Data characterizing a panel of biodegradable cross-linked polyester implants for sustained delivery of an anti-viral drug.

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is currently administered orally to patients for treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and as a part of a combination therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A long-acting delivery system could provide several advantages as a formulation strategy for this drug including improved patient adherence, convenience, more consistent drug levels and potentially fewer side effects. To date, the vast majority of polymer-based long-acting delivery systems have been prepared from poly(lactide--glycolide) [1].

Quantitative investigation of a 3D bubble trapper in a high shear stress microfluidic chip using computational fluid dynamics and L*A*B* color space.

Microfluidic chips often face challenges related to the formation and accumulation of air bubbles, which can hinder their performance. This study investigated a bubble trapping mechanism integrated into microfluidic chip to address this issue. Microfluidic chip design includes a high shear stress section of fluid flow that can generate up to 2.

Pulmonary Delivery of Nonviral Nucleic Acid-Based Vaccines With Spotlight on Gold Nanoparticles.

Nucleic acid-based vaccines are leading-edge tools in developing next-generation preventative care. Much research has been done to convert vaccine gene therapy from an invasive to a noninvasive administration approach. The lung's large surface area and permeability make the pulmonary route a promising noninvasive delivery option for vaccines, with systemic and local applications.

Major individual and regional variations in unit entrainment by oscillations of different frequencies.

In vitro studies have shown that a neuron's electroresponsive properties can predispose it to oscillate at specific frequencies. In contrast, network activity in vivo can entrain neurons to rhythms that their biophysical properties do not predispose them to favor. However, there is limited information on the comparative frequency profile of unit entrainment across brain regions.

Assessment of a 6-arylaminobenzamide lead derivative as a potential core scaffold for S1P positron emission tomography radiotracer development.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate-5 receptors (S1P) are predominantly expressed in oligodendrocytes and as a result have been proposed as an important target in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Selective S1P radiotracers could enable in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of oligodendrocytes activity. Here we report the synthesis, radiolabelling and first preclinical evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and binding properties of a lead 6-arylaminobenzamide derivative, 6-(mesitylamino)-2-methoxy-3-methylbenzamide (also named as TEFM180), as a potential core scaffold for development of novel S1P PET radiotracers.

Postprandial Vascular Effects of a High Potassium Meal in Patients with Treated Hypertension.

Background: There is compelling evidence of an inverse association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP). A potential mechanism for this effect may be dietary potassium-mediated augmentation of endothelium-dependent relaxation. To date, studies have investigated potassium intake supplementation over several weeks in healthy volunteers with variable results on vascular function.

Unveiling the potential of bean proteins: Extraction methods, functional and structural properties, modification techniques, physiological benefits, and diverse food applications.

Bean proteins, known for their sustainability, versatility, and high nutritional value, represent a valuable yet underutilized resource, receiving less industrial attention compared to soy and pea proteins. This review examines the structural and molecular characteristics, functional properties, amino acid composition, nutritional value, antinutritional factors, and digestibility of bean proteins. Their applications in various food systems, including baked goods, juice and milk substitutes, meat alternatives, edible coatings, and 3D printing inks, are discussed.

Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Aryl Triflates with Alkyl Halides: Mechanism-Informed Design of More General Conditions.

Aryl triflates make up a class of aryl electrophiles that are available in a single step from the corresponding phenol. Despite the known reactivity of nickel complexes for aryl C-O bond activation of phenol derivatives, nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling using aryl triflates has proven challenging. Herein, we report a method to form C(sp)-C(sp) bonds by coupling aryl triflates with alkyl bromides and chlorides using phenanthroline (phen) or pyridine-2,6-bis(-cyanocarboxamidine) (PyBCam)-ligated nickel catalysts.

Using cationic liposomes as carriers for long dsRNA to trigger an antiviral response in rainbow trout cell lines.

Long dsRNA induces the expression of type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) to establish an antiviral state. When induced prophylactically, this antiviral state can reduce the severity and mortality of viral infections. One of the limiting factors in delivering dsRNA in animal models is the lack of an effective carrier that protects the dsRNA from degradation in the extracellular space.

Aggregated gold nanoparticles as photoactivators for the photopolymerization of proteins.

Photopolymerization of bovine serum albumin was carried out using reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the irradiation of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The ROS in this case, singlet oxygen (O), targets aromatic amino acids within the protein to induce photopolymerization or crosslinking. Other ROS, like the hydroxyl radical, can also form in solution and under high-energy irradiation.

Abnormal skeletal muscle and myocardial vasoreactivity manifests prior to heart failure in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model.

Background: Microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is a recognized sign of disease in heart failure progression. Intact blood vessels exhibit abnormal vasoreactivity in early stage, subsequently deteriorating to rarefaction and reduced perfusion. In managing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), earlier diagnosis is key to improving management.

Sex and gender in perioperative cardiovascular research: protocol for a scoping review.

Background: The inadequate inclusion of sex and gender in medical research has resulted in biased clinical guidance and disparities in knowledge and patient outcomes. Despite efforts by regulatory and funding agencies, opportunities to generate sex-specific knowledge are frequently overlooked. While certain disciplines in cardiovascular medicine have made notable progress, these advances have yet to permeate the literature on perioperative cardiovascular complications in non-cardiac surgery.

A park-based group mobility program for older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a qualitative process evaluation of the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial.

Background: The Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) randomized controlled trial showed that a workshop and 10-week park-based outdoor walk group (OWG) was superior to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) with increasing walking capacity, but not outdoor walking activity, health-promoting behavior, or successful aging, among older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. The objective of this planned process evaluation was to explore participants' perceptions of mechanisms of impact of and contextual factors influencing experiences with the interventions to help explain the observed intervention effects on study outcomes.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews conducted at 6-months post-baseline was conducted.

Interactions between cellulose nanocrystals and conventional/gemini surfactants.

Research on the interaction between surfactants and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) has mainly focused on the interaction between CNC and conventional surfactants, and there are no reported studies on the interaction between CNC and gemini surfactants. The interactions between CNC and conventional surfactant (tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, termed as TTAB), asymmetric gemini surfactant ([CH(CH)N(CH)N(CH)CH]Br (14-6-6)) or symmetric gemini surfactant ([CH(CH)N(CH)N(CH)CH]Br (14-6-14)) were examined. With increasing surfactant concentration, interaction of TTAB/CNC was described by three regions, i.

Electric dipole moment of excited octupolar molecules: Potential qubit implementation.

The first excited state of conjugated donor-acceptor molecules of C3 symmetry (octupolar molecules) is doubly degenerate. Such a doublet is known to be isomorphic to a spin 1/2. It is shown that a large electric dipole moment is associated with this spin.

Whole-Body MRI in Children: Concepts and Controversies- Expert Panel Narrative Review.

The use of whole-body MRI (WBMRI) in children, from infancy to adolescence, has expanded rapidly over the past decade, with increasing uptake and a broadening range of clinical indications. Current indications include screening for presymptomatic lesions in cancer predisposition syndromes; tumor staging in known malignancies; investigating fevers of unknown origin; as well as diagnosing and monitoring rheumatologic diseases, vascular anomalies and neuromuscular disorders. This AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review aims to offer a comprehensive discussion of WBMRI in pediatric patients, exploring protocols and other technical considerations, clinical indications, implementation challenges and troubleshooting, as well as controversies in widespread adoption, while considering emerging trends and directions.

Constrained Nuclear-Electronic Orbital Transition State Theory Using Energy Surfaces with Nuclear Quantum Effects.

Hydrogen-atom transfer is crucial in a myriad of chemical and biological processes, yet the accurate and efficient description of hydrogen-atom transfer reactions and kinetic isotope effects remains challenging due to significant quantum effects on hydrogenic motion, especially tunneling and zero-point energy. In this paper, we combine transition state theory (TST) with the recently developed constrained nuclear-electronic orbital (CNEO) theory to propose a new transition state theory denoted CNEO-TST. We use CNEO-TST with CNEO density functional theory (CNEO-DFT) to predict reaction rate constants for two prototypical gas-phase hydrogen-atom transfer reactions and their deuterated isotopologic reactions.

Engineered Therapeutic Bacteria with High-Yield Membrane Vesicle Production Inspired by Eukaryotic Membrane Curvature for Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are emerging as powerful natural nanoparticles with transformative potential in medicine and industry. Despite their promise, scaling up BMV production and ensuring stable isolation and storage remain formidable challenges that limit their broader application. Inspired by eukaryotic mechanisms of membrane curvature, we engineered DH5α to serve as a high-efficiency BMV factory.

Spectroscopic and Computational Insights into the Mechanism of Cofactor Cobalt-Carbon Bond Homolysis by the Adenosylcobalamin-Dependent Enzyme Ethanolamine Ammonia-Lyase.

The adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl)-dependent enzyme ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (EAL) catalyzes the conversion of ethanolamine to acetaldehyde and ammonia. As is the case for all AdoCbl-dependent isomerases, the catalytic cycle of EAL is initiated by homolytic cleavage of the cofactor's Co-C bond, producing Cocobalamin (CoCbl) and an adenosyl radical that serves to abstract a hydrogen atom from the substrate. Remarkably, in the presence of substrate, the rate of Co-C bond homolysis of enzyme-bound AdoCbl is increased by 12 orders of magnitude.

Effect of Indenter Load on Vickers Microhardness and Indentation Depth of One Resin Composite.

The load and size of the indentation may affect the hardness value. This study investigated the effect of the indentation size on the microhardness of one resin-based composite (RBC). Metal molds 4 mm deep and 12 mm in diameter were filled with Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (Ivoclar) and light-cured for 10 s using a broad-spectrum LED curing light.

Physically Consistent Resolving Simulations of Turbulent Flows.

Usually applied simulation methods for turbulent flows as large eddy simulation (LES), wall-modeled LES (WMLES), and detached eddy simulation (DES) face significant challenges: they are characterized by improper resolution variations and essential practical simulation problems given by huge computational cost, imbalanced resolution transitions, and resolution mismatch. Alternative simulation methods are described here. By using an extremal entropy analysis, it is shown how minimal error simulation methods can be designed.

The Good, the Bad, and the Fungus: Insights into the Relationship Between Plants, Fungi, and Oomycetes in Hydroponics.

Hydroponic systems are examples of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and present a promising alternative to traditional farming methods by increasing productivity, profitability, and sustainability. In hydroponic systems, crops are grown in the absence of soil and thus lack the native soil microbial community. This review focuses on fungi and oomycetes, both beneficial and pathogenic, that can colonize crops and persist in hydroponic systems.

Implementation processes and capacity-building needs in Ontario maternal-newborn care hospital settings: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Maternal-newborn care does not always align with the best available evidence. Applying implementation science to change initiatives can help move evidence-informed practices into clinical settings. However, it remains unknown to what extent current implementation practices in maternal-newborn care align with recommendations from implementation science, and how confident nurses, other health professionals, and leaders are completing steps in the implementation process.

Engineering the Ratios of Nanoparticles Dispersed in Triphasic Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications.

Polymer/ceramic nanocomposites integrated the advantages of both polymers and ceramics for a wide range of biomedical applications, such as bone tissue repair. Here, we reported triphasic poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA, LA/GA = 90:10) nanocomposites with improved dispersion of hydroxyapatite (HA) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles using a process that integrated the benefits of ultrasonic energy and dual asymmetric centrifugal mixing. We characterized the microstructure and composition of the nanocomposites and evaluated the effects of the HA/MgO ratios on degradation behavior and cell-material interactions.