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Passive infrared (IR) systems enable rapid detection of chemical vapors but are limited by size, weight, cost, and power. Previously, the authors reported a novel passive sensor that utilizes multiple IR filter/detector combinations to discriminate between different chemical vapors based on their unique IR absorption spectra in the same manner the human eye uses to generate colors. This approach enables a very small, compact, and low-power sensor system with the capability to discriminate between chemical vapors of interest and background chemicals. All previous work showed the capability of this sensor system in discriminating chemical vapors against a hot blackbody in a laboratory environment. Now the authors demonstrate the ability of this sensor system to discriminate between the chemical vapor agent simulant dimethyl methylphosphonate and ethanol against the cold sky in an outdoor environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the dynamic interactions between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and each one of the two enantiomers of asparagine (d-Asp, l-Asp). Molecular docking methodologies were applied to elucidate the formation of the β-CD—d-Asp and β-CD—l-Asp inclusion complexes. Ultrasonic relaxation spectra revealed a single relaxation process in the frequency range studied that is attributed to the complexation between β-CD and asparagine enantiomers. Kinetic parameters and thermodynamic properties for each system were determined directly from the concentration- and temperature-dependent acoustic measurements, respectively. Both β-CD—d-Asp and β-CD—l-Asp systems revealed subtle differences in their thermodynamic and kinetic properties. The infrared absorption spectra of the host molecule, the guest enantiomers, and both inclusion complexes were recorded to verify and further elucidate the complexation mechanism. DFT methodologies were performed to calculate the theoretical IR spectra of the inclusion complexes and compared with the corresponding experimental spectra. The close resemblance between the experimental and theoretically predicted IR spectra is supportive of the formation of inclusion complexes. The encapsulation of asparagine enantiomers in β-cyclodextrin enables not only applications in drug delivery but also the detection and separation of chimeric molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection against blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is key to reduce the cerebral ischemia injury as its breakdown causes edema formation and extravasation of blood components and immune cells. The maintenance of BBB integrity requires the GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activity. Naringenin (NAR), an effective monomer from Chinese herbal medicine, had potent protective effect on brain inflammatory and oxidative injury. However, whether NAR could protect the integrity of BBB during cerebral ischemia injury and the involvement of GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway in the beneficial effect of NAR was unknown. Therefore, mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (IR) model was employed to answer these questions. NAR was intraperitoneally administrated once daily for 6 days immediately after IR with the dose of 10 mg/kg. BBB damage was evaluated with Evans blue. Protein levels of GSK-3β and β-catenin in vascular endothelial cells at penumbra were assessed with western blotting and immunofluorescence. The experimental data suggested that NAR improved neurological deficits, decreased the percentage of infarct volumes and neuronal apoptosis at 7d after IR. NAR improved BBB damage as evidenced by a lower permeability of Evans blue dye and upregulation of tight junction proteins such as zonula occludens-1(ZO-1), Occludin and Claudin-5. Importantly, GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activity was related to the improvement of BBB integrity rendered by NAR. Our findings demonstrated that NAR might become a potential therapeutic drug for IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a lower limb is injured, the most delicate organs that are at risk of harm are the lungs. Among the flavonoids, quercetin is a significant component that is found in apples and onions in the highest proportions. Numerous biological actions, including as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties, have been linked to quercetin. To investigate the impact of quercetin on lung injury induced by skeletal muscle ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Three equal groups of twenty-four adult rats were used: control, Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) group and IR group treated with quercetin. Rats in (IR) group were exposed to ischemia by ligation of femoral artery for 2h then after removal of the clamp, reperfusion was estabilished for another 24h. IR group treated with quercetin, rats were underwent hind limb IR as described in group II then were given quercetin that was administered at a dose of 20mg/kg intraperitoneally. Measurement of cytokines in serum, MDA in tissue homogenate and VEGF in serum and tissue homogrnate in addition to mRNA expression level and detection of protein level of both sirtuin-1(SIRT1) and NF-κB were assessed at the end of experiment. Histological and immunohistochemical assessment of the lungs were also carried. IR group showed notable rise of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in addition to high level of VEGF and MDA in IR group when compared to the IR group treated with quercetin. Also, gene expression and protein level of SIRT1 were reduced while NF-κB mRNA expression and protein level were significantly upregulated in IR group compared to IR group treated with quercetin. Histologically, IR group indicated marked histological alterations of lung tissue. Also, IR showed strong brownish cytoplasmic immunostaining for iNOS and abundance of Ki67-positive cells. These alterations were significantly reversed in IR group treated with quercetin. Biochemical and immunohistochemical findings of this study demonstrate that quercetin administration have protective effects against lung injury induced by lower limb IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to conventional treatments, there is growing interest in preventive and complementary therapies. Proper nutrition can prevent the manifestation of several chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, and can attenuate the severity of these diseases. Edible mushrooms have been used as nutrition and medicine for thousands of years. The spectrum and quantity of their medicinal compounds made them a widely investigated target both in basic research and clinical trials. The most abundant and medically important components are polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenols, and heterocyclic amines, but bioactive proteins, vitamins, including vitamin D, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and essential minerals are also important ingredients with noteworthy health benefits. Mushroom extracts have anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-tumor effects and are well tolerated, even by cancer patients. In our previous review we detailed the molecular aspects of the development of type 2 diabetes, discussing the role of physical activity and diet, but we did not detail the role of medicinal mushrooms as part of nutrition. In this review, we aimed to summarize the most important medical mushrooms, along with their natural habitats, growing conditions, and components, that are presumably sufficient for the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to identify whether the development of insulin resistance (IR) induced by high selenium (Se) is related to serine deficiency via the inhibition of the de novo serine synthesis pathway (SSP) by the administrations of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) inhibitor (NCT503) or exogenous serine in mice. Method: forty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: adequate-Se (0.1 mgSe/kg), high-Se (0.8 mgSe/kg), high-Se +serine (240 mg/kg/day), and high-Se +NCT503 (30 mg/kg, twice a week) for 5 months. The glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were used to confirm the development of IR in mice with high-Se intake, and fasting blood glucose levels were measured monthly. The Se contents in plasma and tissues were detected by ICP-MS. The levels of insulin (INS), homocysteine (HCY), and serine in plasma were tested by ELISA. Western blot analyses were conducted to evaluate the protein expressions of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), selenoprotein P (SELENOP) and PHGDH, the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, folate cycle (SHMT1, MTHFR), and methionine cycle (MS). Results: An IR model was developed in mice from the high-Se group with elevated fasting blood glucose and INS levels, impaired glucose tolerance, and reduced insulin sensitivity, but not in both the high-Se +serine group and the high-Se +NCT503 group. Compared with the high-Se and high-Se +serine groups, the expressions of GPX1 and SELENOP significantly decreased for the high-Se +NCT503 group in the liver, muscle, and pancreas tissues. The expression of PHGDH of high-Se group was significantly higher than that of the adequate-Se group in the liver (p < 0.05) and pancreas (p < 0.001). Also, the expected high expression of PHGDH was effectively inhibited in mice from the high-Se +serine group but not from the high-Se +NCT503 group. The expression of p-AKT (Ser-473) for the high-Se group was significantly lower than that of the adequate-Se group in the liver, muscle, and pancreas. Conclusions: The IR induced by high-Se intake in the body has been confirmed to be partially due to serine deficiency, which led to the initiation of SSP to produce endogenous serine. The supplementations of exogenous serine or inhibitors of PHGDH in this metabolic pathway could be used for the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of existing drugs or drug–drug interaction enthralls researcher because of their potential applications in multiple diseases and better efficacy. The present work is undertaken to study the interaction between two drugs, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol, using Density Functional Theory and spectroscopic techniques (Infrared and Raman spectroscopy). The molecular modeling of the two drugs indicates their interaction through intermolecular hydrogen bonds (O34-H53-O2 and (O1-H33-O34), which is observed in Natural Bond Orbital and atoms in molecules analysis of the compound (Ibuprofen + Paracetamol). The experimental Raman, Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Infrared spectra of the physical mixture (Ibuprofen + Paracetamol) are found close to their computed wavenumbers. The interacting state, that is, Ibuprofen + Paracetamol is optimized using B3LYP/6-31G ++ (d, p) model under density functional theory framework and different computed quantum chemical parameters such as, dipole moment, ionization energy, electron affinity, electrophilicity index, chemical potential, hardness and the Highest Occupied and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital energies and energy gaps are calculated and compared to the monomer state of the drugs. The lowering of energy gap and increased in dipole moment of combined drug molecules show potency as an effective hybrid drug. The molecular docking study of the combined drug molecule against the 4PH9 receptor shows a better binding affinity with its residues through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The recent research aims to detect ceramide and meteorin-like proteins as potential markers for identifying type 2 diabetes and monitoring its progression. Methods: A cross-sectional study included three groups: type 2 diabetes without hypertension, type 2 diabetes with hypertension, and healthy control groups. Serum ceramide, meteorin-like protein, insulin, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, and hemoglobin A1c levels were measured. Results: Higher concentrations of ceramide, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were observed in both type 2 diabetes groups compared to the healthy control group. In the type 2 diabetes group with hypertension, total cholesterol was elevated compared to the other study groups; however, the concentration of low/very-low-density lipoprotein was statistically higher than in the healthy control group. Serum meteorin-like protein was statistically lower in the type 2 diabetes group with hypertension than in the other study groups and positively correlated with fasting blood glucose in type 2 diabetes with hypertension. The ceramide level showed a significant positive correlation with meteorin-like protein across all study groups and with systolic blood pressure in the type 2 diabetes group with hypertension. In type 2 diabetes without hypertension, ceramide negatively correlated with the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose. Conclusion: Elevated ceramide levels could accelerate type 2 diabetes progression. Meteorin-like protein levels were lower in type 2 diabetes with hypertension and higher in type 2 diabetes without hypertension. It positively correlated with fasting blood glucose in type 2 diabetes with hypertension, suggesting that meteorin-like protein may play a potential role in glycemic and blood pressure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces two novel sandwich-type tungsten–oxygen cluster compounds synthesized by hydrothermal methods, H4(C6H12N2H2)3{Na(H2O)2[Mn2(H2O)(GeW9O34)]}2 (Compound 1) and H2(C6H12N2H2)3.5{Na3(H2O)4[Co2(H2O)(GeW9O34)]2}·17H2O (Compound 2). The two compounds comprise cluster anions [GeW9O34]10– coordinated with transition metal atoms, either Mn or Co, and are stabilized by organic ligands. These compounds are crystallized in the hexagonal crystal system and P63/m space group. The two compounds were characterized through various techniques. Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy showed absorption peaks of anionic backbone vibrations of the Keggin cluster at 500–1000 cm–1, IR spectral peaks of δ(N–H) and νas(C–N) of the ligand triethylenediamine at 1000–2000 cm–1, and IR spectral peaks of the ligand νas(N–H) and νas(O–H) of water at 3000–3500 cm–1. Despite similar one-dimensional (1D) IR spectra due to the same cluster anions and similar molecular structures, the two compounds exhibited distinct responses in two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy with IR under magnetic and thermal perturbations. Under magnetic perturbation, Compound 1 showed a strong response peak for νas(W–Ob–W), while Compound 2 exhibited a strong response peak for νas(W=Od), possibly linked to differing magnetic particles. Similarly, Compound 1 displayed a strong response peak under thermal perturbation for νas(W–Oc–W). In contrast, Compound 2 showed a strong response peak for νas(W=Od); these results may be attributed to the different hydrogen bonding connections between the two compounds, which affect the groups in distinct ways through vibration and transmit these vibrations to the W–O bonds. The research presented in this paper expands the theoretical and experimental data of 2D correlation IR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work a new organic single crystal Benzotriazole (BTSA) was synthesized and fully characterized by means of single crystal XRD, FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction was applied to the growing crystal to determine the cell dimensions. It has been found that the HOMO and LUMO computed energies accurately depict the characteristics of electron excitation. The TD-DFT approach was used to analyze the UV-visible spectra and study spectroscopic wavenumbers. Analysis using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules has been done to find all potential non-covalent interactions. Multiwfn has been used to visualize Electron Localization Function (ELF) and Localized Orbital Locator (LOL) to examine the molecule's electrical characteristics. Antimicrobial activity studies indicate the compound good antibacterial and antifungal activity. The docking parameters were studied with Candida tropicalis proteins and the lowest binding energy −5.95 kcal/mol has been achieved for 6ZD2 protein. HIGHLIGHTS: NBO analysis ratifies charge delocalization and stability of molecule. Frontier molecular energy gap endorses the bioactivity. Reactivity sites divulged by Natural charges and MEP plot. Drug likeness confirms Pharmaceutical activity. Binding affinity of antimicrobial proteins upholds its antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is a well-established technique for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with failed endoscopic approaches. We report on an 82-year-old man with a history of cholangiocarcinoma treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy who presented with recurrent cholangitis and sepsis. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed after unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, which initially improved his condition. However, due to an accidental dislodgement, there was an intra-abdominal fracture of the drain which led to biliary peritonitis and clinical deterioration. The fractured intrahepatic drain was successfully extracted in our angio suite, and a novel subcutaneous fixation technique was introduced to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This case study signifies the role of interventional radiology in the management of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage complications and the importance of preventative measures to avoid dislodgement.

The search for environmental data typically involves lexical approaches, where query terms are matched with metadata records based on measures of term frequency. In contrast, dense retrieval approaches employ language models to comprehend the context and meaning of a query and provide relevant search results. However, for environmental data, this has not been researched and there are no corpora or evaluation datasets to fine-tune the models. This study demonstrates the adaptation of dense retrievers to the domain of climate-related scientific geodata. Four corpora containing text passages from various sources were used to train different dense retrievers. The domain-adapted dense retrievers are integrated into the search architecture of a standard metadata catalogue. To improve the search results further, we propose a spatial re-ranking stage after the initial retrieval phase to refine the results. The evaluation demonstrates superior performance compared to the baseline model commonly used in metadata catalogues (BM25). No clear trends in performance were discovered when comparing the results of the dense retrievers. Therefore, further investigation aspects are identified to finally enable a recommendation of the most suitable corpus composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have demonstrated high-speed, super-resolution infrared (IR) spectroscopy and chemical imaging of autofluorescent biomaterials and organisms using camera-based widefield photothermal detection that takes advantage of temperature-dependent modulations of autofluorescent emission. A variety of biological materials and photosynthetic organisms exhibit strong autofluorescence emission under ultraviolet excitation and the autofluorescent emission has a very strong temperature dependence, of order 1%/K. Illuminating a sample with pulses of IR light from a wavelength-tunable laser source causes periodic localized sample temperature increases that result in a corresponding transient decrease in autofluorescent emission. A low-cost light-emitting diode-based fluorescence excitation source was used in combination with a conventional fluorescence microscopy camera to detect localized variations in autofluorescent emission over a wide area as an indicator of localized IR absorption. IR absorption image stacks were acquired over a range of IR wavelengths, including the fingerprint spectral range, enabling extraction of localized IR absorption spectra. We have applied widefield fluorescence detected photothermal IR (FL-PTIR) to an analysis of autofluorescent biological materials including collagen, leaf tissue, and photosynthetic organisms including diatoms and green microalgae cells. We have also demonstrated the FL-PTIR on live microalgae in water, demonstrating the potential for label-free dynamic chemical imaging of autofluorescent cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is estimated that 8% of hospitalised patients require treatment from Interventional Radiology (IR). However, little is known about the potential impact of IR on regional and remote Australians, including Indigenous patients. This study aimed to assess treatments performed by IRs on regional/remote patients to predict future IR workforce and governance needs. Methods: Single‐centre cross‐sectional study at a tertiary Victorian hospital. Patients were identified when they had an advanced IR treatment between 1 January 2022 and 2024. Basic procedures such as biopsy and drain insertion were not included. The primary outcome was the type and volume of IR treatments performed on patients who were transferred from a regional or remote home location for treatment. Results: Of 3485 advanced IR interventions, 908 procedures (26.0%) from patients who lived in a regional or remote location were included with 36.5% female, of mean age 55.6 years (SD 17.9). 1.4% identified as Indigenous which is similar to the Indigenous population incidence in Victoria of 1.0%. Of this group, 350 (38.5%) were either a day procedure, overnight elective admission, or simple inpatient procedure which could have been performed in a regional centre, which included 1.1% Indigenous patients. Conclusion: There is an unmet need for IR services in regional and remote Australia, with many patients being transferred to our metropolitan centre for treatment that could be performed in regional IR hubs. This data will be important to drive government and hospital planning including capital infrastructure, workforce modelling and future recognition of IR as a new specialty in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the structure of silica thin films synthesized with three different SiO2 precursors and obtained by the sol–gel method and dip coating technique was studied. Additionally, the influence of Ag addition on the obtained silica sols and then gel structure was investigated. Silica coatings show antireflective properties and high thermal resistance, as well as hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties. Three different silica precursors, TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate), DDS (dimethyldietoxysilane) and AerosilTM, were selected for the synthesis. DDS added to silica sol act as a pore size modifier, while Ag atoms are known for their antibacterial activity. Coatings were deposited on two different substrates: steel and titanium, dried and annealed at 500 °C in air (steel substrate) and in argon (titanium substrate). For all synthesized films, IR (infrared) spectroscopic studies were performed together with GID and XRD (Grazing Incidence Diffraction, X-ray Diffraction) measurements. The topography and morphology of the surface were traced by SEM and AFM microscopic methods, providing information on the samples' roughness, particle sizes and thickness of the particular layers. The wetting angle values were also measured. GID and XRD measurements pointed to the distinct contribution of an amorphous phase in the samples, allowing us to recognize the crystalline phases and calculate the silver crystallite sizes. The FTIR spectra gave information on the first coordination sphere of the studied samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infertility is a fertility disorder caused by various factors, with lipid metabolism playing a crucial role in its development. The cardiometabolic index (CMI), which combines blood lipids (TG/HDL-C) and obesity-related parameters (WHtR), is a new quantitative indicator. This study used NHANES data to investigate the relationship between CMI and the incidence of infertility. Methods: We utilized data from women who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2015 to March 2020 to calculate the CMI index. Subsequently, we used multivariate logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup analysis to investigate the relationship between the CMI index and infertility. Results: The logistic regression model revealed a significant positive correlation between the CMI index and infertility, even after adjusting for all confounding variables (OR=3.23, 95%CI: 1.55-6.73, p=0.0017). This association remained consistent across all subgroups (p>0.05 for all interactions). Smooth curve fitting demonstrated a positive nonlinear relationship between CMI and infertility. However, the CMI index had limited diagnostic power for infertility (AUC=0.60, 95%CI: 0.56-0.65). However, the CMI-BMI index combined with BMI had good predictive performance (AUC=0.722, 95%CI: 0.676-0.767). Conclusion: The CMI index shows a positive correlation with infertility, but its diagnostic value is restricted. The combination with BMI has good diagnostic value. Further investigation is required to determine the effectiveness of the CMI index as an early indicator of infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzodiazepines are frequently encountered in crime scenes, often mixed with adulterants and diluents, complicating their analysis. This study investigates the interactions between two benzodiazepines, lorazepam (LOR) and alprazolam (ALP), with common adulterants/diluents (paracetamol, caffeine, glucose, and lactose) using infrared (IR) spectroscopy and quantum chemical methods. The crystallographic structures of LOR and ALP were optimized using several functionals (B3LYP, B3LYP-D3BJ, B3PW91, CAM-B3LYP, M05-2X, and M06-2X) combined with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. M05-2X was the most accurate when comparing experimental and theoretical bond lengths and angles. Vibrational and 13C NMR spectra were calculated to validate the functional's applicability. The differences between LOR's experimental and theoretical IR spectra were attributed to intramolecular interactions between LOR monomers, examined through density functional theory (DFT) optimization and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis. Molecular dynamics simulations modeled benzodiazepine–adulterant/diluent systems, predicting the most stable structures, which were further analyzed using QTAIM. The strongest interactions and their effects on IR spectra were identified. Comparisons between experimental and theoretical spectra confirmed spectral changes due to interactions. This study demonstrates the potential of quantum chemical methods in analyzing complex mixtures, elucidating spectral changes, and assessing the structural stability of benzodiazepines in forensic samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-Colonialism has proved to be challenging for students studying the Global South especially in the United States. Books like Edward Said's Orientalism have proved difficult to read. Bringing in Sci-Fi movies would assist students in their search for understanding. This article hopes to illustrate the Post-Colonial themes in three movies: Soylent Green, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Planet of the Apes. These movies discuss the process of colonisation and decolonisation: invasion, domination, exploitation, self-governance, and then revitalisation. The movie Planet of the Apes shows the process of colonialisation through dehumanisation. For instance, the character Taylor is given the name 'Bright Eyes', a name you give to a pet. Here, the colonizer alters the environment, culture, beliefs, and identity of the colonized through a process of dehumanisation. Similarly, in the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers, humans must join the alien race as a way to advance themselves. This 'civilization process' is the justification for colonisation and leads to the destruction of earth's entire indigenous population by destroying their identity. Lastly, Soylent Green is about the recovery of self, exercising cultural revitalisation through ceremony. Specific scenes that display this is the sharing of a meal using ingredients from a past life as well as Saul's assisted suicide. Recalling the past in this manner helps to find, and then retain, an identity ostensibly lost to changes in power relations brought on by colonialisation. Thorn, the main character, then exposes the fact that soylent, the main food supply for the poor, is human meat. Hence, revitalisation and resistance are tied together, as working to recover a lost identity is a clear threat to the prevailing Eurocentric order. Thus, bringing in Sci-Fi movies might help facilitate the process of teaching Post-Colonial perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GS-441524, a 1' substituted C glycoside and an adenosine analogue, exhibits broad antiviral activity against RNA viruses. Previous research has primarily concentrated on its antiviral properties for humans and animals. Vibrational and electronic spectroscopy can enhance our understanding of its structure and function and serve as valuable tools in detection techniques and kinetic studies. In this paper, we employed IR and Raman spectroscopy to study its solid form, and UV-VIS spectroscopy to examine its aqueous solution. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were utilized to analyze the spectra. Specifically, we evaluated the DFT functionals B3LYP, BP86, and CAM-B3LYP in conjunction with the basis sets 6-31G(d,p), 6-311G(d,p), and 6-311++G(d,p). The largest basis set, 6-311++G(d,p), performed significantly better than the smaller ones in reproducing the experimental results. The BP86 functional most accurately reproduced the vibrational spectra, while B3LYP best matched the electronic spectra. By increasing the basis set size, disregarding the Tamm-Dancoff approximation (TDA), and accounting for solvent effects using the polarizable continuum model, the wavelength, λmax, of the largest peak in the UV-VIS calculations, shifted (increased) by 2, 7.5, and 18 nm towards the experimental value, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue takes up the problem of how, where and through what methodological means the study of international relations, and ourselves as scholars, may be brought into closer connection to climate change and contribute to the social and political change critical to responding to global environmental degradation. In the introduction, I begin from where I became aware of the absence of climate change in how I studied and analysed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). I came to look back on and understand this absence through a journey that I was taken on by collaboration and with writers of and from other worlds. This provides a starting point to explore where the articles and commentaries take us as they chart their own journeys through the discipline of IR in the study of climate change. Each article articulates particular dimensions of the challenge that the special issue grapples with as it sets out to examine how, where and through what means the study of international relations may be re-rooted in closer relation to the Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on enhancing contextual ranking models by proposing data augmentation methods to improve ranking performance effectively and robustly. It mentions by utilizing supervised and unsupervised augmentation schemes, along with contrastive losses adapted for ranking tasks, the study demonstrates significant performance improvements, particularly in sample efficiency and robustness across in-domain and out-of-domain benchmarks.

The article focuses on addressing the inefficiency of dual-encoder-based dense retrieval models in information retrieval (IR) by proposing Fast-Forward indexes, which leverage semantic matching capabilities for efficient re-ranking. By enhancing computational efficiency and optimizing memory footprint, Fast-Forward indexes achieve low latency and competitive results in IR tasks without requiring hardware acceleration like GPUs.

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Abstract Post-Colonialism has proved to be challenging for students studying the Global South especially in the United States. Books like Edward Said’s Orientalism have proved difficult to read. Bringing in Sci-Fi movies would assist students in their search for understanding. This article hopes to illustrate the Post-Colonial themes in three movies: Soylent Green, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Planet of the Apes. These movies discuss the process of colonisation and decolonisation: invasion, domination, exploitation, self-governance, and then revitalisation. The movie Planet of the Apes shows the process of colonialisation through dehumanisation. For instance, the character Taylor is given the name ‘Bright Eyes’, a name you give to a pet. Here, the colonizer alters the environment, culture, beliefs, and identity of the colonized through a process of dehumanisation. Similarly, in the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers, humans must join the alien race as a way to advance themselves. This ‘civilization process’ is the justification for colonisation and leads to the destruction of earth’s entire indigenous population by destroying their identity. Lastly, Soylent Green is about the recovery of self, exercising cultural revitalisation through ceremony. Specific scenes that display this is the sharing of a meal using ingredients from a past life as well as Saul’s assisted suicide. Recalling the past in this manner helps to find, and then retain, an identity ostensibly lost to changes in power relations brought on by colonialisation. Thorn, the main character, then exposes the fact that soylent, the main food supply for the poor, is human meat. Hence, revitalisation and resistance are tied together, as working to recover a lost identity is a clear threat to the prevailing Eurocentric order. Thus, bringing in Sci-Fi movies might help facilitate the process of teaching Post-Colonial perspectives.

New probe naphthalen-2-yl-N′-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)benzohydrazonate (NHBH) chemosensor has been prepared and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass Spectroscopic techniques. The probe (NHBH) was subjected to study its cation sensing ability with twelve different metal chloride salt (Al3+, Ca2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Hg2+, K+ and Na+) in 1:4 methanol water medium by using absorption and emission titration experiments. The results showed that the probe detected Fe3+ and Na ​+ ​ions by showing absorption enhancement and fluorescence emission quenching. Further, NHBH exhibited good selectivity for Fe3+ and Na ​+ ​ions in the presence of mostother metal ions. Job's plot analysis authenticated the 1:1 binding nature of NHBH with Fe3+ and Na ​+ ​ions. Further, DFT studies validated the formation of probe (NHBH), fluorophore-quencher (Fe-NHBH) complex formation.

Background: There is a vast amount of evidence supporting the effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it remains unclear which specific treatment is most effective for patients with PTSD following childhood sexual and physical abuse (CSPA). Although Imaginal Exposure (IE) has proven highly effective in treating PTSD and is widely acknowledged as a standard method, Imagery Rescripting (IR) may be more suitable for CSPA-related PTSD. IR not only addresses fear but also targets other emotions and cognitions associated with childhood maladaptive schemas. Preliminary findings suggest lower drop-out rates for IR compared to IE, but no Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) currently assesses the effectiveness of IR for CSPA-related PTSD.Objective: This article presents a study protocol designed to investigate the optimal treatment (IE or IR) for individuals with CSPA-related PTSD and explore predictors of treatment success.Method: In our study protocol, we suggest the inclusion of 173 patients (N = 64 in IR, N = 64 in IE, and N = 45 in the waitlist condition). The therapy procedures for both IE and IR will consist of 16 sessions lasting 90 min each, with treatment durations of 11 weeks. Measurements take place at baseline, at start of treatment, 11 weeks after the start of treatment (after 16 sessions) and at follow-up at 26 weeks after the last session. A mixed regression will be used to compare the three active conditions before and after measurement.Results: This article serves as a study protocol. The results are not yet available but they will be presented in a subsequent article.Conclusion: This study protocol outlines a RCT which will be the first to provide information on the effectiveness of IR versus IE versus a control group in CSPA-related PTSD.Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register NTR 4817. Registered 26 September 2014.

Single crystals of the molecular compound, {Cu20Ir6Cl8(C21H24N2)6(C4H4N2)3]·3.18CH3OH or [({Cu10Ir3}Cl4(IMes)3(pyrazine))2(pyrazine)]·3.18CH3OH [where IMes is 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene], with a unique heterometallic cluster have been prepared and the structure revealed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecule is centrosymmetric with two {Cu10Ir3} cores bridged by a pyrazine ligand. The polymetallic cluster contains three stabilizing N-heterocyclic carbenes, four Cl ligands, and a non-bridging pyrazine ligand. Notably, the Cu—Ir core is arranged in an unusual shape containing 13 vertices, 22 faces, and 32 sides. The atoms within the tridecametallic cluster are arranged in four planes, with 2, 4, 4, 3 metals in each plane. Ir atoms are present in alternate planes with an Ir atom featuring in the peripheral bimetallic plane, and two Ir atoms featuring on opposite sides of the non-adjacent tetrametallic plane. The crystal contains two disordered methanol solvent molecules with an additional region of non-modelled electron density corrected for using the SQUEEZE routine in PLATON [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18]. The given chemical formula and other crystal data do not take into account the unmodelled methanol solvent molecule(s).

Abstract Background The American Heart Association (AHA) has recently introduced the concept of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which is the result of an increasing emphasis on the interplay of metabolic, renal and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Furthermore, there is substantial evidence of a correlation between the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI ) and CVD as an assessment of insulin resistance (IR). However, it remains unknown whether this correlation exists in population with CKM syndrome. Methods All data for this study were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The exposure was the participants’ TyG-BMI at baseline, which was calculated using a combination of triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body mass index (BMI). The primary outcome was CVD, which were determined by the use of a standardised questionnaire during follow-up. To examine the relationship between TyG-BMI and CVD incidence in population with CKM syndrome, both Cox regression analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 7376 participants were included in the final analysis. Of these, 1139, 1515, 1839, and 2883 were in CKM syndrome stages 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively, at baseline. The gender distribution was 52.62% female, and the mean age was 59.17 ± 9.28 (years). The results of the fully adjusted COX regression analyses indicated that there was a 6.5% increase in the risk of developing CVD for each 10-unit increase in TyG-BMI,95% confidence interval (CI):1.041–1.090. The RCS regression analyses demonstrated a positive linear association between TyG-BMI and the incidence of CVD in the CKM syndrome population (P for overall

Abstract A modified carbon paste sensor based on N,N′-(((ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy))bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(pyridine-2-amine; BPA Schiff base as Cr(III) selective carrier was fabricated and studied in this work. The proposed sensor homogenization and mechanism of action was studied by infra-red (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) tools. The sensor covered 1.0 × 10−7–1.0 × 10–1 mol L−1 linear range and a detection limit of 7.22 × 10–8 mol L−1 for Cr(III) with 20.17 ± 0.13 mV decade−1 Nernstian slope. 5 s was the response time of the prepared sensor and it was reproducible and stable for 3 months. The working pH range was 3.3–6.0 and it also works well to determine Cr(III) ion in presence of water miscible solvents up to 12.5% content of the methanol and 17.5% of ethanol. The electrode’s selectivity was studied using separate and mixed solution methods for selectivity coefficients determination and the sensor showed good selectivity relative to a variety of metal ions (selectivity coefficients = 1.01 × 10−5–8.57 × 10−3). In addition, the practical analysis value of the sensor was demonstrated by measurement of Cr(III) quantitatively in mineral water, supplement and also as an indicator electrode in Cr(III) against EDTA potentiometric titration with good reproducibility (RSDs of 0.91–2.15%).

Choledocholithiasis, characterized by the presence of stones in the common bile duct, poses significant challenges in clinical management, particularly when the stones are massive. While endoscopic methods are often effective in stone removal, complications such as the impaction of foreign bodies like Dormia baskets can occur. These complications may necessitate alternative approaches, including surgical intervention, highlighting the importance of exploring innovative interventional techniques. We report on an 89-year-old patient presenting with massive choledocholithiasis, involving complete filling of the intra- and extrahepatic bile duct system with large stones up to a maximum of 2 cm. The patient underwent interventional removal of a Dormia basket (3.5Fr. Boston Scientific, USA) impacted in the common bile duct. This procedure proved challenging due to the metallic end marker of the basket perforating through the wall of the distal common bile duct, rendering it fixed. Given the complexity of the case, a parallel approach combining percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage with simultaneous endoscopy was employed to successfully extract the fixed Dormia basket. In cases of severe choledocholithiasis complicated by the impaction of foreign bodies such as Dormia baskets, innovative interventional strategies are crucial for successful management. Our case highlights the effectiveness of a parallel approach involving percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage alongside simultaneous endoscopy in safely removing the fixed foreign body from the common bile duct. This multidisciplinary approach not only offers a viable alternative to surgical intervention but also underscores the importance of collaboration between interventional radiologists and endoscopists in optimizing patient outcomes in complex biliary interventions.

Abstract This manuscript introduces an innovative multi-stage image fusion framework that adeptly integrates infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) spectrum images to surmount the difficulties posed by low-light settings. The approach commences with an initial preprocessing stage, utilizing an Efficient Guided Image Filter for the infrared (IR) images to amplify edge boundaries and a function for the visible (VIS) images to boost local contrast and brightness. Utilizing a two-scale decomposition technique that incorporates Lipschitz constraints-based smoothing, the images are effectively divided into distinct base and detail layers, thereby guaranteeing the preservation of essential structural information. The process of fusion is carried out in two distinct stages: firstly, a method grounded in Bayesian theory is employed to effectively combine the base layers, so effectively addressing any inherent uncertainty. Secondly, a Surface from Shade (SfS) method is utilized to ensure the preservation of the scene's geometry by enforcing integrability on the detail layers. Ultimately a Choose Max principle is employed to determine the most prominent textural characteristics, resulting in the amalgamation of the base and detail layers to generate an image that exhibits a substantial enhancement in both clarity and detail. The efficacy of our strategy is substantiated by rigorous testing, showcasing notable progressions in edge preservation, detail enhancement, and noise reduction. Consequently, our method presents significant advantages for real-world applications in image analysis.

The article is devoted to the 28th conference of Korean studies experts from Russia and the CIS countries, which took place on March 28-29, 2024 in the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia RAS (Moscow). The korean scholars from leading scientific institutions in Russia and the CIS countries examined a wide range of political, economic, cultural, and historical issues related to the Korean Peninsula. The article highlights the main theses presented at the conference by the speakers, the number of whom exceeded 30 people this year. It is noted that much attention was paid to the analysis of the current political situation on the Korean Peninsula; prospects for cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK; economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea under sanctions; analysis of the domestic and foreign policy of the current administration of the Republic of Korea; relations between the PRC and both Korean states. A separate plenary session was devoted to the topic of Koryoin, as well as works on the study of Korean culture and art.

Citrus aurantium L. hydrosol extracted by steam distillation from its flowers is a highly consumed herbal product in the Iranian traditional market, widely used as a food flavor and therapeutic food and drinks. This study investigated ten commercial hydrosol samples of C. aurantium flowers produced by conventional extraction methods and industrial processes, as well as a laboratory-prepared control sample. A liquid-liquid extraction method and sonication were used to extract essential oils from commercial hydrosols. Samples were then subjected to GC/MS analysis. ATR-IR spectroscopy was another efficient tool used to analyze hydrosol samples. All HPTLC chromatograms exhibited a close resemblance between samples and controls. The cluster analysis was used to compare the results of GC/MS and IR screening. In the HCA dendrograms derived from the GC/MS data, most of the oil sample profiles were found to be very similar to those of the control. Linalool was the most abundant compound in eight samples and the control. α-Terpineol in all hydrosol samples and geraniol in five samples and control were other marker compounds. Ethyl disulfide, dillapiol, and hotrienol were detected in two samples that have not been reported in previous studies and might have resulted from the addition of other herbal hydrosols. Microbial content and pH values were within permissible limits in all samples, making them safe for oral consumption.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is recognized as one of the leading cause of health threatening in veterinary medicine worldwide. Recently, PTP1B inhibition has been proposed as an interesting strategy for liver insulin resistance reversion in both equines and humans, however as being a multifactorial disease, proper management of EMS horses further necessities additional interventional approaches aiming at repairing and restoring liver functions. In this study, we hypothesized that in vitro induction of Eq_ASCs hepatogenic differentiation will generate a specialized liver progenitor-like cell population exhibiting similar phenotypic characteristics and regenerative potential as native hepatic progenitor cells. Our obtained data demonstrated that Eq_ASCs-derived liver progenitor cells (Eq_HPCs) displayed typical flattened polygonal morphology with packed fragmented mitochondrial net, lowered mesenchymal CD105 and CD90 surface markers expression, and significant high expression levels of specific hepatic lineage genes including PECAM-1, ALB, AFP and HNF4A. therewith, generated Eq_HPCs exhibited potentiated stemness and pluripotency markers expression (NANOG, SOX-2 and OCT-4). Hence, in vitro generation of hepatic progenitor-like cells retaining high differentiation capacity represents a promising new approach for the establishment of cell-based targeted therapies for the restoration of proper liver functions in EMS affected horses.

A modified carbon paste sensor based on N,N′-(((ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy))bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(pyridine-2-amine; BPA Schiff base as Cr(III) selective carrier was fabricated and studied in this work. The proposed sensor homogenization and mechanism of action was studied by infra-red (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) tools. The sensor covered 1.0 × 10−7–1.0 × 10–1 mol L−1 linear range and a detection limit of 7.22 × 10–8 mol L−1 for Cr(III) with 20.17 ± 0.13 mV decade−1 Nernstian slope. 5 s was the response time of the prepared sensor and it was reproducible and stable for 3 months. The working pH range was 3.3–6.0 and it also works well to determine Cr(III) ion in presence of water miscible solvents up to 12.5% content of the methanol and 17.5% of ethanol. The electrode's selectivity was studied using separate and mixed solution methods for selectivity coefficients determination and the sensor showed good selectivity relative to a variety of metal ions (selectivity coefficients = 1.01 × 10−5–8.57 × 10−3). In addition, the practical analysis value of the sensor was demonstrated by measurement of Cr(III) quantitatively in mineral water, supplement and also as an indicator electrode in Cr(III) against EDTA potentiometric titration with good reproducibility (RSDs of 0.91–2.15%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The American Heart Association (AHA) has recently introduced the concept of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which is the result of an increasing emphasis on the interplay of metabolic, renal and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Furthermore, there is substantial evidence of a correlation between the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and CVD as an assessment of insulin resistance (IR). However, it remains unknown whether this correlation exists in population with CKM syndrome. Methods: All data for this study were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The exposure was the participants' TyG-BMI at baseline, which was calculated using a combination of triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body mass index (BMI). The primary outcome was CVD, which were determined by the use of a standardised questionnaire during follow-up. To examine the relationship between TyG-BMI and CVD incidence in population with CKM syndrome, both Cox regression analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 7376 participants were included in the final analysis. Of these, 1139, 1515, 1839, and 2883 were in CKM syndrome stages 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively, at baseline. The gender distribution was 52.62% female, and the mean age was 59.17 ± 9.28 (years). The results of the fully adjusted COX regression analyses indicated that there was a 6.5% increase in the risk of developing CVD for each 10-unit increase in TyG-BMI,95% confidence interval (CI):1.041–1.090. The RCS regression analyses demonstrated a positive linear association between TyG-BMI and the incidence of CVD in the CKM syndrome population (P for overall < 0.001, P for nonlinear = 0.355). Conclusions: This cohort study demonstrated a positive linear association between TyG-BMI index and increased CVD incidence in a population with CKM syndrome stage 0–3. This finding suggests that enhanced assessment of TyG-BMI index may provide a more convenient and effective tool for individuals at risk for CVD in CKM syndrome stage 0–3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of the mol­ecular compound, {Cu20Ir6Cl8(C21H24N2)6(C4H4N2)3]·-3.18CH3OH or [({Cu10Ir3}Cl4(IMes)3(pyrazine))2(pyrazine)]·3.18CH3OH [where IMes is 1,3-bis­(2,4,6-trimethylphen­yl)imidazol-2-yl­idene], with a unique heterometallic cluster have been prepared and the structure revealed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The mol­ecule is centrosymmetric with two {Cu10Ir3} cores bridged by a pyrazine ligand. The polymetallic cluster contains three stabilizing N-heterocyclic carbenes, four Cl ligands, and a non-bridging pyrazine ligand. Notably, the Cu—Ir core is arranged in an unusual shape containing 13 vertices, 22 faces, and 32 sides. The atoms within the trideca­metallic cluster are arranged in four planes, with 2, 4, 4, 3 metals in each plane. Ir atoms are present in alternate planes with an Ir atom featuring in the peripheral bimetallic plane, and two Ir atoms featuring on opposite sides of the non-adjacent tetra­metallic plane. The crystal contains two disordered methanol solvent mol­ecules with an additional region of non-modelled electron density corrected for using the SQUEEZE routine in PLATON [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9-18.]). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18]. The given chemical formula and other crystal data do not take into account the unmodelled methanol solvent mol­ecule(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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