Search Results (21,295)

To address the key issues of uneven distribution of functional groups, large dispersion of holographic storage performance across different regions, and poor consistency of storage capacity in traditional PQ/PMMA holographic storage photopolymers, this paper introduces a low-viscosity reactive diluent, tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), to modify the matrix. Leveraging the viscosity-reducing and double-bond crosslinking properties of TPGDA, the molecular diffusion behavior of the system was regulated. The effects of TPGDA doping ratio, the ratio of photosensitizer PQ to thermal initiator AIBN, and post-curing process on the holographic performance uniformity of the material were systematically investigated. The uniformity was quantitatively evaluated by the variance of diffraction efficiency at different points. Visible light absorption spectra and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to reveal the modification mechanism from the perspective of functional group distribution. Actual-data read/write tests were conducted using a collinear holographic storage system. The experimental results show that the optimal TPGDA doping concentration is 40 wt%. For the optimized formulation TPGDA:MMA:AIBN:PQ = 8 g:12 g:0.20 g:0.18 g, the modified material achieves an average diffraction efficiency of 76.58%, and the diffraction efficiency variance decreases from 23.49 (pristine matrix) to 1.64, indicating a significant improvement in performance uniformity. Compared with pure PQ/PMMA, the modified material exhibits an approximately 1.95-fold increase in maximum diffraction efficiency, a 2-fold increase in recording rate, and a 1.6–1.75-fold increase in refractive index modulation. FT-IR spectroscopy confirms that TPGDA optimizes the spatial distribution uniformity of C=C and C=O functional groups. In collinear holographic measurements, the bit error rate (BER) variance of the modified sample is reduced by 40% relative to the pristine matrix, achieving homogeneous storage performance across the entire area while maintaining comparable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and BER. Additional short-time UV post-curing can further enhance the diffraction efficiency and refractive index modulation, and a thinner substrate can avoid performance fluctuations caused by incomplete thermal curing of thick samples. This study achieves directional optimization of the holographic uniformity of PQ/PMMA through reactive diluent viscosity reduction modification, providing a new strategy for the formulation design and engineering preparation of high-consistency holographic storage photopolymers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Methylphenidate is widely used for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and is available in immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR) formulations. Long-term reported private-sector dispensing data from Costa Rica remain limited. Because methylphenidate is a controlled medication, longitudinal dispensing trends are relevant for monitoring access, formulation use, and dose-standardized exposure at the health-system level. This study described reported private-sector methylphenidate dispensing trends from 2017 to 2024 by dispensed boxes and Defined Daily Doses (DDDs). Methods: This retrospective ecological drug-utilization study analyzed reported private-sector administrative controlled-substance dispensing records from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2024. Products were standardized by brand or generic designation, strength, dosage form, and formulation class. Outcomes included annual and cumulative dispensed boxes, formulation-specific share, XR-to-IR ratio, year-over-year change, presentation-level distribution, population-standardized rates, and DDDs calculated using the WHO reference value of 30 mg/day. Results: Total dispensing increased from 988,739 boxes in 2017 to 2,774,698 boxes in 2024 (+180.63%; CAGR 15.88%). Overall, 13,807,824 boxes were dispensed; IR accounted for 9,344,944 boxes (67.68%) and XR for 4,462,880 boxes (32.32%). In DDDs, XR exceeded IR in every study year and represented 61.0% of cumulative dose-standardized exposure. Conclusions: Reported private-sector methylphenidate dispensing in Costa Rica increased substantially between 2017 and 2024. IR predominated by dispensed boxes, whereas XR predominated by DDDs, highlighting the importance of reporting both administrative volume and dose-standardized metrics. These findings provide a private-sector baseline for controlled-medication surveillance and may inform monitoring of access, formulation mix, and dose-standardized exposure to methylphenidate in Costa Rica. Full article

Background: Microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) are widespread environmental pollutants posing significant health risks, but their combined hepatotoxic effects and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods: Using in vivo and in vitro co-exposure models, we systematically investigated the impact of MPs on Cd-induced hepatotoxicity. The study assessed hepatic injury, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses through transcriptomic analysis, histopathological examination, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time PCR. Pharmacological inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress with 4-phenylbutyric acid and selective blockade of IRE1α with MKC3946 were employed to dissect the signaling pathway. Results: Co-exposure to MPs and Cd significantly aggravated Cd-induced hepatic pathological damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Transcriptomic profiling revealed marked activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and upregulation of pyroptosis-associated genes. Mechanistically, endoplasmic reticulum stress triggered pyroptosis via the IRE1α/TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling axis. Notably, inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress with 4-phenylbutyric acid, or selective blockade of IRE1α with MKC3946, effectively attenuated TXNIP/NLRP3 activation and the downstream pyroptotic response. Conclusions: MPs intensify Cd-induced hepatotoxicity by activating the IRE1α/TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress-driven pyroptosis. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the combined toxicity of microplastics and heavy metals, with important implications for environmental health risk assessment in animals and humans. Full article

Background: The development of naturally derived pharmaceutical excipients has attracted increasing interest as alternatives to conventional synthetic materials. Methods: In this study, starch–beeswax composites were prepared using native rice starch (RS) and spray-dried rice starch (SDRS) through melt levigation (ML) and emulsification (EM) techniques at starch-to-beeswax ratios of 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3. The physicochemical properties, surface hydrophobicity, morphology, tabletability, and lubrication performance of the resulting composites were evaluated and compared with magnesium stearate (MGS) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). Results: Co-processing with beeswax markedly increased the water contact angle from 35.4° and 59.7° for RS and SDRS, respectively, to values ranging from 94.5° to 125.1°, indicating successful modification of surface hydrophobicity. SEM analysis demonstrated changes in particle morphology and surface appearance following co-processing, while FT-IR confirmed the coexistence of characteristic starch- and beeswax-associated spectral features without evidence of detectable covalent modification. Co-processed formulations generally maintained or improved tabletability relative to their corresponding starch bases, with SDRS-based composites producing substantially harder tablets than RS-based formulations. The composites also reduced tablet ejection force and improved tablet mechanical properties compared with lubricant-free formulations. Among all samples, SDRS-EM-73 exhibited the best overall performance, reducing ejection force from 386.5 N for the lubricant-free control to 89.2 N, a value comparable to HVO (93.0 N), while producing tablets with high hardness (60.9 N), low friability (0.16%), and acceptable disintegration time (44.8 s). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that co-processed starch–beeswax composites, particularly SDRS-EM-73, show considerable potential as naturally derived excipients for tablet manufacturing and may serve as sustainable alternatives to conventional tablet lubricants. Full article

Background/Objectives: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a critical challenge in cardiovascular disease management. Although Chinese yam polysaccharides (CYPs), the primary bioactive macromolecules isolated from Dioscorea opposita Thunb, exhibit well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, their cardioprotective efficacy against acute I/R injury and the underlying multiscale mechanisms remain unexplored. This study investigated the protective effects of CYPs using an in vivo mouse model of myocardial I/R injury. Methods: An in vivo mouse model of myocardial I/R injury was used to evaluate the effects of 7-day prophylactic CYPs treatment (400 mg/kg). Echocardiographic and histological analyses were performed, and serum myocardial injury biomarkers, oxidative stress indicators, pro-inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial ultrastructure, ATP bioenergetics, mitochondrial respiratory chain gene expression, and gut microbiota composition were assessed. Results: Echocardiographic and histological analyses revealed that CYPs pretreatment significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction, as indicated by increased LVEF from 28.98% to 57.68% and reduced myocardial infarct size by 36.73% compared with the I/R group and decreased serum myocardial injury biomarkers, including CK-MB, LDH, and LDH-1. Mechanistically, CYPs exerted robust cardioprotection by mitigating oxidative damage, with MDA levels reduced by 28.83% and SOD activity increased to 1.76-fold that of the I/R group, and suppressing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including Tnf-α, Il-6, and Il-1β. Crucially, CYPs intervention preserved mitochondrial ultrastructure and ATP bioenergetics, and levels increased to 1.51-fold that of the I/R group and upregulated the expression of essential mitochondrial respiratory chain genes, including mt-Nd1, mt-Nd4l, mt-Cyb, mt-CoII, and mt-Atp6. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that CYPs treatment reshaped gut microbiota and elevated the relative abundance of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant beneficial genus Akkermansia. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings provide novel evidence that CYPs confer profound protection against myocardial I/R injury through a multitargeted network involving the restoration of mitochondrial homeostasis, attenuation of oxidative inflammation, and modulation of the gut microbiome, highlighting CYPs as a promising functional food-derived candidate for adjunctive therapy in ischemic heart disease. Full article

Relatively low-cost titanium carbide (TiC) materials and metal matrix composites (MMC) are proposed for waste-to-hydrogen conversion. Two types of steels are used as bases prepared from EN 10088 flat products, namely X2CrTi12 (1.4512, AISI 409) and X5CrNi18-10 (1.4301, AISI 304). TiC is mixed with TRIBALOY^® T-800 alloy in powder form and applied via laser-directed energy deposition (DED-LB) over the substrates. For the powder mixture, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are performed. The raw materials are investigated for the processes that occur in them under heating. After the solidification of the molten mixture, grinding and polishing are performed to achieve a thin layer. The studies of the obtained MMC include interface zone assessment, hardness and Young’s modulus distribution, microstructural analysis, and visual defect evaluation. Advanced sensors for acoustic emission (AE) and Electrical Contact Resistance (ECR) provided characterization together with micro-scratch testing. The use of photoluminescence spectroscopy is proposed for the new composite materials. The electron transfer pathway can be studied with time-resolved spectroscopy. Renewable energy production by breaking down waste into hydrogen-rich syngas can be achieved through pyrolysis, followed by steam reforming and purification. The obtained novel materials show promising application solutions with increased durability, corrosion, and wear resistance. Full article

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, highlighting inflammation suppression as a critical therapeutic strategy. The inflammatory response is largely mediated through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a transmembrane signal receptor whose expression is upregulated by Heat Shock Protein Family A Member 8 (HSPA8). Here, we investigated whether SEM1, a subunit of the 26S proteasome, interacts with HSPA8 and attenuates TLR4-mediated inflammation. Our results demonstrate that SEM1 expression is downregulated following myocardial I/R. Overexpression of SEM1 alleviated cardiac injury and dysfunction, inhibited myocardial inflammation, and downregulated HSPA8 expression in the I/R-injured heart. Co-IP assays confirmed a strong physical interaction between SEM1 and HSPA8, while the precise molecular mechanism responsible for SEM1-induced downregulation of HSPA8 remains to be fully elucidated. Mechanistically, SEM1 suppressed the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings identify SEM1 as a novel regulator that protects against myocardial I/R injury via its association with HSPA8 and inhibition of the TLR4-mediated inflammatory cascade, offering a promising therapeutic target for this condition. Full article

To reduce dependence on fossil fuels and limit their environmental impact, the development of biofuels represents an effective strategy. Green diesel is a biofuel synthesized from vegetable oil that is fully compatible with conventional diesel engines and therefore represents a promising alternative to mineral diesel. In addition, the use of waste-derived catalysts can further improve the sustainability of the process. In this study, fly ash cenospheres (FAC), an abundant industrial waste, were used as a support to synthesize several transition-metal-based catalysts. The catalysts were tested for the catalytic deoxygenation of vegetable oils in a batch reactor at 320 °C and 40 bar H₂ using 10 wt% catalyst and n-hexane as the solvent. Among the tested catalysts, NiMo(5/15)/FAC exhibited the best performance, achieving complete conversion and producing a biofuel containing 91.7% C₁₅–C₁₈ hydrocarbons. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were investigated using ICP-MS, FT-IR, XRD, and BET-BJH analyses. The effects of the solvent, feedstock, and catalyst reuse were also evaluated. In the recycling tests, the catalyst activity rapidly decreased; however, the regeneration step fully restored its catalytic performance. These results show that FAC can be effectively valorized as a catalyst support for green diesel synthesis. Full article

Two tri-carbonyl complexes, [Mn(CO)₃(5cpa)Br] (1) and [Re(CO)₃(5cqn)(OCH₃)] (2), were synthesized, where 5cpa is 5-Cl-2-picolinic acid and 5cqn is 5-Cl-8-Hydroxyquinoline. Their structures were determined using X-ray diffraction techniques. The electronic absorption and IR spectra of the complexes were experimentally measured and theoretically assigned through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The photo-induced CO release was verified using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, and the transfer of CO to hemoglobin (Hb) was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. The rate of CO release and transfer from Mn complex 1 is significantly faster than that from Re complex 2. Complex 2 exhibits higher cytotoxicity against HeLa cells than complex 1, with IC₅₀ values of 40.1 μM and 10.6 μM for 1 and 2, respectively, which decrease to 16.2 μM and 4.9 μM after photo irradiation. Moreover, 1 exhibited a stronger binding constant (K_b) with human serum albumin (HSA) than 2, with values of 1.6 × 10⁶ and 7.0 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively. The structures of HSA complex adducts revealed that both the resulting [Mn(CO)₃(5cpa)]⁻ and [Re(CO)₃(5cqn)]⁻ group coordinate with the N atom of His146, while four additional dissociated Mn-CO groups were observed to bind to HSA for complex 1. This study provides insights into the stability, possible metabolic pathways, and potential applications of these carbonyl complexes. Full article

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have translated the scope of cancer therapy, but their immune-restorative mechanism can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which can affect several organs with varying severity. Early identification of patients at risk of irAEs is prudent to inform clinical decisions in precision oncology and remains a challenge as current clinical and biomarker methods still lack predictive accuracy. Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a promising strategy for improving early detection, risk stratification as well as monitoring of irAEs. This narrative review summarizes the current AI modalities for detecting and predicting irAEs risk occurring with ICI therapy, including clinical Machine Learning models, radiomics-based approaches, natural language processing (NLP) systems and the integration of modalities with multimodal AI frameworks. Clinical Machine Learning models demonstrate moderate predictive performance whereas radiomics-derived modeling appears promising for pneumonitis. NLP and language models have achieved higher accuracy for retrospective irAEs detection. Multimodal AI applications offer theoretical potential through diverse data integration that captures the complex biology of irAEs; however, current evidence is limited. All these modalities face limitations of inadequate sample sizes, retrospective design, heterogeneous outcome definitions, class imbalance, and insufficient external validation. AI-based models have significant potential for personalized immunotherapy monitoring but require prospective multicenter validation, standardized datasets and clinically interpretable frameworks prior to implementation. Future advances in multimodal modeling can also enable precise prediction and early detection of irAEs, ultimately improving the safety and effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. Full article

The development of biodegradable polymer composites from renewable resources is important for reducing dependence on petroleum-based plastics and improving the sustainability of short-life-cycle products. However, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends are generally immiscible, and the reinforcing effect of alkali-treated hemp stem fiber (HSF) on their mechanical, thermal, rheological, morphological, and biodegradation behavior remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates PBS/PLA biocomposites prepared at fixed blend ratios of 90/10 and 80/20 wt.% and reinforced with 5–20 phr alkali-treated HSF. Hemp stem fibers are treated using 5 wt.% NaOH, dried, sieved, and compounded with PBS/PLA blends in an internal mixer at 190 °C and 50 rpm for 15 min, and fabricated by hot compression molding at 190 °C for 13 min. The incorporation of HSF improves composite stiffness, with the highest Young’s modulus of 306 MPa observed for the 80/20/15 composition, representing a 71% increase over neat PBS. The maximum flexural strength reaches 48 MPa for 90/10/20, while the highest flexural modulus reaches 1377 MPa for 80/20/20, representing improvements of 21% and 77%, respectively. In contrast, tensile stress at break and elongation at break generally decrease with HSF incorporation because localized fiber agglomeration, incomplete matrix wetting, and interfacial gaps limit effective stress transfer, particularly at higher HSF loadings. The MFR exhibits composition-dependent, non-monotonic behavior. The addition of PLA initially increases the MFR relative to neat PBS, whereas higher HSF loadings generally reduce the MFR due to restricted polymer chain mobility and increased resistance to melt flow. FT-IR results indicate no strong chemical interactions among PBS, PLA, and HSF, while DSC shows nearly unchanged melting temperatures but composition-dependent changes in PBS crystallinity and crystallization behavior. FESEM confirms a phase-separated PBS/PLA morphology with embedded HSF. Soil burial tests show increased weight loss with higher HSF content and exposure time, confirming enhanced biodegradation. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease closely associated with insulin resistance (IR) and disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism. Bioactive peptides derived from food are attracting increasing research attention as candidates for nutritional supplements or functional food ingredients that improve metabolic health. This study evaluated the functional food-related properties of YPWTQ (CP4), a novel peptide derived from donkey blood, and its ability to alleviate insulin resistance in HepG2 cells. Methods: CP4 was characterized based on its hemolytic activity, stability under simulated gastrointestinal digestion conditions, inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and Pancreatic lipase, and free radical scavenging capacity (DPPH·, ABTS⁺·, and O₂⁻·). Its effects on glucolipid metabolism and oxidative stress were examined in a glucosamine-induced insulin-resistant HepG2 cell model. Candidate signaling pathways associated with CP4 treatment were explored through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, combined with RT-qPCR technology. Results: CP4 exhibited low hemolytic activity and remained stable after 4 h of simulated gastrointestinal digestion. It inhibited α-glucosidase and Pancreatic lipase and exhibited antioxidant activity. In insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, CP4 increased glucose consumption, glycogen content, and cell survival, while reducing triglyceride accumulation, malondialdehyde levels, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mult omics analysis indicates that these phenotypic effects may be associated with coordinated changes in the PI3K-Akt, AGE-RAGE, Rap1, and Ras signaling pathways, as well as related genes and metabolites. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CP4, as a food-derived bioactive peptide candidate, warrants further investigation into its potential applications in the field of metabolic health. Full article

A CT-80 coiled tubing fractured at the gooseneck during retrieval after a 2.5 h treatment with 15% HCl under high-temperature bottom-hole conditions (196 °C). The failure was investigated by dimensional measurements, metallography, Vickers microhardness testing, SEM/EDS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Pronounced corrosion asymmetry was observed. Cumulative external wall loss reached 1.196 mm, compared with 0.292 mm on the inner wall, while the wall loss attributed to the final operation was approximately twelve times greater externally than internally. These findings suggest two different exposure histories: predominantly uniform attack of the outer wall during backflow of spent, inhibitor-depleted acid, and localized pitting of the inner wall under incomplete inhibitor coverage. EDS mapping identified Sb-rich deposits around inner-wall pits. In combination with the relevant literature, this distribution is consistent with a possible Sb–Fe galvanic effect that may have promoted local anodic dissolution, although galvanic coupling was not measured directly. The FT-IR spectra were consistent with iron oxides/oxyhydroxides, carbonate-containing scale, sulfate-bearing products on the outer surface, and thin organic residues rather than a continuous inhibitor film. Microhardness increased from 229 HV1 in the new tubing to 243.4 HV1 at the fracture location; this increase may reflect limited hydrogen uptake together with service-induced strain hardening or residual stresses. Fractography showed necking and dimpled microvoid coalescence, supporting a predominantly ductile overload mechanism in the corrosion-thinned section. A limited contribution of hydrogen to ductility loss cannot be excluded because the hydrogen content was not quantified. Full article

Detection of nanoplastics in drinking-water systems is only the first analytical step toward exposure interpretation; the next challenge is source attribution. This review examines molecular fingerprinting and transformation pathways that can link nanoscale polymer signals to source waters, drinking-water treatment, distribution infrastructure, packaging materials, laboratory background, or aging processes across the potable-water chain. Nanoplastics are treated here as operationally defined particles below 1 µm, including intentionally manufactured primary nanoplastics and secondary nanoplastics generated by fragmentation, abrasion, weathering, treatment, storage, or packaging stress. The synthesis evaluates how polymer identity, particle morphology, surface oxidation, additive and oligomer profiles, thermal degradation markers, matrix context, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) can be combined into defensible source assignments. Analytical platforms considered include surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), atomic force microscopy–infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy (O-PTIR), stimulated Raman scattering microscopy (SRS), pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation coupled to Py-GC/MS (AF4-Py-GC/MS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and chemometric workflows. The central conclusion is that source attribution cannot be inferred from polymer identity alone; robust interpretation requires convergent evidence from particle-level chemistry, polymer-specific mass, additive or marker-ion signatures, aging state, blanks, recovery, and contextual sampling design. Full article

The limited utilization of raw clays in the rubber industry is primarily attributed to an inadequate understanding of the complex interactions between clay minerals, their accessory minerals, and the polymer matrix. This study compares two local raw clays (SIT and KLE) with a reference industrial clay (REF) to demonstrate how differences in mineralogical composition affect the mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR)-based composites. Mineralogical characterization techniques (XRD, TGA-DSC, and IR) reveal distinct profiles: REF exhibits well-crystallized kaolinite as its dominant phase, whereas SIT contains a high proportion of quartz with less crystalline kaolinite, and KLE shows a complex mineral assemblage including swelling minerals (montmorillonite and chlorite). Microstructural analysis of NR/clay composites reveals a physical dispersion of clay particles within the polymer matrix without evidence of intercalation, with greater homogeneity observed for REF and SIT. Rheological properties indicate that curing times increase with increasing filler content, a trend that is particularly pronounced for KLE due to its interactions with the curing system. NR/REF composites outperform NR/SIT and NR/KLE in all evaluated mechanical properties, including the modulus at 300% elongation (6.1 MPa vs. 3.3 and 2.7 MPa), tensile strength, hardness, and tear resistance. This study establishes that reinforcement efficiency is directly linked to high kaolinite crystallinity, the absence of swelling minerals, and low concentrations of accessory minerals. Based on these findings, untreated local clay soils are not suitable for the manufacture of NR inner tubes and require appropriate pre-treatment prior to use. Full article