A recent experiment revealed what we believe to be a novel bidirectional deflection phenomenon in single KTN crystals near the Curie temperature by only applying unidirectional electric field. The electric-field dependent dielectric permittivity was measured to clarify the dielectric response to the electric field through field-driven reorientation and condensation of polar nanoregions (PNRs) and the phenomenon of the field-induced phase transition. Based on the screening effect of space charge, a special high-low-high electric field distribution was revealed, resulting in the local phase transition. The deflection mechanism arises from the coupling influence of linear and quadratic electro-optic (EO) effects induced by the local phase transition, proved by the I-V property, the micrography of KTN crystal, and the deflection performance through varying the incident position. The work reveals the implementation method of the local phase transition through field-driven PNRs dynamics for space-charge-controlled KTN crystal, and provides a basis for the development of bidirectional scanning devices.

This study investigated the effect of pre-gelatinized pearl millet flour (PGPMF) supplementation on the quality characteristics of native pearl millet flour and bread prepared from the blends. The PGPMF was prepared by steaming the pearl millet grains, followed by drying and milling. The PGPMF was substituted in the native pearl millet flour in varying proportions and blends were characterized for quality parameters. The bread was prepared from the blends and assessed for quality characteristics. The PGPMF substitution improved the hydration properties of blends and reduced the water solubility index by 28.9%. The PGPMF reduced the emulsion capacity and foaming ability of the blends, while it improved the freeze-thaw stability by 30.6%. The rheological analysis of blends confirmed their shear-thinning behavior, and FTIR spectra indicated broadening of OH stretching bands and improvements in the amorphousness. The PGPMF substitution amended the physical attributes of prepared bread with a significant enhancement in crumb structure. The in-vitro starch digestibility and protein digestibility increased considerably with the substitution of PGPMF. The firmness of bread decreased by 36% and its springiness increased from 0.26 to 0.35 with the substitution of PGPMF. The scanning electron micrography revealed a porous and uniform matrix in PGPMF substituted breads. The substitution level of 40% PGPMF was identified as optimal, resulting in significant improvements. These findings indicate that PGPMF effectively addresses the rheological limitations of pearl millet, improving bread quality, thereby supporting the development of millet-based, gluten-free, and shelf-stable bakery products.

X-ray nano-imaging enables nondestructive characterization at the nanoscale. However, limited by factors such as source brightness, divergence angle, and focal spot size, the development of laboratory X-ray nano-imaging systems still faces many challenges. The ellipsoidal single-bounce mono-capillary condenser (ESMCC), as an efficient X-ray focusing optic, is a core basic component of synchrotron-based nano-imaging. It is also a key to optimizing the illumination capacity of laboratory sources and achieving laboratory high-resolution nano-imaging. According to the characteristics of the laboratory nanoimaging system, the ESMCC geometric parameter model is established. With the six evaluation metrics affecting imaging quality and focusing performance as the primary design basis, a fast and effective ESMCC design method is proposed, which can be applied to the front-end illumination systems of full-field transmission X-ray micrography (TXM) and ptychography through numerical calculations and comprehensive analyses. Further, the design of the ESMCC is validated by simulation experiments using XRayTracer (XRT) simulation software. The simulation experiment results show high consistency with the theoretical design, verifying the rationality of the design method and providing a feasible approach for efficient focusing optical path design in laboratory X-ray nano-imaging.

The study included a comparative study of the contribution of nitric oxide (NO) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to hydrogen sulfide-mediated (H2S) dilation of the pial arteries in Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4 and 18 months. In vivo micrography was used to study dilatory responses of arteries ranging in size from 8 to 86 microns to the effect of H2S donor (sodium hydrosulfide solution, NaHS, 3·10-5 М) and their changes after the use of blockers. A non-specific NO-synthase blocker (L-NAME, 10-4 M), an inducible NO-synthase blocker (aminoguanidine, 10-4 M) and sGC blocker (methylene blue, 10-4 M) were used in the experiment. The results showed the presence of age-related changes at the level of all links of the NO-sGC signaling cascade. Aging is accompanied by a change in the NO-mediated mechanisms of the pial arteries dilatation reactions to exposure to NaHS solution. The contribution of NO synthesized with the participation of an inducible form of nitric oxide synthase, to dilation increases. The contribution of the sGC also increases with age. In young rats (4-month-old), this mechanism is expressed only in arteries with a diameter of <20 µm, whereas in 18-month-old animals, the contribution of sGC to H2S-induced dilation is found in arteries of all sizes studied. The results obtained reveal the possibility of using H2S as an activator of the NO-sGC signaling pathway in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases accompanying the aging process.

Organic selenium shows promise in cancer treatment due to its antioxidant properties, however, challenges like toxicity and instability hinder its efficacy. Herein, we aim to develop stable and less toxic selenium-chelated tuna bone gelatin peptides (TBGP@Se). TBGPs were extracted from tuna bones and chelated with selenium through a redox reaction. The resulting TBGP@Se was characterized to assess amino acids sequences, morphology of TBGP@Se, particle size distribution. Antiproliferation activity was evaluated using A549 and HT-29 cell lines. Our TBGP@Se was rich in glycine, proline, and alanine which aided stable Se chelation. Electron micrography confirmed gelatin concentrations (5 mg mL-1) with stable TBGP@Se complexes. FTIR and DLS analyses further confirmed successful Se chelation and improved particle dispersion. TBGP@Se exhibited potent antiproliferative effects in vitro. Collectively, our study demonstrates the successful synthesis of stable TBGP@Se with significant antiproliferative activity against cancer cells in vitro. Future research should explore the mechanisms of action and validate these findings in animal models to advance TBGP@Se towards clinical applications in cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Bacteriophages (phages) have therapeutic potential against AMR bacteria. Recently, Klebsiella michiganensis (a member of the Klebsiella oxytoca complex) was discovered. This pathogen is associated with nosocomial infection and sepsis and has the ability to neutralize the β-lactam class of antibiotics. This study focused on detailed characterization of the phage vB_KleM_kp20 (kp20) and evaluation of its in vitro and in vivo efficacy against K. michiganensis. METHODS: Phage kp20 was isolated from sewage water, purified, and characterized via standard methods, including adsorption assay, one-step growth curve, host range determination, pH/temperature stability, in vitro lysis kinetics, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and genome sequencing. The therapeutic potential of kp20 was also evaluated through in vitro antibiofilm activity and in vivo decolonization in a mosquito larval model (Aedes albopictus). RESULTS: kp20 showed narrow host specificity, a rapid adsorption rate (> 60% adsorption within 10 min), a short latency period (~ 10 min), a large burst size (~ 100 PFU per infected cell), and strong in vitro antibacterial activity at a low MOI (0.1). Phage kp20 retained infectivity over a range of temperatures (4–40 °C) and pH values (6–10). In the in vitro antibiofilm assay, a 39% reduction in biomass was observed at an MOI of 1. Transmission electron micrography revealed a myovirus morphology, and genetic analyses revealed an ~ 174 kb dsDNA genome (GenBank PP993148) harboring at least 267 CDSs and 2 tRNA genes. No AMR/toxin- or integration-related genes were detected. Analyses of the proteomic tree revealed the affinity of kp20 for the genus Slopekvirus under the Straboviridae family of viruses. Compared with no treatment, treatment with kp20 significantly reduced survival (70% vs. 40%; P < 0.001) and growth (2.1 ± 0.38 mm vs. 1.4 ± 0.17 mm; p < 0.0001) in the mosquito larval gut colonization model. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest promising therapeutic potential for phage kp20. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the mosquito larval gut colonization model could be utilized as a convenient pre-murine model to evaluate phage efficacy in vivo.

Background: Amlodipine besylate (AML) is recognized as a calcium channel blocker curative for hypertension. However, the drug emerged recently as an antibacterial cure that competently prevails over resistant strains. Methods: Incorporating amlodipine into zein nanoparticles was employed to innovate a suitable carrier for loading and targeting deep corneal infection. The Box-Behnken design was adopted to produce various formulations of amlodipine-loaded zein nanoparticles (AML-ZNs) with diversity in composition concentration (% w/v), comprising zein, Labrafac, and poloxamer 407. Results: Relying on the optimization criterion, the chosen preference formulation concentration (% w/v) consists of 2.068 for zein, 0.75 for Labrafac, and 1.0 for Poloxamer. Morphological micrography of AML-ZNs showed regular spherical particles in the nanometric scale, and physicochemical characterization procedures confirmed system suitability. While tracking eyedrop optimum features, sodium alginate was selected for coating nanoparticles to improve stability and system viscosity. Both pH and sterility were also considered and maintained. Comparative studies were conducted pre- and post-coating, and the assessed features for the final selected formulation were 349.9 ± 5.8 nm, 0.2186 ± 0.0271, -55.45 ± 1.84 mV, 81.293 ± 0.9%, and 19.3 ± 0.19 cp for size, PDI, surface charge, entrapment, and viscosity, respectively. The AML-ZNs-Alg formulation demonstrates a more controlled pattern of release of roughly 40% of the drug released after 48 h, while the permeation profile shows 37 ± 3.52% permeated after 24 h, confirmed visually. In vitro microbial assay alongside the corneal in vivo microbial and histological pathology evaluation proved the efficacy of amlodipine as an antibacterial agent. Conclusions: These findings highlighted that the prepared AML-ZNs-Alg eyedrop can be a promising system as an antibacterial therapy.

Established techniques for characterizing a layer on a substrate system via surface acoustic wave (SAW) dispersion measurement are often slow due to the need for scanning excitation or detection positions. We present a method for determining discrete points on the SAW mode at equidistant wavenumbers that requires only a single measurement, overcoming these speed limitations. A pulsed laser, shaped into an array of equidistant lines, generates elastic waves on the sample surface. A vibrometer detects the resulting surface displacement next to the line array. The periodic excitation arrangement results in constructive interference of the SAW at wavelengths corresponding to integer fractions of the line spacing. This leads to distinct peaks in the response spectrum, whose higher orders we term spatial harmonics of the SAW. The known line spacing determines the wavelengths, allowing the peak frequencies to be mapped to discrete points on the SAW dispersion curve, effectively sampling the SAW at specific equidistant wavenumbers. By solving an inverse problem, a model can be fit to the experimental data to obtain properties of the layered system. We demonstrate this technique on copper-clad epoxy laminates and roll-cladded aluminum alloy plates and compare our results with dispersion relation scans and micrography. In addition, we analyze the method's sensitivity to elastic parameters and layer thickness. This approach offers a viable alternative to established SAW scanning methods, particularly in scenarios where the trade-off of lower wavenumber sampling density is acceptable to achieve exceptionally fast measurements while avoiding moving parts.

The analysis of microscopic characteristics of closed-cell polymeric foams, particularly bead size, is relevant for understanding properties such as thermal insulation, energy absorption, and compressive structural strength of these materials. This study presents an automated method based on Deep Learning models to measure the bead size of Expanded Polystyrene foams in low-resolution micrographs. The results of this approach were compared with manual measurements at two expanded polystyrene foam densities: 8.5 and 24 kg/m[3]. Hypothesis tests, including Student's t-test, Levene's test, and Mann-Whitney U test, were conducted and showed no significant differences between manual and automatic measurements. Student's t-test and Levene's test indicated that both methods have comparable means and variances, while the Two One-Sided Test confirmed that they were equivalent for bead size measurement. Additionally, the Mann-Whitney U test revealed no differences in medians, and Bland-Altman plot analyses demonstrated no systematic bias between the methods. Taken together, these results suggest that the proposed Deep Learning-based method is a reliable and precise substitute for the manual method in measuring the bead size of expanded polystyrene, making it suitable for practical use in the bead microstructural analysis of expanded polystyrene material.

From the lanthanide group, part of the rare earth elements (REEs), lanthanum is one of the most important elements given its application potential. Although it does not have severe toxicity to the environment, its increased usage in advanced technologies and medical fields and scarce natural reserves point to the necessity also of recovering lanthanum from diluted solutions. Among the multiple methods for separation and purification, adsorption has been recognized as one of the most promising because of its simplicity, high efficiency, and large-scale availability. In this study, a xerogel based on silicon and iron oxides doped with zinc oxide and polymer (SiO2@Fe2O3@ZnO) (SFZ), obtained by the sol-gel method, was considered as an adsorbent material. Micrography indicates the existence of particles with irregular geometric shapes and sizes between 16 μm and 45 μm. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals the presence of dimples on the top of the material. The specific surface area of the material, calculated by the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method, indicates a value of 53 m[2]/g, with C constant at a value of 48. In addition, the Point of Zero Charge (pHpZc) of the material was determined to be 6.7. To establish the specific parameters of the La(III) adsorption process, static studies were performed. Based on experimental data, kinetic, thermodynamic, and equilibrium studies, the mechanism of the adsorption process was established. The maximum adsorption capacity was 6.7 mg/g, at a solid/liquid ratio = 0.1 g:25 mL, 4 < pH < 6, 298 K, after a contact time of 90 min. From a thermodynamic point of view, the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and occurs at the adsorbent-adsorbate interface. The Sips model is the most suitable for describing the observed adsorption process, indicating a complex interaction between La(III) ions and the adsorbent material. The material can be reused as an adsorbent material, having a regeneration capacity of more than 90% after the first cycle of regeneration. The material was reused 3 times with considerable efficiency.

The presence of pharmaceutical residues in aquatic environments represents a serious environmental problem, with negative impacts on ecosystems and public health. The removal of these contaminants from wastewater is a challenge that requires innovative and sustainable strategies. In this study, a green synthesis approach, assisted by cashew gum, was employed to synthesize the Zn0.98Nd0.02O photocatalysts at varying pH levels (5, 7, 9, 11, and 13) via the sol-gel method. The effects of synthesis pH on structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were systematically investigated. The structural analysis revealed a hexagonal wurtzite structure, with crystallite sizes ranging from 69 nm (pH 5) to 235 nm (pH 9). Micrography images showed that pH significantly influenced morphology, with particles ranging from agglomerates to more dispersed spherical shapes. Porosity analysis indicated mesoporous structures with surface areas varying between 2.2 and 5.2 m[2]/g, depending on pH. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra highlighted the presence of oxygen-related defects, with emission peaks shifting due to structural disorder induced by doping and pH variation. Optical studies also indicated a tunable bandgap (3.284-3.218 eV) and Urbach energy (50.96-75.30 meV), signifying increased structural disorder at higher pH. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated against Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Ibuprofen (IBU), achieving degradation efficiencies of 97.5 % (CIP at pH 7) and 74.1 % (IBU at pH 13) under UV light. Kinetic studies confirmed pseudo-first-order behavior with rate constants of 2.14 × 10[-2] min[-1] for CIP and 8.99 × 10[-3] min[-1] for IBU. Reactive species analysis identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as dominant contributors to pollutant degradation. Reusability tests demonstrated >96 % CIP removal over four cycles and consistent structural stability, validated via XRD. This study highlights the potential of the Zn0.98Nd0.02O photocatalysts synthesized under eco-friendly conditions for addressing pharmaceutical pollutants in wastewater treatment.