A comprehensive review on the enantiomeric separation of chiral drugs using metal-organic frameworks.

Chiral drugs play an important role in modern medicine, but obtaining pure enantiomers from racemic mixtures can pose challenges. When a drug is chiral, only one enantiomer (eutomer) typically exhibits the desired pharmacological activity, while the other (distomer) may be biologically inactive or even toxic. Racemic drug formulations introduce additional health risks, as the body must still process the inactive or detrimental enantiomer.

A worldwide study of white matter microstructural alterations in people living with Parkinson's disease.

The progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with microstructural alterations in neural pathways, contributing to both motor and cognitive decline. However, conflicting findings have emerged due to the use of heterogeneous methods in small studies. Here we performed a large diffusion MRI study in PD, integrating data from 17 cohorts worldwide, to identify stage-specific profiles of white matter differences.

Systematic establishment of the relationship between skin absorption and toxicity of furanoids via in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assessments.

Furanoids are a class of contaminants prevalent in both airborne and occupational environments, with potential health implications through inhalation, oral ingestion, and skin penetration. Given their diminutive molecular size, there is a presumption that furanoids can readily permeate the skin. To systematically explore this presumption, we investigated the skin absorption and toxicity of a series of furans (furfuryl alcohol, furfuryl acetate, furfural, methyl 2-furoate, and 5-methylfurfural) using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo models.

Exploring the characteristics and source-attributed health risks associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metal elements in atmospheric PM during warm and cold periods in the northern metropolitan area of Taiwan.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal elements are commonly considered hazardous air pollutants due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. However, few studies have simultaneously examined their potential sources and health effects. This study aimed to quantify the PAHs and metal elements in atmospheric PM, investigating their characteristics and potential sources to assess associated health risks in the northern metropolitan area of Taiwan.

Evaluation of the Alveolar Crest and Cemento-Enamel Junction in Periodontitis Using Object Detection on Periapical Radiographs.

The severity of periodontitis can be analyzed by calculating the loss of alveolar crest (ALC) level and the level of bone loss between the tooth's bone and the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ). However, dentists need to manually mark symptoms on periapical radiographs (PAs) to assess bone loss, a process that is both time-consuming and prone to errors. This study proposes the following new method that contributes to the evaluation of disease and reduces errors.

A Cost-Effective Approach to Creating Large Silicone Rubber Molds Using Advanced Rigid Polyurethane Foam.

In practical applications, polyurethane (PU) foam must be rigid to meet the demands of various industries and provide comfort and protection in everyday life. PU foam components are extensively used in structural foam, thermal insulation, decorative panels, packaging, imitation wood, and floral foam, as well as in models and prototypes. Conventional technology for producing PU foam parts often leads to defects such as deformation, short shots, entrapped air, warpage, flash, micro-bubbles, weld lines, and voids.

Investigating solvent effects on synthesizing novel cobalt hydroxide and fluoride complex from Co(BF) as active materials of the battery supercapacitor hybrid.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives with tunable pore structure and improved conductivity are intensively designed as electroactive materials. Incorporating structure directing agents (SDA) is beneficial for designing MOF derivatives with excellent electrochemical performances. Ammonium fluoroborate has been reported as an effective SDA, coupled with cobalt salt and 2-methylimidazole, to synthesize zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) derivatives for charge storage.

Exploring the key elements for the successful management of primary otolaryngologic clinics in Taiwan.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the key elements for successful operation and management of primary otolaryngologic clinics in Taiwan amidst a declining birth rate and increasing competition among clinics. It employs the Innovation Through Tradition (ITT) theory as a theoretical framework to develop an operational model for effective management strategies.

Methods: This research utilized the triangulation method to identify key elements crucial for the operation and management of primary otolaryngologic clinics.

Drug repurposing of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors for neutrophilic acute respiratory distress syndrome and psoriasis.

Background: Neutrophilic inflammation, characterized by dysregulated neutrophil activation, triggers a variety of inflammatory responses such as chemotactic infiltration, oxidative bursts, degranulation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation, and delayed turnover. This type of inflammation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and psoriasis. Despite current treatments, managing neutrophil-associated inflammatory symptoms remains a significant challenge.

Fabrication and Characterization of PLA/PBAT Blends, Blend-Based Nanocomposites, and Their Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Induced Foams.

In this study, a twin-screw extruder was used to fabricate poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends and blend-based nanocomposites with carbon nanotube (CNT) or nanocarbon black (CB) as nanofillers. The fabricated samples were subsequently treated with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO) to fabricate the corresponding foams. Bi-phasic morphology and selective distribution of CNTs or CBs in the PBAT phase were observed in the blends/composites through scanning electron microscopy.

Zinc and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Pioneering Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Strategies for Environmental Restoration against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

This study explores the challenge of antimicrobial resistance by investigating the utilization of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The synthesized metal oxide NPs underwent thorough characterization through various analytical techniques, confirming their nanoparticulate nature. Electronic absorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed successful reduction processes and crystalline properties, respectively.

Differential Back Muscle Flexion-Relaxation Phenomenon in Constrained versus Unconstrained Leg Postures.

Previous studies examining the flexion-relaxation phenomenon (FRP) in back muscles through trunk forward flexion tests have yielded inconsistent findings, primarily due to variations in leg posture control. This study aimed to explore the influence of leg posture control and individual flexibility on FRP in back and low limb muscles. Thirty-two male participants, evenly distributed into high- and low-flexibility groups, were recruited.

Auxiliary Diagnosis of Dental Calculus Based on Deep Learning and Image Enhancement by Bitewing Radiographs.

In the field of dentistry, the presence of dental calculus is a commonly encountered issue. If not addressed promptly, it has the potential to lead to gum inflammation and eventual tooth loss. Bitewing (BW) images play a crucial role by providing a comprehensive visual representation of the tooth structure, allowing dentists to examine hard-to-reach areas with precision during clinical assessments.

Flexible and Disposable Hafnium Nitride Extended Gates Fabricated by Low-Temperature High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering.

To obtain a high-performance extended gate field-effect transistor for pH detection, hafnium nitride (HfN) was first fabricated on an indium tin oxide on polyethylene terephthalate (ITO/PET) substrate using a high-power impulse magnetron sputter system (HiPIMS) in this study. It can be easily applied in biomedical diagnostic and environmental monitoring applications with the advantages of flexible, disposable, cost-effective, and reliable components. Various duty cycle conditions in HiPIMSs were designed to investigate the corresponding sensing performance and material properties including surface morphology and composition.

Enhancing Power Conversion Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells with Magnetoplasmonic FeO@Au@m-ABS Nanoparticles.

Organic-inorganic nanocomposites have the potential to be used in photovoltaic materials due to their eco-friendliness, suitable band gaps, and high stability. In this work, we integrated gold and FeO magnetic nanoparticles with poly-m-amino benzene sulfonic (m-ABS) to synthesize FeO@Au@poly-(m-aminobenzenesulfonic acid) (FeO@Au@m-ABS) magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles (MPNPs) to enhance the performance of the organic photovoltaic (OPV). These MPNPs exhibit broad UV-Vis absorption and a low band gap of 2.

Thunb. Ethanol Extract Exerts a Protective Effect on Normal Human Gastric Epithelial Cells by Modulating the Activity of Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-α-Induced Inflammatory Cyclooxygenase 2/Prostaglandin E2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9.

Gastric inflammation-related disorders are commonly observed digestive system illnesses characterized by the activation of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This results in the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E (PEG) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9). These factors contribute to the pathogenesis of gastric inflammation disorders.

Exploring the Charge-Transport and Optical Characteristics of Organic Doublet Radicals: A Theoretical and Experimental Study with Photovoltaic Applications.

Herein, we present a series of stable radicals containing a trityl carbon-centered radical moiety exhibiting interesting properties. The radicals demonstrate the most blue-shifted anti-Kasha doublet emission reported so far with high color purity (full width at half-maximum of 46 nm) and relatively high photoluminescence quantum yields of deoxygenated toluene solutions reaching 31%. The stable radicals demonstrate equilibrated bipolar charge transport with charge mobility values reaching 10 cm/V·s at high electric fields.

Achieving High Efficiency and Stability in Organic Photovoltaics with a Nanometer-Scale Twin p-i-n Structured Active Layer.

In pursuing high stability and power conversion efficiency for organic photovoltaics (OPVs), a sequential deposition (SD) approach to fabricate active layers with p-i-n structures (where p, i, and n represent the electron donor, mixed donor:acceptor, and electron acceptor regions, respectively, distinctively different from the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure) has emerged. Here, we present a novel approach that by incorporating two polymer donors, and , and one small-molecule acceptor, , into the active layer with sequential deposition, we formed a device with nanometer-scale twin p-i-n structured active layer. The twin p-i-n device involved first depositing a blend under layer and then a top layer and exhibited an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 18.

Development of ternary hybrid composites of transition metal and noble metal-based heterostructures: Ultrasensitive simultaneous electrochemical detection of bisphenol A and bisphenol S in food samples.

Bisphenols threaten human health and sensitive detection is crucial. The present study aims to develop ternary composites of copper metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF) with AuAg microstructures. The composite structure was formed by a galvanic displacement reaction and confirmed using SEM.

Team interaction behaviors correlates with team creativity among nursing students: Canonical correlation and moderation analyses.

Background: Prior studies have indicated team members' interaction behaviors may predict creativity among nursing students.

Methods: This study investigated the correlation between interaction behaviors and creativity, both individual- and team-level, among nursing students. In this cross-sectional quantitative study, data were obtained from self-reported questionnaires.

Novel in-situ encapsulation of tin phosphide particles in MXene conductive networks as anode materials of the durable sodium-ion battery.

Sodium-ion battery (SIB) is one of potential alternatives to lithium-ion battery, because of abundant resources and lower price of sodium. High electrical conductivity and long-term durability of MXene are advantageous as the anode material of SIB, but low energy density restricts applications. Tin phosphide possesses high theoretical capacity, low redox potential, and large energy density, but volume expansion reduces its cycling stability.

Green sonochemical synthesis of ZnCoO decorated with carbon nanofibers for enhanced electrochemical detection of bisphenol A in food products.

The facile sonochemical synthesis is reported of zinc cobalt oxide (ZnCoO) composited with carbon nanofiber (CNF). Structural, chemical, and morphological were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoluminescent spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. ZnCoO/CNF-modified GCE was applied to the detection of bisphenol A (BPA).