Evaluation of the efficacy and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders treated with Kovacs digital occlusal splint: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been conducted on treating temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) with new digital occlusal splints, which has increasingly attracted wide attention. METHODS: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and quality of life (QoL) of Kovacs digital occlusal splint (KDOS) treatment in patients with TMD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with TMD who were treated using KDOS were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the Wilkes stage. The clinical symptoms and QoL scores of the patients in each group were recorded before and at least three months after treatment, and the data were statistically analyzed and compared. The relationships between the disease severity, sex, age, and level of QoL before treatment and improvement in the clinical symptoms were analyzed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The mean age and follow-up period of the patients were 28.0 ± 10.4 years and 4.9 ± 2.1 months, respectively. After KDOS treatment, the improvement rates of joint noise and pain were 80.4% and 69.8%, respectively. Additionally, the patients' maximum mouth opening and global QoL mean scores significantly improved compared to those before treatment (p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors affecting the improvement in the clinical symptoms were disease severity and level of QoL before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: KDOS can improve the clinical symptoms and QoL of patients with TMD. Moreover, patients without osteoarthritis and with low pretreatment QoL levels are more likely to demonstrate clinical improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (ID: ChiCTR2300076518) on 11/10/2023.

Comparative analysis of Fusarium crown rot resistance in synthetic hexaploid wheats and their parental genotypes.

BACKGROUND: Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is a chronic disease of cereals worldwide. Compared with tetraploid wheat, hexaploid wheat is more resistant to FCR infection. The underlying reasons for the differences are still not clear. In this study, we compared FCR responses of 10 synthetic hexaploid wheats (SHWs) and their tetraploid and diploid parents. We then performed transcriptome analysis to uncover the molecular mechanism of FCR on these SHWs and their parents. RESULTS: We observed higher levels of FCR resistance in the SHWs compared with their tetraploid parents. The transcriptome analysis suggested that multiple defense pathways responsive to FCR infection were upregulated in the SHWs. Notably, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) genes, involved in lignin and salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis, exhibited a higher level of expression to FCR infection in the SHWs. Physiological and biochemical analysis validated that PAL activity and SA and lignin contents of the stem bases were higher in SHWs than in their tetraploid parents. CONCLUSION: Overall, these findings imply that improved FCR resistance in SHWs compared with their tetraploid parents is probably related to higher levels of response on PAL-mediated lignin and SA biosynthesis pathways.

Metabolites and Plant Hormones Related to the Resistance Response to Feeding Stimulation and Leaf Clipping Control in Chinese Pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.).

This experiment was conducted to define changes in metabolic pathways in response to mandibulate insect feeding and to provide a reference for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of conifer resistance. Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) in good growth status in natural condition was chosen for stimulation by 10 pine caterpillars (Dendrolimus tabulaefomis Tsai et Liu) as feeding stimulation (FS), leaf clipping control (LCC) as mechanical damage, and CK group (with no treatment) (recorded as 0 h). The metabolome and total flavonoid content were measured in the needles at 0, 2, and 8 h after treatment. Plant hormones were measured with needles at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after different treatments. The results show that a total of 30.8% flavonoids are identified by metabolomics analysis. Compared with leaf clipping control, feeding stimulation of Chinese pine caterpillars significantly induced the upregulation of metabolites in the flavonoid pathway in Chinese pine, and the plant hormones JA and IAA showed expression trends consistent with those of the metabolome. According to the biological processes of the four plant hormones involved, JA and SA are mostly involved in resistance formation, and in this study, both of them also have fluctuating expressions influenced by feeding stimulation, while the expressions of the growth-related hormones IAA and ABA have no significant changes at other time points except for 1 h after treatment. Thus, the flavonoid pathway is one of the main pathways involved in resistance formation in conifers, and JA and IAA are involved in the formation of resistance.

Citrate-Based Polyester Elastomer with Artificially Regulatable Degradation Rate on Demand.

Citrate-based polymers are commonly used to create biodegradable implants. In an era of personalized medicine, it is highly desired that the degradation rates of citrate-based implants can be artificially regulated as required during clinical applications. Unfortunately, current citrate-based polymers only undergo passive degradation, which follows a specific degradation profile. This presents a considerable challenge for the use of citrate-based implants. To address this, a novel citrate-based polyester elastomer (POCSS) with artificially regulatable degradation rate is developed by incorporating disulfide bonds (S-S) into the backbone chains of the crosslinking network of poly(octamethylene citrate) (POC). This POCSS exhibits excellent and tunable mechanical properties, notable antibacterial properties, good biocompatibility, and low biotoxicity of its degradation products. The degradation rate of the POCSS can be regulated by breaking the S-S in its crosslinking network using glutathione (GSH). After a period of subcutaneous implantation of POCSS scaffolds in mice, the degradation rate eventually increased by 2.46 times through the subcutaneous administration of GSH. Notably, we observed no significant adverse effects on its surrounding tissues, the balance of the physiological environment, major organs, and the health status of the mice during degradation.

The mechanism of enhanced lignin regulating foliar Cd absorption and yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The impact of atmospheric deposition of cadmium (Cd) in cereal crops has become a global concern. Enhanced lignin content was expected to benefit the plant performance against Cd exposure. To date, however, the underlying mechanisms of lignin regulating foliar Cd absorption in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and its effect on grain yield remains unclear. In present study, the effect and mechanism of rice in response to leaf Cd exposure were investigated using 113Cd stable isotope and a lignin-increased rice mutant. The highest Cd uptake efficiency and uptake amount was observed in wild type (WT) plant grown in the maturity period, which were 3-fold higher than in mutant plant. Compared to WT, the mutant exhibited 14.75% and 25.43% higher contents in G- and S-unit of lignin monomers. Lignin biosynthesis and polymerization related genes (OsPAL/OsCOMT/Os4CL3/OsLAC5/OsLAC15) were significantly up-regulated in mutants. In addition, the enzyme activities involved in the above process were also significantly increased by 1.24-1.49-fold. The increased Cd retention in cell wall and decreased gene expression levels of OsNRAMP5, OsHMA3 and OsIRT1 in mutant indicated that lignin effectively inhibited Cd transportion in plant tissues. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity and photosynthesis efficiency in mutant plant were obviously improved, leading to higher Cd tolerance and increased grain yield. Our results revealed the molecular and physiological mechanisms of enhanced lignin regulating foliar Cd absorption and yield in rice, and provided the valuable rice genotype to ensure food safety.

Bulk Erosion Degradation Mechanism for Poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) Elastomer: An In Vivo and In Vitro Investigation.

As a biodegradable elastomer, poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) has been widely applied in tissue engineering and implantable electronics. However, the unclear degradation mechanism has posed a great challenge for the better application and development of POC. To reveal the degradation mechanism, here, we present a systematic investigation into in vivo and in vitro degradation behaviors of POC. Initially, critical factors, including chemical structures, hydrophilic and water-absorbency characteristics, and degradation reaction of POC, are investigated. Then, various degradation-induced changes during in vitro degradation of POC-x (POC with different cross-linking densities) are monitored and discussed. The results show that (1) cross-linking densities exponentially drop with degradation time; (2) mass loss and PBS-absorption ratio grow nonlinearly; (3) the morphology on the cross-section changes from flat to rough at a microscopic level; (4) the cubic samples keep swelling until they collapse into fragments from a macro view; and (5) the mechanical properties experience a sharp drop at the beginning of degradation. Finally, the in vivo degradation behaviors of POC-x are investigated, and the results are similar to those in vitro. The comprehensive assessment suggests that the in vitro and in vivo degradation of POC occurs primarily through bulk erosion. Inflammation responses triggered by the degradation of POC-x are comparable to poly(lactic acid), or even less obvious. In addition, the mechanical evaluation of POC in the simulated application environment is first proposed and conducted in this work for a more appropriate application. The degradation mechanism of POC revealed will greatly promote the further development and application of POC-based materials in the biomedical field.

Durable Flexible Polymer-Encapsulated Cs4PbI6 Thin Film for High Sensitivity X-ray Detection.

Because of the extraordinary properties including high atomic numbers and large µτ products, metal halide perovskites have been widely employed and used for radiation detecting. Cs4PbI6 material has a high X-ray attenuation coefficient and excellent electrical properties that have a good potential in X-ray detection applications. Here, we have designed a flexible polymer-encapsulated Au/Cs4PbI6/Au X-ray detector with outstanding sensitivity of 256.20 µC Gy-1 cm-2 irradiated by 30 keV X-ray at 10 V bias, long-time stability, and durable flexibility without obvious degradation after bending for 600 cycles. These features demonstrate that this polymer-encapsulated durable flexible and sensitive X-ray detector could open a new possibility for next-generation radiation applications in dosimeter, imaging technologies.

The Flame Retardancy of Polyethylene Composites: From Fundamental Concepts to Nanocomposites.

Polyethylene (PE) is one the most used plastics worldwide for a wide range of applications due to its good mechanical and chemical resistance, low density, cost efficiency, ease of processability, non-reactivity, low toxicity, good electric insulation, and good functionality. However, its high flammability and rapid flame spread pose dangers for certain applications. Therefore, different flame-retardant (FR) additives are incorporated into PE to increase its flame retardancy. In this review article, research papers from the past 10 years on the flame retardancy of PE systems are comprehensively reviewed and classified based on the additive sources. The FR additives are classified in well-known FR families, including phosphorous, melamine, nitrogen, inorganic hydroxides, boron, and silicon. The mechanism of fire retardance in each family is pinpointed. In addition to the efficiency of each FR in increasing the flame retardancy, its impact on the mechanical properties of the PE system is also discussed. Most of the FRs can decrease the heat release rate (HRR) of the PE products and simultaneously maintains the mechanical properties in appropriate ratios. Based on the literature, inorganic hydroxide seems to be used more in PE systems compared to other families. Finally, the role of nanotechnology for more efficient FR-PE systems is discussed and recommendations are given on implementing strategies that could help incorporate flame retardancy in the circular economy model.

Preparation of graphene oxide quantum dots from waste toner, and their application to a fluorometric DNA hybridization assay.

A one-pot hydrothermal method was developed for the synthesis of graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs). It is making use of toner waste as the precursor and H2O2 as the oxidant. Synthesis takes 4 h and does not require strong acids or complex purification steps and does not produce environmentally harmful metal ions. The GOQDs display blue fluorescence with excitation/emission maxima at 340/445 nm. The feasibility of detecting specific DNA sequence was promoted using polyethyleneimine to modify the GOQDs surface. A method was developed to recognized a specific DNA sequence. This is based on electrostatic aggregation of GOQDs and ssDNA labeled with Dabcyl at the 3' end, which promotes fluorescence quenching of GOQDs. The possible fluorescence quenching mechanism (which is mainly dynamic) was investigated using the Stern-Volmer equation. When a target sequence was added, which is complementary to the ssDNA, the dabcyl-labeled ssDNA is released due to strict complementary base pairing. This promotes fluorescence recovery of GOQDs. The assay has a 0.17 nM detection limit and a linear range of 0.5-30 nM. The method was used to quantify specific DNA sequences from extracts of genetically modified plant tissues. Graphical abstract Graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) were synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method using waste toner, and the surface was modified by polyethyleneimine (PEI). Through the interaction of PEI-GOQDs with Dabcyl-DNA single strands to dynamically quench the fluorescence of GOQDs. Based on DNA hybridization technology, we established specific DNA sequence detection nanoprobe.

GHK-Cu-liposomes accelerate scald wound healing in mice by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK)-Cu is considered to be an activator of tissue remodeling, and has been used in cosmetic products. In this study, we prepared liposomes encapsulating GHK-Cu and analyzed their effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation and scald wound healing in mice. The nanoscaled GHK-Cu-liposomes promoted HUVECs proliferation, with a 33.1% increased rate. Flow cytometry analysis showed increased cell number at G1 stage and decreased cell number at G2 stage after GHK-Cu-liposomes treatment. Western blotting indicated that the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast grow factors-2 were both enhanced, as well as cell cycle-related proteins CDK4 and CyclinD1. In a mice scald model, angiogenesis in burned skin treated with GHK-Cu-liposomes was better compared with free GHK-Cu, and immunofluorescence analysis showed enhanced signal of CD31 and Ki67 in GHK-Cu-liposomes treated mice. Moreover, the wound healing time was shortened to 14 days post injury. Our results provide the evidence that GHK-Cu-liposomes could be utilized as a treatment for skin wounds.

Simvastatin prevents alveolar bone loss in an experimental rat model of periodontitis after ovariectomy.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the loss of connective tissue and alveolar bone. There is an increasing evidence that periodontitis is associated with a number of chronic disease, including osteoporosis. Periodontitis and osteoporosis are both bone destructive diseases and of high prevalence in adult population. Osteoporosis could increase some inflammatory factors that also participate in the progression of periodontitis, so as to facilitate the alveolar bone resorption. Simvastatin, specific inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme reductase, is of pleiotropic effects including anti-catabolic and anabolic effect on bone metabolism. This study aimed to explore the local and systemic effect of simvastatin on maxillary in rats with both osteoporosis and periodontitis. METHODS: Thirty-six 4-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups: sham group, ligature group, ovariectomized (OVX) + ligature group, local simvastatin administration to OVX + ligature rats (local simvastatin group), oral simvastatin administration to OVX + ligature rats (oral simvastatin group), local and oral simvastatin administration to OVX + ligature rats (L&O simvastatin group). One month after OVX, ligatures were placed on the maxillary first (M1) and second molars (M2) for 4 weeks on all rats except those in the sham group, followed by simvastatin treatment for 2 months. The maxillae, serum, and femurs were collected for further examination including micro-computed (micro-CT) tomography, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and the three-point bending test. RESULTS: Local simvastatin administration increased alveolar crest height and prevented local alveolar bone loss without alteration of systemic bone loss. Oral administration prevented local and systemic bone loss with no effect on alveolar crest height. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that simvastatin has the potential of promoting bone formation and reducing alveolar bone loss in maxillary following ovariectomy (OVX) and ligature placement in rats.

Impact response of lightweight steel foam concrete composite slabs: Experimental, numerical and analytical studies.

This paper presents a study on the low-velocity impact response of lightweight steel foam concrete (LSFC) composite slabs. The LSFC composite slab consisted of a W-shaped steel plate, foam concrete and oriented strand board (OSB). Low-velocity impact tests on the LSFC composite slabs were conducted by employing an ultra-high heavy-duty drop hammer testing machine. The tests revealed the failure mode, impact force and displacement response of LSFC composite slabs. The effects of density and thickness of foam concrete and drop height on the peak impact force and energy absorption ratio were investigated. A finite element (FE) model was set up to predict the impact resistance of the LSFC composite slabs, and a good agreement between simulation and test results was achieved. In addition, an equivalent-single-degree-of-freedom (ESDOF) model was set up to predict the displacement response of the LSFC composite slabs under impact loading.

Microstructural Characteristics and Properties of Laser-Welded Diamond Saw Blade with 30CrMo Steel.

In order to enhance the quality of diamond composite materials, this work employs a Cu-Co-Fe and Ni-Cr-Cu pre-alloyed powder mixture as a transition layer, and utilizes laser-welding technology for saw blade fabrication. By adjusting the laser-welding process parameters, including welding speed and welding power, well-formed welded joints were achieved, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were investigated. The results demonstrate that the best welding performance was achieved at a laser power of 1600 W and a welding speed of 1400 mm/min, with a remarkable tooth engagement strength of up to 819 MPa. The fusion zone can be divided into rich Cu phase and rich Fe phase regions, characterized by coarse grains without apparent preferred orientation. The microstructure of the heat-affected zone primarily consists of high-hardness brittle quenched needle-like martensite, exhibiting a sharp increase in microhardness up to 550 HV. Fracture occurred at the boundary between the fusion zone and the heat-affected zone of the base material, where stress concentration was observed. By adjusting the welding parameters and transition layer materials, the mechanical properties of the joints were improved, thereby achieving a reliable connection between diamond composite materials and the metal substrate.

Integrated morphological, physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal response mechanisms of rice under different cadmium exposure routes.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the major cereal crops and takes up cadmium (Cd) more readily than other crops. Understanding the mechanism of Cd uptake and defense in rice can help us avoid Cd in the food chain. However, studies comparing Cd uptake, toxicity, and detoxification mechanisms of leaf and root Cd exposure at the morphological, physiological, and transcriptional levels are still lacking. Therefore, experiments were conducted in this study and found that root Cd exposure resulted in more severe oxidative and photosynthetic damage, lower plant biomass, higher Cd accumulation, and transcriptional changes in rice than leaf Cd exposure. The activation of phenylpropanoids biosynthesis in both root and leaf tissues under different Cd exposure routes suggests that increased lignin is the response mechanism of rice under Cd stress. Moreover, the roots of rice are more sensitive to Cd stress and their adaptation responses are more pronounced than those of leaves. Quantitative PCR revealed that OsPOX, OsCAD, OsPAL and OsCCR play important roles in the response to Cd stress, which further emphasize the importance of lignin. Therefore, this study provides theoretical evidence for future chemical and genetic regulation of lignin biosynthesis in crop plants to reduce Cd accumulation.

Tough and Water-Resistant Bioelastomers with Active-Controllable Degradation Rates.

Biodegradable electronic devices have gained significant traction in modern medical applications. These devices are generally desired to have a long enough working lifetime for stable operation and allow for active control over their degradation rates after usage. However, current biodegradable materials used as encapsulations or substrates for these devices are challenging to meet the two requirements due to the constraints of inadequate water resistance, poor mechanical properties, and passive degradation characteristics. Herein, we develop a novel biodegradable elastomer named POC-SS-Res by introducing disulfide linkage and resveratrol (Res) into poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC). Compared to POC, POC-SS-Res exhibits good water resistance and excellent mechanical properties in PBS, providing effective protection for devices. At the same time, POC-SS-Res offers the unique advantage of an active-controllable degradation rate, and its degradation products express low biotoxicity. Good biocompatibility of POC-SS-Res is also demonstrated. Bioelectronic components encapsulated with POC-SS-Res have an obvious prolongation of working lifetime in PBS compared to that encapsulated with POC, and its degradation rate can be actively controlled by the addition of glutathione (GSH).

Artificial intelligence in dentistry: A bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2023.

Background/purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping clinical practice in dentistry. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of global trends and research hotspots on the application of AI to dentistry. Materials and methods: Studies on AI in dentistry published between 2000 and 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric parameters were extracted and bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, Pajek, and CiteSpace software. Results: A total of 651 publications were identified, 88.7 % of which were published after 2019. Publications originating from the United States and China accounted for 34.5 % of the total. The Charité Medical University of Berlin was the institution with the highest number of publications, and Schwendicke and Krois were the most active authors in the field. The Journal of Dentistry had the highest citation count. The focus of AI in dentistry primarily centered on the analysis of imaging data and the dental diseases most frequently associated with AI were periodontitis, bone fractures, and dental caries. The dental AI applications most frequently discussed since 2019 included neural networks, medical devices, clinical decision support systems, head and neck cancer, support vector machine, geometric deep learning, and precision medicine. Conclusion: Research on AI in dentistry is experiencing explosive growth. The prevailing research emphasis and anticipated future development involve the establishment of medical devices and clinical decision support systems based on innovative AI algorithms to advance precision dentistry. This study provides dentists with valuable insights into this field.

Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces.

BACKGROUND: Acid etching of tooth surfaces to promote the bonding of orthodontic attachments to the enamel has been a routine procedure in orthodontic treatment since the 1960s. Various types of orthodontic etchants and etching techniques have been introduced in the past five decades. Although a large amount of information on this topic has been published, there is a significant lack of consensus regarding the clinical effects of different dental etchants and etching techniques. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of different dental etchants and different etching techniques for the bonding of fixed orthodontic appliances. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register (to 8 March 2013), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 2), MEDLINE via OVID (to 8 March 2013), EMBASE via OVID (to 8 March 2013), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (to 12 March 2011), the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (to 8 March 2013) and the National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry (to 8 March 2013). A handsearching group updated the handsearching of journals, carried out as part of the Cochrane Worldwide Handsearching Programme, to the most current issue. There were no restrictions regarding language or date of publication. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing different etching materials, or different etching techniques using the same etchants, for the bonding of fixed orthodontic brackets to incisors, canines and premolars in children and adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies independently and in duplicate. We resolved disagreements by discussion among the review team. We contacted the corresponding authors of the included studies to obtain additional information, if necessary. MAIN RESULTS: We included 13 studies randomizing 417 participants with 7184 teeth/brackets. We assessed two studies (15%) as being at low risk of bias, 10 studies (77%) as being at high risk of bias and one study (8%) as being at unclear risk of bias. Self etching primers (SEPs) versus conventional etchantsEleven studies compared the effects of SEPs with conventional etchants. Only five of these studies (three of split-mouth design and two of parallel design) reported data at the participant level, with the remaining studies reporting at the tooth level, thus ignoring clustering/the paired nature of the data. A meta-analysis of these five studies, with follow-up ranging from 5 to 37 months, provided low-quality evidence that was insufficient to determine whether or not there is a difference in bond failure rate between SEPs and convention etchants (risk ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75 to 1.73; 221 participants). The uncertainty in the CI includes both no effect and appreciable benefit and harm. Subgroup analysis did not show a difference between split-mouth and parallel studies.There were no data available to allow assessment of the outcomes: decalcification, participant satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. One study reported decalcification, but only at the tooth level. SEPs versus SEPsTwo studies compared two different SEPs. Both studies reported bond failure rate, with one of the studies also reporting decalcification. However, as both studies reported outcomes only at the tooth level, there were no data available to evaluate the superiority of any of the SEPs over the others investigated with regards to any of the outcomes of this review.We did not find any eligible studies evaluating different etching materials (e.g. phosphoric acid, polyacrylic acid, maleic acid), concentrations or etching times. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found low-quality evidence that was insufficient to conclude whether or not there is a difference in bond failure rate between SEPs and conventional etching systems when bonding fixed orthodontic appliances over a 5- to 37-month follow-up. Insufficient data were also available to allow any conclusions to be formed regarding the superiority of SEPs or conventional etching for the outcomes: decalcification, participant satisfaction and cost-effectiveness, or regarding the superiority of different etching materials, concentrations or etching times, or of any one SEP over another. Further well-designed RCTs on this topic are needed to provide more evidence in order to answer these clinical questions.

A new class of nucleating agents for poly(L-lactic acid): Environmentally-friendly metal salts with biomass-derived ligands and advanced nucleation ability.

Adding nucleating agents has been a successful strategy to boost the heat resistance of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) by increasing the crystallinity. In this study, a new series of bio-based complexes as nucleating agents for PLLA, including twelve combinations of three eco-friendly metal ions (Zn, Mg, Ca) and four biomass-derived α-hydroxy acids, were successfully synthesized to respectively investigate the effects of metal ions as well as ligands on nucleation capacity of complexes. By investigating the non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization at 135 °C of PLLA with 0.3 wt% loading of complexes, both zinc and magnesium salts of L-mandelic acid showed excellent nucleation capacities. And magnesium L-mandelate performed better, raising the crystallinity of PLLA to 44.4 % as well as minimizing its crystallization half-time from 73 min to 2.7 min. The growth and denser distribution of PLLA spherulites on the salt surface were also observed by POM, reflecting epitaxial nucleation as the possible mechanism. A novel inspiration, utilizing VESTA software to simulate the crystal structure of zinc L-mandelate (Zn(L-MA)2), was proposed to determine the nucleation mechanism. Also, using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a test protocol, the rationality of the model could be approved by checking the fitness of nucleating prediction and experiment results.

Unlocking the potential of Dongting Lake-grown Miscanthus lutarioriparius biomass: A comprehensive quality analysis and bioproduct application study.

Miscanthus lutarioriparius grown in Dongting Lake has an annual biomass yield potential of 1 million tons. However, with the shutdown of its previous utilization for paper-making, abandoning this huge amount of biomass has caused serious economic, ecological, and social problems. Constructing an industrial cluster to continuously convert biomass into various bioproducts is a win-win measure to address this dilemma. With the increasing confirmation of the importance of biomass quality affecting the conservation process, fully understanding the biomass characteristics of Dongting Lake-grown M. lutarioriparius is crucial for building a scientific industrial cluster. The present work is designed to explore the variation in biomass quality across the entire Dongting Lake area. Results show that the biomass contented with Cd, Mn, Zn, and Cr has significant geographical differences, with a general trend of Southern Dongting Lake-grown biomass having a higher concentration than that from Eastern and Western Dongting Lake areas. Moreover, significant differences are found in terms of biomass ash content, lignin content, and the degree of polymerization of cellulose (DP). The biomass with low ash content is generally from the entire Eastern Dongting Lake area and the northern part of the Western Dongting Lake area. Virtually all Western Dongting Lake-grown biomass has a low lignin content (approximately 18 %). Regarding the spatial variation of DP, Eastern Dongting Lake-grown biomass has a higher DP (average at 585.33) than that in Southern (575.15) and then Western Dongting Lake (529.16). Based on these quality indicators, the biomass production potentials for bioethanol, biochar, and xylo-oligosaccharide were calculated and visualized. Results show that biomass from almost the entire Western and Eastern Dongting Lake area is suitable for bioethanol and xylo-oligosaccharide production, while biomass from the Southern Dongting Lake area for biochar production. These results provide scientific guidance for the future utilization of Dongting Lake-grown M. lutarioriparius biomass.

The efficacy of three-ball breathing apparatus exercise based on the concept of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients after lung cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative patients with lung cancer mostly experience different degrees of dyspnea and decreased activity tolerance, and these symptoms all significantly affect postoperative quality of life. The concept of pulmonary rehabilitation applicable to patients with chronic respiratory diseases is also applicable to patients with postoperative lung cancer. The current application of postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation for lung cancer is inconsistent, and reliable guidelines are lacking. The purpose of this study was to further verify the efficacy and feasibility of postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation for lung cancer patients, and to find a suitable local pulmonary rehabilitation program for postoperative patients with lung cancer that is clinically promoted in our department through this study. METHODS: We collected the clinical data of patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection or lobectomy. The patients were divided into rehabilitation group (using three-ball breathing apparatus after discharge) and control group (routine follow-up after discharge) according to whether the patients were trained with three-ball breathing apparatus after operation. The detailed method using three-ball apparatus is as follows. To begin with, patients are required to put themselves in a comfortable position. Then, after the three-ball breathing apparatus put on the same plane of their eyes, patients hold the tube in their mouth closely and control their breath slowly. When patients inhale to their largest extent, the balls will rise up accordingly. Then they exhale. The evaluation results of pulmonary function, activity tolerance, anxiety scores and others were collected. All data was gathered at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation training on wedge resection and lobectomy were compared. RESULTS: A total of 210 patients were included in this study, including 126 patients with VATS wedge resection and 84 patients with VATS lobectomies. No discrepancy was noticed when FEV1 loss between two groups were compared in the wedge resection patients, and the same results were also shown in patients undergoing lobectomy (12.8% ± 2.0% vs. 12.7% ± 1.9%, P = 0.84, wedge resection; 12.6% ± 2.9% vs. 12.1% ± 1.8%, P = 0.37, lobectomy). The loss of FVC in the control group was greater than that in the rehabilitation group for patients undergoing lobectomy (11.7% ± 5.2%, vs. 17.1% ± 5.6%, P < 0.001, lobectomy). No difference was found in the wedge resection patients between the control and rehabilitation groups (6.6% ± 2.8%, vs. 6.4% ± 3.2%, P = 0.76, lobectomy). Moreover, all patients showed no significant difference in 6MWD regardless of surgical procedure and with or without breathing exercises at T3 (392.6 ± 50.6 m, rehabilitation group vs. 394.0 ± 46.6 m, control group. P = 0.87, wedge resection; 381.3 ± 38.9 m, rehabilitation group vs. 369.1 ± 49.3 m, control group. P = 0.21, lobectomy). CONCLUSIONS: For patients after thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection, the use of three-ball apparatus did not significantly improve postoperative pulmonary function and activity tolerance, dyspnea, and anxiety symptoms. In patients after thoracoscopic lobectomy, respiratory trainers were able to improve postoperative lung function but were unable to significantly improve dyspnea and anxiety symptoms. There was a significant benefit for the use of three-ball apparatus in patients after thoracoscopic lobectomy, whereas there was no significant benefit for the use of respiratory trainers after wedge resection. Registry: Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. REGISTRATION NUMBER: no. 2022455.