Early Detection of Pipeline Natural Gas Leakage from Hyperspectral Imaging by Vegetation Indicators and Deep Neural Networks.

The timely detection of underground natural gas (NG) leaks in pipeline transmission systems presents a promising opportunity for reducing the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. However, existing techniques face notable limitations for prompt detection. This study explores the utility of Vegetation Indicators (VIs) to reflect vegetation health deterioration, thereby representing leak-induced stress.

Consistent Intraocular Pressure Reduction by Solid Drug Nanoparticles in Fixed Combinations for Glaucoma Therapy.

Efficient topical drug delivery remains a significant challenge in glaucoma management. Although nanoparticle formulations offer considerable promise, their complex preparation processes, co-delivery issues, and batch consistency have hindered their potential. A scalable fabrication strategy is developed here for preparing solid drug nanoparticles (SDNs) with enhanced drug delivery efficiency.

An economic framework for assessing the impact of domestic mining policies on affordable energy transition.

The global transition towards sustainable energy sources necessitates a delicate balance between incentivizing domestic mineral inputs and ensuring affordable energy transition. This paper investigates a diverse set of policies aimed at promoting domestic mining and their implications for achieving an affordable energy transition. Through a comprehensive economic framework, we analyze the effects of demand and supply-side policies on import reliance, production costs, and the overall progress of the energy transition.

Interpenetrated Lattices of Quaternary Chalcogenides Displaying Magnetic Frustration, High Na-Ion Conductivity, and Cation Redox in Na-Ion Batteries.

A series of quaternary selenides, NaGaSe ( = Mn, Fe, and mixed Zn/Fe), have been synthesized for the first time employing a high-temperature solid-state synthesis route through stochiometric or polychalcogenide flux reactions. Along with the selenides, a previously reported sulfide analogue, NaFeGaS, is also revisited with new findings. These compounds form an interpenetrated structure made up of a supertetrahedral unit.

analysis of tantalum-containing mesoporous bioactive glass fibres for haemostasis.

Haemorrhage is the leading cause of battlefield deaths and second most common cause for civilian mortality worldwide. Biomaterials-based haemostatic agents are used to aid in bleeding stoppage; mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are candidates for haemostasis. Previously made Tantalum-containing MBG (Ta-MBG) powders' compositions were fabricated as electrospun for haemostatic applications in the present study.

Insight into uniform filming of LiF-rich interphase via synergistic adsorption for high-performance lithium metal anode.

Multi-scale simulation is an important basis for constructing digital batteries to improve battery design and application. LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is experimentally proven to be crucial for the electrochemical performance of lithium metal batteries. However, the LiF-rich SEI is sensitive to various electrolyte formulas and the fundamental mechanism is still unclear.

Factors Shaping Public Support for More Carbon Capture and Storage Projects in the United States.

This study contributes to the literature examining public acceptance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the US. The examination of factors that shape public support for CCS projects provides policymakers with insights to address public concerns, balance CCS development with public sentiments, and make informed decisions about optimal locations and timing. Based on a nationally representative survey on 1850 respondents, the study finds that in the US, there is very low familiarity (6.

Analysis of rural broadband adoption dynamics: A theory-driven agent-based model.

Demand for broadband internet has far outpaced its availability. In addition, the "new normal" imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic has further disadvantaged unserved and underserved areas. To address this challenge, federal and state agencies are funding internet service providers (ISPs) to deploy broadband infrastructure in these areas.

Harnessing Redox Polymer Dynamics for Enhanced Glucose-Oxygen Coupling in Dual Biosensing and Therapeutic Applications.

The burgeoning field of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for diabetes management faces significant challenges, particularly in achieving precise and stable biosensor performance under changing environmental conditions such as varying glucose concentrations and O levels. To address this, we present a novel biosensor based on the electroless coupling of glucose oxidation catalyzed by flavin-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH) and O reduction catalyzed by bilirubin oxidase (BOD) via a redox polymer, dimethylferrocene-modified linear poly(ethylenimine), FcMe-LPEI. Initial cyclic voltammetry tests confirm the colocalization of both enzymatic reactions within the potential range of the polymer, indicating an effective electron shuttle mechanism.

Synthesis of 3D SbO-based heterojunction reinforced by SPR effect and photo-Fenton mechanism for upgraded oxidation of metronidazole in water environments.

The traditional homogenous and heterogenous Fenton reactions have frequently been restrained by the lower production of Fe ions, which significantly obstructs the generation of hydroxyl radicals from the decomposition of HO. Thus, we introduce novel photo-Fenton-assisted plasmonic heterojunctions by immobilizing FeO and Bi nanoparticles onto 3D SbO via co-precipitation and solvothermal approaches. The ternary SbO/FeO/Bi composites offered boosted photo-Fenton behavior with a metronidazole (MNZ) oxidation efficiency of 92% within 60 min.

Effect of Pre-Heating on Residual Stresses and Deformation in Laser-Based Directed Energy Deposition Repair: A Comparative Analysis.

Laser-directed energy deposition (DED), a metal additive manufacturing method, is renowned for its role in repairing parts, particularly when replacement costs are prohibitive. Ensuring that repaired parts avoid residual stresses and deformation is crucial for maintaining functional integrity. This study conducts experimental and numerical analyses on trapezoidal shape repairs, validating both the thermal and mechanical models with experimental results.

Kinetic Characterization and Identification of Key Active Site Residues of the L-Aspartate N-Hydroxylase, CreE.

CreE is a flavin-dependent monooxygenase (FMO) that catalyzes three sequential nitrogen oxidation reactions of L-aspartate to produce nitrosuccinate, contributing to the biosynthesis of the antimicrobial and antiproliferative nautral product, cremeomycin. This compound contains a highly reactive diazo functional group for which the reaction of CreE is essential to its formation. Nitro and diazo functional groups can serve as potent electrophiles, important in some challenging nucleophilic addition reactions.

Liposomes-Encapsulating Double-Stranded Nucleic Acid (Poly I:C) for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment.

Polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) serves as a synthetic mimic of viral double-stranded dsRNA, capable of inducing apoptosis in numerous cancer cells. Despite its potential, therapeutic benefits, the application of Poly I:C has been hindered by concerns regarding toxicity, stability, enzymatic degradation, and undue immune stimulation, leading to autoimmune disorders. To address these challenges, encapsulation of antitumor drugs within delivery systems such as cationic liposomes is often employed to enhance their efficacy while minimizing dosages.

Excellent Bifunctional Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Electrocatalysts (5A)CoO and Their Tunability.

Hastening the progress of rechargeable metal-air batteries and hydrogen fuel cells necessitates the advancement of economically feasible, earth-abundant, inexpensive, and efficient electrocatalysts facilitating both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, a recently reported family of nano (5A)CoO (A = combinations of transition metals, Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) compositionally complex oxides (CCOs) [Wang et al., , , 7283-7291.

Solar enhanced oxygen evolution reaction with transition metal telluride.

The photo-enhanced electrocatalytic method of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) shows promise for enhancing the effectiveness of clear energy generation through water splitting by using renewable and sustainable source of energy. However, despite benefits of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting, its uses are constrained by its low efficiency as a result of charge carrier recombination, a large overpotential, and sluggish reaction kinetics. Here, we illustrate that Nickel telluride (NiTe) synthesized by hydrothermal methods can function as an extremely effective photo-coupled electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (POER) catalyst.

Equitable infrastructure: Achieving resilient systems and restorative justice through policy and research innovation.

Recent major investments in infrastructure in the United States and globally present a crucial opportunity to embed equity within the heart of resilient infrastructure decision-making. Yet there is a notable absence of frameworks within the engineering and scientific fields for integrating equity into planning, design, and maintenance of infrastructure. Additionally, whole-of-government approaches to infrastructure, including the Justice40 Initiative, mimic elements of process management that support exploitative rather than exploratory innovation.

Energetic cost of biosynthesis is a missing link between growth and longevity in mammals.

The comparative studies of aging have established a negative correlation between Gompertz postnatal growth constant and maximum lifespan across mammalian species, but the underlying physiological mechanism remains unclear. This study shows that the Gompertz growth constant can be decomposed into two energetic components, mass-specific metabolic rate and the energetic cost of biosynthesis, and that after controlling the former as a confounder, the negative correlation between growth constant and lifespan still exists due to a 100-fold variation in the latter, revealing that the energetic cost of biosynthesis is a link between growth and longevity in mammals. Previously, the energetic cost of biosynthesis has been thought to be a constant across species and therefore was not considered a contributor to the variation in any life history traits, such as growth and lifespan.

Advancing Simultaneous Extraction and Sequential Single-Particle ICP-MS Analysis for Metallic Nanoparticle Mixtures in Plant Tissues.

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have been increasingly used in agricultural operations, leading to an urgent need for robust methods to analyze co-occurring ENPs in plant tissues. In response, this study advanced the simultaneous extraction of coexisting silver, cerium oxide, and copper oxide ENPs in lettuce shoots and roots using macerozyme R-10 and analyzed them by single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, the standard stock suspensions of the ENPs were stabilized with citrate, and the long-term stability (up to 5 months) was examined for the first time.

Localized Sustained Release of Copper Enhances Antitumor Effects of Disulfiram in Head and Neck Cancer.

Drug repurposing uses approved drugs as candidate anticancer therapeutics, harnesses previous research and development efforts, and benefits from available clinically suitable formulations and evidence of patient tolerability. In this work, the drug used clinically to treat chronic alcoholism, disulfiram (DSF), was studied for its antitumor efficacy in a copper-dependent manner. The combination of DSF and copper could achieve a tumor cell growth inhibition effect comparable to those of 5-fluorouracil and taxol on head and neck cancer cells.

Rotational spectrum, structure, and quadrupole coupling of cyclopropylchloromethyldifluorosilane.

Cyclopropylchloromethyldifluorosilane, c-C3H5SiF2CH2Cl, has been synthesized, and its rotational spectrum has been recorded by chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The spectral analysis of several isotopologues indicates the presence of two distinct conformations in the free-jet expansion, which are interconvertible through a rotation of the chloromethyl group. A partial substitution structure is presented for the lower energy conformation and is compared to the equilibrium structure obtained from quantum chemical calculations.

Mesenchymal stem cells in autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of pre-clinical studies.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are of interest in the clinic because of their immunomodulation capabilities, capacity to act upstream of inflammation, and ability to sense metabolic environments. In standard physiologic conditions, they play a role in maintaining the homeostasis of tissues and organs; however, there is evidence that they can contribute to some autoimmune diseases. Gaining a deeper understanding of the factors that transition MSCs from their physiological function to a pathological role in their native environment, and elucidating mechanisms that reduce their therapeutic relevance in regenerative medicine, is essential.

Convolutional spiking neural networks for intent detection based on anticipatory brain potentials using electroencephalogram.

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are receiving increased attention because they mimic synaptic connections in biological systems and produce spike trains, which can be approximated by binary values for computational efficiency. Recently, the addition of convolutional layers to combine the feature extraction power of convolutional networks with the computational efficiency of SNNs has been introduced. This paper studies the feasibility of using a convolutional spiking neural network (CSNN) to detect anticipatory slow cortical potentials (SCPs) related to braking intention in human participants using an electroencephalogram (EEG).

Perfect Polar Alignment of Parallel Beloamphiphile Layers: Improved Structural Design Bias Realized in Ferroelectric Crystals of the Novel "Methoxyphenyl Series of Acetophenone Azines".

Invited for the cover of this issue are Harmeet Bhoday, Nathan Knotts, and Rainer Glaser at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Joe Miner, the university mascot, is a silent and honorary co-author and personifies the spirit of the old west and the determination to succeed (our emphasis). The image depicts one (MeO-Ph, Y)-azine molecule and a model of a perfectly polar stacked bilayer.