Sufficient Growth Research Articles

Sustainable Approach for Degradation of Low-Density Polyethylene Plastic Waste Using Ligninolytic White Rot Fungus.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor is used in manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics for food-drink packaging. In the present study, optimized set of conditions to degrade commercial grade BPA has been used and applied in degrading shredded leached low-density polyethylene (LDPE) residues and its leachate (198 µg/L BPA) using white rot fungus Hypocrea lixii. One-at-a-time method showed maximum BPA degradation of 98.73 ± 0.02% with 190.1 ± 0.2 U/L laccase and 1913.2 ± 0.3 U/L lignin peroxidase in glucose-yeast extract-malt extract-peptone (GYMP) medium supplemented with 5% sawdust, mediators-CuSO4 (0.2 mM), veratryl alcohol (0.1 mM) and Tween 80 (0.1 mM). Three sets were prepared by dissolving these optimized nutritional components in leachates-A (only leachate), B (leached LDPE residues in leachate) and C (leached LDPE residues, sawdust in leachate). All sets showed 100% degradation in 5 days. Cracks and holes in degraded LDPE pieces was confirmed by SEM analysis and changes in functional groups by FTIR. Toxicity assay of treated leachate on soil microfauna revealed the elimination of BPA as it supported sufficient microbial growth of soil bacteria. Thus, the present process provides a sustainable solution for the management of LDPE with the possibility of using treated leachate for irrigation.

The Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency Patient Journey: Identifying Opportunities for Digital Health Interventions.

Pediatric growth hormone deficiency (PGHD) is a chronic condition where the pituitary gland fails to produce sufficient growth hormone, leading to delayed growth and developmental challenges. Patient journey maps can provide insight into pain points and potential opportunities for new or improved interventions to enhance care. However, a patient journey map does not yet exist for PGHD. Secondary data analysis was performed on interviews and focus groups from five cohorts in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, France, and The Netherlands. Participants included 62 patients and caregivers who used a prototype digital health solution, which was used to guide discussions. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data, resulting in a patient journey map comprising six stages: awareness, diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment initiation, treatment maintenance and transition. This provides the first detailed PGHD patient journey map, revealing emotional sensitivities and challenges at each stage, and suggesting areas for targeted interventions to improve adherence and long-term outcomes.

Mechanisms of growth-dependent regulation of the Gin4 kinase.

Cell cycle progression is dependent upon cell growth. Cells must therefore translate growth into a proportional signal that can be used to determine when there has been sufficient growth for cell cycle progression. In budding yeast, the protein kinase Gin4 is required for normal control of cell growth and undergoes gradual hyperphosphorylation and activation that are dependent upon growth and proportional to the extent of growth, which suggests that Gin4 could function in mechanisms that measure cell growth. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive hyperphosphorylation of Gin4 are poorly understood. Here, we used biochemical reconstitution and genetic analysis to test hypotheses for the mechanisms that drive phosphorylation of Gin4. We ruled out a previous model in which phosphatidylserine delivered to sites of plasma membrane growth binds Gin4 to initiate autophosphorylation. Instead, we show that Elm1, a homolog of the mammalian Lkb1 tumor suppressor kinase, is sufficient to promote hyperphosphorylation of Gin4 in vitro, likely via initiation of Gin4 autophosphorylation. Furthermore, we show that casein kinase I is required for growth-dependent hyperphosphorylation of Gin4 and also for normal regulation of Elm1. Together, these discoveries lead to new insight into mechanisms that link cell cycle progression to cell growth.

Long-distance migrations, population mixing, and growth rate of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) revealed from tag-recaptures.

We reveal that lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) frequently migrate over long distances between their summer feeding area in the open ocean and their spring spawning sites in coastal areas, through applying tag-recapture methodology. A total of 2750 C. lumpus were tagged in the Irminger Sea around Iceland and in the Norwegian Sea over 6 years, of which 17 C. lumpus were recaptured. Interestingly, four individuals were recaptured more than 1000 km distant from where they were tagged. C. lumpus tagged in the Irminger Sea and north of Iceland were recaptured around Iceland, whereas none of the fish tagged in other areas of the Norwegian Sea were recaptured in Iceland. This difference in recapture rate from different areas suggests that a higher proportion of C. lumpus from the Irminger Sea and north of Iceland spawns around Iceland in comparison with C. lumpus in other areas. Two fish tagged east of Iceland were recaptured on the coast of Denmark, with one fish having a displacement distance of 1612 km. The recapture of these two fish in Denmark demonstrates that part of the C. lumpus population spawning in Denmark utilizes the Norwegian Sea as a major feeding area and that the Norwegian Sea is a common feeding area for several distinct populations of C. lumpus. The growth rate of tagged fish varied from 1.2 to 11.1 cm year-1, indicating that males that are >20 cm and females that are >25 cm during the summer are capable of sufficient growth to achieve a suitable size for spawning (≥25 and ≥35 cm for males and females, respectively) the following spring.

Evaluating the carbon sequestration behavior and microstructure evolution of sedimentary carbonates of granular γ-C2S

Carbon dioxide fixed steel slag powder has demonstrated potential as a supplementary cementitious material. This research investigated the correlation between the carbon sequestration rate of γ-C2S particles, a key carbon sequestration active mineral in steel slag, and the evolution of the microstructure of calcium carbonate products. The results indicated that γ-C2S powder showed notable efficiency in capturing CO2 within the first 180 mins, followed by a gradual slowdown leading to a plateau phase. The micro-scale analysis revealed that the crack structure of γ-C2S particles has a direct effect on the distribution of products and the development of reaction rate. The calcium carbonate on the particle surface underwent epitaxial growth, epitaxial-mantle growth and mantle growth. The primary characteristics of epitaxial growth enhanced the contact time and area between gas and unreacted particles, ensuring a sustained reaction time and delaying the reaction plateau. Moreover, the growth of calcite was influenced by the interplay between particle growth and crystal size reduction, with early epitaxial growth facilitating sufficient calcite growth. Exploring the carbon sequestration behavior of powdered minerals at the micron scale is anticipated to enhance our comprehension of the formation of carbonated products and advance the utilization of steel slag.

Matched three-dimensional organoids and two-dimensional cell lines of melanoma brain metastases mirror response to targeted molecular therapy

Despite advances in the treatment paradigm for patients with metastatic melanoma, melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) continues to represent a significant treatment challenge. The study of MBM is limited, in part, by shortcomings in existing preclinical models. Surgically eXplanted Organoids (SXOs) are ex vivo, three-dimensional cultures prepared from primary tissue samples with minimal processing that recapitulate genotypic and phenotypic features of parent tumors without an artificial extracellular scaffold. MBM SXOs were created by a novel protocol incorporating techniques for establishing glioma and cutaneous melanoma organoids. A BRAFV600K-mutant and BRAF-wildtype MBM sample were collected directly from the operating room. Organoids were cultured in an optimized culture medium without an artificial extracellular scaffold. Concurrently, matched patient-derived cell lines were created. Organoid growth was observed within 3–4 weeks, and MBM SXOs retained histological features of the parent tissue, including pleomorphic epithelioid cells with abundant cytoplasm, large nuclei, focal melanin accumulation, and strong SOX10 positivity. After sufficient growth, organoids could be manually parcellated to increase the number of replicates. Matched SXOs and cell lines demonstrated sensitivity to BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Further study using SXOs may improve the translational relevance of preclinical studies and enable the study of the metastatic melanoma tumor microenvironment.

Architecture of a remelted layer with the nano-lamellar structure at the surface of Fe[sbnd]B materials via laser remelting to resist liquid aluminum corrosion

In this work, a significant enhancement of corrosion resistance of Fe-B materials in liquid Al (750 °C), with a corrosion rate one order of magnitude lower than that of H13 die steel, has been achieved by constructing nano-lamellar structures in the matrix. Results indicate that the nano-lamellar structure can not only effectively obstruct the interdiffusion between the Al and Fe atoms, restricting the growth of corrosion layers, but also accommodate sufficient growth and thermal stresses, suppressing the spallation of corrosion products. Furthermore, the ceramic nanoparticles in-situ formed in the nano-lamellar structure can inhibit the inward diffusion of Al atoms, greatly enhancing the corrosion resistance of α-Fe matrix. Besides, they also provide a robust pinning effect on the corrosion interface, improving the adhesion strength of corrosion products with the matrix. The architecture of nano-lamellar structure with nanoparticles may provide a novel strategy against liquid Al corrosion and shed new light on the development of corrosion-resistant materials.

Printing High‐Quality Formanidinum Lead Triiodide Films: Understanding the Critical Role of α‐Phase Nucleation Before Thermal Annealing

AbstractUpscaling the coating of formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) thin film is essential to realizing full printing and thereby roll‐to‐roll production of perovskite photovoltaics. However, thin‐film FAPbI3 processed from antisolvent‐free, printing methods suffer from undesirable degradation to the non‐photoactive phase, particularly in ambient processing conditions. Here, the most critical stage in thin‐film processing is identified as the gas‐quenching treatment of the as‐cast wet film. It is crucial to achieve both the nucleation of α‐phase nanocrystals and their sufficient growth at room temperature, which are indispensable for templating the growth of a highly crystalline and stable α‐FAPbI3 film during subsequent thermal annealing. The gas‐quenching‐treated film without these α‐phase nanocrystals can only be converted to meta‐stable α‐FAPbI3 by thermal annealing. By precisely identifying the spontaneous doping of cesium ion (Cs+) as a key factor in triggering α‐FAPbI3 nucleation and the role of chloride ion (Cl−) in enhancing nanocrystal growth, a generalized mechanism for additive engineering for the precursor ink is theorized. The identified mechanism translates to a power conversion efficiency of 19.36% for fully printed carbon‐electrode solar cells, 16.23% for carbon‐electrode minimodules, and excellent operational stability, showing the promising potential of this proposed fabrication route in the upscaling of perovskite photovoltaics.

Enhancing mechanical property and corrosion resistance of Al0.3CoCrFeNi1.5 high entropy alloy via grain boundary engineering

In the present study, to improve the performances of Al0.3CoCrFeNi1.5 high entropy alloys (HEAs), grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) of Al0.3CoCrFeNi1.5 HEA has been optimized by an appropriate thermo-mechanical processing. The experiment results showed that the fraction of low-Σ coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries could reach approximately 80 % through cold rolling with deformation of 8 % and subsequent annealing at 1050 °C for 5 min. The reason for GBCD optimization could be attributed to sufficient strain-induced boundary migration (SIBM) or grain growth after recrystallization. While recrystallization is not favorable for optimizing GBCD. The mechanical properties and corrosion resistance have been enhanced, with a more pronounced improvement observed in the corrosion resistance. The corrosion current density icorr of the GBEM specimen stands at 0.23 μA∙cm−2, representing a reduction of 66 % in comparison to the BM specimen (0.68 μA∙cm−2). The improvement of corrosion resistance of Al0.3CoCrFeNi1.5 HEA resulted from the discontinuous random grain boundaries (RGBs) broken by the high fraction of low-ΣCSL boundaries, especially Σ3 boundaries suppressed the propagation of corrosion crack.

Threshold transient growth as a criterion for turbulent mean profiles

Lozano-Duran et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 914, 2021, p. A8) have recently identified the ability of streamwise-averaged turbulent streak fields ${\mathcal {U}}(y,z,t)\hat {\boldsymbol {x}}$ in minimal channels to produce short-term transient growth as the key linear mechanism needed to sustain turbulence at $Re_{\tau }=180$ . Here, in an attempt to extend this result to larger domains and higher $Re_{\tau }$ , we model this streak transient growth as a two-stage linear process by first selecting the dominant streak structure expected to emerge over the eddy turnover time on the turbulent mean profile $U(y)\hat {\boldsymbol {x}}$ , and then examining the secondary growth on this (frozen) streak field ${\mathcal {U}}(y,z)\hat {\boldsymbol {x}}$ . Choosing the mean streak amplitude and eddy turnover time consistent with simulations captures the growth thresholds found by Lozano-Duran et al. (2021) for sustained turbulence. In a larger domain at $Re_{\tau }=180$ , the most energetic near-wall streaks observed in simulations are close to the predicted optimal streaks. This most energetic streak spacing, approaches the optimal streak at $Re_{\tau }=550$ where the secondary growth possible on each also comes together. A key prediction from the model is that the threshold transient growth required to sustain turbulence decreases with increasing $Re_{\tau }$ . More fundamentally, the work of Lozano-Duran et al. (2021) and our results suggest a subtle but significant revision of Malkus's (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 1, 1956, pp. 521–539) classic hypothesis concerning realisable turbulent mean profiles. The key property for a realisable turbulent mean profile could be the ability to generate sufficient short-term transient growth rather than dependence on its (long-term) linear stability characteristics, which was Malkus's original idea.

Assessing Precipitation Impact on Vegetation Using Satellite Data and Remote Sensing Techniques: A Case Study of Yakawalang-Afghanistan

Water is essential for all living creatures, including humans. Precipitation directly impacts plant growth; adequate water supply promotes sufficient growth, while drought conditions lead to inadequate growth and plant desiccation. This research investigates the effects of precipitation on vegetation in the Yakawalang District. The study utilizes NDVI vegetation data from the MODIS Terra satellite and precipitation data from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) system. This study employed the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test to identify changes in the obtained data. The research covers the period from 2010 to 2020. Our findings indicate an increasing trend in precipitation and vegetation in the Yakawalang District during the study period. Interestingly, 2010 recorded the lowest precipitation (277 mm) but the highest vegetation index (0.100). Conversely, 2015 saw high precipitation (510 mm) but the lowest vegetation index (0.079). Further analysis of temperature data for 2015 suggests that low temperatures may have inhibited vegetation growth despite increased precipitation. This research concludes that precipitation alone does not guarantee increased vegetation. Other factors, such as appropriate temperature, are crucial in vegetation growth. These findings underscore the complex interplay of environmental factors in plant development and highlight the need for comprehensive approaches to understanding and managing vegetation dynamics.

Operations for increasing the pulmonary blood flow in newborns with cyanotic congenital heart defects: results and features of outpatient postoperative monitoring

Background. In patients with cyanotic congenital heart defects, pulmonary blood flow is maintained by a functio­ning patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Most patients with complex ductal-dependent cyanotic defects require intermediate staged treatment before radical correction of the defect. Timely and comprehensive outpatient monitoring by a pediatrician and pediatric cardiologist are important for patient survival following palliative treatment, along with determining optimal timing for consultations at specialized cardiac surgical centers. Objective: to present the outcomes of using two methods for increasing pulmonary blood flow (systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt (SPAS) and PDA sten­ting), as well as the features of outpatient cardiological observation and treatment in these patients. Materials and methods. From 2000 to February 2024, 22 patients underwent SPAS, and 25 — PDA stenting at the State Institution “Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery” of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Results. After interventions, the mean arterial oxygen saturation (SatO2) increased in both groups, significantly higher in the PDA stenting group (p < 0.05). The ave­rage length of stay in the intensive care unit in the SPAS group was 19.6 ± 11.1 (range: 5 to 91) days compared to 12.8 ± 6.3 (range: 4 to 37) days in those with PDA stenting (p = 0.05). The duration of artificial lung ventilation in the SPAS group was 290.3 ± 215.3 (range: 63 to 751) hours, and in the PDA stenting group, it was shorter, 151.8 ± 75.5 (range: 39 to 549) hours (p < 0.05). Early (30-day) postoperative mortality in the SPAS group was 13.6 % (3/22 patients), with a late mortality of 18 % (4/22). In contrast, there was not early (30-day) postoperative mortality in the PDA stenting group, and late mortality was 8 % (2/25). Before the subsequent stage of surgical correction, sufficient growth of pulmonary artery branches was noted (Nakata index increased from 156.9 ± 33.3 mm2/m2 to 277.0 ± 35.9 mm2/m2 in the SPAS group and from 142.7 ± 55.2 mm2/m2 to 289.1 ± 149.2 mm2/m2 in the PDA stenting group), and the left ventricular end-diastolic index has increased (from 51.2 ± 32.4 mm2/m2 to 67.5 ± 15.5 mm2/m2 in the SPAS group and from 50.8 ± 24.9 mm2/m2 to 56.7 ± 28.5 mm2/m2 in the PDA stenting group). Thirteen patients in the SPAS group underwent the next stage of surgical correction (Glenn shunt or total repair of the congenital heart defect), while in the PDA stenting group — 17 patients. Conclusions. For cyanotic congenital heart defects, which have ductus-dependent pulmonary blood flow, both described methods are quite effective.

Solubilization and enhanced degradation of benzene phenolic derivatives-Bisphenol A/Triclosan using a biosurfactant producing white rot fungus Hypocrea lixii S5 with plant growth promoting traits.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as benzene phenolic derivatives being hydrophobic partition to organic matter in sludge/soil sediments and show slow degradation rate owing to poor bioavailability to microbes. In the present study, the potential of a versatile white rot fungal isolate S5 identified as Hypocrea lixii was monitored to degrade bisphenol A (BPA)/triclosan (TCS) under shake flask conditions with concomitant production of lipopeptide biosurfactant (BS) and plant growth promotion. Sufficient growth of WRF for 5 days before supplementation of 50 ppm EDC (BPA/TCS) in set B showed an increase in degradation rates by 23% and 29% with corresponding increase in secretion of lignin-modifying enzymes compared to set A wherein almost 84% and 97% inhibition in fungal growth was observed when BPA/TCS were added at time of fungal inoculation. Further in set B, EDC concentration stimulated expression of laccase and lignin peroxidase (Lip) with 24.44 U/L of laccase and 281.69 U/L of Lip in 100 ppm BPA and 344 U/L Lip in 50 ppm TCS supplemented medium compared to their respective controls (without EDC). Biodegradation was also found to be correlated with lowering of surface tension from 57.02 mN/m (uninoculated control) to 44.16 mN/m in case of BPA and 38.49 mN/m in TCS, indicative of biosurfactant (BS) production. FTIR, GC-MS, and LC-ESI/MSMS confirmed the presence of surfactin lipopeptide isoforms. The WRF also displayed positive plant growth promoting traits as production of ammonia, indole acetic acid, siderophores, Zn solubilization, and 1-1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, reflecting its soil restoration ability. The combined traits of biosurfactant production, EDC degradation and plant growth promotion displayed by WRF will help in emulsifying the hydrophobic pollutants favoring their fast degradation along with restoration of contaminated soil in natural conditions.

The impact of rainfall on beef cattle growth across diverse climate zones

Genetics, animal husbandry, and the feedbase all impact cattle growth. Australia’s cattle feedbase covers 40% of the continent and encompasses diverse climates and landscapes, making stocking rate decisions challenging. Of the factors contributing to climate change, rainfall is a primary determinant of feedbase growth and, with this, cattle growth. Understanding the interplay between rainfall and cattle growth across the diverse Australian landscape is thus critical to aid farmer decision-making. However, revealing such interactions between landscape and rainfall for cattle growth for such decision-making has until now been infeasible due to a lack of sufficient temporal and spatial cattle growth data. The Optiweigh (OW) system has been deployed across Australia’s extensive beef production systems as a voluntary weighing unit, opportunistically monitoring cattle liveweight (LW). This study determined the impact of rainfall on the temporal and spatial variability of beef cattle growth across three of Australia’s agro-climatic zones (grassland, subtropical, and temperate), aiming to describe the diverse feedbase through patterns of LW variability. A total of 1.3 million cattle LW observations were collected from 82 026 cattle over 2 years (2020–2022). Rainfall data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology were also collated for the closest meteorological station to each OW unit. Cattle LW average daily gain (ADG) was clustered by season and zone. A series of linear mixed models were used to examine ADG for each zone-season combination, with random effects for individual animals and farms, and fixed effects for climate zone and current and lagged rainfall. The overall mean ADG for the dataset was 0.68 kg/day, with greater growth variability between farms within a zone (SD: 0.349 ± 0.021 kg/day, estimate ± SE) than between cattle within a farm (SD: 0.229 ± 0.004 kg/day). This ADG variability can be partly attributed to the timing and amount of rainfall, with agro-climatic zones showing unique interactions between rainfall and ADG. Seasonal lagged rainfall effects were present in the grassland and temperate zones, while rainfall in the temperate zone had a year-round effect on cattle growth. Furthermore, season-wise lagged rainfall had mixed effects on ADG, whereas rainfall occurring in a season reduced growth in the same season across zones (P < 0.001). These findings provide valuable initial insights into the variability of ADG across the landscape over time and markedly improve our understanding of the interplay between climate and Australia’s diverse feedbase, contributing to improved management strategies.

Стентування відкритої протоки як перший етап хірургічного лікування тетради Фалло з незливними гілками легеневої артерії

The aim – to show the results of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting as the first stage of palliative treatment in patients with tetralogy of Fallot with non-confluent branches of the pulmonary artery.Materials and methods. This retrospective, single-center study included 10 consecutive patients who underwent PDA stenting since 2013 to 2023. The average age at the time of surgery was 96.00 ± 82.92 days (range 4 to 411 days), the average weight was 5.10 ± 1.78 kg (range 2.8 to 11 kg). The arterial oxygen saturation level (SaO2) before the intervention was 72.0 ± 6.7 % (range 60 to 87 %).Results. There were no intraoperative complications in all patients of this group. The length of the stay in the intensive care unit after surgery was 5.00 ± 1.36 days. SaO2 level increased to 89.00 ± 4.08 %. The duration of artificial lung ventilation after surgery was 36.5 ± 18.00 hours, and the duration of inotropic support was 81.1 ± 33.8 hours. In the long term, all patients showed significant growth of the native pulmonary artery branches. All patients of this group achieved total repair of this pathology after 192.00 ± 60.28 days, on average. At the moment of total repair, the size of the left branch of the pulmonary artery increased from 3.9 ± 0.8 mm to 7.8 ± 1.6 mm, and the right branch increased from 5.8 ± 1.2 mm to 7.70 ± 1.04 mm; the Nakata index increased from 133.0 ± 29.1 mm2/m2 to 241.2 ± 97.8 mm2/m2; end-diastolic index of the left ventricle increased from 31.4 ± 10.8 ml/m2 to 43.1 ± 11.4 ml/m2.Conclusion. PDA stenting in patients with tetralogy of Fallot combined with non-confluent branches of the pulmonary artery is an effective palliative procedure. This method allows to postpone the total repair to an older age, ensures sufficient and symmetric growth of the branches of pulmonary artery, and helps to avoid risks associated with repeat open heart surgeries.

Nanocrystalline copper for direct copper-to-copper bonding with improved cross-interface formation at low thermal budget

Direct copper-to-copper (Cu-Cu) bonding is a promising technology for advanced electronic packaging. Nanocrystalline (NC) Cu receives increasing attention due to its unique ability to promote grain growth across the bonding interface. However, achieving sufficient grain growth still requires a high thermal budget. This study explores how reducing grain size and controlling impurity concentration in NC Cu leads to substantial grain growth at low temperatures. The fabricated NC Cu has a uniform nanograin size of around 50 nm and a low impurity level of 300 ppm. To prevent ungrown NC and void formation caused by impurity aggregation, we propose a double-layer (DL) structure comprising a normal coarse-grained (CG) layer underneath the NC layer. The CG layer, with a grain size of 1 μm and an impurity level of 3 ppm, acts as a sink, facilitating impurity diffusion from the NC layer to the CG layer. Thanks to sufficient grain growth throughout the entire NC layer, cross-interface Cu-Cu bonding becomes possible under a low thermal budget, either at 100 °C for 60 min or at 200 °C for only 5 min.

In Vitro Osteo-Immunological Responses of Bioactive Calcium Phosphate-Containing Urethane Dimethacrylate-Based Composites: A Potential Alternative to Poly(methyl methacrylate) Bone Cement.

This investigation developed new composite bone cements using urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), poly(propylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PPGDMA), and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), with micrometer-sized aluminosilicate glass filler. Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) and hydroxyapatite (HA) particles were added to enhance biological performance, particularly osteo-immunomodulation. Free radical polymerization was triggered by mixing two pastes containing either benzoyl peroxide (BPO, an initiator) or N-tolyglycine glycidyl methacrylate (NTGGMA, an activator). Increasing butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, an inhibitor) enabled a suitable delay after mixing at 25 °C for placement. At 37 °C, the delay time was reduced and the final conversion was enhanced. Findings also demonstrated the biocompatibility of the developed bone cement toward osteo-immunological cell lineages, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), fibroblasts, osteoclast precursor RAW 246.7 cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Notably, the cement with both MCPM and HA combined facilitated sufficient MSC growth, enabling subsequent mineralization while concurrently suppressing the proliferation of fibroblasts, osteoclast progenitors, and PBMCs. Furthermore, composite cement exhibited the capacity to differentially regulate osteoblast differentiation, cell-(in)dependent mineralization, osteoclastogenesis, and PBMC-mediated inflammatory responses at both cellular and molecular levels in vitro. These observations suggested their potential use for bone repair, especially in cases of inflammation-associated bone defects.

A closed-loop smart dressing based on microneedle and electrochemical micropump for early diagnosis and in-time therapy of chronic wound

Early diagnosis combined with in-time treatment is a promising strategy for chronic wound care, preventing wound deterioration and promoting healing. Different smart dressings have recently emerged to enable real-time wound status monitoring and offer active intervention. However, the drawbacks of existing smart dressings, including limited drug loading capacity and poor drug penetration into the deeper wound dermal and subcutaneous tissues, are yet to be addressed, resulting in unsatisfactory therapeutic effectiveness. In this study, a Microneedle-embedded closed-loop smart Dressing (MelD) is developed to simultaneously achieve chronic wound early diagnosis and in-time therapy. The simple impedance sensing electrodes are utilized to monitor wound impedance for chronic wound early diagnosis. Based on the sensing data, the drug delivery micropump in MelD is automatically activated for in-time therapy. By integrating micropump electrodes with a drug reservoir coupled-microneedle array, a practice solution for delivering enough drug fluid into deeper wound dermal/ subcutaneous tissues is developed. Compared to untreated diabetic mice, MelD, delivering sufficient growth factor to the wound and promoting drug entry into deep tissue layers, induces faster wound healing in treated mice. Meanwhile, MelD facilitates tissue formation and nascent collagen deposition. The enhanced drug storage dosage, improved drug penetration and closed-loop operation of Meld enable the first successful attempt of ensuring sufficient and efficient drug delivery by miniaturized all-in-one smart dressing, expanding the usage of closed-loop chronic wound care from laboratorial demonstration on limited kinds of superficial wounds to a wider range of wound types.

Design and Additive Manufacturing of Nerve Guide Conduits Using Triple Periodic Minimal Surface Structures

Scaffold design is a key study area in tissue engineering. A scaffold is a three-dimensional framework that provides temporary support for the formation of new tissue before being implanted with isolated cells. The aim of tissue engineering scaffolds is to be colonized by cells. To ensure sufficient tissue growth, scaffolds need to transmit the necessary chemical and physical signals. The design of the scaffold determines its functionality. The design and manufacturing of tissue engineering scaffolds is a highly complex procedure. Scaffolds must have the necessary qualities to create an optimal architecture for cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation in order to form tissue. However, constrained structural designs and outdated manufacturing procedures impede the enhancement of scaffold qualities. To address these restrictions, researchers are merging computer-aided scaffold design with 3D printing processes during production. This method permits the design and manufacture of scaffolds with extremely intricate microstructures. The literature shows that computer-aided design combined with 3D printing technology is often utilized to design and manufacture nerve guide conduits for nerve regeneration. In this study, three different nerve guide conduit structures were designed and produced. Two of them are based on triple periodic minimal surfaces derived from Gyroid, schwarz. Although triple periodic minimal surfaces used as the basis for scaffold designs offer promising advantages for tissue engineering applications, limited information is available regarding their manufacturability. The designs created in this study, as well as their fabrication, will add to the literature on the manufacturability of triple periodic minimum surfaces.

An iron-deficiency tolerant genotype of sorghum effectively localizes iron to the thylakoid membranes of the bundle sheath cells

ABSTRACT Although sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), a C4 grass plant, requires a higher iron (Fe) concentration in its leaves for sufficient growth compared to C3 grass plants, there are differences in Fe-deficiency tolerance among sorghum genotypes. C4 plant sorghum localizes Fe in bundle sheath (BS) cells as a major site for CO2 assimilation; however, the response of chloroplasts in BS cells to Fe deficiency remains unknown. We compared the allocation of Fe and proteins involved in the photosystems between Fe-deficiency-tolerant and Fe-deficiency-susceptible sorghum genotypes. The distribution patterns of the Fe-requiring core proteins of photosystems I and II were the same in both genotypes, whereas the tolerant genotype, line D100, allocated more Fe to the BS thylakoid membranes than the susceptible genotype, regardless of Fe nutritional status and leaf Fe content. These results suggest that the tolerant D100 sorghum line has mechanisms to supply sufficient Fe to the BS thylakoid membranes.