Adjuvantation of a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine with controlled tissue-specific expression of an mRNA encoding IL-12p70.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines were pivotal in reducing severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection burden, yet they have not demonstrated robust durability, especially in older adults. Here, we describe a molecular adjuvant comprising a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA encoding interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70). The bioactive adjuvant was engineered with a multiorgan protection (MOP) sequence to restrict transcript expression to the intramuscular injection site.

Optimal design of graphene-based plasmonic enhanced photodetector using PSO.

In this paper, we report a graphene-based plasmonic photodetector optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The proposed photodetector structure is designed to minimize fabrication challenges and reduce production costs compared to more complex alternatives. Graphene has been used for its unique properties in the detection region, titanium nitride (TiN) as a CMOS-compatible metal, and both to aid in plasmonic excitation.

Arrayed electro-optic modulators for novel WDM multiplexing.

In this paper, a novel silicon-on-chip integrated 4 × 1 wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) multiplexer has been developed. This is the first time that the multiplexer design incorporates arrayed electro-optical modulators with crosstalk cancellation. The design utilizes two types of electro-optic modulators in each channel.

Basic models to advanced systems: harnessing the power of organoids-based microphysiological models of the human brain.

Understanding the complexities of the human brain's function in health and disease is a formidable challenge in neuroscience. While traditional models like animals offer valuable insights, they often fall short in accurately mirroring human biology and drug responses. Moreover, recent legislation has underscored the need for more predictive models that more accurately represent human physiology.

Design of an integrable double-sided optoplasmonic gyroscope via a bent hybrid structure.

This paper presents an optoplasmonic gyroscope that employs a novel bent-hybrid structure, and works double-sided. The proposed device is integrable without moving parts, and simply has a robust configuration. The detection mechanism is based on surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), and the sensor consists of a laser, a bent-metal layer, and a photo-detector (PD).

Human in vitro modeling of adjuvant formulations demonstrates enhancement of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 antigen.

Adjuvants can enhance vaccine immunogenicity, but their mechanism of action is often incompletely understood, hampering rapid applicability for pandemic vaccines. Herein, we characterized the cellular and molecular activity of adjuvant formulations available for pre-clinical evaluation, including several developed for global open access. We applied four complementary human in vitro platforms to assess individual and combined adjuvants in unformulated, oil-in-water, and liposomal delivery platforms.

Modeling important factors on occupational accident severity factor in the construction industry using a combination of artificial neural network and genetic algorithm.

Background: Many occupational accidents annually occur worldwide. The construction industry injury is greater than the average injury to other industries. The severity of occupational accidents and the resulting injuries in these industries is very high and severe and several factors are involved in their occurrence.

Risk assessment of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders based on individual characteristics using path analysis models.

Background: This study aimed to assess the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) using the path analysis models.

Methods: This study was carried out on 350 office employees with good general health. All variables were collected using a questionnaire.

Effect of TiO/GAC and water vapor on chloroform decomposition in a hybrid plasma-catalytic system.

This paper presents the combination of TiO/GAC catalyst and NTP for the decomposition of chloroform using a DBD reactor. The experiments were performed using an AC transformer as the power supply system to determine the optimal conditions of the chloroform conversion in the presence of a hydrogen-rich substance, that is, water vapor. TiO/GAC enhanced the removal efficiency and also CO selectivity significantly, leading to an acceptable conversion rate at SIEs higher than 400 J L.

Micro-optoelectromechanical systems accelerometer based on intensity modulation using a one-dimensional photonic crystal.

In this paper, we propose what we believe is a novel sensitive micro-optoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) accelerometer based on intensity modulation by using a one-dimensional photonic crystal. The optical sensing system of the proposed structure includes an air-dielectric multilayer photonic bandgap material, a laser diode (LD) light source, a typical photodiode (1550 nm) and a set of integrated optical waveguides. The proposed sensor provides several advantages, such as a relatively wide measurement range, good linearity in the whole measurement range, integration capability, negligible cross-axis sensitivity, high reliability, and low air-damping coefficient, which results in a wider frequency bandwidth for a fixed resonance frequency.

Fatty liver index vs waist circumference for predicting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: To determine the discriminatory performance of fatty liver index (FLI) for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: The data of 5052 subjects aged over 18 years were analyzed. FLI was calculated from body mass index, waist circumference (WC), triglyceride, and gamma glutamyl transferase data.

Prevalence and risk factors of cholelithiasis in Amol city, northern Iran: a population based study.

Background: Cholelithiasis is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders requiring hospitalization.  While different factors influence gallstone formation in patients, these factors are not the same in different societies or in different geographical locations.

Aim: To evaluate the epidemiology and risk factors associated with gallstone formation in a large population group, the present survey was conducted in northern Iran.

Design of a low-power all-optical NOR gate using photonic crystal quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers.

Design and simulation of a novel all-optical logic gate (AOLG) based on photonic crystal quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers (PC-QDSOAs) is reported for the first time. For this purpose, a flat-band slow-light QD-based active photonic crystal waveguide (APCW) is designed and employed for implementation of an all-optical NOR gate in a symmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. Then, the performance of the NOR gate is investigated using a comprehensive nonlinear state space model (NSSM).

Enhanced performance of non-thermal plasma coupled with TiO2/GAC for decomposition of chlorinated organic compounds: influence of a hydrogen-rich substance.

Background: No study was found in the literature on the combination of TiO2/GAC catalyst and non-thermal plasma for chlorinated volatile organic compounds abatement in air. This paper presents this hybrid process for the decomposition of chloroform (as a target compound) using a multi-pin to plate discharge reactor. The experiments were performed using a high frequency pulsed transformer as the power supply system to examine the effect of SIE, frequency, as well as initial concentration on the chloroform removal efficiency (RE).

Design of resonant cavity structure for efficient high-temperature operation of single-photon avalanche photodiodes.

A novel design of a single-photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) is proposed based on resonant cavity (RC) structure, and its performance is studied. In the proposed structure, InAlAs/InGaAs distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) are employed as top and bottom mirrors and the quantum efficiency (QE) of the absorption region is calculated considering the effect of the RC. Results show that using 12 periods of DBRs as a bottom reflector without incorporation of a top mirror can enhance the QE to about 90% at room temperature.

Operation of quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers under nonuniform current injection.

The influence of nonuniform current injection along the active region, on the linear operation of a quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier (QD-SOA) is investigated. For this purpose, we have utilized some functions to generate various nonuniform current injection profiles. These profiles have been considered in our numerical calculations, where the rate equation model is employed to construct different characteristics of the QD-SOA.

Vascular Angiotensin type 1 receptor expression is associated with vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation in fructose-fed rats.

This study determined whether or not oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction in fructose-induced hyperinsulinemic rats are associated with activation of the vascular renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Four groups of rats were used. CONT rats were fed normal rat chow, CONT+CAP were fed normal rat chow and given 500 mg/L captopril in their drinking water, fructose-fed rats (FFR) were fed a high-fructose diet and FFR+CAP were fed the high-fructose diet plus captopril in water.

Dietary fish oil prevents vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress in hyperinsulinemic rats.

Background: Fish oil has been shown to improve blood pressure (BP) in some disease states by an unknown mechanism. We tested the ability of fish oil to prevent vascular dysfunction in fructose-fed rats, a model of insulin resistance and hypertension.

Methods: Rats were placed on three diets: 1) regular rat diet (control); 2) diet containing 60% fructose (FFR); or 3) diet containing 60% fructose and 4.

Analysis of surface properties of human cancer cells using derivatized beads.

Standard histochemical analysis of cells and tissues generally involves procedures that utilize a relatively small number of probes such as dyes, and generally requires hours or days to process. Our laboratory has developed a novel method for histochemical surveys of cell surface properties that utilizes a large number of probes (derivatized agarose beads) and takes seconds or minutes to accomplish. In this study, 4 human cell lines (CCL-255 (LS123) human colon cancer cells that are non-tumorigenic in nude mice; CRL-1459 (CCD-18CO) human colon endothelial cells that are non-malignant; CCL-220 (COLO 320DM) human colon cancer cells that are tumorigenic in nude mice; and HTB-171 (NCI H446) human lung carcinoma cells) were tested for their ability to bind to agarose beads derivatized with 51 different molecules.