Search Results (136)

Urinary extracellular vesicles (U-EVs) are gaining increasing interest as non-invasive liquid biopsy tools for clinical use. Prostate cancer (PCa) is amongst the highest cancer-related cause of death in men, and therefore, the identification of non-invasive robust biomarkers is of high importance. This study assessed U-EV profiles from individuals affected by PCa at Gleason scores 6–9, compared with healthy controls. U-EVs were characterised and assessed for proteomic cargo content by LC-MS/MS analysis. The U-EV proteomes were compared for enrichment of gene ontology (GO), KEGG, and Reactome pathways, as well as disease–gene associations. U-EVs ranged in size from 50 to 350 nm, with the majority falling within the 100–200 nm size range for all groups. U-EV protein cargoes from the PCa groups differed significantly from healthy controls, with 16 protein hits unique to the GS 6–7 and 88 hits to the GS 8–9 U-EVs. Pathway analysis showed increased enrichment in the PCa U-EVs of biological process GO (5 and 37 unique to GS 6–7 and GS 8–9, respectively), molecular function GO (3 and 6 unique to GS 6–7 and GS 8–9, respectively), and cellular component GO (10 and 22 unique to GS 6–7 and GS 8–9, respectively) pathways. A similar increase was seen for KEGG pathways (11 unique to GS 8–9) and Reactome pathways (102 unique to GS 8–9). Enrichment of disease–gene associations was also increased in the PCa U-EVs, with highest differences for the GS 8–9 U-EVs (26 unique terms). The pathway enrichment in the PCa U-EVs was related to several key inflammatory, cell differentiation, cell adhesion, oestrogen signalling, and infection pathways. Unique GO and KEGG pathways enriched for the GS 8–9 U-EVs were associated with cell–cell communication, immune and stress responses, apoptosis, peptidase activity, antioxidant activity, platelet aggregation, mitosis, proteasome, mRNA stability oxytocin signalling, cardiomyopathy, and several neurodegenerative diseases. Our findings highlight U-EVs as biomarkers to inform disease pathways in prostate cancer patients and offer a non-invasive biomarker tool for clinical use. Full article

Stainless steel, due to its exceptional comprehensive properties, has been widely adopted as the primary material for liquid cargo tank containment systems and pipelines in liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. However, challenges such as hot cracking, excessive deformation, and the deterioration of welded joint performance during stainless steel welding significantly constrain the construction quality and safety of LNG carriers. While conventional tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding can produce high-integrity welds, it is inherently limited by shallow penetration depth and low efficiency. Magnetic field-assisted TIG welding technology addresses these limitations by introducing an external magnetic field, which effectively modifies arc morphology, refines grain structure, enhances penetration depth, and improves corrosion resistance. In this study, TIG bead-on-plate welding was performed on 304 stainless steel plates, with a systematic investigation into the dynamic arc behavior during welding, as well as the microstructure and anti-corrosion properties of the deposited metal. The experimental results demonstrate that, in the absence of a magnetic field, the welding arc remains stable without deflection. As the intensity of the alternating magnetic field intensity increases, the arc exhibits pronounced periodic oscillations. At an applied magnetic field intensity of 30 mT, the maximum arc deflection angle reaches 76°. With increasing alternating magnetic field intensity, the weld penetration depth gradually decreases, while the weld width progressively expands. Specifically, at 30 mT, the penetration depth reaches a minimum value of 1.8 mm, representing a 44% reduction compared to the non-magnetic condition, whereas the weld width peaks at 9.3 mm, corresponding to a 9.4% increase. Furthermore, the ferrite grains in the weld metal are significantly refined at higher alternating magnetic field intensities. The weld metal subjected to a 30 mT alternating magnetic field exhibits the highest breakdown potential, the lowest corrosion rate, and the most protective passive film, indicating superior corrosion resistance compared to other tested conditions. Full article

Background: Identifying liquid biopsy biomarkers with high efficacy is crucial for cancer diagnosis. Exosomal cargo, including miRNAs and proteins, offers enhanced stability in biofluids compared with their free circulating forms, but direct comparisons of their diagnostic performance remain limited. This study evaluates and compares the diagnostic value of selected miRNAs and protein markers in exosomal versus non-exosomal fractions across stages of lung carcinogenesis in a rat model. Methods: Lung cancer was induced in rats, and blood and lung tissue samples were collected at consecutive stages of tumor induction. We investigated the expression patterns of key miRNAs (miR-19b, miR-21, and miR-145) in exosomes, serum, and tissue and quantified levels of tumor biomarkers CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in exosomal and serum fractions. Results: Our results revealed distinct expression patterns of the evaluated miRNAs across exosomes, serum, and tissue, throughout different stages of tumor induction. The expression of exosomal miRNAs dynamically changed in parallel with the tumor induction process, demonstrating high diagnostic efficacy. Specifically, exosomal miR-19b and miR-21 were significantly upregulated from an early induction stage, whereas their serum and tissue forms increased only during the late stages of induction. On the other hand, miR-145 was consistently downregulated across all fractions at every stage. Both exosomal and serum CEA levels increased significantly during tumor induction, while serum CYFRA 21-1 outperformed its exosomal counterpart. Strong positive correlations linked exosomal miR-19b and miR-145 with their non-exosomal counterparts, while moderate correlations were seen for miR-21 and the protein markers. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the value of integrating exosomal biomarkers in liquid biopsies, highlighting their potential to improve early detection and monitoring of lung cancer development. Full article

Coacervate is a form of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in which a solution containing one or more charged components spontaneously separates into two immiscible liquid phases. Due to their ability to mimic membraneless cellular environments and their high biocompatibility, coacervates have found broad applications across various fields of life sciences. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in biomolecule-based coacervation for biotechnological and biomedical applications. Encapsulation via biomolecule-based coacervation enables high encapsulation efficiency, enhanced stability, and the sustained release of cargos. In the field of tissue engineering, coacervates not only support cell adhesion and proliferation but also serve as printable bioinks with tunable rheological properties for 3D bioprinting. Moreover, biomolecule-based coacervates have been utilized to mimic membraneless organelles, serving as experimental models to understand the origin of life or investigate the mechanisms of biochemical compartmentalization. This review discusses the mechanisms of coacervation induced by various types of biomolecules, evaluates their respective advantages and limitations in applied contexts, and outlines future research directions. Given their modularity and biocompatibility, biomolecule-based coacervates are expected to play a pivotal role in next-generation therapeutic development and the construction of controlled tissue microenvironments, especially when integrated with emerging technologies. Full article

Inland waterway transportation is critical for the movement of hazardous liquid cargoes. To prevent contamination when transporting different types of liquids, certain shipments necessitate tank cleaning at designated stations between tasks. This process often requires detours, which can decrease operational efficiency. This study addresses the Tank Cleaning Station Location and Cleaning Task Assignment (TCSL-CTA) problem, with the objective of minimizing total system costs, including the construction and operational costs of tank cleaning stations, as well as the detour costs incurred by ships visiting these stations. We formulate the problem as a mixed-integer programming (MIP) model and prove that it can be reformulated into a partially relaxed MIP model, preserving optimality while enhancing computational efficiency. We further analyze key mathematical properties, showing that the assignment constraint matrix is totally unimodular, enabling efficient relaxation, and that the objective function exhibits submodularity, reflecting diminishing returns in facility investment. A case study on the Yangtze River confirms the model’s effectiveness, where the optimized plan resulted in detour costs accounting for only 5.2% of the total CNY 4.23 billion system cost and achieved an 89.1% average station utilization. Managerial insights reveal that early construction and balanced capacity allocation significantly reduce detour costs. This study provides a practical framework for long-term tank cleaning infrastructure planning, contributing to cost-effective and sustainable inland waterway logistics. Full article

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) produced by members of the intestinal microbiota can not only contribute to digestion but also mediate microbe–host cell communication via the transfer of functional biomolecules to mammalian host cells. An unresolved question is which host factors and conditions influence BEV cargo and how they impact host cell function. To address this question, we analysed and compared the proteomes of BEVs released by the major human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) in vivo in fed versus fasted animals using nano-liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). Among the proteins whose abundance was negatively affected by fasting, nine of ten proteins of the serine protease family, including the regulatory protein dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), were significantly decreased in BEVs produced in the GITs of fasted animals. Strikingly, in extracellular vesicles produced by the intestinal epithelia of the same fasted mice, the proteins with the most increased abundance were serine protease inhibitors (serpins). Together, these findings suggest a dynamic interaction between GI bacteria and the host. Additionally, they indicate a regulatory role for the host in determining the balance between bacterial serine proteases and host serpins exported in bacterial and host extracellular vesicles. Full article

Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms undergirding artemisinin (ART) resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is currently based on two organizing principles: reduced hemoglobin trafficking into the digestive food vacuole, resulting in lower levels of activated ART, and increased tolerance to ART-induced oxidative stress in the infected erythrocyte. We had previously proposed an extracellular vesicle (EV) export model of ART resistance in P. falciparum. This model predicts that EV abundance will be altered by ART exposure and that the peptide cargo of EVs from the ART-exposed condition will be enriched with aggregation-prone peptides. We tested the predictions of the EV export hypothesis in this study using in vitro culture assays of an ART-resistant transgenic line engineered on a 3D7 background (R561H) and a 3D7 knock-out line (PfVps60KO) with deficient EV production phenotype. EV enrichment was obtained from in vitro parasite culture supernatants via a series of ultracentrifugation and filtration steps, followed by size exclusion chromatography. A quality check on EVs was performed using dynamic light scattering. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine the proteome cargo from extracted EVs, and parasite peptides were queried for aggregation-prone tendency using open-access software. We report that dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exposure was positively correlated with EV abundance (coefficient estimate = 1038.58, confidence interval of 194.86–1882.30, and p-value = 0.018) and suggests that EV biogenesis is part of the parasite’s response to DHA/ART. Furthermore, our findings suggest the expression of a non-constitutive DHA-induced alternate EV biogenesis pathway as the PfVps60KO was observed to produce the highest number of EVs under DHA exposure. Finally, we show that EVs from both ART-susceptible and resistant parasites under DHA exposure carry a cargo of Chorein N-terminal domain-containing protein (PF3D7_1021700) with a high aggregation-prone index (prion-like domain [PrLD] score = 26.5) out of nine identified parasite peptides. The former of these findings is in concordance with the EV export hypothesis, which posits that the removal of DHA/ART-induced aggregated and/or misfolded peptides is critical to the parasite’s survival under DHA/ART exposure. This observation further implicates EVs in the development of the ART-resistant phenotype. However, the finding of one aggregation-prone peptide out of the nine parasite proteins in the EV cargo does not sufficiently support the EV export hypothesis. Future replicates of this study and further interrogations of the EV export hypothesis are needed. Full article

Berthing operation heterogeneity across ship types causes significant uncertainty in assessing port congestion and carbon emissions over comparable timeframes. This study quantifies in-port emission dynamics for four cargo ship types (container, liquid bulk, dry bulk, and general cargo) using an operational phase-specific emission accounting model. We propose a hybrid deep learning model that integrates Two-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks (2DCNN) with Squeeze-and-Excitation Attention Mechanisms (SEAM) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Networks (BiLSTM) layers, optimized via the Triangulation Topology Aggregation Optimizer (TTAO) for hyperparameter tuning. Empirical analysis at Ningbo Zhoushan Port shows that liquid bulk carriers emit 23–41% more than other ship types due to extended auxiliary engine/boiler use during cargo handling. The 2DCNN-SEAM model significantly improves BiLSTM prediction accuracy—reducing Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) by 18.7% and increasing the R² value to 0.94—by effectively capturing spatiotemporal congestion features. Results confirm that operational congestion is a critical emission multiplier, especially for ships requiring prolonged auxiliary system use during berthing. These insights inform targeted decarbonization strategies for port authorities, prioritizing operational efficiency and energy transition for high-emission ship categories. Full article

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Its complex pathogenesis and metastasis pose significant challenges for early diagnosis, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and non-invasive tumor screening methods. Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles that reflect the physiological and pathological states of their parent cells, are uniquely suited for cancer liquid biopsy due to their molecular cargo, including RNA, DNA, and proteins. However, traditional methods for exosome isolation and detection are often limited by inadequate sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency. Nanopore technology, characterized by high sensitivity and single-molecule resolution, offers powerful tools for exosome analysis. This review highlights its diverse applications in tumor screening, such as magnetic nanopores for high-throughput sorting, electrochemical sensing for real-time detection, nanomaterial-based assemblies for efficient capture, and plasmon resonance for ultrasensitive analysis. These advancements have enabled precise exosome detection and demonstrated promising potential in the early diagnosis of breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, while also supporting personalized treatment strategies. Additionally, this review summarizes commercialized products for exosome-based cancer diagnostics and examines the technical and translational challenges in clinical applications. Finally, it discusses the future prospects of nanopore technology in advancing liquid biopsy toward clinical implementation. The continued progress of nanopore technology not only accelerates exosome-based precision medicine but also represents a significant step forward in next-generation liquid biopsy and tumor screening. Full article

Tank vehicles are highly prone to rollover accidents, especially on curved–slope combination sections, which can cause hazardous chemical spills, endangering the environment, public safety, and human health. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct research aimed at reducing the risk of such incidents. Method: The rollover risk of tank vehicles under various loading conditions while traveling on curved–slope combination sections was investigated using driver–vehicle–road dynamics simulation. A multiple linear regression model was then developed to further quantify the impact of key factors on the rollover risk. Results: The results revealed that the road curve radius, vehicle operating speed, and liquid cargo fill level have the greatest impact on a tank vehicle’s rollover risk, and higher fill levels, higher speeds, and steeper downhill slopes all amplify the impact of curve radius on the rollover risk. In some cases, adhering to the road’s speed limit alone was insufficient to ensure the safe passage of the tank vehicle through curves. Conclusions: This study introduced, for the first time, a rollover risk assessment model for tank vehicles operating on curved–slope combination sections. The findings reveal effective methods to improve the transportation safety of tank vehicles. Practical Applications: The findings of this study can assist transportation agencies in selecting routes with lower rollover risks for tank vehicles with different configurations, as well as guide the development of loading standards and curve speed limits. This will effectively reduce rollover accidents of tank vehicles and support sustainable, safer transportation practices. Full article

In the past decade, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have garnered significant attention across diverse applications, including surveillance, cargo shipping, and agricultural spraying. Despite their widespread deployment, concerns about maintaining stability and safety, particularly when carrying payloads, persist. The development of such UAV platforms necessitates the implementation of robust control mechanisms to ensure stable and precise maneuvering capabilities. Numerous UAV operations require the integration of payloads, which introduces substantial stability challenges. Notably, operations involving unstable payloads such as liquid or slung payloads pose a considerable challenge in this regard, falling into the category of mismatched uncertain systems. This study focuses on establishing stability for slung payload-carrying systems. Our approach involves a combination of various algorithms: the incremental backstepping control algorithm (IBKS), integrator backstepping (IBS), Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID), and the Sparse Online Gaussian Process (SOGP), a machine learning technique that identifies and mitigates disturbances. With a comparison of linear and nonlinear methodologies through different scenarios, an investigation for an effective solution has been performed. Implementation of the machine learning component, employing SOGP, effectively detects and counteracts disturbances. Insights are discussed within the remit of rejecting liquid sloshing disturbance. Full article

This study addresses the control challenges associated with loading low-pressure liquid carbon dioxide carriers (LCO2Cs), which are crucial components of the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) chain. It explores the need for stable pressure and temperature control to prevent dry ice formation and ensure efficient cargo handling. The research employed HYSYS dynamic simulations to assess three different control strategies. The simulations assessed each strategy’s effectiveness in maintaining stable operating conditions and preventing risks, such as dry ice formation and valve blockages. The study concluded by examining the necessity of pressurization for safe and efficient LCO₂ loading and by determining which control strategy is most effective and reliable based on the simulation outcomes. Among the three scenarios examined, Case A, which utilized two control valves, exhibited initial instability due to significant flow coefficient differences, resulting in temperature drops below the CO₂ triple point and increasing the risk of dry ice formation. Case C, operating without pressurization, experienced severe pressure fluctuations and prolonged exposure to temperatures below the triple point, posing risks of valve blockages. In contrast, Case B, which uses a remote pressure-reducing valve and a control valve, demonstrated the most stable performance, effectively avoiding dry ice formation and pressure fluctuations, making it the most reliable method for safe LCO₂ cargo loading. Full article

Background: Biomarkers for HNSCC are still lacking. Biomolecules obtained via liquid biopsy are being investigated for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring, including extracellular vesicles (EVs) and EV-cargo, e.g., proteins, RNA, and microRNA. This study aims to understand localization-dependent EV-microRNA expression in blood sera, their dynamics over time (12 months FU), and insights into their potential in diagnostics and therapy monitoring. Methods: Via liquid biopsy, blood serum was taken from 50 patients with HNSCC and 16 controls. Extracellular vesicles were isolated from serum by precipitation, and the contained microRNA-21, -1246, -200c, -let-7a, -181a, and -26a were amplified by reverse transcription and determined with real-time PCR. Expression ratios (HNSCC to healthy controls) were collated with the patients’ clinical parameters. A second liquid biopsy was carried out avg. 12 months later in the tumor aftercare. A sub-analysis with the Oropharynx subsite was implemented. Results: EV-mir-21, -let-7a, and -181a were 2.5–3-fold higher expressed in HPV/p16+ than in HPV/p16- HNSCC. Different expressions of EV-mir-181a and -26a could be demonstrated depending on the therapy modality. Conclusions: EV-microRNA could be a promising biomarker in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of HNSCC. A systematic comparison of EV- and tissue microRNA expression in different HNSCC-subsites is needed. Full article

Submerged cargo pumps installed on board tankers are one of the most important components of their cargo system. As they are installed directly in the cargo tanks, they are usually equipped with a hydraulic drive whose power and capacity are controlled by constant-torque controllers. These have a significant impact on the technical and performance characteristics of the cargo pumps. This paper presents a methodology for calculating the performance characteristics of submerged cargo pumps, taking into account the energy efficiency of their hydraulic drive motors. Due to their number and power, the cargo pumps are powered from the ship’s hydraulic central loading system. This paper describes the main parts of the hydraulic power system structure and the functions of the constant torque controller of the STC type. A mathematical model has been developed to use the basic characteristics of submerged cargo pumps made for the base cargo (water) sent by the pump manufacturer for the case of handling liquid cargo with different parameters. The model considers the characteristics of the hydraulic drive, including a Bosch Rexroth A2FM type hydraulic drive motor and a constant torque controller. The results of simulation calculations of the performance characteristics of an example cargo pump are presented and compared with measurements of the characteristics of this pump on a product tanker. The mathematical model presented in this paper is of utilitarian value, enabling calculations to be carried out without the need for time-consuming CFD numerical methods, making it useful for port and fuel terminal logistics services, ship crews and services managing the operation of product tanker fleets. Full article

Owing to the increasing g lobal demand for natural gas, the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers has become a key trend in the shipbuilding market. In the design of membrane-type LNG carriers, a sloshing analysis is crucial for cargo containment systems (CCSs). In this study, structural responses due to impulsive sloshing loads were observed, including the effects of hydroelasticity and the test medium. To this end, the structural responses were first observed with and without hydroelastic coupling between the liquid and structure. When fluid–structure coupling is considered, a finite element analysis is performed for the integrated structure of the hull and CCS. This method was then applied to evaluate the capacity and safety of the inner hull structures of actual LNG vessels in cases where different sloshing pressures occurred owing to the different liquid–gas media. The structural capacity was evaluated using the utilization factor (UT). The results confirm that the effects of the hydroelasticity, density ratio, and phase transition of the experimental medium are essential for the evaluation of the structural responses of LNG CCSs. Full article