Polymeric resins containing modified starch as environmentally friendly adsorbents for dyes and metal ions removal from wastewater.

Effective removal of organic and inorganic impurities by adsorption technique requires the preparation of new materials characterized by low production costs, significant sorption capacity, and reduced toxicity, derived from natural and renewable sources. To address these challenges, new adsorbents have been developed in the form of polymer microspheres based on ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and vinyl acetate (VA) (EGDMA/VA) containing starch (St) modified with boric acid (B) and dodecyl-S-thiuronium dodecylthioacetate (DiTDTA) for the removal of dyes: C.I.

Bound states in the continuum in whispering gallery resonators with pointlike impurities.

Whispering gallery resonators offer a versatile platform for manipulating the photonic transmission. Here, we study such a system, including periodically distributed pointlike impurities along the resonator with ring geometry. Based on an exact expression for the transmission probability we obtain here, we demonstrate that the bound states in the continuum (BICs) form from the whispering gallery modes at the high-symmetry momenta in the ring's Brillouin zone.

A modelling study to explore the effects of regional socio-economics on the spreading of epidemics.

Epidemics, apart from affecting the health of populations, can have large impacts on their social and economic behavior and subsequently feed back to and influence the spreading of the disease. This calls for systematic investigation which factors affect significantly and either beneficially or adversely the disease spreading and regional socio-economics. Based on our recently developed hybrid agent-based socio-economy and epidemic spreading model we perform extensive exploration of its six-dimensional parameter space of the socio-economic part of the model, namely, the attitudes towards the spread of the pandemic, health and the economic situation for both, the population and government agents who impose regulations.

ATP1A3 dysfunction causes motor hyperexcitability and afterhyperpolarization loss in a dystonia model.

Mutations in the gene encoding the alpha3 Na+/K+-ATPase isoform (ATP1A3) lead to movement disorders that manifest with dystonia, a common neurological symptom with many different origins, but for which the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We have generated an ATP1A3 mutant mouse that displays motor impairments and a hyperexcitable motor phenotype compatible with dystonia. We show that neurons harboring this mutation are compromised in their ability to extrude raised levels of intracellular sodium, highlighting a profound deficit in neuronal sodium homeostasis.

Binary Nature of Collisions Facilitates Runaway Electron Generation in Weakly Ionized Plasmas.

Dreicer generation is one of the main mechanisms of runaway electron generation in weakly ionized plasmas. It is often described as a diffusive flow from the Maxwellian core into high energies under the effect of the electric field. In this Letter we demonstrate a critical role of the binary nature of inelastic collisions in weakly ionized plasma during tokamak startup, where some electrons experience virtually no collisions during acceleration to the critical energy.

Dual-Responsive Nanoparticles for Smart Drug Delivery: A NIR Light-Sensitive and Redox-Reactive PEG-PCL-Based System.

Stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) can serve as smart drug delivery systems (DDSs) by triggering drug release upon external or internal stimuli. A dual-responsive DDS made of a triblock poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-SS-PEG-SS-PCL) copolymer, bearing disulfide bonds between PCL and PEG, was synthesized. The copolymer was functionalized with coumarin and sensitive to near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, while the S-S bonds could be cleaved by GSH (10 mM).

Advanced Flexible Wearable Electronics from Hybrid Nanocomposites Based on Cellulose Nanofibers, PEDOT:PSS and Reduced Graphene Oxide.

The need for responsible electronics is leading to great interest in the development of new bio-based devices that are environmentally friendly. This work presents a simple and efficient process for the creation of conductive nanocomposites using renewable materials such as cellulose nanofibers (CNF) from enzymatic pretreatment, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and/or reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Different combinations of CNF, rGo, and PEDOT:PSS were considered to generate homogeneous binary and ternary nanocomposite formulations.

Life cycle assessment of biochar filters for on-site wastewater treatment.

Biochar is a promising filter material for wastewater treatment. This study evaluated the environmental (climate, eutrophication, acidification) impacts of biochar filters for onsite wastewater treatment and compared them with those of a conventional sand filter. Using a parameterised life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, these three impact categories were quantified for two designs of biochar filter and a sand filter, used in normal and sensitive areas as defined by Swedish government recommendations.

Screening the organic materials database for superconducting metal-organic frameworks.

The increasing financial and environmental cost of many inorganic materials has motivated study into organic and "green" alternatives. However, most organic compounds contain a large number of atoms in the primitive unit cell, posing a significant barrier to high-throughput screening for functional properties. In this work, we attempt to overcome this challenge and identify superconducting candidates among the metal-organic-frameworks in the organic materials database using a recently proposed proxy for the electron-phonon coupling.

Tailored Interaction between Cellulose Nanowhiskers and Core-Shell Particles Determines the Optical and Mechanical Properties in Hybrid Films.

Hybrid materials of core-shell particles and cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were synthesized to produce opal films with increasing tensile strength. After the incorporation of CNWs into the processed particle films, differences in the mechanical and optical properties were noticeable, which stemmed from the adhesion forces between the cellulose and the particles' shell material. Two different particle compositions were compared, using polystyrene as cores, and either poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) or a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and 3 wt % of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the shell material.

Understanding the role of CaCl in salt substitute for low-salt and high-quality surimi products.

Salt substitute has been widely used to prepare low-salt foods due to potential health benefits, though the role of CaCl in salt substitute and its unique impacts on food quality have been rarely investigated. In this study, comprehensive research has been conducted to elucidate the effects of replacing NaCl with varying concentrations of CaCl on the surimi gel characteristics. The introduction of CaCl interacted with surimi proteins differently from NaCl, thus leading to difference in protein aggregation behaviors and surimi gel properties.

Developing novel hybrid bilayer nanofibers based on polylactic acid with impregnation of chamomile essential oil and gallic acid-stabilized silver nanoparticles.

This study presents fabrication and characterization of novel chamomile essential oil (CMO)/gallic acid-stabilized silver nanoparticles (gallic acid-nanosilver, GNS), embedded into polylactic acid (PLA)-based hybrid bilayer nanofibers (NFs). Where CMO was impregnated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution and electrospun simultaneously with PLA to obtain PLA/PVA-PEG-CMO NFs (PLA/CMO A2). Meanwhile, GNS were added to PVA-PEG-CMO and electrospun to obtain PLA/PVA-PEG-CMO-GNS NFs (PLA/CMO-GNS A3).

Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Training in Neuroscience: Insights from the Human Brain Project Education Programme.

Neuroscience education is challenged by rapidly evolving technology and the development of interdisciplinary approaches for brain research. The Human Brain Project (HBP) Education Programme aimed to address the need for interdisciplinary expertise in brain research by equipping a new generation of researchers with skills across neuroscience, medicine, and information technology. Over its ten year duration, the programme engaged over 1,300 experts and attracted more than 5,500 participants from various scientific disciplines in its blended learning curriculum, specialised schools and workshops, and events fostering dialogue among early-career researchers.

BMI trajectories from birth to young adulthood associate with distinct cardiometabolic profiles.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated links between body mass index (BMI) trajectories and cardiovascular risk, yet discrepancies in BMI measurement duration and timing of the cardiovascular-related outcome evaluation have led to inconsistent findings.

Methods: We included participants from the Swedish birth cohort (BAMSE) and applied latent class mixture modeling to identify BMI trajectories using data of multiple BMI measures (≥ 4 times) from birth until 24-year follow-up (n = 3204). Subsequently, we analyzed the associations of BMI trajectories with lipids (n = 1974), blood pressure (n = 2022), HbA1c (n = 941), and blood leukocytes (n = 1973) using linear regression.

Sensitive imaging of actinide materials in shielded radioactive waste.

This paper reports on the development of a method for enhanced non-destructive assay (NDA) of radioactive waste using the novel technique neutron-gamma emission tomography (NGET). The technique relies on the detection of correlated fast neutrons and gamma rays emitted in spontaneous or induced fission. It is based on fast organic scintillators and enables sensitive detection and three-dimensional (3D) localization of the fission events.

A bispecific CD40 agonistic antibody allowing for antibody-peptide conjugate formation to enable cancer-specific peptide delivery, resulting in improved T proliferation and anti-tumor immunity in mice.

Current antibody-based immunotherapy depends on tumor antigen shedding for proper T cell priming. Here we select a novel human CD40 agonistic drug candidate and generate a bispecific antibody, herein named BiA9*2_HF, that allows for rapid antibody-peptide conjugate formation. The format is designed to facilitate peptide antigen delivery to CD40 expressing cells combined with simultaneous CD40 agonistic activity.

Direct Experimental Characterization of a Sialyl Cation.

Sialic acids are monosaccharide residues involved in several biological processes. Controlling the stereoselectivity of sialylation reactions is challenging and mechanistic studies on the structure of its intermediate, the sialyl cation, are scarce. Here it is shown that a sialyl cation can be generated and isolated from an ionized sialic acid precursor.

Modeling the recent drought and thinning impacts on energy, water and carbon fluxes in a boreal forest.

Globally, boreal forests act as important carbon sinks, however, drought and forest management could substantially alter the sink strength, though the controlling mechanisms of drought and management remain unclear. In this study, we combined the detailed process-based CoupModel with multiple measurements to study the impacts of recent drought and forest thinning on a boreal forest during 2018-2021. CoupModel after calibration showed high ability to represent the dynamics of long-term net ecosystem exchange and its responses to environmental changes.

System analysis with life cycle assessment for NiMH battery recycling.

The nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery technology has been designed for use in electric vehicles, solar-powered applications and power tools. These batteries contain the critical and strategic raw materials cobalt, nickel and several rare earth elements (REE). When designing a battery recycling process, there are several choices to be made regarding end-products and process chemicals.

A sustainable methodological approach for mitigation of salt stress of rice seedlings in coastal regions: Identification of halotolerant rhizobacteria from Noakhali, Bangladesh and their impact.

Salinity hinders the growth of many crops common in the diet, such as rice, wheat and maize when cultivated in coastal salinity areas. Given the limited availability of cultivable land and the increasing growth of the population, it is necessary to enhance productivity. In this paper, we present an innovative approach to adopting Halotolerant Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (HPGPR) to enhance salt-tolerant rice varieties to solve salinity stress and enhance crop production.

Five weeks of intermittent hand exposures to alternating cold and hot stimuli do not modify finger cold-induced vasodilatation response.

We tested the hypothesis that prolonged intermittent hand exposures to transient contrast thermal stimuli would enhance the finger cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) response during localized cooling. Eight healthy men participated in a 5-week regimen, during which they immersed, thrice per week, the non-dominant (EXP) hand in 8° and 43 °C water, sequentially and at 3-min intervals, for a total period of 60 min. The contralateral (i.

On the determination of charge and nitrogen content in cellulose fibres modified to contain quaternary amine functionality.

Research interest in quaternization of cellulose fibres has increased considerably over the past decades. However, there is little or no consensus regarding how to characterize the material in terms of degree of substitution (DS), and the literature suggests a range of different methods focusing on charge determination as well as nitrogen content quantification. This work aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding how the different methods perform in relation to each other, and for what cellulosic systems each method has advantages, disadvantages and even potential pitfalls.

Synchronized ultrasonography and electromyography signals detection enabled by nanocellulose based ultrasound transparent electrodes.

Accurate evaluation of electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of the skeletal muscles is critical to establish a comprehensive assessment of the human neuromusculoskeletal function in vivo. However, current technological challenges lie in unsynchronized and unparallel operation of separate acquisition systems such as surface electromyography (sEMG) and ultrasonography. Key problem is the lack of ultrasound transparency of current electrophysiological electrodes.

The Circulating Proteome─Technological Developments, Current Challenges, and Future Trends.

Recent improvements in proteomics technologies have fundamentally altered our capacities to characterize human biology. There is an ever-growing interest in using these novel methods for studying the circulating proteome, as blood offers an accessible window into human health. However, every methodological innovation and analytical progress calls for reassessing our existing approaches and routines to ensure that the new data will add value to the greater biomedical research community and avoid previous errors.