Concurrent Applications Research Articles

Research note: A scald water surfactant combined with an organic acid carcass dip reduces microbial contaminants on broiler carcasses during processing

Organic acids are applied to poultry carcasses during processing to reduce foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Scald water surfactant agents employed to improve feather removal may enhance the efficacy of organic acids during processing. This study investigated the effects of concurrent application of a scald water surfactant and organic acid dip on microbial contamination of carcasses processed in a small-scale production model. Broilers were reared in litter floor pens to 47 d of age and slaughtered using standard practices. Carcasses were scalded in either control or surfactant scald water initially and dipped in either a 2% organic acid blend or water after feather removal to complete a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with n = 15 carcasses per treatment group. The commercially available scald water additive was a slightly alkaline surfactant solution labelled as a feather removal aid. The organic acid dip consisting of lactic and citric acid was maintained at pH of 2.5. Approximately 10 g of neck skin was collected 1-min postdipping and placed in buffered peptone water with an added neutralizing agent, sodium thiosulfate. Serial dilutions were performed to determine general coliform (GC), E. coli (EC), and aerobic plate (APC) counts as CFU per gram of skin sample. A significant 0.61, 0.76, and 1.6 log reduction of GC, EC, and APC, respectively, was attributed to use of the organic acid carcass dip (P ≤ 0.01). There were no significant differences in carcass microbial reduction due to surfactant scald water alone. A 0.69, 0.73 (P ≤ 0.05), and 1.96 log reduction of GC, EC, and APC, respectively, was observed in surfactant-scalded, acid-dipped carcasses compared to water-scalded, water-dipped control groups. These data demonstrated that a surfactant scald water additive and an organic acid carcass dip can have beneficial effects of microbial reduction when employed simultaneously during broiler processing.

Safety Assessment of Ciprofloxacin and Roxithromycin through Haematological and Biochemical Profiling in Poultry

The concurrent therapeutic application of ciprofloxacin and roxithromycin has been suggested as a potential approach for addressing mixed bacterial infections in poultry. The present investigation aimed to determine the hematological and biochemical safety profile of concurrently administered ciprofloxacin and roxithromycin through the oral route in poultry. This study involved a total of sixteen birds, which were divided into two equal but random groups of broiler chickens. In the first group, roxithromycin alone was administered orally for five days. Conversely, the Group II birds received repeated concurrent doses of roxithromycin and ciprofloxacin for consecutive five days adhering to their recommended therapeutic dosages. In both groups, blood samples were collected at various intervals, including before drug administration (0 days), and at 6 hours, 12 hours, 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, 4th day, 5th day, 7th day, and 10th day. Following haematological and biochemical analyses, a two-way statistical analysis (p ≤ 0.05) was conducted utilizing unpaired ‘t-tests’ to compare parameters within the group across various time points and between Groups I and II. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in haematological parameters such as heterophils, lymphocytes and monocytes, along with one biochemical parameter, specifically aspartate transaminase. Notably, the altered values primarily remained within the normal range and were often attributed to age-related changes, with certain fluctuations being of a temporary nature and reverting to normal levels by the 10th Day. The study findings support the conclusion that the concurrent oral administration of roxithromycin and ciprofloxacin appears to be safe for therapeutic use in poultry.

Glutathione‐induced hydrogen sulfide enhances drought tolerance in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

AbstractGlutathione (GSH) has been studied for its potential to enhance stress tolerance in plant systems, but the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in GSH‐induced water stress tolerance in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is still under investigation. This study explores how H2S and GSH modulate water stress tolerance in pepper plants, addressing a research gap. The joint effect of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of H2S, and GSH on water stress tolerance was determined through pre‐treatment with the H2S scavenger 0.1 mM hypotaurine (HT). Pepper seedlings were sprayed with 1.0 mM GSH or GSH + 0.2 mM NaHS once a week, with soil moisture content set at 80% and 40% for full irrigation and water stress conditions for a duration of 2 weeks. The results showed that water stress significantly reduced total plant dry weight, chlorophyll a and b content, Fv/Fm, leaf water potential, and relative water content by 50%, 56%, 33%, 27%, 52%, and 34%, while increasing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, and H2S levels by 152%, 134%, and77%, respectively. Treatment with GSH and NaHS reduced water stress‐induced H2O2 production and improved plant growth, photosynthetic traits, proline, and the activity of L‐cysteine desulfhydrase (L‐DES), leading to the generation of H2S content. GSH reduced NADPH oxidase (NOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and H2O2 but increased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. The interaction of NaHS and GSH led to further reductions in NOX, SOD, and H2O2 values but increased GPX activity. The combined GSH and NaHS treatment increased nitric oxide (NO) production but decreased the activity of S‐nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), potentially accelerating S‐nitrosylation. Hypotaurine negated the positive impacts of GSH on water stress tolerance by reducing H2S concentration in pepper plants, but this was corrected by the concurrent application of NaHS and GSH + HT. Therefore, water stress tolerance requires H2S.

Novel synergistic interactions between monolaurin, a mono-acyl glycerol and β lactam antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro study

BackgroundA major worldwide health issue is the rising frequency of resistance of bacteria.Drug combinations are a winning strategy in fighting resistant bacteria and might help in protecting the existing drugs.Monolaurin is natural compound extracted from coconut oil and has a promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus.aureus. This study aims to examine the efficacy of monolaurin both individually and in combination with β-lactam antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus isolates.MethodsAgar dilution method was used for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of monolaurin against S.aureus isolates. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to detect morphological changes in S.aureus after treatment with monolaurin. Conventional and Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to detect of beta-lactamase (blaZ) gene and its expressional levels after monolaurin treatment. Combination therapy of monolaurin and antibiotics was assessed through fractional inhibitory concentration and time-kill method.ResultsThe antibacterial activity of monolaurin was assessed on 115 S.aureus isolates, the MIC of monolaurin were 250 to 2000 µg/ml. SEM showed cell elongation and swelling in the outer membrane of S.aureus in the prescence of 1xMIC of monolaurin. blaZ gene was found in 73.9% of S.aureus isolates. RT-PCR shows a significant decrease in of blaZ gene expression at 250 and 500 µg/ml of monolaurin. Synergistic effects were detected through FIC method and time killing curve. Combination therapy established a significant reduction on the MIC value. The collective findings from the antibiotic combinations with monolaurin indicated synergism rates ranging from 83.3% to 100%.In time-kill studies, combination of monolaurin and β-lactam antibiotics produced a synergistic effect.ConclusionThis study showed that monolaurin may be a natural antibacterial agent against S. aureus, and may be an outstanding modulator of β-lactam drugs. The concurrent application of monolaurin and β-lactam antibiotics, exhibiting synergistic effects against S. aureus in vitro, holds promise as potential candidates for the development of combination therapies that target particularly, patients with bacterial infections that are nearly incurable.

Abstract 5279: Sequential treatment with PARPi and WEE1i minimizes T cell DNA damage and enhances its immune response

Abstract Background: DNA damage response (DDR) targeted therapy, like PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and WEE1 inhibitors (WEE1i), have demonstrated potent anti-cancer activity and are pronounced to activate the cytosolic immunity pathway. Our previous work showed that sequential inhibition of PARP and WEE1 could kill tumor cells as effective as their concurrent application, with ameliorated toxicity to normal cells, suggesting high clinical translational potential of this regimen. However, the effect of sequential treatment on T lymphocytes and anti-cancer immunity remains largely unknown. Methods and results: T cells were treated with 25 μM olaparib, or 250 nM AZD1775, or olaparib combined with AZD1775 (concurrent group) for 48h, or olaparib for 24h followed by AZD1775 for 24h (sequential group) in vitro. AZD1775 and concurrent treatment reduced the T cell viability to 19% and 14.3%, while sequential treatment maintained the viability to 58.6%, closed to olaparib monotherapy (61.6%). And the most potent proliferation capacity accompanied with the lowest apoptosis level were both recorded after sequential treatment, manifested by the increasing of Ki67 and EdU and the decreasing of cleaved caspase-3. Reverse-phase protein arrays (RPPA) analyses identified relieved DNA damage in T cells receiving sequential treatment. Alkaline comet assay and detecting of γH2AX further confirmed that the T cell DNA damage caused by PARPi and WEE1i was obviously alleviated after sequential therapy. Furthermore, sequential treatment activated cGAS-STING pathway effectively and upregulated the production of CCL5, CXCL10 and IFNβ of downstream type I interferon response compared with monotherapy and concurrent treatment in ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, OVCAR8, A2780). We also evaluated an ID8 intraperitoneal syngeneic immunocompetent mouse model. T cells isolated from tumors, ascites, spleen and peripheral blood in sequential group were presented with the highest proliferation potential and the lowest level of DNA damage. And the tumor burden of mice in sequential group was obviously subsided, which was comparable to that in concurrent group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that targeting PARP and/or WEE1 impaired the T cell viability and led to DNA damage. However, administrating PARPi and WEE1i sequentially diminished this inhibitory effect on T cells on the premise of ensuring their anti-tumor effect. These data provide strong rational for the further investigation on exploring the clinical significance of sequential treatment with PARPi and WEE1i. Citation Format: Xiaofei Jiao, Jiahao Liu, Wei Mu, Li Zhu, Xuejiao Zhao, Gordon B. Mills, Qinglei Gao, Yong Fang. Sequential treatment with PARPi and WEE1i minimizes T cell DNA damage and enhances its immune response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5279.

Abstract 3736: Bridging the gaps: A cross-species approach to PD-1 and OX40 combination immunotherapy

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting immune checkpoints, such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA4, have provided unprecedented clinical benefits to human cancer patients. Novel strategies such as combination therapy with OX40 or 4-1BB agonists are currently under investigation in various pre-clinical studies to enhance the therapeutic benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitors. While syngeneic mouse tumor xenograft models offer valuable insights in pre-clinical testing, they fall short in capturing the nuanced heterogeneity within and between tumors and the dynamic tumor-immune interface. In contrast, canine patients with spontaneous neoplasms possess a closely analogous and intact immune system. These canine patients, who receive sophisticated and advanced medical therapy like their human counterparts, can serve as a vital intermediate pre-clinical model system between rodent studies and human clinical trials, potentially reducing clinical trial failures. In this study, we have developed a novel bispecific fusion protein, denoted BsOXPD, that combines OX40 agonism and PD-1 blockade into a single therapeutic. Our bispecific fusion protein employs an anti-PD-1 nanobody (Nb) to bind and block the PD1 pathway and the extracellular domain (ECD) of the OX40 ligand to stimulate the OX40 receptor. We have developed murinized, caninized, and humanized versions of this protein. All versions of the bispecific fusion protein retain their biochemical and functional properties following the murinization, caninization, and humanization processes. Importantly, all versions effectively disrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in murine, canine, and human systems while concurrently acting as potent OX40 agonists. To further improve the humanized version of the BsOXPD, we partially humanized the anti-PD1 Nb by introducing amino acid substitutions in various framework regions. The humanized anti-PD1 Nb still completely inhibited the binding of human PD-L1 to the PD-1 receptor. The caninized version of BsOXPD exhibits no toxicities or immune-related adverse events (irAEs) following intravenous injection at doses of 1 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg body weight in healthy beagle dogs. In summary, we have designed a cross-species Nb-based fusion protein for PD1 blockade and OX40 agonism. Our next goal is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of caninized BsOXPD in pet dogs with oral melanoma in neoadjuvant settings. Therefore, our cross-species approach will offer comprehensive insights into the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and clinical benefits associated with the concurrent application of PD1 blockade and OX40 agonism. Citation Format: Maninder Sandey, Damien Ruiz, Jonathan Marable, Deepa Bedi, Payal Agarwal. Bridging the gaps: A cross-species approach to PD-1 and OX40 combination immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3736.

Fabrication of bimetallic Ag@ZnO nanocomposite and its anti-cancer activity on cervical cancer via impeding PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

IntroductionBimetallic nanoparticles, specifically Zinc oxide (ZnO) and Silver (Ag), continue to much outperform other nanoparticles investigated for a variety of biological uses in the field of cancer therapy. This study introduces biosynthesis of bimetallic silver/zinc oxide nanocomposites (Ag@ZnO NCs) using the Crocus sativus extract and evaluates their anti-cancer properties against cervical cancer. MethodsThe process of generating bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs), namely Ag@ZnO NCs, through the utilization of Crocus sativus extract proved to be uncomplicated and eco-friendly. Various methods, such as UV–vis, DLS, FTIR, EDX, and SEM analyses, were utilized to characterize the generated Ag@ZnO NCs. The MTT assay was employed to assess the cytotoxic properties of biosynthesized bimetallic Ag@ZnO NCs against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line. Moreover, the impact of Ag@ZnO NCs on HeLa cells was assessed by examining cell survival, ROS production, MMP levels, and induced apoptosis. Through western blot analysis, the expression levels of the PI3K, AKT, mTOR, Cyclin D, and CDK proteins seemed to be ascertained. Using flow cytometry, the cancer cells' progression through necrosis and apoptosis, in addition to the cell cycle analysis, were investigated. ResultsBimetallic Ag@ZnO NCs that were biosynthesized showed a high degree of stability, as demonstrated by the physicochemical assessments. The median size of the particles in these NCs was approximately 80–90 nm, and their zeta potential was –14.70 mV. AgNPs and ZnO were found, according to EDX data. Further, Ag@ZnO NCs hold promise as a potential treatment for cervical cancer. After 24 hours of treatment, a dosage of 5 µg/mL or higher resulted in a maximum inhibitory effect of 58 ± 2.9. The concurrent application of Ag/ZnO NPs to HeLa cells resulted in elevated apoptotic signals and a significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). As a result, the bimettalic Ag@ZnO NCs treatment has been recognized as a chemotherapeutic intervention by inhibiting the production of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR-mediated regulation of propagation and cell cycle-regulating proteins. ConclusionsThe research yielded important insights into the cytotoxic etiology of biosynthesized bimetallic Ag@ZnO NCs against HeLa cells. The biosynthesized bimetallic Ag@ZnO NCs have a significant antitumor potential, which appears to be associated with the development of oxidative stress, which inhibits the development of the cell cycle and the proliferation of cells. Therefore, in the future, biosynthesized bimetallic Ag@ZnO NCs may be used as a powerful anticancer drug to treat cervical cancer.

Anti-proliferative, Pro-apoptotic, and Chemosensitizing Potential of 3-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic Acid (AKBA) Against Prostate Cancer Cells.

Prostate cancer incidences are rising worldwide at an alarming rate. Drug resistance and relapse are two major challenges in the treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, new multimodal, safe, and effective therapeutic agents are urgently required which could effectively mitigate the menace of tumor recurrence and chemo-resistance. Plant-derived products are increasingly being utilized due to their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-tumor potential. In the current study, 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid, a triterpenoid isolated from plant Boswellia, was utilized to ascertain its chemotherapeutic potential against human prostate cancer cells. Various in vitro assays including cell viability, nuclear staining, mitochondria potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and quantification of apoptosis, were performed for the evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of AKBA. We observed that AKBA (10-50µM) dose-dependently suppressed cell proliferation and caused programmed cell death in PC3 cells via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathway. Intriguingly, AKBA was also found to chemosensitize PC3 cells in synergistic combination with doxorubicin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to document the synergistic chemosensitizing impact of AKBA when combined with doxorubicin in prostate cancer cells.This showcases the potential of AKBA in combinatorial therapy or adjuvant therapy for the management of prostate cancer. In sum, our results suggested that AKBA is a promising drug-like molecule against prostate cancer. Our investigation introduces a novel perspective, elucidating a previously unexplored dimension, and uncovering a compelling chemosensitizing phenomenon along with a strong synergistic effect arising from the concurrent application of these two agents.

Appropriate Prescribing for older adults with Multimorbidity (Pro-M): protocol for a feasibility study

BackgroundPotentially inappropriate prescribing is common among older adults with multimorbidity due to various reasons, from concurrent application of multiple single-disease clinical guidelines to fragmentation of care. Interventions such as medication review have been implemented worldwide to reduce inappropriate prescribing for older adults. However, the implementability of such interventions are underexplored in the outpatient clinics in Singapore’s public hospitals. Hence, the Pro-M study aims to assess the feasibility of implementing a physician-pharmacist collaborative care intervention in geriatric medicine outpatient clinics to facilitate appropriate prescribing for older adults in Singapore.MethodsThis is a single-arm, non-randomised feasibility study using a pre-post evaluation design. This study consists of two parts: (1) implementation phase of the intervention (6 months) and an (2) evaluation phase (3 months). Eligible patients will be recruited from geriatric medicine outpatient clinics at two public hospitals in Singapore through convenience sampling. The main components of the Pro-M intervention are: (1) pharmacist-facilitated medication reviews with feedback on any medication issues and potential recommendations to physicians, and (2) physicians communicating changes to other relevant prescribers. The evaluation phase will involve surveying and interviewing physicians and pharmacists involved in the implementation of the intervention. A mixed-method approach will be employed for data collection and analysis. The quantitative and qualitative findings will be triangulated and reported using Proctor’s implementation outcomes: appropriateness, penetration, acceptability, fidelity, feasibility, and sustainability. A basic cost analysis will be conducted alongside the study.DiscussionThis is a phase 2 study to test the feasibility of implementing an intervention that was co-created with stakeholders during phase 1 development of an intervention to optimise prescribing for older adults with multimorbidity. The implementation will be assessed using Proctor’s implementation outcomes to provide insights on the process and the feasibility of implementing medication reviews for older adults with multimorbidity as a routine practice in outpatient clinics. Data collected from this study will inform a subsequent scale-up study.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05756478. Registered on 06 March 2023.

Combined Delivery of miR-15/16 through Humanized Ferritin Nanocages for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a widespread type of leukemia that predominantly targets B lymphocytes, undermining the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. In healthy B cells, miR-15/16, a tandem of microRNAs, functions as a tumor suppressor, curbing the expression of the antiapoptotic B cell lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2). Conversely, in CLL patients, a recurring deletion on chromosome 13q14, home to the miR15-a and miR16-1 genes, results in Bcl-2 overexpression, thereby fostering the onset of the pathology. In the present research, a novel approach utilizing humanized ferritin-based nanoparticles was employed to successfully deliver miR15-a and miR-16-1 into MEG01 cells, a model characterized by the classic CLL deletion and overexpression of the human ferritin receptor (TfR1). The loaded miR15-a and miR16-1, housed within modified HumAfFt, were efficiently internalized via the MEG01 cells and properly directed into the cytoplasm. Impressively, the concurrent application of miR15-a and miR16-1 demonstrated a robust capacity to induce apoptosis through the reduction in Bcl-2 expression levels. This technology, employing RNA-loaded ferritin nanoparticles, hints at promising directions in the battle against CLL, bridging the substantial gap left by traditional transfection agents and indicating a pathway that may offer hope for more effective treatments.

Mental Workload Assessment Using Machine Learning Techniques Based on EEG and Eye Tracking Data

The main contribution of this study was the concurrent application of EEG and eye tracking techniques during n-back tasks as part of the methodology for addressing the problem of mental workload classification through machine learning algorithms. The experiments involved 15 university students, consisting of 7 women and 8 men. Throughout the experiments, the researchers utilized the n-back memory task and the NASA-Task Load Index (TLX) subjective rating scale to assess various levels of mental workload. The results indicating the relationship between EEG and eye tracking measures and mental workload are consistent with previous research. Regarding the four-class classification task, mental workload level could be predicted with 76.59% accuracy using 34 selected features. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by presenting a four-class mental workload estimation model that utilizes different machine learning algorithms.

Horizontal necklines correction with absorbable braided polydioxanone threads: Case series.

The prevalence of horizontal neck lines as a cosmetic concern is widely acknowledged, yet the available treatment options are limited, and no studies have investigated the use of polydioxanone-barbed threads. These threads, characterized by a finely braided structure, function as a scaffold to attract regenerative factors and facilitate the migration and proliferation of cells. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of concurrent application of braided polydioxanone-barbed threads for addressing horizontal neck wrinkles. A retrospective case series involving four female participants (aged 41, 43, 45, and 46) treated with polydioxanone-barbed threads for horizontal neck wrinkles between January 2023 and July 2023 was conducted. Adult patients were assessed at an 8-week follow-up, revealing a significant reduction in wrinkle intensity based on the Horizontal Neck Wrinkle Severity Scale. The analysis of horizontal neck lines demonstrated a notable decrease in wrinkle intensity according to the Horizontal Neck Wrinkle Severity Scale at the 8-week mark, and this improvement maintained statistical significance. Both patient Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) scores (90%-100%) and physician GAIS scores (100%) were rated as excellent. The subdermal application of polydioxanone-barbed threads for horizontal neck lines proves to be a secure and efficacious approach for treating horizontal neck wrinkles, with no observed Tyndall effect. This technique shows promise for rejuvenating the skin in the horizontal neckline region.

Multiuser Based Inventory Information System In Kopel Dolog Semarang

Inventory of goods or inventory is goods or work equipment used in processing the business being carried out or operational equipment of a company. Without inventory, business activities will not be carried out well, for this reason the existence of inventory is very important. The Goods Inventory Information System in a cooperative has quite an important role. One of the problems that often arises in an inventory system is not being able to know the exact number and condition of goods available. In terms of presenting information, the inventory system is implemented on a multiuser basis, where a multiuser system is a computer system that can execute several applications owned by two or more users concurrently and independently. Concurrent means applications can be active simultaneously and compete with each other to use resources such as CPU, memory, hard disk, and so on. Independent means that each application can carry out its tasks without having to care about what other users are running This information system makes it easy to provide inventory information. Apart from that, this system also makes it easier and faster to access information, data and its processing. The new system aims to make it easier for a company to carry out its operational activities, where this system will always ensure that data or information is provided to users quickly, precisely, accurately and at any time it is needed. From the system that has been implemented previously with matters relating to system weaknesses in the company, information or data about the inventory system which was initially very slow to access has now become easier. So that the company's operational activities run smoothly and all weaknesses in the old system can be replaced automatically.

Powdery Mildew of Bigleaf Hydrangea: Biology, Control, and Breeding Strategies for Resistance

Hydrangea macrophylla, commonly known as bigleaf, garden, French, or florist hydrangea, is the most economically important member of the Hydrangea genus, with a breeding history spanning hundreds of years. Bigleaf hydrangea breeding improvement has largely focused on aesthetic traits and there are few varieties tolerant or resistant to major diseases such as powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is an obligate biotrophic Ascomycete in the order Erysiphales represented by approximately 900 species worldwide. The disease-causing agent in hydrangeas is Golovinomyces orontii (formerly Erysiphe polygoni DC), which tarnishes the beauty, growth, and salability of bigleaf hydrangea plants, especially those packed closely in production environments. Chemical or biological control is commonly used in production. A recently published haplotype-resolved genome of bigleaf hydrangea enables targeted analyses and breeding techniques for powdery mildew resistance. Analyzing transcriptomes of tolerant and susceptible hydrangeas through RNA sequencing will lead to the identification of differentially expressed genes and/or pathways. Concurrent application of marker-assisted selection, genetic transformation, and gene editing will contribute to the development of powdery-mildew-resistant varieties of bigleaf hydrangea. The aim of this review is to give a general overview of powdery mildew, its impact on bigleaf hydrangea, current control methods, molecular mechanisms, and breeding prospects for powdery mildew resistance in bigleaf hydrangea.

Synergistic regulation of sulfur-group elements doping and strain on the thermoelectric performance of innovative material Er2Te3

The rare-earth chalcogenide Er2Te3 exhibits substantial promise as an innovative thermoelectric material. However, there have been limited studies exploring its thermoelectric properties in depth. Our study employed a first-principles approach in conjunction with the semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory to investigate the collaborative modulation of the thermoelectric transport properties of Er2Te3 through the concurrent application of sulfur-group elements doping and strain engineering. The findings demonstrate that, in the presence of the synergistic interplay of doping and strain, the maximum power factor (PF) of p-type Er2Te3 at 300 K increases to approximately 1.8 mW·m−1·K−2, while n-type Er2Te3 is elevated to approximately 18 mW·m−1·K−2. Furthermore, the cooperative effects of doping and strain augmentation raise the optimal thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of p-type Er2Te3 material to 0.3 at 300 K and n-type Er2Te3 material to 1.35 when subjecting the n-type Er2Te2.82Po0.18 system to a −2% strain. These results suggest that even minor doping can yield similar enhancements in the thermoelectric performance of Er2Te3, particularly under conditions of smaller strain. Consequently, our work underscores the significance of synergistic interactions between doping and strain engineering as potent means to augment the thermoelectric performance of Er2Te3 materials. In light of the practical feasibility of the fabrication techniques employed, this novel rare-earth chalcogenide material warrants further scrutiny and subsequent exploration within experimental domains.

Preparation of gallic acid-polydimethylsiloxane codeposited carbon fibers to improve interfacial properties of epoxy composites

A novel method, drawing inspiration from the chemistry principle observed in mussels, has been recently developed to augment the wettability and adherence of carbon fibers (CFs) within epoxy resin matrix. This technique entails the concurrent application of gallic acid and aminopropyl double terminated polydimethylsiloxane on CF surfaces via a direct method. Advanced analytical techniques like scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, along with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirmed the effective simultaneous deposition of these agents, possibly via Michael addition or Schiff base reactions. Incorporation of these treated fibers into epoxy composites resulted in notable performance enhancements. The composites with gallic acid and polydimethylsiloxane modified fibers exhibited up to 14%, 13%, and 27% improvements in interlaminar shear strength, flexural modulus, and flexural strength, respectively, compared to their counterpart with untreated fibers. These results indicate that combining gallic acid and polydimethylsiloxane on CFs is a potent approach to boost the interface qualities of CF-reinforced epoxy resin composites.

Comparative Analysis of PEG-Free and PEG-Based Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems for Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of Therapeutic (Poly) Peptides.

This study aims to compare the potential of Polyethylene glycol (PEG-free and PEG-based self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) for the oral administration of insulin glargine (IG). Hydrophobic ion pairs (HIPs) of IG are formed using various counterions. HIPs are assessed for log P octanol/water and dissociation behavior. They are incorporated into SEDDS based on polyglycerol (PG) and zwitterionic surfactant (ZW) using response surface methodology and compared to conventional PEG-SEDDS in size, stability, and log D SEDDS/release medium. Oral IG bioavailability in PG/ZW-SEDDS and PEG-SEDDS is evaluated in rats. Among the various counterions studied, IG-BIS (bis(isotridecyl)sulfosuccinate) HIPs demonstrated the highest log P and an improved dissociation profile. PG/ZW-SEDDS and PEG-SEDDS have similar ≈40nm sizes and are stable over 24 h. Both formulations have log D > 4 in water and >2 in 50mM phosphate buffer pH 6.8. PG/ZW-SEDDS yielded an oral bioavailability of 2.13 ± 0.66% for IG, while the employment of PEG-SEDDS resulted in an oral bioavailability of 1.15 ± 0.35%. This study highlights the prospective utilization of PEG-free SEDDS involving the concurrent application of PG and ZW surfactants, an alternative to conventional PEG surfactants, for improved oral therapeutic (poly) peptide delivery.

An Efficient Processing Scheme for Concurrent Applications in the IoT Edge

Due to the large volume of IoT data, conventional sensor network based and the cloud base IoT systems cannot handle latency-sensitive and resource-consuming IoT applications. Sensor networks do not have enough computation resources and also suffer from a limited network lifetime. On the other hand, the cloud based IoT system is far away from the users and the physical world, and cannot satisfy the real-time requirement of IoT applications. We adopt the IoT edge network to address these challenges and process IoT applications in modern IoT systems. The IoT edge network is an emerging computing architecture in the IoT. Compared to the sensor nodes in conventional sensor networks, the edge servers have more computation resources. Compared to the remote cloud, the edge servers are closer to the users and the physical world. However, processing IoT applications in the edge network still remains challenging. First, how to process concurrent IoT applications has not been fully investigated. Second, the inner relationship between the network resource and the application latency has not been deeply analyzed. Third, the function conflict problem in edge servers has not been taken seriously. To solve the above challenges, we propose the Energy and Latency Efficient Processing Plan for Concurrent IoT Applications Problem which aims to construct an application processing plan by jointly considering the concurrency, the energy-latency relationship, and the function conflict problems. We prove that such a problem is NP-Hard, and algorithms are proposed accordingly. Furthermore, we also estimate the performance of the proposed algorithms by numerical results.

Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment for De Novo Coronary Lesions: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

The outstanding development in contemporary medicine, highlighted by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), was achieved through the adoption of drug-eluting stents (DESs). Although DES is the established therapy for patients undergoing PCI for de novo coronary artery disease (CAD), their drawbacks include restenosis, stent thrombosis, and the requirement for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with an uncertain duration regarding its optimality. Drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment leaves nothing behind on the vessel wall, providing the benefit of avoiding stent thrombosis and not necessitating obligatory extended DAPT. After optimizing coronary blood flow, DCB treatment delivers an anti-proliferative drug directly coated on a balloon. Although more evidence is needed for the application of DCB treatment in de novo coronary lesions, recent studies suggest the safety and effectiveness of DCB treatment for diverse conditions including small and large vessel diseases, complex lesions like bifurcation lesions or diffuse or multivessel diseases, chronic total occlusion lesions, acute myocardial infarctions, patients at high risk of bleeding, and beyond. Consequently, we will review the current therapeutic choices for managing de novo CAD using DCB and assess the evidence supporting their concurrent application. Additionally, it aims to discuss future important perspectives.

Analyzing correlations between approaches to analyzing decision-making styles

Descriptive decision-making theories center on the analysis of individuals' decision-making styles (DMSs). Different approaches have been used to study DMSs, but this study focuses on two approaches: those of (1) Scott & Bruce and (2) Rowe. Scott & Bruce categorizes DMSs into rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant, and spontaneous, whereas Rowe delineates them into analytical, behavioral, conceptual, and directive. Previous studies have independently used these approaches to identify dominant DMSs or to establish correlations between DMSs and various personal characteristics. In this study, both DMS approaches were concurrently used to examine their correlations. The sample comprised 263 students, and correlation analyses were conducted on the entire dataset and its subsets while considering different characteristics (i.e. students' gender and study program, and the data collection timeframe). Multivariate correlation, along with descriptive statistics, was employed to investigate the correlation between the two approaches. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between the behavioral and dependent styles and a negative correlation between the avoidant and analytical styles. Additionally, the examination of the dominant and submissive styles indicated a significant connection between the analytical and rational DMSs. Overall, the two approaches exhibited weak connectivity. For a more comprehensive understanding of decision-makers' behavior and enhanced predictive capabilities, the concurrent application of the two approaches is imperative.