''peak alignment"

Cellulose-based nanocomposites are highly appealing for the development of next-generation sustainable functional materials. Although many advances have been made in this direction, the true potential of fibrillar nanocomposites has yet to be realized because available fabrication approaches are inadequate for achieving precise structural control at the sub-micrometer scale. Here a spray-assisted alignment methodology of cellulose nanofibrils is combined with the layer-by-layer assembly into an additive manufacturing process in which the alignment direction of each cellulose layer is rationally selected to achieve thin films with a helicoidal arrangement of the nanofibrils...

Defects, which are an unavoidable component of the material preparation process, can have a significant impact on the properties of two-dimensional devices. In this work, we investigated theoretically the effects of different types and positions of point defects on band alignment and transport properties of metallic 1T-phase MoS2 /semiconducting 2H-phase MoS2 junctions. We found that the Schottky barriers of junctions depend on the type of defects and their locations while showing anisotropic characteristics along the zigzag and armchair directions of 2H-phase MoS2 ...

Wildfires are increasing in duration and intensity across the United States' Pacific West region, resulting in heightened particulate matter from smoke in the atmosphere. Levels of peak particulate matter are concurrent to peak visitor attendance at National Parks, given seasonal alignment with summer vacation travel and heightened forest fire conditions. Particulate matter threatens visitor health and safety and contributes to poor visibility and a deteriorated visitor experience. To assess visitation response to diminished air quality, we utilized wildfire-generated particulate matter (PM2...

Spatial aperture coding is a technique used to improve throughput without sacrificing resolution both in optical spectroscopy and sector mass spectrometry (MS). Previous work demonstrated that aperture coding combined with a position-sensitive array detector in a miniature cycloidal mass spectrometer was successful in providing high-throughput, high-resolution measurements. However, due to poor alignment and field nonuniformities, reconstruction artifacts were present. Recently, significant progress was made in eliminating most of the reconstruction artifacts with improved field uniformity and alignment...

The thermal environment is a critical determinant of outcomes in host-pathogen interactions, yet the complexities of this relationship remain underexplored in many ecological systems. We examined the Thermal Mismatch Hypothesis (TMH) by measuring phenotypic variation in individual thermal performance profiles using a model system of two species of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) that differ in their ecological niche, Metarhizium brunneum and M. flavoviride, and a warm-adapted model host, the mealworm Tenebrio molitor...

BACKGROUND: Pressure distribution in the ankle joint is known to be dependent on various factors, including hindfoot alignment. We seek to evaluate how hindfoot alignment affects contact pressures in the ankle joint in the setting of supination external rotation (SER) type ankle fractures. METHODS: SER fractures were created in 10 human cadaver lower extremity specimens, simulating progressive stages of injury: without fracture (step 0), SER fracture and intact deltoid ligament (step 1), superficial deltoid ligament disruption (step 2), and deep deltoid ligament disruption (step 3)...

INTRODUCTION: Tracking insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level alongside the middle phalanx of the third finger (MP3) staging modification could provide valuable insights into the relationship between hormonal factors and skeletal maturation during different stages of growth. Longitudinal studies indeed play a crucial role in understanding these complex relationships over time, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of how IGF-1 might serve as a marker for pubertal growth stages...

High-Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) is a technique for ion separation and detection based on ion mobility variation under high electronic field. While compensation voltage scanning speed is a fundamental parameter in FAIMS, its impact on spectra remains unclear. In this work, a function referred to as F-EMG is introduced to describe the impact of compensation voltage scanning speed on FAIMS spectra, and the properties of the function are studied. Theoretical analysis emphasizes the impact of the scanning speed on peak height, position, and symmetry, as well as the capability of the F-EMG function to progressively approach Gaussian function at lower scanning speeds...

In addressing the global need for sustainable energy conversion, this study presents a breakthrough in thermoelectric materials research by optimizing the Bi2 O2 Se1-x Tex system in the Bi2 O2 Se/Bi2 O2 Te pseudobinary series. Leveraging the principles of innovative transport mechanisms and defect engineering, we introduce tellurium (Te) doping into Bi2 O2 Se to enhance its thermoelectric properties synergistically. With the help of various advanced characterization tools such as XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR, TGA, LFA, and DSC, combined with relevant resistance and density measurement techniques, we conducted an in-depth exploration of the complex interactions between various factors within thermoelectric materials...

To develop ultrasound-guided radiotherapy, we proposed an assistant structure with embedded markers along with a novel alternative method, the Aligned Peak Response (APR) method, to alter the conventional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamformer for reconstructing ultrasound images obtained from a flexible array. We simulated imaging targets in Field-II using point target phantoms with point targets at different locations. In the experimental phantom ultrasound images, image RF data were acquired with a flexible transducer with in-house assistant structures embedded with needle targets for testing the accuracy of the APR method...

Electrocardiogram (ECG) reconstruction from contact photoplethysmogram (PPG) would be transformative for cardiac monitoring. We investigated the fundamental and practical feasibility of such reconstruction by first replicating pioneering work in the field, with the aim of assessing the methods and evaluation metrics used. We then expanded existing research by investigating different cycle segmentation methods and different evaluation scenarios to robustly verify both fundamental feasibility, as well as practical potential...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between clinical outcomes and lateral thrust before and after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) using inertial measurement sensor units. Eleven knees were evaluated with gait analysis. The varus angular velocity was used to evaluate lateral thrust. The femorotibial angle (FTA) and hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) were used to evaluate lower-limb alignment, and the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (JOA) were used to evaluate clinical outcomes...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of radial head fractures is increasing, and radial head arthroplasty (RHA) is being more frequently utilized as treatment for irreparable fractures. Our objective was to compare radiocapitellar pressure between the native joint and two radial head prosthesis conditions - (1) a prosthetic head that was aligned to the forearm axis of rotation and (2) the same prosthesis with an axisymmetric nonaligned head. METHODS: Ten cadaveric specimens received a pressfit radial head prosthesis (Align, Skeletal Dynamics, Miami, FL) for both prosthetic testing conditions...

The development of van der Waals heterostructures has introduced unconventional phenomena that emerge at atomically precise interfaces. For example, interlayer excitons in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides show intriguing optical properties at low temperatures. Here we report on room-temperature observation of interface excitons in mixed-dimensional heterostructures consisting of two-dimensional tungsten diselenide and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes. Bright emission peaks originating from the interface are identified, spanning a broad energy range within the telecommunication wavelengths...

We investigate the noise in spin transport through a single quantum dot (QD) tunnel coupled to ferromagnetic electrodes with noncollinear magnetizations. Based on a spin-resolved quantum master equation, auto- and cross-correlations of spin-resolved currents are analyzed to reveal the underlying spin transport dynamics and characteristics for various polarizations. We find the currents of majority and minority spins could be strongly autocorrelated despite uncorrelated charge trans fer. The interplay between tunnel coupling and the Coulomb interaction gives rise to an exchange magnetic field, leading to the precession of the accumulated spin in the QD...

The single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (scATAC-seq) technology provides insight into gene regulation and epigenetic heterogeneity at single-cell resolution, but cell annotation from scATAC-seq remains challenging due to high dimensionality and extreme sparsity within the data. Existing cell annotation methods mostly focus on the cell peak matrix without fully utilizing the underlying genomic sequence. Here we propose a method, SANGO, for accurate single-cell annotation by integrating genome sequences around the accessibility peaks within scATAC data...

PURPOSE: Although spurts in physical capacities during adolescence are well-known, little is known about the existence of such spurts in sport-specific skill development, especially during the period of rapid growth in stature. Our aims were to examine the timing, intensity, and sequence of basketball-specific skill spurts aligned with biological [years from peak height velocity (PHV)] rather than chronological age. We then defined putative sensitive periods (windows of optimal development) for each skill aligned to the adolescent growth spurt...

Cooperative foraging behavior can be advantageous when there is a common exploitable resource. By cooperating, members of the group can take advantage of the potential of increased efficiency of working together as well as equitable distribution of the product. An experimental signature of cooperative foraging is an Allee effect where at a certain number of individuals, there is a peak of fitness. What happens when there are intruders especially ones that do not contribute to any work required for foraging? Drosophila larvae secrete digestive enzymes and exodigest food...

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are pivotal for wastewater treatment due to their high efficiency and numerous advantages. The impact of plant species and diversity on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from CWs requires a more comprehensive evaluation. Moreover, controversial perspectives persist about whether CWs function as carbon sinks or sources. In this study, horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs vegetated with Cyperus alternifolius, Typhae latifolia, Acorus calamus, and the mixture of these three species were constructed to evaluate pollutant removal efficiencies and GHG emissions, and estimate carbon budgets...

Introduction  Nanoparticles, owing to their minuscule size, have become pivotal in diverse scientific endeavors, presenting unique characteristics with applications spanning medicine to environmental science. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) exhibit potential in diverse biomedical uses. Aim This research investigates the potential anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of SeNPs, which are synthesized using the green synthesis method. This eco-friendly approach aligns with sustainable practices and utilizes clove extract ( Syzygium aromaticum )...