Ease Of Handling Research Articles

Anionic Photoacid Generator Bound Polymer Photoresists With Improved Performance for Advanced Lithography Patterning

ABSTRACTChemically amplified resist (CAR) has gained considerable attention in the realm of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) due to their exceptional photosensitivity, high resolution, and commercialization. This work presents the development of an anionic photoacid generator (PAG) bound polymer (PGM) photoresist composed of three rationally selected monomeric units: 2‐Phenyl‐2‐propyl methacrylate (PPMA), γ‐butyrolactone‐3‐yl methacrylate (GBLMA), and triphenyl sulfonium salt 1,1,2‐trifluorobutanesulfonate methacrylate (MTFBS‐TPS). Electron beam lithography (EBL) studies demonstrate that the PGM photoresist functions as a positive tone photoresist with commendable sensitivity (27.9 μC/cm2) and contrast (6.53). When compared under similar conditions, with equal amounts of PAG and identical processing, the PGM photoresist exhibited superior pattern fidelity, ease of handling, and higher line resolution (25 nm) relative to the triphenyl sulfonium triflate (TPS‐OTF) blend polymer (PG‐T) photoresist. This enhancement is probably caused by anionic PAG directly attaching to the polymer backbone, which mitigates acid diffusion during the post‐exposure baking (PEB) process. Moreover, the PGM photoresist obtained a pattern of 37.5 nm at 50 mJ/cm2 in the EUVL test. The positive tone resists were successfully applied for the fabrication of nanoscale patterns.

A technical note on the Kamranmeter; a manually operated device for measuring salivary spinnbarkeit.

The objective was to develop a manually operatable, non-electric device to measure salivary spinnbarkeit for research, clinical and educational purposes. A newly developed device, named the Kamranmeter, was built and evaluated in a pilot study, comparing the spinnbarkeit of unstimulated and chew-stimulated saliva samples from healthy volunteers. The Neva Meter, which operates on electrical resistance, was used as a reference standard. The study found no statistically significant differences between the two devices when measuring the spinnbarkeit of both unstimulated and stimulated saliva samples from healthy volunteers. We developed a hand-operated device to analyse salivary spinnbarkeit. The Kamranmeter performs comparably to the Neva Meter in measuring spinnbarkeit in saliva obtained from healthy volunteers. The Kamranmeter has potential applications in diagnostic tests involving saliva, such as assessing spinnbarkeit to evaluate conditions like caries and dry mouth. Moreover, it holds promise for broader medical uses, including fertility assessments, where spinnbarkeit is a key indicator of cervical mucus quality. Its ease of handling is expected to make it well-suited for research, clinical, and educational applications.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Oxide Solid Electrolyte Nanocrystals with Controlled Shapes for Orientated Ceramics

Oxide solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries have advantages over sulfide solid electrolytes in terms of thermal and mechanical stability, safety, and ease of handling. However, high sintering temperatures required to fabricate oxide solid electrolyte ceramics are on obstacle to integration with cathodes and anodes. We recently reported synthesis of lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO)-based solid electrolyte nanoplates by a hydrothermal method[1]. The hydrothermally synthesized nanoplates could be sintered at a lower temperature than particles synthesized by the solid phase method. It was revealed that the lower sintering temperature was due to the face-to-face stacking of the nanoplates formed through uniaxial molding, which indicated that sintering behvior of oxide solid electrolytes could be controlled by the shape and stacking structure of nanocrystals.Here, we have synthesized various shaped LLTO-based nanocrystals by changing a Ti source in the hydrothermal method to investigate dependence of sintering behavior on the shape of the nanocrystals and have investigated Li ion conductivity of the ceramics fabricated from the nanocrystals. For synthesis of LLTO-based nanocrystals, we newly introduced two types of titanium sources: anatase-type and rutile-type TiO2, in addition to titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactate) dihydroxide (TALH), which was used for the synthesis of the nanoplate in the previous report. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that anatase-type TiO2 yielded a mixture of nanocubes and nanorods and rutile-type TiO2 yielded nanosheets. Scanning transmission electron microscopy observation and electron energy loss spectroscopy confirmed that the nanocrystals yielded from anatase- and rutile-type TiO2 had the LLTO-based perovskite crystal structure as the nanoplates yielded from TALH. Comparison of the sintering behavior at 1000°C for these different shaped nanocrystals subjected to uniaxial molding revealed that the nanocrystals with high aspect ratio (nanoplate, nanorod, and nanosheet) sintered more easily than the nanocubes and the ceramics of the nanoplates and nanosheets had {100} and {110} orientation, respectively. These oriented ceramics showed ionic conductivity according to the crystallographic orientations. The present result can provide an insight into controlling ionic conductive direction in oxide solid electrolyte ceramics by using shape-controlled nanocrystals. Acknowledgement This study was supported by a project (No. JPNP20005), commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan. Reference [1] K. Mimura, N. Hamao, H. Itasaka, Z. Liu, K. Hamamoto, J. Sol-Gel Sci. Tech. 104, 599 (2022).

Effect of Electrolyte Composition on Positive Electrode Properties of Rechargeable Aluminum-Graphite Batteries

Introduction The use of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, have caused significant environmental damage. Rechargeable batteries are attracting attention as a storage application for renewable energy, and the emergence of next-generation rechargeable batteries that exceed the energy density of lithium-ion batteries is eagerly awaited. Aluminum is a promising material for batteries due to its cost-effectiveness, chemical stability in air, safety, and ease of handling. The oxidation of Al is a 3-electron reaction, resulting in a high theoretical volumetric capacity of 8046 mAh cm-3. Therefore, rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs), which use aluminum as the negative electrode, are considered one of next-generation rechargeable batteries.Graphite has attracted considerable attention as the positive electrode active material in RABs due to its low cost, high stability, excellent electrical conductivity, and high redox potential. As for electrolyte, room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMImCl) offer several advantages, including high ionic conductivity, low vapor pressure, non-flammability, a wide potential window. It is known that AlCl3, a Lewis acid, forms a stoichiometric complex, AlCl4 -, with Cl-, a Lewis base, and AlCl4 - forms the dinuclear complex, Al2Cl7 -, with excess Cl-. So, the mixing ratio of AlCl3 to EMImCl (AlCl3/EMImCl molar ratio) will have a significant effect on the composition of RTILs, and the reaction kinetics of the graphite positive electrode. In this study, we investigated the effect of AlCl3/EMImCl ratio on the positive electrode properties. Experimental A slurry was prepared by mixing graphite powder and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a binder with N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), followed by ultrasonication. An appropriate amount of prepared slurry was applied to a Mo foil and dried under vacuum conditions to prepare a graphite positive electrode. In a glove box, AlCl3 and EMImCl were mixed in different molar ratios and stirred until a light-yellow liquid was obtained. Polished aluminum foil was used as the negative electrode. Results and Discussion Figure 1 shows Raman spectra of ionic liquids with AlCl3/EMImCl ratios from 1.1 to 1.9. In each spectrum, peaks assigned to AlCl4 - and Al2Cl7 - in addition to EMIm+ were observed. As the AlCl3/EMImCl ratio increased, the intensity of the AlCl4 - peak at 350 cm-1 decreased and that of the Al2Cl7 - peaks at 310 cm-1 and 430 cm-1 increased. The intensity of AlCl4 - and Al2Cl7 - linearly decreased and increased with an increase in the AlCl3/EMImCl ratio, respectively, indicating the reaction, AlCl4 - + AlCl3 → Al2Cl7 -, proceeds quantitatively.The cyclic voltammogram of the graphite electrode suggest that some couples of redox peaks of graphite were observed in a potential range between 0.5 V and 2.5 V. Each redox peak shifted negatively as the AlCl3/EMImCl ratio increased. Galvanostatic charge-discharge tests at 500 mA g-1 between 0.5 and 2.5 V were performed using Al/graphite cells containing electrolytes with different AlCl3/EMImCl ratios. In each AlCl3/EMImCl ratio, discharge curve with two plateaus was observed. The discharge capacity at the higher plateau voltage for the electrolyte with AlCl3/EMImCl = 1.1 was lower than that for the other electrolytes, while the discharge capacity at the lower plateau voltage was similar to each other. Irrespective of AlCl3/EMImCl ratio, discharge capacity hardly decreased over 100 charge-discharge cycles, while coulombic efficiency decreased with increasing the AlCl3/EMImCl ratio. This study compared the electrochemical properties of graphite in different molar ratios of electrolytes, which may help with future research and practical applications of RABs. Figure 1

Properties of Li1.3Al0.7Ti1.3(PO4)3 Ceramic Solid Electrolyte Densified by Cold Sintering Process

Replacing a flammable organic liquid electrolyte with a non-flammable solid electrolyte is the most promising way to improve the safety of Li-ion batteries. Oxide-based solid electrolytes have the advantages of good chemical stability and ease of handling, but for many of them, the high temperature sintering is required for densification and reduction of grain-boundary resistance for Li-ion conduction. However, co-sintering with electrode active materials at high temperature for fabrication of solid state batteries may cause side reactions and increase the internal resistance.1 Cold sintering (CS) is an attractive process for lowering the densification temperature of various ceramic materials.2 - 7 In this study, we applied CS for the densification of Li-ion conductive Li1.3Al0.7Ti1.3(PO4)3 (LATP) ceramic electrolyte. LATP powder was mixed with proper amount of deionized water or LiOH solution with various concentration as a transient liquid phase (TLP) and densified by CS at 200-250 °C for 0.5 h under uni-axial pressure of 600 MPa. After CS, the relative density of LATP pellet was increased to 85-90 %, and LiOH addition to TLP is effective for increasing the density. Grain size of LATP in the pellet is 0.5-1 µm and nanoparticle precipitation was observed near the grain-boundary area. Similar microstructure is confirmed in previous works.2 - 7 XRD measurements reveal the formation of LiTiOPO4 phase after CS. The amount of LiTiOPO4 phase tends to increase with LiOH concentration. It is thought that this heterogeneous phase precipitate during CS process and plays a role in bonding between LATP particles.From impedance measurement, we obtained ionic conductivity of 4 × 10-5 S/cm at room temperature in LATP densified at 250 °C by CS with TLP with an optimum LiOH concentration, which is higher than LATP densified by CS with TLP without LiOH (1.7 × 10-5 S/cm) and pressed LATP powder without adding TLP (3.6 × 10-7 S/cm). However, the conductivity of LATP by CS is lower than LATP sintered at 1000 ºC (= 2.3 × 10-4 S/cm). To improve ionic conducting property further, controlling the amount of precipitation phases after CS is necessary.This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (JSPS KAKENHI) Grant Number 22K18793 from the Japan Society for the promotion of Science (JSPS), and Innovative Elemental Technology Research in Green Technologies for Excellence (GteX) Program Grant Number JPMJGX23S7 of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).References P. Jiang et al., Energy Technol. 11, 2201288 (2023).J. Guo et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 55, 11457-11461 (2016).J-H. Seo et al., Ceram. Internat. 43, 15370-15374 (2017).J-H. Seo et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 60, 037001 (2021).N. Hamao et al., Materials 14, 4737 (2021).N. Hamao et al., Chem. Lett. 50, 1784-1786 (2021).A. Mormeneo-Segarra et al., Ceram. Internat. 49, 36497-36506 (2023).

Electrochemical Properties of Solid Electrolytes with High Content of Non-Sintered Ceramics

1.IntroductionAll-solid-state lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that use either polymeric or inorganic solid ionic conductor as the electrolyte1). All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries with solid polymer electrolytes have long been investigated because of their ease of handling. There are two types of solid polymer electrolytes currently under consideration: gel-based and dry types2). Gel type has high ionic conductivity because this is swollen by organic solvents, but safety is compromised due to leakage of organic solvents. On the other hand, dry type does not use organic solvents, so there is no risk of leakage, but that has lower ion conductivity than gel type. In response to this problem, research was conducted to improve ion conductivity by adding inorganic filler to the dry system for making it amorphous2); however, the improvement in ion conductivity was not sufficient because an inorganic filler has no ionic conductivity. In this study, therefore, a new composite solid electrolyte with higher ionic conductivity than that of conventional solid electrolytes was prepared by using an inorganic oxide solid-state electrolyte (ISE) as an inorganic filler in a dry polymer. its electrochemical properties were also investigated.2.ExperimentalTo prepare the composite solid electrolyte, an inorganic filler dispersion was prepared by dispersing LICGC (PW-01, Ohara) as ISE and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as dispersing agent in tetrahydrofuran. The inorganic filler dispersion was combined with polycaprolactone (PCL) and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) to prepare a LICGC slurry. The LICGC slurry was dried at 40°C for 12 hours and then pressurized to prepare PCL-LICGC (150 μm film thickness). Instead of PCL, polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) was applied for preparing PLA-LICGC and PEO-LICGC for comparison. A Li symmetric cell was fabricated to measure the ionic conductivity of each LICGC, and their ionic conductivity and activation energy during the ion transfer process at 25-55°C were evaluated. The electrochemical properties of each LICGC were also investigated using the Li symmetric cell, and charge-discharge measurements were performed at different current densities. The fabricated composite solid electrolytes are indicated with the name of the polymeric material used in this section and the content of LICGC at the end of the name sequence.3.Results and discussionPCL-LICGC50, PLA-LICGC50, and PEO-LICGC50 showed 2.12 × 10-4, 1.22 × 10-5, and 4.32 × 10-7 S cm-1 at 25°C, respectively, indicating that PCL-LICGCs have higher ionic conductivity than the other LICGCs; the ionic conductivity of PCL-LICGC50 was found to be higher than that of other composite electrolytes. In addition, PCL-LICGC50 showed 4.5 times higher ionic conductivity than PLA-LICGC50, an ester-based polymer of the same genus. This is due to the lower activation energy of PCL-LICGC50 in the ion transfer process and the higher diffusion rate of Li⁺ in the LICGC than that of PLA-LICGC50.PCL-LICGC50 can be charged and discharged stably at current densities of 0.177 mA cm-2 for more than 600 hours and 0.354 mA cm-2 for more than 60 hours, respectively. Conventional inorganic solid electrolytes were stable at 0.177 mA cm-2 for more than 600 hours. These results indicate that the PCL-LICGC50 fabricated in this study has better charge-discharge characteristics than the conventional solid electrolytes. On this presentation, we will report the variations in ionic conductivity and activation energy when the composition ratio of LICGC is changed, as well as charge-discharge characteristics under a high current density.4.AcknowledgmentsPCL and PLA used in this study were provided by Toagosei Co., Ltd.5.References1) J. Wen et al., Mater. Express, 2, 197 (2012).2) J. Feng et al., Nano Converg., 8, 2 (2021).

Advanced Secondary Intention Healing for Complex Soft-Tissue Defects Using Reprocessed Micronized Acellular Dermal Matrix.

Secondary intention healing offers an alternative when surgical options are infeasible. This study analyzed the effect of micronized acellular dermal matrices (mADMs; CGderm Matrix®, CG Bio, Seoul, Republic of Korea) on secondary intention healing in patients with complex soft-tissue defects and assessed mADMs' efficacy in promoting secondary healing and improving clinical outcomes in these challenging cases. This retrospective study included 26 patients treated with sheet-type reprocessed mADMs between August 2022 and December 2022 at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital. Patients with full-thickness skin defects classified as complex wounds were included. Data on demographics, wound characteristics, and treatment outcomes were collected and analyzed. Wound area was measured using ImageJ software, and statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. The application of mADMs resulted in a median wound area reduction of 81.35%, demonstrating its significant efficacy in wound healing. Most patients presented with compromised vascular supply, significant tissue loss, or infections that precluded conventional surgical interventions. No significant correlations were observed between patient variables and wound-healing outcomes, indicating the complex nature of wound healing. mADMs effectively promote secondary intention healing by providing a supportive extracellular matrix scaffold that enhances epithelialization and angiogenesis. Their rapid absorption, ease of handling, and ability to improve wound tensile strength make them particularly suitable for complex wounds.

Photoswitchable Detergents for Light-Controlled Liposome Lysis and Channel Gating.

Modulation of membrane properties via photoswitchable lipids has attracted attention due to the unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution of their functional control. Beside lipids, detergents are another prominent class for selective membrane perturbations owing to their ease of handling and spontaneous insertion in lipid bilayers. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of three classes of visible light-sensitive surfactants with various azobenzene tail chain lengths. The photoswitchable detergents show water-solubility and micellization as well as undergo reversible isomerization under blue-/green light illumination. We demonstrate that the light-induced structural change of azobenzene can lead to vesicle rupture, making them a tool for controlled cargo release from vehicles. Via spontaneous insertion into the plasma membrane of mammalian cells transiently transfected with MscL, we used the azobenzene-derived detergents to optically activate the transmembrane mechanosensitive channel. This led to the rapid controlled uptake of membrane-impermeable molecules. Since detergents are extensively used in biochemistry and biotechnology, we propose that the photoswitchable detergents will be useful tools for the spatiotemporal modulation of membrane properties. Additionally, our work provides a design strategy for new detergents in membrane (protein) research.

Theoretical Assessment of Agro-Waste for Biogas Production Based on Novel Methodology Related to Biochemical Potential

Agricultural and waste biomasses present viable solutions for utilization in the energy sector, achieving sustainable and long-term transformation into energy and fuel. However, it is important to carefully evaluate the competing applications for these feedstocks, considering both short- and long-term stability. Biomass for biogas production in agriculture and waste management is used due to its availability and ease of handling. Considering everything mentioned, evaluating the most suitable raw materials for biogas production is crucial for meeting sustainability criteria and promoting biomass as an energy source. In this paper, an examination of different biomass sources as possible feedstock to produce biogas by applying a theoretical approach to the proximate and final analysis results of those materials is presented. Based on data from the raw material analysis, the theoretical biochemical methane potential (TBMP) for the considered samples was calculated. Furthermore, the mass and energy balance for the case study biogas plant was also performed. According to the obtained results, the considered feedstocks show the validity of their use for biogas production considering the fulfillment of the raw material minimum quantity, mandatory residue arrangement, and achieving higher efficiency of the energy conversion process.

Analysis of the impact of environmental enrichment on the behaviors of bioterium rats

Rats are often used in experimental research due to their intelligence and ease of handling. However, traditional housing conditions can limit their natural behaviors, potentially leading to discomfort. Environmental enrichment aims to increase behavioral diversity, promote healthy behaviors, encourage positive use of the environment, enhance the animal's ability to cope with stressors, and reduce stereotypic behaviors. This study primarily aimed to assess the impact of environmental enrichment on laboratory rat behaviors. A group of 18 rats was selected and divided into three groups (n=6): control, physical enrichment, and feeding enrichment. The enrichment groups were provided with specific objects (a plastic tube for physical enrichment and a seed-filled cardboard roll for feeding enrichment) over a 10-day period, with open field tests conducted on days 1, 5, and 10 to evaluate time spent in central and peripheral zones. Statistical analyses were conducted in RStudio using t-test (p<0.05) to compare open field activity, water intake, and food consumption across groups. Results showed that animals exposed to environmental enrichment displayed fewer stereotypic behaviors and increased feeding frequency. Thus, assessing the impact of physical and feeding enrichment in rats of laboratory demonstrates that enrichment strategies provide positive impacts on animal welfare.

Exploring the Freshwater Cladocera (Pleuroxus spp.) as New Potential Live Feed in Aquaculture

In freshwater lakes, cladocera play a crucial role in the food chain, as they are the primary source of nutrition for nearly all aquatic species. Pleuroxus spp. are very suitable for aquaculture due to their ease of handling, rapid growth, non-selective filter feeder, high nutritional value, and remarkable ability to adapt to many environmental conditions. Silver barbs are in high demand in the aquaculture business due to their excellent flavours and rapid development rate. In this study, Pleuroxus spp. was cultured in a control condition with water quality maintained at the room temperature of 26 ± 1 °C and pH of 7.0 ± 0.5. Five treatments of Pleuroxus spp. were prepared, which comprised of T1 (control) = unfed, T2 = coffee grounds, T3 = corn flour, T4 = wheat flour, and T5 = sugarcane waste. Pleuroxus spp. were fed with a selected diet solutions at a concentration of 0.5 g/L daily. The result shows that Pleuroxus spp. given T3 (24.88 ± 5.48 ind/mL) had a greater population density than T4 (22.13 ± 4.83 ind/mL), T2 (21.06 ± 5.27 ind/mL), and T5 (20.56 ± 4.92 ind/mL) dietary treatments. Pleuroxus spp. given T3 had the greatest survival rate (97.9 ± 9.8%) when compared to other diets, T4 (86.81 ± 19.07%), T2 (82.71 ± 16.56%), and T5 (75.00 ± 21.08%). Silver barb showed the highest amount of daily weight gain in treatment T3 (0.11 ± 0.001 mg/days; p < 0.05) compared with other dietary treatments. The maximum specific growth rate (SGR) (%) was achieved when fed with T3 (13.37 ± 0.02%; p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was shown to be significantly different (p < 0.05). The FCR of larvae fed with different nutritional treatments ranged from 1.22 to 4.12, depending on the treatment. In comparison to other diets, the T3 treatment (1.22 ± 0.03) achieved the highest FCR ratio. In short, pre-feeding of zooplankton with prospective diets has built a baseline of improved aquaculture feeding procedures that may be employed in the future aquaculture businesses.

Advancing Osteoarthritis Treatment: The Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes and Biomaterial Integration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and debilitating joint disorder characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and inflammation, for which traditional treatments offer only symptomatic relief without halting disease progression. Exosomes, cell-free vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells, have emerged as a promising alternative therapy owing to their regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. This review synthesizes findings from recent studies (2017-2023) on the therapeutic potential of exosomes in OA treatment, highlighting their ability to modulate the joint microenvironment, reduce inflammation, and promote cartilage repair by delivering bioactive molecules such as cytokines, growth factors, and regulatory ribonucleic acids. We explore the integration of exosomes with biomaterials, such as hydrogels and scaffolds, to enhance their delivery and therapeutic efficacy, and we address the critical challenges associated with their clinical application, including standardization of isolation and characterization methods, scalability of production, mechanistic understanding, and long-term safety. Despite these challenges, exosome-based therapies offer several advantages over traditional and cell-based treatments, including lower immunogenicity, ease of handling, and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to damaged tissues. We provide an analytical perspective on the current state of exosome research in OA, emphasizing the need for standardized production methods, deeper mechanistic insights, and rigorous long-term safety assessments. Future directions should focus on optimizing delivery systems, exploring personalized medicine approaches, and conducting comparative effectiveness studies to fully realize the potential of exosome therapies for OA treatment. Addressing these gaps will be crucial for translating exosome therapies from bench to bedside and achieving a transformative impact on OA management.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE LONGEVITY OF COMPOSITE RESIN RESTORATIONS: Narrative review of the literature

Composite resins have gained great prominence in aesthetic dentistry in recent years, being increasingly used due to their properties and ease of handling. The objective of this narrative review of the literature is to address factors that will contribute to achieving greater longevity of composite resin restorations, namely isolation of the operative field, cavity preparation, adhesive system, photoactivation, finishing and polishing. The data presented in the review were obtained from 26 articles in Portuguese and English and books in the field of dentistry with high relevance to the proposed topic. It is concluded that for the restoration to be successful it is necessary to know the periodicities of the resin to be used, to have a well photoactivated adhesive layer, to guarantee a quality photoactivation where all the resin will be polymerized, a finish that removes all gross irregularities of the restoration and a effective polishing, making the surface of the resin smooth and shiny, this way it is possible to guarantee greater durability of clinical work involving composite resins.

მცირე ტვირთამწეობის მობილური თვითმავალი საბაგირო გზა

In the LEPL G. Tsulukidze Mining Institute, a mobile ropeway for small loads was developed and built, which can be used to transport loads weighing up to 100 kg on terrain with different slopes and difficulties. The ropeway is distinguished by its small mass, compactness, ease of handling and mobility. It can be disassembled and quickly set up in a new location.

Animal Models in COVID-19 Research: Insights and Outcomes

Animal models have been critical in understanding the pathogenesis, transmission, and therapeutic interventions for COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. The primary challenges include species-specific differences in viral receptor expression, particularly the ACE2 receptor, and immune system responses, which can affect how closely these models mimic human COVID-19 pathology. Additionally, ethical concerns around the use of animals, especially non-human primates, and logistical issues such as high costs, housing requirements, and limited availability of certain models, further complicate research efforts. Transgenic mice expressing human ACE2 (hACE2) are widely used because of their ease of handling and cost-effectiveness. Other animal models include non-human primates, hamsters, cats, and ferrets, which were used to study viral transmission and host-pathogen interactions. The rapid dynamics of the SARSCoV-2 evolution is one of the challenges and the complementary use of multiple models provides a more comprehensive understanding of the disease. Nonetheless, these models have been essential for rapid advancements in COVID19 vaccine and therapeutic development, offering insights that continue to guide public health strategies. The review discusses the various animal models used in SARS-CoV-2 research, the outcomes, and the challenges and questions to be addressed Keywords: Animal models, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19

Empowering Tri-Functional Palladium's Catalytic Activity and Durability in Electrocatalytic Formic Acid Oxidation Reaction via Innovative Self-Caging and Alloying Strategies.

Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) stand out for portable electronic devices owing to their ease of handling, abundant fuel availability, and high theoretical open circuit potential. However, the practical application of DFAFCs is hindered by the unsatisfactory performance of electrocatalysts for the sluggish anodic formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR). Palladium (Pd) based nanomaterials have shown promise for FAOR due to their highly selective reaction mechanism, but maintaining high electrocatalytic durability remains challenging. In this study, a novel Pd-based electrocatalyst (UiO-Pd-E) is reported with exceptional durability and activity for FAOR, which can be attributed to the Pd nanoparticles encapsulated within a carbon framework where concurrent chemical alloying of Pd and Zr occurs. Further, the UiO-Pd-E demonstrates noteworthy multifunctionality in various electrochemical reactions including electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in addition to the FAOR, highlighting its practical potentials.

Metal ions-mediated concerted electron-proton transfer enables catalytic oxidation of phenolic contaminants by permanganate

Permanganate has been extensively applied in water treatment due to its ease of handling and high stability. However, the impact of common water constituents, especially metal ions, on permanganate oxidation is poorly understood. Here, we report that many redox-inactive metal ions, such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Al3+, can enhance the reactivity of permanganate with phenolic compounds. Moreover, the enhancing effects of metal ions are highly pH-dependent with the largest promotion effect obtained at the pH close to phenols’ pKa. Experimental and computational analysis revealed that the oxidation of protonated phenols by permanganate underwent proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) pathways, regardless of the presence of metal ions. Nonetheless, metal ions could catalyze the concerted electron-proton transfer (CEPT) but exhibited negligible effect on ETPT (electron transfer followed by proton transfer) and PTET (proton transfer followed by electron transfer) reactions, accounting for the pH-dependent effects of metal ions. Correlation between CEPT rate constants and the complexing capability of metal ions with phenols suggested that the co-existing metal ions may coordinate to phenolic O–H group and thus facilitate the CEPT reaction of phenols. This study could shed light on the application of permanganate in real practice and the modulation of CEPT reactions.

A Comparison of Subjective Symptoms of Two Types of Silicone Hydrogel One-Day Disposable Contact Lenses.

This study aimed to evaluate the comfort and discomfort of two types of soft contact lenses (SCLs) by comparing their quality of vision, fit, subjective dryness, and handling. A total of 62 SCL wearers with contact lens (CL) discomfort were recruited. They were fitted with narafilcon A and verofilcon A for two weeks each by crossover. The comfort of the two types of SCLs was compared by having each participant answer a modified 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (m-DEQ5, scores for vision, wearing comfort, and handling: the total score of the five items is a maximum of 25, higher being better) and modified Japanese version of the 8-item Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (m-J-CLDEQ-8: scores for discomfort and dry eye symptoms: the total score of the eight items is a maximum of 44; lower is better) survey forms. Results: Overall, the m-DEQ5 and m-J-CLDEQ-8 scores for the two SCLs of narafilcon A and verofilcon A were higher than the median of 3.0 points. Scores for 4 of 5 items and total scores in m-DEQ5 (18.7 ± 3.4 vs. 21.6 ± 2.5) were significantly higher and better in verofilcon A than in narafilcon A (p<0.01). Scores for 8 of 8 items and total scores on the m-J-CLDEQ-8 (15.2 ± 7.9 vs. 8.4 ± 4.9) were also significantly lower and better in verofilcon A than in narafilcon A (p<0.05). Verofilcon A provided excellent vision, comfort, and ease of handling and was less likely to cause dry eye symptoms or eye discomfort. These results suggest that verofilcon A is an excellent option for patients with dry eye symptoms and CL discomfort.

Application of zwitterionic ionic liquid-based capsule phase microextraction for the HPLC-UV determination of doxycycline in human urine samples

Herein, we describe the utilization of an ionic liquid (IL)/Carbowax 20 M−functionalized sol–gel sorbent for the capsule phase microextraction of doxycycline in authentic human urine samples. This green sample preparation method combines stirring and filtration in a single, standalone sample preparation device, streamlining the sample preparation process. Additionally, it provides rapid extraction kinetics and high extraction efficiency. The experimental conditions (i.e. sorbent type, sample pH and volume, extraction time, ionic strength, elution solvent, and volume) affecting the extraction efficiency of the analyte were studied and optimized. The method was linear in the range of 0.1 – 5.0 μg/mL with a coefficient of determination higher than 0.995. The achieved LOD was found to be 0.02 μg/mL while the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.1 μg/mL. The IL/Carbowax 20 M−functionalized microextraction capsules were reusable at least 30 times for urine samples. The relative recoveries (% RR) ranged between 93.4 – 115.9 % while the precision (expressed as % RSD) was better than 8.1 % in all cases. The robustness of the microextraction procedure and the instrumental HPLC method were separately investigated using Plackett-Burman experimental designs. The analytical protocol demonstrated cost-effectiveness, ease of handling, and speed, leading to increased sample throughput. The green character of the developed method was evaluated using the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) and Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI). Finally, the method’s applicability was demonstrated by analyzing authentic human urine samples after oral administration of a doxycycline-containing pharmaceutical formulation.

Reactive Blue MEBF 222 dye and textile wastewater treatment using metal-doped cobalt and nickel perovskites by batch and column adsorption process.

Water contamination is a serious issue that has an impact on the whole globe. In the current work, adsorption technique was used to remove synthetic Reactive Blue MEBF 222 textile dye utilizing Cd-doped Co (Co1-xCd1.5xFeO3), Zn-doped Co (Co1-xZn1.5xFeO3), Cr-doped Co (Co1-xCr1.5xFeO3), Zn-doped Ni (Ni1-xZn1.5xFeO3), and Cr-doped Ni (Ni1-xCr1.5xFeO3) perovskites, synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion approach. According to the findings of batch adsorption studies, maximum adsorption was observed at pH 3 (45.62mg/g), 0.01g/50ml dosage (36.67mg/g), 60min (14.31mg/g), 100ppm dye concentration (47.41mg/g), and 308K (35.96mg/g) for Co1-xCd1.5xFeO3; at 3 pH (42.94mg/g), 0.01g/50ml dosage (35.33mg/g), 60min (12.88mg/g), 100ppm dye concentration (40.52mg/g), and 308K (31.31mg/g) for Co1-xZn1.5xFeO3; at 2 pH (38.82mg/g), 0.01g/50ml dosage (32.20mg/g), 60min (11.98mg/g), 100ppm dye concentration (33.54mg/g), and 308K (29.34mg/g) for Co1-xCr1.5xFeO3; at 2 pH (34.97mg/g), 0.01g/50ml dosage (30.41mg/g), 60min (10.46mg/g), 100ppm dye concentration (27.19mg/g), and 308K (26.12mg/g) for Ni1-xZn1.5xFeO3; and at 2 pH (31.22mg/g), 0.01g/50ml dosage (25.04mg/g), 60min (9.48mg/g), 100ppm dye concentration (21.73mg/g), and 308K (23.61mg/g) for Ni1-xCr1.5xFeO3. The pseudo-second-order model showed good fitness for adsorption kinetic data. Electrolytes, detergents/surfactants, and heavy metal ions had a substantial impact on the adsorption potential. The column adsorption experiments demonstrated optimal bed height, flow rate, and intake dye concentration to be 3cm, 1.8ml/min, and 70mg/l, respectively, in the column experiment. With an adsorption capacity of 44.1mg/g, reactive blue (RB) 222 dye was able to achieve its maximum adsorption. Detailed desorption of RB 222 dye was also achieved. The novelty of this adsorption method lies in its eco-friendliness, ease of handling, and cost-effectiveness.