Preparation Method Research Articles

Advances in diagnostic liquid-based cytology.

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has changed the landscape of gynaecological cytology. A growing demand exists for LBC in diagnostic cytology, particularly for ancillary testing, such as immunocytochemistry and molecular testing. Ancillary testing solely based on conventional preparation (CP) methods remains challenging. Recently, the increased demand for specialist testing and minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopic ultrasonography fine-needle aspiration, to obtain cellular samples has led to an increasing demand for ancillary testing on cytology LBC supernatant, slides and cell block (CB). This facilitates the diagnosis and prognosis in cytology samples enabling personalized treatment. An understanding of the history and future prospects of LBC is crucial for its application in routine diagnostics by cytopathologists and cytotechnologists. In this review, we initiated an internet search using the keyword 'liquid-based cytology', and we conducted a literature review to discuss the usefulness of combined diagnosis of LBC and CP, immunocytochemistry and molecular testing and assessed the quality of nucleic acids in diagnostic LBC. High-quality and cell-rich diagnostic LBC surpassed the CP method alone in terms of reliability and versatility of ancillary testing in cytological diagnosis. Conclusively, diagnostic LBC lends itself to various new technologies and is expected to continue evolving with innovations in the future.

Construction of phosphatase-like COF-OMe@Valine-CeO2 nanozymes for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of organophosphorus pesticides

Construction of highly-active artificial nanozymes for pesticides detection has great significance of human health and ecological systems. Herein, we have successfully designed a two-step approach to synthesize the TAPB-DMTP-COF (hereafter denoted as COF-OMe, TAPB, 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene; DMTP, 2,5-dimethoxyterephaldehyde; COF, covalent organic framework)@Valine integrated cerium oxide nanozymes (COF-OMe@Valine-CeO2) with phosphatase-like activities, which can cleave phosphate bonds (PO) of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) for the formation of electroactive p-nitrophenol (p-NP). In detail, the Ce (IV)/Ce (III) species serve as the active sites to polarize and hydrolyze PO bond in OPs, and the excellent adsorption performance of porous COF-OMe toward OPs could promote the hydrolysis process of PO. Moreover, the efficient charge transfer at the covalent interface of COF-OMe@Valine-CeO2 also contributed to this excellent catalytic process. By virtue of those advantages, the COF-OMe@Valine-CeO2 electrochemical platform was successfully applied in methyl-paraoxon (MP) detection. The resulting electrochemical sensors displayed high sensitivity, a wide linear response range of 0.034–76 μmol/L, and low detection limits of 0.011 μmol/L for MP. The research not only provides a preparation method for COF with excellent nanozyme activity, but broadens some new insights for the design of highly efficient nanozymes for on-time detection for OPs.

Thermodynamic constitutive model for calcareous sand considering specimen preparation

Specimen preparation methods significantly affect indoor sand soil’s properties. A theoretical model was developed based on granular thermodynamics to describe the undrained shear characteristics of calcareous sand. We validated the model using specimens prepared through four different methods under various relative densities, stress paths, and confining pressures. The hardening index and granular temperature of this model effectively reflect the impact of specimen preparation methods on the strength characteristics of calcareous sand. The model successfully captured these differences in shear behavior resulting from four preparation methods by adjusting the hardening parameters. Furthermore, this model can accurately describe the influence of stress path changes on the mechanical responses of the calcareous sand granular system by incorporating the third elastic strain invariant.

Recent Advances in the Fabrication and Performance Optimization of Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Vascular Grafts.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a fast and effective treatment. More researchers are investigating in artificial blood vessels due to the limitations of autologous blood vessels. Despite the availability of large-diameter vascular grafts (Ø>6mm) for clinical use, small-diameter vascular grafts (Ø<6mm) have been a challenge for researchers to overcome in recent years. Vascular grafts made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA-based composites have excellent biocompatibility and mechanical characteristics. In order to gain a clearer and more specific understanding of the progress in PVA vascular graft research, particularly regarding the preparation methods, principles, and functionality of PVA vascular graft, this article discusses the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, blood compatibility, and other properties of PVA vascular graft prepared or enhanced with different blends using various techniques that mimic natural blood vessels. The findings reveal the feasibility and promising potential of PVA or PVA-based composite materials as vascular grafts.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis on the Road Bike Using Different Flow Models under Extreme Inlet Velocity

At high velocities, the aerodynamic forces acting on the road bike and rider become more pronounced, potentially affecting stability and control. Riders might experience increased resistance, requiring more effort to maintain balance and direction. This research employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to thoroughly examine the external aerodynamics of road bikes, focusing on pre-processing techniques and their impact on overall aerodynamic performance. The research applies CFD methods for geometry preparation, meshing, and material property definition within a structured workflow using a road bike model representative of the cycling industry via SimFlow software. Through systematic variations in extreme inlet velocities (40, 70, and 100 m/s) and the utilization of diverse turbulent models, k-ω Shear-Stress Transport (SST) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) with k-ε and k-ω, the study reveals intricate airflow patterns around the road bike. The results explain the complicated connection between turbulent models and inlet velocities and provide new information on critical aerodynamic parameters, such as pressure and maximum velocity of the road bike model.

Effect of polyelectrolyte structure on perchlorate adsorption performance by functionalized montmorillonite

Polyelectrolyte (with different unit structure or molecular weight) modified montmorillonite (PMt) was synthesized for perchlorate (ClO4-) removal. It was found polyelectrolytes were successfully loaded on montmorillonite (Mt), and the surface potential of most PMt changed from negative to positive. Polyelectrolyte desorption on Mt was < 10 % after 48 h. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) species modified montmorillonite (PDDAx-Mt) showed excellent adsorption performance for ClO4- with maximum adsorption amount over 2.78 mmol/g and equilibrium time within 10 min. The adsorption performance of PMt toward ClO4- followed this order: PDDAx-Mt > CH-Mt > PAM-Mt > PQ28-Mt. Moreover, PDDAx-Mt and CH-Mt showed a superior adsorption selectivity to ClO4- among competitive oxyanions in the quaternary-adsorbate system (ClO4- > PO43- > SO42- > NO3–). The enhanced ClO4- adsorption could be mainly attributed to the presence of anion exchange sites (−R4N+-Cl− or –NH3+-Cl−) provided by PDDA or CH, followed by electrostatic gravitation and weak hydrogen bonding interaction. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed that ClO4- adsorbed on PMt is a process of electrons transferring from O atoms in ClO4- to H atoms on C in PDDA+ or N in CH+, PAM+ and PQ28+. The preparation method of PMt is simple with excellent adsorption performance and selectivity toward ClO4-, suggesting promising applications in anion wastewater treatment.

The impact of different fixatives on immunostaining of lung adenocarcinomas in pleural effusion cell blocks.

Cell blocks (CBs) are widely used for biomarker analyses such as immunostaining. Although immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues is standardized, there are multiple preparation methods and fixatives for cytology. Our objective was to investigate the effect of different common fixatives on the immunoreactivity of pleural effusion CBs with metastatic lung adenocarcinomas. This prospective study included 24 malignant pleural effusions from different patients with lung adenocarcinoma. From each case, four identical CBs were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, PreservCyt, CytoLyt, and CytoRich Red (only 17 of the cases), respectively. Samples containing <100 malignant cells were excluded. All CBs were stained with thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1; clones 8G7G3/1 and SPT24), napsin A, claudin 4, CEA, CK7, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM; clones BS14, Ber-Ep4, and MOC-31). The fraction and intensity of stained cells were evaluated. Of the investigated markers, a significant difference in staining proportion was seen for TTF-1 clone 8G7G3/1 and EpCAM clone MOC-31, especially with cases being negative in CytoLyt (33.3% and 83.3% positive, respectively) and PreservCyt (62.5% and 83.3%) whereas being positive in CytoRich Red (76.5% and 94.1%) and formalin (both 95.8%). A significantly weaker intensity of staining was seen for all alcohol-based fixatives compared to formalin for TTF-1 clone 8G7G3/1, napsin A, and EpCAM clone MOC-31, whereas EpCAM clone Ber-Ep4 was significantly weaker only in PreservCyt compared with formalin. Immunocytochemical expression and concordance with formalin-fixed CBs differ depending on the used fixative as well as the antibody and clone, warranting investigation of the reliability of each biomarker for non-formalin-fixed cytology.

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of respiratory system disorders in the Southeast region of Morocco

The use of medicinal plants in primary healthcare in Africa, especially among populations in developing countries, is a common practice. To identify the most commonly used medicinal plants in traditional medicine for treating common respiratory disorders, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Draa Tafilalet region, South-Eastern Morocco, involving 235 herbalists and sellers of medicinal plants from three provinces (Errachidia, Tinghir, and Zagora). Ethnobotanical data were evaluated using use value (UV), frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and family importance value (FIV). The survey identified a total of 76 species belonging to 39 families, with the most represented being Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae, followed by Fabaceae. As for the most commonly used species against respiratory disorders, they include Origanum vulgare L. (UV = 0.413), Artemisia herba-alba (UV = 0.370), Foeniculum vulgare (UV = 0.357), Thymus vulgaris (UV = 0.332), Lavandula dentata (UV = 0.319), Matricaria chamomilla (UV = 0.311), Nigella sativa (UV = 0.302), Allium sativum L. (UV = 0.298), Eucalyptus globulus (UV = 0.289), and Plantago major L. (UV= 0.281). Decoction (48.68%) and infusion (47.37%) are the most recommended preparation methods by herbalists for remedies. Leaves are the most prescribed part, while the majority of plants are exclusively administered orally (92.11%). This ethnobotanical survey holds the potential to aid scientists and researchers in identifying plants that treat common respiratory disorders, potentially invaluable for the development of novel drugs.

Leveraging novel microwave techniques for tailoring the microstructure of energy storage materials

In the dynamic landscape of energy storage materials, the demand for efficient microstructural engineering has surged, driven by the imperative to seamlessly integrate renewable energy. Traditional material preparation methods encounter challenges such as poor controllability, high costs, and stringent operational conditions. The advent of microwave techniques heralds a transformative shift, offering rapid responses, high-temperature energy, and superior controllability. This review critically examines the nuanced applications of microwave technology in tailoring the microstructure of energy storage materials, emphasizing its pivotal role in the energy paradigm and addressing challenges posed by conventional methods. Notably, non-liquid-phase advanced microwave technology holds promise for introducing novel models and discoveries compared to traditional liquid-phase microwave methods. The ensuing discussion explores the profound impact of advanced microwave strategies on microstructural engineering, highlighting discernible advantages in optimizing performance for energy storage applications. Various applications of advanced microwave techniques in this domain are comprehensively discussed, providing a forward-looking perspective on their untapped potential to propel transformative strides in renewable energy research. This review offers insights into the promising future of leveraging microwaves for tailoring the microstructure of energy storage materials.

Progress on Microwave Absorption Performance of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites

AbstractThe current electromagnetic environment exhibits a growing demand for efficient microwave‐absorbing materials. Developing multifunctional and efficient wave‐absorbing materials poses a challenging research hotspot. Numerous researchers have dedicated their efforts to developing high‐performance broadband wave‐absorbing materials with outstanding mechanical properties. Utilizing carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) for electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) is a rapidly evolving field. Carbon fiber‐based EMA composites are characterized by high dielectric loss, high thermal stability, and low density, enabling them to achieve EMA properties while meeting mechanical property requirements. This review summarizes the principles of electromagnetic EMA, focusing on dielectric and magnetic losses, the preparation methods of CFRP, such as organic polymer synthesis, chemical vapor deposition, and vacuum forming processes, as well as their underlying principles. It also evaluates the research progress on the EMA properties of CFRP composites, particularly highlighting CFRP matrix modification and coating treatment. Finally, the challenges of CFRP EMA and potential future development directions are discussed. This analysis offers multiple recommendations for future researchers.

Enhancing photocatalytic g-C3N4/PVDF membranes through new insights into the preparation methods

Fibrous membranes are crucial on the filtration of pollutants from air and water, but continued use can lead to a failure in effectiveness due to pollutant accumulation. To enhance durability, incorporating photocatalytic submicroparticles into these membranes appear as a solution.Here, we prepared a set of polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) fibrous membranes modified with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) using three different methodologies. Their photocatalytic efficiency was investigated using phenol as model pollutant compound under visible light irradiation.Using g-C3N4 fibrous membranes modified by electrospinning blend a pseudo first-order kinetic constant (kapp) of 2.51 × 10-4 min-1 was observed for phenol degradation after 240 min reaction. Despite minimal particle adhesion the thermal treatment increased kapp to 5.41 × 10-4 min-1. The membranes prepared via chemical activation of PVDF exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity (kapp of 21.7 × 10-4 min-1). This superior activity was attributed to covalent bonds between PVDF and g-C3N4, allowing the formation of oxidative species.

Characterization and preparation of food-derived peptides on improving osteoporosis: A review

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of the microstructure of bone tissue, leading to an increased risk of fragility fractures and affecting human health worldwide. Food-derived peptides are widely used in functional foods due to their low toxicity, ease of digestion and absorption, and potential to improve osteoporosis. This review summarized and discussed methods of diagnosing osteoporosis, treatment approaches, specific peptides as alternatives to conventional drugs, and the laboratory preparation and identification methods of peptides. It was found that peptides interacting with RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid)-binding active sites in integrin could alleviate osteoporosis, analyzed the interaction sites between these osteogenic peptides and integrin, and further discussed their effects on improving osteoporosis. These may provide new insights for rapid screening of osteogenic peptides, and provide a theoretical basis for their application in bone materials and functional foods.

Preparation method and industrialization of Ta-based ultra high temperature ceramic Tujia jar tea baking jar materials

The production materials of traditional Tujia jar tea often face problems such as poor high-temperature performance and poor durability. To improve the temperature resistance and durability of tea baking utensils, this study proposes a new type of TaC ultra-high temperature ceramic. TaC ceramics with excellent performance were prepared through powder metallurgy technology, including high-energy ball milling to ensure uniform mixing, followed by compression molding and high-temperature sintering. The test results demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, with a maximum depth of 948.67 nm and a contact depth of 954.45 nm, proving outstanding compressive and wear resistance. The hardness reached 21.4±0.5 Gpa, and the elastic modulus was 397.2±8.7 Gpa, both of which indicate its stability under high loads. In addition, the fracture toughness was 2.8±0.2 Mpa*m1/2. At a high temperature environment of 1000 °C, the oxidation rate constant of TaC ceramics was only 0.183 mg2 *cm−4 *h, which demonstrates its excellent high-temperature stability. The development of this TaC ceramic not only strengthened the traditional production process of Tujia teapots and tea roasting teapots, thereby improving the product’s service life, but also holds potential for other industrial applications that demand ultra-high temperature stability. These contributions provide new directions for the high-temperature application of ceramic materials and bring tangible economic and technological value to related industries.

Two-dimensional MXene Nanomaterials: Preparation, Structure Modulation and the Applications in Electrochemical Energy Storage.

MXenes have attracted intensive attention owing to their unique twodimensional (2D) layered structure, high specific surface area, excellent conductivity, superior surface hydrophilicity, and chemical stability. In recent years, selective etching of the A element layers from MAX phases by fluorine-containing etchants (HF, LiF-HCl, etc) is a common method to prepare multilayered MXene nanomaterials (NMs) with plentiful surface terminations. At present, many studies have been reported on the use of fluorine-free etchants (NaOH, ZnCl2, etc) to etch MAX phases. The properties of MXene NMs are dependent on their structures. The purpose of this review is to focus on a comprehensive and systematical survey on the preparation, structure modulation, and applications of MXene NMs in electrochemical energy storage devices, including supercapacitors, lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion battery, potassium-ion battery, and aluminum-ion battery. Extensive information related to the preparation and applications of 2D MXene NMs for electrochemical energy storage and their associated patents were collected. This review highlights the recently reported 2D MXene NMs which are used in supercapacitor and various metal ion. It is found that the preparation methods have great impacts on the layer spacing and surface terminations of MXenes, consequently affecting their performance. Hence, this paper summarizes the research progress of the preparation strategies, layer spacing and surface termination modulation of MXene NMs. The applications of 2D MXene NMs in electrochemical energy storage are outlined. The forward-looking challenges and prospects for the development of MXenes are also proposed.

Impact of Centrifugation Parameters on Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Patella Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a chronic, degenerative form of tendinitis commonly affecting young, active individuals. Numerous nonsurgical treatments exist, of which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a frontrunner. However, heterogeneity among various PRP preparation techniques results in a large variation in treatment efficacy. This review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the effect of PRP centrifugation factors, specifically centrifuge speed and duration, on functional outcomes in patients with PT. A systematic search of the literature was performed in April 2024 on Medline and Embase. Articles involving the use of PRP in the treatment of PT were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2; the Cochrane Collaboration, England, UK) and Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Intervention (ROBINS-I; the Cochrane Collaboration, England, UK) tools. Comparative meta-analysis between the different centrifugation speeds and the different centrifugation durations was performed on articles reporting Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Patellar tendon (VISA-P) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for PT. Seventeen studies consisting of 360 participants were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up duration was 13.2 months (95% CI: 8.81 to 17.7). The mean VAS reduction was 3.85 (95% CI: -4.63 to -3.08; P < 0.01). VISA-P scores improved by 32.03 (95% CI: 24.29 to 39.78; P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between centrifuge speeds for VAS (P = 0.17) and VISA-P (P = 0.18) and between centrifuge durations for VAS (P = 0.25) and VISA-P (P = 0.27). Centrifuge speed and duration and number of centrifuge cycles did not show any significant differences in patient outcomes. There were no significant differences observed in outcomes for the different preparations of PRP. There remains a need for further high-quality RCTs using standardized PRP preparations with long-term follow-up for the development of a consensus method of PRP preparation for the treatment of PT.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Local Herbalists and Traditional Healers for the Treatment of Cancer in Jordan

Background: As many Jordanians include herbs in their treatment, an ethnopharmacological survey was conducted to identify the most prescribed plants for the treatment of cancer by local herbalists and traditional healers in Jordan, aiming to encourage the prescription that is based on scientific evidence, to tackle some important practices in traditional healing, and to provide candidates for the isolation of new anticancer agents. Methods: Thirty-two Jordanian herbalists and traditional healers were interviewed. Both the use value and frequency of citation were implemented as quantitative methods to demonstrate the relative importance of a chosen species for the treatment of cancer. Furthermore, literature was screened for evidences that supported or opposed the use of the plants of interest Results: It was revealed that 31 plants are currently used in Jordan for the treatment of cancer, with Curcuma longa and Ephedra foeminea being the most used ones. Conclusions: It was noticed that the use of many prescribed plants could be rationalised by in vitro and/or in vivo studies. However, more attention should be paid by practitioners to some important aspects, such as the method of use and preparation of plants, their interaction with chemotherapeutic agents and the differences in their efficacy against different cancer types.

Activation of peroxydisulfate by zero valent iron-carbon composites prepared by carbothermal reduction: Enhanced non-radical and radical synergies

Since its application in environmental remediation, nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) has gained wide attention for its environmental friendliness, strong reducing ability, and wide range of raw materials. However, its high preparation cost and difficulty in preservation remain the bottlenecks for their application. Carbothermal reduction is a promising method for the industrial preparation of nZVI. Micronized zero-valent iron/carbon materials (Fe0/CB) were produced in one step by co-pyrolysis of carbon and iron. The performance of the Fe0/CB is comparable to that of nZVI. In addition, Fe0/CB overcomed the disadvantages of agglomeration and oxidative deactivation of nZVI. Experiments on the Fenton-like reaction of its activated PDS showed that metronidazole (MNZ) was efficiently removed through the synergistic action of radicals and non-radicals, which were mainly superoxide radicals (·O2−), monoclinic oxygen (1O2), and high-valent iron (FeIVO). Moreover, the degradation process showed better generalization, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in the degradation of antibiotics.

Selection of Suitable Methods for Sample Preparation and Desorbing Agents for Determination of Nutrient Contents in Scots Pine Roots

Selection of Suitable Methods for Sample Preparation and Desorbing Agents for Determination of Nutrient Contents in Scots Pine Roots

High-throughput Proteomics-Guided Biomarker Discovery of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer stands as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprises approximately 85%-90% of all primary liver malignancies. However, only 20-30% of HCC patients qualify for curative therapy, primarily due to the absence of reliable tools for early detection and prognosis of HCC. This underscores the critical need for molecular biomarkers for HCC management. Since proteins reflect disease status directly, proteomics has been utilized in biomarker developments for HCC. In particular, proteomics coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) methods facilitate the process of discovering biomarker candidates for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies.In this work, we investigated LC-MS-based proteomics methods through recent reference reviews, with a particular focus on sample preparation and LC-MS methods appropriate for the discovery of HCC biomarkers and their clinical applications.We classified proteomics studies of HCC according to sample types, and we examined the coverage of protein biomarker candidates based on LC-MS methods in relation to study scales and goals. Comprehensively, we proposed protein biomarker candidates categorized by sample types and biomarker types for appropriate clinical use.In this review, we summarized recent LC-MS-based proteomics studies on HCC and proposed potential protein biomarkers. Our findings are expected to expand the understanding of HCC pathogenesis and enhance the efficiency of HCC diagnosis and prognosis, thereby contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Effect of method of preparation of Ni and/or Cu supported on ZSM-5 catalysts for the aqueous phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone

A series of Cu and Ni supported on ZSM-5 catalysts were synthesized by ion exchange (IE) and impregnation (IMP) techniques and examined for the aqueous phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) at atmospheric pressure. Hydrogenation of LA to GVL proceeds through LA dehydration to AL (angelica lactone) and subsequent hydrogenation of it to GVL, emphasizing the combined role of an acid and a metal site present on the catalyst surface. The interaction of Cu and/or Ni with ZSM-5 was elucidated using various characterization techniques such as powder XRD, XPS, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, CO and/or H2 pulse chemisorption and SS NMR techniques. The CO chemisorption results indicated a lower uptake on Cu-ZSM-5(IMP) than on Cu-ZSM-5(IE). The H2 uptake was lower on Ni-ZSM-5(IE) than on Ni-ZSM-5(IMP). In the comparative analysis, the Ni-ZSM-5(IMP) catalyst exhibited a high rate of GVL formation, while the Cu-ZSM-5(IE) catalyst displayed a larger proportion of AL formation than the other catalysts prepared under similar protocols. The influence of the surface active sites on the product distribution was rationalized based on the physico-chemical characteristics of the fresh and reduced catalysts.