Can α-Mangostin and Photodynamic Therapy Support Ciprofloxacin in the Inactivation of Uropathogenic and Strains?

Multidrug-resistant bacteria represent a significant challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections, often leading to therapeutic failures. This issue underlines the need to develop strategies that improve the efficacy of conventional antibiotic therapies. In this study, we aimed to assess whether a plant-derived compound, α-mangostin, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) could enhance the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin against uropathogenic strains of and .

Synthesis of New Promising BNCT Agents Based on Conjugates of -Dodecaborate Anion and Aliphatic Diamino Acids.

In this work, a series of boronated amidines based on the -dodecaborate anion and amino acids containing an amino group in the side chain of the general formula [BHNHC(NH(CH)CH(NH)COOH)CH], where n = 2, 3, 4, were synthesized. These derivatives contain conserved α-amino and α-carboxyl groups recognized by the binding centers of the large neutral amino acid transporter (LAT) system, which serves as a target for the clinically applied BNCT agent para-boronophenylalanine (BPA). The paper describes several approaches to synthesizing the target compounds, their acute toxicity studies, and tumor uptake studies in vivo in two tumor models.

Evaluation of as a Feed Additive in Low-Protein Diets of Broilers.

is a natural antioxidant product that has the ability to improve the performance of poultry. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of using as a feed additive in broiler diets. A total of 252 daily male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to six groups.

Changes in the Phenotype and Metabolism of Peritoneal Macrophages in Mucin-2 Knockout Mice and Partial Restoration of Their Functions In Vitro After L-Fucose Treatment.

In the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), peritoneal macrophages contribute to the resident intestinal macrophage pool. Previous studies have demonstrated that oral administration of L-fucose exerts an immunomodulatory effect and repolarizes the peritoneal macrophages in vivo in mice. In this study, we analyzed the phenotype and metabolic profile of the peritoneal macrophages from mice, as well as the effect of L-fucose on the metabolic and morphological characteristics of these macrophages in vitro.

Sustainable Materials and Structures Used in Pavement Engineering.

Sustainable materials and structures have become widely used in asphalt pavements to mitigate the resource crisis and achieve carbon neutrality [...

Evaluation of 3D-Printed Connectors in Chair Construction: A Comparative Study with Traditional Mortise-and-Tenon Joints.

The present paper investigates the possibility of replacing the traditional L-type corner joint used in chair construction with a 3D printed connector, manufactured using the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method and black PLA as filament. The connector was designed to assemble the legs with seat rails and stretchers, and it was tested under diagonal tensile and compression loads. Its performance was compared to that of the traditional mortise-and-tenon joint.

Study on the Mechanism Between Weld Microstructure and Crack Tie Opening Displacement Fracture Toughness of the Steel Catenary Riser.

Fracture toughness is an important index related to the service safety of marine risers, and weld is an essential component of the steel catenary risers. In this paper, microscopic structure characterization methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD), as well as mechanical experiments like crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) and nanoindentation, were employed to conduct a detailed study on the influence of the microstructure characteristics of multi-wire submerged arc welded seams of steel catenary riser pipes on CTOD fracture toughness. The influence mechanisms of each microstructure characteristic on fracture toughness were clarified.

Current Strategies in Developing Antibacterial Surfaces for Joint Arthroplasty Implant Applications.

Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) remain a significant challenge, occurring in 1% to 2% of joint arthroplasties and potentially leading to a 20% to 30% mortality rate within 5 years. The primary pathogens responsible for PJIs include Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Gram-negative bacteria, typically treated with intravenous antibiotic drugs. However, this conventional approach fails to effectively eradicate biofilms or the microbial burden in affected tissues.

Effect of Surface Finishing and Nitriding on the Wetting Properties of Hot Forging Tools.

Lubrication is a critical aspect of the metal forming process and it is strongly influenced by the surface texture of the tool-forming surfaces. This study is focused on determining the effect of surface finish and heat treatment on wettability involving commonly used lubrication agents. Three different finishing states are evaluated (as-ground, as-polished and as-nitrided).

Dynamic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy in Galvanostatic Mode as a Tool for Passive Layer State Monitoring in a Chloride Solution Under a Mechanical Load.

Mechanical stress is one of the factors influencing the initiation of pitting corrosion and deterioration of the protective properties of the passive layer on stainless steel. The tests carried out on AISI 304L stainless steel showed that, in the 3.5% NaCl environment for samples loaded in the elastic and plastic range, no pitting corrosion initiation was observed.

Qualitative Research of Composite Graphene Membranes Using the Electric Mode in SEM and AFM.

The development of new graphene-based materials necessitates the application of suitable material imaging techniques, especially for the identification of defects in the graphene structure and its continuity. For this purpose, it is natural to use one of the main properties of graphene-electrical conductivity. In this work, we prepare a 9 cm large-area monolayer graphene membrane on porous scaffolding sealed with either GO or rGO.

Preparation of FeO/C Composite Material from Red Mud for the Degradation of Acid Orange 7.

This study presents a novel FeO/C composite material synthesized from red mud through a process of magnetic roasting and separation. The research explores the impact of FeO/C dosages, sodium persulfate (PS) concentrations, and initial solution pH on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency using Acid Orange 7 as a model pollutant. Optimal conditions were identified as 3 g/L FeO/C, 20 mM PS, and an initial pH of 2, achieving a 94.

A Dynamic Tensile Method Using a Modified M-Typed Specimen Loaded by Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar.

Obtaining reliable dynamic mechanical properties through experiments is essential for developing and validating constitutive models in material selection and structural design. This study introduces a dynamic tensile method using a modified M-type specimen loaded by a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). A closed M-type specimen was thus employed.

The Impact of an MDP-Containing Primer on the Properties of Zinc Oxide Networks Infiltrated with BisGMA-TEGDMA and UDMA-TEGDMA Polymers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the material properties of polymer-infiltrated zinc oxide networks (PICN) and the effect of using a phosphate monomer-containing primer applied before polymer infiltration. A total of 148 ZnO-network (zinc oxide) specimens were produced: = 74 were treated with a primer before polymer infiltration and light curing, while the remaining specimens were untreated. Each group was divided into two subgroups ( = 37) based on the infiltrating polymer: UDMA (aliphatic urethane-dimethacrylates)-TEGDMA (triethylene glycol-dimethacrylate) or BisGMA (bisphenol A-glycidyl-methacrylate)-TEGDMA.

Abrasive Wear Performance of Spherical Hierarchical Structured TiC/High-Manganese Steel Composites.

The abrasive wear performance of TiC particle-reinforced high-manganese steel matrix composites with a spherical hierarchical structure under moderate impact energy was investigated. In the composites, TiC particles (10 μm in diameter) were concentrated within discrete spherical composite regions with diameters of about 100 μm. Impact abrasive wear tests were conducted to evaluate the wear performance of the composites with different volume fractions (30%, 40%, and 50%) of TiC particles compared with the matrix and a uniformly distributed TiC particle composite.

Preparation Process of In Situ MgB Material with Ex Situ MgB Barrier to Obtain Long Sections of Superconducting Multicore Wires.

In the present study, our emphasis was directed towards the fabrication process of long multi-core superconducting wires, each spanning several hundred meters. These wires feature an in situ MgB core, an ex situ MgB barrier, and a copper shield. The cost-effectiveness of these constituent materials, coupled with a judicious arrangement of internal components, facilitates the utilization of an economical shielding material for the resulting wire.

The Potential of Using Shungite Mineral from Eastern Kazakhstan in Formulations for Rubber Technical Products.

This study examined the effect of partially replacing semi-reinforcing carbon black grade N550 (up to 10 pts. wt.) and fully replacing industrial chalk with natural shungite mineral in industrial formulations of elastomer compositions intended for manufacturing various rubber technical products.

The Influence of Process Parameters on Hydrogen-Terminated Diamond and the Enhancement of Carrier Mobility.

With the development of diamond technology, its application in the field of electronics has become a new research hotspot. Hydrogen-terminated diamond has the electrical properties of P-type conduction due to the formation of two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) on its surface. However, due to various scattering mechanisms on the surface, its carrier mobility is limited to 50-200 cm/(Vs).

Synthesis, Characterization, and Investigation of Corona Formation of Dipeptide-Based Nanomaterials.

Peptide-based nanomaterials can be easily functionalized due to their functional groups, as well as being biocompatible, stable under physiological conditions, and nontoxic. Here, diphenylalanineamide-based nanomaterials (FFANMs) were synthesized, decorated with Ca ions to set the surface charge, and characterized for possible use in gene delivery and drug release studies. FFANMs were characterized by SEM, TEM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and LC-MS/MS.

Co-Flocculation of Mixed-Sized Colloidal Particles in Aqueous Dispersions Under a DC Electric Field.

When an electric field is applied to or removed from colloidal particle aqueous dispersions, a reversible increase in sedimentation velocity of the colloidal particles, referred to as the Electrically Induced Rapid Separation (ERS) effect, is observed. While electrophoresis and other interfacial electrokinetic phenomena under applied electric fields are well-studied, the phenomena of particle aggregation and re-dispersion caused by the application and removal of the field remain largely unexplored despite their significance. Experiments using mixed aqueous dispersions of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles of different sizes revealed that applying an electric field induced the formation of co-flocs involving both large and small particles, significantly enhancing the sedimentation velocity.

Design Optimization of the Mechanics of a Metamaterial-Based Prosthetic Foot.

This paper is dedicated to the analysis of a foot prosthesis optimization process, with a particular focus on the application of optimization algorithms and unconventional materials, such as auxetic materials. The study aims to enhance prosthesis performance by minimizing the difference between the ground reaction force generated by the prosthetic foot and that of a natural limb. In the initial part of the study, the basic topics concerning the parameterization of the foot prosthesis geometry and the preparation of a finite element model for human gait are discussed.

Analyzing the Vibration Response of Adhesively Bonded Composite Cantilevers.

In this study, we investigated the vibration of adhesively bonded composite cantilevers consisting of two beech wood lamella and a bondline of flexible polyurethane. The beams had a constant total height, while the thickness of the adhesive layer varied. We analyzed both the driven and free vibration of a single cantilever beam and a cantilever with an additional mass attached to its end.

Numerical Study on the Shear Behavior of a Late-Model Cold-Formed Stainless Steel C-Shaped Beam.

The failure mode of thin-walled C-channel beams typically manifests as premature local buckling of the compression flange, leading to insufficient utilization of material strength in both the flange and the web. To address this issue, this study adopts the approach of increasing the number of bends to reinforce the flange and adding V-shaped stiffeners in the middle of the web to reduce the width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements, thereby delaying local buckling and allowing for greater plastic deformation. However, the challenge lies in the irregular cross-sectional shape and complex buckling patterns.

Alkali-Activated Permeable Concretes with Agro-Industrial Wastes for a Sustainable Built Environment.

This research presents a proposal for alkali-activated permeable concrete composites with the use of industrial by-products, including ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and waste-foundry sand, as well as agro-desecrate product, i.e., sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA).