Evaluating surfactant effectiveness in preventing antibody adsorption directly on medical surfaces using a novel device.

Biopharmaceuticals, specifically antibody-based therapeutics, have revolutionized disease treatment. Throughout their lifecycle, these therapeutic proteins are exposed to several stress conditions, for example at interfaces, posing a risk to the drug product stability, safety and quality. Therapeutic protein adsorption at interfaces may lead to loss of active product and protein aggregation, with potential immunogenicity risks.

Multiscale study of the chiral self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals during the frontal ultrafiltration process.

The structural organization of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions at the membrane surface during frontal ultrafiltration has been characterized, for the first time, at the nano- and microscale by small-angle X-ray and light scattering (SAXS and SALS, respectively). During filtration, the particles assembled at the membrane surface and formed the so-called concentration polarization layer (CPL), which contains CNCs arranged in a chiral nematic (cholesteric) helicoidal structure, with the long axis of the CNCs oriented parallel to the membrane surface, and the helical axis of the cholesteric structure oriented perpendicular to the membrane surface. The self-organization of CNCs in the form of oriented cholesteric structures was further characterized by a pitch gradient in the CPL.

Prediction of Surface Segregation of Fluorinated Additives from Measurement of Wettability Properties of Polymer-Based Blends.

The aim of this work is to describe the segregation phenomenon of random perfluorinated copolymers toward the surface of a polystyrene (PS) matrix. Three random perfluorinated copolymers, named POISE-a (Polymer prOcessing Interface StabilizEr), synthesized with different amounts of chemically bound fluorine, were mixed with a commercial PS matrix by a solvent casting process. Their effect on the wettability properties of PS as a function of their concentration was measured first under static conditions with different liquids (water, formamide, diethylene glycol) and then under dynamic conditions with water.

Development of an ELISA-based device to quantify antibody adsorption directly on medical plastic surfaces.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) encounter numerous interfaces during manufacturing, storage, and administration. While protein adsorption at the solid/liquid interface has been widely explored on model surfaces, a key challenge remains - the detection of very small amounts of adsorbed mAb directly on real medical surfaces. This study introduces a novel ELISA-based device, ELIBAG, a new tool for measuring mAb adsorption on medical bags.

Growth charts for use at birth and in the neonatal period: Recommendations of the French Neonatal Society.

Introduction: The use of different growth charts can lead to confusion in discussions between professionals. There are obstetric charts (of fetal growth) and neonatal charts (of measurements at birth and of postnatal growth). These charts can be descriptive (derived from an unselected population) or prescriptive (derived from of a population at low risk and with optimal conditions for growth).

Exploring the Limits of Fe-Rich Chemistries in Na-Based CaFeO-Type Postspinel Oxides.

Structural trends, physical properties, and electrochemical performances of the NaFeRuO system have been investigated. Synthesis attempts using both conventional solid-state routes and high-pressure methods were explored for the compositional range 1.0 ≤ ≤ 1.

Chiral nematic nanocomposites with pitch gradient elaborated by filtration and ultraviolet curing of cellulose nanocrystal suspensions.

An innovative method combining frontal filtration with ultraviolet (UV) curing has been implemented to design cellulosic nanocomposite films with controlled anisotropic textures from nanometric to micrometric length scales. Namely, an aqueous suspension containing poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate polymer (PEGDA) as a photocurable polymer and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) at a 70/30 mass ratio was processed by frontal filtration, followed by in-situ UV-curing in a dedicated cell. This procedure allowed designing nanocomposite films with highly oriented and densely-packed CNCs, homogeneously distributed in a PEGDA matrix over a thickness of ca.

Validity of a Delphi consensus definition of growth restriction in the newborn for identifying neonatal morbidity.

Background: Small for gestational age is defined as a birthweight below a birthweight percentile threshold, usually the 10th percentile, with the third or fifth percentile used to identify severe small for gestational age. Small for gestational age is used as a proxy for growth restriction in the newborn, but small-for-gestational-age newborns can be physiologically small and healthy. In addition, this definition excludes growth-restricted newborns who have weights more than the 10th percentile.

Recommendations and good practices for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analyses at low concentrations.

Numerous protocols for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurements on natural water are used in the literature. An ISO protocol for the determination of DOC exists since 2018, but it is certified for DOC values ≥ 1 mg L, while many publications report DOC values much lower. In addition, this ISO protocol does not include indications on vials cleaning, filtering material, and type of caps and septa to be used.

Reversibility in the Physical Properties of Agarose Gels following an Exchange in Solvent and Non-Solvent.

Agarose forms a homogeneous thermoreversible gel in an aqueous solvent above a critical polymer concentration. Contrary to the prevailing consensus, recent confirmations indicate that agarose gels are also stable in non-solvents like acetone and ethanol. A previous study compared gel characterisations and behaviours in water and ethanol, discussing the gelation mechanism.

Tongue reflex for speech posture control.

Although there is no doubt from an empirical viewpoint that reflex mechanisms can contribute to tongue motor control in humans, there is limited neurophysiological evidence to support this idea. Previous results failing to observe any tonic stretch reflex in the tongue had reduced the likelihood of a reflex contribution in tongue motor control. The current study presents experimental evidence of a human tongue reflex in response to a sudden stretch while holding a posture for speech.

Exposure to Canadian French Cued Speech Improves Consonant Articulation in Children With Cochlear Implants: Acoustic and Articulatory Data.

Purpose: One of the strategies that can be used to support speech communication in deaf children is cued speech, a visual code in which manual gestures are used as additional phonological information to supplement the acoustic and labial speech information. Cued speech has been shown to improve speech perception and phonological skills. This exploratory study aims to assess whether and how cued speech reading proficiency may also have a beneficial effect on the acoustic and articulatory correlates of consonant production in children.

Orthotropic organization of a cellulose nanocrystal suspension realized via the combined action of frontal ultrafiltration and ultrasound as revealed by in situ SAXS.

Hypothesis: Rodlike cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) exhibit significant potential as building blocks for creating uniform, sustainable materials. However, a critical hurdle lies in the need to enhance existing or devise novel processing that provides improved control over the alignment and arrangement of CNCs across a wide spatial range. Specifically, the challenge is to achieve orthotropic organization in a single-step processing, which entails creating non-uniform CNC orientations to generate spatial variations in anisotropy.

Fe-Ni-based alloys as highly active and low-cost oxygen evolution reaction catalyst in alkaline media.

NiFe-based oxo-hydroxides are highly active for the oxygen evolution reaction but require complex synthesis and are poorly durable when deposited on foreign supports. Herein we demonstrate that easily processable, Earth-abundant and cheap Fe-Ni alloys spontaneously develop a highly active NiFe oxo-hydroxide surface, exsolved upon electrochemical activation. While the manufacturing process and the initial surface state of the alloys do not impact the oxygen evolution reaction performance, the growth/composition of the NiFe oxo-hydroxide surface layer depends on the alloying elements and initial atomic Fe/Ni ratio, hence driving oxygen evolution reaction activity.

Velocity and Color Estimation Using Event-Based Clustering.

Event-based clustering provides a low-power embedded solution for low-level feature extraction in a scene. The algorithm utilizes the non-uniform sampling capability of event-based image sensors to measure local intensity variations within a scene. Consequently, the clustering algorithm forms similar event groups while simultaneously estimating their attributes.

Establishing a national research software award.

Software development has become an integral part of the scholarly ecosystem, spanning all fields and disciplines. To support the sharing and creation of knowledge in line with open science principles, and particularly to enable the reproducibility of research results, it is crucial to make the source code of research software available, allowing for modification, reuse, and distribution. Recognizing the significance of open-source software contributions in academia, the second French Plan for Open Science, announced by the Minister of Higher Education and Research in 2021, introduced a National Award to promote open-source research software.

What is the utility of measuring gaseous Hg dry deposition using Aerohead samplers?: A review.

The most efficient way to quantify Hg inputs to ecosystems is to measure wet and dry deposition. Wet deposition of Hg is determined by measuring Hg concentrations and the volume of precipitation. Dry deposition of Hg is determined through direct measurement and/or determined indirectly by measuring air concentrations and using model-generated deposition velocities.

Self-supported MOF/cellulose-nanocrystals materials designed from ultrafiltration.

Metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for addressing critical issues such as petrochemical separation, water purification, energy storage and drug delivery. Their large-scale deployment, however, is hampered by a limited processability due to their powdery nature. Recently, the hybridization of MOFs with biopolymers has emerged as a greener, biocompatible strategy to shape MOFs composites into more processable membranes, films, and porous materials.

Characterization of Agarose Gels in Solvent and Non-Solvent Media.

Agarose is known to form a homogeneous thermoreversible gel in an aqueous medium over a critical polymer concentration. The solid-liquid phase transitions are thermoreversible but depend on the molecular structure of the agarose sample tested. The literature has mentioned that agarose gels could remain stable in non-solvents such as acetone or ethanol.

Wetting ridges on slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces.

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) show remarkable liquid repellency, making them useful for many coating applications. The outstanding repellency of SLIPS comes from a lubricant layer stabilized within and at the surface of a porous template. The stability of this lubricant layer is key for SLIPS to exhibit their unique functionality.

Mandacaru cactus as a source of nanofibrillated cellulose for nanopaper production.

In this work, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was extracted from cactus Cereus jamacaru DC. (mandacaru) for nanopaper production. The technique adopted includes alkaline treatment, bleaching, and grinding treatment.

Combined Gold Recovery and Nanoparticle Synthesis in Microbial Systems Using Fractional Factorial Design.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using microorganisms has been generally studied aiming for high-yield production and morphologies appropriated for various applications, such as bioremediation, (bio)sensors, and (bio)catalysis. Numerous approaches showed the individual effect of factors influencing the synthesis of AuNPs with limited analysis of the governing factors enhancing the production and desired quality of the precipitates. This study proposes a fractional-factorial design to investigate the simultaneous influence of seven environmental factors (cell concentration, temperature, anoxic/oxic conditions, pH, gold concentration, electron donor type, and bacterial species) on the recovery yield and synthesis of targeted AuNPs.

Synthesis and characterization of gelatin/lignin hydrogels as quick release drug carriers for Ribavirin.

In this study, hydrogels based on gelatin and lignin were fabricated as efficient drug carriers for Ribavirin. The obtained hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical compression and rheometry. Results showed that the pore structure, viscoelastic behavior and swelling ability significantly influenced by varying lignin content and crosslinker ratio.