Global urbanization and increasing traffic volume have intensified traffic congestion throughout transportation infrastructure, particularly at toll plazas, highlighting the critical need to implement proactive transportation infrastructure solutions. Traditional toll plaza management approaches, often relying on manual interventions, suffer from inefficiencies that fail to adapt to dynamic traffic flow and are unable to produce preemptive control strategies, resulting in prolonged queues, extended travel times, and adverse environmental effects. This study proposes a proactive traffic control strategy using advanced technologies to combat toll plaza congestion and optimize traffic management. The approach involves deep learning convolutional neural network models (YOLOv7–Deep SORT) for vehicle counting and an extended short-term memory model for short-term arrival rate prediction. When projected arrival rates exceed a threshold, the strategy proactively activates variable speed limits (VSLs) and ramp metering (RM) strategies during peak hours. The novelty of this study lies in its predictive and adaptive capabilities, ensuring efficient traffic flow management. Validated through a case study at Ravi Toll Plaza Lahore using PTV VISSIMv7, the proposed method reduces queue length by 57% and vehicle delays by 47% while cutting fuel consumption and pollutant emissions by 28.4% and 34%, respectively. Additionally, by identifying the limitations of conventional approaches, this study presents a novel framework alongside the proposed strategy to bridge the gap between theory and practice, making it easier for toll plaza operators and transportation authorities to adopt and benefit from advanced traffic management techniques. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of integrated and proactive traffic control strategies in enhancing traffic management, minimizing congestion, and fostering a more sustainable transportation system. Full article

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a prospective and promising technique of additive manufacturing of which there is a growing interest for the development and production of Fe-based bulk metallic glasses and amorphous–nanocrystalline composites. Many factors affect the quality and properties of the resulting material, and these factors are being actively investigated by many researchers, however, the factor of the inert gas atmosphere used in the process remains virtually unexplored for Fe-based metallic glasses and composites at this time. Here, we present the results of producing amorphous–nanocrystalline composites from amorphous Fe-based powder via LPBF using argon and helium atmospheres. The analysis of the microstructures and phase compositions demonstrated that using helium as an inert gas in the LPBF resulted in a nearly three-fold increase in the amorphization degree of the material. Additionally, it had a beneficial impact on phase composition and structure in a heat-affected zone. The received results may help to develop approaches to control and improve the structural-phase state of amorphous–nanocrystalline compositional materials obtained via LPBF. Full article

Southern African societies are presently beleaguered by manifold socio-economic, political, and environmental challenges. Ordinary people long for answers to questions about how to mitigate these challenges. Meanwhile, the Church mostly preaches the gospel and establishes and grows denominations across the world. Proclaiming the gospel in word is good; however, without demonstrating the gospel with transformational deeds, the Church remains Salvationist and partially missionary. Bearing in mind that the integral mission of the Church is advancing the gospel holistically, fractional mindfulness of the gospel, hearing the words without performing the corresponding deeds, is defacing its identity. Toda–, this situation is problematic and helpless, as society is in dire need of a wholesome Church that acts in accordance with its own faith and values and attends to the soul, the body, and all other facets of life. Much has been published about the integral mission of the Church, though little has been said about its role in social action. By qualitatively reviewing the literature and observing the Southern African context and some biblical examples, this paper finds the integral mission to be the predominant and comprehensive purpose of the existence of the Church. While the Church could be aware of its mandate, it should be reawakened so that it becomes a doer of the Word and stands out as the salt and light of the world by contributing to addressing the needs of society. Full article

This review systematically investigates the critical role of natural binding proteins (NBPs), encompassing DNA-, RNA-, carbohydrate-, fatty acid-, and chitin-binding proteins, in the realms of oncology and diagnostics. In an era where cancer continues to pose significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, the innovative exploration of NBPs offers a promising frontier for advancing both the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy of cancer management strategies. This manuscript provides an in-depth examination of the unique mechanisms by which NBPs interact with specific molecular targets, highlighting their potential to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and therapy. Furthermore, it discusses the burgeoning research on aptamers, demonstrating their utility as ‘nucleic acid antibodies’ for targeted therapy and precision diagnostics. Despite the promising applications of NBPs and aptamers in enhancing early cancer detection and developing personalized treatment protocols, this review identifies a critical knowledge gap: the need for comprehensive studies to understand the diverse functionalities and therapeutic potentials of NBPs across different cancer types and diagnostic scenarios. By bridging this gap, this manuscript underscores the importance of NBPs and aptamers in paving the way for next-generation diagnostics and targeted cancer treatments. Full article

The present article introduces a strategy for controlling oxidation and reduction reactions within polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) networks as a means of enhancing storage capacity through the complexation of dissociated lithium cations with multifunctional groups of the polymer network. Specifically, co-polymer networks based on polysulfide (PS) and polyoxide (PO) precursors, photo-cured in the presence of succinonitrile (SCN) and lithium bis(trifluoro methane sulfonyl imide) (LiTFSI) salt, exhibited ionic conductivity on the order of mid 10⁻⁴ S/cm at ambient temperature in the 30/35/35 (weight %) composition. Lithium titanate (LTO, Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) electrode was chosen as an anode (i.e., a potential source of Li ions) against lithium iron phosphate (LFP, LiFePO₄) cathode in conjunction with polysulfide-co-polyoxide dual polyelectrolyte networks to control viscosity for 3D printability on conformal surfaces of drone and aeronautic vehicles. It was found that the PS-co-PO dual network-based polymer electrolyte containing SCN plasticizer and LiTFSI salt exhibited extra storage capacity (i.e., specific capacity of 44 mAh/g) with the overall specific capacity of 170 mAh/g (i.e., for the combined LTO electrode and PEM) initially that stabilized at 153 mAh/g after 50th cycles with a reasonable capacity retention of over 90% and Coulombic efficiency of over 99%. Of particular interest is the observation of the improved electrochemical performance of the polysulfide-co-polyoxide electrolyte dual-network relative to that of the polyoxide electrolyte single-network. Full article

Characterizing the coseismic slip behaviors of earthquakes could offer a better understanding of regional crustal deformation and future seismic potential assessments. On 18 December 2023, an Mw 6.0 earthquake occurred on the Lajishan–Jishishan fault system (LJFS) in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, causing serious damage and casualties. The seismogenic fault hosting this earthquake is not well constrained, as no surface rupture was identified in the field. To address this issue, in this study, we use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data to investigate the coseismic surface deformation of this earthquake and invert both ascending and descending line-of-sight observations to probe the seismogenic fault and its slip characteristics. The InSAR observations show up to ~6 cm surface uplift caused by the Jishishan earthquake, which is consistent with the thrust-dominated focal mechanism. A Bayesian-based dislocation modeling indicates that two fault models, with eastern and western dip orientations, could reasonably fit the InSAR observations. By calculating the coseismic Coulomb failure stress changes (∆CFS) induced by both fault models, we find that the east-dipping fault scenario could reasonably explain the aftershock distributions under the framework of stress triggering, while the west-dipping fault scenario produced a negative ∆CFS in the region of dense aftershocks. Integrating regional geological structures, we suggest that the seismogenic fault of the Jishishan earthquake, which strikes NNE with a dip of 56° to the east, may be either the Jishishan western margin fault or a secondary buried branch. The optimal finite-fault slip modeling shows that the coseismic slip was dominated by reverse slip and confined to a depth range between ~5 and 15 km. The released seismic moment is 1.61 × 10¹⁸ N·m, which is equivalent to an Mw 6.07 earthquake. While the Jishishan earthquake ruptured a fault segment of approximately 20 km, it only released a small part of the seismic moment that was accumulated along the 220 km long Lajishan–Jishishan fault system. The remaining segments of the Lajishan–Jishishan fault system still have the capability to generate moderate-to-large earthquakes in the future. Full article

This review describes a 50-year-long research study on the characteristics of Helianthus tuberosus L. tuber dormancy, its natural release and programmed cell death (PCD), as well as on the ability to change the PCD so as to return the tuber to a life program. The experimentation on the tuber over the years is due to its particular properties of being naturally deficient in polyamines (PAs) during dormancy and of immediately reacting to transplants by growing and synthesizing PAs. This review summarizes the research conducted in a unicum body. As in nature, the tuber tissue has to furnish its storage substances to grow vegetative buds, whereby its destiny is PCD. The review’s main objective concerns data on PCD, the link with free and conjugated PAs and their capacity to switch the destiny of the tuber from a program of death to one of new life. PCD reversibility is an important biological challenge that is verified here but not reported in other experimental models. Important aspects of PA features are their capacity to change the cell functions from storage to meristematic ones and their involvement in amitosis and differentiation. Other roles reported here have also been confirmed in other plants. PAs exert multiple diverse roles, suggesting that they are not simply growth substances, as also further described in other plants. Full article

Pathogenic variants in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene lead to severe, childhood-onset retinal degeneration leading to blindness in early adulthood. There are no approved therapies, and traditional adeno-associated viral vector-based gene therapy approaches are challenged by the existence of multiple CRB1 isoforms. Here, we describe three CRB1 variants, including a novel, previously unreported variant that led to retinal degeneration. We offer a CRISPR-Cas-mediated DNA base editing strategy as a potential future therapeutic approach. This study is a retrospective case series. Clinical and genetic assessments were performed, including deep phenotyping by retinal imaging. In silico analyses were used to predict the pathogenicity of the novel variant and to determine whether the variants are amenable to DNA base editing strategies. Case 1 was a 24-year-old male with cone–rod dystrophy and retinal thickening typical of CRB1 retinopathy. He had a relatively preserved central outer retinal structure and a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 60 ETDRS letters in both eyes. Genetic testing revealed compound heterozygous variants in exon 9: c.2843G>A, p.(Cys948Tyr) and a novel variant, c.2833G>A, p.(Gly945Arg), which was predicted to likely be pathogenic by an in silico analysis. Cases 2 and 3 were two brothers, aged 20 and 24, who presented with severe cone–rod dystrophy and a significant disruption of the outer nuclear layers. The BCVA was reduced to hand movements in both eyes in Case 2 and to 42 ETDRS letters in both eyes in Case 3. Case 2 was also affected with marked cystoid macular lesions, which are common in CRB1 retinopathy, but responded well to treatment with oral acetazolamide. Genetic testing revealed two c.2234C>T, p.(Thr745Met) variants in both brothers. As G-to-A and C-to-T variants, all three variants are amenable to adenine base editors (ABEs) targeting the forward strand in the Case 1 variants and the reverse strand in Cases 2 and 3. Available PAM sites were detected for KKH-nSaCas9-ABE8e for the c.2843G>A variant, nSaCas9-ABE8e and KKH-nSaCas9-ABE8e for the c.2833G>A variant, and nSpCas9-ABE8e for the c.2234C>T variant. In this case series, we report three pathogenic CRB1 variants, including a novel c.2833G>A variant associated with early-onset cone–rod dystrophy. We highlight the severity and rapid progression of the disease and offer ABEs as a potential future therapeutic approach for this devastating blinding condition. Full article

Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of death in the 21st century. The intensive search for new anticancer drugs has been actively pursued by chemists and pharmacologists for decades, focusing either on the isolation of compounds with cytotoxic properties from plants or on screening thousands of synthetic molecules. Compounds that could potentially become candidates for new anticancer drugs must have the ability to inhibit proliferation and/or induce apoptosis in cancer cells without causing too much damage to normal cells. Some anticancer compounds were discovered by accident, others as a result of long-term research. In this review, we have presented a brief history of the development of the most important groups of anticancer drugs, pointing to the fact that they all have many side effects. Full article

The relationship between psychological stress, altered skin immunity, and autophagy-related genes (ATGs) is currently unclear. Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammation of unclear etiology that is characterized by persistence and recurrence. Immune dysregulation and emotional disturbances are recognized as significant risk factors. Emerging clinical evidence suggests a possible connection between anxiety disorders, heightened immune system activation, and altered skin immunity, offering a fresh perspective on the initiation of psoriasis. The aim of this study was to explore the potential shared biological mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of psoriasis and anxiety disorders. Psoriasis and anxiety disorders data were obtained from the GEO database. A list of 3254 ATGs was obtained from the public database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by taking the intersection of DEGs between psoriasis and anxiety disorder samples and the list of ATGs. Five machine learning algorithms used screening hub genes. The ROC curve was performed to evaluate diagnostic performance. Then, GSEA, immune infiltration analysis, and network analysis were carried out. The Seurat and Monocle algorithms were used to depict T-cell evolution. Cellchat was used to infer the signaling pathway between keratinocytes and immune cells. Four key hub genes were identified as diagnostic genes related to psoriasis autophagy. Enrichment analysis showed that these genes are indeed related to T cells, autophagy, and immune regulation, and have good diagnostic efficacy validated. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we expanded our understanding of key cellular participants, including inflammatory keratinocytes and their interactions with immune cells. We found that the CASP7 gene is involved in the T-cell development process, and correlated with γδ T cells, warranting further investigation. We found that anxiety disorders are related to increased autophagy regulation, immune dysregulation, and inflammatory response, and are reflected in the onset and exacerbation of skin inflammation. The hub gene is involved in the process of immune signaling and immune regulation. The CASP7 gene, which is related with the development and differentiation of T cells, deserves further study. Potential biomarkers between psoriasis and anxiety disorders were identified, which are expected to aid in the prediction of disease diagnosis and the development of personalized treatments. Full article

Lymphadenectomy represents a fundamental step in the staging and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, the extension of lymphadenectomy in early-stage NSCLC is a debated topic due to its possible complications. The detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) is a strategy that can improve the selection of patients in which a more extended lymphadenectomy is necessary. This pilot study aimed to refine lymph nodal staging in early-stage NSCLC patients who underwent robotic lung resection through the application of innovative intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification and the pathological evaluation using one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA). Clinical N0 NSCLC patients planning to undergo robotic lung resection were selected. The day before surgery, all patients underwent radionuclide computed tomography (CT)-guided marking of the primary lung lesion and subsequently Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) to identify tracer migration and, consequently, the area with higher radioactivity. On the day of surgery, the lymph nodal radioactivity was detected intraoperatively using a gamma camera. SLN was defined as the lymph node with the highest numerical value of radioactivity. The OSNA amplification, detecting the mRNA of CK19, was used for the detection of nodal metastases in the lymph nodes, including SLN. From March to July 2021, a total of 8 patients (3 female; 5 male), with a mean age of 66 years (range 48–77), were enrolled in the study. No complications relating to the CT-guided marking or preoperative SPECT were found. An average of 5.3 lymph nodal stations were examined (range 2–8). N2 positivity was found in 3 out of 8 patients (37.5%). Consequently, pathological examination of lymph nodes with OSNA resulted in three upstages from the clinical IB stage to pathological IIIA stage. Moreover, in 1 patient (18%) with nodal upstaging, a positive node was intraoperatively identified as SLN. Comparing this protocol to the usual practice, no difference was found in terms of the operating time, conversion rate, and complication rate. Our preliminary experience suggests that sentinel lymph node detection, in association with the accurate pathological staging of cN0 patients achieved using OSNA, is safe and effective in the identification of metastasis, which is usually undetected by standard diagnostic methods. Full article

Acidic stress in beef cattle slaughtering abattoirs can induce the acid adaptation response of in-plant contaminated Salmonella. This may further lead to multiple resistance responses threatening public health. Therefore, the acid, heat, osmotic and antibiotic resistances of Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC14028) were evaluated after a 90 min adaption in a pH = 5.4 “mild acid” Luria–Bertani medium. Differences in such resistances were also determined between the ∆phoP mutant and wild-type Salmonella strains to confirm the contribution of the PhoP/PhoQ system. The transcriptomic differences between the acid-adapted and ∆phoP strain were compared to explore the role of the PhoP/Q two-component system in regulating multi-stress resistance. Acid adaptation was found to increase the viability of Salmonella to lethal acid, heat and hyperosmotic treatments. In particular, acid adaptation significantly increased the resistance of Salmonella typhimurium to Polymyxin B, and such resistance can last for 21 days when the adapted strain was stored in meat extract medium at 4 °C. Transcriptomics analysis revealed 178 up-regulated and 274 down-regulated genes in the ∆phoP strain. The Salmonella infection, cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance, quorum sensing and two-component system pathways were down-regulated, while the bacterial tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways were up-regulated. Transcriptomics and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that the deletion of the phoP gene resulted in the down-regulation of the expression of genes related to lipid A modification and efflux pumps. These changes in the gene expression result in the change in net negative charge and the mobility of the cell membrane, resulting in enhanced CAMP resistance. The confirmation of multiple stress resistance under acid adaptation and the transcriptomic study in the current study may provide valuable information for the control of multiple stress resistance and meat safety. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) are vital secondary metabolites in plants. They have garnered substantial attention owing to their distinct flavors and desirable attributes, including potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor properties. Nevertheless, the active constituents of EOs exhibit intricate chemical structures, and conventional separation techniques are inadequate for purifying the individual chemical components from EOs. High-speed countercurrent chromatography, based on the principles of a hydrodynamic equilibrium system, has emerged as a liquid–liquid chromatographic separation method renowned for its ability to handle substantial single injection volumes and the absence of irreversible adsorption. Consequently, in recent years, this technique has been widely employed in the isolation and refinement of natural products. In this review, a comprehensive analysis is conducted, contrasting the merits and demerits of high-speed countercurrent chromatography with conventional separation methods. The solvent systems, elution modes, commonly employed detectors, and practical applications are reviewed in the context of high-speed countercurrent chromatography for essential oil separation and purification. Furthermore, this review offers a glimpse into the potential prospects of applying this technique, with the intention of serving as a valuable reference for the use of high-speed countercurrent chromatography in the purification of EOs. Full article

In this paper, a dispersion of glass beads of different sizes in an ammonium nitrate solution is investigated with the aid of Raman spectroscopy. The signal losses caused by the dispersion are quantified by an additional scattered light measurement and used to correct the measured ammonium nitrate concentration. Each individual glass bead represents an interface at which the excitation laser is deflected from its direction causing distortion in the received Raman signal. It is shown that the scattering losses measured with the scattered light probe correlate with the loss of the Raman signal, which means that the data obtained can be used to correct the measured values. The resulting correction function considers different particle sizes in the range of 2–99 µm as well as ammonium nitrate concentrations of 0–20 wt% and delivers an RMSEP of 1.952 wt%. This correction provides easier process access to dispersions that were previously difficult or impossible to measure. Full article

Agave tequilana Weber var. Blue is used as the primary raw material in tequila production due to its fructans (inulin) content. This study evaluates the formulation of a plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) consortium (Pseudomonas sp. and Shimwellia sp.) to increase sugars in A. tequilana under field conditions. A total of three doses were tested: low (5 L ha⁻¹), medium (10 L ha⁻¹), and high (15 L ha⁻¹), with a cellular density of 1 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹ and one control treatment (without application). Total reducing sugars (TRS), inulin, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and plant growth were measured in agave plants aged 4–5 years at 0 (T0), 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months. Yield was recorded at T12. The TRS increased by 3%, and inulin by 5.3% in the high-dose treatment compared to the control at T12. Additionally, a low content of sucrose, glucose, and fructose (approximately 1%) was detected. At T12, the weight of agave heads increased by 31.2% in the medium dose and 22.3% in the high dose compared to the control. The high dose provided a higher inulin content. The A. tequilana plants were five years old and exhibited growth comparable to the standards for 6–7-year-old plants. This study demonstrates a sustainable strategy for tequila production, optimizing the use of natural resources and enhancing industry performance through increased sugar content and yield. Full article

Utilizing online gradient pressure liquid extraction (OGPLE) coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography antioxidant analysis system, we examined the antioxidative active components present in both the aerial parts and roots of dandelion. By optimizing the chromatographic conditions, we identified the ferric reducing–antioxidant power system as the most suitable for online antioxidant reactions in dandelion. Compared to offline ultrasonic extraction, the OGPLE method demonstrated superior efficiency in extracting chemical components with varying polarities from the samples. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed twelve compounds within the dandelion samples, with nine demonstrating considerable antioxidant efficacy. Of these, the aerial parts and roots of dandelion contained nine and four antioxidant constituents, respectively. Additionally, molecular docking studies were carried out to investigate the interaction between these nine antioxidants and four proteins associated with oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase). The nine antioxidant compounds displayed notable binding affinities below −5.0 kcal/mol with the selected proteins, suggesting potential receptor–ligand interactions. These findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of dandelion and provide a comprehensive methodology for screening the natural antioxidant components from herbs. Full article

Forest-dwelling residents frequently collect non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for various reasons, such as food, medicine, firewood, religious reasons, or handicrafts. This study examines the multiple benefits derived from NTFPs and how they contribute to the livelihoods of Ghanaian communities to alleviate poverty. Resources and services provided by NTFPs have an essential role in providing economic, nutritional, medicinal, cultural, and environmental benefits. This study examines the diverse range of NTFPs locals collect, such as chewing sticks, games, herbs, honey, leaves, mushrooms, pestles, raffia and palms, snails, and straws. In addition to serving different purposes, these NTFPs contribute to income generation, food security, health care, cultural practices, and the protection of the environment. A qualitative research approach was used in this study to collect data through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with members on multiple collections of NTFPs and their multiple benefits. We interviewed 732 residents regarding their multiple NTFPs and their potential to improve the livelihood of the locals. The data for the study were analysed using descriptive statistics. As a result of the survey, the frequency and percentages of responses were analysed for each indicator related to multiple values of NTFPs. Both males and females collected a list of NTFPs during the survey. Regarding NTFPs used for sale, 275 were reported, representing 37.57% of the total. In addition to emphasising the importance of sustainable management practices and equitable distribution of benefits, the study explores the multiple benefits of NTFPs for poverty alleviation in Ghanaian communities. It is essential to ensure the conservation of forest ecosystems and promote inclusive policies to harness the potential of NTFPs and maximise their positive impact on livelihoods. NTFPs provide multiple benefits for Ghanaian communities, including income, nutrition, healthcare, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. To promote sustainable development, it is imperative to understand the role of NTFPs and implement appropriate strategies. Full article

The semimembranosus muscle inserts into several tendons that are associated with some pathologies. Although ultrasound is useful for studying, diagnosing, and managing these pathologies, the correct interpretation of any images requires a clear knowledge of the related anatomical structures and the inter-related functions. We studied 38 cryopreserved non-paired knees from adult anatomical specimens and 4 non-paired knees from 29 to 38-week-old fetuses. The semimembranosus muscle and its tendons were located, observed, and injected under ultrasound guidance. The macroscopic anatomy was studied using dissection and anatomical cuts and the tendons were analyzed histologically. Measurements of muscle were taken 10 cm from the medial epicondyle and just before the tendon divided. The ultrasound facilitated the identification of the different divisions of the tendon of semimembranosus muscle and the rotation of the muscle and tendon from medial to posterior. An anatomical study confirmed this rotation and revealed an average width, thickness, and diameter of 38.29 mm, 14.36 mm, and 112.64 mm, respectively. Important relationships were observed between the divisions of the main tendons and the medial collateral ligament, the posterior side of the knee and popliteus muscle. This information can help to explain knee pathologies and facilitate rehabilitation after surgery. Full article

High-power pulse magnetron sputtering is a new type of magnetron sputtering technology that has advantages such as high peak power density and a high ionization rate compared to DC magnetron sputtering. In this paper, we report the effects of different pulse widths on the current waveform and plasma spectrum of target material sputtering, as well as the structure and properties of Cu films prepared under the same sputtering voltage and duty cycle. Extending the pulse width can make the sputtering enter the self-sputtering (SS) stage and improve the ion quantity of sputtered particles. The Cu film prepared by HiPIMS with long pulse width has higher bond strength and lower electrical resistivity compared to the Cu film prepared by short pulse width. In terms of microstructure, the Cu film prepared by HiPIMS with the long pulse width has a larger grain size and lower micro-surface roughness. When the pulse width is bigger than 200 μs, the microstructure of the Cu film changes from granular to branched. This transformation reduces the interface on the Cu film, further reducing the resistivity of the Cu film. Compared to short pulses, long pulse width HiPIMS can obtain higher quality Cu films. This result provides a new process approach for preparing high-quality Cu films using HiPIMS technology. Full article

Coordinated load restoration of integrated electric and heating systems (IEHSs) has become indispensable following natural disasters due to the increasingly relevant integration between power distribution systems (PDS) and district heating systems (DHS). In this paper, a coordinated reconfiguration with an energy storage system is introduced to optimize load restoration in the aftermath of natural catastrophes. By modifying the DHS network topology, it is possible to maintain an uninterrupted energy supply in unfaulty zones by shifting heat loads among sources and adjusting the operation of coupled devices. Additionally, energy storage systems with rapid response times are implemented to enhance load restoration efficiency, especially when working in conjunction with multiple energy sources. Comprehensive case analyses have been systematically conducted to demonstrate the impact of coordinated reconfiguration with energy storage systems on improving load restoration. Full article

Conventional distillation methods cannot effectively separate the components of an azeotropic mixture since both phases have the same composition, thereby preventing further separation. Additional techniques such as pressure swing distillation or distillation with entrainers are often employed to overcome this limitation and achieve separation. The aim of this investigation was to select the most effective method for separating n-hexane and ethanol. The feasibility of three methods was analyzed: reduced pressure distillation, extractive distillation, and liquid–liquid extraction. The mutual solubility of n-hexane and prepared deep eutectic solvents (DESs) (nine hydrophilic: choline chloride with glycerol, ethylene glycol, or carboxylic acid (malic, citric, glycolic); tetramethylammonium chloride with glycolic acid; lactic acid with glycerol; K₂CO₃ with glycerol or ethylene glycol; two hydrophobic: menthol with decanoic or dodecanoic acid) was experimentally determined. Extraction experiments were conducted to test the solubility of DESs in the feed mixture. The effect of changing DES-to-feed mass ratio was further investigated with choline chloride–glycerol (1:2). The same DES and both hydrophobic DESs were able to increase the relative volatility and enhance the separation of ethanol and n-hexane. Based on the obtained results, extraction was selected as the most effective method for the separation of n-hexane and ethanol. Full article