Common Process Research Articles

DETERMINANTS OF VALUE ADDITION AMONG SMALLHOLDER SWEET POTATO FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in sweet potato production, but limited value addition hinders their income generation and market participation. This study explored the factors that smallholder farmers in Ebonyi State considered when adding value to their sweet potato production. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, primary data was gathered from 400 small-scale sweet potato growers out of the state's 380,000 growers. Interview schedules were the instrument utilized for data collection. Information was gathered on the sweet potato processing method as well as the socioeconomic traits of the growers. Statistics from the descriptive and probit regression models were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that the traditional method of processing sweet potatoes was predominant in the area. At a 1% probability level, the probit regression coefficient of educational attainment and farmers’ association membership was significant and positively correlated with the addition of value to sweet potatoes. Additionally, at a 5% probability level, access to credit was substantial and positively associated with the addition of value to the sweet potato. At 1% and 5% probability levels, respectively, coefficients of gender and farming status were significant and inversely associated with the addition of value to sweet potatoes. The study concludes that the most common processing methods used by sweet potato farmers are traditional processing methods. Therefore, strategies to educate farmers about the value of forming farmer groups are needed, as most training on value addition and access to knowledge about market opportunities can be easily shared through farmers' groups.

Case management as a tool for integrated care

Introduction: Résinam and Chronicopôle are two pilot projects implemented in the Namur and Liège areas. They are part of a larger plan of 12 integrated care initiatives targeting chronically ill people. The “Case management” is a central action within the two pilot projects. Its main specificity is that it meets with a number of components of integrated care as well as needs arising from the field experience.
 Policy Context And Objective: Each territory has its own specificities. For example, we can identify home nursing coordination, integrated home care services, P3 protocols... The “case manager” is not an additional initiative. He/She intervenes up when the missions of the different structures do not allow a sufficient offer of care to the patient. His/Her intervention is therefore ad hoc and characterized by a period of crisis. His/Her main objective is to stabilize patient care while offering a treatment path that corresponds with their needs. His/Her intervention requires acting in coherence with the operating mode of the network. He/She must be able to target his/her strengths and limits of action in order to adapt his/her missions. 
 Target population: Chronically ill people in a situation of polyfragility (mental health problem and/or social insecurity)
 Highlights (innovation, impact, outcomes): The implementation of case management has been evolving (since 2018, 3 case managers have taken care of 171 patients in the Namur region) according to the specificities of the areas and to the projects that have developed the mission. 
 Nethertheless, we can identify a common process to facilitate the development of this action. It is necessary to co-construct the profile with the various stakeholders (in Namur, a working group with home care coordination and a Be-Hive researcher has been set up) in order to identify the existing processes and the unmet needs among patients.
 On the other hand, we can mention an added value for the patient namely the reactivation of available services, the networking of the various stakeholders (which goes beyond simple multidisciplinary consultation). This approach invites social interventions (CPAS, humanitarian aid centers and the social and housing services) to interact, focusing on the patient and his health.
 Conclusion: The implementation process as described is an added value in terms of change management. The action highlights the different processes of patient care and allows an improvement of the situations encountered in the most complex situations. This process requires flexibility from stakeholders and openness in terms of integrated care.
 The process of network activation and patient support requires stakeholders to be open in the process and innovative in the segmentation of services to provide quality outpatient service.
 The outpatient service also allows to work from the patient’s perspective, using communication tools that allow case managers and protagonists to work on requests while respecting the person's choice.
 This co-construction system allows the needs of each stakeholder (subsidizing power-service providers-patients) to be met and is therefore a reference as a methodology for implementing other integrated care initiatives.

Analisis Column Settling Air Permukaan yang Dikoagulasi dengan Biokoagulan Biji Pepaya

Water of river has high turbidity so it needs to be treated before being used as clean water. Common processing is coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration. Type II sedimentation is the settling of flokulen particles, where there is an interparticle interaction so that the size increases and the rate of settling increases. This study aims to analyze the settling column in order to get isoremoval graphs of river water that have been coagulated using papaya seed biocoagulants. Isoremoval graph is useful for determining the value of surface loading rate (Vo) and time of detention (td) making it easier to design sedimentation tank. The study was conducted using a settling column with a diameter of 12.5 cm with a height of 150 cm. The operating conditions varied are sampling point depth of 25 cm, 50 cm, 75 cm, 100 cm and 125 cm with sampling time per port 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes. The results showed the best turbidity of the settling column was 88.81% at a column settling depth of 25 cm with settling time of 60 minutes. The surface loading rate obtained to produce 85% deposition is 55 m3day-1m-2 with a detention time of 40 minutes.

Foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy secondary to tophaceous gout: illustrative case.

Tophaceous gout is a severe form of gout that results in the formation of large nodules, or tophi, in the affected joints and surrounding tissues. Gouty tophi in the spine have a constellation of presentations that often mimic other pathologies and may not be easily discernable from more common pathologic processes. A 47-year-old female with a history of chronic renal disease, obesity, gout, inflammatory polyarthritis, and multiple sclerosis presented with 6 months of low-back pain and lumbar radiculopathy affecting the right lower extremity. A lumbar magnetic resonance imaging study revealed right foraminal stenosis and spondylolisthesis at levels L4-5. An intraspinal extradural mass was noted adjacent to the traversing right L5 and exiting right L4 nerve roots. A bilateral decompressive laminectomy, facetectomy, and foraminotomy of L4-5 was performed. A calcific, chalky-white mass was discovered in the foramen, and pathology determined the specimen to be a gout tophus. Postoperatively, the patient endorsed the resolution of her preoperative symptoms, which have not returned on follow-up. Reports of gouty depositions compressing the spinal cord in the current literature are relatively rare. Although the diagnosis of gouty tophi can only be confirmed histologically, patient history may serve as a helpful diagnostic tool.

Combined volatile compounds and non-targeted metabolomics analysis reveals variation in flavour characteristics, metabolic profiles and bioactivity of mulberry leaves after Monascus purpureus fermentation.

Mulberry leaves (MLs) are widely used in food because of their nutritional and functional characteristics. However, plant cell walls and natural bitterness influence nutrient release and the flavor properties of MLs. Liquid-state fermentation using Monascus purpureus (LFMP) is a common processing method used to improve food properties. The present study used headspace solid-phase micro extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and non-targeted metabolomics to examine changes in volatile and non-volatile metabolites in MLs. The transformation mechanism of LFMP was investigated by microscopic observation and dynamic analysis of enzyme activity, and changes in the biological activity of MLs were analyzed. LFMP significantly increased total phenolics, total flavonoids, free amino acids and soluble sugars in MLs, at the same time as decreasing phytic acid levels. In total, 92 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified and quantified. VOCs such as (2R,3R)-(-)-2,3-butanediol, terpineol and eugenol showed some improvement in the flavour characteristics of MLs. By using non-targeted metabolomics, 124 unique metabolites in total were examined. LFMP altered the metabolic profile of MLs, mainly in plant secondary metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Microscopic observation and dynamic analysis of enzyme activity indicated that LFMP promoted cell wall degradation and biotransformation of MLs. In addition, LFMP significantly increased the angiotensin I-converting enzyme and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of MLs. LFMP altered the flavour characteristics, metabolite profile and biological activity of MLs. These findings will provide ideas for the processing of MLs into functional foods. In addition, they also provide useful information for biochemical studies of fermented MLs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Transformation of dense shelf water cascade into turbidity currents: Insights from high-resolution geophysical datasets

Dense shelf water cascade (DSWC) is a common oceanographic phenomenon on many continental shelves. Previous studies indicate that the DSWC could shape seabed physiography and carry seawater, sediment, and organic carbon a long distance from the continental shelf to the basin floor. However, it remains enigmatic how these DSWC's interact with seabed geomorphology and travel long distances from the shallow to deep marine environments. In this study, we employed high-resolution multibeam bathymetry, 2D and 3D seismic reflection, core description, and sediment grain size data from the Gippsland Basin, southeast offshore Australia. The continental shelf of the central Gippsland Basin stores sediment supplied by the along-shelf transported DSWC. By calculating the sediment motion threshold, we demonstrate that the DSWC is capable of entraining sediment from, and forming dense bottom nepheloid layers above, the seabed. Seismic reflection data reveal that cyclic steps are common on the shelf and slope, indicating a downslope-transported, supercritical current-dominated environment. Core observation and grain size analyses reveal that coarse-grained, Ta-typed turbidites are the major facies, indicating the presence of high-intensity downslope-traversing turbidity currents. Thus, supercritical turbidity currents are the dominant sedimentary process in the central Gippsland Basin. We illuminate that DSWC can interact with pre-existing seabed bathymetry created by a buried submarine landslide, resuspending sediment and igniting downslope-transported turbidity currents. The presence of numerous cyclic steps indicates that the turbidity current can evolve into a supercritical regime upon ignition, leaving complex seabed geomorphology and allowing the forming currents to travel across the shelf and extend more than 80 km down the lower slope. As revealed by our literature review, we imply that the transformation of DSWC into turbidity currents should be a common sedimentary process on outer continental shelves globally, significantly sculpting the seabed morphology and facilitating sediment and other marine particles transportation from shallow to deep sea.

Preparation and Characterization of Tin-Nickel Coatings for Corrosion Protection of PEM Electrolyzer Components

Hydrogen production by electrolysis offers significant advantages over established and more common processes such as steam reforming with regard to carbon dioxide emissions, in particular through the use of electrical energy from renewable sources and the establishment of a decentralized supply structure. The advantages of PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysis include high power density, scalability, and the high purity of the produced hydrogen. However, so far the manufacturing of PEM electrolyzers is time consuming, which makes the widespread use difficult and is a significant cost driver for this technology.In the framework of the publically funded flagship project H2Giga, a series of manufacturing processes are developed for industrial scale-up production of PEM electrolyzer components, in particular the bipolar plates (BPP) and the porous transport layers (PTL). Base materials like stainless steel are used that can be processed at a low cost, but need protective coatings to withstand the highly corrosive conditions during electrolysis, especially at the anode side.A novel approach is focusing on nickel-based alloy coatings, in particular tin-nickel, which emerged as a promising alternative to precious metal coatings. These alloys show a wide stability range under strong anodic polarization in an acidic electrolyte due to the formation of a passive layer. However, the long-term stability does not yet meet the industrial requirements in preliminary tests. A post-treatment of the coating can improve the stability by the formation of a homogenous oxide film with several tens of nanometers in thickness. Physical, chemical and electrochemical methods for post-treatment were compared in terms of oxide morphology and corrosion behavior under anodic polarization. Eventually, both high corrosion resistance and low contact resistance have to be ensured for the application in PEM electrolyzers.

Is roller milling – the low energy wet bead media milling – a reproducible and robust milling method for formulation investigation of aqueous suspensions?

Long-acting injectables have shown to offer a prolonged release of a drug compound up to several months, providing the opportunity to increase patient compliance for treatment of long-term and chronic conditions. Different formulation technologies have already been utilized for long-acting injectables, and especially aqueous suspensions with crystalline drug particles in the sub-micron range have sparked an interest for future development of long-acting injectables. Wet bead milling is a common top-down process used to prepare nano- and microsuspensions of crystalline drug particles with the addition of surfactants in the dispersion medium, which are working as stabilizers to prevent agglomeration or crystal growth that ultimately may influence the physical stability of nano- and microsuspensions. To examine the reproducibility of the suspensions manufactured and the behavior of their physical stability, i.e., changes in particle sizes over time, low-energy roller mill was utilized for the manufacturing of nano- and microsuspensions in the present study. Investigated formulation parameters was stabilizer type and concentration and milling parameters varied in bead size and duration of milling. The obtained results demonstrated that the physical stability of suspensions containing the two model compounds, cinnarizine and indomethacin, was highly affected by the constitution of surfactant and processing. Various size classes were obtained and accompanied by high variations between the individual samples that indicated uneven and unpredictable milling by the low-energy roller mill, limiting the possibility to prepare reproducible and physical stable suspensions. Short-term stability studies revealed clear tendencies towards reversed Ostwald ripening of suspensions stabilized with poloxamer 188 that contained cinnarizine as the drug compound, and to a smaller extent suspensions containing indomethacin. Furthermore, X-ray Powder Diffraction confirmed no alteration of the drug compounds crystal structure after roller milling for multiple days.

Collagenase Type I and Probucol-Loaded Nanoparticles Penetrate the Extracellular Matrix to Target Hepatic Stellate Cells for Hepatic Fibrosis Therapy

Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathological process in chronic liver diseases, characterized by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and massive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), which are important factors in the development of liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. During the development of hepatic fibrosis, ECM collagen produced by activated HSCs significantly hinders medication delivery to targeted cells and reduces the efficiency of pharmacological therapy. In this study, we designed a multifunctional hyaluronic acid polymeric nanoparticle (HA@PRB/COL NPs) based on autophagy inhibitor probucol (PRB) and collagenase type I (COL) modification, which could enhance ECM degradation and accurately target HSCs through specificity binding CD44 receptor in hepatic fibrosis therapy. Upon encountering excessive collagen I-deposition formed barrier, HA@PRB/COL NPs performed the nanodrill-like function to effectively degrade pericellular collagen I, leading to greater ECM penetration and prominent HSCs internalization capacity of delivered PRB. In mouse hepatic fibrosis model, HA@PRB/COL NPs were efficiently delivered to HSCs through binding CD44 receptor to achieve efficient accumulation in fibrotic liver. Further, we showed that HA@PRB/COL NPs executed the optimal anti-fibrotic activity by inhibiting autophagy and activation of HSCs. In conclusion, our novel dual-functional co-delivery system with degrading fibrotic ECM collagen and targeting activated HSCs exhibits great potentials in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in clinic. Statement of significanceThe excess release of extracellular matrix (ECM) such as collagen in hepatic fibrosis hinders medication delivery and decreases the efficiency of pharmacological drugs. We aimed to develop a nano-delivery carrier system with protein hydrolyzed surfaces and further encapsulated an autophagy inhibitor (PRB) to enhance fibrosis-related ECM degradation-penetration and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) targeting in hepatic fibrosis niche (HA@PRB/COL NPs). The COL of HA@PRB/COL NPs successfully worked as a scavenger to promote the digestion of the ECM collagen I barrier for deeper penetration into fibroid liver tissue. It also accurately targeted HSCs through specifically binding to the CD44 receptor and subsequently released PRB to inhibit autolysosome and ROS generation, thus preventing HSCs activation. Our HA@PRB/COL NPs system provided a promising therapeutic strategy for hepatic fibrosis in a clinic setting.

MULTIOMIC SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF LIFESPAN-EXTENDING INTERVENTIONS IN MOUSE TISSUES

Abstract Aging is associated with dysregulation of molecular, cellular, and physiological processes. Nutritional and pharmacological interventions with different postulated modes of action have been shown to extend lifespan and delay aging-related diseases in model organisms, suggesting the existence of core cellular processes that mediate the effect on lifespan and healthspan. However, these underlying molecular processes remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we analyzed multiomic tissue-derived data of lifespan-extending interventions in mice including metabolomics and proteomics from the NIA Longevity Consortium and previously reported transcriptomics. We applied three systems techniques, differential rank conservation (DIRAC) analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and mouse genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) reconstruction, to the mouse liver proteomic and transcriptomic datasets of lifespan-extending interventions (e.g., acarbose, 17α-estradiol, and rapamycin). We found that these interventions generally strengthen the rank conservation of biological processes and shift metabolic fluxes, with fatty acid metabolism emerging as a common process affected by multiple interventions. We then applied these approaches to an expanded experimental data with additional interventions (e.g., canagliflozin) and tissues (e.g., kidney, muscle, and plasma), confirming our results and further observing varied inter-omic and inter-tissue patterns exerted by lifespan-extending interventions. Our findings highlight the potential of integrative systems analysis to elucidate common and unique cellular and physiological changes relating to aging and lifespan-extending interventions, which have translational potential as preventive and prognostic measures to improve human health.

Comparing open-source DEM frameworks for simulations of common bulk processes

Multiple software frameworks based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) are available for simulating granular materials. All of them employ the same principles of explicit time integration, with each time step consisting of three main steps: contact detection, calculation of interactions, and integration of the equations of motion. However, there exist significant algorithmic differences, such as the choice of contact models, particle and wall shapes, and data analysis methods. Further differences can be observed in the practical implementation, including data structures, architecture, parallelization and domain decomposition techniques, user interaction, and the documentation of resources.This study compares, verifies, and benchmarks nine widely-used software frameworks. Only open-source packages were considered, as these are freely available and their underlying algorithms can be reviewed, edited, and tested. The benchmark consists of three common bulk processes: silo emptying, drum mixing, and particle impact. To keep it simple and comparable, only standard features were used, such as spherical particles and the Hertz-Mindlin model for dry contacts. Scripts for running the benchmarks in each software are provided as a dataset.

Tumor microenvironment remodeling plus immunotherapy could be used in mesenchymal-like tumor with high tumor residual and drug resistant rate

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a common process during tumor progression and is always related to residual tumor, drug resistance and immune suppression. However, considering the heterogeneity in EMT process, there is still a need to establish robust EMT classification system with reasonable molecular, biological and clinical implications to investigate whether these unfavorable survival factors are common or unique in different individuals. In our work, we classify tumors with four EMT status, that is, EMTlow, EMTmid, EMThigh-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified), and EMThigh-AKT (AKT pathway overactivation) subtypes. We find that EMThigh-NOS subtype is driven by intrinsic somatic alterations. While, EMThigh-AKT subtype is maintained by extrinsic cellular interplay between tumor cells and macrophages in an AKT-dependent manner. EMThigh-AKT subtype is both unresectable and drug resistant while EMThigh-NOS subtype can be treated with cell cycle related drugs. Importantly, AKT activation in EMThigh-AKT not only enhances EMT process, but also contributes to the immunosuppressive microenvironment. By remodeling tumor immune-microenvironment by AKT inhibition, EMThigh-AKT can be treated by immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Meanwhile, we develop TumorMT website (http://tumormt.neuroscience.org.cn/) to apply this EMT classification and provide reasonable therapeutic guidance.

Membrane Tubulation with a Biomembrane Force Probe.

Tubulation is a common cellular process involving the formation of membrane tubes ranging from 50 nm to 1 µm in diameter. These tubes facilitate intercompartmental connections, material transport within cells and content exchange between cells. The high curvature of these tubes makes them specific targets for proteins that sense local geometry. In vitro, similar tubes have been created by pulling on the membranes of giant unilamellar vesicles. Optical tweezers and micromanipulation are typically used in these experiments, involving the manipulation of a GUV with a micropipette and a streptavidin-coated bead trapped in optical tweezers. The interaction forms streptavidin/biotin bonds, leading to tube formation. Here, we propose a cost-effective alternative using only micromanipulation techniques, replacing optical tweezers with a Biomembrane Force Probe (BFP). The BFP, employing a biotinylated erythrocyte as a nanospring, allows for the controlled measurement of forces ranging from 1 pN to 1 nN. The BFP has been widely used to study molecular interactions in cellular processes, extending beyond its original purpose. We outline the experimental setup, tube formation and characterization of tube dimensions and energetics, and discuss the advantages and limitations of this approach in studying membrane tubulation.

Relationship of Hospital Mortality with Metabolic Acidosis Severity in Critically Ill Patients

Background: Metabolic acidosis (MA) is a common pathologic process with fatal consequences in critically ill (CI) patients. The more the severity of acidosis the more mortality rate is expected. To evaluate the relationship of hospital mortality with MA severity in CI patients admitted to emergency department (ED).
 Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled CI patients (based on physician clinical assumption), most at level 1 or 2 emergency severity index triage system. Patients were followed and evaluated in 2 parallel groups, one with and the other without MA. The severity of acidosis, chief complaints, final diagnosis, demographic data, acute physiologic assessment and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, serum lactate and bicarbonate level, need for intubation and mechanical ventilation, admission ward, hospital length of stay and in hospital mortality were compared between the 2 groups.
 Results: A total of 1811 CI patients including 60.2% males and 39.8% females with and without MA were evaluated. The most common age range was 65-55 years old (31.7%) with the meanSD of 61.348.23. The most common complaints and diagnoses were weakness (40.5%) and pneumosepsis (35.1%), respectively. Patients with severe acidosis had higher lactate level and APACHE II score (p<0.05). Mortality rate was 10.4%. Most of our cases had severe MA. Expired cases had higher lactate level and APACHE II score (p<0.05).
 Conclusion: Lactate level, bicarbonate level and APACHE II score were all significant independent predictors of hospital mortality in CI patients.

Discovering common pathogenetic processes between COVID-19 and tuberculosis by bioinformatics and system biology approach.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, stemming from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has persistently threatened the global health system. Meanwhile, tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) still continues to be endemic in various regions of the world. There is a certain degree of similarity between the clinical features of COVID-19 and TB, but the underlying common pathogenetic processes between COVID-19 and TB are not well understood. To elucidate the common pathogenetic processes between COVID-19 and TB, we implemented bioinformatics and systematic research to obtain shared pathways and molecular biomarkers. Here, the RNA-seq datasets (GSE196822 and GSE126614) are used to extract shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of COVID-19 and TB. The common DEGs were used to identify common pathways, hub genes, transcriptional regulatory networks, and potential drugs. A total of 96 common DEGs were selected for subsequent analyses. Functional enrichment analyses showed that viral genome replication and immune-related pathways collectively contributed to the development and progression of TB and COVID-19. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, we identified 10 hub genes, including IFI44L, ISG15, MX1, IFI44, OASL, RSAD2, GBP1, OAS1, IFI6, and HERC5. Subsequently, the transcription factor (TF)-gene interaction and microRNA (miRNA)-gene coregulatory network identified 61 TFs and 29 miRNAs. Notably, we identified 10 potential drugs to treat TB and COVID-19, namely suloctidil, prenylamine, acetohexamide, terfenadine, prochlorperazine, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, chlorophyllin, etoposide, clioquinol, and propofol. This research provides novel strategies and valuable references for the treatment of tuberculosis and COVID-19.

Development of Mitophagy-inducing Small Molecules as Therapeutics for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in those over the age of65. The underlying molecular basis for the disease remains elusive. Rather than simply viewing individual diseases in isolation, researchers have turned to studying the contribution of common age-related processes. One such process is loss in mitochondrial function, normally maintained by defective mitochondrial clearance via mitophagy. Mitophagy slows with age and with various age-related conditions including AD. An agent which has received considerable attention is urolithin A (UA) which has recently been reported to elicit neuroprotection in a variety of AD models. As part of an independent small molecule screen, we identified a second structurally-related compound we named ‘mitophagy inducing compound’ (MIC). Using C. elegans as an initial validation tool, we showed that both compounds significantly improve mitochondrial function, protect against neuronal cell loss, and extend lifespan. These effects were translatable to both in vitro and in vivo mammalian models. To identify potential drug targets, we performed Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA). Preliminary data from knockdown of identified targets suggest the involvement of a mito-hormetic mechanism which acts to restore overall mitochondrial health. These studies may have important implications for how these compounds elicit their effects.

Formation and effect of intermetallic compounds in the interface of copper/aluminum composites under rolling conditions

Rolling and annealing are common composite processes of Copper/Aluminum composites (Cu/Al), but the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at Cu/Al interfaces and their relationship with processing conditions still lack a nanoscale understanding. Here, we use molecular dynamics (MD) method to simulate the formation of IMCs at Cu/Al interface under different rolling and annealing process parameters with their formation mechanisms quantitatively analyzed. XRD, RDF and potential energy analysis show that rolling promotes the formation of interfacial IMCs, because copper and aluminum atoms tend to diffuse into each other at the interface and combine to form IMCs during rolling. The effects of different size ratios of copper to aluminum and annealing on IMCs are also evaluated. By studying the equivalent phonon thermal conductivity of the interfacial layer and shear strength, it is shown that IMCs enhances interfacial phonon heat transfer, but reduce the interfacial shear strength due to their brittle and hard properties. In addition, the rolling and annealing processes are able to change the dislocation density, thereby affecting the phonon scattering and shear strength of Cu/Al. These results are expected to guide improved directions for the process optimization of high-performance Cu/Al.

Fe0Ni0 bimetal co-immobilized horseradish peroxidase on ZIF-8@HMON for degradation of trichloroacetic acid

As a common pollutant in the environment, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is difficult to be completely degraded by common advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) due to its high C-Cl bond content. Advanced oxidation–reduction processes (AORPs) may improve the degradation performance of TCA. In this work, we use Fe0Ni0 bimetal as reducing catalyst, hollow mesoporous silicone nanoparticles (HMONs) modified by ZIF-8 as immobilized carrier, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Fe0Ni0 were fixed in the carrier to form a AORP system for degradation of TCA. The effects of temperature, pH, H2O2 concentration, doping ratio on the degradation performance of the catalyst and the degradation mechanism of the composite catalyst were investigated. Degradation experiments showed that H· and OH· were present in the dual system, dechlorination and decarboxylation exist at the same time. Under the condition of 55 °C and pH = 4, 30 mg Fe0Ni0 and 20 mg immobilized enzyme shows the best degradation on TCA, and 81.48 % of 20 mg·L−1 TCA could be degraded by 2 h.

In Planta Arsenic Thiolation in Rice and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Inorganic and methylated thioarsenates have recently been reported to form in paddy soil pore waters and accumulate in rice grains. Among them, dimethylmonothioarsenate (DMMTA) is particularly relevant because of its high cytotoxicity and potential misidentification as nonregulated dimethylarsenate (DMA). Studying DMMTA uptake and flag leaf, grain, and husk accumulation in rice plants during grain filling, substantial dethiolation to DMA was observed with only 8.0 ± 0.1, 9.1 ± 0.6, and 1.4 ± 0.2% DMMTA remaining, respectively. More surprisingly, similar shares of DMMTA were observed in control experiments with DMA, indicating in planta DMA thiolation. Exposure of different rice seedling varieties to not only DMA but also to arsenite and monomethylarsenate (MMA) revealed in planta thiolation as a common process in rice. Up to 35 ± 7% DMA thiolation was further observed in the shoots and roots of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Parameters determining the ratio and kinetics of thiolation versus dethiolation are unknown, yet, but less DMA thiolation in glutathione-deficient mutants compared to wild-type plants suggested glutathione concentration as one potential parameter. Our results demonstrate that pore water is not the only source for thioarsenates in rice grains and that especially the currently nonregulated DMA needs to be monitored as a potential precursor of DMMTA formation inside rice plants.

The Global Impact on Health of Dental Infections and Antibiotic Resistance:A mini Reveiw

Dental abscesses are a common infectious process that medical professionals are aware of. The aggressiveness of the bacteria, host resistance mechanisms, and local anatomy all influence how the infection turns out. A dental abscess that spreads can have serious implications that result in a high rate of morbidity and death. Acute dental abscesses are composed of a variety of microorganisms, including facultative anaerobes like _Streptococcus anginosus_ group and _viridans_ group _streptococci_, as well as stringent anaerobes such anaerobic _cocci_, _Prevotella_, and _Fusobacterium_ species. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to treat dental infections. The benefits of antibiotics are that they can help resolve symptoms quickly, reduce pain, and prevent systemic infections. However, antibiotics can also have negative impacts on health, such as promoting antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance refers to the phenomenon where bacteria evolve to become immune to antibiotics, making them harder to treat. Bacteria can develop resistance through mutations or by acquiring resistance genes from other bacteria. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics are one of the primary causes of antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics for illnesses such as the common cold and flu has led to the development of antibiotic resistance. In addition, patients who do not finish a full course of antibiotics can also contribute to the evolution of resistant bacteria. This has resulted in health risks that are not just confined to treating dental infections, but also pose a significant threat to global health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review is based on a thorough analysis of freely accessible literature from reputable sources such as Google, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The terms used in this review include dental, oral, maxillofacial infection, resistance pattern, epidemiology, common microorganisms, nutrition components, biofilm formation, morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Overall, this review highlights the significant impact of dental infections and resistance on global health, including increased morbidity and mortality rates and rising healthcare costs. By understanding the epidemiology and resistance patterns of common microorganisms, as well as the role of nutrition and biofilm formation in infection prevention, we can work towards developing effective strategies for managing and preventing dental infections. In CONCLUSION, the epidemiology of dental infections is an important area of study that helps us understand the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors associated with these infections. By understanding these factors, we can develop effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve oral health and overall well-being.