Search Results (4,980)

Highly efficient and stable non-Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) are highly desirable in energy conversion and storage systems. Herein, we report a hydrothermally synthesized metal chalcogenide cluster-based framework (NCF-3-Mn), which is decorated with transition metal complexes ([Mn(TEPA)]²⁺, TEPA = tetraethylenepentamine), for an electrocatalytic O₂ reduction reaction (ORR). Benefitting from the abundant Mn-S bonds and Mn-N-C structures in NCF-3-Mn, it was found that NCF-3-Mn displayed a high onset potential (0.90 V) and an efficient four-electron transfer reaction pathway, which are much better than those of its analogue framework (T2-GaSbS). Moreover, NCF-3-Mn also exhibited a considerable long-term stability and methanol resistance toward ORRs. This work will present new opportunities for exploring the utilization of chalcogenide frameworks as novel non-Pt electrocatalysts for ORRs. Full article

This study investigates the bond behavior of fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites with three common masonry substrates—solid clay bricks (SBs), perforated bricks (PBs), and concrete hollow blocks (HBs)—using knitted polyester grille (KPG) fabric. Through uniaxial tensile tests of the KPG fabric and FRCM system, along with single-lap and double-lap shear tests, the interfacial debonding modes, load-slip responses, and composite utilization ratio were evaluated. Key findings reveal that (i) SB and HB substrates predominantly exhibited fabric slippage (FS) or matrix–fabric (MF) debonding, while PB substrates consistently failed at the matrix–substrate (MS) interface, due to their smooth surface texture. (ii) Prism specimens with mortar joints showed enhanced interfacial friction, leading to higher load fluctuations compared to brick units. PB substrates demonstrated the lowest peak stress (69.64–74.33 MPa), while SB and HB achieved comparable peak stresses (133.91–155.95 MPa). (iii) The FRCM system only achieved a utilization rate of 12–30% in fabric and reinforcement systems. The debonding failure at the matrix–substrate interface is one of the reasons that cannot be ignored, and exploring methods to improve the bonding performance between the matrix–substrate interface is the next research direction. HB bricks have excellent bonding properties, and it is recommended to prioritize their use in retrofit applications, followed by SB bricks. These findings provide insights into optimizing the application of FRCM reinforcement systems in masonry structures. Full article

Recently, 3D-printed resins have been introduced as materials for definitive indirect restorations. Herein, a comparative assessment of the bond strengths of 3D-printed resins to a resin cement was performed. Methods: four definitive restorative materials were selected, i.e., a Feldspar ceramic (VITA Mark II, VM), a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (VITA Enamic, VE), a nanohybrid resin composite (Grandio Bloc, GB), and one 3D-printed resin (Crown Permanent, CP). VM and VE were etched and silanized, GB was sandblasted, and CP was glass bead blasted; for one further experimental group, this was followed by sandblasting (CPs). A resin cement (RelyX Unicem) was then used for bonding, and then a notched shear bond strength test (nSBS) was performed. Failure modes were observed and classified as adhesive, cohesive, or mixed, and SEM representative images were taken. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way ANOVA, Tukey, and Chi-square tests. Significant differences were detected in nSBS among materials (p < 0.001). The highest nSBS was found in VM (30.3 ± 1.8 MPa) a, followed by CP^b, GB^bc, CP^bc, and VE^c. Failure modes were significantly different (p < 0.001), and with different prevalent failure modes. The bond strength for 3D-printed permanent resin materials was shown to be lower than that of the felspathic ceramic but comparable to that of the resin block and PICN substrates. Full article

In this study, the influences of natural fibres (sugarcane bagasse (SB) and sawdust (SD)) on the material properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS) prepared through melt compounding were investigated. The study further evaluated the effects of incorporating halloysite nanotubes (HS) and expandable graphite (EG) on the properties of PBS/SD and PBS/SB binary and PBS/SB/SD hybrid composites. The morphological analysis indicated poor interfacial adhesion between PBS and the fibres. The obtained findings indicated enhancements in the complex viscosity of PBS in the presence of natural fibres, and further improvements in the presence of HS and EG. The stiffness of PBS hybrid composites also increased upon the addition of HS and EG. Moreover, the crystallization temperatures of PBS increased in the presence of fillers, with EG showing better nucleation efficiency. However, the mechanical properties (toughness and impact resilience) decreased due to the increased stiffness of the composites and the poor interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fillers, indicating the need to pre-treat the fibres to enhance compatibility. Overall, the material properties of PBS/SD/SB hybrid composites were enhanced by incorporating HS and EG at low concentrations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Solanezumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to bind soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) and facilitate its clearance from the brain, aiming to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: A systematic search was applied in four medical databases through October 2024 to identify phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials evaluating solanezumab in patients aged ≥50 years with mild AD or in preclinical stages. The primary outcomes were changes in cognitive and functional scales, including ADAS-cog14, MMSE, ADCS-ADL, and CDR-SB. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, and certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results: Seven trials involving 4181 participants were included. Solanezumab did not significantly reduce cognitive decline based on ADAS-cog14 (MD = −0.75; 95% CI: −2.65 to 1.15; very low certainty) or improve functional scores on ADCS-ADL (MD = 0.85; 95% CI: −1.86 to 3.56; very low certainty) and CDR-SB (MD = −0.15; 95% CI: −0.89 to 0.60; very low certainty). A modest but statistically significant improvement was observed in MMSE scores (MD = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.86; moderate certainty). Conclusions: While solanezumab may offer slight benefits in general cognitive performance, its overall impact on clinically meaningful outcomes remains limited. The results do not support its use as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease in either preclinical or symptomatic stages. Full article

The Matra As–Sb deposit (Alpine Corsica, France) is hosted in the normal N–S trending Matra Fault. Sulfide minerals in ore consist of realgar, stibnite, and pyrite with minor orpiment and hörnesite. The gangue includes quartz, dolomite, and calcite. In this study, the microstructural analysis of selected ore samples has been combined with the geochemical characterization of the sulfides. The results depict a succession of events that record the evolution of the ore deposit related to fault movement. In the pre–ore stage, plumose, crustiform, jigsaw, and feathery textures of quartz testify to a short–lived boiling event. The mineral assemblage of the main–ore stage includes an Fe(–Zn) substage dominated by the formation of different textures of pyrite. In general, pyrite samples contain significant concentrations of As (≤32,231 ppm) and Sb (≤10,684 ppm), with lesser amounts of by Tl (≤1257 ppm) and Ni (≤174 ppm). This is followed by an Sb–As–Fe substage of pyrite–stibnite–realgar ±orpiment. The precipitation of the sulfides was mainly driven by changes in ƒS₂. The increasing level of oxidation is attributed to a progressive influx of meteoric water resulting from reactivation of the Matra Fault. Full article

Seafood processing byproducts (SB) such as bones and skin can be safely used as food ingredients to increase profitability for the seafood sector and provide nutritional value. An online survey of 716 US adult seafood consumers was conducted to explore SB trial intent, responsiveness to health and safety information, and associated elicited emotions (nine-point Likert scale). Consumers’ SB-elicited emotions were defined as those changing in reported intensity (from a baseline condition) after the delivery of SB-related information (dependent t-tests). As criteria for practical significance, a raw mean difference of >0.2 units was used, and Cohen’s d values were used to classify effect sizes as small, medium, or large. Differences in willingness-to-try, responsiveness to safety and health information, and SB-elicited emotions were found based on self-reported gender and race, with males and Hispanics expressing more openness to SB consumption. SB-elicited emotions were then used to model consumers’ willingness-to-try foods containing SB via logistic regression modeling. Traditional stepwise variable selection was compared to variable selection using raw mean difference > 0.2 units and Cohen’s d > 0.50 constraints for SB-elicited emotions. Resulting models indicated that extrinsic information considered at the point of decision-making determined which emotions were relevant to the response. These new approaches yielded models with increased Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) values (lower values indicate better model fit) but could provide simpler and more practically meaningful models for understanding which emotions drive consumption decisions. Full article

Extreme surface winds and wave heights of tropical cyclones (TCs)—pose serious threats to coastal community, infrastructure and environments. In recent decades, progress in numerical wave modeling has significantly enhanced the ability to reconstruct and predict wave behavior. This review offers an in-depth overview of TC-related wave modeling utilizing different computational schemes, with a special attention to WAVEWATCH III (WW3) and Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN). Due to the complex air–sea interactions during TCs, it is challenging to obtain accurate wind input data and optimize the parameterizations. Substantial spatial and temporal variations in water levels and current patterns occurs when coastal circulation is modulated by varying underwater topography. To explore their influence on waves, this study employs a coupled SWAN and Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) modeling approach. Additionally, the interplay between wave and sea surface temperature (SST) is investigated by incorporating four key wave-induced forcing through breaking and non-breaking waves, radiation stress, and Stokes drift from WW3 into the Stony Brook Parallel Ocean Model (sbPOM). 20 TC events were analyzed to evaluate the performance of the selected parameterizations of external forcings in WW3 and SWAN. Among different nonlinear wave interaction schemes, Generalized Multiple Discrete Interaction Approximation (GMD) Discrete Interaction Approximation (DIA) and the computationally expensive Wave-Ray Tracing (WRT) A refined drag coefficient (C_d) equation, applied within an upgraded ST6 configuration, reduce significant wave height (SWH) prediction errors and the root mean square error (RMSE) for both SWAN and WW3 wave models. Surface currents and sea level variations notably altered the wave energy and wave height distributions, especially in the area with strong TC-induced oceanic current. Finally, coupling four wave-induced forcings into sbPOM enhanced SST simulation by refining heat flux estimates and promoting vertical mixing. Validation against Argo data showed that the updated sbPOM model achieved an RMSE as low as 1.39 m, with correlation coefficients nearing 0.9881. Full article

Biathlon activities can have negative effects on the environment due to the processes occurring during shooting, as the biathlon ammunition contains significant amounts of Pb, Cu and Sb. To determine these effects, we looked into the presence of lead-bearing particles in the vicinity of a shooting range in Rudno polje, Pokljuka, in Slovenia. Particles were collected from snow and later analysed using SEM/EDS, where we focused on the lead-bearing particles. These particles are composed of mainly lead or lead oxides/hydroxides with trace presence of Cu and Sb, both of which are commonly related to ammunition used in biathlon shooting and other shooting activities. To confirm that the particles originated from shooting, we compared them with particles taken from an indoor shooting range as dust and residue in ammunition casings. Lead-bearing particles show morphological changes that are caused by high temperatures and pressures during the shooting process. Full article

Background: Swimming coaches search for the most efficient training approach and stimuli for swimmers’ improvement. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a well-established training approach used by coaches to accelerate swimmers’ improvement. A HIIT variation, which has lately been discussed by many coaches about its possible effectiveness on performance, is Ultra Short Race Pace Training (USRPT). The present case study aimed to examine the effect of a faster-than-race pace test set (FRPtS) on the performance of a middle-distance (MD) swimmer at the freestyle events. Methods: This case study included a 21-year-old national-level MD swimmer with 16 years of swimming experience. The swimmer followed 11 weeks of FRPtS sets in a 17-week training intervention. The FRPtS sets were repeated two to three times per week, the volume ranged from 200 m to 1200 m, and the distances that were used were 25 m, 50 m, and 100 m at a faster pace than the 400 m. Descriptive statistics were implemented, recording the average with standard deviation (number in parentheses), the sum, and the percentages (%). Results: According to the results, the swimmer improved his personal best (PB) and season best (SB) performance in the events of 200 m and 400 m freestyle. Specifically, the improvement from his PB performance was 2.9% (−3.49 s) and 1.0% (−2.55 s), whereas in his SB performance it was 2.9% (−3.53 s) and 4.4% (−11.43 s) for the 200 and 400 m freestyle, respectively. Conclusions: Concluding, FRPtS is assumed to have beneficial effects on the swimming performance of MD events. However, further crossover or parallel studies on different swimming events with more participants and biomarkers must be conducted to clarify the effects of that kind of training on swimming performance. Full article

Sanghuangporus spp. are medicinal fungi with significant therapeutic value, but their taxonomic ambiguity and frequent market adulteration have hindered their standardized utilization. In this study, untargeted metabolomics based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed to systematically analyze the metabolic profiles of three Sanghuangporus species: Sanghuangporus. sanghuang (SS), Sanghuangporus. vaninii (SV), and Sanghuangporus. baumii (SB). A total of 788 metabolites were identified and classified into 16 categories, among which 97 were common differential metabolites, including bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, and terpenoids. Multivariate statistical analyses (PCA and OPLS-DA) revealed distinct metabolic patterns among the species. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the differential metabolites were mainly involved in flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthesis. Notably, SV and SB exhibited significantly higher levels of several key bioactive compounds, including Apigenin and D-glucuronolactone, compared to SS. These findings highlight substantial interspecies differences in metabolic composition and pharmacological potential, providing a scientific basis for species authentication, quality control, and medicinal development of Sanghuangporus. Full article

The article presents the first method based on high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) for the determination of timonacic (thioproline, 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, tPro) in pharmaceutical tablets and face care products (creams, sera, foundations, suncreams). Sample preparation primarily involves solid-liquid extraction (SLE) of tPro with 0.2 mol/L phosphate buffer pH 6, derivatization with 0.25 mol/L 2-chloro-1-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate (CMQT), followed by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filtration. The chromatographic separation of the stable UV-absorbing 2-S-quinolinium derivative is achieved within 14 min at 25 °C on a Zorbax SB-C18 (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column using gradient elution. The eluent consists of 0.1 mol/L trichloroacetic acid (TCA), pH 1.7, in a mixture with acetonitrile (ACN) delivered at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The analyte is quantified by monitoring at 348 nm. The assay linearity was observed within 0.5–125 μmol/L. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 0.5 μmol/L. The accuracy ranged from 93.22% to 104.31% and 97.38% to 103.48%, while precision varied from 0.30% to 11.23% and 1.13% to 9.64% for intra- and inter-assay measurements, respectively. The method was successfully applied to commercially available on the Polish market pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Full article

With the rising performance demands in road engineering, traditional experiments often fail to reveal the microscopic mechanisms behind asphalt behavior. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has emerged as a valuable complement, enabling molecular-level insights into asphalt’s composition, structure, and aging mechanisms. This review summarizes the recent advances in applying MD to asphalt research. It first outlines molecular model construction approaches, including average models, three- and four-component systems, and modified models incorporating SBS, SBR, PU, PE, and asphalt–aggregate interfaces. It then analyzes how MD reveals the key performance aspects—such as high-temperature stability, low-temperature flexibility, self-healing behavior, aging processes, and interfacial adhesion—by capturing the molecular interactions. While MD offers significant advantages, challenges remain: idealized modeling, high computational demands, limited chemical reaction simulation, and difficulties in multi-scale coupling. This paper aims to provide theoretical insights and methodological support for future studies on asphalt performance and highlights MD simulation as a promising tool in pavement material science. Full article

Aiming at the problems of complex process flow, high energy consumption, and difficult emulsification in the preparation of traditional SBS-modified emulsified asphalt, a preparation method of fast-melting SBS (referred to as SBS-T) modified emulsified asphalt based on the integration of modification and emulsification is proposed. Based on surface free energy theory, the contact angles between three rapid-melting SBS-modified emulsified asphalts with different dosages and three probe liquids (deionized water, glycerol, and formamide) were measured using the sessile drop method. The adhesion performance of the asphalt–aggregate system was studied by means of micromechanical methods. The evaluation indicators such as the cohesion work of the emulsified asphalt, the adhesion work of asphalt–aggregate, the spalling work, and the energy ratio were analyzed. The results show that the SBS-T modifier can significantly improve the thermodynamic properties of emulsified asphalt. With increasing modifier content, the SBS-T-modified emulsified asphalt demonstrated enhanced cohesive work, improved asphalt–aggregate adhesive work, and increased energy ratio, while showing reduced stripping work. At equivalent dosage levels, the SBS-T-modified emulsified asphalt demonstrates a slight improvement in adhesion performance to aggregates compared to conventional SBS-modified emulsified asphalt. The SBS-T emulsified modified asphalt provides an effective technical solution for the preventive maintenance of asphalt pavements. Full article

Nonspecific toxicity to normal and malignant cells restricts the clinical utility of many anticancer drugs. In particular, anemia in cancer patients develops due to drug-induced toxicity to red blood cells (RBCs). The anticancer alkaloid, cepharanthine (CEP), elicits distinct forms of cell death including apoptosis and autophagy, but its cytotoxicity to RBCs has not been investigated. Colorimetric and fluorometric techniques were used to assess eryptosis and hemolysis in control and CEP-treated RBCs. Cells were labeled with Fluo4/AM and annexin-V-FITC to measure Ca²⁺ and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, respectively. Forward scatter (FSC) was detected to estimate cell size, and extracellular hemoglobin along with lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate transaminase activities were assayed to quantify hemolysis. Physiological manipulation of the extracellular milieu and various signaling inhibitors were tested to dissect the underlying mechanisms of CEP-induced RBC death. CEP increased PS exposure and hemolysis indices and decreased FSC in a concentration-dependent manner with prominent membrane blebbing. Although no Ca²⁺ elevation was detected, chelation of intracellular Ca²⁺ by BAPTA-AM reduced hemolysis. Whereas SB203580, D4476, acetylsalicylic acid, necrosulfonamide, and melatonin inhibited both PS exposure and hemolysis, staurosporin, L-NAME, ascorbate, caffeine, adenine, and guanosine only prevented hemolysis. Interestingly, sucrose had a unique dual effect by exacerbating PS exposure and reversing hemolysis. Of note, blocking KCl efflux augmented PS exposure while aggravating hemolysis only under Ca²⁺-depleted conditions. CEP activates Ca²⁺-independent pathways to promote eryptosis and hemolysis. The complex cytotoxic profile of CEP can be mitigated by targeting the identified modulatory pathways to potentiate its anticancer efficacy. Full article