Propagation of Orientation Across Lengthscales in Sheared Self-Assembling Hierarchical Suspensions via Rheo-PLI-SAXS.

Simultaneous rheological, polarized light imaging, and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments (Rheo-PLI-SAXS) are developed, thereby providing unprecedented level of insight into the multiscale orientation of hierarchical systems in simple shear. Notably, it is observed that mesoscale alignment in the flow direction does not develop simultaneously across nano-micro lengthscales in sheared suspensions of rod-like chiral-nematic (meso) phase forming cellulose nanocrystals. Rather, with increasing shear rate, orientation is observed first at mesoscale and then extends to the nanoscale, with influencing factors being the aggregation state of the hierarchy and concentration.

Design of Extruded Nanostructured Composites via Decoupling of the Cellulose Nanofibril/Poly(butylene adipate--terephthalate) Interface.

The full exploitation of the outstanding mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as potential reinforcements in nanocomposite materials is limited by the poor interactions at the CNF-polymer matrix interface. Within this work, tailor-made copolymers were designed to mediate the interface between CNFs and biodegradable poly(butylene adipate--terephthalate) (PBAT), and their effect on extruded nanocomposite performance was tested. For this purpose, two well-defined amphiphilic anchor-tail diblock copolymer structures were compared, with a fixed anchor block length and a large difference in the hydrophobic tail block length.

Sustainable Hull maintenance strategies in Baltic Sea region through case studies of RoPax vessels.

Determining optimal maintenance strategies in unique maritime environments like the Baltic Sea is challenging, as it should consider various aspects, including ship characteristics and environmental conditions. This study employs the decision support tool HullMASTER (Hull MAintenance STrategies for Emission Reduction) to assess the life cycle costs of different hull maintenance scenarios for RoPax vessels in the Baltic Sea. Findings indicate that optimal hull management can save operators up to €9.

Usnic acid brief exposure suppresses cariogenic properties and complexity of biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms are highly structured surface associated architecture of micro-colonies, which are strongly bonded with the exopolymeric matrix of their own synthesis. These exopolymeric substances, mainly exopolysaccharides (EPS) initially assist the bacterial adhesion and finally form a bridge over the microcolonies to protect them from environmental assaults and antimicrobial exposure. Bacterial cells in dental biofilm metabolize dietary carbohydrates and produce organic acids.

Layer-number-dependent photoswitchability in 2D MoS-diarylethene hybrids.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is a notable two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) with properties ideal for nanoelectronic and optoelectronic applications. With growing interest in the material, it is critical to understand its layer-number-dependent properties and develop strategies for controlling them. Here, we demonstrate a photo-modulation of MoS flakes and elucidate layer-number-dependent charge transfer behaviors.

The type of environment has a greater impact on the larval microbiota of Anopheles arabiensis than on the microbiota of their breeding water.

Mosquito larvae of the genus Anopheles develop entirely in water, frequently visiting the surface for air. The aquatic environment plays a key role in shaping their microbiota, but the connection between environmental characteristics of breeding sites and larval microbiota remains underexplored. This study focuses on Anopheles arabiensis, which inhabits the surface microlayer (SML) of breeding sites, a zone with high particle density.

Viral diversity and host associations in microbial electrolysis cells.

In microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), microbial communities catalyze conversions between dissolved organic compounds, electrical energy, and energy carriers such as hydrogen and methane. Bacteria and archaea, which catalyze reactions on the anode and cathode of MECs, interact with phages; however, phage communities have previously not been examined in MECs. In this study, we used metagenomic sequencing to study prokaryotes and phages in nine MECs.

Does road environment aesthetics influence risky driving behavior of autonomous vehicles? An evaluation on road readiness using explainable machine learning and random parameters multinomial logit with heterogeneity.

Aesthetics has always been an advanced requirement in road environment design, because it can provide a pleasant driving experience and guide better driving behavior for human drivers. However, it remains unknown whether aesthetics-based road environment design also has an impact on autonomous vehicles (AVs), resulting in that current evaluation models on road readiness for AVs (RRAV) do not consider road environment aesthetics. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between road environment aesthetics and risky driving behavior of AVs (RDBAV) and propose an RRAV evaluation model from the new perspective of road environment aesthetics.

Effects of Alkyl Spacer Length in Carbazole-Based Self-Assembled Monolayer Materials on Molecular Conformation and Organic Solar Cell Performance.

Carbazole-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM) materials as hole transport layers (HTL) have led organic solar cells (OSCs) to state-of-the-art photovoltaic performance. Nonetheless, the impact of the alkyl spacer length of SAMs remains inadequately understood. To improve the knowledge, four dichloride-substituted carbazole-based SAMs (from 2Cl-2PACz to 2Cl-5PACz) with spacer lengths of 2-5 carbon atoms is developed.

Model-assisted CRISPRi/a library screening reveals central carbon metabolic targets for enhanced recombinant protein production in yeast.

Production of recombinant proteins is regarded as an important breakthrough in the field of biomedicine and industrial biotechnology. Due to the complexity of the protein secretory pathway and its tight interaction with cellular metabolism, the application of traditional metabolic engineering tools to improve recombinant protein production faces major challenges. A systematic approach is required to generate novel design principles for superior protein secretion cell factories.

Enhanced Fenton-Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B over Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by a Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Assisted Grinding Method.

A simple grinding method using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent is introduced to synthesize CoFeO nanoparticles. The effects of calcination temperature (ranging from 450 to 850 °C) on the structural, morphological, physical, and optical properties of the materials are investigated using various techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N adsorption isotherm, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The presence of PVP significantly suppresses the agglomeration of the materials, resulting in a nanocrystalline size of 18 nm for a sample calcined at 650 °C, which is approximately 38% smaller than that of the sample synthesized without PVP.

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Biomedical Applications of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs).

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications due to their unique magnetic properties, biocompatibility, and versatility. This review comprehensively examines the synthesis methods, surface functionalization techniques, and diverse biomedical applications of IONPs. Various chemical and physical synthesis techniques, including coprecipitation, sol-gel processes, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal synthesis, and sonochemical routes, are discussed in detail, highlighting their advantages and limitations.

Effects of Ring Opening and Chemical Modification on the Properties of Dry and Moist Cellulose─Predictions with Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Thermoplastic properties in cellulosic materials can be achieved by opening the glucose rings in cellulose and introducing new functional groups. Using molecular dynamics, we simulated amorphous cellulose and eight modified versions under dry and moist conditions. Modifications included ring openings and functionalization with hydroxy, aldehyde, hydroxylamine, and carboxyl groups.

Melt processing of chemically modified cellulosic fibres with only water as plasticiser: Effects of moisture content and processing temperature.

To replace petroleum-derived polymers with cellulose fibres, it is desirable to have the option of melt processing. However, upon heating, cellulose degradation typically starts before the material reaches its softening temperature. Alternatives to plastics should also, ideally, be recyclable via existing recycling streams.

New Insight into Mercury Removal from Fish Meat Using a Single-Component Solution Containing cysteine.

A novel approach for reducing mercury content in fish meat during post-packaging storage is developed to extend the margin of their safe consumption. It involves employing a single-component aqueous medium containing cysteine, as the active agent responsible for displacing mercury from fish proteins and its stabilization in the medium without the need for pH adjustments. The mercury removal efficiency depends on the cysteine concentration and its ratio to fish muscle.

Structural, Functional, and Bioactive Properties of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Skipjack Tuna Skin as a Function of Drying Techniques.

The study aims to investigate the impact of various drying techniques on the quality of sulfated polysaccharides (SP) extracted from Skipjack tuna () skin. Three drying methods, namely microwave drying (M-KPP), freeze-drying (F-KPP), and hot air drying (HA-KPP), are examined. The chemical and monosaccharide compositions of SP are significantly affected by the drying methods.

Laser-Assisted Field Evaporation of Chromia with Deep Ultraviolet Laser Light.

In this work, samples of chromia (Cr2O3) scale have been prepared for atom probe tomography and field evaporated with deep ultraviolet laser light (258 nm wavelength). The investigated range of laser energies spans more than three orders of magnitude between 0.03 and 90 pJ.

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.

Reconstructing the regulatory programs underlying the phenotypic plasticity of neural cancers.

Nervous system cancers exhibit diverse transcriptional cell states influenced by normal development, injury response, and growth. However, the understanding of these states' regulation and pharmacological relevance remains limited. Here we present "single-cell regulatory-driven clustering" (scregclust), a method that reconstructs cellular regulatory programs from extensive collections of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from both tumors and developing tissues.

Ring-shaped nanoparticle assembly and cross-linking on lipid vesicle scaffolds.

We show the assembly of carboxylate-modified polystyrene nanoparticles into flexible circular, ring-shaped structures with micrometer sized diameters around the base of surface-adhered lipid vesicles. The rings remain around the vesicles but disintegrate when the lipid membranes are dissolved in detergent. The aqueous medium allows carbodiimide-based cross-linking chemistry to be applied to the particle assemblies resulting in the preservation of the rings even after the lipid compartments are dissolved.

Advanced Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy: Gold, Silver, and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Oncological Applications.

Cancer remains one of the most challenging health issues globally, demanding innovative therapeutic approaches for effective treatment. Nanoparticles, particularly those composed of gold, silver, and iron oxide, have emerged as promising candidates for changing cancer therapy. This comprehensive review demonstrates the landscape of nanoparticle-based oncological interventions, focusing on the remarkable advancements and therapeutic potentials of gold, silver, and iron oxide nanoparticles.

Making PBPK models more reproducible in practice.

Systems biology aims to understand living organisms through mathematically modeling their behaviors at different organizational levels, ranging from molecules to populations. Modeling involves several steps, from determining the model purpose to developing the mathematical model, implementing it computationally, simulating the model's behavior, evaluating, and refining the model. Importantly, model simulation results must be reproducible, ensuring that other researchers can obtain the same results after writing the code de novo and/or using different software tools.

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.