Prevalence of single-nucleotide variants in twenty-five pharmacogenes from a Cuban sample cohort.

Introduction: The Cuban population is genetically diverse, and information on the prevalence of genetic variants is still limited. As complex admixture processes have occurred, we hypothesized that the frequency of pharmacogenetic variants and drug responses may vary within the country. The aims of the study were to describe the frequency distribution of 43 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) from 25 genes of pharmacogenetic interest within the Cuba population and in relation to other populations, while taking into consideration some descriptive variables such as place of birth and skin color.

A Comparative Evaluation of Powder Characteristics of Recycled Material from Bronze Grinding Chips for Additive Manufacturing.

In the manufacturing process of ship propellers, large quantities of grinding chips are generated. These grinding chips result from the finishing of the blade surfaces after the primary casting process of the propeller. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare different preparation processes used to produce chip powders with sufficient powder quality for the additive manufacturing process of directed energy deposition.

Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Dimethyl Ether on CuO-ZnO/ZSM-5 Catalysts: Comparison of Powder and Electrospun Structures.

The promising direct dimethyl ether (DME) production through CO hydrogenation was systematically analyzed in this research by synthesizing, characterizing, and testing several catalytic structures. In doing so, various combinations of precipitation and impregnation of copper- and zinc-oxides (CuO-ZnO) over a ZSM-5 zeolite structure were applied to synthesize the hybrid catalysts capable of hydrogenating carbon dioxide to methanol and dehydrating it to DME. The resulting catalytic structures, including the co-precipitated, sequentially precipitated, and sequentially impregnated CuO-ZnO/ZSM-5 catalysts, were prepared in the form of particle and electrospun fibers with distinguished chemical and structural features.

Synthesis of novel metal silica nanoparticles exhibiting antimicrobial potential and applications to combat periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease caused by bacterial plaque that affects millions of people and has substantial worldwide health and economic implications. However, current clinical antiseptic and antimicrobial drug therapies are insufficient because they frequently have numerous side effects and contribute to widespread bacterial resistance. Recently, nanotechnology has shown promise in the synthesis of novel periodontal therapeutic materials.

Transition Metal Borides for All-in-One Radiation Shielding.

All-in-one radiation shielding is an emerging concept in developing new-generation radiation protection materials since various forms of ionizing radiation, such as neutrons and gamma rays, can occur simultaneously. In this study, we examine the ability of transition metal borides to attenuate both photon and particle radiation. Specifically, fourteen different transition metal borides (including inner transition metal borides) are selected for examination based on their thermodynamic stabilities, molecular weights, and neutron capture cross-sections of the elements they contain.

Additive Manufacturing of Biodegradable Hemp-Reinforced Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) and Its Mechanical Characterization.

The additive manufacturing of natural fibre-reinforced polymers is a pivotal method in developing sustainable engineering solutions. Using the fused filament fabrication method, the current study investigates the additive manufacturing of hemp-reinforced polybutylene succinate (PBS) alongside its mechanical characterization. Two types of hemp reinforcement are considered: short fibres (max.

Core-Sheath Pt-CeO/Mesoporous SiO Electrospun Nanofibers as Catalysts for the Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction.

One-dimensional (1D) core-sheath nanofibers, platinum (Pt)-loaded ceria (CeO) sheath on mesoporous silica (SiO) core were fabricated, characterized, and used as catalysts for the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS). CeO nanofibers (NFs) were first prepared by electrospinning (ES), and then Pt nanoparticles were loaded on the CeO NFs using two different deposition methods: wet impregnation and solvothermal. A mesoporous SiO sheath layer was then deposited by sol-gel process.

Rapid wet chemical synthesis of bioactive glass with high yield by probe sonication.

Bioactive glasses (BGs) are inorganic biomaterials which possess favourable properties for bone repair and regeneration. The biological properties of the BGs depend on their physical features. This manuscript describes a simple methodology for rapid synthesis of BG nanoparticles (NPs) with tailored physical properties using ultrasonic disruption produced by an ultrasonic probe.

Hierarchically porous and mechanically stable monoliths from ordered mesoporous silica and their water filtration potential.

Mechanically stable structures with interconnected hierarchical porosity combine the benefits of both small and large pores, such as high surface area, pore volume, and good mass transport capabilities. Hence, lightweight micro-/meso-/macroporous monoliths are prepared from ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 by means of spark plasma sintering (SPS, S-sintering) and compared to conventionally (C-) sintered monoliths. A multi-scale model is developed to fit the small angle X-ray scattering data and obtain information on the hexagonal lattice parameters, pore sizes from the macro to the micro range, as well as the dimensions of the silica population.

Characterization and Multiscale Modeling of the Mechanical Properties for FDM-Printed Copper-Reinforced PLA Composites.

Additive manufacturing is an emerging technology and provides high design flexibility to customers. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an economical and promising additive manufacturing method. Due to its many advantages, FDM received great attention in recent years, and comprehensive studies are being undertaken to investigate the properties of FDM-printed polymers and polymer composites.

Porous Silicon Oxycarbonitride Ceramics with Palladium and PdSi Nanoparticles for Dry Reforming of Methane.

Pd-containing precursor has been synthesized from palladium acetate and poly(vinly)silazane (Durazane 1800) in an ice bath under an argon atmosphere. The results of ATR-FTIR and NMR characterizations reveal the chemical reaction between palladium acetate and vinyl groups in poly(vinyl)silazane and the hydrolyzation reaction between -Si-H and -Si-CH=CH groups in poly(vinyl)silazane. The palladium nanoparticles are in situ formed in the synthesized precursors as confirmed by XRD, XPS, and TEM.

MOF-derived nanocrystalline ZnO with controlled orientation and photocatalytic activity.

We show here that MOF-5, a sample Zn-based MOF, can uniquely transform into distinct zinc oxide nanostructures. Inspired by the interconversion synthesis of zeolites, we converted MOF-5 into nanocrystalline ZnO. We found the conversion of MOF-5 into ZnO to be tunable and straightforward simply by controlling the treatment temperature and choosing an appropriate structure-directing agent (SDA).

Effect of Bio-Inspired Polymer Types on Engineering Characteristics of Cement Composites.

Cement concrete is the most commonly used building and construction material worldwide because of its many advantages. Over time, however, it develops cracks due to shrinkage and tension, which may lead to premature failure of the entire structure. Recently, the incorporation of polymers has been explored to improve the overall strength and durability of cement concrete.

Engineering Characteristics of Cement Composites Containing a Chitosan-Based Polymer and Steel Slag Aggregates.

Recently, sustainable development has attracted significant global attention. Toward this, several studies have been performed on the development of alternative aggregates for mortar or concrete to prevent environmental damage and rapid depletion of natural aggregates. In this study, we investigated the applicability of a chitosan-based polymer (CBP), a biomimetic polymer, to cement mortar using steel slag as a fine aggregate.

Effect of Cultivation Conditions on Its Adsorption Performance for Anionic and Cationic Dyes.

Lab-cultivated mycelia of (FF), grown on a solid lignocellulose medium (FF-SM) and a liquid glucose medium (FF-LM), and naturally grown fruiting bodies (FF-FB) were studied as biosorbents for the removal of organic dyes methylene blue and Congo red (CR). Both the chemical and microstructural differences were revealed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, illuminating the superiority of FF-LM and FF-SM over FF-FB in dye adsorption. The adsorption process of CR on FF-LM and FF-SM is best described by the Redlich-Peterson model with β constants close to 1, that is, approaching the monolayer Langmuir model, which reach maximum adsorption capacities of 48.

RBFNN Design Based on Modified Nearest Neighbor Clustering Algorithm for Path Tracking Control.

Radial basis function neural networks are a widely used type of artificial neural network. The number and centers of basis functions directly affect the accuracy and speed of radial basis function neural networks. Many studies use supervised learning algorithms to obtain these parameters, but this leads to more parameters that need to be determined, thereby making the system more complex.

Extrusion-based additive manufacturing of fungal-based composite materials using the tinder fungus Fomes fomentarius.

Background: Recent efforts in fungal biotechnology aim to develop new concepts and technologies that convert renewable plant biomass into innovative biomaterials. Hereby, plant substrates become metabolized by filamentous fungi to transform them into new fungal-based materials. Current research is thus focused on both understanding and optimizing the biology and genetics underlying filamentous fungal growth and on the development of new technologies to produce customized fungal-based materials.

Mussel-Inspired Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogel Coating of Titanium Alloy with Antibacterial and Bioactive Properties.

Infection-related titanium implant failure rates remain exceedingly high in the clinic. Functional surface coating represents a very promising strategy to improve the antibacterial and bioactive properties of titanium alloy implants. Here, we describe a novel bioactive surface coating that consists of a mussel-inspired carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance the bioactive properties of the titanium alloy.

Strength, Carbonation Resistance, and Chloride-Ion Penetrability of Cement Mortars Containing Catechol-Functionalized Chitosan Polymer.

There have been numerous recent studies on improving the mechanical properties and durability of cement composites by mixing them with functional polymers. However, research into applying modified biopolymer such as catechol-functionalized chitosan to cement mortar or concrete is rare to the best of our knowledge. In this study, catechol-functionalized chitosan (Cat-Chit), a well-known bioinspired polymer that imitates the basic structures and functions of living organisms and biological materials in nature, was synthesized and combined with cement mortar in various proportions.

Enhanced Bioavailability of Dihydrotanshinone I-Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles for Stroke Therapy.

Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) is a natural component in and has been widely researched for its multiple bioactivities. However, poor solubility and biocompatibility of DHT limit its desirable application for clinical purposes. Herein, DHT was encapsulated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to enhance bioavailability.

Simulated and Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Properties and Solubility of 3D-Printed Capsules for Self-Healing Cement Composites.

In the concrete industry, various R&D efforts have been devoted to self-healing technology, which can maintain the long-term performance of concrete structures, which is important in terms of sustainable development. Cracks in cement composites occur and propagate because of various internal and external factors, reducing the composite's stability. Interest in "self-healing" materials that can repair cracks has led researchers to embed self-healing capsules in cement composites.

Optimization of Manufacturing Parameters and Tensile Specimen Geometry for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-Printed PETG.

Additive manufacturing provides high design flexibility, but its use is restricted by limited mechanical properties compared to conventional production methods. As technology is still emerging, several approaches exist in the literature for quantifying and improving mechanical properties. In this study, we investigate characterizing materials' response of additive manufactured structures, specifically by fused deposition modeling (FDM).

Evaluation of bone formation in neonatal mouse calvariae using micro-CT and histomorphometry: an in vitro study.

Neonatal calvarial bone has been widely used for investigating the biological behaviour of intramembranous bones. This work evaluated the bone formation of neonatal calvarial bone by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometry. Moreover, the viability of neonatal calvarial bone and the effect of micro-CT radiation exposure on neonatal calvarial bone viability were investigated.

Influence of Different Types of Peroxides on the Long-Chain Branching of PP via Reactive Extrusion.

Long-chain branching (LCB) is known as a suitable method to increase the melt strength behavior of linear polypropylene (PP), which is a fundamental weakness of this material. This enables the modification of various properties of PP, which can then be used-in the case of PP recyclates-as a practical "upcycling" method. In this study, the effect of five different peroxides and their effectiveness in building LCB as well as the obtained mechanical properties were studied.

Bacterial cellulose hydrogel loaded with lipid nanoparticles for localized cancer treatment.

The use of hybrid materials, where a matrix sustains nanoparticles controlling the release of the chemotherapeutic drug, could be beneficial for the treatment of primary tumors prior or after surgery. This localized chemotherapy would guarantee high drug concentrations at the tumor site while precluding systemic drug exposure minimizing undesirable side effects. We combined bacterial cellulose hydrogel (BC) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) including doxorubicin (Dox) as a drug model.