Microscopy Images Research Articles

Entomopathogenic nematode detection and counting model developed based on A-star algorithm

Entomopathogenic nematodes are soil-dwelling living organisms widely employed in the biological control of agricultural insect pests, serving as a significant alternative to pesticides. In laboratory procedures, the counting process remains the most common, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and approximate aspect of studies related to entomopathogenic nematodes. In this context, a novel method has been proposed for the detection and quantification of Steinernema feltiae isolate using computer vision on microscope images. The proposed method involves two primary algorithmic steps: framing and isolation. Compared to YOLO-V5m, YOLO-V7m, and YOLO-V8m, the A-star-based developed network demonstrates significantly improved detection accuracy compared to other networks. The novel method is particularly effective in facilitating the detection of overlapping nematodes. The developed algorithm excludes processes that increase space and time complexity, such as the weight document, which contains the learned parameters of the deep learning model, model integration, and prediction time, resulting in more efficient operation. The results indicate the feasibility of the proposed method for detecting and counting entomopathogenic nematodes.

Study on Measurement Method of Three-dimensional Position of Unlabeled Microspheres under Bright Background

Abstract: Using computer vision technology to obtain the position and trajectory data of particle probe microspheres from microscope images has significance and value in the molecular field. However, most of the existing microsphere measurement methods are based on transmission, which can only be measured under transparent samples and substrates and are not suitable for the application scenario of living cell measurement. In this paper, a method based on reflectivity imaging is proposed to measure the three-dimensional position of the dark microspheres in the bright field. Based on the outermost ring radius method, the relationship between the inner ring radius of the microsphere spot and the out-of-focus distance was explored to measure the coordinates in the Z direction. Cardiomyocytes were combined with 10um size silica microspheres. Experiments show that in a bright field with a high perturbation environment, it can achieve high precision measurement of dark microspheres and achieve three-dimensional position measurement with an accuracy of 50nm in XY direction and 100nm in Z direction.

Application of microscopic imaging, multispectral techniques, and SEM/EDS analysis to the study of 19th century colour engravings

This study was carried out on a collection of coloured gravures, which are bound in one book volume entitled “Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets”. This book belongs to the Benaki's Collection of the Hellenic Parliament Library, Athens, Greece. Each page has a coloured print, depicting a different bird species. In most cases, the prints present oxidations caused by the additives used in paper and printing inks manufacture, i.e. fillers, sizing agents, binders, solvents, and other chemical compounds.By employing microscopic imaging, multispectral imaging, and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analysis significant information on the materials used, engraving techniques, as well as the preservation state of the printings studied can be obtained. The combination of the proposed methods yields successful results in identifying the materials used in the colour inks, as well as the paper support of the printings.

Automatic System for Acquisition and Analysis of Microscopic Digital Images Containing Activated Sludge

Automatic System for Acquisition and Analysis of Microscopic Digital Images Containing Activated Sludge

Tensile strength and durability performances-based evaluation of 3D-printed and mold-cast fibrous geopolymer composites produced at various alkaline activator combinations

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio, SH molarity, and carbon fiber volume fraction on the tensile strength and durability properties of mold-cast and 3D-printed geopolymer composites, including flexural and splitting tensile strengths, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, sorptivity index, and chloride penetration properties. For that purpose, the ground-granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash were employed as alumino-silicate-rich raw material. In order to activate the alumino-silicate-rich raw material, two sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide ratios of 1 and 2 and three sodium hydroxide molarities of 8M, 10M, and 12M were designated. Furthermore, carbon fiber was incorporated into the geopolymer composites at three volume fractions: 0%, 0.3%, and 0.6%. In total, 18 nonfibrous and fibrous geopolymer composites were manufactured in two different ways: mold-cast and 3D-printed. The findings demonstrated that the strength and durability characteristics of 3D-printed specimens were inferior to those of mold-cast specimens, attributed to the presence of weak interfacial bonds between layers. It has been observed that the incorporation of carbon fiber has the effect of improving tensile strength performance. Nevertheless, the addition of carbon fiber led to a slight decrease in UPV values, and an increase in water absorption and sorptivity index values. Also, it adversely influenced the chloride penetration of geopolymer composites. The findings of the study also indicated that increasing the sodium hydroxide molarity had a positive impact on the strength and durability properties of the composites. Nevertheless, it was observed that increasing the sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio led to a decrease in both tensile strength and durability performances. Additionally, the microstructure of the geopolymer composites was analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.

Development of a novel DNA-shaped steel fiber and its performance on fresh and hardened concrete

Adding small discrete random fibers in concrete has enhanced concrete behavior in various ways. Diverse types of fibers are available in terms of materials, shapes, and applications. Different shapes of steel fibers are available like hooked ends, crimped, stranded, helix, spherical, etc. Having the grade of concrete and the fiber dosage added as constant, the structural behavior and performance will vary for different types of fibers. It shows that the shape of fiber has a great role in enhancing the properties of concrete. The challenges in existing two-dimensional steel fibers in concrete like the mechanism and contribution of fiber in arresting cracks developed in all directions and balling effect can be overcome by a new type of three-dimensional steel fiber. A novel three-dimensional DNA-shaped steel fiber is designed and fabricated. This paper presents the fresh concrete and hardened concrete properties of DNA-shaped fiber-reinforced concrete (DNAFRC) and compares it with hooked-end fiber-reinforced concrete (HEFRC) by incorporating a volume fraction varying from 0.5 to 2% of grade M30 concrete and aspect ratio of 60 for both fibers. The fresh properties of concrete were evaluated by measuring the slump for workability and wash-out test for the fiber distribution. The hardened concrete properties were assessed by compressive, split tensile, flexural, impact, shear, and pull-out strength which demonstrated considerable increase by 5% at 1.5% volume fraction, 32%, 136%, 21%, and 35% at 2% volume fraction respectively for DNAFRC than the HEFRC. Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) images were studied on failed samples to evaluate the bonding of DNA fiber with concrete.

Damping and acoustic properties of nanosilica filled poly(styrene-acrylate) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs): Effect of nanocomposite preparation method

Research on noise pollution reduction has focused on utilizing damping coatings and polymer nanocomposites to enhance sound absorption. Nanosilica/poly(styrene-acrylate) nanocomposites as a water-based coating were prepared through in-situ emulsion polymerization and direct mixing methods at varying concentrations of 1, 2, and 3 wt% of nanosilica. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the inclusion of surfactant-containing micelles and a more extended synthesis period in the in-situ synthesis technique enhanced the interaction between silica nanoparticles and polymer chains. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed a unimodal distribution and an acceptable range of polydispersity index (PDI) for neat and nanocomposite latexes. The addition of silica nanoparticles enhanced the stability of latex particles, especially evident in the direct mixing method. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed the better dispersion of nanoparticles within the polymer matrix in the in-situ method. The addition of nanosilica resulted in a significant increase in pseudoplastic behavior and viscosity, notably in the in-situ synthesis. In both the in-situ synthesis and direct mixing techniques, the addition of 1 wt% of nanosilica resulted in an increase in the damping factor of nanocomposite films to about 2. However, when the nanosilica content was further increased to 3 wt%, the damping factor decreased. Acoustic tests demonstrated improved sound absorption with silica nanoparticles, yielding noise reduction coefficient (NRC) values of 0.49 and 0.46 for in-situ synthesis and direct mixing. The direct mixing method notably enhanced tensile properties at all nanoparticle content levels. Dried nanocomposite films exhibited superior UV-blocking capabilities compared to neat polymer films.

Phosphate's second life: Upcycling phosphogypsum and clay by-product through acid geopolymer technology

The present study explores the repurposing of large amounts of phosphoric acid by-products, specifically phosphogypsum (PG), by evaluating its effectiveness as a precursor in acid-activated geopolymer technology. Geopolymers were elaborated using PG and calcined clays, activated with phosphoric acid. The research focused on evaluating the mechanical properties and microstructure of these geopolymers after a 28-day curing period. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the formation of new crystalline phases, including brushite, newberite, and berlinite. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of P-O and Si-O-Al bonds, indicative of successful geopolymerization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging demonstrated a dense, cohesive microstructure in optimized samples. Based on the response surface methodology, the study identified optimal conditions for maximum compressive strength: 28.83% PG content, 14.39mol/L phosphoric acid concentration, and a curing temperature of 72.45°C. This optimized formulation produced a dense, cohesive microstructure with a notable compressive strength of 21.46MPa. The leaching test confirmed that no harmful substances were released from the geopolymer samples. These results suggest that PG can be effectively recycled through geopolymer technology for use in the construction industry.

Effect of H2O2/ascorbic acid degradation and gradient ethanol precipitation on the physicochemical properties and biological activities of pectin polysaccharides from Satsuma Mandarin

In this work, three degraded polysaccharides (DMPP-40, DMPP-60, DMPP-80) were successfully obtained by H2O2/ascorbic acid degradation and gradient ethanol precipitation from Satsuma mandarin peel pectin (MPP), and their physicochemical properties, antioxidant and prebiotic activities were investigated. The molecular weight of MPP, DMPP-40, DMPP-60, DMPP-80 were determined to be 336.83 ± 10.57, 18.93 ± 0.54, 26.07 ± 0.83 and 8.71 ± 0.27 kDa, respectively. The ethanol concentration significantly affected the physicochemical properties of DMPPs. DMPP-60 showed the highest yield (69.07 %) and uronic acid content (64.85 %), DMPP-80 showed the lowest molecular weight (8.71 kDa), and the composition and proportion of monosaccharides of DMPPs were significantly different. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) confirmed that DMPPs exhibited similar functional groups, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that DMPP-40 possessed some crystallographic sequences. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images directly verified the fragmented structure and reduced surface area of DMPPs. Besides, the H2O2/ascorbic acid treatment could obviously reduce the apparent viscosity and thermal stability of MPP. Meanwhile, the results of bioactivity assay showed that DMPPs possessed better antioxidant activity and probiotics pro-proliferative effects compared with MPP. DMPP-80 could significantly inhibit lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated production of inflammatory factors (including nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β) in RAW264.7 cells. Results suggest that the H2O2/ascorbic acid combined with gradient ethanol precipitation has potential applications in degradation and separation of MPP to improve its biological activities.

Electrophoretic deposition of novel antibacterial and biocompatible polydopamine and ZIF-8 hybrid composite coating on anodized Ti-6Al-4V alloy with silane primary substrate

Production of biocompatible and corrosion resistance dental implant is a requirement in the modern dental science. In this work, the Ti-6Al-4V was used alloy for the dental implant application that has investigated to make it more corrosion resistive and antibacterial with electrophoretic deposition of silane precursor solution that made of acidic solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and methyl three ethoxy silane (MTES). The optimized silane coating has been achieved with 30 V, 30 min and at 100 °C ramped annealing by comparison of Taffel analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Also, a new nanocomposite including polydopamine (PDA) and zeolite imidazole frame work composed from Zn (NO3)2 .6H2O and 2-methylimidazole (ZIF-8) that name PDA@ZIF-8 has been used as biocompatible and corrosion resistance amplifier to the precursor solution and used in the multilayer deposition process. The morphology analysis including atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) imaging and the obtained parameters show that coating has appropriate roughness that could increase the bounding of implant. A good adhesion strength has been determined for the two-layers silane coating with PDA@ZIF-8 according to the pull- off test. On the other hand, the antibacterial analysis indicate that the coating is an effective material for S. mutans and E. coli reduction that is another criterion for the dental implant materials. The results was introduced the coated Ti-6Al-4V could be used as corrosion resistive and antibacterial dental implant material.

Mechanism of action of the novel reagent dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride on magnesite and quartz surfaces

Silica impurities are one of the key factors that reduce the quality of magnesite. In this experiment, dodecyl trimethylammonium chloride (KDMP) was used as a quartz collector for silica-magnesium separation, and mineral flotation tests demonstrated that KDMP can effectively desiliconize and purify magnesite under the conditions of 20 mg/L and pH 5.0. Contact angle and Zeta potential measurements show that KDMP alters quartz’s characteristics more than magnesite. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests show that KDMP works on quartz and adsorbs solely on its surface, not on magnesite. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images revealed that the KDMP collector adsorbed exclusively on the quartz surface, forming a layer of adsorption structure, but was weak on the magnesite surface. As a result, the KDMP collector is a highly intriguing flotation collector that can efficiently separate magnesite from quartz while also introducing a new form of collector for the separation and purification of low-grade magnesite.

In Vivo Imaging Techniques for the Human Scalp: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Scalp inflammation and alopecia are distressing conditions for which patients regularly present to dermatology. Although some diagnoses can be made clinically, others require biopsy, which carries the risk of pain, infection, bleeding, and scarring. This review examines the existing literature regarding noninvasive in vivo imaging techniques and their evidence and utility in evaluating scalp pathology, with a focus on the diagnostics of hair conditions. A systematic literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines without timeframe restrictions. The PubMed and Clarivate (Web of Science) databases were searched using the terms ("imaging" OR "in-vivo imaging" OR "non-invasive imaging" OR "non-invasive in vivo imaging" "imaging," "in-vivo imaging) AND ("human scalp disorders" OR "scalp" OR "hair loss" OR "alopecia"). Peer-reviewed randomized control trials (RCTs), prospective studies, retrospective studies, and case series or reports discussing in vivo imaging of the scalp published before 2022 were selected. Forty-two studies were included and discussed; modalities included laser devices (n = 27), ultrasound (US) (n = 13), infrared thermography (n = 1), skin capacitance imaging (SCI), and ultraviolet light-enhanced visualization (ULEV) (n = 1). The most common laser devices used were reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), multiphoton microscopy (MPM), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). US techniques included high-frequency US (HFUS) and US biomicroscopy (UBM). Quality imaging of the scalp in the setting of alopecic, neoplastic, and inflammatory diseases is highly sought after. Many of these noninvasive imaging techniques show promise, each with individual advantages and disadvantages in imaging-specific conditions. Ultimately, noninvasive imaging techniques may be used to optimize patient management and minimize morbidity associated with scalp biopsies.

Efficient and Accurate Semi-Automatic Neuron Tracing with Extended Reality.

Neuron tracing, alternately referred to as neuron reconstruction, is the procedure for extracting the digital representation of the three-dimensional neuronal morphology from stacks of microscopic images. Achieving accurate neuron tracing is critical for profiling the neuroanatomical structure at single-cell level and analyzing the neuronal circuits and projections at whole-brain scale. However, the process often demands substantial human involvement and represents a nontrivial task. Conventional solutions towards neuron tracing often contend with challenges such as non-intuitive user interactions, suboptimal data generation throughput, and ambiguous visualization. In this paper, we introduce a novel method that leverages the power of extended reality (XR) for intuitive and progressive semi-automatic neuron tracing in real time. In our method, we have defined a set of interactors for controllable and efficient interactions for neuron tracing in an immersive environment. We have also developed a GPU-accelerated automatic tracing algorithm that can generate updated neuron reconstruction in real time. In addition, we have built a visualizer for fast and improved visual experience, particularly when working with both volumetric images and 3D objects. Our method has been successfully implemented with one virtual reality (VR) headset and one augmented reality (AR) headset with satisfying results achieved. We also conducted two user studies and proved the effectiveness of the interactors and the efficiency of our method in comparison with other approaches for neuron tracing.

Antibiotic profile classification of Proteus mirabilis using Machine Learning: An Investigation into Multidimensional Radiomics Features

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a significant threat to global healthcare. Proteus mirabilis causes catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and exhibits increased antibiotic resistance. Traditional diagnostics still rely on culture-based approaches, which remain time-consuming. Here, we study the use of machine learning (ML) to classify bacterial resistance profiles using straightforward microscopic imaging of P. mirabilis for resistance classification integrated with radiomics feature analysis and ML models.From 150 P. mirabilis strains isolated from catheters of patients diagnosed with a CAUTI, 30 % displayed multidrug resistance using the standardized disk diffusion method, and 60% showed strong biofilm activity in microtiter plate assays. As a more rapid alternative, we introduce wavelet-based and regular microscopy imaging with feature extraction/selection, following image preprocessing steps (image denoising, normalization, and mask creation). These features enable training and testing different ML models with 5-fold cross-validation for P. mirabilis resistance classification. From these models, the Random Forest (RF) algorithm exhibited the highest performance with ACC=0.95, specificity=0.97, sensitivity=0.88, and AUC=0.98 among the other ML algorithms considered in this study for P. mirabilis resistance classification.This successful application of wavelet-based feature Radiomics analysis with RF model represents a crucial step towards a precise, rapid, and cost-effective method to distinguish antibiotic resistant P. mirabilis strains.

Synthesis of cotton-like FeCoNi-Nd(OH)3 nanoparticles via reactive mechanical milling: Investigating chemical properties for cellular signaling applications

In this study, FeCoNi alloy nanoparticles were combined with Nd(OH)3 nanostructures to create unique cotton-like nanoparticles (C-NPs). These C-NPs were synthesized through an accessible, two-step reactive chemical milling process. The nanoparticles originated from a blend of metal chlorides (FeCl2, CoCl2, and NiCl2) and sodium (Na), used as a precursor in the reaction, within a SPEX milling apparatus. The Fe, Co, and Ni were maintained at equal weight percentages (1:1:1). Subsequently, NdCl3 and Na were utilized to facilitate the attachment of Nd(OH)3 nanostructures onto the FeCoNi nanoparticles through a solid-state reaction in the same SPEX milling setup. The Nd content was varied to investigate its effect on the integration of Nd(OH)3 onto the surface of CoNiFe nanoparticles. Electron microscopy revealed the formation of cotton-like nanoparticles, and the distribution of elements was identified using secondary ion mass spectrometry. The CoNiFe alloy and Nd(OH)3 phases were verified by X-ray diffraction analysis. These nanoparticles were internalized into cells via endocytosis, as observed in transmission electron microscopy images after incubation with the BT20 cell line (triple-negative breast cancer), likely due to interactions between –OH groups and the cell membrane. Following this, the cells containing C-NPs underwent photoluminescence studies, revealing two distinct emission peaks at 400 nm, and 486 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated the presence of various heterostructures within the FeCoNi-Nd(OH)3 complex, which may be responsible for these emission properties.

Detecting and evaluating surface defects in additive manufacturing composite materials via image processing technique

Purpose This study aims to offer an image-based robust edge detection system that can estimate, identify, locate and label surface flaws during manufacturing for real-time surface issue diagnostics. Of great concern, this methodology extrapolates surface defect information from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of composite fracture surfaces. This study predicts changes in topological intensity of composite fracture surfaces and display them as real-time surface intensity values for the first time. Design/methodology/approach This work, however, introduces a novel robust edge detection method – based image processing – as it is shown to be effective in locating defects, as measured by SEM images of composite fracture surfaces created using additive manufacturing (AM). SEM images, obtained in this study, are related to previous study considering the fracture surfaces of reinforced thermoset composites created via the AM method. These SEM images are of two types: fracture surface of AM of carbon fiber reinforced thermoset composites and fracture surface of AM of syntactic foam reinforced thermoset composites. Initially, MATLAB environment is used for analyzing the SEM images; the technique used, as well as the validity are explained more in the methodology section. Findings The robust surface defect inspection approach used herein is found to be capable of predicting, identifying, localizing and labeling surface defects during production, allowing for real-time surface issue diagnosis. Further, this work makes it possible to use image processing and analysis of these surfaces to anticipate fluctuations in the topological intensity of the fracture surfaces of composites and represent them as values of surface intensity in real time. Originality/value Rising worldwide company rivalry requires a fast, accurate component failure diagnostic method. To create an efficient feature set, a surface defect inspection system must identify product flaws in real time. Thus, this study proposed an image-based robust edge detection system – based on MATLAB environment – that is capable of estimating, identifying, locating and labeling surface faults during production. This paves the way for an extensive set of high-quality tools for dealing with a wide range of problems associated with digital image processing in composites. As a result, the ability to define methodologies and rapidly prototype prospective solutions typically minimizes the cost and time required to implement a successful system during the design phase of an image processing system.

Microstructure evolution of AlSi10Mg alloy in RAP process

Abstract With its computer-aided layer-by-layer production approach, additive manufacturing (AM) and powder bed laser fusion (PBLF) paved the way to produce metallic parts more precisely than any other manufacturing technique. However, the combinability and the interaction of this relatively new manufacturing technique with the other near-net shape production techniques is still a mystery. In this study, the recrystallization and partial melting (RAP) behavior, which is a feedstock production approach for semisolid forming methods, investigated on AlSi10Mg parts produced by PBLF and conventional casting were compared in terms of microstructural and hardness evaluations. After the reheating process, the globalization of Si particles and the breakdown of the Si network around the melt pools were displayed with light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The hardness values of the PBLF as-fabricated specimens were found to be significantly higher than the as-cast specimens; however, the values were almost equaled after the RAP treatment and even got lower on the bottom and top regions of the PBLF samples after 20 min of reheating because of the enlarged shrinkage porosities and the coarsened morphology.

Synthesis of Porous Carbons from Candlenut Shells Using Various Types of Activators for Environmentally Friendly Supercapacitors

Porous carbon is one of the promising electrode materials for supercapacitors due to its unique and engineerable microstructural properties. The study of the synthesis of porous carbon from waste biomass is very important due to the abundance of natural resources, low cost production and contribute to solving environmental problems. In this study, porous carbons derived from candlnut shell with various type of activator was studied the chemical structural, morphological and electrochemical properties then evaluated as electrodes for supercapacitor. We have been successfully synthesized of porous carbon from candlenut shells using three steps of the process, i.e.: carboni-zation, activation and calcination. Carbonization was carried out at 700°C in a furnace using a closed crucible to minimize the oxygen. The chemical activation conducted using three types of activators, i.e. ZnCl2, H3PO4 and KOH then calcination process by heated at 800°C for 1 h under Ar flow. The results of the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis show that the carbonization process increases the content of aromatic C=C functional groups and reduce the OH, C-H, C-O and C=O functional groups. The carbonization process has also increased the electrical conductivity of the sample around 0.8525 S/m. The results of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images can be observed that the activation process of carbon has formed which was indicated by the appearance of many pores on the surface area of carbon. N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)) characterization was indicated that the porous carbon is dominated by mesoporous with a pore size around 2-50 nm. BET characterization also can be determined the surface area of porous carbon around 477 m2/g for ZnCl2, 636 m2/g for H3PO4, and 681 m2/g for KOH. This synthesized materials are further employed in a symmetric supercapacitor using simple glass cell. The best performance of supercapacitor achieved by KOH porous carbons with 16.30 F/g of specific capacitance, 2.26 Wh/kg of energy density and 1038 W/kg of power density.

Decoupling actin assembly from microtubule disassembly by TBC1D3C-mediated direct GEF-H1 activation.

Actin and microtubules are essential cytoskeletal components and coordinate their dynamics through multiple coupling and decoupling mechanisms. However, how actin and microtubule dynamics are decoupled remains incompletely understood. Here, we identified TBC1D3C as a new regulator that can decouple actin filament assembly from microtubule disassembly. We showed that TBC1D3C induces the release of GEF-H1 from microtubules into the cytosol without perturbing microtubule arrays, leading to RhoA activation and actin filament assembly. Mechanistically, we found that TBC1D3C directly binds to GEF-H1, disrupting its interaction with the Tctex-DIC-14-3-3 complex and thereby displacing GEF-H1 from microtubules independently of microtubule disassembly. Super-resolution microscopy and live-cell imaging further confirmed that TBC1D3C triggers GEF-H1 release and actin filament assembly while maintaining microtubule integrity. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that TBC1D3C functions as a direct GEF activator and a novel regulator in decoupling actin assembly from microtubule disassembly, providing new insights into cytoskeletal regulation.

Characterization of Plasma Jet Treated Composite Chitosan with Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles Films

ABSTRACT The paper investigates the properties of polymer composite films comprised of chitosan and 1% hydroxyapatite nanoparticles following treatment with a plasma jet, using argon as the working gas. Hydroxyapatite is typically added to chitosan to enhance its mechanical properties. The study found that plasma jet treatment increases both the mechanical strength and elastic modulus of the films. Additionally, the treatment reduces the water contact angle (WCA) from 70° to 26°, indicating improved hydrophilicity от. FTIR spectroscopy results confirm that no new chemical bonds are formed during the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal the removal of amorphous regions in the polymer film post-treatment. This modification enhances the adhesion of human fetal mesenchymal stem cells (FetMSCs) to the film, suggesting that these treated films could be suitable for biomedical applications.