedstock and industrial by-products within the Baltic Sea region. Its main focus is the impact of wheat bran filler and additive, which was used to develop a novel bio-coating for paper composite packaging, on the biodegradation efficiency of paper composites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In this study, we analyzed the effect of 15% and 40% concentrations of wheat bran filler and biomass on the biodegradation efficiency of paper composites.

Endophytic Bacterial Biofilm-Formers Associated with Antarctic Vascular Plants.

and are the only two vascular plants colonized on the Antarctic continent, which is usually exposed to extreme environments. Endophytic bacteria residing within plant tissues can exhibit diverse adaptations that contribute to their ecological success and potential benefits for their plant hosts. This study aimed to characterize 12 endophytic bacterial strains isolated from these plants, focusing on their ecological adaptations and functional roles like plant growth promotion, antifungal activities, tolerance to salt and low-carbon environments, wide temperature range, and biofilm formation.

Optimization of synthesis of cationic starches for wastewater sludge and microalgae separation.

The implementation of stricter water protection legislation requires the development of novel environmentally friendly water treatment materials. A new method for the preparation of water soluble cationic starch flocculants using potato starch, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride and CaO additive was developed and surface response methodology was successfully utilized for the optimization of degree of substitution in the cationization of potato starch with and without CaO additive. Based on the results of destabilization studies of model kaolin, wastewater sludge, and microalgae dispersion systems, optimized conditions ware proposed for obtaining an efficient, soluble, and biodegradable cationic starch flocculant with optimal structure.

An assessment of the scope and effectiveness of soft measures to handle plastic pollution in the Baltic Sea Region.

As a semi-closed sea, the Baltic Sea is especially vulnerable to human activities and pressures, such as tourism, industry, and increasing population size, which is also associated with increasing levels of plastic pollution. Apart from legal frameworks and technical solutions (e.g.

Influence of Synthesis Parameters on Structure and Characteristics of the Graphene Grown Using PECVD on Sapphire Substrate.

The high surface area and transfer-less growth of graphene on dielectric materials is still a challenge in the production of novel sensing devices. We demonstrate a novel approach to graphene synthesis on a C-plane sapphire substrate, involving the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MW-PECVD) technique. The decomposition of methane, which is used as a precursor gas, is achieved without the need for remote plasma.

Multimodal Fusion of EEG and Audio Spectrogram for Major Depressive Disorder Recognition Using Modified DenseNet121.

Background/objectives: This study investigates the classification of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) using electroencephalography (EEG) Short-Time Fourier-Transform (STFT) spectrograms and audio Mel-spectrogram data of 52 subjects. The objective is to develop a multimodal classification model that integrates audio and EEG data to accurately identify depressive tendencies.

Methods: We utilized the Multimodal open dataset for Mental Disorder Analysis (MODMA) and trained a pre-trained Densenet121 model using transfer learning.

Exploring Calcium Alginate-Based Gels for Encapsulation of to Enhance Stability in Functional Breadmaking.

This study focuses on evaluating the efficiency of acid-tolerant bacteria encapsulated in an alginate-based gel matrix during repeated sourdough fermentation cycles, as well as their preservation during storage and throughout baking at high temperature. A double-coating procedure was applied, involving the encapsulation of bacterial cells in calcium alginate, which was further coated with chitosan. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) did not show significant difference between alginate and alginate-chitosan (97.

Detection of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria membrane permeabilization induced by pulsed electric field using electrochemical admittance spectroscopy.

Electrochemical impedance or admittance spectroscopy (EIS or EAS) has been widely used for decades, offering a label-free, rapid, real-time, and non-destructive assay for optically opaque and turbid bacterial solutions. However, PEF-induced changes in the bacterial envelope can present challenges in detecting the extent of membrane permeabilization in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria due to their distinct morphological properties. Here, we used a new approach for detecting bacterial membrane permeabilization induced by PEF using electrochemical admittance spectroscopy (EAS).

Sterically Tuned -Phenylene-Linked Donor-Acceptor Benzothiazole-Based Boron Difluoride Complexes as Thermally-Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Two donor-acceptor dyes with an -phenylene-linked carbazole electron donor and a benzothiazole-fused boron heterocyclic acceptor were designed, synthesized, and spectroscopically investigated. Due to the steric effects of boron heterocyclic units, the dyes demonstrate different conformations in the crystalline state. The presence of numerous hydrogen-bonding intermolecular interactions and the very weak π-π stacking in the molecular packing results in intense solid-state emission with photoluminescence quantum yields of 40 and 18% for crystals and 50 and 42% for host-based light-emitting layers.

Trends in the quality of maternal and neonatal care in Sweden and Norway as compared to 12 WHO European countries: A cross-sectional survey investigating maternal perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Maternal-neonatal healthcare services were severely disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic in even high-income countries within the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. The objective of this study was to compare trends in the quality of maternal and neonatal care (QMNC) in Sweden and Norway to 12 other countries from the WHO European Region during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify domains for improvement.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional study included women giving birth in Europe from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022.

Magnetic-assisted sequential templated self-assembly of hybrid colloid nanoparticle systems.

The assembly of hybrid nanoparticles is a pioneering route for developing nanoscale functional devices, enabling breakthroughs in various fields, including electronics, photonics, energy, sensing, and biomedical applications. Here, we focus on the templated assembly of nano-sized colloidal systems using a combination of silica-coated superparamagnetic beads (MBs) and polymer-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These hybrid nanoparticles introduce new functionalities that allow them to be used as nanomachines with numerous possible applications.

Access to diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy technologies for patients with cancer in the Baltic countries, eastern Europe, central Asia, and the Caucasus: a comprehensive analysis.

Background: Only 10-40% of patients with cancer in low-income and middle-income countries were able to access curative or palliative radiotherapy in 2015. We aimed to assess the current status of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy services in the Baltic countries, eastern Europe, central Asia, and the Caucasus by collecting and analysing local data.

Methods: This Access to Radiotherapy (ART) comprehensive analysis used data from 12 countries: the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), two countries in eastern Europe (Moldova and Ukraine), four countries in central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan), and three countries in the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), referred to here as the ART countries.

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Skin Diseases and for Cosmetic Purposes in Norway.

Skin diseases in Norway represents an important area of study due to their incidence and prevalence, yet ethnobotanical research in this context remains scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Norwegian traditional medicine regarding the treatment of skin diseases and cosmetic purposes through a comparative analysis with EMA monographs. Participants were surveyed using semi-structured interviews.

Strategies for becoming a more desirable mate: evidence from Lithuania.

Introduction: Mate-seekers employ several strategies to become more attractive as mates. In the present study, we examined the use of 10 strategies for becoming more desirable as a mate in the Lithuanian cultural context.

Methods: Using a sample of 295 Lithuanian-speaking participants, we explored the frequency and types of strategies employed to enhance mate appeal.

Lateral flow assay sensitivity and signal enhancement via laser µ-machined constrains in nitrocellulose membrane.

Lateral flow assay (LFA) is a handful diagnostic technology that can identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other common respiratory viruses in one strip, which can be tested at the point-of-care without the need for equipment or skilled personnel outside the laboratory. Although its simplicity and practicality make it an appealing solution, it remains a grand challenge to substantially enhance the colorimetric LFA sensitivity. In this work, we present a straightforward approach to enhance the sensitivity of LFA by imposing the flow constraints in nitrocellulose (NC) membranes via a number of vertical femtosecond laser micromachined microchannels which is important for prolonged specific binding interactions.

Sustainable Assessment of Bio-Colorant from Bakain Bark ( L.) for Dyeing of Cellulosic and Proteinous Fabric.

The current study proceeded to reduce the environmental hazards spreading worldwide due to synthetic dyes. To overcome these problems, eco-friendly natural dyes are introduced as alternative sources of synthetic dyes. The present study was focused on exploring the bio-colorant of the aqueous and acidic extract of the bark of L.

Development and Evaluation of Oromucosal Spray Formulation Containing Plant-Derived Compounds for the Treatment of Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases of the Oral Cavity.

According to data in the literature, natural products and essential oils are often used in dental practice. To develop a new oromucosal spray for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, clove CO extract and essential oils of lavender and grapefruit were used as active pharmaceutical ingredients. Clove extract was obtained by the method of subcritical extraction from various raw materials, the choice of which was based on the yield of the CO extract and the study of its phytochemical and microbiological properties.