Optimal control theory of an age-structured coronavirus disease model and the dynamical analysis of the underlying ordinary differential equation model having constant parameters

This paper addresses the dynamics of COVID-19 using the approach of age-structured modeling. A particular case of the model is presented by taking into account age-free parameters. The sub-model consisting of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is investigated for possible equilibria, and qualitative aspects of the model are rigorously presented. In order to control the spread of the disease, we considered two age- and time-dependent non-pharmaceutical control measures in the age-structured model, and an optimal control problem using a general maximum principle of Pontryagin type is achieved. Finally, sample simulations are plotted which support our theoretical work.     

Magnetic and electronic structure calculations of antiferromagnetic Mn2As

Magnetic and electronic structure calculations are performed for Mn₂As with antiferromagnetic (AFM), ferromagnetic (FM), and ferrimagnetic (FIM) spin ordering, using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FLAPW) method based on the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). It is shown that AFM is the magnetic ground state of Mn₂As, which is in agreement with the experimental observations. At a low temperature (0 K), AFM-FIM transition is also predicted which is consistent with the previous predictions. The ground state stability of the magnetic structure of Mn₂As is attributed to the nearest Mn (I) and Mn (II) antiferromagnetic interaction. The calculated magnetic moment of Mn (II) is found to be in good agreement with the neutron diffraction experiment while there is a disagreement for the magnetic moment of Mn (I). The different magnetic moments are reflected in the electronic structures of Mn₂As and the exchange splitting between Mn atoms is shown to be an intra-atomic effect.     

Scarlet Flax Linum grandiflorum (L.) In Vitro Cultures as a New Source of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Lignans

In vitro cultures of scarlet flax (Linum grandiflorum L.), an important ornamental flax, have been established as a new possible valuable resource of lignans and neolignans for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory applications. The callogenic potential at different concentrations of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and thidiazuron (TDZ), alone or in combinations, was evaluated using both L. grandiflorum hypocotyl and cotyledon explants. A higher callus induction frequency was observed on NAA than TDZ, especially for hypocotyl explants, with a maximum frequency (i.e., 95.2%) on 1.0 mg/L of NAA. The presence of NAA (1.0 mg/L) in conjunction with TDZ tended to increase the frequency of callogenesis relative to TDZ alone, but never reached the values observed with NAA alone, thereby indicating the lack of synergy between these two plant growth regulators (PGRs). Similarly, in terms of biomass, NAA was more effective than TDZ, with a maximum accumulation of biomass registered for medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of NAA using hypocotyls as initial explants (DW: 13.1 g). However, for biomass, a synergy between the two PGRs was observed, particularly for cotyledon-derived explants and for the lowest concentrations of TDZ. The influence of these two PGRs on callogenesis and biomass is discussed. The HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of lignans (secoisolariciresinol (SECO) and lariciresinol (LARI) and neolignan (dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol [DCA]) naturally accumulated in their glycoside forms. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities performed for both hypocotyl- and cotyledon-derived cultures were also found maximal (DPPH: 89.5%, FRAP 866: µM TEAC, ABTS: 456 µM TEAC) in hypocotyl-derived callus cultures as compared with callus obtained from cotyledon explants. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activities revealed high inhibition (COX-1: 47.4% and COX-2: 51.1%) for extract of hypocotyl-derived callus cultures at 2.5 mg/L TDZ. The anti-inflammatory action against COX-1 and COX-2 was supported by the IC₅₀ values. This report provides a viable approach for enhanced biomass accumulation and efficient production of (neo)lignans in L. grandiflorum callus cultures.     

Preparation of PCM microcapsules by complex coacervation of silk fibroin and chitosan

Phase change material microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation of silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan (CHI). n-Eicosane was used as the core material. The effects of SF/CHI ratio, and percentage of cross-linking agent and n-Eicosane content on the properties of microcapsules were studied. The size distribution and the surface morphology of microcapsules were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The encapsulation of core material was determined by energy dispersive spectrometer analysis. The results indicated that SF/CHI microcapsules were prepared successfully. Microcapsules had smooth outer surface when the ratio of SF to CHI was close to 5. On the other hand, at high SF/CHI ratios (≥14), microcapsules showed a two-layer structure, an inner compact layer, and an outer, more porous, sponge-like layer. The highest microencapsulation efficiency was obtained at a SF/CHI ratio of 20 in the presence of 0.9% cross-linking agent and of 1.5% n-Eicosane content.     

In situ Fluorescence Study of Swelling,Sorption and Desorption Processes in and out of PAAm Gels

Summary: Small molecule sorption and desorption in and out of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gels were studied at various temperatures. Pyranine (P_y) dissolved in water used as a probe. Fluorescence emission intensity, I_p from P_y was monitored for studying sorption and desorption processes. Scattered light intensities, I_sc from PAAm gel was also monitored to observed structural variations during sorption and desorption process. Li-Tanaka model was applied to produce the swelling time constants, τ_c and sorption coefficients, D_c for the swelling processes. On the other hand, sorption and desorption processes were studied and coefficients were produced by using Fickian model. Related activation energies were also calculated from the corresponding physical processes.     

Fission studies of gold induced by (1665 MeV) π- using a CR-39 detector

The fission cross section and fission probability of ¹⁹⁷Au, induced by (1665 MeV) π^-, have been studied using CR-39 track detectors. A 4π-geometry was used to count track statistics. A beam of negative pions of 1665 MeV was produced at AGS of Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA, and allowed to fall normally on the stack. Two detectors from the stack were scanned for fission fragment tracks after etching in 6N NaOH at 70℃. The statistics of fission fragment tracks in both detectors were obtained. It was found that there was a marked asymmetry of registered tracks with respect to the forward and backward hemispheres. This asymmetry could be partly accounted for on the basis of momentum transfer to the struck nucleus. On the basis of counting statistics fission cross section was measured, and fission probability was determined by dividing the fission cross section with the reaction cross section. The fission cross-section and fission probability were compared with the computed values using the cascade-exciton model code CEM95.     

Ab initio prediction of pressure-induced structural phase transition of superconducting FeSe

External pressure driven phase transitions of FeSe are predicted using ab initio calculations. The calculations reveal that α-FeSe makes transitions to NiAs-type, MnP-type, and CsCl-type FeSe. Transitions from NiAs-type to MnP-type and CsCl-type FeSe are also predicted. MnP-type FeSe is also found to be able to transform to CsCl-type FeSe, which is easier from α-FeSe than the transition to MnP-type FeSe, but comparable to the transition from NiAs-type FeSe. The calculated electronic structures show that all phases of FeSe are metallic, but the ionic interaction between Fe-Se bonds becomes stronger and the covalent interaction becomes weaker when the structural phase transition occurs from α-FeSe to the other phases of FeSe. The experimentally observed decrease in T(c) of superconducting α-FeSe at high pressure may be due to a structural/magnetic instability, which exists at high pressure. The results suggest an increase of the T(c) of α-FeSe if such phase transitions are frustrated by suitable methods.     

潜伏期和染病期均具有传染性的媒介传染病模型的全局稳定性分析

讨论潜伏期和染病期均具有传染性的媒介传染病模型.得到模型基本再生数的表达式,证明了当基本再生数小于1时,无病平衡点是全局渐近稳定的,此时疾病消亡;当基本再生数大于1时,无病平衡点是不稳定的,系统存在全局渐近稳定的地方病平衡点,此时,疾病将在人群中持续存在,数值模拟验证了理论结果.     

Trident Nano-Indexing the Proteomics Table: Next-Version Clustering of Iron Carbide NPs and Protein Corona

Protein corona composition and precise physiological understanding of differentially expressed proteins are key for identifying disease biomarkers. In this report, we presented a distinctive quantitative proteomics table of molecular cell signaling differentially expressed proteins of corona that formed on iron carbide nanoparticles (NPs). High-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization coupled with ion trap mass analyzer (HPLC/ESI-Orbitrap) and MASCOT helped quantify 142 differentially expressed proteins. Among these proteins, 104 proteins showed upregulated behavior and 38 proteins were downregulated with respect to the control, whereas 48, 32 and 24 proteins were upregulated and 8, 9 and 21 were downregulated CW (control with unmodified NPs), CY (control with modified NPs) and WY (modified and unmodified NPs), respectively. These proteins were further categorized on behalf of their regularity, locality, molecular functionality and molecular masses using gene ontology (GO). A STRING analysis was used to target the specific range of proteins involved in metabolic pathways and molecular processing in different kinds of binding functionalities, such as RNA, DNA, ATP, ADP, GTP, GDP and calcium ion bindings. Thus, this study will help develop efficient protocols for the identification of latent biomarkers in early disease detection using protein fingerprints.     

Building an Iron Chromophore Incorporating Prussian Blue Analogue for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

The replacement of traditional ruthenium-based photosensitizers with low-cost and abundant iron analogs is a key step for the advancement of scalable and sustainable dye-sensitized water splitting cells. In this proof-of-concept study, a pyridinium ligand coordinated pentacyanoferrate(II) chromophore is used to construct a cyanide-based CoFe extended bulk framework, in which the iron photosensitizer units are connected to cobalt water oxidation catalytic sites through cyanide linkers. The iron-sensitized photoanode exhibits exceptional stability for at least 5 h at pH 7 and features its photosensitizing ability with an incident photon-to-current conversion capacity up to 500 nm with nanosecond scale excited state lifetime. Ultrafast transient absorption and computational studies reveal that iron and cobalt sites mutually support each other for charge separation via short bridging cyanide groups and for injection to the semiconductor in our proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical device. The reorganization of the excited states due to the mixing of electronic states of metal-based orbitals subsequently tailor the electron transfer cascade during the photoelectrochemical process. This breakthrough in chromophore-catalyst assemblies will spark interest in dye-sensitization with robust bulk systems for photoconversion applications.