Free Groups Research Articles

Abstract PO1-01-12: A retrospective cohort study on the effect of adding adjuvant ovarian function suppression to endocrine therapy in premenopausal women with T1-T2 tumor hormone-positive breast cancer on survival and disease recurrence

Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the most common diagnosed cancer in women and is the leading cause of cancer death. Young women diagnosed with breast cancer are at higher rates of adverse outcomes in terms of survival and recurrence. Hormone sensitive breast cancer is the commonest subtype of breast cancer in this group. To date, the standard adjuvant treatment is endocrine therapy for both pre and post-menopausal women. Recent published studies have recommended adding ovarian function therapy to premenopausal women who are at high risk of recurrence. In this study we evaluated the impact of adding adjuvant ovarian function suppression for premenopausal women with small (T1 and T2) hormone receptor positive node negative breast cancer who did not receive any form of chemotherapy on overall survival and disease-free recurrence. Methods: We performed a retrospective study where we evaluated the electronic medical records of 4431 premenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer in Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea. All the analyzed patients were operated from the period of January 2006 till December 2019. The inclusion criteria were age of 55 and below, T1 and T2 tumors with N0 disease who received selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM - Tamoxifen) and didn’t receive neo or adjuvant chemotherapy. We compared patients who received SERM (Tam Only) only to patients who received SERM and ovarian function suppression (Tam + OFS) medications. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoint was mortality and disease-free survival (DFS). We used chi-square test for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables. The p-value was set as p< 0.05 as statistically significant. Kaplan Meier curve and log rank test were used to analyze the data for overall survival, disease-free survival and mortality. We performed an additional subgroup analysis adjusted to age, tumor size, Ki67%, progesterone receptor, HER2 status and type of operation. Results: There was equal distribution of cases between tamoxifen only group and tamoxifen + OFS group (2121 versus 2310 respectively). The median age in each group was 45 years of age. Tumor size of ≤0.5cm was the commonest in the tamoxifen only group whereas tamoxifen + OFS group had majority of cases with tumor size of 1 - 2cm. Both groups had a Ki-67% of 10-20%. Histologic grade of 2 and nuclear grade of 2 were most commonly representative in the comparing groups. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common histological subtype (93-94%) and invasive lobular carcinoma accounted for 5-6% of cases. Regarding immunohistochemistry results, 91-93% of patients were progesterone receptor positive and 68-73% were HER2 negative. The majority underwent breast conserving surgery compared to mastectomy. We have also looked at the pattern of prescribing OFS treatment in the Tamoxifen + OFS group regarding the length of treatment. Nearly 80% of patients received OFS treatment for a period of 1-2 years whereas only 5.2% received < 1 year and 1.8% >2years. After adjusting to age, tumor size, Ki67%, PR receptor and HER2 status, the result was only significant for higher risk of DFS in the TAM + OFS group in Ki67 < 20%. The OFS+TAM had more DFS and mortality events compared to TAM only group. However, the only significant result was the overall survival favoring tamoxifen only group with a p-value of 0.039 and HR of 1.05-7.99. Conclusion: Adding ovarian function suppression to tamoxifen in premenopausal hormone positive node negative T1-T2 tumors didn’t show any benefit in terms of disease-free interval and overall survival. Further studies are advised to assess the benefit of adding ovarian function suppression to this group of patients Table 1: baseline characteristics of Table 2: Disease Free Survival Subgroup Analysis Citation Format: Sarah Al Safi, Hee Jeong Kim, Seonok Kim, Sae Byul Lee, Jisun Kim, Tae-Kyung Yoo, Il-Yong Chung, Beom Seok Ko, Byung Ho Son. A retrospective cohort study on the effect of adding adjuvant ovarian function suppression to endocrine therapy in premenopausal women with T1-T2 tumor hormone-positive breast cancer on survival and disease recurrence [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-01-12.

Topology and Dynamics of Transcriptome (Dys)Regulation

RNA transcripts play a crucial role as witnesses of gene expression health. Identifying disruptive short sequences in RNA transcription and regulation is essential for potentially treating diseases. Let us delve into the mathematical intricacies of these sequences. We have previously devised a mathematical approach for defining a “healthy” sequence. This sequence is characterized by having at most four distinct nucleotides (denoted as nt≤4). It serves as the generator of a group denoted as fp. The desired properties of this sequence are as follows: fp should be close to a free group of rank nt−1, it must be aperiodic, and fp should not have isolated singularities within its SL2(C) character variety (specifically within the corresponding Groebner basis). Now, let us explore the concept of singularities. There are cubic surfaces associated with the character variety of a four-punctured sphere denoted as S24. When we encounter these singularities, we find ourselves dealing with some algebraic solutions of a dynamical second-order differential (and transcendental) equation known as the Painlevé VI Equation. In certain cases, S24 degenerates, in the sense that two punctures collapse, resulting in a “wild” dynamics governed by the Painlevé equations of an index lower than VI. In our paper, we provide examples of these fascinating mathematical structures within the context of miRNAs. Specifically, we find a clear relationship between decorated character varieties of Painlevé equations and the character variety calculated from the seed of oncomirs. These findings should find many applications including cancer research and the investigation of neurodegenative diseases.

Heat treatment and homogenization influence the gastric digestion of bovine milk protein in growing pigs as an adult human model

BackgroundBovine milk processing influences the structure of the curd formed during gastric digestion, which may alter gastric protein hydrolysis and impact amino acid (AA) release into the small intestine. ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the influence of heat treatment and homogenization on the gastric protein digestion and amino acid emptying of bovine milk. MethodsNine-week-old pigs (n=144) consumed either raw, pasteurized non-homogenized (PNH), pasteurized-homogenized (PH), or ultra-high-temperature homogenized (UHT) bovine milk for ten days. On day 11, fasted pigs received the milk treatment (500 mL) before gastric contents were collected at 0, 20, 60, 120, 180, and 300 min postprandially. The apparent degree of gastric protein hydrolysis (based on the release of free amino groups), apparent gastric disappearance of individual proteins (based on SDS-PAGE gel band intensity), and the gastric emptying of digested protein and AA were determined. ResultsDuring the first 60 min, the rate of apparent gastric protein hydrolysis was fastest for pigs fed UHT milk (0.29%/min vs on average 0.07%/min for pigs fed raw, PNH, and PH milk). Differences in the apparent degree of gastric protein hydrolysis and emptying were reflected in the rate of digested protein entering the small intestine. The AA gastric emptying half-time was generally shorter for pigs fed PH and UHT milk than pigs fed raw and PNH milk. For example, the gastric release of total essential AA was more than twofold faster (P<0.01) for pigs fed PH or UHT milk compared to pigs fed raw or PNH milk (i.e., homogenized vs non-homogenized milk). ConclusionsHeat treatment and homogenization increased the apparent gastric degree of protein hydrolysis and the release of digested protein into the small intestine. However, the rate of AA entering the small intestine was mainly increased by homogenization.

Clinical Benefit of Fixed-Dose Combination of Amlodipine and Potent Atorvastatin in Patients With Concomitant Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia.

Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and treatment with fixed-dose combination (FDC) regimens is recommended by current guidelines. However, the clinical outcomes of different FDC dosages remain unknown. This study aimed to examine the clinical outcomes of FDC regimens and the free combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin at different dosages. Patients with concurrent hypertension and hypercholesterolemia treated daily with an FDC of 5 mg amlodipine and 10 mg atorvastatin (5/10 fixed group), and FDC of 5 mg amlodipine and 20 mg atorvastatin (5/20 fixed group), or free combination of 5 mg amlodipine and 20 mg atorvastatin (5/20 free group) were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. The primary outcome was the composite cardiovascular outcomes, including cardiovascular death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary intervention. A total of 9095 patients were eligible for inclusion. The incidence of primary outcome per 1000 person-years was 16.6 in the 5/10 fixed group, 12.6 in the 5/20 fixed group, and 16.5 in the 5/20 free group (5/20 fixed versus 5/20 free: hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.64-0.91]; 5/20 fixed versus 5/10 fixed: HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.63-0.90]). Among patients with concomitant hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, treatment with an FDC of amlodipine and high-dose atorvastatin led to a lower risk of a composite of cardiovascular outcomes than treatment with the free combination or a similar FDC with a lower dose of atorvastatin.

An algorithm to recognize echelon subgroups of a free group

We provide an algorithm that, given a finite set of generators for a subgroup [Formula: see text] of a finitely generated free group [Formula: see text], determines whether [Formula: see text] is echelon or not and, in case of affirmative answer, also computes a basis with respect to which [Formula: see text] is in echelon form. This gives an answer to a question of Rosenmann. We also prove, by means of a counterexample, that intersection of two echelon subgroups needs not to be echelon, answering another question of Rosenmann.

The stable conjugation-invariant word norm is rational in free groups

We establish the rationality of the stable conjugation-invariant word norm on free groups and virtually free Coxeter groups.

Fluorescence ‘Turn-on’ Probe for Chromium Reduction, Adsorption and Detection Based on Cellulosic Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Hydrogels

This paper proposes a new, highly effective fluorescence test for Cr(VI) detection. This method utilizes a hydrogel composed of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N–CQDs), and poly(co-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) (AMPS). The N–CQDs were successfully synthesized using a simple microwave method, and then conjugated with HEC and AMPS. The higher adsorption (99.41%) and higher reduction rate in H1 likely stems from both the presence of N–CQDs (absent in HB) and their increased free functional groups (compared to H2/H3, where N–CQDs block them). This facilitates the release (desorption) of Cr(VI) from the hydrogels, making it more available for reduction to the less toxic Cr(III). The fluorescent brightness of the HEC-N–CQDs-g-poly(AMPS) hydrogel increases gradually when Cr(VI) is added in amounts ranging from 15 to 120 mg/L. The fluorescent enhancement of the HEC-N–CQDs-g-poly(AMPS) hydrogel appeared to exhibit a good linear relationship with the 15–120 mg of the Cr(VI) concentration, with a detection limit of 0.0053 mg/L, which is lower than the standard value published by WHO. Our study found that the HEC-N–CQDs-g-poly(AMPS) hydrogel served effectively as a fluorescent probe for Cr(VI) detection in aqueous solutions, demonstrating high sensitivity.

Generalizations of the Muller–Schupp theorem and tree‐like inverse graphs

AbstractWe extend the characterization of context‐free groups of Muller and Schupp in two ways. We first show that for a quasi‐transitive inverse graph , being quasi‐isometric to a tree, or context‐free in the sense of Muller–Schupp (finitely many end‐cone up to end‐isomorphism), or having the automorphism group that is virtually free, are all equivalent conditions. Furthermore, we add to the previous equivalences a group theoretic analog to the representation theorem of Chomsky–Schützenberger that is fundamental in solving a weaker version of a conjecture of Brough which also extends Muller and Schupp's result to the class of groups that are virtually finitely generated subgroups of the direct product of free groups. We show that such groups are precisely those whose word problem is the intersection of a finite number of languages accepted by quasi‐transitive, tree‐like inverse graphs.

Endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)-driven protein oxidation regulates emulsifying and foaming properties of liquid egg white

Highly oxidative reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack protein structure and regulate its functional properties. The molecular structures and functional characteristics of egg white (EW) protein (EWP) during 28 d of aerobic or anaerobic storage were explored to investigate the “self-driven” oxidation mechanism of liquid EW mediated by endogenous ROS signaling. Results revealed a significant increase in turbidity during the storage process, accompanied by protein crosslinking aggregation. The ROS yield initially increased and then decreased, leading to a substantial increase in carbonyl groups and tyrosine content. The free sulfhydryl groups and molecular flexibility in EWP exhibited synchronicity with ROS production, reflecting the self-repairing ability of cysteine residues in EWP. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated stable crosslinking between EWP molecules in the early oxidation stage. However, continuous ROS attacks accelerated EWP degradation. Compared with the control group, the aerobic-stimulated EWP showed a significant decrease in foaming capacity from 30.5 % to 9.6 %, whereas the anaerobic-stimulated EWP maintained normal levels. The emulsification performance exhibited an increasing-then-decreasing trend. In conclusion, ROS acted as the predominant factor causing deterioration of liquid EW, triggering moderate oxidation that enhanced the superior foaming and emulsifying properties of EWP, and excessive oxidation diminished the functional characteristics by affecting the molecular structure.

Optimizing the formation of myosin/high-density lipoprotein composite gels: PH-dependent effects on heat-induced aggregation

This study investigated impact of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on thermal aggregation and gelling behavior of myosin in relation to varied pHs. Results revealed that HDL modified myosin structure before and after heating, with distinct effects observed at varied pH. Under pH 5.0, both myosin and HDL-MS exhibited larger aggregates and altered microstructure; at pH 7.0 and 9.0, HDL inhibited myosin aggregation, resulting in enhanced solubility, reduced turbidity and particle size. Comparative analysis of surface hydrophobicity, free sulfhydryl groups and secondary structure highlighted distinct thermal aggregation behavior between MS and HDL-MS, with the latter showing inhibitory effects under neutral or alkaline conditions. Gelation behavior was enhanced at pH 7.0 with maximum strength, hardness, water-holding capacity and rheological properties. Under acidic pH, excessive protein aggregation resulted in increased whiteness and rough microstructure with granular aggregates. Under alkaline pH, gel network structure was weaker, possibly due to higher thermal stability of protein molecules. Scanning electron microscopy revealed expanded HDL protein particles at pH 7.0, accounting for decreased gel strength and altered rheological properties compared with myosin gel. Overall, the results indicated a positive role of HDL at varied pH in regulating thermal aggregation of myosin and further impacting heat-induced gel characteristics.

The Preparation and Characterization of Quinoa Protein Gels and Application in Eggless Bread.

The properties of xanthan gum protein gels composed of quinoa protein (XG-QPG) and ultrasound-treated quinoa protein (XG-UQPG) were compared for the preparation of high-quality quinoa protein gels. The gel qualities at different pH values were compared. The gels were used to produce eggless bread. Microscopically, the secondary structure of the proteins in XG-QPG (pH 7.0) was mainly α-helix, followed by random coiling. In contrast, the content of β-sheet in XG-UQPG was higher, relative to the viscoelastic properties of the gel. Moreover, the free sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds of XG-QPG (pH 7.0) were 48.30 and 38.17 µmol/g, while XG-UQPG (pH 7.0) was 31.95 and 61.58 µmol/g, respectively. A high disulfide bond content was related to the formation of gel networks. From a macroscopic perspective, XG-QPG (pH 7.0) exhibited different pore sizes, XG-UQPG (pH 7.0) displayed a loose structure with uniform pores, and XG-UQPG (pH 4.5) exhibited a dense structure with small pores. These findings suggest that ultrasound can promote the formation of a gel by XG-UQPG (pH 7.0) that has a loose structure and high water-holding capacity and that XG-UQPG (pH 4.5) forms a gel with a dense structure and pronounced hardness. Furthermore, the addition of the disulfide bond-rich XG-UQPG (pH 7.0) to bread promoted the formation of gel networks, resulting in elastic, soft bread. In contrast, XG-UQPG (pH 4.5) resulted in firm bread. These findings broaden the applications of quinoa in food and provide a good egg substitute for quinoa protein gels.

Is topical antibiotic use necessary to prevent surgical site infection following oculoplastic surgery?

To assess whether oculoplastic surgeries can be performed without any topical and systemic antibiotics, in a "100% antibiotic free" fashion. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study between November 2017 and December 2022. Patients who underwent an oculoplastic procedure were screened. Patients who received preoperative or postoperative systemic antibiotics were excluded. Intraoperative IV antibiotics were allowed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who were treated with local antibiotics ointments (LATB group) and those who were treated without local antibiotics ointments (LATB free group) postoperatively. The primary outcome was the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI). The relationship between the use of local antibiotics and the occurrence of SSI was assessed using Fisher's exact test. The alpha risk was set to 5% and two-tailed tests were used. Among the 947 procedures included, 617 were included in the LATB group and 330 in the LATB free group. 853 and 80 procedures were classified Altemeier class 1 (clean) and class 2 (clean-contaminated) surgeries, respectively. Overall, 310 (32.73%) procedures were performed without any systemic nor topical antibiotics (100% antibiotic free fashion). SSI occured in four (4/617; 0.65%) and five (5/330; 1.52%) procedures in the LATB and LATB free group respectively, without any statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.290). A subgroup analysis was carried out by excluding the procedures performed under prophylactic intraoperative intravenous antibiotics and did not reveal any statistical difference between the two groups (p = 0.144). All SSI patients were treated with systemic antibiotics with favorable outcomes. Postoperative wound dehiscence was the only risk factor associated with postoperative SSI (p = 0.002). This study suggests that performing a "100% antibiotic free" oculoplastic surgery without systemic and topical antibiotics is reasonable in Altemeier class 1 and class 2 procedures.

Facile and Bioinspired Approach from Gallic Acid for the Synthesis of Biobased Flame Retardant Coatings of Basalt Fibers.

A sustainable, bioinspired approach to functionalize basalt fibers with an innovative gallic acid (GA)-iron phenyl phosphonate complex (BF-GA-FeP), for the purpose of improving the flame retardancy in composite materials, is developed. BFs were at first pretreated with O3, obtaining surface free hydroxyl groups that allowed the subsequent covalent immobilization of biosourced GA units on the fiber through ester linkages. Phenolic -OH groups of the GA units were then exploited for the complexation of iron phenyl phosphonate, resulting in the target-complex-coated BF fiber (BF-GA-FeP). Microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses of BF-GA-FeP highlighted an increase in iron content, modification of fiber morphology, and occurrence of phosphorus, respectively. BFs, modified with a low amount of the developed complex, were used to reinforce a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix in the production of a biocomposite (PLA/BF-FeP). PLA/BF-FeP showed a higher thermal stability than neat PLA and PLA reinforced with untreated BFs (PLA/BF), as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. The cone calorimeter test highlighted several advantages for PLA/BF-FeP, including a prolonged time to ignition, a reduced time to flame out, an 8% decrease in the peak heat release rate, and a 15% reduced fire propagating index compared to PLA/BF.

Weil zeta functions of group representations over finite fields

In this article we define and study a zeta function ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document}—similar to the Hasse-Weil zeta function—which enumerates absolutely irreducible representations over finite fields of a (profinite) group G. This Weil representation zeta function converges on a complex half-plane for all UBERG groups and admits an Euler product decomposition. Our motivation for this investigation is the observation that the reciprocal value ζG(k)-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G(k)^{-1}$$\\end{document} at a sufficiently large integer k coincides with the probability that k random elements generate the completed group ring of G. The explicit formulas obtained so far suggest that ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document} is rather well-behaved. A central object of this article is the Weil abscissa, i.e., the abscissa of convergence a(G) of ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document}. We calculate the Weil abscissae for free abelian, free abelian pro-p, free pro-p, free pronilpotent and free prosoluble groups. More generally, we obtain bounds (and sometimes explicit values) for the Weil abscissae of free pro-C\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathfrak {C}}$$\\end{document} groups, where C\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathfrak {C}}$$\\end{document} is a class of finite groups with prescribed composition factors. We prove that every real number a≥1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$a \\ge 1$$\\end{document} is the Weil abscissa a(G) of some profinite group G. In addition, we show that the Euler factors of ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document} are rational functions in p-s\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p^{-s}$$\\end{document} if G is virtually abelian. For finite groups G we calculate ζG\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\zeta _G$$\\end{document} using the rational representation theory of G.

Endophthalmitis therapy revolution: Proof of concept based on in vivo evaluation of maleic acid modified chitosan

The aim was to develop chitosan-maleic acid (CS-MA) based ocular inserts with enhanced mucoadhesiveness for prevention of endophthalmitis caused by Escherichia coli. Therefore, chitosan (CS) and maleic acid (MA) were conjugated via formation of amide bond. Characterization via proton nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy was carried out and attached maleic acid groups were quantified by free amino groups assay. Biocompatibility of the conjugate was assessed following resazurin assay on fibroblasts, membrane damage on human erythrocytes and Hen's Egg-Chorioallantoic membrane tests. Inserts were pressed and characterized in terms of swelling behavior, pH, hardness, in vitro drug release and disintegration. To test mucoadhesive properties of CS-MA inserts, rheometer, rotating cylinder, inclined plane, and texture analyzer were the instruments utilized. Furthermore, antibacterial efficacy of the conjugate was established by direct agar diffusion method and in vivo Draize test was carried out to determine tolerability of the inserts. Results exhibited successful synthesis of the biomaterial, maintaining the great biocompatibility of native chitosan even though a 68.81 % of modification was achieved. Additionally, mucoadhesive studies showed improved properties of CS-MA compared to native polymer, with 2.42-fold, 4-fold, 3.42-fold and 4.05-fold increase in dynamic viscosity, retention time, overall attachment work and peak force of detachment, respectively. Finally, antibacterial activity was enhanced in 1.77-fold and in vivo experiments showed no irritation and good tolerability of CS-MA inserts. In conclusion, CS-MA ocular inserts effectively developed exhibiting promising features capable of revolutionizing the endophthalmitis therapy field.

People with painful knee osteoarthritis hold negative implicit attitudes towards activity.

Negative attitudes/beliefs surrounding osteoarthritis, pain, and activity contribute to reduced physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). These attitudes/beliefs are assessed using self-report questionnaires, relying on information one is consciously aware of and willing to disclose. Automatic (ie, implicit) assessment of attitudes does not rely on conscious reflection and may identify features unique from self-report. We developed an implicit association test that explored associations between images of a person moving/twisting their knee (activity) or sitting/standing (rest), and perceived threat (safe vs dangerous). We hypothesised that people with KOA would have greater implicit threat-activity associations (vs pain-free and non-knee pain controls), with implicit attitudes only weakly correlating with self-reported measures (pain knowledge, osteoarthritis/pain/activity beliefs, fear of movement). Participants (n = 558) completed an online survey: 223 had painful KOA (n = 157 female, 64.5 ± 8.9 years); 207 were pain free (n = 157 female, 49.3 ± 15.3 years); and 99 had non-KOA lower limb pain (n = 74 female, 47.5 ± 15.04 years). An implicit association between "danger" and "activity" was present in those with and without limb pain (KOA: 0.36, 95% CI 0.28-0.44; pain free: 0.13, 95% CI 0.04-0.22; non-KOA lower limb pain 0.11, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.24) but was significantly greater in the KOA group than in the pain free (P < 0.001) and non-KOA lower limb pain (P = 0.004) groups. Correlations between implicit and self-reported measures were nonsignificant or weak (rho = -0.29 to 0.19, P < 0.001 to P = 0.767). People with painful KOA hold heightened implicit threat-activity associations, capturing information unique to that from self-report questionnaires. Evaluating links between implicit threat-activity associations and real-world behaviour, including physical activity levels, is warranted.

Legitimacy Revisited: Moral Power and Civil Disobedience

Abstract In Legitimacy: The Right to Rule in a Wanton World, I offer both a conceptual analysis of legitimacy, the power-liability view, and a substantive moral theory, the free group agency view. Here, I defend my account against three challenges brought by Kjarsten Mikalsen. First, though I argue that conceptual analysis should not prematurely close open moral questions, it is not my view that conceptual analysis must have no substantive implications. Second, though I acknowledge that free group agency ordinarily supports a moral duty to obey, it is a feature, not a bug, that my conceptual analysis is consistent with moral theories that disagree with my preferred moral theory. Third, I argue that Mikalsen’s proposed explanation of justified civil disobedience, which sees law in such cases as creating a moral claim-right that entails a merely presumptive duty, is less perspicuous than the explanation given by the power-liability view. Along the way, I emphasize that the distinction between felicitous moral power and justified causal power is as important as the distinction between moral liability and moral duty.

Green Preparation of Fe3O4/HA/CS Magnetic Nanoparticles for Oil–Water Separation

AbstractBACKGROUNDDemulsification using chitosan (CS)‐coated magnetic nanomaterials has garnered significant attention. However, traditional methods of for synthesizing chitosan (CS)‐coated magnetic nanomaterials are often contaminated, laborious, and time‐consuming. Moreover, they showed poor demulsification efficiency due to the occupation of free amino groups in CS by crosslinking agents.RESULTSCS‐coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized using humic acid (HA) as a bridge. The Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs are as recyclable demulsifiers for hexadecane‐water microemulsions. We assessed the impact of MNP dosage, separation time, and pH on demulsification efficiency. Compared with Fe3O4/HA and Fe3O4/CS MNPs, the demulsification efficiency of the Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs was superior. The pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and the Sips isotherm best describe the demulsification process. Combining with the influence factors of demulsification efficiency, the demulsification mechanism involves electrostatic interactions between MNPs and oil microparticles. The maximum adsorption capacity for oil by the Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs was 91.73 mg/g.CONCLUSIONThis research presents a new method for connecting CS to MNPs with a high surface positive charge. As synthesized, Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs is expected to serve as highly efficient and recyclable demulsifiers for emulsified oil wastewater.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Water-Insoluble, Thermostable, Crosslinked Gelatin Matrix for Soft Tissue Implant Development.

In this present study, the material science background of crosslinked gelatin (GEL) was investigated. The aim was to assess the optimal reaction parameters for the production of a water-insoluble crosslinked gelatin matrix suitable for heat sterilization. Matrices were subjected to enzymatic degradation assessments, and their ability to withstand heat sterilization was evaluated. The impact of different crosslinkers on matrix properties was analyzed. It was found that matrices crosslinked with butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) were resistant to enzymatic degradation and heat sterilization. Additionally, at 1 v/v % crosslinker concentration, the crosslinked weight was lower than the starting weight, suggesting simultaneous degradation and crosslinking. The crosslinked weight and swelling ratio were optimal in the case of the matrices that were crosslinked with 3% and 5% v/v BDDE and PEGDE. FTIR analysis confirmed crosslinking, and the reduction of free primary amino groups indicated effective crosslinking even at a 1% v/v crosslinker concentration. Moreover, stress-strain and compression characteristics of the 5% v/v BDDE crosslinked matrix were comparable to native gelatin. Based on material science measurements, the crosslinked matrices may be promising candidates for scaffold development, including properties such as resistance to enzymatic degradation and heat sterilization.

Responsive Anionophores with AND Logic Multi‐Stimuli Activation

AbstractArtificial ion transport systems have emerged as an important class of compounds that promise applications in chemotherapeutics as anticancer agents or to treat channelopathies. Stimulus‐responsive systems that offer spatiotemporally controlled activity for targeted applications remain rare. Here we utilize dynamic hydrogen bonding interactions of a 4,6‐dihydroxy‐isophthalamide core to generate a modular platform enabling access to stimuli‐responsive ion transporters that can be activated in response to a wide variety of external stimuli, including light, redox, and enzymes, with excellent OFF‐ON activation profiles. Alkylation of the two free hydroxyl groups with stimulus‐responsive moieties locks the amide bonds through intramolecular hydrogen bonding and hence makes them unavailable for anion binding and transport. Triggering using a particular stimulus to cleave both cages reverses the hydrogen bonding arrangement, to generate a highly preorganized anion binding cavity for efficient transmembrane transport. Integration of two cages that are responsive to orthogonal stimuli enables multi‐stimuli activation, where both stimuli are required to trigger transport in an AND logic process. Importantly, the strategy provides a facile method to post‐functionalize the highly active transporter core with a variety of stimulus‐responsive moieties for targeted activation with multiple triggers.