Size Structure Research Articles

PfCSP-ferritin nanoparticle malaria vaccine antigen formulated with aluminum-salt and CpG 1018® adjuvants: Preformulation characterization, antigen-adjuvant interactions, and mouse immunogenicity studies

ABSTRACT Circumsporozite protein (CSP), the most abundant surface protein in parasitic Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoite and an attractive target for malaria vaccine design, has been shown to induce protective humoral response in humans. In this work, we characterized and formulated a promising recombinant PfCSP immunogen (155) candidate consisting of two PfCSP epitopes (i.e. junction, NANP repeat) fused to H. pylori apoferritin forming a 24-mer nanoparticle. In addition, two N-linked glycans were engineered to mitigate possible anti-apoferritin immune responses, and a universal T-cell epitope was included to further enhance immunogenicity. Physicochemical characterization of the 155 antigen was performed including primary structure, post-translational modifications, conformational stability, and particle size. A competitive ELISA was developed to assess antigen binding to a PfCSP-specific mAb. The in vitro antigenicity of the 155 antigen was measured upon formulation with adjuvants, including aluminum-salts (i.e. AlhydrogelTM, Adju-PhosTM) and the TLR-9 agonist CpG 1018®, when freshly combined and after storage at different temperatures over 3 months. The in vivo immunological impact of various adjuvanted formulations of the 155 antigen was investigated in mice. The results support the formulation of 155 with AlhydrogelTM + CpG 1018® adjuvants as a promising recombinant malaria vaccine candidate from both a pharmaceutical and immunological perspective.

Green water loads on prismatic obstacles

Green water loads on prismatic obstacles (representing topside structures) mounted on the raised deck of a simplified vessel are investigated using computational fluid dynamics simulations and physical model testing with emphasis on examining different structure shapes, orientation angles and relative structure size. For each scenario investigated, several flow features are identified that characterize the green water interaction with the structure and influence loads, namely delayed flow diversion, formation of a vertical jet, scattered wave formation and the development of complex wake patterns. Comparing across structures, these interactions are more pronounced for blunt objects, and the associated force impulse is larger. For example, a cube with flow at normal incidence is found to experience approximately twice the force impulse of a circular cylinder of the same projected area. Equally, rotation of the cube leads to reduced run-up height and streamwise force on the structure. To explain these trends, a theoretical model based on Newtonian flow theory is adopted. This model provides an estimate of the streamwise force exerted on obstacles in high-Froude-number flows and shows good agreement with the numerical results when the flow is supercritical, shallow (small water depth relative to structure width) and the structure is tall (large structure height relative to water depth). Despite some limitations, the model should provide an efficient force prediction tool for practical use in design.

Prediction of Shear Strength in Anisotropic Structural Planes Considering Size Effects

It is essential to elucidate the shear mechanical behavior of structural planes to assess the risk to rock masses and protect them from shear failure. Current research on shear mechanical behavior is focused on isotropic structural planes with the same lithology on both sides. However, anisotropic structural planes, commonly found in nature, may exhibit unique mechanical behavior that differs from isotropic structural planes. Therefore, it is necessary to study the factors affecting the shear strength of the anisotropic structural planes. In this paper, the direct shear numerical tests on anisotropic structural planes were carried out using the three-dimensional distinct element code (3DEC) based on the laboratory test. The numerical test results illustrate that the error between the peak shear strength of the numerical test and the laboratory test is basically within 10%. The shear stress-displacement curves of the numerical and laboratory tests are similar, which verifies the accuracy of the numerical test. According to the Barton standard sections, anisotropic structural plane models with different roughness and size were established, and the direct shear numerical tests with different normal stresses were carried out. To predict the peak shear strength of the anisotropic structural planes, one hundred and eighty-one sets of direct shear numerical test data were selected. Normal stress, roughness, compressive strength of soft and hard rock masses, basic friction angle of soft and hard rock masses, and structural plane size were used as input parameters to establish a back propagation (BP) neural network model. The research results show that, under identical conditions, the shear strength of the anisotropic structural planes decreases as the structural plane size increases. On the contrary, the shear strength increases with the increasing structural plane roughness and normal stress. For the BP neural network prediction model, the root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) of the training set are 0.441 and 0.957. For the test set, the RMSE is 0.489, and R2 is 0.947, which indicates that the predicted values are in good agreement with the actual values.

Fine-scale population structure and widespread conservation of genetic effect sizes between human groups across traits.

Understanding genetic differences between populations is essential for avoiding confounding in genome-wide association studies and improving polygenic score (PGS) portability. We developed a statistical pipeline to infer fine-scale Ancestry Components and applied it to UK Biobank data. Ancestry Components identify population structure not captured by widely used principal components, improving stratification correction for geographically correlated traits. To estimate the similarity of genetic effect sizes between groups, we developed ANCHOR, which estimates changes in the predictive power of an existing PGS in distinct local ancestry segments. ANCHOR infers highly similar (estimated correlation 0.98 ± 0.07) effect sizes between UK Biobank participants of African and European ancestry for 47 of 53 quantitative phenotypes, suggesting that gene-environment and gene-gene interactions do not play major roles in poor cross-ancestry PGS transferability for these traits in the United Kingdom, and providing optimism that shared causal mutations operate similarly in different populations.

Generational variations in wellbeing: suicide rates, cohort characteristics, and national socio-political context over seven decades

Abstract Over recent decades, the relative wellbeing of younger birth cohorts declined in many western countries, indicating growing generational inequality. Building on Durkheimian theory, this paper examines explanations for these changes, hypothesizing that differences in cohort wellbeing are related to variations in social integration associated with birth cohorts and national socio-political contexts. Age–period-specific suicide rates of men and women from 1950 to 2020 in 19 highly developed western nations, including 26 birth cohorts, born from 1875 to 2004, are examined using estimable function analysis and age–period–cohort characteristic (APCC) models. Cohort variations in wellbeing are significantly greater in English-speaking nations, which have traditionally provided less institutionalized support and social integration than continental European nations. Age-specific suicide rates are larger for cohorts with childhood demographic characteristics associated with less social integration (relative cohort size and family structure). Major historical events associated with social integration in formative years of late adolescence and young adulthood also influence cohort wellbeing, with higher age-specific rates for cohorts experiencing the Great Depression of the 1930s and health pandemics of the early 20th and 21st centuries and lower rates for those experiencing periods of war and national conflict. However, the magnitude of these associations is strongly influenced by socio-political context. Negative effects of cohort characteristics are muted and positive effects are enhanced in the continental nations. In addition, patterns of associations vary by age and gender. Results remain with strong controls for the pace of change, additional measures of national context, and sensitivity analyses.

Implementasi Faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi Nilai Perusahaan

This study aims to determine empirical evidence of factors that influence firm value. The dependent variable of this research is firm value. Meanwhile, the independent variables of this research are profitability, leverage, capital structure, firm growth, and firm size. This research is quantitative research using secondary data. The sample in this research is non-cyclical consumer sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) for the 2019-2023 period. The sampling technique used a purposive sampling method and there were 143 samples that met the criteria during the 5 research periods. The data analysis technique used in this research is a multiple linear regression analysis technique using SPSS 25. The results of this research show that profitability and capital structure have an effect on firm value, while leverage, firm growth, and firm size have no effect on firm value.

A nonautonomous model for the impact of toxicants on size-structured aquatic populations: Well-posedness and long-term dynamics.

Mathematical models have played a crucial role in understanding and assessing the impacts of toxicants on populations. However, many existing population-toxicant interaction models are physically unstructured and represented by autonomous systems, assuming all individuals are identical and model parameters are constant over time. In this paper, we develop a nonautonomous model describing the interaction between a size-structured population and an unstructured toxicant in a polluted aquatic ecosystem. This model allows us to investigate the influence of size- and time-dependent individual vital rates (growth, reproduction, and mortality), time-varying toxicant input and degradation, and size-specific sensitivity of individuals to toxicants on population persistence. We establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions for this model using the monotone method, based on a comparison principle. We then analyze how time- and size-dependent parameters affect the long-term population dynamics. Specifically, we derive conditions on these parameters that lead to either extinction or persistence of the population. We provide a comparative analysis of numerical solutions between our size-structured model and an unstructured model with size-averaged parameters, emphasizing the significance of incorporating size structure when evaluating the effects of toxicants on populations.

Evaluation of the impact of hollow fiber pore size and membrane material on virus concentration using a handheld hollow fiber method.

Virus concentration using hollow fibers is widely used for vaccine production to maintain viral infectivity with low shear stress and to allow for easier scale-up of production. However, research laboratories often have limited available viral materials at the early stage of vaccine development, making it difficult to find an optimal hollow-fiber. In addition, few research articles have reported on optimizing hollow fiber pore size and membrane structure for virus concentration. In this study, the previously established handheld hollow fiber virus concentration method was modified to reduce the sample volume required and to enable simple and easy hollow fiber screening. The handheld hollow fiber screening method for virus concentration was confirmed to be effective using Zika as a model virus.

CSPDAE: Colorization via SuperPixel Downsampler Denoising AutoEncoder towards enhanced color structural clarity

Based on the various structural textures, sizes, and shapes of the gray image, the SuperPixel (SP)-based methods convert the rigid pixels into adaptable image patches that share common features. As a result, the SP-based colorization technique not only enhances the color appearance but also preserves the topological integrity of the images. Despite the effectiveness of neural network-based colorization methods, their integration with SP segmentation has traditionally been complex and cumbersome. To address this issue, we propose the Colorization SP Downsampler Denoising AutoEncoder (CSPDAE), where the SP downsampler integrates SP segmentation directly into the network, eliminating the need for any prior input. The SP downsampler addresses the challenges of computational complexity and small region clustering, which are the main obstacles preventing Transformer architectures from being applied to pixel-level segmentation, through the use of SP cross-attention and aggregated positional embedding (APE). Furthermore, we have incorporated a Color Weight (CW) loss, based on the CIEDE2000 color difference formula, to ensure balanced pixel sampling and to improve the precision of detailed color representation. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of our method, demonstrating its capacity to produce colors with greater structural accuracy and visually appealing details.

Thiol-Assisted Regulated Electronic Structure of Ultrafine Pd-based Catalyst for Superior Formic Acid Electrooxidation Performances

In order to further boost the electrocatalytic performances of small organic molecule oxidation and maintain the structure stability of Pd-based catalyst during long cycle, a new ligand compound (i.e. propanethiol) was introduced into the Pd/C anode catalyst to prepared Pd/C-SH catalyst by two main steps of propanethiol adsorbed on Vulcan XC-72 carbon (C-SH) by water bath impregnation method and Pd nanoparticles anchored on the functionalized C-SH support by improved liquid reduction method. Results showed that the Pd nanoparticles with high dispersion in Pd/C-SH catalyst were obtained and their particle size distribution was in the range of 1.6-4.8nm. Moreover, Pd particle size became smaller with the modification of propanethiol, indicating that propanethiol could facilitate the formation of smaller Pd. Electrochemical measurements showed that the mass activity of Pd/C-SH (1229mAmg-1) was 4.6 times that of Pd/C (267mAmg-1) towards formic acid oxidation. Higher stability (30 times higher than Pd/C) and more faster charge transfer kinetics of oxidation reaction were also recorded for Pd/C-SH catalyst. The enhancement of electrochemical performances of Pd/C-SH catalyst might be related to highly dispersed Pd with reduced particle size, adjusted electronic structure of Pd as well as maintained stable Pd structure and particle size.

Multistage microfluidic assisted Co-Delivery platform for dual-agent facile sequential encapsulation.

The integration of multiple therapeutic agents within a single nano-drug carrier holds promise for advancing anti-tumor therapies, despite challenges posed by their diverse physicochemical properties. This study introduces a novel multi-stage microfluidic co-encapsulation platform designed to address these challenges. By carefully orchestrating the nano-precipitation process sequence, this platform achieves sequential encapsulation of two drugs with markedly different physicochemical characteristics. Using the multi-stage microfluidic TrH chip, hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) loaded with paclitaxel (PTX)-simvastatin (SV), PTX-lenvatinib (LV), and SV-LV were synthesized. Unlike conventional Bulk methods and existing commercial microfluidic Tesla and Baffle chips, the HNPs produced here exhibit a core-shell structure and uniform particle size distribution, crucial for enhancing drug delivery efficacy. Notably, this method achieves nearly 100 % encapsulation efficiency for both drugs across a dual-drug feed ratio range from 1:4 to 4:1. Drug loading efficiencies were quantified for PTX-SV/HNPs (14.97 ± 1.19 %), PTX-LV/HNPs (16.58 ± 0.69 %), and SV-LV/HNPs (19.21 ± 2.38 %). PTX-SV/HNPs demonstrated sequential release characteristics of SV and PTX, as confirmed by in vitro drug release experiments. Significantly, PTX-SV/HNPs exhibited superior cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells compared to individual PTX and SV treatments, underscoring their potential in cancer therapy. In conclusion, the developed multi-stage microfluidic platform represents a robust strategy for co-encapsulating drugs with substantial physicochemical disparities, thereby offering a promising avenue for advancing multi-drug delivery in nanomedicine applications.

Micro-encapsulation of oat oil using OSA starch with varying crystal structure and particle size: a study on the encapsulation properties and in vitro release behavior

Micro-encapsulation of oat oil using OSA starch with varying crystal structure and particle size: a study on the encapsulation properties and in vitro release behavior

Micromechanics-informed cohesive fracture analysis of UHPC with emphasis on the combined effect of structural size and fiber content

Micromechanics-informed cohesive fracture analysis of UHPC with emphasis on the combined effect of structural size and fiber content

Participatory Evaluation of ‘<i>Irorunde</i>’, A Prototype Drum Oven for Traditional Fish Smoking in Nigeria: A Case Study of Knowledge Co-Production and Inclusive Innovation

In Nigeria, traditional fish smoking methods predominantly utilize firewood as an energy source, which presents sustainability challenges. Improved fish smoking techniques face low popularity owing to considerable obstacles hindering adoption by fishers involved in fish smoking and development by inventors. This study explored the benefits, challenges and social acceptance of a modern drum oven prototype by fisheres engaged in fish smoking. Against this backdrop, Participatory Action Research (PAR) was conducted using a prototype kiln using carbonized biomass briquettes (CBB) in traditional fish smoking drum ovens. Fishers involved in fish smoking performed evaluations of the prototype, and their perceptions regarding the characteristics of innovation were utilized to assess their willingness to adopt the prototype. The WhatsApp platform was used to share information and promote peer-to-peer learning. The PAR and evaluations by the fishers led to improvements in the design, construction and performance outputs of the prototype. The fishers agreed that CBB was economical and was a cleaner energy source, facilitating social acceptance and the adoption of the prototype as a substitute for the local drum. The portable size, quality and aesthetic structure also contributed to the adoption of the prototype. In conclusion, the prototype became a socio-economic tool that has encouraged the use of CBB in fish smoking with improved financial and health benefits of the fishers engaged in fish smoking. Local technologies must incorporate inclusive innovation and gender-responsive approaches to facilitate implementation and adoption, thereby improving benefits and well-being of the fishers.

3D-Printed High-Entropy Alloy Nanoarchitectures.

System miniaturization is a key driver in developing nanoelectromechanical systems, sensors, and microchips. To enhance reliability and extend operational lifetimes, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as promising materials due to their exceptional mechanical robustness and thermal stability. These advantageous properties are predominantly demonstrated in bulk HEA forms; however, research on small-dimensional HEAs is largely confined to nanoparticles, nanopillars, and thin films, limiting their broader applications in nanodevice systems. This study introduces nanoarchitectured HEAs that exhibit remarkable mechanical and thermal properties. Using a custom-designed 3D nanoprinter, HEA nanoparticles are printed in situ into complex nanoarchitectures, enabling flexible elemental combinations and freeform 3D geometries. Structural dimensions and grain size are precisely controlled as design parameters to synergistically leverage the benefits of alloying, size scaling, and architectural design. The resulting 3D-printed HEA nanoarchitectures demonstrate ultrahigh strength (≈4GPa), outstanding toughness, and exceptional thermal stability. These properties position nano-architectured HEAs as a novel class of materials suitable for high-stress, high-toughness applications in small-dimensional devices. By combining the versatility of 3D nanoprinting with the expansive alloy design space of HEAs, this approach paves the way for their potential integration into futurenanodevices.

Investigation and evaluation of palygorskite microstructure following acid pretreatment and its potential use as an adsorbent for copper

Palygorskite exhibits distinctive morphological and textural characteristics due to its fibrous and micropore nature. This research experimentally investigates the microstructure of palygorskite and how acid treatment changes the fibrous shape and ability to adsorb. Acetic and hydrochloric acid were used to study the effect of acid on palygorskite fibrous morphology. The effect of several factors, including acid type, hydrochloric acid concentration, mixing time, and temperature, on the efficiency of palygorskite in removing Cu was also studied. Different analytical techniques were used: scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, particle size distribution, and zeta potential. Results illustrated that acetic acid effectively dispersed fibre aggregates, creating voids within the fibrous structure and reducing particle size while keeping the shape of the fiber. Hydrochloric acid led to varying degrees of structural changes. A concentration of 0.5, 1, and 2 M dispersed the fibre agglomerates and increased positive surface charge. Formation of an amorphous silica phase at 4 and 6 M, accompanied by a reduction in positive zeta potential. In general, acid pretreatment kept the morphology of the palygorskite fibre; however, 6 M HCl induced microfractures and roughness on the fibre rod. At room temperature and with a mixing time of one hour, the adsorption capacity of raw palygorskite for Cu was 298.4 ppm, while that of acetic acid pretreated palygorskite was 277.2 ppm. The primary decrease in Cu concentration occurred following palygorskite treatment with 0.5 M HCl to 212 ppm.

The size-fractionated composition of particulate biogenic silica and its ecological significance in the Changjiang Estuary area

The concentrations and distributions of particulate biogenic silica (PBSi) and its Q7 size-fractionated composition (>20 μm, 0.8–20 μm) of the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent area were investigated during the summer of 2011. PBSi, primarily produced by diatoms in the surface waters of oceans, was examined for correlations with hydrographic conditions, nutrients, particulate organic carbon, and dissolved oxygen. The distribution of PBSi showed distinct patterns: high levels in nearshore, but relatively low further offshore; low concentrations in the surface layer, whereas relatively high concentrations in the bottom layer. Large-sized PBSi (>20 μm) prevailed in the surface layer, whereas small-sized PBSi (0.8–20 μm) dominated in the bottom layer. Temperature and nutrients were crucial factors controlling the grain size structure and distribution of PBSi. Further, we observed that the distinct zones of high PBSi values in the surface waters were affected by the Changjiang freshwater flushing, and those in the bottom waters were affected by the Yellow Sea Cold Water masses. Moreover, in the area where >20-μm PBSi prevailed, the silicate-to-nitrate ratio was less than 1 at most sampling stations, rendering silicate the limiting nutrient in this area. The PBSi/particulate organic carbon values in the surface waters of the study area ranged from 0.01 to 0.3. Areas exhibiting values exceeding 0.13 primarily clustered in nearshore waters, which was characterized by a dominance of large-sized (>20 μm) PBSi. The nearshore benthic waters exhibited anoxic conditions, where diatoms predominantly comprised the phytoplankton biomass and organic matter featured marine phytoplankton. Consequently, the proliferation of diatoms (siliceous phytoplankton) in the midupper water significantly contributed to the hypoxic conditions at the bottom, as diatoms underwent dissolution during sedimentation, leading to oxygen depletion.

Methanol-Tolerant Pd-Co Alloy Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphene Oxide as Cathode Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction in Fuel Cells

The design of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts to replace Pt in an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for advancing proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technologies. This study synthesized Pd-Co bimetallic alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through a simple chemical-reduction method, making it suitable for low-cost, large-scale fabrication and significantly reducing the need for Pt. The nanostructures were systematically characterized using various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Electrochemical investigations revealed that the Pd-Co/rGO catalyst exhibits remarkable ORR performance in an alkaline environment, with an electrode-area-normalized activity rivaling that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Remarkably, Pd-Co/rGO demonstrated an onset potential (Eonset) of 0.944 V (vs. RHE) and a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.782 V (vs. RHE), highlighting its excellent ORR activity. Furthermore, the Pd-Co/rGO catalyst displayed superior methanol-tolerant ORR activity, outperforming Pt/C and monometallic Pd/rGO and Co/rGO systems. The enhanced electrocatalytic performance is attributed to the smallest size, consistent shape, and good dispersion of the alloy structure on the RGO surface. These findings establish Pd-Co/rGO as a promising alternative to Pt-based catalysts, addressing key challenges such as methanol crossover while advancing PEMFC technology in alkaline media.

Silver Nanoparticles Produced Extracellularly by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Abstract Background: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most important fungal species capable of manufacturing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are formed through the biosynthesis process extracellular from silver nitrate solution (AgNo3) to the culture medium using a fungal cell filter; this study aims to explore the biosynthesis of AgNPs using S. sclerotiorum. Materials and Methods: AgNPs were produced by adding AgNo3 to the culture and then incubating for 72 h at 37°C. The nanoparticles were formed inside the cytoplasm and on the outer surface of the S. sclerotiorum fungus. These molecules were characterized using ultraviolet radiation, and the highest absorbance of AgNPs for S. sclerotiorum fungus was measured at 450 nm. AgNPs were also characterized using infrared analysis (Fourier transform infrared) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the size and crystal structure of these molecules. Results: S. sclerotiorum is a well-known phytopathogenic fungus with significant potential beyond its role as a plant pathogen. Various isolates of this fungus have diverse applications in agriculture, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Notably, these isolates have demonstrated potential in reducing silver ions (Ag+) to (AgNPs), highlighting their promise in nanoparticle synthesis. In addition, the intensity of the absorption peak associated with the nanoparticles was found to increase over time, further supporting their potential for research and application. Conclusion: AgNPs produced by S. sclerotiorum is predominantly spherical, ranging from 5 to 50 nm, and are stabilized by a capping agent. These nanoparticles, found mainly on the fungal cell walls, likely result from fungal enzyme activity. Their antifungal properties are due to their interference with microbial DNA and disruption of metabolic processes, highlighting their potential as effective antifungal agents.

Room-Temperature Selective Detection of H2 by Pd Nanoparticle-Decorated SnO2@WO3 Core-Shell Hollow Structures.

Sensitive H2 sensors play key roles in the large-scale and safe applications of H2. In this study, we developed novel ternary Pd-loaded SnO2@WO3 core-shell structures by hydrothermal and in situ reduction methods. The compositions of the optimized ternary core-shell structures (Pd-SW-2) are prepared on the basis of the optimal binary core-shell structures (SW-X) according to the sensing performances to H2. Gas sensing tests reveal that the sensing performances (e.g., sensing response and response/recovery time) to H2 are gradually improved after the formation of core-shell structures and the modification of Pd nanoparticles. 10Pd-SW-2 exhibits the highest response (370 times and 204 times higher than those of SnO2 and SW-2, respectively) and the shortest response and recovery time (19/53 s) to 100 ppm of H2 at 25 °C among the as-prepared ternary and binary composites. Combined with the morphology, XPS, electrochemical, H2-TPR, and O2-TPD analyses, the underlying reasons for the improved sensing performance of 10Pd-SW-2 are attributed to (1) the unique core-shell hollow structure and appropriate Pd particle sizes and distribution, (2) abundant oxygen vacancies, (3) the electron sensitization resulting from the energy band structure, and (4) the excellent chemical sensitization originated from the interaction between Pd/PdHx/PdO and H2.