Abstract

With the development of accelerator technology, the scale of accelerators is becoming larger, ranging from hundreds of meters to several kilometers. For stable operation of accelerators, high-precision alignment, positioning, and installation are crucial. Installing all equipment inside the tunnel poses safety risks as personnel would be in a closed environment with potential radiation exposure for prolonged periods. To address the challenges of long adjustment and maintenance periods inside the tunnel due to the installation of equipment for large-scale accelerators, most accelerator devices under construction or in research have pre-alignment assemblies. Each assembly consists of a certain number of magnets distributed on girders. The magnets in one unit are pre-aligned with high precision in the laboratory and then transported to the tunnel. Aligning the entire magnet girder can significantly improve installation efficiency inside the tunnel. To meet the pre-alignment accuracy requirement of 10 μm in the horizontal and vertical directions for the magnet units in the high energy photon source (HEPS) storage ring, a system for high-precision pre-alignment of accelerator units using four total stations for angle observation has been designed in this paper. By employing different instrument layout configurations and incorporating reliable distance benchmarks, high-precision pre-alignment of the magnet are achieved. By arranging targets and utilizing recognition for automatic targeting, real-time point calculations during pre-alignment enhance efficiency. Subsequently, based on this system, pre-alignment simulation calculations and experimental verification of eight magnet focusing-defocusing units in the HEPS storage ring are conducted and ultimately realizing the 10 μm transverse and vertical pre-alignment measuring error within the units. This method, based on high-precision measurements in a small-scale space, reduces the period required for personnel on-site and improves pre-alignment efficiency. It also provides a reference for pre-alignment of multiple magnet units in large accelerators such as the Southern Advanced Photon Source and Circular Electron Positron Collider.

• Book : 36(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.015014
• Keyword :

Design and analysis of a slotted planar antenna with a parasitic ring patch for efficient 5G microwave applications is presented. The antenna design aims to strike a balance between complexity and size efficiency. Its front side features a rectangular patch at the center, comprising L-shaped, T-shaped, and inverse T-shaped elements, alongside four parasitic rings on top. The central feed utilizes a 50-ohm strip line connected to a microstrip line. On the back side, the antenna incorporates three parasitic rings on top, four horizontal strips arranged in an increasing order, and a ground plane with a small rectangular slot. To evaluate its performance, the antenna is simulated using CST Microwave Studio on an FR-4 substrate with overall dimensions measuring 13 × 15 × 1.5mm³. The results demonstrate an impressive impedance bandwidth of 60.8% and a return loss of -28 dB within the frequency range of 3.2-6 GHz, with a central frequency of 4.6 GHz. Throughout its operational range, the radiation patterns remain constant, exhibiting stable polar patterns and efficient performance with a wide gain of 4.81 dBi and an efficiency of 82%; the proposed antenna proves to be suitable for 5G microwave applications.

• Book : 84(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.71-82
• Keyword :

Background:

Cyphostemma cyphopetalum is a herbaceous climber species within the Vitaceae family, found in various tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. It has a history of traditional use in Ethiopia for treating various health issues in humans and livestock, includ-ing snake bites, rabies, and eczema. Despite its reported ethnomedicinal uses, there is a lack of sufficient scientific literature regarding the isolation and characterization of its bioactive chem-ical compounds.

Objective:

The objective of this work was to isolate bioactive compounds from the leaves of Cyphostemma cyphopetalum, characterize their chemical structures using FTIR and NMR spec-troscopy, and evaluate their antimicrobial activities.

Methods:

Isolation was done using column chromatographic separation techniques. Spectro-scopic techniques, including Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance, were used for functional group identification and structural elucidation. Moreover, the paper disc dif-fusion bioassay method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the isolated bioactive compounds.

Results:

Three fractions were successfully isolated using chloroform with dichloromethane and chloroform with ethyl acetate as eluting solvents and silica gel as a stationary phase. After careful interpretation of the experimental results and comparison with the literature, the isolated fractions were constituted mainly by stigmasterol (fraction 1), β-sitosterol (fraction 2), and trans-resveratrol (fraction 3). The antibacterial activities of each isolated fraction were tested against Ralstonia solanacearum, a gram-negative bacterium, and Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterial pathogen.

:

Comparatively, the highest mean inhibitory value of 10.03 ± 0.13 mm was exhibited by fraction 2, which was followed by 6.25 ± 0.05 mm inhibition activity recorded for fraction 1 against R. solanacearum, while fraction 3 did not exhibit any bacterial activity against both the strains.

Conclusion:

We have successfully isolated and characterized three compounds (1-3) from leaves of C. cyphopetalum and evaluated their antibacterial activity. A maximum mean inhibi-tory value of 10.03 ± 0.13 mm was exhibited by compound 2 against R. solanacearum.

• Book : 23(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.e030624230597
• Keyword :

• Book : 156(pb)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.104836
• Keyword :

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Accurate identification of meat species is critical to prevent economic fraud and safeguard public health. The use of inappropriate meat sources, such as murine, poses significant health risks because of potential contamination with pathogens and allergens, leading to foodborne illnesses. The present study aimed to develop a novel real‐time enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA) method for the rapid and specific detection of murine DNA in meat products.

RESULTS

A novel ERA primer and probe set was designed, targeting a murine‐specific single‐copy nuclear gene identified through bioinformatics analysis. The assay demonstrates high specificity, showing no amplification in commonly consumed meats, other animals or major crops. Additionally, it exhibits remarkable sensitivity, detecting as few as five copies of murine genomic DNA. For practical application, the ERA method could effectively identify mouse DNA in laboratory‐prepared samples at concentrations as low as 0.5% and also quantify samples with mouse DNA content as low as 5%. It also accurately detects the presence of murine‐derived ingredients in commercially available meat products. The detection process is straightforward, utilizing a simple isothermal device for incubation, blue light excitation and a smartphone camera for result interpretation. This rapid analysis can be completed within 20 min.

CONCLUSION

The newly developed real‐time ERA method provides a valuable tool for standardizing meat trade practices, promoting food safety and enhancing consumer confidence in the authenticity of meat products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

• Book : 105(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.444-452
• Keyword :

• Book : 595()
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.118711
• Keyword :

Abstract

Studies are lacking on long‐term effects among retinoblastoma patients in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Therefore, we examined cause‐specific mortality in a retrospective cohort of retinoblastoma patients treated at Antonio Candido de Camargo Cancer Center (ACCCC), São Paulo, Brazil from 1986 to 2003 and followed up through December 31, 2018. Vital status and cause of death were ascertained from medical records and multiple national databases. We estimated overall and cause‐specific survival using the Kaplan-Meier survival method, and estimated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and absolute excess risk (AER) of death. This cohort study included 465 retinoblastoma patients (42% hereditary, 58% nonhereditary), with most (77%) patients diagnosed at advanced stages (IV or V). Over an 11‐year average follow‐up, 80 deaths occurred: 70% due to retinoblastoma, 22% due to subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and 5% to non‐cancer causes. The overall 5‐year survival rate was 88% consistent across hereditary and nonhereditary patients (p = .67). Hereditary retinoblastoma patients faced an 86‐fold higher risk of SMN‐related death compared to the general population (N = 16, SMR = 86.1, 95% CI 52.7-140.5), corresponding to 42.4 excess deaths per 10,000 person‐years. This risk remained consistent for those treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (N = 10, SMR = 90.3, 95% CI 48.6-167.8) and chemotherapy alone (N = 6, SMR = 80.0, 95% CI 35.9-177.9). Nonhereditary patients had only two SMN‐related deaths (SMR = 7.2, 95% CI 1.8-28.7). There was no excess risk of non‐cancer‐related deaths in either retinoblastoma form. Findings from this cohort with a high proportion of advanced‐stage patients and extensive chemotherapy use may help guide policy and healthcare planning, emphasizing the need to enhance early diagnosis and treatment access in less developed countries.

• Book : 156(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.69-78
• Keyword :

• Book : 226()
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.112178
• Keyword :

• Book : 226()
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.112188
• Keyword :

• Book : 463(p2)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.141336
• Keyword :