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VTLoE (Variable Type Logic of Effects) is a logic for reasoning about imperative functional programs inspired by the variable type systems of Feferman. The underlying programming language, λ_mk, extends the call-by-value lambda calculus with primitives for arithmetic, pairing, branching, and reference cells (mutable data). In VTLoE one can reason about program equivalence and termination, input/output relations, program contexts, and inductively (and co-inductively) define data structures. In this paper we present a refinement of VTLoE. We then introduce a notion of object specification and establish formal principles for reasoning about object systems within VTLoE. Objects are self-contained entities with local state. The local state of an object can only be changed by action of that object in response to a message. In λ_mk objects are represented as closures with mutable data bound to local variables. A semantic principle called simulation induction was introduced in our earlier work as a means of establishing equivalence relations between streams, object behaviors, and other potentially infinite structures. These are formulated in VTLoE using the class apparatus. The use of these principles is illustrated by validating a variety of basic tranformation rules.

A new hindered phenol with branched structure (chemical formula: 2-(((3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy)methyl)-2-ethylpropane-1,3-diyl bis(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate)) was synthesized and characterized, and its thermo-oxidative stability as antioxidant into nitrile rubber (NBR) was assessed by the measurements of accelerated aging, with two antioxidants (AO-80 and AO-2246) as a comparison. By measuring and analyzing the oxidative induction temperature, oxidative induction time and dynamic mechanical properties of NBR with addition of 0.5 wt.% antioxidants, it is confirmed that new hindered phenol with branched structure could effectively inhibit the oxidation degradation of NBR.

INDIA – Climate change threatens India’s native plants.

INDIA – Air pollution hits crops more than climate change.

LAOS – Laos targets green energy in new Asian economic bloc.

THE PHILIPPINES – Centuries-old traditional medicines still used in Palau.

SINGAPORE – MerLion’s finafloxacin shows positive phase 2 results in complicated urinary tract infections.

AFRICA – Biosciences research ‘key but gets small local support’.

AFRICA – Biofortified maize ‘could control vitamin A deficiency’.

AFRICA – New partnership for rice development in Africa formed.

AFRICA – Ebola vaccine arrives in Liberia for large-scale trial.

UNITED STATES – Researchers uncover key cancer-promoting gene.

UNITED STATES – Brain scientists figure out how a protein crucial to learning and memory works.

UNITED STATES – Scientists develop pioneering method to define stages of stem cell reprogramming.

UNITED STATES – Researchers grow functional tissue-engineered intestine from human cells.

UNITED STATES – A world first at the Montreal Heart Institute: Discovery of a personalized therapy for cardiovascular disease.

This paper deals with an analog of the Mahler volume product related to the ${𝒥}$ transform acting in the class of geometric convex functions ${\mathrm{\text{Cvx}}}_0({ℝ}^n)$. We provide asymptotically sharp bounds for the quantity $s^J(f)=\frac{\int e^{-{𝒥}f}}{\int e^{-f}}$ and characterize all the extremal functions.

We introduce Network Automata, a framework which couples the topological evolution of a network to its structure. To demonstrate its implementation we describe a simple model which exhibits behavior similar to the "Game of Life" before recasting some simple, well-known network models as Network Automata. We then introduce Functional Network Automata which are useful for dealing with networks in which the topology evolves according to some specified microscopic rules and, simultaneously, there is a dynamic process taking place on the network that both depends on its structure but is also capable of modifying it. It is a generic framework for modeling systems in which network structure, dynamics, and function are interrelated. At the practical level, this framework allows for precise, unambiguous implementation of the microscopic rules involved in such systems. To demonstrate the approach, we develop a family of simple biologically inspired models of fungal growth.

Background: Clinical outcomes are very important in clinical assessment, and responsiveness is a component inside the outcome measures that needs to be investigated, particularly in chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the responsiveness of pain, functional capacity tests, and disability in individuals with CNSLBP.

Methods: Twenty subjects were assessed in pain using the following methods: visual analog scale (VAS) and numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), functional capacity tests: functional reach test (FRT), five-time sit-to-stand test (5 TSST), and two-minute step test (2 MST), and disability level: modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ), Thai version before and after 2-week intervention session. For interventions, the subjects received education, spinal manipulative therapy, and individual therapeutic exercise twice a week, for a total of two weeks. The statistics analyzed were change scores, effect size (ES), and standardized response mean (SRM).

Results: The most responsive parameter for individuals with CNSLBP was pain as measured by numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) (ES $-$0.986, SRM $-$0.928) and five-time sit-to-stand test (5 TSST) (SRM $-$0.846).

Conclusion: This study found that NPRS pain and 5 TSST were responsive in individuals with CNSLBP at two weeks after the beginning of interventions.

How to accelerate the electron transfer to promote the circulating efficiency of Fe${}^{2+}$/Fe${}^{3+}$ is a key problem to be solved, so that magnetic particles can activate peroxymonosulfate well to efficiently degrade acetaminophen (ACE). Herein, a Fe₃O₄@Co₃S₄ catalyst was prepared by modifying Co₃S₄ nanosheets on the surface of magnetic Fe₃O₄ particles. The Co${}^{2+}$ in the modified layer Co₃S₄ accelerates the rate of electron transfer between Fe${}^{2+}$ and Fe${}^{3+}$, thus promoting the circulating efficiency of Fe${}^{2+}$/Fe${}^{3+}$. Fe₃O₄@Co₃S₄/PMS system can degrade over 95% of ACE within 5min. Quenching experiment and ESR tests prove that non-radical ¹O₂ and ${\mathrm{\text{SO}}}_4^{•-}$ played predominant roles in the advanced oxidation process. And after six cycles, the degradation rate could still be higher than 50%.

A core–shell Co@C composite catalyst was prepared, characterized and used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of paracetamol in water. Hybridized structures containing Co and graphitized carbon act as independent active sites for PMS activation initiating both radical and nonradical oxidation. A 91.57% paracetamol removal was reached in the Co@C/PMS system at 60 min. Radical quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tests show that nonradical ¹O₂ played predominant roles in the advanced oxidation process, while the other three radicals $\cdot {\mathrm{\text{O}}}_2^{-}$, •OH and ${\mathrm{\text{SO}}}_4^{•}$. also played a certain role in paracetamol degradation. After four cycles, the degradation could still reach 70%, which proves that the Co@C composite catalyst exhibits good stability.

We present a facile green biomimetic synthesis of FePt nanoparticles (NPs) on the sidewalls of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A core-shell globular protein, ferritin (Fr), was bound onto Z-glycine N-succinimidyl ester (Z-Gly-OSu) modified CNTs and served as precursor to create FePt NPs at the core part of Fr. Biomimetic synthesis of FePt NPs was carried out by chemical reducing of Fe²⁺ and ions that transferred into the core part of Fr molecules. The created one-dimensional CNT-FePt nanohybrids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The synthesized CNT-FePt nanohybrids show multi-properties of high water-solubility, ferromagnetism, and electrocatalytic activity.

In this paper, a gradient mesoporous carbon (GMC) monolith derived from the mixtures of phenolic resin (PF) and ethylene glycol (EG) was prepared by a facile route based on polymerization-induced phase separation under temperature gradient (TG). A graded biphasic structure of PF-rich and EG-rich phases was first formed in preform under a TG, and then the preform was pyrolyzed to obtain the GMC monolith. The TG is mainly induced by the thermal resistance of the preferential phase separation layer at high temperature region. The pore structure of the monolith changes gradually along the TG direction. When the TG varies from 58°C to 29°C, the pore size, apparent porosity and specific surface area of the monolith range respectively from 18 nm to 83 nm, from 32% to 39% and from 140.5 m²/g to 515.3 m²/g. The gradient porous structure of the monolith is inherited from that of the preform, which depends on phase separation under TG in the resin mixtures. The pyrolysis mainly brings about the contraction of the pore size and wall thickness as well as the transformation of polymerized PF into glassy carbon.

In situ microcalorimetry was first used to study the crystal formation processes of porous metal-organic frameworks (MOF), [((CH${}_3{)}_2$NH${}_2)$Cd(MIPA)]${}_4\cdot$$\times \mathrm{\text{G}}$, where H₃MIPA is 5-Mercaptoisophthalic acid, G represents guest of DMA and H₂O. An endothermic process occurred firstly, which is corresponding to the chemical reaction among the reactants. Exothermic processes followed the endothermal process are corresponding to crystal nucleation and growth. The experimental results demonstrate that a solid sample was first obtained at 150${}^{\circ }$C for 24h. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) peaks of the samples enhanced with the experimental time increasing from 24 to 60h (as 24, 35, 48 and 60h). The adsorption properties of the crystal obtained at 150${}^{\circ }$C for 60h are more excellent than those reported and the same MOF synthesized at 150${}^{\circ }$C for 72h. This study may give a method for investigation on MOFs formation mechanism and help to synthesize this kind of functional materials.

Corrole compounds with the 18-$\pi$ electron marcrocycle display unique electrochemical properties and show potential value in sensor fields. In this paper, a novel 10-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5,15-di(4-methylphenyl)-Corrole (Cl-Cor 1) and its metal complex 10-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5,15-di(4-methylphenyl)-Corrole-Co (Cl-Cor-Co 2) were synthesized. Then corrole compounds were introduced onto graphene oxide (GO). UV-Vis spectroscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and mass spectrometry were used to determine synthesized compounds. Capacity gas sensing analysis system was also examined to evaluate the gas sensitivity toward NO₂ of Cl-Cor 1, Cl-Cor-Co 2, Cl-Cor+GO 3, Cl-Cor-Co+GO 4 and GO 5 at room temperature. It can be found that Cl-Cor-Co 2 has gas-sensing property for nitrogen dioxide (NO)₂, but recovery performance is low. It is interesting that the gas sensitivity and recovery performance could be evidently improved when the GO is grafted onto Cl-Corrole-Co, which is ascribed to the $\pi$-$\pi$ interaction between Corrole and GO. The gas respond at room temperature enormously indicating that covalently Cl-Cor-Co+GO 4 can be used as gas sensors candidate.

Copper-based nanomaterials have garnered significant attention for their potential applications in photothermal (PT) conversion and photoacoustic (PA) imaging due to their unique optical properties. However, current strategies often involve complex synthesis processes and the incorporation of additional materials, which limit their practical applicability. Here, we employed a straightforward nanocrystallization method to synthesize copper phosphate nanoparticles (Cu₃(PO₄)₂ NPs), converting free copper ions into solid-phase nano-sized particles. This approach not only simplifies the synthesis process but also enhances the optical and thermal properties of the resulting Cu₃(PO₄)₂ NPs. The Cu₃(PO₄)₂ NPs achieved a temperature increase of over 20°C and a PT conversion efficiency of 10.5% under 808 nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, Cu₃(PO₄)₂ NPs exhibited strong, concentration-dependent PA signals, which enabled effective deep tissue imaging in vivo. The enhanced properties of Cu₃(PO₄)₂ NPs can be attributed to the nanocrystallization of the particles, which alters the local environment of copper ions and enhances $d-d$ transitions through specific ligand field effects. These effects increase light absorption, particularly in the NIR region, by facilitating better overlap of electronic states and enabling more efficient non-radiative relaxation processes. This highlights the significance of nano-structuring in developing advanced nanomaterials with tailored functionalities for biomedical applications.

This chapter gives a brief description of the definition, development history and classification of cosmetics, and introduces the advantages and beautiful prospects of adaptive and functional polymers in the cosmetics field. We also further discuss the properties and cosmetic applications of five types of typical adaptive and functional polymers in this chapter, which are: hydrogels, cyclodextrins, polysaccharides, shape memory polymers and nanopolymer particles.

The chapter sets the context for the book and the contributions of the chapters that follow. It articulates an urgent need for a fresh per spective on India’s organizational dimension. Globalization, technological advancements, and shifting market dynamics are leading to significant functional reforms in India, which is changing the very core of the organizational dimension. To develop a FRESH perspective, five elements are key: Functional, Responsibility, Ecosystem, Subaltern, and Historical. Culturally, different industries and sectors in India have their own specific organizational structures and practices. The Indian business ecosystem is characterized by diverse factors such as government policies, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure. Subaltern opportunities emerge for followership so that each member of the nation enjoys the benefits of globalization. A fresh perspective which recognizes these five elements is critical to foster innovation, inclusivity, adaptability, and sustainability.

Beth model is one of the tools in intuitionistic proof theory. Van Dalen constructed a Beth model for intuitionistic analysis with choice sequences. Bernini and Wendel investigated intuitionistic theories with many types of choice sequences, n-functionals, and their relation with classical type theory. In this paper we construct a Beth model for a basic intuitionistic theory with many types of functionals using recursive approach to define nodes in the Beth model. This model is a tool for justifying consistency of intuitionistic principles for functionals of high types. The principles that hold in our Beth model can be added to the initial basic theory in order to develop it into a relatively strong intuitionistic theory, where a significant part of classical type theory can be interpreted, with the purpose of contributing to the programme of justifying classical mathematics from the intuitionistic point of view. In this paper we show that Kripke's schema for n-functionals and standard axioms for lawless n-functionals hold in our Beth model.