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Parity non-conservation (PNC) due to the weak interaction is predicted to give rise to enantiomer dependent vibrational constants in chiral molecules, but the phenomenon has so far eluded experimental observation. The enhanced sensitivity of molecules to physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) has led to substantial advances in molecular precision spectroscopy, and these may be applied to PNC searches as well. Specifically, trapped molecular ion experiments leverage the universality of trapping charged particles to optimize the molecular ion species studied toward BSM searches, but in searches for PNC, only a few chiral molecular ion candidates have been proposed so far. Importantly, viable candidates need to be internally cold, and their internal state populations should be detectable with high quantum efficiency. To this end, we focus on molecular ions that can be created by near threshold resonant two-photon ionization and detected via state-selective photo-dissociation. Such candidates need to be stable in both charged and neutral chiral versions to be amenable to these methods. Here, we present a collection of suitable chiral molecular ion candidates we have found, including CHDBrI+ and CHCaBrI+, that fulfill these conditions according to our ab initio calculations. We find that organo-metallic species have low ionization energy as neutrals and relatively high dissociation thresholds. Finally, we compute the magnitude of the PNC values for vibrational transitions for some of these candidates. An experimental demonstration of state preparation and readout for these candidates will be an important milestone toward measuring PNC in chiral molecules for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type of this research is qualitative-descriptive. Thirty schools located in the city of Sorong, covering primary to secondary education levels, were selected as the research locations. Approximately 35 Catholic religion teachers participated as research informants. Interview, observation, and documentation study techniques were used as methods to collect data. This research aims to examine the implementation and effectiveness of the Catholic Religious Education (PAK) learning process in schools. The researchers then attempted to explore further how schools continuously strive to improve the quality of implementing Catholic Religious Education in schools for fostering attitudes and behaviors of religious tolerance in schools. Through the Catholic Religious Education learning model, students are able to: First, adopt a critical attitude towards various issues related to racism, fanaticism, ethnicity, and repressive aspects in society. Second, conduct studies on various issues stemming from diverse perspectives of religions and other beliefs, thereby fostering awareness of cultural diversity and peace. Third, develop cooperative learning skills and decision-making skills so that students are ready to become good citizens in terms of social and democratic aspects as well as tolerant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopically chiral molecular ion CHDBrI+ is identified as an exceptionally promising candidate for the detection of parity violation in vibrational transitions. The largest predicted parity-violating frequency shift reaches 1.8 Hz for the hydrogen wagging mode which has a sub-Hz natural line width and its vibrational frequency auspiciously lies in the available laser range. In stark contrast to this result, the parent neutral molecule is two orders of magnitude less sensitive to parity violation. The origin of this effect is analyzed and explained. Precision vibrational spectroscopy of CHDBrI+ is feasible as it is amenable to preparation at internally low temperatures and resistant to predissociation, promoting long interrogation times (Landau et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2023, 159, 114307). The intersection of these properties in this molecular ion places the first observation of parity violation in chiral molecules within reach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South African communities, both faith leaders and health care workers play a vital role in supporting the health of community members and people living with HIV in particular. This study describes HIV stigma when faith leaders and health care workers engaged in discourse. The study used a descriptive qualitative inquiry design. Data were gathered between 2015 and 2016 in the areas of Masiphumelele and Gugulethu in Cape Town, South Africa. Three themes emerged: (1) participants identified influences that can increase HIV stigma; (2) participants shared the challenges that they face to reduce HIV stigma; and (3) participants suggested solutions to reduce HIV stigma. Themes discussed include ground-level problems and practical solutions to address HIV stigma in faith communities. Collaboration between faith leaders and health care workers are vital resources in the fight against HIV stigma. Future research and interventions should aim to promote organised collaboration between faith communities and health care structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A prediction tool was developed and internally validated to aid the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending UK primary‐care practices. External validation is an important part of model validation to assess model performance when used in different populations. Objectives: To assess the original prediction model's transportability, applicability, and diagnostic performance in a secondary‐care practice in the Netherlands. Animals: Two hundred thirty client‐owned dogs. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Medical records of dogs under investigation of Cushing's syndrome between 2011 and 2020 were reviewed. Dogs diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome by the attending internists and fulfilling ALIVE criteria were defined as cases, others as non‐cases. All dogs were scored using the aforementioned prediction tool. Dog characteristics and predictor‐outcome effects in development and validation data sets were compared to assess model transportability. Calibration and discrimination were examined to assess model performance. Results: Eighty of 230 dogs were defined as cases. Significant differences in dog characteristics were found between UK primary‐care and Dutch secondary‐care populations. Not all predictors from the original model were confirmed to be significant predictors in the validation sample. The model systematically overestimated the probability of having Cushing's syndrome (a = −1.10, P <.001). Calibration slope was 1.35 and discrimination proved excellent (area under the receiver operating curve = 0.83). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The prediction model had moderate transportability, excellent discriminatory ability, and overall overestimated probability of having Cushing's syndrome. This study confirms its utility, though emphasizes that ongoing validation efforts of disease prediction tools are a worthwhile effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Various methods can detect foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cows, but they necessitate resources, time, costs, laboratory facilities, and specific clinical specimen submission, often leading to FMD virus (FMDV) diagnosis delays. The 2022 FMD outbreak in East Java, Indonesia, highlighted the need for an easy, inexpensive, rapid, and accurate detection approach. This study aims to devise a one-step reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) technique and phylogenetic analysis to detect the serotype O FMDV outbreak in East Java. Materials and Methods: Swab samples were collected from the foot vesicles, nasal secretions, and saliva of five suspected FMDV-infected cows in East Java between June and July 2022. The RT-LAMP design used hydroxy naphthol blue dye or SYBR Green I dye, with confirmatory analysis through reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting 249 base pairs. PCR products underwent purification, sequencing, and nucleotide alignment, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Results: The RT-LAMP method using hydroxy naphthol blue dye displayed a positive reaction through a color shift from purple to blue in the tube. Naked-eye observation in standard light or ultraviolet (UV) light at 365 nm, with SYBR Green I stain, also revealed color change. Specifically, using SYBR Green I dye, UV light at 365 nm revealed a color shift from yellow to green, signifying a positive reaction. Nucleotide alignment revealed mutations and deletion at the 15th sequence in the JT-INDO-K3 isolate from the East Java FMDV outbreak. Despite differing branches, the phylogenetic tree placed it in the same cluster as serotype O FMDV from Malaysia and Mongolia. Conclusion: JT-INDO-K3 exhibited distinctions from Indonesian serotype O FMDV isolates and those documented in GenBank. Then, the RT-LAMP method used in this study has a detection limit 10 times higher latter than the conventional RT-PCR limit, without any cross-reactivity among strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Questions about the origin of coronavirus and its introduction to human beings have persisted. The detection of a variety of coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in bats and pangolins led to the widespread belief that SARS-CoV-2 originated from wild animals and was introduced to humans through an intermediate animal. Thus, coronaviruses from animals, especially those in close contact with humans, have attracted particular attention. This study aimed to phylogenetically analyze feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), and SARS-CoV-2 found in cats in Surabaya amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The results will provide a basis for developing basic preventive and pet healthcare strategies. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected on physical examinations of domestic and Persian cats (males and females) from March 2020 to March 2022. Samples were collected if there were clinical signs of FECV and FIP based on a veterinarian's diagnosis in several clinics in Surabaya. Laboratory examinations in this study were performed by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers for conserved regions of FIP and FECV, DNA sequencing was performed with Applied Biosystem Genetic Analyzer protocol, homology analysis was performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool NCBI, phylogenetic analysis was carried out with BioEdit 7.2 software, and sequences were compared with references from GenBank. Results: Samples were collected from ten cats showing clinical signs of FECV and FIP, based on a veterinarian's diagnosis. On RT-PCR examinations performed with specifically designed primers for detecting FIPV in blood, peritoneal fluid, and feces, only one sample showed positivity for FIPV (1/10), namely, a peritoneal sample from a domestic cat in Surabaya. Homology analysis of the FIPV Surabaya isolate showed 98% similarity with FECV and FIPV reported in GenBank (MT444152 and DQ010921, respectively). In phylogenetic analysis, the FIPV Surabaya isolate was clustered together with SARS-CoV-2 of Clade A (MT198653) from Spain, SARS-CoV-2 Clade A (MT192765) from the USA, SARS-CoV-2 Clade D (039888) from the USA, and SARS-CoV-2 Clade F (MT020781) from Finland. Conclusion: This study revealed a relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 viruses that infect humans and cats (FECV), which is an important finding for those keeping cats at home. However, this finding requires further comprehensive support from laboratory studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various anticancer medications have been discovered due to advances in the health care industry, but they have undesirable side effects. On the other hand, anticancer drugs derived from natural sources have low side effects, making them excellent for cancer therapy. This study aims to evaluate the effect of clove flower extract (Syzygium aromaticum) as a potential anticancer agent by determining grid-score values using molecular docking and LC50 values using the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) technique. As animal models, three hundred larvae of Artemia salina leach were divided into six groups. Each group has ten larvae that have undergone five replications. The clove flower extract concentration in the treatment media was 50 ppm (T1), 250 ppm (T2), 500 ppm (T3), 750 ppm (T4), 1000 ppm (T5), and 0 ppm (seawater) as the control. The probit analysis of Artemia Salina leach mortality percentage data. The results indicated that the clove flower extract (Syzygium aromaticum) is harmful to larvae with LC50 values of 227,1 g/ml or in the equation y = 2,8636 x – 1,7466 with an R2 value of 0.9062. According to molecular docking, eugenol acetate (grid-score −42.120834) has a close relationship with the cognate enzyme nitric oxide synthase (3E7G) based on its proximity to the grid score value (grid-score −61.271812). Therefore, clove flower extract has the potential to act as an anticancer medication. Based on the grid-score proximity, eugenol acetate is close to the homologous enzyme nitric oxide synthase (3E7G). Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase also shows a reduction in cancer cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report and compare the synthesis method of the active cathode materials based on nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) for lithium-ion battery application. We evaluate the hydrothermal and solid-state reaction method in NCM-622 synthesis, the material characterizations, and the battery performance. Based on the analytical results using X-ray diffraction (XRD), particles synthesized using hydrothermal and solid-state methods exhibit a highly crystalline NCM phase. NCM particles synthesized using solid-state reaction exhibit high-rate performance up to 10 C. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis shows that the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of NCM synthesized by the solid-state reaction (SSR) method was 25.9% lower than hydrothermal. Meanwhile, the ionic diffusivity of the SSR sample was 38.5% higher than the hydrothermal sample. These two factors lead to better performance when tested in a lithium-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four derivatives of 2'‐hydoxychalcone were synthesized through Claisen‐Schmidt condensation by combining 2'‐hydroxyacetophenone and four different benzaldehyde derivatives (o‐vanillin, salicylaldehyde, p‐anisaldehyde, and benzaldehyde) in the presence of a base. The reactions took place in an ionic liquid, 1‐dodecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([DDMIm]Br), and were facilitated by microwave irradiation. The reactions were completed within 10 to 15 minutes, yielding products with chemical yields ranging from 52.64 % to 83.42 %. The structures of the synthesized products were confirmed using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, antimicrobial activity tests demonstrated the effectiveness of specific derivatives against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, underscoring the importance of hydroxy and methoxy groups on the aromatic ring in inhibiting microbial growth. These findings provide valuable knowledge for developing chalcone derivatives with improved properties and potential applications in drug discovery. Furthermore, the synthesized products′ reactivity was analyzed using Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) and their reactivity site was mapped using Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP). Lastly, molecular docking analysis was attempted to explain antibacterial activities from all products. Nonetheless, the molecular docking simulations conducted in this study were inadequate to fully account for the antimicrobial activity observed in all the products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restorative justice, aimed at restoring human relations instead of just punishing offenders, is often defended with reference to biblical values like reconciliation, forgiveness, and mercy. Advocates of retributivism, which is the philosophy that underlies the practice of punishing perpetrators with the sole goal of inflicting hardship on them, regularly ridicule such defenses. In response we will not directly defend restorative justice, but critically inquire in the main theoretical arguments with which advocates of retributivism seek to rationalize their view. We point out the weaknesses of these arguments and why we believe that restorative procedures can do much better in serving the goals of (criminal) justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closure of the defect with a random skin flap is constrained by the extent of the defect area. Several studies have shown the benefits of administration of PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) in random skin flap. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of PRP injection given before flap elevation, after flap elevation and control on the extended random skin flap procedures in rats. This was an experimental study with randomized posttest-only control group design (n=27, divided into 3 treatment groups) that compare the effectiveness of PRP injection 24 hours prior to the elevation of the flap, after the elevation of the flap, and control in the extended random skin flap in rats. Random skin flap is made in the ratio 1: 5 on the rat skin. Measurement of viable area were observed on days 1, 7 and 14. There were significantly increased viability of random skin flap on the group with PRP injection 24 hours prior flap elevation compared to other group of treatment. The average of viability on day first 39%±13% ;42%±34%; 62%±14%. On day 7th 24%±13%; 36%±26%; 62%±12%. On day 14th 16%±15%; 28%±22%; 60%±11%. Injection of PRP on extended random skin flap on rat 24 hours before flap elevation increase viability of the flap compared to control group and group which receive PRP injection on extended random flap on rat skin after elevation of the flap. Viability increased due to angiogenesis stimulation after PRP injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to identify the phylogenetic analysis and antibiotic resistance of Listeria monocytogenes contaminating chicken meat in Surabaya. 60 chicken meat samples were collected from supermarkets, mobile vendors, and traditional markets in Surabaya. A selective medium is used for isolation and identification of Listeria monocytogenes by chopping 25 grams of the chicken meat and to put it into the sterilized Erlenmeyer flasks. Some methods were used for the identification procedures, such as biochemical and morphological tests, antibiotic resistance test, PCR, and sequencing; also a phylogenetic analysis was conducted by a neighbor-joining analysis using Genetix Mac ver 8.0 with hlyA genes of Listeria monocytogenes recorded in GenBank, such as Lineage I (KC808543), Lineage II (AY229462, AY229346, AY229499, and AY229404), Lineage III (KJ504139, HQ686043, KJ504116, and DQ988349), and Lineage IV (EU840690, EF030606). The result shows that the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in Surabaya contaminating the chicken meat samples from the supermarkets was 10% (2/20), from the mobile vendors was 0/20 (0%), and from the traditional markets was 5% (1/20). It was seen from the band at 456 bp fragment. Furthermore, three isolates found in Surabaya were included in the new lineages which were resistant to old-generation antibiotics such as sulfamethonazole-trimetophrim (SXT) and amoxyllin sulbactam (MAS), but they were still sensitive to new-generation antibiotics such as cefotaxime (CTX) and meropenem (MEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction to useful fuels is a promising strategy for the sustainable energy production. However, because CO2 reduction reaction involves sluggish kinetics, the development of high performing catalyst is a first priority for the success in this system. Herein, cost effective fabrication of oxide-derived silver catalyst for CO2 electro-reduction was successfully prepared by simple chemical solution deposition involving the following steps: (i) spin-coating of precursor solution, (ii) oxidation by air-annealing, and (iii) electrochemical reduction. The prepared silver catalyst achieved 83.7% of CO Faradaic efficiency at − 1.19 VRHE with an outstanding mass activity of 465.04 A g− 1 which was originated from the unique features of the catalyst as well as precursor solution. With the introduced fabrication method, the precursor solution containing relatively low silver concentration was preferred to form small silver particles, resulting in high catalytic activity. We anticipate the developed method to be widely applied for the preparation of oxide-derived metal catalysts and metal alloy nanostructured catalysts in advanced CO2 conversion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a research on the treatment for hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and the overall survival (OS) of patients in The Netherlands. The authors collected details on HCL patients diagnosed between 1989 and 2015 from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). The topics include the methodology followed, the strength and limitation of the study. It revealed that the majority of HCL patients in The Netherlands can enjoy a normal life expectancy.

Technologies that can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases are mandatory, and those based on solar energy are good candidates to achieve this. In this sense, massive solar thermal collectors are suitable technologies for supplying the primary energy demand of buildings. To design these devices, it is necessary to fully understand the physics of the problem before proposing any new optimized solution. This review aims to briefly summarize significant aspects regarding the current state of development of these solar technologies. Attention is paid to works devoted to experimental studies to analyze the behavior of these systems, as well as numerical models to predict the physics of the problem. Furthermore, the future directions and prospects in the field of massive collectors are briefly described. The main novelty of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview that summarizes the works done so far in the field over the past 30 years, which allows the reader to delve deeper into the topic. According to the reviewed works, it can be concluded that these technologies can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases while at the same time being excellent examples of the integration of solar energy devices with buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A liquid CO 2 ( l -CO 2 )–based coating technique is used for the pore-filling of a porous copper indium gallium sulfide (CuIn x Ga 1−x S 2 , CIGS) film synthesized by a solution-based method. In the l -CO 2 –based coating, copper and indium precursors dissolved in l -CO 2 are deposited on the porous copper indium gallium oxide film, followed by low-temperature sulfurization. After the high-temperature sulfurization of the deposited film with the l -CO 2 –based coating, a highly dense CIGS film with almost complete pore-filling is obtained. The use of an indium rich solution in l -CO 2 leads to the formation of near stoichiometric ratio of Cu:(In + Ga) that improves the pore filling behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 electro-reduction is a promising method for sustainable production of carbon fuels as well as valuable chemicals. Herein, we investigated a direct electro-catalytic CO 2 conversion to CO by nanostructured gold catalysts from the small nanoparticles to aggregated clusters to layered film. The selectivity of CO formation was found to increase as the gold amount increased and it reached a saturation point of ∼78% (−0.59 V vs. RHE) at the morphological transition from aggregated cluster to layered film. Furthermore, the ∼4 nm gold nanoparticle exhibited a remarkable CO formation mass activity value at 166.1 A/g (−0.59 V vs. RHE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-slump concrete (NSLC) and self-compacting concrete (SCC) are two types of concretes, which became increasingly adapted by the concrete industry because of their specific rheological characteristics. For NSLC mixtures the high shape holding ability allows formworks to be removed shortly after concrete placing. However, NSLC needs a large amount of energy to be properly compacted. For SCC mixtures it is the high flowability and self-compactability that makes them unique. However, as SCC is not able to preserve its shape right after placing, formwork cannot be removed directly after casting. By comparing these two extreme cases, an ideal mixture would have been obtained, i.e. a self-compacting no-slump concrete (SCNSLC), which can compact under its own weight and maintains its shape right after casting. in this paper the possibility of a self-compacting no-slump concrete (SCNSLC) is discussed. The rheological behaviour of these mixtures in the dormant period is in focus, when the degree of hydration is still very limited. The shape holding ability of both mixtures is characterized by a shape preservation factor 0

This paper provides results of an experimental study on the force-distance relationship between two particles connected by a liquid bridge. This experimental research is based on water bridges and extended to cement paste bridges with the aim to explain and model the rheological behaviour of fresh concrete mixtures, and to create a fundamental basis for developing mixtures with a predefined deformation performance. The research approach is based on a conceptual idea where the mixture is considered as an assembly of mutually interacting “particle-paste- particle” systems and the rheological behaviour of the mixture is related to the inter-particle interactions. The concept of capillary cohesion in wet granular materials, which describes the interaction between two particles connected by a liquid bridge, is considered the first step in the investigations. The effect of the wettability of the particles on the force-distance relation of two particles connected by a liquid bridge is studied. Static and/or quasi-static situations are in focus, i.e. where the cohesion dominates over other effects generated by the liquid, such as viscosity and lubrication. Tests were carried out using spherical stainless steel and glass particles and water was used as the liquid with a surface tension of ain=0.072 mN/mm. The contact angle between water and glass is about 15° while between water and stainless steel it is about 60°. It is found that the wettability of particles has a great influence on the force-distance relation of the interacting particles. Conclusion is drawn regarding the possibility to use the generated data as a basis for modelling the rheological behaviour of cement-based mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the simultaneous deposition of two different metal precursors dissolved in liquid carbon dioxide (l-CO2), aiming to the synthesis of ternary chalcopyrite (e.g. CuInS2) nanoparticles on a mesoporous TiO2 film. The l-CO2-based deposition of Cu and In precursors and subsequent reaction with a dilute H2S gas resulted in CuxInySz nanoparticles uniformly deposited across the entire thickness of a mesoporous TiO2 film. Further heat treatment (air annealing and sulfurization) led to the formation of more stoichiometric CuInS2 nanoparticles. The formation of CuInS2 on TiO2 was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The crystal growth of CuInS2 was also found to be controllable by adjusting the number of coating cycles of the l-CO2-based deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal loading, especially in fire scenarios, challenges the safety and long-term durability of concrete structures. The resulting heat propagation within the structure is governed by the heat conduction equation, which can be difficult to solve analytically because of the nonlinearity related to the thermophysical properties of concrete. A semi-analytical approach for the transient nonlinear heat conduction problem in concrete structures was established in the present work. The nonlinearity related to the temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, mass density, and specific heat capacity of heated concrete was taken into consideration. A Taylor series approximate solution was first established within a small neighborhood, employing the Boltzmann transformation in combination with the mean value theorem. Thereafter, it was extended to the whole domain by utilizing the Bernstein polynomial. The semi-analytical approach was validated by comparing it with the numerical results of two independent Finite Element simulations of nonlinear heat conduction along concrete plates, subjected to either moderate or fierce thermal loading. Absolute values of the relative errors are smaller than 5 % . The validated semi-analytical approach was further applied to prediction of the temporal evolution of the temperature field of a scaled model of a subway station, subjected to fire disaster. The nonlinearities, related to the time-dependent surface temperature and the temperature-dependent thermophysical properties of concrete, were taken into consideration. The predictions agree well with the experimental measurements. The established semi-analytical approach exhibits good accuracy and stability, providing insight into the interaction between the thermophysical properties of concrete in the heat conduction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metakaolin (MK) is a high-quality, reactive nanomaterial that holds promising potential for large-scale use in improving the sustainability of cement and concrete production. It can replace cement due to its pozzolanic reaction with calcium hydroxide and water to form cementitious compounds. Therefore, understanding the dissolution mechanism is crucial to fully comprehending its pozzolanic reactivity. In this study, we present an approach for computing the activation energies required for the dissolution of metakaolin (MK) silicate units at far-from-equilibrium conditions using the improved dimer method (IDM) and the transition-state theory (TST) within density functional theory (DFT). Four different models were prepared to calculate the activation energies required for breaking oxo-bridging bonds between silicate or aluminate units. Our results showed that the activation energy for breaking the oxo-bridging bond to a silicate neighbor is higher than that to an aluminate neighbor due to the ionic interaction. However, for complete silicate tetrahedra dissolution, a higher activation energy is required for breaking the oxo-bridging bond to the aluminate neighbor compared to the silicate neighbor. The findings provide methodology for missing input data to predict the mesoscopic dissolution rate, e.g., by the atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) upscaling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The concrete industry is responsible for about 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions. [•] The production of concrete with recycled constituents can reduce such an impact. [•] The influence of the aggregate replacement on the hydration process is investigated. [•] The relationship between concrete strength and hydration degree is shown. [•] The influence of initial moisture conditions of aggregates is particularly addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with the correlation between the time evolution of the degree of hydration and the compressive strength of Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) for different water to cement ratios and initial moisture conditions of the Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs). Particularly, the influence of such moisture conditions is investigated by monitoring the hydration process and determining the compressive strength development of fully dry or fully saturated recycled aggregates in four RAC mixtures. Hydration processes are monitored via temperature measurements in hardening concrete samples and the time evolution of the degree of hydration is determined through a 1D hydration and heat flow model. The effect of the initial moisture condition of RCAs employed in the considered concrete mixtures clearly emerges from this study. In fact, a novel conceptual method is proposed to predict the compressive strength of RAC-systems, from the initial mixture parameters and the hardening conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Utilization of Fe based catalysts for petroleum coke graphitization. • Properties comparison of graphitized petroleum coke and commercial graphite. • Graphitized petroleum coke shows good electrochemical properties in full cell LIB. Graphitic carbon materials are synthesized by mixing petroleum coke with Fe-based catalysts, followed with annealing under N 2 atmosphere at various iron-based catalysts at 1300 °C. We have found that the utilization of iron or iron oxide as catalyst lead to similar graphitic structure formation during heat treatment of petroleum coke. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that iron oxide catalyst leads to the formation of ordered graphitic structure. The use of iron-based catalyst tends to decrease the turbostratic peak, lead to a higher ordered graphite peak. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the morphology structure of graphite powder synthesized using iron or iron oxide is similar. From the full cell testing using NMC-622 cathode, the as-synthesized sample shows good electrochemical properties and comparable to graphite commercial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a sound theoretical formulation and an effective numerical implementation of a heat-flow and hydration model for concrete hardening. The model is based on the Fourier equation of heat flow with the adiabatic hydration curve employed as a reference for simulating the hydration heat source. The proposed formulations are based on a consistent scheme for the partial differential equation and its boundary and starting conditions. The hydration kinetics is simulated through the Arrhenius approach. Formulations for the compressive strength and the elastic modulus are provided and the maturity function is also considered. A finite difference numerical solution is derived with a forward explicit time integration in the time–space domain. The numerical solution is designed as a stepwise “recipe” specifically conceived to be easily implemented by means of either a high-level programming language or even a spreadsheet tool. Experimental temperature measurements for two different mixtures, under adiabatic and semi-adiabatic conditions, are used for validating the proposed model. The adiabatic and semi-adiabatic temperature simulations show good agreement with the experimental data for both concrete mixtures. The degree of hydration could be simulated and used as the fundamental parameter for scrutinising the evolution of the compressive strength. Particularly, a linear trend between the compressive strength and the degree of hydration and the maturity was figured out. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: CdS quantum dots (QDs) were uniformly deposited on mesoporous TiO2 films by high-pressure coating with liquid carbon dioxide (l-CO2) as a coating solvent. The size and coverage of CdS QDs over the TiO2 surface were controlled by the number of l-CO2 coating cycles applied at a fixed precursor concentration. The formation of CdS QDs on the mesoporous TiO2 film was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). In addition, depth profiling investigation revealed that CdS QDs were uniformly deposited throughout the ∼15μm-thick mesoporous TiO2 film. The energy conversion efficiency of a CdS QD-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) was observed to increase up to ∼1.33% under standard conditions (1.5AM, 100mWcm−2) with an increase in the number of coating cycles to six. Meanwhile, a further increase in the number of coating cycles to ten caused a decrease in the cell performance, which may be attributed to the hindrance of electrolyte infiltration into the mesoporous TiO2 electrode caused by the blocking of the pores with the coated CdS. The cell performance of the l-CO2-coated CdS-QDSSC is slightly higher than that of the l-CO2-coated CdS-QDSSC prepared by a conventional successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method with ethanol as the solvent (1.16%). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A facile and green method to produce reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets based on supercritical alcohols is described. The obtained RGO nanosheets exhibited a high carbon-to-oxygen ratio (up to 11.89, determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), high electronic conductivity (up to 10 600 S m−1), and high lithium storage capacity with good cyclability (652 mA h g−1 at a 50 mA g−1 after 40 cycles) when tested as an anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) results in complete cytogenetic remission (CCR) of relapsed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in up to 80% of patients. The main complication of DLI is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Decreasing the dose of DLI is associated with less GVHD but also with a longer interval between treatment and CCR. We postulated that combining α-interferon (α-IFN) with DLI would enable us to decrease the dose of DLI, thereby limiting GVHD, and at the same time to decrease the interval between DLI and CCR for patients with either a hematologic or cytogenetic relapse. For molecular relapses, we hypothesized that because of a lower tumor load, very low doses of DLI without α-IFN could be an effective treatment. Two groups of CML-CP patients treated with DLI at a very low dose of 0.5 to 1.0 × 107 mononuclear cells per kilogram, containing 2 to 6 × 106 CD3+ T cells per kilogram, were analyzed: 13 patients with a cytogenetic or a hematologic relapse after allogeneic SCT (group A) were treated with additional α-IFN therapy at a dose of 3 × 106 U 5 d/wk, and 8 patients with a molecular relapse were treated without α-IFN (group B). Twelve patients from group A reached a CCR. The median interval between DLI and CCR was 7 weeks (range, 5–18 weeks) for group A. All patients with a CCR reached complete donor chimerism at a median of 10 weeks after DLI (range, 6–121 weeks). Eleven patients reached molecular remission at a median of 15 weeks after DLI (range, 8–34 weeks). In group B, all patients reached a molecular remission at a median of 14 weeks (range, 12–29 weeks). Five patients from group A developed acute GVHD grade II to IV and extensive chronic GVHD. In group B, 1 patient developed acute GVHD grade II to IV and subsequently developed extensive chronic GVHD. With a median follow-up of 62 months, 10 patients in group A are alive and in continuous CCR. One patient had a molecular relapse, for which she successfully received additional DLI; another patient reached molecular remission only after 5 doses of DLI. Two patients from group A died of a gram-negative sepsis, and 1 died of an acute myocardial infection. In group B, all patients are alive and in molecular remission with a median follow-up of 20 months. One patient’s disease progressed but was successfully treated with DLI plus α-IFN. In conclusion, very-low-dose DLI in combination with α-IFN as treatment for cytogenetic or hematologic relapses of CML-CP after allogeneic SCT reduced the interval to obtain a CCR with acceptable GVHD when compared with the literature. Patients with a CCR also reached complete donor chimerism and complete molecular remissions. For patients with a molecular relapse, very-low-dose DLI alone is sufficient to induce molecular remissions in most patients and is associated with limited GVHD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The design of procedural and object-oriented programming languages is considered with respect to how easily programs written in those languages can be formally manipulated. Current procedural languages such as Pascal, Modula-2, and Ada generally support such program manipulations, except for some annoying anomalies and special cases. Three main areas of language design are identified as being of concern from a manipulation viewpoint—namely, the interface between concrete and abstract syntax, the relationship between the abstract syntax and static semantics (naming, scoping, and typing), and the ability to express basic transformations (folding and unfolding). Design principles are suggested so that problems identified for current languages can be avoided in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at the increase in the testimony of children in court and discusses concerns about judges' and attorneys' perceptions of children's veracity and testimonial competence. Conflicting research on the suggestibility of children's recollections; Results of two studies; Sexual abuse testimony; More.

Thermal energy storage using phase change materials (PCMs) is a promising technology for improving the thermal performance of buildings and reducing their energy consumption. However, the effectiveness of passive PCMs in buildings depends on their optimal design regarding the building typology and typical climate conditions. Within this context, the present contribution introduces a novel multiobjective computational method to optimize the thermophysical properties of cementitious building panels enhanced with a microencapsulated PCM (MPCM). To achieve this, a parametric model for PCM-based cementitious composites is developed in EnergyPlus, considering as design variables the melting temperature of PCMs and the thickness and thermal conductivity of the panel. A multiobjective genetic algorithm is dynamically coupled with the building energy model to find the best trade-off between annual heating and cooling loads. The optimization results obtained for a case study building in Sofia (Bulgaria-EU) reveal that the annual heating and cooling loads have contradictory performances regarding the thermophysical properties studied. A thick MPCM-enhanced panel with a melting temperature of 22 ° C is needed to reduce the heating loads, while a thin panel with a melting temperature of 27 ° C is required to mitigate the cooling loads. Using these designs, the annual heating and cooling loads decrease by 23% and 3%, respectively. Moreover, up to 12.4% cooling load reduction is reached if the thermal conductivity of the panels is increased. Therefore, it is also concluded that the thermal conductivity of the cement-based panels can significantly influence the effectiveness of MPCMs in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Little is known about the long‐term health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and persistence of symptoms among patients with indolent non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). This large population‐based longitudinal study therefore investigated the long‐term HRQoL and persistence of symptoms and identified associated sociodemographic, clinical and psychological factors. Patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2014 and four or more months after diagnosis were invited to participate in a longitudinal survey. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. The EORTC QLQ‐C30 and CLL‐16 were completed by 669 patients (74% response rate). Patients completed on average four questionnaires. Primary treatment was active surveillance (52%), systemic therapy (31%) or radiotherapy (13%). Respectively, 36% reported persistent fatigue, 33% persistent neuropathy and 25% persistent role‐functioning impairment. This was 2–3 times higher than in the age‐ and sex‐matched normative population. Up to 10 years after diagnosis, scores remained relatively stable without clinically relevant changes. Comorbidities, psychological distress, shorter time since diagnosis, systemic therapy, younger age, education level and having no partner were associated with worse outcomes (all ps < 0.05). Up to a third of patients with iNHL experience long‐term persistent symptoms which do not improve over time. Early recognition of symptoms will help in providing tailored supportive care for those in need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Stoichiometric model combines kinetics of pozzolanic metakaolin reactions with long-term transformation processes. • Primary pozzolanic metakaolin reactions are divided into C 4 AH 13 and C 2 ASH 8 contributions. • Activation energy for the main (C 2 ASH 8) pozzolanic metakaolin reaction is determined as 84 kJ/mol. • KOH accelerates reaction processes and reduces the activation energy of the pozzolanic metakaolin reaction to 69 kJ/mol. In the pursue of environmentally-friendly binders for the construction industry, metakaolin (MK) has emerged as promising material, with its hardening performance primarily driven by pozzolanic reactions. However, in systems containing MK and calcium hydroxide (CH), transformation reactions from metastable to stable phases, particularly in excessive CH conditions, can adversely affect material properties. To anticipate these processes, this study introduces a stoichiometry-based reaction modeling approach for pozzolanic MK reactions, encompassing both short-term kinetics and long-term transformation processes. The primary pozzolanic reactions of MK are briefly outlined, highlighting two sequential, partially overlapping reactions forming C 4 AH 13 and C 2 ASH 8. Short-term reaction kinetics are modeled using isothermal calorimetry measurements and deconvoluting the two reaction peaks. The model is in good agreement with experimental quantitative X–ray diffraction (qXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and helium pycnometer (density, i.e. solid volume) results. Model limitations are discussed based on qualitative scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analysis. Leveraging the proposed model, the temperature dependency of pozzolanic MK reactions is analyzed, revealing an activation energy for the primary reaction of 84 kJ/mol. The model is intended to lay a foundation for designing innovative binder systems based on metakaolin, while paving the way for sustainable construction in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we demonstrate a facile, durable and inexpensive technique of producing silver nanoparticles-decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT/AgNP) on the easy-to-use screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) for non-enzymatic detection of uric acid (UA) in an electrochemical sensor. The developed sensors show great durability for three months in storage, and high specificity performance for preclinical study using spiked UA in a synthetic urine sample. A simple route for this hybrid nanocomposite was proposed through an oxidation–reduction with reflux (ORR) process. A significant increase in the electroactive surface area of SPCE was achieved by modifying it with MWCNT/AgNP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed this synthesis. The nanocomposite nanostructure electrodes achieved an outstanding UA detection with sensitivity of 0.1021 μ A μ M−1 and a wide dynamic range of 10–1000 μ M. In phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the measurements achieved a detection limit of 84.04 nM while in pure synthetic urine; it was 6.074 μ M. The constructed sensor exhibits excellent stability and durability for several months, and great specificity against interfering compounds, including dopamine (DA), urea, and glucose. Overall, the present outcomes denote the potential of MWCNT/AgNP-decorated SPCE for early uric acid diagnostics tools in health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the experience of time of terminal patients with cancer. Experience of time is relevant in palliative care in both policy and practice. On a policy level, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY), the most used outcome measure for cost-effectiveness analysis in healthcare, assumes time to be a linear and additive variable, which is one of the reasons that its applicability in palliative care is questioned. On a practice level, a better understanding of the experience of time of patients with limited time left, could help to recognize if and how these patients can have a more meaningful use of time. The main focus of this study was to discover whether time perception of these patients in their last months of life had changed as compared to earlier periods of time in their lives in good physical health. The pace of time and time dominance (comparison of past, present and future) were investigated. Methods: In several hospices and palliative care units in the Netherlands, twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with terminal patients with cancer. Results: Time perception at the end of life had changed for most participants. They all lived on a day-to-day basis in the terminal phase, independent of their way of life in the healthy phase. Furthermore, the experienced duration of a day turned out to be very different between patients, but also between days, depending on daily activities. Besides, for most patients for whom the future was the dominant period of time in the healthy phase, the dominant period of time in the terminal phase had become the past. Conclusions: Time perception of terminal patients with cancer differed from the time perception in their relatively healthy phase of life. This suggests that the LY part of the QALY is not comparable for all phases of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers offer a potential alternative to ordinary Portland cement owing to their performance in mechanical and thermal properties, as well as environmental benefits stemming from a reduced carbon footprint. This paper endeavors to build upon prior atomistic computational work delving deeper into the intricate relationship between pH levels and the resulting material's properties, including pore size distribution, geopolymer nucleate cluster dimensions, total system energy, and monomer poly-condensation behavior. Coarse-grained Monte Carlo (CGMC) simulation inputs include tetrahedral geometry and binding energy parameters derived from DFT simulations for aluminate and silicate monomers. Elevated pH values may can alter reactivity and phase stability, or, in the structural concrete application, may passivate the embedded steel reinforcement. Thus, we examine the effects of pH values set at 11, 12, and 13 (based on silicate speciation chemistry), investigating their respective contributions to the nucleation of geopolymers. To simulate a larger system to obtain representative results, we propose the numerical implementation of an Octree cell. Finally, we further digitize the resulting expanded structure to ascertain pore size distribution, facilitating a comparative analysis. The novelty of this study is underscored by its expansion in both system size, more accurate monomer representation, and pH range when compared to previous CGMC simulation approaches. The results unveil a discernible correlation between the number of clusters and pores under specific pH levels. This links geopolymerization mechanisms under varying pH conditions to the resulting chemical properties and final structural state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is the source of zoonosis toxoplasmosis and causes public health problems throughout the world. Environmental contamination by oocysts excreted by cats as definitive hosts affects the spread of this disease. Wild rats as rodents can be used as an indicator of environmental contamination by oocysts, considering that rats have a habit of living in dirty environments and can be infected by oocysts from the environment. Aim: This study aims to detect toxoplasmosis from tissue cysts and serological tests in wild rats as an indicator of environmental contamination in Surabaya. Methods: A total of 100 wild rats collected from Surabaya were collected in five areas (West, East, Central, North, and South of Surabaya) obtained from three trapping locations: housing, dense settlements, and markets. All samples were examined microscopically for parasitological tests through the brain tissue samples, and the serum was examined using the toxoplasma modified agglutination test to detect the presence of IgG and Immunoglobulin M (IgM). Results: This research used 100 wild rat samples, 77 Rattus tanezumi and 33 Rattus norvegicus, with evidence of 31% in serology and active infection with 19% tissue cyst. The results showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii in wild rats was 31% (30% for IgG and 1% for IgM). Tissue cysts in the rat brain samples tested were 19% (19/100). The IgG prevalence rate in female rats was 25% (8/32), while for males, it was 32.3% (22/68). The highest seropositive IgG from densely populated settlements was 50%, markets were 25.8%, and housing was 12.1%. The highest seropositive IgM from densely populated settlements was 2.8%. Population density and the presence of cats are factors supporting the high seropositive rate at the trapping location. Conclusion: This study revealed that there has been toxoplasmosis contamination in Surabaya with evidence of 31% in serology and active infection with 19% tissue cyst. It is necessary for controlling with surveillance in cats to prevent transmission in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water–cement/binder ratio and the admixture of water-reducing agents strongly affect the rheological properties of cement pastes. This study develops mathematical models to predict the apparent viscosity of cement pastes with varying water-cement/binder ratios and polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer content by introducing the power law shear stress-shear strain relation of non-Newtonian fluids into the Navier–Stokes motion equations. The developed models are compared with the results of rheological experiments and verified for their accuracy in simulating the apparent viscosity of cement pastes. These models provide insight into the rheological behaviour of cement pastes and could have practical applications in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The oxide composition designated as metakaolin to calcium hydroxide ratio determines C-A-S-H composition and time dependent (trans)formation reactions. • Stratlingite destabilizes in the presence of calcium hydroxide and transforms to more stable hydrogarnet phases. • Sulfate addition leads to rapid ettringite formation, that may transform to monosulfoaluminate and later to hydrogarnet. • Carbonates stabilize ettringite and favor formation of carboaluminates, which may decompose at later curing ages. • Enhanced pozzolanic metakaolin reactivity modeling for low-carbon binder design requires improved understanding of structure-related dissolution kinetics. Metakaolin (MK) has emerged as a highly promising supplementary material in low carbon binders for the construction industry. In wide range of applications, from lime to cement–based materials, its hardening performance relies on the pozzolanic reactivity between MK and calcium hydroxide (CH), resulting in the formation of diverse calcium-aluminate/silicate hydrates. The reaction sequence is affected by specific conditions dictated by the binder system employed in various applications. To advance the design of binders that reduce the carbon emissions, a systematical review on MK-based reactions is crucial. This review encompasses a broad range of MK/CH ratios and examines the effect of alkali hydroxides, carbonates and sulfates. The focus is on the formation and stability of pozzolanic hydrate phases over time and under different curing temperatures. Additionally, the review addresses the characteristics that directly affect MK reactivity, such as the (calcined) clay structure and the dissolution of the reactants. The systematic findings shed light on the hydrate phase assemblage, enabling a better understanding of the reaction mechanisms in complex systems, like MK cementitious blends. The results of this review serve as a valuable foundation for the development of novel "low-carbon" binder designs and compositions for both cementitious and lime-based binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydration of calcium silicate hydrates, the primary binding phase of cement paste, contributes significantly to the degradation of cementitious materials at high temperatures. Kinetics of the dehydration process is usually parameterized as the product of the classic Arrhenius equation and a kinetic expression, calibrating the influence of the temperature and the reaction degree, respectively. By means of the Exp‐function approximation, an improved kinetic expression is proposed and the differential equation is solved by utilizing the Mean‐value Theorem for integrals. The established dehydration model is validated by comparing with independent experimental measurements, concerning different heating regime and molar ratios of calcium‐to‐silicon. Both the temperature history and the calcium‐to‐silicon molar ratios influence the kinetics and the final status of the dehydration process. The established model provides access to further investigation of the microstructural evolution of heated concrete, containing supplementary cementitious materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]