Search Results (897)

Neonatal defense against pathogens relies on maternal antibodies transferred both through the placenta (IgG) and through breast milk (primarily secretory IgA). Maternal IgG antibodies are transferred across the placenta to the fetus mainly via the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which is expressed at high levels in placental syncytiotrophoblasts, and results in the acquisition of maternal-fetal IgG. Transplacental transfer via the FcRn pathway can provide therapeutic proteins and protective antibodies following maternal vaccination. However, maternal IgG antibodies can bind to vaccine antigens such as measles, tetanus, and poliovirus, resulting in rapid clearance through FcgRIIB-mediated inhibition and inadequate B cell activation. In this way, they can inhibit de novo immune responses and significantly reduce vaccine response. On the other hand, the interference that breast milk-derived antibodies may have on vaccine-induced immunity is still largely unknown. Vaccination against influenza, pertussis, and COVID-19 during pregnancy or lactation has been shown to induce the production of protective, pathogen-specific, secretory IgA and IgG antibodies in breast milk. Conversely, studies found that breast milk-derived antibodies of vaccinated mothers reduced vaccine-induced immunity in breastfed infants by accelerating the clearance of vaccine antigen, resulting in reduced antigen availability and reduced plasma cell formation after vaccination. Additional factors in middle- and low-income countries, including environmental (increased microbiome diversity, environmental intestinal dysfunction, malnutrition, co-infections) and breastfeeding practices, may exacerbate the interference effect of maternal antibodies. Current evidence supports that breastfeeding is associated with a reduced immunological response exclusively to the rotavirus vaccine. However, the limited evidence base to date precludes definitive conclusions regarding the role of breast milk-derived antibodies in modulating vaccine-induced immunity. Nevertheless, the evidence suggests that although maternal antibodies may theoretically reduce vaccine immunogenicity, the overall protective benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential interference with vaccine responses. Full article

2-Ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is among the most widely adopted organic UVB filters in commercial sunscreens. Nevertheless, its practical application potential is limited by unfavorable formulation compatibility and safety risks stemming from systemic exposure after topical administration. In this study, an oil-continuous structured gel matrix consisting of EHMC, disteardimonium hectorite (DDH) and dextrin palmitate (DP) was constructed to enhance UVB photoprotection and modulate the plasma exposure profile of EHMC following topical application. Comprehensive characterizations including rheology, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and SEM collectively revealed that the combined incorporation of DDH and DP facilitates matrix structural rearrangement, enables EHMC to bind within the structured network, and promotes the formation of more intact continuous surface films. In vitro SPF assays demonstrated that the finished topical formulation SC-4 delivered superior UVB blocking efficacy compared with the EHMC-only control SC-1; furthermore, SC-4 exhibited improved short-term physical stability under the preset thermal and centrifugal acceleration test conditions. Follow-up skin safety assessments, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and pharmacokinetic assays verified that SC-4 elicited no remarkable acute skin irritation across all experimental conditions. Relative to SC-1, the reference formulation with EHMC as the sole UV filter, SC-4 displayed weaker EHMC-related distribution signals in skin tissues, accompanied by lower early plasma EHMC concentrations and a slightly lower AUC_0–48h trend. Collectively, these findings indicate that DDH/DP co-assembly serves as a viable matrix-structuring strategy to modulate EHMC-related skin distribution and early plasma exposure. Further research into UVA blocking performance, photostability, skin retention and transdermal permeation profiles, as well as long-term storage stability, is required to advance the development of broad-spectrum sunscreen formulations built on this novel matrix platform. Full article

To address the issue of depositing thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on rotating curved surfaces, atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) was employed to prepare yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings on a rotating curved substrate. Three standoff distances of 80 mm, 100 mm and 120 mm were selected. The microstructure, microhardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness of three YSZ coatings were tested. The results indicate that as the standoff distance increased from 80 mm to 120 mm, porosity increased from 11.27% to 13.29%, microhardness decreased from 760.8 HV_0.3 to 713.2 HV_0.3, elastic modulus decreased from 24.0 GPa to 22.6 GPa, and fracture toughness decreased from 1.14 MPa·m^1/2 to 1.04 MPa·m^1/2. The properties of the YSZ coating in the case, such as elastic modulus and fracture toughness, were significantly lower than those of the YSZ coating deposited on stationary planar substrates. Solidification of the molten particles impacted on rotating curved substrates was accelerated and splat spreading was constrained because of the coupled effect of centrifugal force and elevated cooling rate. Therefore, under identical spraying parameters, the process parameters optimized for planar substrates cannot be directly transferred to rotating curved components. Full article

Diabetic wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to impaired healing associated with persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, and microvascular dysfunction. Plasma-based therapies have emerged as promising approaches for promoting tissue repair; however, comparative evidence regarding different plasma modalities remains limited. In this study, we evaluated and compared the effects of atmospheric pressure cold plasma (APCP) and plasma-activated water (PAW) on wound healing in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Forty Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: isotonic wet dressing, hydrocolloid dressing, APCP treatment, PAW application, and a non-diabetic control group. Wound healing was assessed using macroscopic evaluation, histopathological analysis, and biochemical measurements of systemic oxidative status. PAW treatment significantly accelerated wound closure during the early healing phase compared with conventional dressing methods (p < 0.05). Histological findings demonstrated enhanced re-epithelialization, increased collagen deposition, and improved follicular regeneration in the PAW group. Although total oxidant status (TOS) did not differ significantly among groups (p = 0.996), total antioxidant status (TAS) was significantly increased following PAW treatment (p < 0.05), indicating a more favorable systemic antioxidant profile. These findings suggest an association between improved wound healing and a more favorable systemic antioxidant profile following PAW treatment. However, because local wound-level redox parameters and molecular markers were not assessed, the contribution of redox-related mechanisms remains to be clarified. Moreover, PAW demonstrated superior therapeutic efficacy compared with direct plasma application, highlighting its potential as a non-invasive approach for diabetic wound management. Full article

Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), a subfamily of aquaporins (AQPs), play critical roles in various physiological processes in plants, including the transport of water and CO₂, regulation of stomatal movement, absorption of neutral molecules and nutrients, and H₂O₂ signaling. Nevertheless, the functions of PIP aquaporins in adventitious root formation in trees are still poorly understood. PtrPIP2:4 is specifically expressed in roots, and PtrPIP2:4 fused with GFP localizes to the plasma membrane. Overexpression of PtrPIP2:4 significantly accelerated adventitious root induction in poplar. Stem cuttings from overexpression lines exhibited more rapid rooting compared to wild-type (WT) plants, although the total number of adventitious roots did not differ significantly. Additionally, the number of lateral roots was markedly increased in PtrPIP2:4 overexpression lines. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 4204 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between WT and PtrPIP2:4 overexpression plants. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes associated with auxin-related and flavonoid biosynthesis were significantly enriched. RT-qPCR results showed that the transcription levels of nine auxin-related genes (i.e., PtrARF, PtrIAA, PtrGH3 and PtrPIN) were significantly upregulated, while the transcription levels of five flavonoid synthesis genes (i.e., PtrDFR, PtrANS, PtrANR and PtrLAR) were also significantly upregulated. Previous studies have implicated these genes in adventitious root formation. Collectively, these findings reveal that PtrPIP2:4 accelerates adventitious root emergence, promotes adventitious root elongation, and increases lateral root number while the total number of adventitious roots exhibited no significant difference in poplar, suggesting its potential utility in improving tree propagation and breeding strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reliable quality control (QC) materials are essential for maintaining the analytical performance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening assays. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used for point-of-care HCV screening; however, standardized plasma-based internal quality control (IQC) materials compatible with both rapid tests and automated immunoassays remain limited. This study aimed to develop and evaluate plasma-based QC materials applicable to multiple anti-HCV RDTs and automated immunoassays. Methods: QC materials were prepared from pooled HCV-positive plasma at strong-positive, weak-positive, and negative levels in liquid and lyophilized formats. Lyophilized preparations were produced with and without trehalose, while liquid samples were prepared with and without a stabilizer. Performance was evaluated using five anti-HCV RDT kits and the Elecsys Anti-HCV II automated immunoassay platform. Stability was assessed under accelerated temperature conditions (45 °C for 28 days) and long-term storage (2–8 °C and 20–30 °C for six months). Signal trends were analyzed using linear regression (p > 0.05), and homogeneity was evaluated using one-way analysis of variance and Cochran’s C test. Results: All QC formulations demonstrated consistent qualitative reactivity across the evaluated RDT kits and stable responses on the automated immunoassay platform. Lyophilized plasma containing trehalose maintained stable cut-off index (COI) values during accelerated and long-term storage, with no significant time-dependent trends (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Trehalose-stabilized lyophilized materials demonstrated enhanced stability and acceptable homogeneity, supporting practical applicability under the tested storage conditions across the evaluated rapid tests, and within the evaluated moderate-to-high positive analytical ranges on the automated anti-HCV immunoassay platform. Full article

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a novel antimicrobial therapy for wound management; however, in vivo evidence for nitrogen-based CAP across distinct wound types remains limited. This consolidated pilot study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of a nitrogen CAP device using two specific pathogen-free (SPF) minipig models: partial-thickness burns (n = 2, 20 wounds) and full-thickness excisional wounds (n = 1, 10 wounds). Wounds were assigned to the vehicle control or plasma treatment (six sessions over 14 days). Microbial bioburden was quantified on tryptic soy agar (TSA) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). At day 14, animal-level analysis showed TSA reductions of 67.8–73.4% (pooled Cohen’s d = 2.10; presented as a descriptive pilot effect-size estimate) and SDA reductions of 58.4–68.5%. Wound-level linear mixed-effects model sensitivity analysis suggested reductions on both TSA and SDA, with a non-significant treatment × wound type interaction. Exploratory histopathology showed a trend toward accelerated epithelialization, with no device-related adverse events. These findings provide preliminary in vivo evidence that nitrogen-based CAP reduced cultivable bacterial and fungal burden in both wound types and support the design of adequately powered confirmatory studies. Full article

Background: Chronic exposure to artificial light at night (light pollution) causes circadian desynchronosis and melatonin deficiency, which is considered an independent driver of metabolic disorders and accelerated aging. However, the long-term effects of chronic desynchronosis on systemic metabolism and liver structure throughout the life cycle, as well as the potential of preventive melatonin administration, remain poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the effects of chronic dark deprivation and prevention of metabolic disorders by exogenous melatonin on plasma melatonin levels, metabolic profile, liver function, and morphological changes in rats over a 24-month experiment. Methods: A 24-month experiment was conducted on 360 male Wistar rats divided into three groups: control (standard 10:14 h light/dark photoperiod), dark deprivation (DD, constant illumination), and correction (DD+Mel, constant illumination + melatonin 10 mg/kg five times per week). Animals were sacrificed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Plasma melatonin was assessed by ELISA. Biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, LDH, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol), body weight, liver weight, relative liver weight, and histological parameters (steatosis, fibrosis, nuclear area, nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, and binucleated hepatocytes) were analyzed. Results: In the DD group, a persistent progressive melatonin deficiency was detected (5.1-fold decrease by 6 months, p < 0.0005), accompanied by hypertriglyceridemia (Cohen’s d = 6.40), hypercholesterolemia (d = 4.59), biphasic dysglycemia (hypoglycemia followed by hyperglycemia), elevated ALT and AST activity (d = 2.60 and 2.46, respectively), hypoproteinemia (d = 5.33), hypoalbuminemia (d = 3.34), and hyperbilirubinemia (d = 3.22–4.37), as well as progressive steatosis (2.8 ± 0.3 points, d = 7.20) and pericellular fibrosis (1.8 ± 0.4 points, d = 4.50). In the DD group, a decrease in relative liver weight during the first 12 months was observed (metabolic disproportion, d = 2.31), reflecting disproportionate body weight gain. In the DD+Mel group, exogenous melatonin restored the biochemical parameters to values that did not differ statistically from the control values (Cohen’s d < 0.2 for most parameters), prevented steatosis (0.8 ± 0.3 points, d = 0.80) and fibrosis (0 points), increased relative liver weight by 24 months (3.83 ± 0.49 vs. 3.27 ± 0.029 in the control, d = 1.60), and increased the hepatocyte nuclear area (58.4 ± 4.1 vs. 48.6 ± 3.8 μm², d = 2.32). Conclusions: Chronic desynchronosis induced by constant illumination leads to persistent melatonin deficiency and complex metabolic and structural liver disturbances modeling accelerated aging. Exogenous melatonin (10 mg/kg five times per week) exhibits pronounced geroprotective, hepatoprotective, and antifibrotic effects, normalizing all biochemical parameters and preventing age-related liver involution. Full article

Objectives: Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is an established technique for bone regeneration but is associated with prolonged consolidation time and extended external fixation. Biophysical and biologic adjuncts have been proposed to accelerate regenerative maturation. This systematic review aimed to comparatively evaluate the available clinical evidence regarding low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and biologic augmentation strategies in distraction osteogenesis. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251125456). MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to October 2025. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies evaluating LIPUS, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cells, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy in distraction osteogenesis were included. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized trials and structured domain-based criteria for observational studies. Due to substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Nine studies involving 304 participants met the inclusion criteria, including randomized controlled trials and cohort studies across multiple anatomical sites and fixation techniques. Randomized trials evaluating LIPUS demonstrated inconsistent reductions in healing index and consolidation time, with no consistent effect on complication rates. Biologic adjuncts such as PRP, BMAC, and cell-based therapies showed signals of improved consolidation parameters in selected studies; however, evidence was limited by small sample sizes and methodological heterogeneity. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy lacked sufficient high-quality evidence to support routine use. Overall, the certainty of evidence was constrained by variability in study design, outcome definitions, and risk of bias. Conclusions: Although both biophysical and biologic adjuncts demonstrate compelling biological rationale, current clinical evidence in distraction osteogenesis remains heterogeneous and inconclusive. Biologic strategies may offer theoretical advantages through direct cellular and growth factor supplementation, whereas LIPUS provides non-invasive mechanotransductive stimulation; however, neither approach can currently be recommended for routine clinical use. High-quality, adequately powered trials with standardized outcome reporting are required to define their true clinical role. Level of Evidence: Level III (Systematic review of Level I–III studies). Full article

One of the main technological challenges in plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) research and development is achieving stable and reproducible acceleration. In particular, for PWFA schemes based on particle-driven plasma wave excitation, beam stability and timing jitter are increasingly critical. In these configurations, magnetic or radio-frequency (RF) compression schemes are often used, and the beam time-of-arrival jitter at the end of the linear accelerator can be strongly correlated with the phase noise of RF accelerating structures operated off-crest. For this reason, since 2008, an RF phase fast-feedback system acting within each RF pulse has been successfully implemented at Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (LNF-INFN) at the Sources for Plasma Accelerators and Radiation Compton with Laser And Beam (SPARC_LAB) facility, operating on both S-band ($2.856$ GHz) and C-band ($5.712$ GHz) klystrons. This paper presents the upgrade and optimization of the fast-feedback system for an S-band klystron powered by a pulse-forming network modulator. This technology introduces significantly higher intrinsic phase noise than, for instance, solid state-based modulators. It is therefore essential to minimize such phase fluctuations to keep the machine stability under control. Both the feedback hardware (electronic boards and RF circuitry) and the software (controller and user interface) have been upgraded. Tests performed at SPARC_LAB achieved a reduction in klystron-induced jitter of a factor of 30, reaching values below 15 fs rms on both power plants. Moreover, adding a remote control of the feedback loop enabled a straightforward optimization of the operating point, allowing the phase stability performance to be pushed close to its practical limits. A detailed analysis of RF phase noise measurements with the fast-feedback loop in operation is also presented. Full article

When placing dental implants, xenografts are most commonly used clinically to compensate for the insufficient bone volume of patients. However, xenografts have limitations including low osteoinductive capacity and prolonged healing time. This study aimed to determine whether non-thermal plasma treatment could enhance the regenerative performance of bovine cancellous bone graft (SANTA-OSS^®) in a rabbit calvarial defect model. Twenty-four adult male New Zealand white rabbits received bilateral 8 mm critical-size calvarial defects. One defect was filled with untreated SANTA-OSS (control) and the contralateral defect with plasma-treated SANTA-OSS using the ACTILINK™ Reborn device. Animals were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks (n = 8 per group) for histomorphometric analysis. The plasma-treated group showed significantly higher new bone area (14.12 ± 0.69%, 18.93 ± 0.68%, and 32.72 ± 0.61% at 2, 4, and 8 weeks) than the control at all time points (p < 0.05). In addition, the experimental group exhibited accelerated graft resorption, larger bone marrow area, greater blood vessel area, and more TRAP-positive osteoclasts compared with the control (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this study, non-thermal plasma treatment significantly enhanced new bone formation and promoted favorable graft remodeling, while also accelerating graft resorption, increasing bone marrow area, and improving vascularization. These findings suggest that simple chairside plasma activation can improve the regenerative performance of xenografts. Full article

Thyroid cancer comprises biologically diverse entities ranging from largely indolent differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) to aggressive poorly differentiated/anaplastic thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer, generating a need for minimally invasive biomarkers that can be repeatedly sampled. This review summarizes recent advances in liquid biopsy for thyroid cancer, focusing on analytes and technologies spanning circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)/cell-free DNA, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). For ctDNA, we contrast qPCR/ddPCR and next-generation sequencing, tumor-informed versus tumor-agnostic strategies, the impact of low tumor fraction in DTC, clonal hematopoiesis confounding, and emerging methylation-based multi-cancer detection paradigms. For miRNAs, we highlight that bulk serum/plasma and EV-enriched compartments are not interchangeable and that regulated EV loading supports fraction-resolved biomarker development. We review recent translational EV-miRNA studies, including externally validated classifiers for metastatic disease and follicular-patterned/indeterminate nodules, and summarize the evolution of CTC research from enumeration to preoperative risk stratification and postoperative or radioiodine-related kinetics. We conclude with an indications-first framework that pairs analyte choice with clinical intent (preoperative diagnosis, initial risk stratification, response to treatment and minimal residual disease and identification of actionable alterations and resistance mechanisms) and prioritizes standardized workflows and prospective multicenter validation. Multi-analyte integration, epigenetic/fragmentomic cfDNA signals, and higher-resolution EV analytics are likely to accelerate clinical adoption, particularly in advanced thyroid cancer where circulating signal and therapeutic actionability are highest. Full article

The safe and stable operation of air-insulated switchgear (AIS) in high-altitude and low-pressure environments is significantly affected by partial discharge (PD), which accelerates insulation aging and may threaten power system reliability. Therefore, effective online monitoring and fault diagnosis methods are of considerable engineering importance. This paper proposes a PD-type recognition method based on the concentration ratio of two characteristic decomposition gases, CO and NO₂. First, a hybrid numerical model coupling fluid dynamics and plasma chemistry was established to simulate the microscopic decomposition mechanism of air discharge. The simulation results indicate that CO and NO₂ are relatively stable and detectable among the considered air-discharge products and that their generation is promoted by increased average electron energy under low-pressure conditions. Subsequently, an experimental platform was developed to simulate three typical insulation defects, namely point discharge, air-gap discharge, and surface discharge, under different simulated altitudes. Quantitative analysis using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography revealed clear correlations between defect type and gas concentration characteristics. Based on these results, a diagnostic criterion was established under the tested conditions: a CO/NO₂ concentration ratio less than 1 indicates the epoxy-resin-based surface discharge model, whereas a ratio greater than 1 indicates point discharge or air-gap discharge. The latter two types can be further distinguished according to the time-dependent increasing trend of the ratio for air-gap discharge. Finally, based on the observed diffusion characteristics of these gases in the laboratory switchgear model, a low-cost online detection prototype using semiconductor gas sensors was developed. Laboratory validation using three typical single-defect models showed that the proposed method achieved 100% recognition accuracy when sufficient time-series data were available. However, further field validation is required before large-scale industrial application. The proposed CO/NO₂ ratio method provides a potential low-cost auxiliary diagnostic approach for AIS insulation monitoring, particularly under high-altitude and low-pressure conditions. Full article

Plasma actuators are promising devices for near-wall flow control; however, conventional actuators often produce jets and forcing regions with excessive wall-normal spread, which reduces near-wall actuation selectivity. In this study, micro plasma actuator arrays with SDBD and pulsed-DC configurations were experimentally characterized to examine jets and forcing patterns confined closer to the wall. Micro actuator arrays consisting of eight integrated elements with sub-millimeter electrodes (0.5 mm exposed width) were fabricated by photolithography. Mean velocity fields were evaluated by conventional particle image velocimetry (PIV), while near-electrode flow structures were examined by single-pixel PIV. In addition, the streamwise body-force distribution was estimated from the high-spatial-resolution velocity fields. The results showed that the micro actuator arrays formed jets confined closer to the wall than the conventional actuators, with repeated re-acceleration along the electrode array. The estimated body-force distribution showed that the SDBD configuration retained a reverse-sign forcing pattern near the wall, whereas the pulsed-DC configuration formed a more concentrated near-wall positive forcing pattern with a weaker reverse-sign region and a lower positive peak location (0.54 mm, compared with 1.38 mm for the SDBD configuration). Under the tested quiescent-air characterization conditions, the pulsed-DC configuration produced a more wall-confined positive estimated-forcing pattern. Full article

The integration of non-thermal plasma (NTP) with heterogeneous catalysis has emerged as a promising strategy for the efficient abatement of industrial volatile organic compounds (VOCs), overcoming key limitations of conventional thermal and standalone plasma technologies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synergistic mechanisms in NTP-catalytic systems, with particular emphasis on the bidirectional interactions between plasma and the catalyst. Specifically, plasma can activate catalysts through surface defect generation and improved metal dispersion, while catalysts, in turn, modulate plasma characteristics via localized electric field enhancement and electron energy redistribution. Furthermore, this synergy spans multiple spatiotemporal scales, linking ultrafast electron dynamics with macroscopic catalytic performance, and atomic-scale active sites with reactor-level behavior. Based on these mechanistic insights, rational catalyst design strategies are systematically discussed, including transition metal oxides, noble metals, perovskites, and metal–organic frameworks. Finally, key challenges related to catalyst deactivation, energy efficiency, and process scalability are highlighted. Future perspectives are proposed, focusing on advanced in situ diagnostics and AI-assisted material discovery to accelerate the practical implementation of NTP-catalytic technologies for sustainable VOC removal. Full article