Concentrating a trace amount of molecules from liquids, solid objects, or the gas phase and delivering them to a localized area are crucial for almost any trace analyte detection device. Analytes ...within a liquid droplet resting on micro/nanostructured surfaces with liquid-repellent coatings can be concentrated during solvent evaporation. However, these coatings suffer from complex manufacturing procedures, poor versatility, and limited analyte enrichment efficiency. Here, we report on the use of an acoustic levitation platform to losslessly concentrate the analyte molecules dissolved in any volatile liquid, attached to solid objects, or spread in air. Gold nanoparticles can be simultaneously concentrated with the analytes in different phases, realizing sensitive, surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection even at attomolar (10
mol/L) concentration levels. The acoustic levitation platform-enabled, lossless analyte enrichment can significantly increase the analytical performance of many conventional microsensing techniques.
Being a resource-based nation, Pakistan has been riddled with economic inadequacy attributable to its reliance on the resource industry. The conformity of natural resources to a curse or blessing ...cannot be ascertained merely from the perceptive of the influences of resource endowments on economic and social development, as the focus of previous studies proposed. This inquiry intentions are to scrutinize the nature of natural resources, government debt, trade globalization, government stability, and renewable energy consumption, as well as their implications for human development in Pakistan from 1990 to 2021, applying the novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (D-ARDL) simulations method and the frequency-domain causality (FDC) test to scrutinize long-, medium-, and short-run relationships. The observed results proposed that natural resource undesirably impact human development, confirming the existence of a resource curse effect. Simultaneously, government debt and government stability worsen, whilst renewables and trade globalization stimulate human development in long and short term. In addition, the FDC validates long, medium and short run causation hypotheses. The findings indicate an appropriate practice for the optimal use of resource rents in conjunction with lower public debt and a stable government system would culminate in human development and inclusive growth.
•Natural resource rents-human development nexus is assessed for Pakistan.•Dynamic ARDL simulation approach is used for long and short-run estimation.•Trade globalization and renewable energy can boost inclusive growth and HDI.•Natural resources negatively impact HDI confirming the resource curse hypothesis.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Previous studies have explored the effects of retrieval reward and depth of processing in encoding on recognition, but it remains unclear whether and how reward and depth of processing during ...encoding influence recognition. We investigated the effect and neural mechanisms of encoding reward and processing depth on recognition using event-related potentials (ERPs) in this study. In the study phase, participants were asked to perform two encoding tasks: congruity-judgment (deep processing) and size-judgment (shallow processing) in reward and no-reward conditions. The test phases included object (item) and background (source) tests. The results of item retrieval showed that the accuracy of rewarded items was higher than that of unrewarded items only in the congruity-judgment task, and the reward effect (the average amplitudes in the reward condition were significantly more positive than those in the no-reward condition) in the 300-500 and 500-700 ms were greater in the congruity-judgment task than in the size-judgment task. The results of source retrieval showed that the accuracy of rewarded items was higher than that of unrewarded items, that the difference in the size-judgment task was significantly larger, and that the reward effect in the 300-500 and 500-700 ms were greater in the size-judgment task than in the congruity-judgment task. In conclusion, the encoding task moderated the reward effect in item and source memory.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This paper proposes a speech recognition method based on a domain-specific language speech network (DSL-Net) and a confidence decision network (CD-Net). The method involves automatically training a ...domain-specific dataset, using pre-trained model parameters for migration learning, and obtaining a domain-specific speech model. Importance sampling weights were set for the trained domain-specific speech model, which was then integrated with the trained speech model from the benchmark dataset. This integration automatically expands the lexical content of the model to accommodate the input speech based on the lexicon and language model. The adaptation attempts to address the issue of out-of-vocabulary words that are likely to arise in most realistic scenarios and utilizes external knowledge sources to extend the existing language model. By doing so, the approach enhances the adaptability of the language model in new domains or scenarios and improves the prediction accuracy of the model. For domain-specific vocabulary recognition, a deep fully convolutional neural network (DFCNN) and a candidate temporal classification (CTC)-based approach were employed to achieve effective recognition of domain-specific vocabulary. Furthermore, a confidence-based classifier was added to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the overall approach. In the experiments, the method was tested on a proprietary domain audio dataset and compared with an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system trained on a large-scale dataset. Based on experimental verification, the model achieved an accuracy improvement from 82% to 91% in the medical domain. The inclusion of domain-specific datasets resulted in a 5% to 7% enhancement over the baseline, while the introduction of model confidence further improved the baseline by 3% to 5%. These findings demonstrate the significance of incorporating domain-specific datasets and model confidence in advancing speech recognition technology.
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Two simple and novel gelators (G-P with pyridine and G-B with benzene) with different C-4 substitution groups on naphthalimide derivatives have been designed and characterized. Two gelators could ...form organogels in some solvents or mixed solvents. The self-assembly processes of G-P in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile/H2O (1/1, v/v) and G-B in acetonitrile were studied by means of electron microscopy and spectroscopy. The organogel of G-P in the mixed solvent of acetonitrile/H2O (1/1, v/v) formed an intertwined fiber network, and its emission spectrum had an obvious blue shift compared with that of solution. By contrast, the organogel of G-B in acetonitrile formed a straight fiber, and its emission had an obvious red shift compared with that of solution. G-P and G-B were employed in detecting nitroaromatic compounds because of their electron-rich property. G-P is more sensitive and selective toward 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) compared with G-B. The sensing mechanisms were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopic experiments and theoretical calculations. From these experimental results, it is proposed that electron transfer occurs from the electron-rich G-P molecule to the electron-deficient TNP because of the possibility of complex formation between G-P and TNP. The G-P molecule could detect TNP in water, organic solvent media, as well as using test strips. It is worth mentioning that the organogel G-P can not only detect TNP but also remove TNP from the solution into the organogel system.
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This study examines how natural resource extraction policy can asymmetrically affect financial development in China and the U.S. This occurs due to over-reliance on a single sector, lack of ...diversity, economic instability, and the risk of becoming a rentier state. To compare the asymmetric impact of total natural resource extraction towards financial development in China and the US, we analyzed data from 1970 to 2022. Our results confirm that mix order of integration via Augmented Dicky-Fuller and Phillip-Perron and long-run relationship is validated by applying bounds testing approach to cointegration. So, we have incorporated NARDL, alternatively known as asymmetrical Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (NARDL). Given the long-run estimated results, the asymmetric connection of financial development with natural resources does not confirm as well as ambiguous for China and the US, respectively. This suggests that relying on natural resources can have varied and uneven effects on the overall development of financial system. Control factors, including economic growth, trade openness, and population density, have also been included in our proposed model. Except for trade openness for China, these factors are significant determinants of financial development in both countries.
•We analyze the asymmetric impact of natural resource extraction on financial development in China and the US.•We have applied NARDL i.e. asymmetrical Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag for empirical analysis.•The asymmetric connection of financial development with natural resources does not confirm as well as ambiguous for China and the US, respectively.•This suggests that relying on natural resources can have varied and uneven effects on financial development.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can undergo unlimited self-renewal and can differentiate into all the cell types present in our body, including cardiomyocytes. Therefore, PSCs can be an excellent ...source of cardiomyocytes for future regenerative medicine and medical research studies. However, cardiomyocytes obtained from PSC differentiation culture are regarded as immature structurally, electrophysiologically, metabolically, and functionally. Mitochondria are organelles responsible for various cellular functions such as energy metabolism, different catabolic and anabolic processes, calcium fluxes, and various signaling pathways. Cells can respond to cellular needs to increase the mitochondrial mass by mitochondrial biogenesis. On the other hand, cells can also degrade mitochondria through mitophagy. Mitochondria are also dynamic organelles that undergo continuous fusion and fission events. In this review, we aim to summarize previous findings on the changes of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dynamics during the maturation of cardiomyocytes. In addition, we intend to summarize whether changes in these processes would affect the maturation of cardiomyocytes. Lastly, we aim to discuss unanswered questions in the field and to provide insights for the possible strategies of enhancing the maturation of PSC-derived cardiomyocytes.
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Plasmon-driven diazo coupling reaction of p-nitroaniline (PNA), containing both an amine group (−NH2) and a nitro group (−NO2), in ambient atmosphere environments remains unknown in experiments, on ...both metal nanoparticles and graphene-mediated metal nanostructures. Using the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique, we presented the surface coupling reactions of PNA under atmospheric environment, adsorbed on the Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) arrays, graphene-coated Ag nanoparticle (G/AgNPs) hybrids, and graphene-covered Ag nanowire (G/AgNW) composites, respectively. It was found that PNAs were converted into 4,4′-diaminoazobenzene (DAAB) through a selective reduction reaction, rather than oxidized into 4,4′-dinitroazobenzene (DNAB). These results may be useful for understanding the reaction mechanism for plasmon-driven chemical reactions of the molecules containing both amine groups and nitro groups under ambient conditions.
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Structures with dense nanopores are desirable as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing substrates because the nanopores can behave as both analyte containers and SERS-active sites (known ...as hot spots). Inspired by the dealloying process to prepare nanoporous structures through selectively removing active metals from their alloy, we developed a method to prepare nanoporous Ag nanorods through chemical reduction of the electrodeposited Ag7O8NO3 nanorods using a strong reducing agent (e.g., NaBH4). The length and the thickness of the Ag7O8NO3 nanorods could be controlled by the electrodeposition voltage and time. Nitrogen and oxygen elements were immediately removed from Ag7O8NO3 nanorods by the reducing agent, leaving behind a tremendous number of nanopores with a mean size of 20 nm, which can efficiently trap and enrich analytes. Meanwhile, the densely packed nanopores can behave as SERS hot spots to provide strong SERS enhancement. The nanoporous Ag nanorods as SERS substrates were used to sensitively detect adenine, spike glycoprotein, and polychlorinated biphenyls pollutants, as well as identify different types of bacteria. The simple fabrication process and the outstanding SERS performance of the nanoporous Ag nanorods make them promising candidates for SERS applications towards trace detection of pollutants, narcotics, food additives, and biomolecules.
•A simple method to fabricate nanoporous silver nanorods through a simple chemical reduction of electrodeposited Ag7O8NO3.•The nanoporous silver nanorods demonstrated ultrahigh SERS sensitivity.•Detection of 26 types of bacteria using SERS substrates with nanoporous silver nanorods.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The optical properties of monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)/Ag nanoparticle (NP) hybrids and their application to surface catalytic reactions were studied by transmission, photoluminescence (PL) ...and Raman spectroscopies. The local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag nanoparticles was tuned to better match the exciton energy of monolayer MoS2. The PL of the hybrids was enhanced by more than 50 times when the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak was tuned systematically from 438 nm to 532 nm, indicating a stronger coupling and higher energy transfer rate between the plasmon of the Ag NPs and the excitons of the MoS2. Additionally, photocatalytic reactions of 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4NBT) were performed on the MoS2, the Ag nanoparticles, and the hybrid MoS2 with Ag nanoparticles. On the MoS2 substrate alone, there is no photocatalytic reaction. With a low laser intensity, the probability of a chemical reaction occurring for molecules directly adsorbed onto the Ag NPs is much lower than the probability of a reaction involving those molecules adsorbed onto the MoS2/Ag substrate. At a higher power, although the electric field was reduced by approximately 30% by the MoS2 layer, there is better efficiency for the plasmon-exciton co-driven surface catalytic reactions on the MoS2/Ag substrate compared to the Ag substrate alone. Our findings illustrate the potential to control hot carriers for better surface catalytic reactions by tuning the exciton-plasmon coupling between the 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and Ag NPs.
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•Plasmon-exciton coupling interactions are controlled by Ag nanoparticle size.•The plasmon-exciton coupling interactions are characterized with spectroscopies.•The degree of plasmon-exciton coupling can control plasmon-exciton co-driven chemical reactions.
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