Development of multifunctional PAA-alginate-carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel-loaded fiber-reinforced biomimetic scaffolds for controlled release of curcumin.

Critical-sized bone defects in osteosarcoma treatment demand multifunctional scaffolds that must effectively integrate two key functions, promoting osteogenesis and delivering targeted chemoprevention. This study introduces a dual-component system featuring pH-responsive hydrogels and hydroxyapatite-based fiber-reinforced biomimetic scaffolds designed for controlled and localized curcumin delivery, while addressing its solubility and stability issues. The hydrogel system comprises a double network of polyacrylic acid, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, and potato starch, specifically modified to encapsulate curcumin.

Graphene SU-8 Platform for Enhanced Cardiomyocyte Maturation and Intercellular Communication in Cardiac Drug Screening.

Cell culture substrates designed for myocardial applications are pivotal in promoting the maturation and functional integration of cardiomyocytes. However, traditional in vitro models often inadequately mimic the diverse biochemical signals and electrophysiological properties of mature cardiomyocytes. Herein, we propose the application of monolayer graphene, transferred onto SU-8 cantilevers integrated with a microelectrode array, to evaluate its influence on the structural, functional, and electro-mechano-physiological properties of cardiomyocytes.

Copper-Based Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Frameworks for Fenton-like Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue under UV and Sunlight Irradiation.

To efficiently degrade organic pollutants, photocatalysts must be effective under both ultraviolet (UV) radiation and sunlight. We synthesized a series of new metal-organic frameworks by using mild hydrothermal conditions. These frameworks incorporate three distinct bipyridyl ligands: pyrazine (pyr), 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy), and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe).

Cardiotoxicity Assessment through a Polymer-Based Cantilever Platform: An Integrated Electro-Mechanical Screening Approach.

Preclinical drug screening for cardiac toxicity has traditionally relied on observing changes in cardiomyocytes' electrical activity, primarily through invasive patch clamp techniques or non-invasive microelectrode arrays (MEA). However, relying solely on field potential duration (FPD) measurements for electrophysiological assessment can miss the full spectrum of drug-induced toxicity, as different drugs affect cardiomyocytes through various mechanisms. A more comprehensive approach, combining field potential and contractility measurements, is essential for accurate toxicity profiling, particularly for drugs targeting contractile proteins without affecting electrophysiology.

Correction: Quantitative assessment of cardiomyocyte mechanobiology through high-throughput cantilever-based functional well plate systems.

Correction for 'Quantitative assessment of cardiomyocyte mechanobiology through high-throughput cantilever-based functional well plate systems' by Jongyun Kim , , 2023, , 5133-5143, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3AN01286G.

Correction: Enhanced cardiomyocyte structural and functional anisotropy through synergetic combination of topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation.

Correction for 'Enhanced cardiomyocyte structural and functional anisotropy through synergetic combination of topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation' by Jongyun Kim , , 2023, , 4540-4551, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00451A.

Enhancing cardiomyocytes contraction force measuring in drug testing: Integration of a highly sensitive single-crystal silicon strain sensor into SU-8 cantilevers.

The development of efficient tools for predicting drug-induced cardiotoxicity in the preclinical phase would greatly benefit the drug development process. This study presents an SU-8 cantilever integrated with a single-crystal silicon strain sensor to enhance force sensitivity in toxicity screening methods based on changes in the contraction force of cardiomyocytes. The proposed cantilever device enables real-time measurements of cardiomyocytes contraction force with high sensitivity, thereby facilitating the assessment of drug cardiotoxicity.

Enhanced cardiomyocyte structural and functional anisotropy through synergetic combination of topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation.

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity, a significant concern in the pharmaceutical industry, often results in the withdrawal of drugs from the market. The main cause of drug-induced cardiotoxicity is the use of immature cardiomyocytes during drug screening procedures. Over time, several methods such as topographical, conductive, and mechanical stimulation have been proposed to enhance both maturation and contractile properties of these cardiomyocytes.

Quantitative assessment of cardiomyocyte mechanobiology through high-throughput cantilever-based functional well plate systems.

Proper regulation of the cell culture environment is essential for disease modelling and drug toxicity screening. The main limitation of well plates used for cell culture is that they cannot accurately maintain energy sources and compounds needed during cell growth. Herein, to understand the importance of perfusion in cardiomyocyte culture, changes in contractile force and heart rate during cardiomyocyte growth are systematically investigated, and the results are compared with those of a perfusion-free system.

Selective removal of radioactive iodine from water using reusable Fe@Pt adsorbents.

Environmental damage from serious nuclear accidents should be urgently restored, which needs the removal of radioactive species. Radioactive iodine isotopes are particularly problematic for human health because they are released in large amounts and retain radioactivity for a substantial time. Herein, we prepare platinum-coated iron nanoparticles (Fe@Pt) as a highly selective and reusable adsorbent for iodine species, i.

Mild-Intensity UV-A Radiation Applied Over a Long Duration Can Improve the Growth and Phenolic Contents of Sweet Basil.

UV-A radiation (320-400 nm) is an abiotic stressor that may be used to enhance the production of beneficial secondary metabolites in crops such as leafy vegetables. However, tradeoffs between enhanced phytochemical contents and overall growth/yield reductions have been reported. The responses varied depending on the UV-A intensity, spectral peak, exposure time, species, and varieties.

Enhancement of cardiac contractility using gold-coated SU-8 cantilevers and their application to drug-induced cardiac toxicity tests.

Herein, we propose an array of gold (Au)-coated SU-8 cantilevers with microgrooves for improved maturation of cardiomyocytes and describe its applications to drug-induced cardiac toxicity tests. Firstly, we evaluated the effect of cell culture substrates such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyimide (PI), and SU-8 on the cardiomyocyte's maturation. Among these, the SU-8 with microgroove structures exhibits improved cardiomyocyte maturation.

KInTeTeO: Zirconolite-like Mixed-Valent Metal Oxide with a 3D Framework.

We provide the material synthesis method, crystal structure information, and characterization of a novel mixed-valent metal oxide KInTeTeO, closely related to zirconolite (CaZrTiO), a radioactive waste immobilized material, having a 3D framework. The reported metal oxide containing an alkali-metal cation (K), main-group cation (In), tellurate, and tellurite has been synthesized as both single crystals and a pure polycrystalline phase through a hydrothermal synthesis method. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that KInTeO crystallizing in the orthorhombic space group (No.

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy study of ZIRLO cladding with HO adsorption: Coverage and temperature dependence.

The coverage and temperature dependence of ZIRLO cladding with HO adsorption are studied using synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy (HRPES). Based on the analytical results of the Zr 3d, O 1 s, C 1 s, and Sn 3d HRPES profiles prior to HO adsorption, we determine the surface compositions of O, hydroxyl OH, chemisorbed HO, zirconium carbide, adventitious carbon, Sn metal, and SnO in ZIRLO. When ZIRLO is exposed to HO molecules, the relative proportion of zirconium metal decreases, whereas that of the total zirconium oxides increases, suggesting the reaction between HO and the zirconium metal in ZIRLO.

Experimental Validation of Gaussian Process-Based Air-to-Ground Communication Quality Prediction in Urban Environments.

This paper presents a detailed experimental assessment of Gaussian Process (GP) regression for air-to-ground communication channel prediction for relay missions in urban environment. Considering restrictions from outdoor urban flight experiments, a way to simulate complex urban environments at an indoor room scale is introduced. Since water significantly absorbs wireless communication signal, water containers are utilized to replace buildings in a real-world city.

Vision-Based Obstacle Avoidance Strategies for MAVs Using Optical Flows in 3-D Textured Environments.

Due to payload restrictions for micro aerial vehicles (MAVs), vision-based approaches have been widely studied with their light weight characteristics and cost effectiveness. In particular, optical flow-based obstacle avoidance has proven to be one of the most efficient methods in terms of obstacle avoidance capabilities and computational load; however, existing approaches do not consider 3-D complex environments. In addition, most approaches are unable to deal with situations where there are wall-like frontal obstacles.

A proteomic insight into the MSP1 and flg22 induced signaling in Oryza sativa leaves.

Previously, we reported a novel Magnaporthe oryzae- secreted protein MSP1, which triggers cell death and pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immune (PTI) responses in rice. To investigate the MSP1 induced defense response in rice at the protein level, we employed a label-free quantitative proteomic approach, in parallel with flg22 treatment, which is a well-known elicitor. Exogenous application of MSP1 to rice leaves induced an oxidative burst, MAPK3/6 activation, and activation of pathogenesis-related genes (DUF26, PBZ, and PR-10).

Electrochemical Formation of Divalent Samarium Cation and Its Characteristics in LiCl-KCl Melt.

The electrochemical reduction of trivalent samarium in a LiCl-KCl eutectic melt produced highly stable divalent samarium, whose electrochemical properties and electronic structure in the molten salt were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, laser-induced emission spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Diffusion coefficients of Sm and Sm were electrochemically measured to be 0.92 × 10 and 1.

Evaluation of the plant growth-promoting activity of Pseudomonas nitroreducens in Arabidopsis thaliana and Lactuca sativa.

Pseudomonas nitroreducens: strain IHB B 13561 (PnIHB) enhances the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana and Lactuca sativa via the stimulation of cell development and nitrate absorption. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant development through various mechanisms; they improve the uptake of soil resources by plants to greatly promote plant growth. Here, we used Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and Lactuca sativa to screen the growth enhancement activities of a purified PGPR, Pseudomonas nitroreducens strain IHB B 13561 (PnIHB).

AtMyb56 Regulates Anthocyanin Levels via the Modulation of Expression in Response to Sucrose in .

Sucrose is a crucial compound for the growth and development of plants, and the regulation of multiple genes depends on the amount of soluble sugars present. Sucrose acts as a signaling molecule that regulates a proton-sucrose symporter, with its sensor being the sucrose transporter. Flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis are regulated by sucrose, and sucrose signaling can affect flavonoid and anthocyanin accumulation.

The safety and efficacy of vitamin K antagonist in atrial fibrillation patients with previous ulcer bleeding: Long-term results from a multicenter study.

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with previous ulcer bleeding.In this multicenter, retrospective analysis, clinical outcomes of 754 AF patients with a history of ulcer bleeding were evaluated. After ulcer treatment, 458 patients (61%) were treated with VKA, and the outcomes were compared to 296 patients (39%) without VKA.

Prevalence and the clinical outcome of atrial fibrillation in patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease.

Background: Systemic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, little evidence exists whether the risk of AF is increased in autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD).

Methods: In 20,772 consecutive ARD patients (mean age 42±17years, 13,683 female) in a tertiary hospital from 2005 to 2015, AF prevalence, comorbidities and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes were evaluated.

Bleeding risk and major adverse events in patients with cancer on oral anticoagulation therapy.

Background: The efficacy of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) has not been revealed in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with newly diagnosed cancers. This study evaluated the thromboembolic and bleeding events in AF patients with malignancies according to OAT.

Methods And Results: In 2168 consecutive non-valvular AF patients with newly diagnosed malignancies, we analyzed the composite endpoints including major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and major bleeding.

Resveratrol analogue (E)-8-acetoxy-2-[2-(3,4-diacetoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-quinazoline induces G₂/M cell cycle arrest through the activation of ATM/ATR in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells.

Styrylquinazolines are synthetic analogues of resveratrol and have been suggested to cause anti-inflammatory activity by modulating prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production. In the present study, we evaluated cytotoxic effects of various styrylquinazoline derivatives and found that (E)-8-acetoxy-2-[2-(3,4-diacetoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-quinazoline (8-ADEQ) most potently inhibited the proliferation of the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Exploring the growth-inhibitory mechanisms of 8-ADEQ, we found that it causes a cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase by DNA flow cytometric analysis, which was accompanied by upregulation of cyclin B1 expression and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 1 (Cdk1) phosphorylation.

Retrieval of unintended migrated detached coil: case report.

Owing to the rapid development of intervention techniques and devices, endovascular coil embolization of cerebral arteries has become standardized. It is particularly preferred when a patient presents with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA). However, the risk of thrombogenic complications of the coil migration may also result in a large cerebral infarction.