Search Results (427)

CrAlN coatings are widely used for surface protection because of their excellent properties. Alloying with additional elements has been shown to effectively modify mechanical and tribological behavior of these coatings. In this study, CrAlMo_xN coatings (x = 0–18.83 at%) were prepared by an arc ion plating technology, corresponding to CrAlN and Mo-doped variants CrAlMoN-1, CrAlMoN-2 and CrAlMoN-3, respectively). The effects of Mo incorporation on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and friction-wear performance at both room and high temperature were systematically investigated. Results indicate that Mo dissolves into the CrAlN lattice to form a solid-solution structure, which induces lattice expansion as confirmed by the shift of XRD peaks toward lower angles. Furthermore, a moderate addition of Mo substantially improves the hardness, toughness, and crack propagation resistance of the coatings. All four coatings exhibit friction coefficients of approximately 0.5 at room temperature. However, at 600 °C, the CrAlMoN-2 coating demonstrates a much more stable friction coefficient curve and achieves the lowest average friction coefficient of 0.75, together with a wear rate of 3.94 × 10⁻⁶ mm³/N·m, indicating greatly improved high-temperature tribological performance. Full article

Moulds of the Rhizopus oryzae species exhibit high biotechnological potential due to their significant metabolic activity, which is influenced by cultivation conditions. The study aimed to evaluate the ability of R. oryzae DSM 2199 to synthesize extracellular lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using rapeseed cake as a substrate. The effectiveness of the SSF method in stimulating the synthesis of hydrolytic enzymes by R. oryzae was confirmed. The effect of an additional carbon and nitrogen source with three different dilution variants of the solid substrate on lipase and protease activity was analyzed. No significant correlation was found between enzyme activity and the applied diluents. The extracellular enzyme solution obtained from R. oryzae in SSF was lyophilized. The freeze-dried raw preparation exhibited high lipolytic activity (111.59 U/g) compared to its low proteolytic activity (0.013 U/g). Demonstrated hydrolytic activity made the biocatalyst useful for the hydrolysis and esterification reactions. Full article

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a novel variant of Friction Stir welding (FSW), developed by Mazda Motors and Kawasaki Heavy Industries to join similar and dissimilar materials in a solid state. It is an economic and environmentally friendly alternative to resistance spot welding (RSW). The FSSW technique, however, includes some structural defects imbedded within the weld joint, such as keyhole formation, hook crack, and bond line oxidation challenging the joint strength. The unique properties of nanomaterials in the reinforcement of metal matrices motivated researchers to enhance the FSSW joints’ strength. Previous studies successfully fabricated nano-reinforced FSSW joints. At different volumetric ratios of nano-reinforcement, nanoparticles may agglomerate due to inefficient stirring of the welding tool pin, forming stress concentration sites and brittle phases, affecting tensile and fatigue strength under static and cyclic loading conditions, respectively. This work investigated how the welding tool pin affects stirring efficiency by controlling the distribution of a nano-reinforcing material within the joint stir zone (SZ), and thus the tensile and fatigue strength of the FSSW joints. Sheets of AA6061-T6 of 1.8 mm thickness were used as a base material. In addition, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) with lateral sizes of 1–10 µm and thicknesses of 3–9 nm were used as nano-reinforcements. GNP-reinforced FSSW specimens were prepared and successfully fabricated. Optical microscope (OM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) methods were employed to visualize the GNPs’ incorporation into the SZs of the FSSW joints. Micrographs of as-welded specimens showed lower formations of scattered, clustered GNPs achieved by the threaded pin tool compared to continuous agglomerations observed when the cylindrical pin tool was used. Tensile test results revealed a significant improvement of about 30% exhibited by the threaded pin tool compared to the cylindrical pin tool, while fatigue test showed an improvement of 46–24% for the low- and high-cycle fatigue, respectively. Full article

Background: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is a tool used in precision oncology to identify genomic alterations and match them with targeted therapies across several tumor types. However, real-world data on its clinical utility and impact remains limited. The FRONTAL study (Foundation Medicine Real wOrld evideNce in porTugAL) is a multicenter academic initiative that established a national registry of Portuguese patients with solid tumors who underwent CGP with FoundationOne CDx, Liquid CDx or FoundationOne Heme assays. Methods: Eligible patients had advanced solid tumors not suitable for curative treatment at the time of recruitment. Prior CGP testing was permitted if taken within 12 months before study initiation. Genomic profiling data were extracted from FoundationOne Medicine reports, and clinical information was extracted from medical records. Actionable alterations were defined as those associated with approved treatments or with clinical evidence of benefit in other cancers, per NCCN guidelines. Variant interpretation was also reviewed according to ESMO Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets (ESCAT) guidelines. The primary outcome was disease control at 16 weeks, defined by the absence of progression. Results: The study included 205 patients between 2020 and 2025 across 10 sites, with colorectal (40, 19.5%), sarcomas (28, 13.7%), and other gastrointestinal tumors (22, 10.7%) being the most common pathologies. Actionable alterations were identified in 104 cases (50.7%). Genomic findings guided therapy decisions in 50 patients (24.4%), of whom 30 achieved disease control at 16 weeks (14.6%). Conclusions: The FRONTAL study highlighted the clinical relevance of CGP in advanced solid tumors. Over half of the patients had actionable alterations, a quarter had therapy changes based on CGP results, and improved disease outcome was observed in approximately 15% of the cohort. Full article

Background/Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. The classic variant (cPTC) is characterized by indolent behavior and excellent prognosis. However, rare subtypes of PTC most often exhibit adverse clinical behavior. The aim of the study was to assess the aggressiveness of rare variants of PTC by analyzing clinicopathological characteristics (CPCs) and survival outcomes. Methods: We analyzed 80 patients with rare PTC variants treated between 2009 and 2019 who were compared with cPTC and matched with a control group for age and tumor size. The variants were categorized into high-risk (HRV: tall cell, diffuse sclerosing, columnar cell, and hobnail variants), intermediate-risk (IRV: solid variant (SV)), and low-risk (LRV: oncocytic (OV) and Warthin-like (WLV)) variants. Different CPCs (capsule and blood vessel invasion, lymphonodal metastases, microscopic and macroscopic extrathyroid extension, multifocal and bilateral presentation) and survival outcomes—overall (OS), disease-specific (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared. Results: HRVs exhibited significantly more aggressive CPCs and worse OS, DSS, and DFS compared to cPTC (p < 0.001). IRVs showed no significant difference in CPCs or survival outcomes compared to cPTC. LRVs showed excellent survival but were associated with several unfavorable CPCs. Multivariate analysis identified classification in HRVs as the only independent predictor of recurrence (p = 0.014). Conclusions: Tumors in the HRV group should retain their status as aggressive PTC variants due to unfavorable behavior and poorer prognosis. SVs, despite earlier assumptions, do not exhibit aggressive characteristics. Although the OV and WLV have similar survival to cPTC, their potential for adverse CPCs requires caution. Full article

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) variants can lead to the development and/or progression of various solid tumors and hematological malignancies. IDH testing can guide diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic choice and typically relies on NGS, IHC, or PCR-based assays. Here, we evaluated the analytical performance of the Idylla IDH1-2 mutation assay for IDH variant detection using 70 fixed samples from patients with solid tumors and 36 DNA extracts from patients with acute myeloid leukemias previously characterized by NGS +/− IHC. Idylla IDH1-2 mutation assay gave 98.1% of valid results with an overall agreement, sensitivity, and specificity of 97.1%, 96.2%, and 98.1%, respectively, compared to NGS. Using commercial DNA standards, the limit of detection of the assay was 1.6% and 0.5% for IDH1 R132H and IDH2 R172K variants, respectively. Based on these data, the Idylla IDH1-2 mutation assay represents a fast and reliable alternative to detect IDH hotspot variants in solid tumors and hematological malignancies using either fixed tissue sections or DNA extracts. Particular attention, however, is needed for the interpretation of cases with cycle of quantification values of the internal controls over 35, for which a variant with low allelic frequency could be missed due to low DNA quantity or quality. Full article

The energy sector in all countries around the world is undergoing a transformation, with the main trend being the increasing share of renewable sources. Some countries, such as those in the European Union, have set themselves the goal of completely phasing out fossil fuels by 2050. Currently, the energy systems of European countries are far from this goal, and fossil fuels play a key role in balancing energy systems. This article presents a one-year simulation of a hypothetical Polish energy system based solely on renewable sources and utilizing biomethane, synthetic ammonia, and solid biomass as sources to ensure energy supply in the event of unfavorable weather conditions, which means a lack of wind and solar radiation. Six variants of these systems were analyzed, demonstrating the feasibility of such a system using only biogas as a stabilizing fuel. The required generating capacities of wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and installations for converting biomethane, ammonia, and solid biomass into electricity were determined. Calculations were based on historical data recorded in 2024 in the Polish energy system. It was found that by increasing currently installed PV and wind turbines by a factor of 4.8 and installing 24 GW of ICE engines fueled with biomethane and an additional 10 GW of ORC modules, current electricity demand would be covered 100% by renewable energy sources. The same goal can be achieved without ORC modules by increasing the installed power of PV and wind turbines by a factor of 6.8. The novelty of this research is the application of the fully renewable concept of electricity generation systems to Polish reality using real-life data. Full article

The key question for understanding the corrosion phenomena of Si₃N₄-SiC material in Al reduction cells is as follows: does the interaction with gases promote future step corrosion by molten cryolite (bath) or does cryolite interact with the Si₃N₄-SiC refractory and deteriorate the properties of the refractory material? More probably the reactions of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with gases, which result in the formation of silica, occur before the reactions of silica with molten cryolite. The corrosion of Si₃N₄-SiC material in the reduction cell may take place by “gas-solid” reaction and by “liquid-solid” reaction. There are several variants of lab corrosion tests for the evaluation of the corrosion resistance of Si₃N₄-SiC material to cryolite. The results of the investigation of Si₃N₄-SiC lab corrosion tests give no direct evidence of selective dissolution at a specific phase (Si₃N₄ or SiC, α-Si₃N₄ or β-Si₃N₄) in cryolite. The existing variants of lab corrosion testing require clarification. Full article

Background: The KMT2A (MLL1) gene is altered in a variety of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2Ar) AML represents a distinct subtype associated with poor outcomes and high relapse rate despite initial responsiveness to chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 3863 cases of AML peripheral blood samples were analyzed using the FoundationOne Heme combined comprehensive hybrid capture-based DNA and RNA sequencing assay. Results: Of the 3863 AML cases, 521 (13.4%) featured genomic alterations (GAs) in the KMT2A gene, 99.1% of which were large rearrangements (KMT2Ar). A total of 56.9% were males with a median age of 62 years. Of the KMT2Ar cases, there were 43.1% KMT2A duplications, 52.7% fusions, and 4.2% not otherwise specified rearrangements. A total of 0.9% of the KMT2A-altered AML cases were short variant mutations. There were no KMT2A (0%) amplifications or deletions. KMT2Ar cases were associated with increased GA frequencies in FLT3 (27.3% vs. 19.8%; p = 0.0002), KRAS (17.2% vs. 7.8%; p < 0.0001) (overall; 1.1% KRAS G12C), and IDH2 (16.0% vs. 10.4%; p < 0.0001), while KMT2A wild-type AML (KMT2Awt) had significantly increased GA frequencies in RUNX1 (20.7% vs. 15.8%; p = 0.0081), ASXL1 (16.6% vs. 10.5%; p = 0.0003), and TET2 (16.4% vs. 10.1%; p = 0.0002), NPM1 (17.5% vs. 0.2%; p < 0.0001), and TP53 (17.8% vs. 7.9%; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: KMT2A rearrangements are common in AML (13.4% of cases featured KMT2Ar). A total of 99.1% of alterations in KMT2A are large rearrangements, with fusions being the most commonly observed alteration (52.7% of total rearrangements). No amplifications or deletions were seen. This genomic landscape study highlights significant genomic differences between KMT2Ar and KMT2Awt AML patients, which may enrich our understanding of the molecular profile and clusters of mutations in AML. Full article

The accurate determination of trace metals in aqueous matrices necessitates robust sample preparation techniques that enable selective preconcentration of analytes while ensuring compatibility with subsequent instrumental analysis. Dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE), a suspension-based variant of conventional solid-phase extraction (SPE), facilitates rapid sorbent–analyte interactions and enhances mass transfer efficiency through direct dispersion of the sorbent in the sample solution. This approach offers significant advantages over traditional column-based SPE, including faster extraction kinetics and greater operational simplicity. When supported by appropriately engineered sorbents, d-SPE exhibits considerable potential for the selective enrichment of trace metal analytes from complex aqueous matrices. In this work, a fibrous silica-based chelating material, DSA-KCC-1, was synthesized by grafting 3,5-Di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde (DSA) onto aminopropyl-modified KCC-1. The dendritic KCC-1 scaffold enables fast dispersion and short diffusion pathways, while the immobilized phenolate–imine ligand introduces defined binding sites for transition-metal uptake. Characterization by FTIR, TGA, BET, FESEM/TEM, XRD, and elemental analysis confirmed the successfulness of functionalization and preservation of the fibrous mesostructured. Adsorption studies demonstrated chemisorption-driven interactions for Pb(II) and Co(II) from water, with Langmuir-type monolayer uptake and pseudo-second-order kinetic behavior. The nano-adsorbent exhibited a markedly higher affinity for Pb(II) than for Co(II), with maximum adsorption capacities of 99.73 and 66.26 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Integration of the DSA-KCC-1 nanosorbent into a d-SPE–ICP-OES workflow enabled the reliable determination of trace levels of the target ions, delivering low limits of detection, wide linear calibration ranges, and stable performance over repeated extraction cycles. Analysis of NIST CRM 1643d yielded results in good agreement with the certified values, while the method demonstrated high tolerance toward common coexisting ions. The combined structural features of the KCC-1 support and the Schiff-base ligand indicate the suitability of DSA-KCC-1 for d-SPE workflows and demonstrate the potential of this SPE format for selective preconcentration of trace metal ions in aqueous matrices. Full article

Background/Objectives: Targeted gene sequencing (TGS) for Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) use in sarcomas has recently increased in clinical practice. We report on TGS real-world data over a period of 3 years (2022–2025) at the IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, with the aim of identifying potential actionable targets and providing therapeutic indications for advanced sarcoma patients. Methods: We analyzed 22 advanced sarcoma patients by using the VariantPlex Pan Solid Tumor kit panel, including 185 genes. In nine cases, saliva samples for germinal DNA analysis were available. Sequencing was performed on the NextSeq-500 Platform and analyzed with Archer Analysis software. The Cancer Genome Interpreter and OncoKB Database tools were used to find potential actionable targets. Results: We found the most frequent genetic variants, including missense, deletion, duplication, and delins, in the NOTCH4, AR, BARD1, MUC16, and ROS1 genes. Copy Number alterations affected the CDKN2A, CDKN2B, TP53, RHOA, MYC, CCND3, and DDR2 genes mainly in osteosarcoma samples. In four patients, longitudinal analyses of subsequent lesions showed the maintenance of most genomic alterations and enrichment in missense or splice variants in PMS2, SMARCA4, ARID1A, AKT1, BMPR1A, and PTEN, indicating the occurrence of tumor evolution. Germline variants subtraction identified the specific somatic tumor mutations. Advantages and disadvantages of our approach were considered in order to refine the analysis setting and better select possible actionable targets. Conclusions: Early access to genomic analyses, routine germline assessment, and broad gene panels would help in identifying possible targeted drugs with sufficient evidence of activity beneficial to each patient. In the clinical management of advanced sarcoma patients, when analyzing cost-effectiveness and sustainability, the role of the Molecular Tumor Board in the governance of the complexity introduced by mutational oncology should be considered. Full article

Personalized cancer treatment depends on the accurate and timely detection of the patient tumor variants. LBx enables minimally invasive tumor mutation profiling. We report results of a pan-Canadian LBx program for patients with advanced solid tumors. Plasma samples were tested at Imagia Canexia Health accredited laboratory using the clinically validated Follow It 38-gene panel. A proprietary platform was used to identify clinically relevant variants in the circulating tumor DNA and report results following accepted international guidelines on clinical significance. A total of 4229 eligible patients submitted samples for LBx testing, and reports for 97% of them were delivered within ~8 days. More than 80% of Canadian oncologists from >150 institutions across 12 provinces (11% from rural centers) participated in the project. The patient cohort consisted mostly of advanced or metastatic lung, breast, and colon cancers. ctDNA mutations were detected in >50% of cases, and clinical trials were recommended for 76% of all participants. Health economics modeling analysis found that Follow It^® in combination with tissue biopsy was cost-saving and resulted in an additional 0.1138 QALYs gained relative to tissue biopsy alone. The successful pan-Canadian implementation of a cost-effective, robust LBx testing program demonstrated its sustained demand and feasibility, and its potential economic and health benefits. Full article

Background/Objectives: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is a cornerstone of personalized oncology. However, large-scale, systematic data on the somatic mutation spectrum in Russian cancer patients are scarce. This study aimed to characterize the genomic landscape and assess the potential for matched therapy in a Russian cohort of patients with solid tumors. Methods: This retrospective study included 204 patients with various solid tumors. CGP was performed using the FoundationOne^®CDx (FFPE tissue) and FoundationOne^®Liquid CDx (cfDNA) platforms. The analysis assessed single-nucleotide variants, indels, copy number alterations, gene fusions, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and PD-L1 expression. Results: The most frequently mutated genes were TP53 (61.5%) and KRAS. The median TMB was 4.0 mut/Mb and was significantly lower in stage IV tumors. Significant co-occurrence was observed between KRAS and TP53 mutations, as well as between APC and KRAS mutations, which were particularly characteristic of colorectal cancer. KRAS mutations were associated with higher combined positive score (CPS) values in cases with lung cancer. Based on the CGP results, 44% of patients had findings that supported the use of an approved matched targeted therapy or immunotherapy for their tumor type. An additional 36% of patients had alterations indicating potential benefit from off-label targeted therapy. Conclusions: This study reveals the distinct genomic characteristics of solid tumors in a Russian cohort and confirms the high clinical utility of CGP for identifying actionable targets. Implementing CGP early in the diagnostic process is a necessary step towards realizing personalized treatment strategies for cancer patients. Full article

Auxetic textiles, characterized by a negative Poisson’s ratio, offer considerable promise for innovative applications across multiple fields. In our earlier work, Miura-ori-inspired auxetic fabrics with three different initial dihedral fold angles—30°, 45°, and 60°—were successfully fabricated via jacquard weaving. Their fundamental auxetic behaviors were evaluated, showing deformation characteristics consistent with those in their geometric models. This study further investigates the mechanical properties of Miura-ori-based auxetic woven fabrics. Tensile testing, air permeability measurement, compression performance assessment, and repeated-loading cyclic rope-stretching tests were performed on the three fabric variants. The results show that the fabrics exhibit excellent air permeability, which increases with the proportion of the folded areas; the highest air permeability was observed at Miura-30°. Moreover, Miura-60° exhibited superior compression resistance. The fabrics also demonstrated outstanding structural stability under cyclic tensile loading, exhibiting optimal elastic recovery at the 30° configuration. Collectively, these findings provide a solid theoretical basis for future applications of Miura-ori auxetic woven fabrics. Full article

Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) is an immunosuppressive viral disease caused by the Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV). It primarily affects young chickens, targeting the bursa of Fabricius, and poses significant economic threats to the poultry industry. To date, in addition to strict biosecurity measures, large-scale immunization is the optimal strategy and effective method to prevent and control IBDV infection. The emergence of new variant strains has made it more urgent to develop new vaccination strategies against IBD. Over the past few decades, many high-quality vaccines have been available on the market for the control of IBD, which can provide solid protection against the infections and diseases caused by classic IBDV to very virulent IBDV that had been continuously evolving and were endemic worldwide. However, viruses are not static. As they continue to circulate and evolve in the fields, novel antigenic variant viruses have been emerged in the last few years, and vaccines need to keep up with their pace. Collectively, this review summarizes the strategic evolution of IBDV vaccines from traditional methods to cutting-edge molecular platforms, providing promising strategies for developing the next-generation vaccines with higher safety, efficacy, and the ability to keep pace with the antigenic drift in IBDV. Full article