Effects of Thermal Demagnetization in Air on the Microstructure and Organic Contamination of NdFeB Magnets.

Demagnetization is an essential step for the demounting and safe handling of end-of-life NdFeB. Thermal demagnetization in air is a straightforward option to demount adhesive-fixed or segmented magnets. However, this process is suspected to increase the uptake of contaminants like O, C and Zn from coatings and adhesives, potentially degrading the recyclate quality.

The Impact of Bone Marrow Involvement on Prognosis in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: An 18F-FDG PET/CT Volumetric Segmentation Study.

Background: This study assessed the prognostic value of tumor burden in bone marrow (BM) and total disease (TD), as depicted on 18F-FDG PET/CT in 140 DLBCL patients, for complete remission after first-line systemic treatment (iCR) and 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS3 and OS5).

Methods: Baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT scans of 140 DLBCL patients were segmented to quantify metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and SUVmax in BMI, findings elsewhere (XL), and TD.

Results: Bone marrow involvement (BMI) presented in 35 (25%) patients.

Copper oxide nanoparticles-decorated cellulose acetate: Eco-friendly catalysts for reduction of toxic organic dyes in aqueous media.

In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the potential of catalytic reduction using copper oxide nanoparticles decorated cellulose acetate as a biosupport (CuO@CA) for the removal of specific pollutants. The prepared catalyst was submitted to a series of spectroscopy techniques for characterization purposes. The results of the catalytic tests on methylene orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) solutions suggest that the elimination efficiency may be influenced by several factors, including the catalyst dose and the concentration of the pollutant.

Nutrition among nursing home residents: results from the NutriCare study.

Background: Older adults living in nursing homes (NHs) are considered a vulnerable population in terms of nutrition. The aim of the present study was to explore the usual intake of energy, macronutrients, and specific food groups, along with offers in the NH menus on a nationally representative sample of Slovenian NH residents and compare dietary patterns with the established recommendations.

Methods: The study was conducted as part of a cross-sectional NutriCare study on 317 residents (65-101 years) from 20 Slovenian NHs in 9 health regions.

A multifaceted approach to understanding protein-buffer interactions in biopharmaceuticals.

The excipient selection process plays a crucial role in biopharmaceutical formulation development to ensure the long-term stability of the drug product. Though there are numerous options approved by regulatory authorities, only a subset is commonly utilized. Previous research has proposed various stabilization mechanisms, including protein-excipient interactions.

Switchable topological polar states in epitaxial BaTiO nanoislands on silicon.

A fascinating aspect of nanoscale ferroelectric materials is the emergence of topological polar textures, which include various complex and stable polarization configurations. The manipulation of such topological textures through external stimuli like electric fields holds promise for advanced nanoelectronics applications. There are, however, several challenges to reach potential applications, among which reliably creating and controlling these textures at the nanoscale on silicon, and with lead-free compounds.

Explainable machine learning for predicting diarrhetic shellfish poisoning events in the Adriatic Sea using long-term monitoring data.

In this study, explainable machine learning techniques are applied to predict the toxicity of mussels in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea) caused by harmful algal blooms. By analysing a newly created 28-year dataset containing records of toxic phytoplankton in mussel farming areas and diarrhetic shellfish toxins in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), we train and evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML) models to accurately predict diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) events. Based on the F1 score, the random forest model provided the best prediction of toxicity results at which the harvesting of mussels is stopped according to EU regulations.

An Effective Route to Enhance Pt/C Electrocatalyst Durability through Addition of Ceramic Nanoparticles to Facilitate Pt Redeposition.

Platinum particle growth during long-term operations is one of the well-known bottlenecks offsetting the performance and stability of Pt-based electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and PEM water electrolyzers. In this research, the addition of certain ceramic nanoparticulate additives to the catalyst ink was evaluated as a means of improving the electrochemical stability of a carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) electrocatalyst in gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) during an accelerated stress test (AST). GDEs prepared using three nanoparticulate ceramic additives (TiN, ATO, and TiO) with three loadings (replacing 5, 10, and 15 wt % of the catalyst) were studied for their electrochemical performance, i.

Evaluation of plasma activated liquids for the elimination of mixed species biofilms within endoscopic working channels.

The use of reusable flexible endoscopes has increased dramatically over the past decade, however despite improvements in endoscope reprocessing, the continued emergence of endoscopy-associated outbreaks as a result of multi-drug resistant bacteria has highlighted the need for a new approach to disinfection. Here, the use of plasma activated liquids (PALs) for the elimination of mixed species biofilm contamination within the working channels of endoscopes was evaluated. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma was used to chemically activate water and a commercially available pH buffered peracetic acid to create PALs.

Epithermal neutron activation dosimetry-(n, γ) reactions under boron-based filters.

Neutron activation dosimetry is the primary method for the determination of the neutron flux or fluence, and in general, it is sensitive to the thermal and resonance energy ranges (radiative capture reactions- reactions) and the fast energy range (threshold reactions). However, there are very few nuclear reactions which are sensitive specifically to neutrons in the intermediate-epithermal-energy region. This energy region, along with the fast energy range, will become particularly important in the development and deployment of new reactor technologies (Generation IV reactors and Small Modular Reactors-SMRs), which are currently being championed as technologies enabling a meaningful contribution to decarbonization and the fight against climate change, as well as nuclear fusion.

Why Including Solvation is Paramount: First-Principles Calculations of Electrochemical CO Reduction to CO on a Cu Electrocatalyst.

Electrochemical reduction reaction of CO (eCORR) to produce valuable chemicals offers an attractive strategy to solve energy and environmental problems simultaneously. We have mapped out entire reaction pathways of eCORR to CO on Cu(100), including all intermediates and transition states using first-principles simulations. To accurately account for the solvent effect, the reaction was investigated with and without explicit water molecules, highlighting the limitations of the often (mis)used vacuum reaction pathway simplification.

Thermally Stable Capacitive Energy-Density and Colossal Electrocaloric and Pyroelectric Effects of Sm-Doped Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO Thin Films.

Sm-doped Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO (Sm-PMN-PT) bulk materials have revealed outstanding ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties due to enhanced local structural heterogeneity. In this study, we further explore the potential of Sm-PMN-PT by fabricating epitaxial thin films by pulsed laser deposition, revealing that Sm doping significantly improves the capacitive energy-storage, piezoelectric, electrocaloric, and pyroelectric properties of PMN-PT thin films. These Sm-PMN-PT thin films exhibit fatigue-free performance up to 10 charge-discharge cycles and maintain thermal stability across a wide temperature range from -40 to 200 °C.

Towards reliable hyperspectral imaging biomarkers of CT26 murine tumor model.

The non-invasive monitoring of tumor growth can offer invaluable diagnostic insights and enhance our understanding of tumors and their microenvironment. Integrating hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with three-dimensional optical profilometry (3D OP) makes contactless and non-invasive tumor diagnosis possible by utilizing the inherent tissue contrast provided by visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) light. Consequently, valuable information regarding tumors and healthy tissues can be extracted from the acquired hyperspectral images.

Copper and zinc status in cord blood and breast milk and child's neurodevelopment at 18 months: Results of the Italian PHIME cohort.

Background: Trace elements, including zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), although toxic at higher concentrations are known to play important roles in the maintenance of human health and neurodevelopment. Few epidemiological studies have investigated the association between prenatal or early postnatal Cu and Zn levels and child neurodevelopment. The aim of this research is to assess the association between child neurodevelopment at 18 months of age and cord blood and breast milk concentrations of Cu and Zn in Italian mother-child pairs enrolled in the Italian Northern Adriatic Cohort II (NAC-II), a part of the "Public health impact of long-term, low-level, mixed element exposure in susceptible population strata" project PHIME.

Respective Roles of Electron-Phonon and Electron-Electron Interactions in the Transport and Quasiparticle Properties of SrVO_{3}.

The spectral and transport properties of strongly correlated metals, such as SrVO_{3} (SVO), are widely attributed to electron-electron (e-e) interactions, with lattice vibrations (phonons) playing a secondary role. Here, using first-principles electron-phonon (e-ph) and dynamical mean field theory calculations, we show that e-ph interactions play an essential role in SVO: they govern the electron scattering and resistivity in a wide temperature range down to 30 K, and induce an experimentally observed kink in the spectral function. In contrast, the e-e interactions control quasiparticle renormalization and low temperature transport, and enhance the e-ph coupling.

Initiation of epithelial wound closure by an active instability at the purse string.

The ability of biological systems to withstand and recover from various disruptions, such as spontaneous genetic mutations and environmental damage, largely relies on intricate feedback mechanisms. We theoretically study the mechanical response of an epithelial tissue facing damage in the form of a circular wound. Our model describes a feedback loop between the generation of active forces in the actomyosin and tissue mechanics, described by the vertex model.

Effect of menstrual cycle phase on physiological responses in healthy women at rest and during submaximal exercise at high altitude.

As more women engage in high-altitude activities, understanding how ovarian hormone fluctuations affect their cardiorespiratory system is essential for optimizing acclimatization to these environments. This study investigates the effects of menstrual cycle (MC) phases on physiological responses at rest, during and after submaximal exercise, at high-altitude (barometric pressure 509 ± 6 mmHg; partial pressure of inspired oxygen 96 ± 1 mmHg; ambient temperature 21 ± 2 °C and relative humidity 27 ± 4%) in 16 eumenorrheic women. Gas exchange, hemodynamic responses, heart rate variability and heart rate recovery (HRR) were monitored at low altitude, and then at 3375 m on the Mont Blanc (following nocturnal exposure) during both the early-follicular (EF) and mid-luteal (ML) phases.

Evaluation of physical and chemical isolation methods to extract and purify extracellular polymeric substances.

The pathogenic bacterium is a major food safety concern as it can form biofilms that increase its survival and infective potential. Biofilms consist of microbial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM), which is made of water and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which are critical for structural integrity and pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to optimize a protocol for the isolation of ECM.

Assessment of marine litter interactions with urban coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan.

This study assessed different reef zones (lagoon, reef crest, reef slope) in three urban locations around Okinawa Island (Mizugama, Ginowan, Sunabe) and two marine protected areas around nearby Aka Island (Hizushi, Sakubaru) for marine litter pollution and litter interactions with reef organisms. A total reef area of 2250 m was surveyed by scuba diving, and 46 marine litter items were recorded. Litter density ranged from 0.

Biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of medical stainless steel and titanium modified by alumina and hafnia films prepared by atomic layer deposition.

New methods for producing surfaces with suitable biocompatible properties are desirable due to increasing demands for biomedical devices. Stainless steel 316 L and cp- titanium specimens were coated with thin films of alumina and hafnia deposited using the atomic layer deposition method at two temperatures, 180 and 260 °C. The morphology of the films was analysed using scanning electron microscopy, and their surface energies were determined based on drop contact angle measurements.

Improved Adhesion of Bacterial Cellulose on Plasma-Treated Cotton Fabric for Development of All-Cellulose Biocomposites.

Cellulose produced by bacteria (BC) is considered a promising material for the textile industry, but the fragile and sensitive nature of BC membranes limits their broad applicability. Production of all-cellulose biocomposites, in which the BC is cultivated in situ on a cotton fabric, could solve this problem, but here a new issue arises, namely poor adhesion. To overcome this challenge, cotton fabric was modified with low-pressure oxygen plasma in either afterglow, E-mode, or H-mode.

Leveraging Environmental Contact and Sensor Feedback for Precision in Robotic Manipulation.

This paper investigates methods that leverage physical contact between a robot's structure and its environment to enhance task performance, with a primary emphasis on improving precision. Two main approaches are examined: solving the inverse kinematics problem and employing quadratic programming, which offers computational efficiency by utilizing forward kinematics. Additionally, geometrical methods are explored to simplify robot assembly and reduce the complexity of control calculations.

Effects of Hydrogen Dissociation During Gas Flooding on Formation of Metal Hydride Cluster Ions in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry.

The application of hydrogen flooding was recently shown to be a simple and effective approach for improved layer differentiation and interface determination during secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiling of thin films, as well as an approach with potential in the field of quantitative SIMS analyses. To study the effects of hydrogen further, flooding of H molecules was compared to reactions with atomic H on samples of pure metals and their alloys. H was introduced into the analytical chamber via a capillary, which was heated to approximately 2200 K to achieve dissociation.