Optimization of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from biohythane pilot plant effluent by Cupriavidus necator TISTR 1335.

Bioplastics, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), are emerging as promising alternatives to traditional materials due to their biodegradability. This study focuses on the production of PHAs as bioplastics using effluent from hydrogen production in a two-stage Biohythane Pilot Plant, which provides a low-cost substrate. The aim is to optimize production conditions, with Cupriavidus necator TISTR 1335 being used as the PHA producer.

Impact of Functional Fluorinated Porphyrins on the Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells.

Additives play a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), and carefully designed additives contribute to major breakthroughs in device performance. In this study, a series of novel A-π-A-type porphyrin derivatives-PPH-1, PPH-2, and PPF-1-are synthesized, each incorporating pyridyl groups, specifically engineered to function as passivation agents for PSCs. The electron-withdrawing properties of fluorine in PPF-1 increase the molecular polarity, thereby strengthening its interaction with the perovskite and enhancing the passivation efficacy.

Exosomes as promising frontier approaches in future cancer therapy.

In this editorial, we will discuss the article by Tang published in the recent issue of the . They explored an innovative approach to enhancing gemcitabine (GEM) delivery and efficacy using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HU-BMSCs)-derived exosomes. The manufacture of GEM-loaded HU-BMSCs-derived exosomes (Exo-GEM) has been optimized.

Enhancing safety with an AI-empowered assessment and monitoring system for BSL-3 facilities.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent demand for research, which has spurred the development of enhanced biosafety protocols in biosafety level (BSL)-3 laboratories to safeguard against the risks associated with handling highly contagious pathogens. Laboratory management failures can pose significant hazards.

Methods: An external system captured images of personnel entering a laboratory, which were then analyzed by an AI-based system to verify their compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) regulations, thereby introducing an additional layer of protection.

Effect of modified investment and casting system on the recasting properties of high-gold alloy.

Background/purpose: High gold (Au) alloys have many advantages, such as good mechanical properties and stable chemical properties for dental restoration. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the effect of zirconia (ZrO)-magnesia (MgO)-based investment combined with an argon arc vacuum pressure (Ar-arc VP) casting process on the recasting of high Au alloys.

Materials And Methods: The recasting Au alloys were compared between the control group of conventional SiO-based investment/horizontal centrifugal (HC) casting and the experimental group of ZrO-MgO-based investment/Ar-arc VP die casting.

A Novel Real-Time Threshold Algorithm for Closed-Loop Epilepsy Detection and Stimulation System.

Epilepsy, as a common brain disease, causes great pain and stress to patients around the world. At present, the main treatment methods are drug, surgical, and electrical stimulation therapies. Electrical stimulation has recently emerged as an alternative treatment for reducing symptomatic seizures.

Sustainable solar energy deployment: a multi-criteria decision-making approach for site suitability and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Conventional power generation methods have led to adverse environmental impacts. Thus, the need for a strategic transition to alternative energy sources arises. This study presents a comprehensive approach to sustainable solar energy deployment using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques.

Morphology control and enhanced activity of (Cu-S)MOF@ZnS heterostructures for photocatalytic H production.

A novel metal-organic framework (MOF), (Cu-S)MOF, with a copper-sulfur planar structure was applied to photocatalytic H production application. (Cu-S)MOF@ZnS nanocomposite was synthesized using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach. The formation of (Cu-S)MOF and wurtzite ZnS in the composite nanoparticles was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM).

Recent Advances of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels Combined with Natural Colorants in Smart Food Packaging.

Due to the frequent occurrence of food safety problems in recent years, healthy diets are gradually receiving worldwide attention. Chemical pigments are used in smart food packaging because of their bright colors and high visibility. However, due to shortcomings such as carcinogenicity, people are gradually looking for natural pigments to be applied in the field of smart food packaging.

Bioenergy Production from Sorghum Distillers Grains via Dark Fermentation.

Sorghum distillers grains (SDGs) produced from a sorghum liquor company were used for generating biohydrogen via dark fermentation at pH 4.5-6.5 and 55 °C with a batch test, and the biohydrogen electricity generation potential was evaluated.

Using a Bodily Weight-Fat Scale for Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement Based on the Edge Computing System.

Blood pressure (BP) measurement is a major physiological information for people with cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, heart failure, and atherosclerosis. Moreover, elders and patients with kidney disease and diabetes mellitus also are suggested to measure their BP every day. The cuffless BP measurement has been developed in the past 10 years, which is comfortable to users.

A High-Sensitivity Fiber Optic Soil Moisture Sensor Based on D-Shaped Fiber and Tin Oxide Thin Film Coatings.

We present a high-sensitivity fiber optic soil moisture sensor based on side-polished multimode fibers and lossy mode resonance (LMR). The multimode fibers (MMFs), after side-polishing to form a D-shaped structure, are coated with a single-layer SnO thin film by electron beam evaporation with ion-assisted deposition technology. The LMR effect can be obtained when the refractive index of the thin film is positive and greater than its extinction coefficient and the real part of the external medium permittivity.

Suppressing Interface Defects in Perovskite Solar Cells via Introducing a Plant-Derived Ergothioneine Self-Assembled Monolayer.

Perovskite solar cells are among the most promising renewable energy devices, and enhancing their stability is crucial for commercialization. This research presents the use of L-Ergothioneine (L-EGT) as a passivation material in perovskite solar cells, strategically placed between the electron transport layer and the perovskite absorber layer to mitigate defect states at the heterojunction interface. Surface analysis reveals that introducing L-EGT passivation material significantly improves the quality of the perovskite film.

Benefits and drawbacks of radiofrequency ablation percutaneous or minimally invasive surgery for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

The management of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant challenges. While radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has shown safety and effectiveness in treating HCC, with lower mortality rates and shorter hospital stays, its high recurrence rate remains a significant impediment. Consequently, achieving improved survival solely through RFA is challenging, particularly in retrospective studies with inherent biases.

Enrichment of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Microplastics from Coastal Waters.

Despite the adsorption of microplastics (MPs), the precise quantification of their concentrating effect on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remains uncertain. Therefore, in this study, POPs in MPs, POPs in suspended particulate matter (SPM), and dissolved POPs in seawater were distinguished to quantify the enrichment factor (EF) for characterizing the concentrating effects of MPs and SPM on POPs. The results showed that the logarithm of EF (log EF) for POPs in MPs was 5.

Lower level of miR-34a leads to placenta accreta spectrum by promoting the proliferation, migration of trophoblast villous epithelial cells and enhanced the angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells.

Introduction: The overall prevalence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is approximately 0.17 %, but it accounts for 7 % of maternal mortality and is associated with intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. The pathogenesis mechanisms of PAS include an imbalance between decidualization and trophoblast invasion.

Deposition of VS/MoSbilayer layers of 2D material on nickel inverse opal structural substrates by SILAR and ECD processes as supercapacitor electrodes.

The composition, microstructure, and electrochemical properties of the two kinds of thin film electrode materials, namely VS/MoS/Ni-IOS and VS/MoS/Ni-foam, were analyzed. The research results indicate that the self-assembled photonic crystal (PhC) templates with adjusted electrophoretic self-assembly processing parameters (100 V cm; 7 min) would lead the specimen to a face-centered closely packed structure. Metallic nickel inverse opal structure (IOS) PhCs whose thickness can be freely regulated simply by electrochemical deposition time.

The Modern Epidemic of Autoimmunity.

Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, but the presence of autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), does not always lead to autoimmune diseases. Globally, autoimmunity is on the rise, influenced by socioeconomic factors, environmental exposure, diet, and stress. Climate change and pollution further exacerbate risks.

Electrochemical sensing of sodium ions present in bovine serum using 4--butylcalix[4]arene as a receptor.

The concentration of sodium ions can cause severe imbalances (high pressure on blood vessels, swelling of the muscular tissues, and misfunctioning of the whole nervous system) to the human body when its limits are uncontrolled. Thus, it is necessary to determine the amount of sodium ions present in the blood. Electrochemical sensing is an efficient methodology for detecting lower concentrations of ions even with fewer samples.

The impact of job stress on job satisfaction and turnover intentions among bank employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to explore the relationships among job stress, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions among bank employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on variations across different demographic characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected from 501 bank employees using the Job Stress Questionnaire (JSQ), the Simplified Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), and the Intention to Leave Scale (ILS). Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses were used to test the research hypotheses.

Precise Methylation Detection of Tumor Suppressor Gene Promoters by Magnetic Enrichment and Nano Silver Adduct-Promoted Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

Noninvasive liquid biopsies can be used for early tumor diagnosis by identifying the methylation level of the tumor suppressor genes (TSGs)-a reliable index for cancer evaluation. However, identifying trace circulating genes from specimens remains challenging. This work introduces a novel method that combines magnetic isolation and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to concentrate and detect the methylated TSG promotors.

A New Type of Dynamic Vibration Fiber Sensor.

A new-type vibration sensor based on a fiber Bragg grating combined with a special structure-packaged design is proposed for monitoring the mechanical vibration signals. Three different sensing structures, including the film squeeze type, new film squeeze type, and elastic tape squeeze type are proposed for measuring the vibration signals with the frequency range from tens to thousands of Hz. In the comparison to experimental results, the new film squeeze structure has a nice sensing performance in the range from 100 to 1000 Hz with a sensitivity of 0.