Assessment of sealing efficacy, radiopacity, and surface topography of a bioinspired polymer for perforation repair.

Background: Root perforation repair presents a significant challenge in dentistry due to inherent limitations of existing materials. This study explored the potential of a novel polydopamine-based composite as a root repair material by evaluating its sealing efficacy, radiopacity, and surface topography. Methods: Confocal microscopy assessed sealing ability, comparing the polydopamine-based composite to the gold standard, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Radiopacity was evaluated using the aluminium step wedge technique conforming to ISO standards. Surface roughness analysis utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM), while field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) visualized morphology. Results: The polydopamine-based composite exhibited significantly superior sealing efficacy compared to MTA (P < 0.001). Radiopacity reached 3 mm aluminium equivalent, exceeding minimum clinical requirements. AFM analysis revealed a smooth surface topography, and FESEM confirmed successful composite synthesis. Conclusion: This study demonstrates promising properties of the polydopamine-based composite for root perforation repair, including superior sealing efficacy, clinically relevant radiopacity, and smooth surface topography. Further investigation is warranted to assess its clinical viability and potential translation to endodontic practice.

Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene by novel isolates from plastic-polluted environment.

Biodegradation is an eco-friendly measure to address plastic pollution. This study screened four bacterial isolates that were capable of degrading recalcitrant polymers, i.e., low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. The unique bacterial isolates were obtained from plastic polluted environment. Dermacoccus sp. MR5 (accession no. OP592184) and Corynebacterium sp. MR10 (accession no. OP536169) from Malaysian mangroves and Bacillus sp. BS5 (accession no. OP536168) and Priestia sp. TL1 (accession no. OP536170) from a sanitary landfill. The four isolates showed a gradual increase in the microbial count and the production of laccase and esterase enzymes after 4 weeks of incubation with the polymers (independent experiment set). Bacillus sp. BS5 produced the highest laccase 15.35 ± 0.19 U/mL and showed the highest weight loss i.e., 4.84 ± 0.6% for PS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups as a result of oxidation reactions by enzymes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the oxidation of the polymers to small molecules (alcohol, ethers, and acids) assimilated by the microbes during the degradation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, and surface erosion on the polymer surface. The result provided significant insight into enzyme activities and the potential of isolates to target more than one type of polymer for degradation.

Microscopic characterization, TLC fingerprinting and optimization of total lipid content from Euphorbia neriifolia (L.) using response surface methodology.

Euphorbia neriifolia (EN) is a medicinal plant used to treat a variety of ailments in traditional systems. Despite numerous studies on pharmacological activities, no information was available on the microscopic study of this plant. This is the first study that has been attempted to fill this need by performing the light and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) of leaf, stem, and latex. The powder microscopy of several organs (leaves, stem, and bark) and exudate (latex) of EN was carried out using safranine, fast green, phloroglucinol, and other standard solutions at different magnifications. The chemical fingerprinting of petroleum ether extract was accomplished by using thin layer chromatography. The optimization of total lipid content from the EN leaf under ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and soxhlet extraction (SE) procedure was determined using response surface methodology (RSM). The studied factors that affect the lipid content were: solvent ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time. Several notable characteristics observed in the leaf of EN are amphistomatic leaves with anticlinical cell walls, anomocytic stomata, spongy mesophyll cells, elongated palisade cells, angular collenchyma, and U-shaped vascular bundle. The plano-convex midrib is covered by polygonal to oval-shaped cuticles and contains anomocytic stomata. The circular petiole has no trichomes and contains laticifers, crystals, and idioblasts. The circular stem was observed with trichomes, hypodermis, collenchyma, parenchymatous cells, central pith, pentagonal stellar region, cambium, and 2-4 times more xylem that of phloem. All of the powdered plant parts and exudate under study contained trichomes, xylem vessels, wood fibers, cork cells, starch grains, calcium oxalate crystals, idioblasts, lignified cork, tannin content, stone cells, and oil globules. The blackish-green colored petroleum ether extract with semi-solid consistency showed the greatest percent (%) yield of 4% in the latex of EN. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) examination of petroleum ether extract of EN leaf produced a maximum 6 spots with Rf values of 0.16, 0.58, 0.62, 0.73, and 0.96 in the mobile phase of petroleum ether-acetone (8:2). In terms of optimization, the dark green colored UAE extract with semi-sticky consistency showed highest % yield of 4.5% whereas the yellowish green colored SE extract of sticky consistency showed the highest % yield of 4.9%. The findings showed that there were not many differences in the total lipid content between UAE (0.16%) and SE (0.11%). However, the best optimum condition for lipid content extraction analysis was obtained as follows: solvent ratio (PE:HE) 50:50, extraction temperature 50°C, extraction time 45 min for UAE, and solvent ratio (PE:HE) 60:40, extraction temperature 45°C, and extraction time of 24 h for SE. Hence, this study signifies the various noteworthy microscopic features along with the presence of different phytocompounds through TLC and best optimized condition for the extraction of lipids from different parts of EN. As no previous study has been reported, the outcomes obtained from the current study prove to be beneficial in the identification of species, quality control, and detection of any adulteration from the laboratory and commercial samples of EN. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The percent yield was found to be maximum in latex extract (4%). The leaf pet ether extract was separated into 6 bands with different Rf values. The extracted compounds from Euphorbia neriifolia leaves were categorized into non-polar heat tolerant. The highest total lipid yield (0.1119) was obtained at solvent ratios 60:40 of PE:HE (petroleum ether: petroleum hexane).

Morphological analysis and grain size distribution of SnO2 nanoparticles via digital image processing across diverse calcination temperatures.

This study presents a comprehensive image analysis of the SnO2 nanoparticles synthesised through calcination at diverse temperatures, which enables an estimation of grain size distribution (GSD) from field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images. Even though FE-SEM images could provide us with a lot of information about sample differences, we can learn more and perform a more accurate analysis of them by using quantitative data obtained by our image processing application. The digital image processing techniques used in this research provide a detailed analysis of the nanoparticles' size and shape, enabling a deeper understanding of their unique characteristics. The results reveal the significant impact of calcination temperature on the morphology of the nanoparticles, with changes in grain size and grain size distribution observed at varying temperatures.

Lattice Strain Relaxation and Compositional Control in As-Rich GaAsP/(100)GaAs Heterostructures Grown by MOVPE.

The fabrication of high-efficiency GaAsP-based solar cells on GaAs wafers requires addressing structural issues arising from the materials lattice mismatch. We report on tensile strain relaxation and composition control of MOVPE-grown As-rich GaAs1-xPx/(100)GaAs heterostructures studied by double-crystal X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Thin (80-150 nm) GaAs1-xPx epilayers appear partially relaxed (within 1-12% of the initial misfit) through a network of misfit dislocations along the sample [011] and [011-] in plane directions. Values of the residual lattice strain as a function of epilayer thickness were compared with predictions from the equilibrium (Matthews-Blakeslee) and energy balance models. It is shown that the epilayers relax at a slower rate than expected based on the equilibrium model, an effect ascribed to the existence of an energy barrier to the nucleation of new dislocations. The study of GaAs1-xPx composition as a function of the V-group precursors ratio in the vapor during growth allowed for the determination of the As/P anion segregation coefficient. The latter agrees with values reported in the literature for P-rich alloys grown using the same precursor combination. P-incorporation into nearly pseudomorphic heterostructures turns out to be kinetically activated, with an activation energy EA = 1.41 ± 0.04 eV over the entire alloy compositional range.

Anticorrosion, Thermal Degradation, and Hydrophobic Performances of Graphene/TiO2 Nanocomposite Coatings.

Globally, researchers have devoted consistent efforts to producing excellent coating properties since coating plays an essential role in enhancing electrochemical performance and surface quality. In this study, TiO2 nanoparticles in varying concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt.% were added into the acrylic-epoxy polymeric matrix with 90:10 wt.% (90A:10E) ratio incorporated with 1 wt.% graphene, to fabricate graphene/TiO2 -based nanocomposite coating systems. Furthermore, the properties of the graphene/TiO2 composites were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and cross-hatch test (CHT), respectively. Moreover, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were conducted to investigate the dispersibility and anticorrosion mechanism of the coatings. The EIS was observed by determining the breakpoint frequencies over a period of 90 days. The results revealed that the TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully decorated on the graphene surface by chemical bonds, which resulted in the graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite coatings exhibiting better dispersibility within the polymeric matrix. The WCA of the graphene/TiO2 coating increased along with the ratio of TiO2 to graphene, achieving the highest CA of 120.85° for 3 wt.% of TiO2. Excellent dispersion and uniform distribution of the TiO2 nanoparticles within the polymer matrix were shown up to 2 wt.% of TiO2 inclusion. Among the coating systems, throughout the immersion time, the graphene/TiO2 (1:1) coating system exhibited the best dispersibility and high impedance modulus values (Z0.01 Hz), exceeding 1010 Ω cm2.

Cellular Innate Biological Nano Confinements Control Cancer Metastasis Through Materials Seizing and Signaling Regulating.

Cancer is a debilitating disease, causing millions of deaths annually throughout the world. Due to their adaptive ability to meet nutritional demands, cancer cells often utilize more energy than normal cells. In order to develop new strategies to treat cancer, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms of energy metabolism, which is yet largely unknown. Recent studies have shown that cellular innate nanodomains are involved in cellular energy metabolism and anabolism and GPCRs signaling regulation, which have a direct effect on cell fate and functions. Therefore, harnessing cellular innate nanodomains may evoke significant therapeutic impact and shift the research focus from exogenous nanomaterials to cellular innate nanodomains, which will have great potential to develop a new treatment modality for cancer. Keeping these points in view, we briefly discuss the impact of cellular innate nanodomains and their potential for advancing cancer therapeutics, and propose the concept of innate biological nano confinements, which include any innate structural and functional nano domains both in extracellular and intracellular with spatial heterogeneity.

Functionalization of Gold Nanostars with Melamine for Colorimetric Detection of Uric Acid.

Gold nanostars (AuNSs) are synthesized using a seed-mediated growth method. The synthesized AuNSs solution is stable and shows a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band in the visible range, which is confirmed using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the as-synthesized AuNSs were functionalized with melamine and used as a sensor for the colorimetric detection of uric acid (UA). The detection mechanism could be assessed through various analytical techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopic techniques. These methods exhibited a good linear regression between the absorption ratio of LSPR band of melamine-AuNSs and the concentration of UA (0-120 µM), with the detection limit of 8.50 nm. As a result, UA was quantitatively detected in biofluids by using melamine-AuNSs as a colorimetric sensor, revealing melamine-AuNSs-based colorimetric approach which could be used as a simple platform for UA assay in biofluids.

Quantification and visualization of metastatic lung tumors in mice.

Histopathological examination is important for the diagnosis of various diseases. Conventional histopathology provides a two-dimensional view of the tissues, and requires the tissue to be extracted, fixed, and processed using histotechnology techniques. However, there is an increasing need for three-dimensional (3D) images of structures in biomedical research. The objective of this study was to develop reliable, objective tools for visualizing and quantifying metastatic tumors in mouse lung using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Melanoma cells were intravenously injected into the tail vein of 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice. The mice were euthanized at 2 or 4 weeks after injection. Lungs were fixed and examined by micro-CT, OCT, FE-SEM, and histopathological observation. Micro-CT clearly distinguished between tumor and normal cells in surface and deep lesions, thereby allowing 3D quantification of the tumor volume. OCT showed a clear difference between the tumor and surrounding normal tissues. FE-SEM clearly showed round tumor cells, mainly located in the alveolar wall and growing inside the alveoli. Therefore, whole-tumor 3D imaging successfully visualized the metastatic tumor and quantified its volume. This promising approach will allow for fast and label-free 3D phenotyping of diverse tissue structures.

Humidity Sensing Ceria Thin-Films.

Lowering the constitutive domains of semiconducting oxides to the nano-range has recently opened up the possibility of added benefit in the research area of sensing materials, in terms both of greater specific surface area and pore volume. Among such nanomaterials, ceria has attracted much attention; therefore, we chemically derived homogeneous ceria nanoparticle slurries. One set of samples was tape-casted onto a conducting glass substrate to form thin-films of various thicknesses, thereby avoiding demanding reaction conditions typical of physical depositions, while the other was pressed into pellets. Structural and microstructural features, along with electrical properties and derivative humidity-sensing performance of ceria thin-films and powders pressed into pellets, were studied in detail. Particular attention was given to solid-state impedance spectroscopy (SS-IS), under controlled relative humidity (RH) from 30%-85%, in a wide temperature and frequency range. Moreover, for the thin-film setup, measurements were performed in surface-mode and cross-section-mode. From the results, we extrapolated the influence of composition on relative humidity, the role of configuration and thin-film thickness on electrical properties, and derivative humidity-sensing performance. The structural analysis and depth profiling both point to monophasic crystalline ceria. Microstructure analysis reveals slightly agglomerated spherical particles and thin-films with low surface roughness. Under controlled humidity, the shape of the conductivity spectrum stays the same along with an increase in RH, and a notable shift to higher conductivity values. The relaxation is slow, as the thickness of the pellet slows the return of conductivity values. The increase in humidity has a positive effect on the overall DC conductivity, similar to the temperature effect for semiconducting behavior. As for the surface measurement setup, the thin-film thickness impacts the shape of the spectra and electrical processes. The surface measurement setup turns out to be more sensitive to relative humidity changes, emphasized with higher RH, along with an increase in thin-film thickness. The moisture directly affects the conductivity spectra in the dispersion part, i.e., on the localized short-range charge carriers. Moisture sensitivity is a reversible process for thin-film samples, in contrast to pellet form samples.

Polygalacturonase activity promotes aberrant cell separation in the quasimodo2 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana.

In plants, cell adhesion relies on balancing the integrity of the pectin-rich middle lamella with wall loosening during tissue expansion. Mutation of QUASIMODO2 (QUA2), a pectin methyltransferase, causes defective hypocotyl elongation and cell adhesion in Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls. However, the molecular function of QUA2 in cell adhesion is obscured by complex genetic and environmental interactions. To dissect the role of QUA2 in cell adhesion, we investigated a qua2 loss-of-function mutant and a suppressor mutant with restored cell adhesion, qua2 esmeralda1, using a combination of imaging and biochemical techniques. We found that qua2 hypocotyls have reductions in middle lamellae integrity, pectin methyl-esterase (PME) activity, pectin content and molecular mass, and immunodetected Ca2+-crosslinking at cell corners, but increased methyl-esterification and polygalacturonase (PG) activity, with qua2 esmd1 having wild type-like or intermediate phenotypes. Our findings suggest that excessive pectin degradation prevents pectin accumulation and the formation of a sufficiently Ca2+-crosslinked network to maintain cell adhesion in qua2 mutants. We propose that PME and PG activities balance tissue-level expansion and cell separation. Together, these data provide insight into the cause of cell adhesion defects in qua2 mutants and highlight the importance of harmonizing pectin modification and degradation during plant growth and development.

Structural Analysis of Injection-Molded Polyoxymethylene Treated Below a Melting Point Using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy.

The heat treatment of an injection-molded polyoxymethylene slightly below the melting point and subsequent isothermal treatment at 130 °C were performed. The polyoxymethylene structure was examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and polarization infrared reflection measurements. After the heat treatment, a significant change in the surface morphology was observed, and the reflection spectrum derived from the polariton in the injection direction also changed dramatically. Since the reflection spectrum in the injection direction contains the reflection component of the perpendicular direction and vice versa, the polarization spectra of both directions can be calculated consistently. The mixing ratio of each crossed component and the pure relative permittivity both parallel and perpendicular to the main-chain direction were determined using the oscillator model. The heat treatment reduced the ratio of the perpendicular component and increased the order structure until just before melting. The structural changes characterized by the two techniques, along with Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, are discussed.

Integrated analysis of potential microbial consortia, soil nutritional status, and agro-climatic datasets to modulate P nutrient uptake and yield effectiveness of wheat under climate change resilience.

Climate change has a devastating effect on wheat production; therefore, crop production might decline by 2030. Phosphorus (P) nutrient deficiency is another main limiting factor of reduced yield. Hence, there is a dire need to judiciously consider wheat yield, so that human requirements and nutrition balance can be sustained efficiently. Despite the great significance of biostimulants in sustainable agriculture, there is still a lack of integrated technology encompassing the successful competitiveness of inoculated phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in agricultural systems in the context of climatic conditions/meteorological factors and soil nutritional status. Therefore, the present study reveals the modulation of an integrated P nutrient management approach to develop potential PSB consortia for recommended wheat varieties by considering the respective soil health and agro-climatic conditions. The designed consortia were found to maintain adequate viability for up to 9 months, verified through field emission scanning electron microscopy and viable count. Furthermore, a significant increase in grain yield (5%-8%) and seed P (4%) content was observed in consortia-inoculated wheat plants with 20% reduced Diammonium phosphate (DAP) application under net house conditions. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of roots and amplification of the gcd gene of Ochrobactrum sp. SSR indicated the survival and rhizosphere competency of the inoculated PSB. Categorical principal component analysis (CAT-PCA) showed a positive correlation of inoculated field-grown wheat varieties in native soils to grain yield, soil P content, and precipitation for sites belonging to irrigated plains and seed P content, soil organic matter, and number of tillers for sites belonging to Northern dry mountains. However, the impact of inoculation at sites belonging to the Indus delta was found significantly correlated to soil potassium (K) content, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature. Additionally, a significant increase in grain yield (15%) and seed P (14%) content was observed in inoculated wheat plants. Thus, the present study demonstrates for the first time the need to integrate soil biological health and agro-climatic conditions for consistent performance of augmented PSB and enhanced P nutrient uptake to curtail soil pollution caused by the extensive use of agrochemicals. This study provides innovative insights and identifies key questions for future research on PSB to promote its successful implementation in agriculture.

Morphological and Chemical Analysis of Various Disposable Acupuncture Needles Used in South Korea.

Objectives: The Korean Industrial Standard (KS) for sterile acupuncture needles was established in 2009 based on research on the quality control of acupuncture needles. We aimed to determine the quality of acupuncture needles available in South Korea in 2021 by examining their surface condition and chemical composition using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Methods: In South Korea, there are 23 brands of acupuncture needles, and we examined 10-15 needles from each brand, resulting in a total of 285 needles. The microstructures of the needles were assessed by SEM. Using SEM images, we evaluated the acupuncture needle tips for the following defects/aspects scratches, lumps, detached coating, bent tip, and tip sharpness. EDS was used to determine the chemical composition of the selected acupuncture needles. Results: Overall, 88.4% of 285 needles were found to have at least one type of abnormality. The most frequently observed abnormalities were scratches and dents on the surface (68.1%), followed by detached coating (63.2%), and lumps (61.8%); blunt tips were observed in about 24% of them. Of 252 needles with at least one defect, 86.9% had two or more types of defects. The ratio of the number of needles with any defect to that of needles without any defect varied among brands, ranging from 50% to 100%. Regarding foreign materials, higher proportions of Si and O were observed on the needles, indicating incomplete or detached silicone coating. Conclusion: The quality of acupuncture needles varied among brands, suggesting that further improvements can be made through various inspection methods.

Disinfection of various materials with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride in hatchery facilities.

OBJECTIVE: Surface disinfection is important in the proper running of livestock farms. However, disinfection of farm equipment and facilities is difficult because they are made of different materials, besides having large surface areas and complex structures. 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride (Si-QAC) is a quaternary ammonium salt-based disinfectant that attaches to various surfaces by forming covalent bonds and maintains its disinfecting capacity for a considerable time. Our aim was to evaluate the potential use of Si-QAC for disinfection of farm equipment and facilities. METHODS: The short- and long-term antimicrobial and antiviral effects of Si-QAC were evaluated in both laboratory and farm settings using modified quantitative assessment method based on the standard operating procedures of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. RESULTS: Si-QAC was highly effective in controlling the growth of the Newcastle disease virus and avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. Electron microscopy revealed that the mechanism underlying the disinfection activity of Si-QAC was associated with its ability to damage the outer membrane of the pathogen cells. In the field test, Si-QAC effectively reduced viral contamination of surfaces of equipment and space. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Si-QAC has great potential as an effective chemical for disinfecting farm equipment and facilities. This disinfectant could retain its disinfection ability longer than other commercial disinfectants and contribute to better farm biosecurity.

Force and vibration analysis in biomechanical preparation of root canals using reciprocating endodontic file system: In vitro study.

The shaping and cleaning of the root canal are very important in root canal treatment. The excessive force and vibration during biomechanical preparation of the root canal may result in failure of the endodontic file. In this study, force and vibration analysis was carried out during root canal preparation. The samples of human extracted (premolar) teeth were provided by the College of Dental Science and Hospital. Endodontic instruments for reciprocating motion, such as the WaveOne Gold file system, had been used for root canal preparation. Force and vibration signals were recorded by dynamometer and accelerometer, respectively. The acquired signals were denoised using the db4 (SWT denoising 1-D) wavelet. Four levels of decomposition were carried out for each signal. The signal denoising technique was used to remove unwanted noise from the acquired signal. FESEM analysis was used to visualize the levels of severity of endodontic files during the cleaning and shaping of the root canal. In most of the cases, the failure occurred due to the improper use of the root canal instrumentation. The optimum amount of force was used to avoid the file failure and provided the proper instrumentation. The curve fitting regression model was used to find the interdependency between force and vibration.

Calcified Leg Ulcers in Older Patients: Clinical Description, Morphology, and Chemical Characterization.

Chronic wounds, including leg ulcers, constitute an important medical problem among older patients. Dystrophic calcifications (DC) are associated with a variety of disorders, including leg ulcers. The aim of this study was to report the clinical and biological characteristics of older patients with DC in leg ulcers and to determine the morphology and chemical composition of these calcifications. We conducted a prospective monocentric study in our Geriatric-Wound and Healing ward, Rothschild Hospital, Paris, from January 2018 to December 2019. Patients with leg ulcers were screened for DC by palpation. Patients' clinical, biological, and radiological findings were collected. DC morphology was analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and chemical composition was analyzed using µFourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and X-ray Fluorescence. Ten (7%) of the 143 patients hospitalized for leg ulcers presented DC. Older patients with DC were more likely to have leg ulcers with venous insufficiency (p = .015), colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p = .026), with a longer healing evolution (p = .0072) and hypercalcemia (p = .041). Five DC were extracted from ulcers: 2 presented 500 nm lacunar spheres and intermingled fibrils of about 10 nm in diameter, consistent with bacterial and biofilm imprints. DC were always composed of calcium-phosphate apatite and associated to the presence of zinc. Our analyses were consistent with the involvement of microorganisms and inflammatory process in DC formation. Early management of venous insufficiency, treatment of chronic bacterial colonization and use of calcium-solubilizing drugs seem to be rational strategies for calcified leg ulcer management in older patients.

Evaluation of Meat from Native Chickens: Analysis of Biochemical Components, Fatty Acids, Antioxidant Dipeptides, and Microstructure at Two Slaughter Ages.

This study examined biochemical components, fatty acids, antioxidant dipeptides, and muscle fiber density of breast and thigh muscles from Korean new native chicken strains (A and B) at two slaughter ages, compared with white semi-broiler (W) or broilers. The pH values were different by chicken breed. The new native strains had the lowest fat content in the breast at 12 wk (p<0.05). Regardless of the muscles, A and B at 12 wk had higher levels of arachidonic acid (ARA; C20:4), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6), and nervonic acid (C24:1) than broilers (p<0.05). A similar result was observed for the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids ratio (P/S) content in the breast. Irrespective of the muscles, A and B enriched with omega-3 fatty acids had a lower ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio than broilers (p<0.05) at 12 wk. Of the antioxidant di-peptides, the anserine contents were highest in A and B than in the W or broilers (p<0.05), regardless of the muscles and slaughter ages. Furthermore, the breast meat from A and B contained a higher muscle fiber density for both slaughter ages than the W and broilers (p<0.05). Based on these findings, even if the commercial birds (broilers or W) are raised under the similar environmental conditions as A and B, the new native chicken strains have distinct meat quality attributes, particularly higher ARA and DHA levels, lower ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio, and higher anserine contents.

Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells on diamond-like carbon-coated silicon plates: Field emission scanning electron microscopy data.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is an amorphous form of carbon that contains aspects of both the diamond and graphite structures. It is composed of carbon and hydrogen, and owing to its texture, high mechanical hardness, chemical inertness, and optical transparency, DLC is widely used as a protective coating in the form of a thin film, which is applied to the surfaces of many materials. Recently, it has attracted attention as a biomedical material because of its high biocompatibility and stability [1,2]. DLC is particularly suitable to be embedded in the body owing to its low friction properties and selective cell surface attachment properties [3]. The material is currently being developed for the treatment of bone fractures [4]. However, unlike fibroblasts, the attachment of osteoblasts has not been extensively examined and no morphological data is available on how osteoblastic cells form contacts with the surface of biocompatible DLC-coated materials. Herein, such data were collected by coating DLC on the surface of silicon plates. The attachment of mouse cells to the DLC-coated plates was examined by colorimetric cell proliferation assay, and morphological observations were made using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Also, the flat cross section of the cell and plate was obtained by the ion milling method.

Blood, sweat, and tears: extraterrestrial regolith biocomposites with in vivo binders.

The proverbial phrase 'you can't get blood from a stone' is used to describe a task that is practically impossible regardless of how much force or effort is exerted. This phrase is well-suited to humanity's first crewed mission to Mars, which will likely be the most difficult and technologically challenging human endeavor ever undertaken. The high cost and significant time delay associated with delivering payloads to the Martian surface means that exploitation of resources in situ - including inorganic rock and dust (regolith), water deposits, and atmospheric gases - will be an important part of any crewed mission to the Red Planet. Yet there is one significant, but chronically overlooked, source of natural resources that will - by definition - also be available on any crewed mission to Mars: the crew themselves. In this work, we explore the use of human serum albumin (HSA) - a common protein obtained from blood plasma - as a binder for simulated Lunar and Martian regolith to produce so-called 'extraterrestrial regolith biocomposites (ERBs).' In essence, HSA produced by astronauts in vivo could be extracted on a semi-continuous basis and combined with Lunar or Martian regolith to 'get stone from blood', to rephrase the proverb. Employing a simple fabrication strategy, HSA-based ERBs were produced and displayed compressive strengths as high as 25.0 MPa. For comparison, standard concrete typically has a compressive strength ranging between 20 and 32 MPa. The incorporation of urea - which could be extracted from the urine, sweat, or tears of astronauts - could further increase the compressive strength by over 300% in some instances, with the best-performing formulation having an average compressive strength of 39.7 MPa. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HSA-ERBs have the potential to be 3D-printed, opening up an interesting potential avenue for extraterrestrial construction using human-derived feedstocks. The mechanism of adhesion was investigated and attributed to the dehydration-induced reorganization of the protein secondary structure into a densely hydrogen-bonded, supramolecular ß-sheet network - analogous to the cohesion mechanism of spider silk. For comparison, synthetic spider silk and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were also investigated as regolith binders - which could also feasibly be produced on a Martian colony with future advancements in biomanufacturing technology.