Development of Targeted Drug Delivery System for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Using Aptamer-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted niclosamide (NIC) as a promising treatment for COVID-19. However, its clinical application is limited due to its poor water solubility, resulting in low bioavailability. To address this issue, we developed a AuNP-HA-NIC system, which combines gold nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid to enhance drug delivery.

Fatigue behavior of freestanding nickel-molybdenum-tungsten thin films with high-density planar faults.

This research addresses the fatigue behavior of freestanding nickel-molybdenum-tungsten (Ni-Mo-W) thin films with high-density planar faults. The as-deposited Ni-Mo-W thin films demonstrate an unprecedented fatigue life, withstanding over a million cycles at a Goodman stress amplitude () of 2190 MPa - nearly 80% of the tensile strength. The texture, columnar grain width, planar fault configuration (spacing and orientation), and tensile strength were unchanged after annealing at 500 °C for 24 hours, and the film endured over 2 × 10 cycles at of 1050 MPa.

Antibiofilm and antithrombotic hydrogel coating based on superhydrophilic zwitterionic carboxymethyl chitosan for blood-contacting devices.

Blood-contacting devices must be designed to minimize the risk of bloodstream-associated infections, thrombosis, and intimal lesions caused by surface friction. However, achieving effective prevention of both bloodstream-associated infections and thrombosis poses a challenge due to the conflicting nature of antibacterial and antithrombotic activities, specifically regarding electrostatic interactions. This study introduced a novel biocompatible hydrogel of sodium alginate and zwitterionic carboxymethyl chitosan (ZW@CMC) with antibacterial and antithrombotic activities for use in catheters.

Genetic characterization of tetracycline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with reduced vancomycin susceptibility using whole-genome sequencing.

This study aimed to analyze the genetic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus with reduced vancomycin susceptibility (RVS-SA). Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 27 RVS-SA clinical isolates, and comparative genomic analysis was performed using S. aureus reference strains.

Antimicrobial and Antifouling Effects of Petal-Like Nanostructure by Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly for Personal Protective Equipment.

Although the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by healthcare workers (HCWs) effectively blocks hazardous substances and pathogens, it does not fully rule out the possibility of infection, as pathogens surviving on the fabric surface pose a substantial risk of cross-infection through unintended means. Therefore, PPE materials that exhibit effective biocidal activity while minimizing contamination by viscous body fluids (e.g.

Hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanoparticles as a controlled drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural linear polysaccharide which has been widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals including drug delivery systems because of its excellent biocompatibility. In this study, we investigated the one-pot synthesis of HA-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP-HA) as a drug delivery carrier. The HAs with different molecular weights were produced by e-beam irradiation and employed as coating materials for AuNPs.

Transparent, Robust, and Photochemical Antibacterial Surface Based on Hydrogen Bonding between a Si-Al and Cationic Dye.

Healthcare-associated infections can occur and spread through direct contact with contaminated fomites in a hospital, such as mobile phones, tablets, computer keyboards, doorknobs, and other surfaces. Herein, this study shows a transparent, robust, and visible light-activated antibacterial surface based on hydrogen bonds between a transparent silica-alumina (Si-Al) sol-gel and a visible light-activated photosensitizer, such as crystal violet (CV). The study of the bonding mechanisms revealed that hydrogen bonding predominantly occurs between the N of CV and Al-OH.

Whitening Technique Based on Gram-Schmidt Orthogonalization for Motor Imagery Classification of Brain-Computer Interface Applications.

A novel whitening technique for motor imagery (MI) classification is proposed to reduce the accuracy variance of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). This method is intended to improve the electroencephalogram eigenface analysis performance for the MI classification of BCIs. In BCI classification, the variance of the accuracy among subjects is sensitive to the accuracy itself for superior classification results.

A Novel Quick-Response Eigenface Analysis Scheme for Brain-Computer Interfaces.

The brain-computer interface (BCI) is used to understand brain activities and external bodies with the help of the motor imagery (MI). As of today, the classification results for EEG 4 class BCI competition dataset have been improved to provide better classification accuracy of the brain computer interface systems (BCIs). Based on this observation, a novel quick-response eigenface analysis (QR-EFA) scheme for motor imagery is proposed to improve the classification accuracy for BCIs.

The orientation of the ALL femoral tunnel to minimize collision with the ACL tunnel depends on the need or not of far-cortex drilling.

Purpose: To (1) evaluate the optimal drill orientation of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) femoral tunnel to minimize collision with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral tunnel during anatomical ACL reconstruction according to the need for far-cortex drilling and (2) investigate the geometric factors that affect tunnel collision secondary to drill orientation of the ALL femoral tunnel.

Methods: A three-dimensional femoral model of patients who underwent anatomical single-bundle ACL reconstruction between 2015 and 2016 was constructed, and the geometric factors were evaluated. Virtual ALL femoral tunnels were created to simulate 45 drilling conditions.

Nucleic acid lateral flow assay for simultaneous detection of hygiene indicator bacteria.

A simple and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed for multiplex detection of hygiene indicator bacteria. Specifically, new PCR primers were designed for accurately detecting Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, and total bacteria, and the results obtained as a colorimetric signal (generated by the accumulation of gold nanoparticles at distinct test zones on flow strips) could be identified by the naked eye in <10 min after the completion of PCR. The proposed LFA system did not exhibit any cross-reactivities with 8 distinct bacterial strains and can detect down to 1 colony forming unit (CFU)/mL.

Fluorescence nucleobase analogue-based strategy with high signal-to-noise ratio for ultrasensitive detection of food poisoning bacteria.

We developed a simple and ultrasensitive strategy for the identification of foodborne pathogens utilizing a fluorescent nucleobase analogue [2-aminopurine (2-AP)]-containing split G-quadruplex that binds blocker DNA. Compared to a previous strategy that did not use blocker DNA, this strategy showed a significant increase in the signal-to-noise ratio-by approximately 300%-owing to the displacement of the blocker DNA by the target DNA that induces the formation of an active G-quadruplex structure, thereby leading to a substantial increase in the 2-AP fluorescence signal. The proposed strategy was rationally combined with polymerase chain reaction, which resulted in the successful determination of genomic DNA (within the range of 10-106 copies) derived from the food poisoning bacterium Escherichia coli, with a limit of detection of 5.

Multiradionuclide evidence for an extreme solar proton event around 2,610 B.P. (∼660 BC).

Recently, it has been confirmed that extreme solar proton events can lead to significantly increased atmospheric production rates of cosmogenic radionuclides. Evidence of such events is recorded in annually resolved natural archives, such as tree rings [carbon-14 (C)] and ice cores [beryllium-10 (Be), chlorine-36 (Cl)]. Here, we show evidence for an extreme solar event around 2,610 years B.

Pyrosequencing analysis of microbial communities in hollow fiber-membrane biofilm reactors system for treating high-strength nitrogen wastewater.

Wastewaters from swine farms, nitrogen-dealing industries or side-stream processes of a wastewater treatment plant (e.g., anaerobic digesters, sludge thickening processes, etc.

Iron Deficiency is Not Associated with Increased Blood Cadmium in Infants.

Objectives: To determine whether blood cadmium concentration is elevated in iron-deficient infants.

Methods: Blood cadmium and serum ferritin concentrations, serum iron/total iron-binding capacity (Fe/TIBC) and complete blood counts were measured in 31 iron deficient and 36 control infants, aged 6-24 months. All 31 iron-deficient infants received iron supplementation for 1-6 months.

Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for postintubation tracheal stenosis.

Purpose: Little was known about the safety and long-term efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for postintubation tracheal stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation in patients with postintubation tracheal stenosis.

Methods: From February 2000 to November 2010, 14 patients underwent fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for postintubation tracheal stenosis.

A new evaluation method of target volume coverage and homogeneity for IMRT treatment planning.

Based on the functional approximation of a target volume DVH (TV-DVH) to a modified step function, we propose a new index that indicates the degrees of dose coverage and homogeneity for target volume reached in clinical routines. Forty-seven IMRT patient plans are included in the analysis to explore the efficiency of the proposed method. The new index, named s-index, was defined to vary from 0:05 for clinically acceptable TV-DVH at our institution and showed the ability to give the user an idea whether the degree of dose coverage and homogeneity for target volume were adequate when the user-defined criteria had been in place.

Effect of radiation scattering on dose uniformity in open and closed cell culture vessels.

Purpose: Dose uniformity in cell culture vessels such as Petri dishes and anoxic irradiation chambers is very important in radiobiological work as dose uniformity affects cell survival probabilities. In this study, we investigated X-ray dose inhomogeneity, caused by scattering, in typical culture vessels.

Materials And Methods: Three different cubic cell culture vessels, with side lengths of 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm, were designed and irradiated by X-rays of 6 MV and 15 MV at a source-to-surface distance (SSD) of 100 cm using a Varian 2,100CD linear accelerator.

Acquired perforating dermatosis in patients with chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus.

Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is a skin disorder occurring in the patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), diabetes mellitus (DM) or both. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical and histopathological features of APD, and evaluate role of scratching in the pathogenesis of APD. Twelve patients with APD associated with CRF and DM were enrolled in the study.

Glomangiosarcoma of the hand: a case report and review of the literature.

Glomangiosarcomas, or malignant glomus tumors, are very rare, cutaneous, soft tissue tumors. Despite having histologic features of malignancy, these tumors usually do not metastasize. We describe a 74-year-old woman with a glomangiosarcoma on her hand and review the literature.