bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable filler from agricultural waste: Ball milling optimization of rice husk ash‐based silica for green tire tread composites
Authors: Yuan Shengwang , Hou Yihao , He Miao , Wang Lining , Yu Feiwei , Ma Yunhai
Published: January 2025

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of using rice husk ash‐derived silica (RHA‐SiO₂) as a sustainable reinforcing agent for tread rubber composites. This investigation addresses the dearth of systematic research on the mechanical ball milling of RHA‐SiO₂ by employing a central composite design within the response surface methodology to meticulously examine the impact of ball milling rotational speed, duration, and sample drying conditions on particle quality post‐milling. The study's findings indicate that the rotational speed exerts the greatest influence on RHA‐SiO₂ particle size, while drying state also emerges as a crucial factor influencing particle dispersion. The optimal ball milling parameters were identified as 240 r/min for 2 hours under anhydrous ethanol wetting conditions. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that RHA‐SiO₂ could preserve the hardness and density of the composite, while simultaneously enhancing its stiffness and resilience by replacing industrial silica in the reinforced tread rubber composite. Notably, a 50% substitution rate resulted in a 23.1% enhancement in tear strength, demonstrating the efficacy of RHA‐SiO₂ in bolstering the mechanical properties of rubber composites. Indeed, this work may offer new ways of high value use of agricultural waste and open new horizons for the development of high performance environmentally friendly tyre materials.

Highlights

RSM was utilized as a RHA‐SiO2 ultrafine ball milling technique with controlled particle size.

The optimum ball milling process was 240 r/min for 2 h in the alcoholic state.

RHA‐SiO2 exhibited a crystal structure and surface functional groups similar to the industrial silica.

Replacement of industrial silica by RHA‐SiO2 improved the mechanical properties of tread rubber composites.

RHA‐SiO2 at 50% substitution ratio increased tear strength by 23.1% to 41.76 kN/m.
Comparative study on properties of different fibers (unmodified/modified) reinforced polylactic acid degradable composites under ultraviolet aging conditions
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Ma Xinyue , Li Xin , Chang Xing , Huang Maocai , Liu Xinmei , Dang Jiangtao , Bo Xiangfeng , Fan Wei
Published: January 2025

Laser printing waste paper fibers (LPWF) are classified as high‐quality secondary fibers, characterized by their lightweight nature, high modulus of elasticity, and excellent fiber quality. These attributes present significant opportunities for their application in plant fiber/resin matrix composites. However, the deinking process for LPWF is more challenging compared to traditional waste paper. The conventional recycled paper manufacturing sector often operates with lower value‐added processes, highlighting the urgent need for the industry to achieve high‐value utilization of laser printing waste paper. In this study, we utilized environmentally friendly and abundant sources of LPWF, alongside the biodegradable resin polylactic acid (PLA), as raw materials. LPWF/PLA composites were prepared through melt blending and injection molding techniques, and their performance was compared to other composites made from natural plant fibers (such as wood and straw) in ultraviolet‐accelerated aging experiments. The results demonstrated that the LPWF/PLA composites exhibited superior overall performance after ultraviolet exposure. To enhance the ultraviolet aging resistance of the LPWF/PLA composites, we modified them with dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA) and the ultraviolet absorber UV‐531 combined with silicon dioxide (SiO2). Our findings indicated that the incorporation of these modifiers effectively protected the surface color of the composites, mitigated the degradation of mechanical properties and overall quality, and significantly reduced the occurrence of surface cracks. Notably, the modification using UV‐531/SiO2 yielded the most pronounced protective effects.

Highlights

Comparison of the properties of three composites before and after UV aging.

LPWF have a low lignin content and exhibit outstanding resistance to UV aging.

Exploring the ultraviolet aging mechanism of plant fiber/resin composites.

Two modifiers were used to modify LPWF/PLA composites.

Providing new insights for extending the life of plant fiber‐resin composites.
A novel framework to predict transversal and shear parameters of unidirectional composites by combining experimental, numerical and machine learning methods
Authors: Cheng Siqi , Wang Xiaoyu , Gao Yuxuan , Zhu Ruixing , Chen Yue , Liu Tao
Published: January 2025

This work presents a new method to predict the transversal and shear properties of unidirectional composites (UD) through combining the experimental, numerical and machine learning methods. The experimental results proved the complexity and difficulty of explaining primary factors affecting the mechanical properties of UD. The representative unit cell model was then created to generate 500 virtual samples for machine learning. The results show that the back propagation neural network model (BP) is the most suitable for predicting the mechanical properties of UD, with an accuracy of 98% within a 2% error. The minimum mean square and absolute errors are 1.09E‐3 and 1.15E‐5, respectively. It is proved that the interface has significant influences on all mechanical properties of UD and shear modulus of composite in 12 directions (Gc12) of UD is affected by all input parameters through the optimized BP model. Due to the wide coverage of input data, the proposed BP model is universal and can be adopted to predict transversal and shear properties of UD made from different kinds of fibers.

Highlights

Interface has influences on all parameters of unidirectional composites.

Shear properties of unidirectional composites along 12 directions are intricated.

Machine learning can predict mechanical properties of unidirectional composites.

Specific samples are beneficial to improve the predicted accuracy.
Two‐dimensional layered MoS2/lignin as additives for epoxy composites with improved mechanical and tribological properties
Authors: Du Rong , Zhang Jin , Sun Dinghao , Lin Tong , Wang Yanzhou , Yin Lv , Wu Yuanpeng
Published: January 2025

The MoS2/lignin hybrid material was successfully synthesized and incorporated into an epoxy resin to fabricate composite coatings. The results demonstrate that MoS2 is uniformly attached to the surface of lignin sheets. Compared to adding lignin alone, the MoS2/lignin hybrid‐epoxy resin (EP) composite coatings exhibited enhanced friction‐reducing and wear‐resistant properties. Specifically, the 1 wt% MoS2/lignin hybrid displayed excellent dispersion and high interfacial compatibility within the resin matrix, leading to a 66.7% increase in Vickers hardness, a 27.5% increase in tensile strength, and a 73.9% improvement in char yield. Furthermore, the friction coefficient and wear rate were reduced by 63.2% and 75.8%, respectively. As a uniformly dispersed hybrid structure, the MoS2/lignin material can endure higher loads, autonomously repair defects, and form a stable and complete transfer film on the worn surface, demonstrating synergistic friction‐reducing and wear‐resistant effects within the epoxy resin matrix. Integrating MoS2 into a two‐dimensional material can provide a practical reference for designing polymer‐based hybrid materials with outstanding comprehensive properties.

Highlights

The MoS2/lignin hybrid material was successfully synthesized.

MoS2 is uniformly attached to the surface of lignin sheets.

The hybrid significantly enhances friction‐reducing and wear‐resistant properties.

Vickers hardness increased by 66.7%, and tensile strength increased by 27.5%.

The friction coefficient was reduced by 63.2%, and the wear rate was reduced by 75.8%.
Making Sense of a Prenatal Detection of Trisomy 16 Mosaicism in the Placenta: A Qualitative Study of Pregnant Women's Decision Making
Authors: Lou Stina , Ryberg Anna , Becher Naja , Lund Ida Charlotte Bay , Vogel Ida
Published: January 2025

Objective

Prenatal detection of Trisomy 16 mosaicism (MosT16) in a Chorionic Villus Sample (CVS) results may cause significant anxiety for expectant parents due to the risk of fetal malformation and fetal growth restriction (FGR). The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences and decision‐making of women receiving a MosT16 results during pregnancy.

Methods

In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with eight Danish women who received a MosT16 CVS results. Interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Four women terminated pregnancy following the MosT16 CVS result, emphasizing the emotional burden of waiting for amniocentesis and concerns about fetal involvement and FGR risk. Four women opted to await amniocentesis following which one terminated pregnancy due to fetal involvement, while three continued their pregnancies (one normal result, two low‐percentage fetal involvement results). During pregnancy, all three fetuses were small for gestational age, and the concerns about their growth were burdensome for expectant parents. Two women delivered prematurely, but all three described their babies as healthy.

Conclusion

The prenatal MosT16 CVS result represents a critical decision point, requiring consideration of both fetal involvement and FGR risk. Thus, genetic counseling should be combined with counseling from obstetrics/fetal medicine specialists.
Quaternary Radiation of Spring Ephemerals
Authors: Osozawa Soichi , Nackejima Cunio
Published: January 2025

The emergence of East Asian spring ephemerals and the unique ecosystem can be attributed primarily to vicariance, brought about by the Quaternary rifting of the Okinawa Trough, the formation of the East China Sea, and the isolation of the island chains of Ryukyu, Japan, and Taiwan from the Asian continent. The northern forests of Japan, dominated by Fagus crenata and the associated Quercus crispula, present a captivating display of spring‐flowering ephemerals, including Erythronium japonicum, Viola bissetii, Anemone pseudoaltaica, and Corydalis fukuharae. Among these, Asarum is also considered part of the spring ephemerals. Our primary focus for phylogenetic analyses, which included constructing a haplotype network using PopART version 1.7 and molecular dating with BEAST v1.10.4, was on the genus Asarum. In the BEAST analysis, we set the Quaternary geological event calibration at 1.55 ± 0.15 Ma and applied pre‐Quaternary fossil calibrations. When we input 1.55 Ma into BEAST, the analysis suggested that spring ephemerals underwent a simultaneous splitting and diversification event around that time, approximately 1.55 Ma, during the Quaternary period. The differentiation of these species is more likely a result of adaptive radiation rather than vicariance, particularly given their partially sympatric distribution and occurrence across islands. This radiation likely originated from the most recent common ancestor of the ingroup species of spring ephemerals and can be seen as a response to significant environmental changes associated with the formation of the East China Sea around 1.55 Ma. Notably, species such as Asarum megacalyx and Fagus crenata exhibit adaptations to heavy snowfall, further supporting this idea. The spring ephemerals in beech or oak forests in North America and Europe may have radiated and diversified as a result of Quaternary global climatic changes.
Enhanced mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antibacterial properties of polypropylene nanocomposites reinforced with nano‐silver carbon black
Authors: Ge Fei‐Fan , Du Jian‐Hua , Yao Wei‐Hua , Suntamit Bunnakorn , Wu Chin‐San , Potiyaraj Pranut , Ma Zheng‐Lu , Preuksarattanawut Charasphat , Bai Yun‐Song , Tsou Chi‐Hui
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the incorporation of nano‐silver carbon black (AgCB) into polypropylene (PP) to develop nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antibacterial properties. AgCB, synthesized with a carbon black‐to‐silver ratio of 19:1, was incorporated into PP at 0.5–5 wt% via melt blending. At 1 wt%, AgCB improved tensile strength by 21.5%, enhanced thermal stability, and reduced water vapor and oxygen permeability, achieving optimal performance with uniform dispersion. With increasing AgCB content, antibacterial activity improved significantly, achieving a sterilization rate exceeding 99.7%, although higher concentrations led to agglomeration, reducing mechanical and barrier performance. The dual function of AgCB as a nucleating agent and functional additive was demonstrated through DSC, WAXRD, and antibacterial tests. This work highlights the potential of AgCB as a cost‐effective filler for PP composites, suitable for applications requiring enhanced durability, barrier properties, and antimicrobial efficacy.

Highlights

Nano‐silver carbon black improves PP crystallinity and barrier performance.

Optimal 1 wt% AgCB enhances PP's tensile strength and thermal stability.

AgCB creates tortuous pathways, reducing water vapor and oxygen permeability.

Low‐cost AgCB (CB:Ag = 19:1) achieves strong antibacterial activity (>99% efficacy).

AgCB mitigates nanoparticle agglomeration, enhancing filler dispersion in PP.
Universal Phase Identification of Block Copolymers From Physics‐Informed Machine Learning
Authors: Fang Xinyi , Murphy Elizabeth A. , Kohl Phillip A. , Li Youli , Hawker Craig J. , Bates Christopher M. , Gu Mengyang
Published: January 2025

Block copolymers play a vital role in materials science due to their diverse self‐assembly behavior. Traditionally, exploring the block copolymer self‐assembly and associated structure–property relationships involve iterative synthesis, characterization, and theory, which is labor‐intensive both experimentally and computationally. Here, we introduce a versatile, high‐throughput workflow toward materials discovery that integrates controlled polymerization and automated chromatographic separation with a novel physics‐informed machine‐learning algorithm for the rapid analysis of small‐angle X‐ray scattering data. Leveraging the expansive and high‐quality experimental data sets generated by fractionating polymers using automated chromatography, this machine‐learning method effectively reduces data dimensionality by extracting chemical‐independent features from SAXS data. This new approach allows for the rapid and accurate prediction of morphologies without repetitive and time‐consuming manual analysis, achieving out‐of‐sample predictive accuracy of around 95% for both novel and existing materials in the training data set. By focusing on a subset of samples with large predictive uncertainty, only a small fraction of the samples needs to be inspected to further improve accuracy. Collectively, the synergistic combination of controlled synthesis, automated chromatography, and data‐driven analysis creates a powerful workflow that markedly expedites the discovery of structure–property relationships in advanced soft materials.
Super‐resolution imaging of proteins inside live mammalian cells with mLIVE‐PAINT
Authors: Bhaskar Haresh , Gidden Zoe , Virdi Gurvir , Kleinjan Dirk‐Jan , Rosser Susan J. , Gandhi Sonia , Regan Lynne , Horrocks Mathew H.
Published: January 2025

Super‐resolution microscopy has revolutionized biological imaging, enabling the visualization of structures at the nanometer length scale. Its application in live cells, however, has remained challenging. To address this, we adapted LIVE‐PAINT, an approach we established in yeast, for application in live mammalian cells. Using the 101A/101B coiled‐coil peptide pair as a peptide‐based targeting system, we successfully demonstrate the super‐resolution imaging of two distinct proteins in mammalian cells, one localized in the nucleus, and the second in the cytoplasm. This study highlights the versatility of LIVE‐PAINT, suggesting its potential for live‐cell super‐resolution imaging across a range of protein targets in mammalian cells. We name the mammalian cell version of our original method mLIVE‐PAINT.
Edaravone is a Therapeutic Candidate for Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiomyopathy by Activating the Nrf2 Pathway
Authors: Yoshikawa Naoki , Hirata Naoto , Kurone Yuichiro , Shimoeda Sadahiko
Published: January 2025

Doxorubicin (DOXO) has long been used clinically and remains a key drug in cancer therapy. DOXO‐induced cardiomyopathy (DICM) is a chronic and fatal complication that severely limits the use of DOXO. However, there are very few therapeutic agents for DICM, and there is an urgent need to identify those that can be used for a larger number of patients. The most likely pathogenic mechanism of DICM is the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promotion of cell death. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and mechanism of action of edaravone (EDA), a known radical scavenger in DICM. Two methods of EDA administration were employed: daily and weekly. Our results showed that the daily administration group had prolonged survival periods and preserved the left ventricular ejection fraction in DICM mice. In contrast, in the weekly treatment group, slight improvements were observed in these indicators compared with those in DICM mice; however, none of them were statistically significant. These results show that the daily administration group had a higher efficacy than the weekly administration group. Gene‐expression results showed that Nrf2 and its related genes were upregulated in the daily group but not in the weekly group. Based on these results, we hypothesized that the Sirt1/Nrf2/HO‐1 and ABCB4 pathways were involved in EDA. However, there is limited evidence that EDA is effective against DICM. The findings obtained herein bolster the evidence in DICM by demonstrating prolonged survival and continued preservation of cardiac function and proposing a possible mechanism.
Pharmacokinetics‐Based Design of Subcutaneous Controlled Release Systems for Biologics
Authors: Grosskopf Abigail K. , Ginart Antonio A. , Spinosa Phillip , Shivva Vittal
Published: January 2025

Protein therapeutics have emerged as an exceedingly promising treatment modality in recent times but are predominantly given as intravenous administration. Transitioning to subcutaneous (SC) administration of these therapies could significantly enhance patient convenience by enabling at‐home administration, thereby potentially reducing the overall cost of treatment. Approaches that enable sustained delivery of subcutaneously administered biologics offer further advantages in terms of less frequent dosing and better patient compliance. Controlled release technologies, such as hydrogels and subcutaneous implantable technologies, present exciting solutions by enabling the gradual release of biologics from the delivery system. Despite their substantial potential, significant hurdles remain in appropriately applying and integrating these technologies with the ongoing development of complex biologic‐based therapies. We evaluate the potential impact of subcutaneously delivered controlled release systems on the downstream pharmacokinetics (PK) of several FDA‐approved biologics by employing rigorous mathematical analysis and predictive PK simulations. By leveraging linear time‐invariant (LTI) systems theory, we provide a robust framework for understanding and optimizing the release dynamics of these technologies. We demonstrate simple quantitative metrics and approaches that can inform the design and implementation of controlled release technologies. The findings highlight key opportunity areas to reduce dosing frequency, stabilize concentration profiles, and synergize the codelivery of biologics, calling for collaboration between drug delivery and PK scientists to create the most convenient, optimized, and effective precision therapies.
Deep Reinforcement Learning‐Based Control for Real‐Time Hybrid Simulation of Civil Structures
Authors: Felipe Niño Andrés , Palacio‐Betancur Alejandro , Miranda‐Chiquito Piedad , David Amaya Juan , Silva Christian E. , Gutierrez Soto Mariantonieta , Felipe Giraldo Luis
Published: January 2025

Real‐time Hybrid Simulation (RTHS) is a cyber‐physical technique that studies the dynamic behavior of a system by combining physical and numerical components that are coupled through a boundary condition enforcer. In structural engineering, the numerical components are subjected to environmental loads that become dynamic displacements of the physical substructure applied through an actuator. However, the dynamics of the coupling between components and the complexities of the system lead to synchronization challenges that affect the accuracy of the simulation. Thus, requiring tracking controllers to ensure the fidelity of the simulation. This paper studies deep reinforcement learning (DRL) as a novel alternative to designing the tracking controller. Three controllers are designed: a DRL agent combined with a conventional time delay compensation, a conventional feedback controller combined with a DRL agent, and a DRL agent with a complex neural network architecture. The proposed approaches are tested using a virtual RTHS benchmark problem, and the results are compared with an optimized controller that has a proportional‐integral‐derivative controller and phase‐lead compensation. The results show that DRL can address the synchronization challenges of RTHS with a model‐free approach and simple neural network architectures. The work shown in this study is a critical step toward model‐free control methodologies that can transform and further develop the RTHS method. The proposed methodology can be used to address important challenges related to RTHS, including nonlinearities and uncertainties of the physical substructure, complex boundary conditions, and the computational efficiency when physical structures with complex dynamics are present.
Measurement of Sustainable Development and Standard of Living in Territorial Units: Methodological Concept and Application
Authors: Łuczak Aleksandra , Cermakova Klara , Kalinowski Sławomir , Hromada Eduard , Mec Michal
Published: January 2025

The growing importance of sustainable development and improved living standards has created a need for comprehensive methods to assess these concepts in a consistent manner across different regions. Despite widespread discussion in the scientific and policy communities, there is no standardised model for their measurement. The aim of this study is to present a methodological approach for determining the development position of territorial units in terms of sustainable development and living standards of the population. A new approach is proposed, integrating the modified positional TOPSIS method and bilinear ordering, to assess the levels of sustainable development and living standards of territorial units and to determine their development positions along with possible development scenarios. This approach was applied to evaluate European countries in 2021, based on statistical data from Eurostat. The results showed different levels of sustainable development and living standards among the countries evaluated. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing a comprehensive framework for assessing sustainable development and standard of living at the territorial level. The results provide valuable insights for policy makers in designing strategies and policies to promote sustainable development and improve standard of living. Furthermore, the methodology proposed in this study can be adapted and applied in different regional and contextual analyses, making it a versatile tool for future research in this area.
Elucidating the Impact of Key Filtration Parameters on the Recovery of Peptides and Oligosaccharides From Colostrum Whey Permeate at Pilot‐Scale
Authors: Tam Andrea J. C. , Durham Sierra D. , Wang Aidong , Wickramasinghe Saumya , Mills David A. , Barile Daniela , Leite Nobrega de Moura Bell Juliana Maria
Published: January 2025

Bovine colostrum whey permeate, a byproduct of commercial ultrafiltration for protein isolation, contains bioactive peptides and prebiotic oligosaccharides. The study aimed to assess how feed flow and transmembrane pressure affect the concentration of peptides and oligosaccharides from colostrum whey permeate by comparing the efficiency of the Synder NFW (300–500 Da) and Hydracore 70 (500–700 Da) nanofiltration membranes. Additionally, it evaluated the in vitro biological activity of the resulting nanofiltration retentates, which were enriched in oligosaccharides and peptides. Despite nearly 8‐fold faster permeate fluxes, the Synder NFW membrane achieved equivalently high retention (99%–100%) compared to the Hydracore 70 membrane. These results imply that greater fouling occurred in the larger pores of Hydracore 70, as evidenced by resistance measurements. Optimum filtration conditions for each membrane (Synder NFW: 18.05 L min−1, 27 bar; Hydracore 70: 3.95 L min−1, 35 bar Hydracore 70) were used to concentrate whey permeate to a concentration factor of 15. Both retentates showed equivalent selective prebiotic activity toward Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC15697 growth (1% w/v powder), ACE‐inhibition at 1.67 mg mL−1 of powder (Synder NFW: 54%, Hydracore 70%: 67%), and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity at 100 mg mL−1 of powder (Synder NFW: 48%, Hydracore 70%: 53%). The retentates exhibited 26 and 29 μmol Trolox equivalents/g of powder for Synder NFW and Hydracore 70 membranes, respectively. Glycomic profiling identified potentially antidiabetic and prebiotic oligosaccharides, while peptidomic profiling coincided with the observed bioactivity. These results show how key filtration conditions affect the nanofiltration of bovine colostrum whey permeate for recovering of oligosaccharides and peptides with potential health benefits.
Adjusting for Ascertainment Bias in Meta‐Analysis of Penetrance for Cancer Risk
Authors: Ruberu Thanthirige Lakshika M. , Braun Danielle , Parmigiani Giovanni , Biswas Swati
Published: January 2025

Multi‐gene panel testing allows efficient detection of pathogenic variants in cancer susceptibility genes including moderate‐risk genes such as ATM and PALB2. A growing number of studies examine the risk of breast cancer (BC) conferred by pathogenic variants of these genes. A meta‐analysis combining the reported risk estimates can provide an overall estimate of age‐specific risk of developing BC, that is, penetrance for a gene. However, estimates reported by case–control studies often suffer from ascertainment bias. Currently, there is no method available to adjust for such bias in this setting. We consider a Bayesian random effect meta‐analysis method that can synthesize different types of risk measures and extend it to incorporate studies with ascertainment bias. This is achieved by introducing a bias term in the model and assigning appropriate priors. We validate the method through a simulation study and apply it to estimate BC penetrance for carriers of pathogenic variants in the ATM and PALB2 genes. Our simulations show that the proposed method results in more accurate and precise penetrance estimates compared to when no adjustment is made for ascertainment bias or when such biased studies are discarded from the analysis. The overall estimated BC risk for individuals with pathogenic variants are (1) 5.77% (3.22%–9.67%) by age 50 and 26.13% (20.31%–32.94%) by age 80 for ATM; (2) 12.99% (6.48%–22.23%) by age 50, and 44.69% (34.40%–55.80%) by age 80 for PALB2. The proposed method allows meta‐analyses to include studies with ascertainment bias, resulting in inclusion of more studies and thereby more accurate estimates.
Evaluation of Drug Delivery Systems Based on Host–guest Interactions Between Pure/Metal‐doped BN Nanotubes with Oteracil and Potassium Oteracil Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Moradian Majid , Makiabadi Batoul , Zakarianezhad Mohammad , Faramarzi Abdolreza
Published: January 2025

The aim of this project is to investigate host–guest complexes based on pure and doped‐BN nanotubes for the treatment of gastric and gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, in this work, the host–guest complexes obtained from the interaction of pure boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) as well as Al and Ga‐doped BN nanotubes with the anticancer drugs of Oteracil (OT) and potassium oteracil (OTP) were investigated in the gas phase and water solvent. All calculations were performed at the M06‐2X/6–31G(d) level of theory. Interaction energies, structural parameters, topological properties as well as RDG, ELF, and CCD analyses were used to assess the strength of interactions in the complexes. The results show that the doped‐BN nanotubes have stronger interactions with OT and OTP drugs. Adsorption energies (ΔEads) reveal that the adsorption tendency of drugs on nanotubes is in the order of BN(Ga) > BN(Al) > pure‐BN. The electronic properties of pure and doped‐BN nanotubes were investigated and compared before and after the adsorption process. The quantum molecular descriptors were used to investigate the reactivity of pure and doped‐BN nanotubes to drugs. The energy gap (Eg) was dramatically changed when the dopant atoms were added to the BN nanotube. Therefore, the impurity can improve the reactivity of the pure BN nanotube. The type of adsorption in pure and doped‐BN nanotubes can be physical. Increasing temperature reduces recovery time. Analysis of natural bond orbital (NBO), molecular electrostatic potential surface maps (MESP), and the (RDG) were performed to evaluate the nature of the drug/nanotube intermolecular interactions. Generally, the tendency of Al and Ga‐doped nanotubes to absorb OT and OTP drugs is higher than that of pure nanotubes. This study can provide insights into innovation in the design of drug delivery systems.
Small Molecule Alkynyl‐Phenylaminoguanidines: A New Weapon Against Multi‐Drug Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Abuelkhir Abdelrahman A. , Nagy Yosra I. , Gamal Tarek , Abdelhalim Ali M. , Attia Ahmed S. , Mayhoub Abdelrahman S. , Elsebaie Mohamed M.
Published: January 2025

The coexistence of Gram‐negative organisms, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in diabetic foot ulcers poses significant therapeutic challenges and increases the rate of treatment failure. By studying the structure‐activity relationships of small alkynylphenyl‐aminoguanidine molecules, we identified heptyne and octyne derivatives as promising antibacterial agents. These compounds exhibited potent activity against Gram‐positive MRSA USA300 (MIC = 0.5 µg/mL) and reasonable activity against Gram‐negative A. baumannii AB5075 (MIC = 8 µg/mL). It is noteworthy that octynylphenyl‐aminoguanidine demonstrated a rapid bactericidal effect within 2 h and showed no evidence of resistance development. Despite systemic intolerance, topical application of the two most active compounds significantly improved skin condition and reduced bacterial burdens in an murine skin infection model (MRSA). These results highlight a promising therapeutic avenue for MRSA skin infections, with potential efficacy in coinfections with multidrug‐resistant Gram‐negative pathogens such as A. baumannii.
Demagnetization Process of Nd‐Fe‐B Sintered and Ferrite Magnets
Authors: Matsuura Yutaka
Published: January 2025

The magnetization reversal mechanism for Nd‐Fe‐B sintered and ferrite magnets was investigated using magnetic measurements and soft X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism microscopy. In magnetization reversal, discrete reversals of crystal grains occurred first in the demagnetized field region, which was lower than the coercivity. In the next step, clusters of reversed grains were formed by reversals in crystal grains around the discrete reversed grains. For highly aligned magnets, the cluster sizes at the coercivity increased with decreasing temperature, and also varied with composition. The alignment and angular dependences of the coercivity varied with cluster size, which depended on the number of discrete magnetization reversal grains that occurred in the demagnetizing field that was lower than the coercivity. Hence, if the number of discrete reversal grains was large, the cluster size was small; conversely, if the number of discrete reversal grains was small, the cluster size was significant. © 2025 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
BPT‐Planner: Continuous Behavior Perception and Robot Trajectory Planner in Pathological Collaboration Experiments
Authors: Zhang Guangze , Pei Baocai , Zhang Mengyao , Yang Yiran , Feng Chao , Wang Binpeng
Published: January 2025

Current research in human‐robot collaboration has yielded promising results, enabling us to predict human motion intentions and facilitate safe robot movement in shared spaces, avoiding collisions. However, achieving truly efficient human‐robot collaboration remains a complex and challenging endeavor. It entails not only imbuing robots with an understanding of human behavior but also empowering them to actively cooperate with human subjects and accomplish specific tasks. Against this backdrop, this paper introduces a comprehensive behavior perception and robot trajectory planner (BPT‐Planner). Leveraging continuous image data as input, the planner utilizes a CNN‐RNN network to predict human subjects' behavioral intentions, thereby gaining deeper insights. Based on these predictive outcomes and human‐robot action pairings, the planner generates a motion space for the robot. Subsequently, through the application of the proximal policy optimization algorithm, the planner dynamically optimizes the robot's action strategies to generate optimal motion trajectories. This optimization process takes into full consideration the behavior of human subjects, ensuring seamless integration of robot movement with human actions. To validate the performance of the BPT‐Planner, we conducted offline training and real‐time online validation in a pathological experiment scenario. Additionally, we conducted comparative experiments using datasets from other scenarios to further corroborate the planner's efficacy. Through the endeavors of this study, we not only showcase the exceptional performance of the BPT‐Planner across diverse scenarios but also affirm its applicability and effectiveness in various application environments. © 2025 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Fluoride Exposure Modulates Skeletal Development and Mineralization in Zebrafish Larvae
Authors: Ottappilakkil Harsheema , Perumal Ekambaram
Published: January 2025

The presence of high levels of fluoride (F) in groundwater is a major issue worldwide. Although F is essential for healthy teeth and bones, excessive exposure can cause fluorosis or F toxicity. This condition primarily affects the hard tissues due to their high F retention capacity. F accumulation alters bone formation and resorption mechanisms interfering with mineral homeostasis and eventually manifests as skeletal fluorosis. Albeit the numerous studies on skeletal fluorosis, the effect of F on developmental osteogenesis is inconclusive. In light of this, we studied the effect of F on osteogenic differentiation, bone development, and mineralization in zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos were subjected to a low (25 ppm NaF), and a moderately high (50 ppm NaF) dose, along with a control (E3 medium alone) until 7 days postfertilization (dpf). The F content in the larvae was quantified to reveal a dose‐dependent increase in the exposed groups. Alizarin Red and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining suggested enhanced mineralization in the F‐treated groups. Quantitative analyses of the ALP activity and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content revealed similar results. Alcian blue staining of pharyngeal cartilages showed that F exposure alters the morphology of the major cartilages, indicating a possible craniofacial defect. Moreover, gene expression analyses of the bone markers associated with osteogenic differentiation, early mineralization, and remodeling (runx2a/b, bmp4, ocn, osx, col1a1, alp, rank, rankl, and opg) showed enhanced expression in the low F group. While the 50 ppm F group showed a decline in osteogenic activity, a considerable increase in the expression of mineralization markers was observed. The expression levels of cartilage markers sox9a and sox9b, remained insignificant, indicating the effect of F toxicity on osteogenesis and mineralization. Also, F exposure interferes with bone metabolism through altered osteogenic differentiation, development, and mineralization in zebrafish larvae.
Could maternal rest improve adverse outcome in fetuses defined by abnormal growth trajectory?
Authors: DeVore G. R.
Published: January 2025

Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Larsen et al. Click here to view the article.
Preparation, Properties and Application of Ionic Liquid Gels
Authors: Huo Tianxing , Sun Lihao , Du Mingjing , Qiu Siyue , Kan Xinyuan , Zhang Shaohua
Published: January 2025

Ionic liquid (IL) gels, have garnered significant attention in recent years on account of their distinctive amalgamation of properties, encompassing ionic conductivity, environmental stability, and flexibility. In this paper, the function of ILs in regulating gel structural was reviewed, with an emphasis placed on the preparation and properties of IL gels. Additionally, we probed into the superiority of IL gels over conventional hydrogels, such as enhanced mechanical strength, thermal stability, and a broader range of stable operating temperatures. The potential applications of IL gels in the domains of energy storage, separation and catalysis, environmental protection, and biomedicine were deliberated. Finally, we undertake a series of summaries and prospects for IL gels, with the aim of opening up novel perspectives and attracting more attention for the practical application of IL gels.
Stabilization of loosely coupled schemes for 0D–3D fluid–structure interaction problems with application to cardiovascular modelling
Authors: Regazzoni Francesco
Published: January 2025

In this paper we analyze the numerical oscillations affecting loosely coupled schemes for hybrid-dimensional 0D–3D fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems, which arise e.g. in the field of cardiovascular modeling, and we propose a novel stabilized scheme that cures this issue. We study several loosely coupled schemes, including the Dirichlet–Neumann (DN) and Neumann–Dirichlet (ND) schemes. In the first one, the 0D fluid model prescribes the pressure to the 3D structural mechanics model and receives the flow. In the second one, on the contrary, the fluid model receives the pressure and prescribes the flow. The terms DN and ND, employed in the FSI literature, are borrowed from domain decomposition methods, although here a single iteration is performed before moving on to the next time step (that is, the coupling is treated explicitly). Should the fluid be enclosed in a cavity, the DN scheme is affected by non-physical oscillations whose origin lies in the balloon dilemma, for which we provide an algebraic interpretation. Moreover, we show that also the ND scheme can be unstable for a range of parameter choices. Surprisingly, increasing either the viscous dissipation or the inertia of the structure favours the onset of oscillations and, for certain parameter choices, the ND is unconditionally unstable. In the presence of inertial terms, by reducing the time step size below a certain threshold, the amplitude of the numerical oscillations is even amplified. We provide an explanation for these facts and establish sharp stability bounds on the time step size. Our analysis extends to Robin–Robin schemes, based on linear combinations of the conditions of pressure continuity and either volume or flux continuity. While appropriate choices of Robin coefficients can achieve numerical stability, tuning these coefficients can be challenging in practice. To address these issues, we propose a numerically consistent stabilization term for the Neumann–Dirichlet scheme, inspired by physical insight on the onset of oscillations. We prove that our proposed stabilized scheme is absolutely stable for any choice of time step size. Notably, the proposed scheme does not require parameter tuning. These results are verified by several numerical tests. Finally, we apply the proposed stabilized scheme to an important problem in cardiac electromechanics, namely the coupling between a 3D cardiac model and a closed-loop lumped-parameter model of blood circulation. In this setting, our proposed scheme successfully removes the non-physical oscillations that would otherwise affect the numerical solution.
Approaches for the preparation and evaluation of hydrophilic polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastic particles suited for toxicological effect studies
Authors: Seghers John , Cella Claudia , Pequeur Emmy , La Spina Rita , Roncari Francesco , Valsesia Andrea , Mehn Dora , Gilliland Douglas , Trapmann Stefanie , Emteborg Håkan
Published: January 2025

When performing effect studies to investigate the impact of microplastic (MP) on cell lines, algae, or daphnia, it is advantageous if such experiments can be performed without the use of surfactants. The need for surfactants arises from the fact that finely milled pristine MP particles generally are hydrophobic. Methods for the preparation of larger amounts of hydrophilic and hence artificially aged MP particles and approaches for their characterization are of high importance. Here we present methods to artificially age polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and low-density polyethylene (PE) using alkaline and acidic treatments that reproducibly result in large quantities of particles below 5 µm with considerably increased hydrophilicity. The artificially aged MP particles were characterized using particle counting by single-particle extinction and scattering (SPES), particle size by laser diffraction measurements, zeta potential using electrophoretic light scattering, hydrophobicity index (Hy) through dark-field (DF) microscopy, chemical composition by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy, and Raman microscopy. The hydrophobicity index values obtained should allow the aged MP particles to be characterized as qualitative reference materials (RMs) with an ordinal property. Evidence for the maintained integrity and hydrophilicity of the artificially aged MP particles (in powder form) over time was obtained by measurements of zeta potential with a 33-month interval. Uniformity of subsampling with respect to particle number concentration in suspensions within a 10-day period was also investigated. It provided evidence for the possibility of reproducible spiking of a specific number of hydrophilic MP particles with relative standard deviations (RSDs) from 6.2 to 13.6%. For the development of future reference materials of artificially aged microplastics, they should be characterized for an ordinal property (artificial age as Hy-index) and nominal property (identity of PET or PE based on spectral matching).

Graphical Abstract
Weak evidence for a relationship between group size and flight initiation distance in response to underwater human presence in an exploited fish species
Authors: Sbragaglia Valerio , Morroni Lorenzo , Blumstein Daniel T.
Published: January 2025

Group size can influence flight initiation distance (FID), a key antipredator behavior, in many animal species. In fishes, however, the effect of group size on FID remains unclear. Two different mechanisms might explain a putative relationship between group size and FID. If fish benefited from having more vigilant individuals around, we would expect group size to be positively associated with FID (considering collective vigilance in the context of the many eyes hypothesis). By contrast, if fish benefited from a predator dilution effect, we would expect group size to be negatively associated with FID. Importantly, such relationships should be critically sensitive to background risk levels. We capitalized on FID observations inside and outside marine protected areas and simulated risk by having a risky spearfisher or a non-risky snorkeler swim towards white seabream (Diplodus sargus) to estimate the relationship between FID and group size. Model selection provides weak evidence that group size positively influences FID of white seabream when group size was modelled two ways: categorically (alone vs. shoal), and continuously (range 2–15). While the results suggest that overall group size has a measurable impact on FID, the presence of spearfishers or snorkelers had a weak effect on the relationship of group size and FID, which seems to be more sensitive exclusively to the protection level (inside/outside marine protected areas). Our findings align with previous studies showing mixed results on the relationship between group size and FID. This study underscores the complexity of antipredator behaviors in natural settings and suggests that multiple interlinked factors, rather than group size alone, drive FID in fishes. Future research should integrate field observations, laboratory experiments, and modeling to study the ecological influence of group size on FID more comprehensively.
Autologous minced cartilage implantation in osteochondral lesions of the talus—does fibrin make the difference?
Authors: Kühle Jan , Wagner Ferdinand C. , Beck Samuel , Klein Lukas , Bode Lisa , Izadpanah Kaywan , Schmal Hagen , Mühlenfeld Nils
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Implantation of minced cartilage is a one-step-procedure that leads to satisfactory results in osteochondral defects.

Material and methods

A retrospective review was performed on a consecutive cohort of patients that received minced cartilage with fibrin (MCF), minced cartilage with membrane and fibrin (MCMF) and minced cartilage with the “AutoCart”-procedure (MCAC) between January 2019 and December 2023. Radiological outcome parameters were evaluated via Magnet-Resonance-Tomography (MRI) within one year using Ankle-Osteoarthritis-Scoring-System (AOSS).

Results

Final data included 25 patients: 13 women and 12 men with a mean age of 28.2 years ± 10.9(range:18–51). Mean defect size was 103.6mm2 ± 59.0(95% CI = 79.2–128.0), mean depth 5.2 mm ± 3.6(3.7–6.6). Differences between groups in defect sizes were not significant (p = 0.999). MCF was carried out in 9(36.0%), MCMF in 7(28.0%) and MCAC in 9(36.0%) patients. Mean postoperative AOSS values were 2.6 ± 1.9(95%CI:1.1–4.1) for MCF-patients, 3.3 ± 2.9(0.6–5.9) for MCMF patients and 3.9 ± 2.8(1.7–6.1) for MCAC-patients, respectively. Differences were not significant (p = 0.639). Revision surgery because of symptomatic non-integration of the graft or ventral impingement occurred in 5(20%) of cases – all part of MCAC-patients that did not receive additional fibrin fixation as the top layer of transplant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Autologous minced cartilage implantation seems to be sufficient as a viable, one-step treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talus. It leads to low complication rates and excellent AOSS values within a 12-month period whereas the application of fibrin as the last fixation layer seems to be advisory, which demands further investigation.