Search Results (4,012)

Periodontitis and dental caries remain among the most prevalent chronic diseases, and their local treatment is limited less by the choice of active agent than by the difficulty of sustaining therapeutic concentrations against salivary and crevicular clearance, the mucosal barrier and the biofilm matrix. This narrative review (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science; 2010–2026; 118 sources) maps five mechanistic classes—mucoadhesive, in situ gelling, stimuli-responsive, nano-/microparticulate and biomimetic—alongside marketed sustained-release products onto the specific barrier each addresses and onto an explicit translational gradient. The barriers are quantified rather than described: a pocket of ≈0.5 µL perfused at ≈20 µL/h turns over some 40 times hourly, giving an intra-crevicular half-life of about one minute, and the inflamed pocket is neutral-to-alkaline (pH 7.4–8.5), so acid-triggered release is a cariogenic and not a periodontal strategy, whereas alkaline-triggered release remains an open design space. A dose calculation from these figures identifies payload potency and deliverable mass, not carrier retention, as the binding constraint on phytocompound delivery. Because no single class overcomes all barriers, hybrid nano-in-macro architectures are analysed as the structural solution. Measured against a marketed benchmark of ≈0.3 mm additional probing-depth reduction, progress now depends on consolidation rather than on novelty. Full article

In vitro capacitation of boar spermatozoa remains highly variable among laboratories due to differences in media composition, incubation conditions, and previous semen handling. Since capacitation is a dynamic process, identifying how different media modulate specific sperm responses over time is crucial to improving the standardization of porcine in vitro fertilization protocols. This study evaluated the temporal dynamics of membrane lipid disorder, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial activity, and motility patterns in response to different media. Commercial boar semen doses were centrifuged and resuspended in a non-capacitating control solution or in three capacitation media differing mainly in bicarbonate, caffeine, and energy substrate composition, and evaluated every 15 min using flow cytometry and computer-assisted semen analysis at 38 °C for up to 2 h. Media containing higher bicarbonate and caffeine concentrations induced rapid membrane lipid destabilization and increased acrosomal exocytosis during the initial incubation period. Subsequently, these changes were accompanied by a more rapid decline in cell viability over time. In contrast, the medium containing lower bicarbonate together with lactate and pyruvate preserved higher viability, mitochondrial activity, and a more sustained, linear movement pattern (higher linearity and straightness). Interestingly, training-associated responses were detected immediately at time 0, suggesting that semen storage conditions may prime spermatozoa before incubation. Overall, medium composition and pre-treatment handling conditions should both be considered when standardizing porcine reproductive technologies. Full article

A solid solution treatment (SST) followed by single-stage aging (0–30 h, 140 °C) was performed on 7075 aluminum alloy specimens with longitudinal axes oriented at 0°, 45° and 90° to the rolling direction. The mechanical properties and microstructure were analyzed by tensile testing, optical microscope (OM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that the average tensile strengths of the as-received 7075 aluminum alloy in the three directions were 304 MPa (0°), 295 MPa (45°) and 297 MPa (90°), respectively, with an anisotropy index (AI) of 0.97, indicating that the as-received samples exhibited negligible anisotropic mechanical properties. After SST, elongated grains with coarse size were formed, which is primarily attributed to the inheritance of the deformed fiber texture introduced by hot rolling. EBSD analysis of the 30 h aged specimens revealed that, within the same analyzed area, the total grain-boundary length in the 45° direction (16.4 cm) was much larger than that in the 0° (10.4 cm) and 90° (13.5 cm) directions. As the grain morphology showed no significant change between the SST and aged conditions, this grain-boundary distribution was representative of the microstructural state established during SST and persisted throughout the artificial aging process, contributing to the anisotropic mechanical properties. During artificial aging, prolonged aging time significantly facilitated the precipitation, with the 30 h aged sample exhibiting a significantly higher density of precipitates compared to the 6 h aged sample, leading to enhanced mechanical properties. The tensile strengths of the 30 h aged samples increased to 165 MPa, 236 MPa and 196 MPa in the three directions, respectively. Meanwhile, due to the fixed crystallographic orientation relationship between the precipitates and the Al matrix, the precipitates tended to form on specific planes, which enhanced the anisotropic mechanical properties. Consequently, the AI value increased from 0.97 (as-received) to 1.43 (30 h aged) with prolonged aging time. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is essential yet expensive in prostate cancer treatment. This study aims to preliminarily validate the feasibility of an integrated AI workflow for CBCT-guided adaptive radiotherapy in prostate cancer, and to provide a technical foundation for subsequent clinical translation. Methods: Planning CT and CBCT images from 120 patients were used for training and validation, while 21 patients were reserved for testing. A CycleGAN-ResNet generated synthetic CT (sCT) from CBCT, and an nnU-Net model performed auto-segmentation on the sCT. Image quality and segmentation accuracy were quantitatively assessed. The original plan was recalculated on sCT to evaluate actual dose delivery; if clinical constraints were unmet, adaptive re-optimization was performed, and plans were compared. Results: The total time per fraction in this study was approximately 19 ± 6 min, falling within the reported feasibility range for online ART. sCT image quality was significantly improved, making them suitable for subsequent auto-segmentation and treatment planning. The auto-segmentation technique substantially enhanced contouring efficiency, with the automatically generated contours requiring only minor modifications to meet clinical standards. In dosimetric analysis, the adaptive plans provided superior target coverage, CI, and HI. Compared with the actual dose delivered by the original plan, the adaptive plans yielded lower bladder V40 and lower rectal mean dose/V30/V40/V50. Conclusions: This study preliminarily validated the feasibility of an integrated AI workflow that concatenates CycleGAN-based sCT generation, nnU-Net-based auto-segmentation, and sCT-based adaptive plan re-optimization. Compared with conventional segmented studies, this integrated exploration facilitates a more comprehensive assessment of the potential value of AI technologies in CBCT-guided prostate cancer ART, offering a preliminary solution for promoting a cost-effective adaptive radiotherapy approach. Full article

At present, the detection methods for the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum alloys are mainly based on SEM, EBSD, TEM, tensile tests, and microhardness tests, which are time-consuming and destructive. In this paper, laser ultrasonic non-destructive detection is employed to obtain ultrasonic signals from Al-Cu-Mg aluminum alloy subjected to various heat treatment processes. The results reveal empirical correlations between the characteristic values of the ultrasonic signals and the material’s state. Specifically, the characteristic values exhibit an inverse correlation with the precipitated phase content. When both the precipitated phase content and the average grain size vary significantly, distinct deviations in the characteristic values are observed, which can serve as indicators of microstructural changes. The extracted ultrasonic eigenvalues also show promising, empirically derived correlations with mechanical properties, with frequency-domain attenuation coefficients demonstrating relatively higher sensitivity based on fitting analyses within the current dataset. These observed variations are tentatively discussed as plausible consequences of grain boundary scattering and changes in matrix solid solution strengthening associated with precipitate dissolution. Overall, the findings suggest the potential of laser ultrasonics as a rapid non-destructive evaluation tool, providing a preliminary scientific basis for further development of methods to assess the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Mg alloys within the tested parameter space. Full article

Widespread application of dyes has led to severe threats to water environments, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been confirmed as an effective solution to dye degradation. Among them, ozonation was one of the most prevalent AOPs. In this study, the effects of using AOPs—mainly based on ozone (O₃)—to treat printing and dyeing wastewater (PDW) were compared. Firstly, ozone carrier active carbon fiber (ACF) was investigated for adsorption performance evaluation on pretreatment. The results showed that ACF treated by ultrasound performed best compared with ACF treated with other four pretreatment methods. Secondly, comparative studies based on individual O₃, ultraviolet (UV), and combined O₃/UV processes on PDW under different pH conditions were conducted. The decolorization rate of reactive brilliant blue X-BR dye under acidic conditions was higher than in alkaline and neutral dyes. In addition, with the utilization of single ozone and O₃/UV under pH = 4 conditions, the decolorization rate could be above 99%. However, individual UV caused few variations in wastewater chromaticity. Thirdly, the effects of pH, UV light intensity, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and ACF filling rate on the performance of the O₃/UV/ACF system were preliminarily screened using a saturated L9 orthogonal design. In terms of the results, the performance of the constructed O₃/UV/ACF AOP system was superior than the conventional oxidation method, in which HRT had the largest apparent main effect on decolorization, followed by pH, ACF filling rate, and UV light intensity. Among the factor levels examined, the best-performing combination was pH 4, a UV power of 48 W, an HRT of 3 h, and an ACF filling rate of 80%. In a subsequent single kinetic experiment conducted using this combination, the final decolorization efficiency was 92.14%, the COD removal was 60%, and the biodegradability increased by 63.08%. This study offered novel insights into an O₃-based AOP system for improving PDW treatment. Full article

This work constructs, analyzes and simulates a new general SIR epidemiological model for the spread of a generic long-time disease, in which the coefficients of infectivity and death rate are system variables. Diseases, such as COVID-19, have demonstrated clearly that infectivity and death rates can change over time, even for the same variant of the virus, due to vaccination, improved treatments, better analysis, better medications, etc. This motivates us to construct the SIR-ID model for a generic disease in which the rate coefficients are state variables as a part of the systems’s evolution in time. The model consists of a coupled system of five differential equations, where the equations for the infectivity and death rate have general source functions. The analysis shows the existence, positivity and boundedness of the solutions. A discussion of the Endemic (EE) and Disease-Free (DFE) equilibria and their stability is provided. A bifurcation analysis of the DFE and EE is conducted, as well as a sensitivity analysis. Then, computer simulations depict two typical cases of dynamic behavior, one when the DFE is stable and attracting, and one in which the EE is stable and attracting. These also show the way the system approaches the steady states. Full article

The intensification of mariculture has increased nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in aquaculture wastewater. Conventional treatments often prove inefficient under saline conditions. To address this challenge, we developed an innovative aerobic denitrification reactor using Pseudomonas chloritidismutans K14, specifically tailored for seawater systems. Our study examined the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio on pollutant removal and critically assessed the physiological benefits for hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂). At an optimal HRT of 8 h and a C/N ratio of 8, the system achieved high removal efficiencies: 95.5% for NH₄⁺-N, 92.4% for NO₂⁻-N, 93.8% for NO₃⁻-N, 92.8% for total nitrogen (TN), and 84.8% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), along with a 47.3% reduction in total phosphorus (TP). More importantly, the system significantly enhanced grouper health by improving growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and antioxidant capacity, along with a trend toward improved nonspecific immune indicators. The feed conversion ratio was optimized to 2.28, with a weight gain rate of 117.07%. Our findings establish this optimized aerobic denitrification system as an integrated strategy that effectively combines water purification with indirect health benefits, offering a sustainable solution for mariculture. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of placing wood chips (F-Wood chip) or pumice (F-Pumice) at the bottom of poultry feather compost on open-field ginger soilless media production. Root control bags were prepared with 10 L of wood chips or pumice overlain by 20 L of feather compost, with three ginger rhizomes planted. Crops were drip-irrigated without synthetic fertilization and replenished with compost three times. Results indicated that bottom-placed wood chips or pumice improved water infiltration. Ginger yield was significantly higher in the F-Wood chip treatment than in the F-Pumice, with fresh weights of 3.4 and 2.5 kg, and dry weights of 451.8 and 332.7 g, respectively. Furthermore, F-Wood chip significantly increased rhizome calcium levels. Although no significant differences were observed between treatments regarding leaf and post-harvest media nutrient contents, the F-Wood chip group exhibited higher microbial abundance (9.5 ± 4.5 × 10⁵ CFU ⁻¹) and greater endophytic diversity, spanning 7 genera and 11 species with potential plant growth-promoting and stress-resistance functions. Overall, this innovative integrated crop management strategy demonstrates great potential to substitute for fossil-fuel-based chemical fertilizers, this innovative production mode eliminates the need for fossil-fuel-based chemical fertilizers, offering an applicable and sustainable soilless cultivation solution for open-field ginger production under extreme weather conditions like typhoons and heavy rainfall. Full article

This study investigates the time-dependent corrosion behavior of 6060 aluminum profiles subjected to three industrially relevant surface treatments: clear anodizing, black anodizing, and pre-anodizing followed by polyester powder coating during 30 days of immersion in NaCl solution. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy combined with equivalent electrical circuit modeling was used to monitor corrosion evolution and identify the governing degradation mechanisms. Black-anodized specimens exhibited the highest initial corrosion resistance during the first 4 days of immersion, while clear-anodized specimens provided superior protection between 7 and 15 days due to the formation of a more protective inner oxide layer. Both anodized systems showed evidence of repassivation during prolonged exposure through corrosion product accumulation within the porous oxide structure. The pre-anodized/powder-coated system delayed corrosion initiation beyond 15 days, demonstrating the highest long-term barrier performance. Dynamic perpendicular impact loading after corrosion exposure revealed significant differences in mechanical durability: clear-anodized specimens maintained coating integrity up to 15 days, whereas black-anodized specimens experienced complete coating removal, associated with corrosion-induced microcracks and void formation observed by SEM. Overall, clear anodizing provided the best balance between corrosion resistance and post-corrosion mechanical durability, while the pre-anodized/powder-coated system offered the greatest long-term corrosion protection, demonstrating that the optimum surface treatment depends on the intended service conditions. Full article

Conventional silk degumming processes are primarily designed to recover either silk fibroin (SF) or sericin, resulting in inefficient utilization of silk resources and substantial sericin waste. In this study, a one-step high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) process was developed for the simultaneous preparation of SF and sericin from silkworm cocoons. To determine the optimum processing conditions, HTHP treatment was performed at 120 °C for 10, 20, and 30 min. The effects of treatment time on the degumming efficiency and the physicochemical properties of SF and sericin were systematically investigated through the characterization of SF as degummed fibers, regenerated solutions, and electrospun fibers, and sericin as solutions and gels. Complete degumming was achieved after 10 min of HTHP treatment, corresponding to a degumming ratio of 25.4%, with no further increase at longer treatment times. While complete degumming was maintained beyond 10 min, prolonged treatment progressively deteriorated the physicochemical properties of sericin and eventually reduced the molecular integrity of SF, as consistently demonstrated across the different material forms. Compared with the conventional soap/soda method, the HTHP process better preserved the molecular integrity of SF while simultaneously recovering an aqueous sericin fraction without chemical degumming. Based on the degumming efficiency and the physicochemical properties of both silk proteins, 10 min was identified as the optimum HTHP treatment time for the simultaneous preparation of SF and sericin. This one-step HTHP process provides a simple and efficient process for improving silk resource utilization and facilitating the industrial production of SF and sericin-based biomaterials. Full article

Interface problems frequently arise in applications including heat conduction with composite materials, fluid flow in porous media, and diffusion–reaction processes across heterogeneous domains. This paper presents a numerical method that combines radial basis functions with a finite difference method to solve two-dimensional linear and nonlinear parabolic-type interface problems. In the proposed approach, spatial derivatives are approximated using multi-quadric radial basis functions, while the time derivative is discretized via a finite difference method. The method is applied to both linear and nonlinear problems. Gaussian elimination is used to solve the resulting algebraic equation in linear cases, while a quasi-Newton linearization technique is used to handle the nonlinear terms in nonlinear cases. Several numerical experiments are performed to assess the performance of the proposed method. The results are compared with the Haar wavelet collocation method, demonstrating the improved accuracy, computational efficiency, and straightforward implementation of the method. Full article

Utilization of tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) as a new, hitherto unknown devulcanization aid in the chemical devulcanization of sulfur crosslinked diene rubber has been demonstrated. The influences of crosslink structure (the ratio of mono-, di-, and polysulfidic bonds) and carbon black (CB) loading on the efficiency of acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber (NBR) devulcanization have been studied. The rubber vulcanizates were treated with TBAF solutions under varying conditions (solution concentration, solvent type, temperature, and reaction time). Changes in crosslink density and other relevant network properties of the rubber vulcanizates were measured. Results showed a significant reduction in crosslink density—up to 50% after chemical treatment. The fluoride-based approach, in which fluoride salt is a source of nucleophilic fluoride anions (F⁻), can cleave the sulfidic crosslinks, demonstrating significant potential for efficient recycling of used rubber vulcanizates by their devulcanization. Full article

Gene editing techniques are well-developed for model microalgae like Chlorella and Chlamydomonas. However, for the high-value species Porphyridium purpureum, its thick cell wall poses a significant barrier to genetic manipulation. Overcoming this challenge requires a robust method for preparing highly viable protoplasts. To generate protoplasts of P. purpureum, a targeted enzymatic lysis was applied based on the structural composition of the cell wall in this study. The results of single-factor experiments showed that a high protoplast yield (up to 43.55%) could be achieved under the following conditions: a total cellulase and macerozyme concentration of 2%, a cellulase-to-macerozyme ratio of 3:7, and a treatment time of 8 h in 0.2 mol/L KCl. Subsequently, Response Surface Methodology further optimized the enzymatic lysis conditions, yielding the optimal combination: a fixed combined concentration of cellulase and macerozyme at 2.2% in 0.2 mol/L KCL solution, a ratio of approximately 1:3, and an 8 h treatment, achieving a protoplast yield of 49.44%. Transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and Evans Blue staining confirmed that the protoplasts had smooth surfaces, no extracellular polysaccharide residues, and intact membranes and organelles. Furthermore, the optimal regeneration medium was ASW medium supplemented with 0.2 mol/L KCl, which might create a stable microenvironment for protoplast regeneration by balancing baseline osmotic pressure and ionic environment. This study established an effective protocol for protoplast preparation and regeneration, thereby facilitating the development of gene-editing tools for P. purpureum. Full article

Safflower seed is a valuable source of vegetable oil. Despite current advances in processing technology, the oil extraction efficiency during cold pressing remains relatively low, which is attributable to the seed morphology and the dense seed hull that acts as a barrier. Traditional oil extraction methods are relatively inefficient; therefore, considerable attention is focused on seed pretreatment prior to oil pressing, as this stage plays a critical role in the overall oil production process. The possibility of increasing oil yield by treating safflower seeds prior to pressing was studied using response surface methodology (RSM). Three factors were investigated: NaOH solution concentration from 1% to 2%, treatment temperature from 40 °C to 60 °C, and treatment time interval from 40 min to 60 min. A Box–Behnken design was applied to evaluate the effect of the three independent variables on oil yield. Following a series of experiments, the RSM tool was applied, which identified the optimal pretreatment parameters: NaOH concentration—1.64%, temperature—53.54 °C, and duration—51.11 min. The predicted oil yield was 20.5%, while the experimentally determined oil yield under optimal conditions reached 21.47%. The application of response surface methodology increased the oil extraction efficiency by 37.52%. Full article