Structure and Properties of Al-CNT-Based Composites Manufactured by Different Methods: A Brief Review.

Aluminum-carbon nanotube (Al-CNT) composites represent a cutting-edge class of materials characterized by their exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, making them highly promising for aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy applications. This review systematically examines the impact of various fabrication methods, including conventional powder metallurgy, diffusion and reaction coupling, as well as adhesive and reaction bonding on the microstructure and performance of Al-CNT composites. The analysis emphasizes the critical role of CNT dispersion, interfacial bonding, and the formation of reinforcing phases, such as AlC and AlO, in determining the mechanical strength, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability of these materials.

What motivates critical care nurses to stay in their job? - Structural aspects for empowering intrinsic motivation in permissive professional contexts: A scoping review.

Objective: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of critical care nurses have left their positions, citing overload, burnout, and moral distress. This scoping review is not just a theoretical exploration but a timely and crucial investigation into the aspects and structures of critical care nursing that can make the job fulfilling and appealing, thereby promoting intrinsic motivation and staff retention.

Methodology: A scoping review of studies reporting on factors that allow critical care nurses to fall back on their intrinsic job motivation.

Antihypertensive, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antiangiogenic In Silico Activity of Lactoferrin-Derived Peptides of Equine Milk Hydrolysate.

Background: Equine milk, including its whey proteins, is a source of nutrients and functional components in the human diet, and is especially beneficial for people with weakened immune systems, newborns, and athletes. Objectives Whey proteins in equine milk constitute approximately 20% of the total protein content and include various fractions such as albumin, globulin, and lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is one of the most extensively studied whey proteins in equine milk.

Biome conservatism prevailed in repeated long-distance colonization of Madagascar's mountains by Helichrysum (Compositae, Gnaphalieae).

Colonization and diversification processes are responsible for the distinctiveness of island biotas, with Madagascar standing out as abiodiversity hotspot exceptionally rich in species and endemism. Regardless of its significance, the evolutionary history and diversification drivers of Madagascar's flora remain understudied. Here we focus on Helichrysum (Compositae, Gnaphalieae) to investigate the evolutionary and biogeographic origins of the Malagasy flora.

Microplastics in seawater and fish acquired from the corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea.

Microplastics in seawater and fish from the Baltic Sea were analyzed. The significant contribution of the study is due to extensive collection of fish and surface water samples from corresponding fishing zones. Microplastics were detected in 100 % of seawater and 61 % of fish samples.

Piloting "From the Inside Out" - a toolkit addressing tuberculosis-related self-stigma.

Background: Self-stigma among people who have tuberculosis (TB) can contribute to non-adherence to medication and disengagement from care. It can manifest in feelings of worthlessness, shame, and guilt, leading to social withdrawal and disengagement from life opportunities. Self-stigma may also affect families of those who have TB, or healthcare workers who treat them.

Socioeconomic factors and test preparation strategies are related to success on the USMLE Step 2 clinical knowledge (CK) exam: a single-institution study.

Background: Since the elimination of numerical scoring of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, the perceived importance of USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores in residency placement has increased. It is known that socioeconomic status (SES) and other demographic factors can be barriers to success in standardized assessment, but few recent studies report the relationship between student demographics, including SES, with Step 2 CK scores in the context of exam practice material access and usage. In this study, we investigated predictors of Step 2 CK success across two years at one institution.

Heterogeneity in the formation of primary and secondary visual fields during human prenatal development.

The human neocortex has a huge surface area with unique cytoarchitectonics, most of which is concealed in sulci. Some cytoarchitectonic fields are associated with macroscopic landmarks. In particular, the primary visual field 17 is associated with the calcarine sulcus.

HbA1c and leukocyte mtDNA levels as major factors associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome in type 2 diabetes patients.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is an emerging health problem in people recovering from COVID-19 infection within the past 3-6 months. The current study aimed to define the predictive factors of PCS development by assessing the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels in blood leukocytes, inflammatory markers and HbA1c in type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) with regard to clinical phenotype, gender, and biological age. In this case-control study, 65 T2D patients were selected.

Sphingomyelins of Local Fat Depots and Blood Serum as Promising Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Unlabelled: Assessment of the blood lipid spectrum does not always properly reflect local dysfunctional changes in the adipose tissue and prevents identification of all patients at high risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Monitoring of changes in sphingomyelin levels allows to assess and anticipate the development and/or severity of these diseases, as well as to make sphingomyelins new therapeutic targets. was to evaluate the sphingomyelin spectrum of local fat depots and blood serum in connection with clinical and instrumental indicators in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients with degenerative acquired valvular heart disease (AVHD).

Biodiversity of microorganisms in the Baltic Sea: the power of novel methods in the identification of marine microbes.

Until recently, the data on the diversity of the entire microbial community from the Baltic Sea were relatively rare and very scarce. However, modern molecular methods have provided new insights into this field with interesting results. They can be summarized as follows.

MXene/Carbon Nanocomposites for Water Treatment.

One of the most critical problems faced by modern civilization is the depletion of freshwater resources due to their continuous consumption and contamination with different organic and inorganic pollutants. This paper considers the potential of already discovered MXenes in combination with carbon nanomaterials to address this problem. MXene appears to be a highly promising candidate for water purification due to its large surface area and electrochemical activity.

Spatial-temporal representation of the astroglial markers in the developing human cortex.

Specific spatiotemporal patterns of the normal glial differentiation during human brain development have not been thoroughly studied. Immunomorphological studies on postmortem material have remained a basic method for human neurodevelopmental studies so far. The main problem for the immunohistochemical research of astrogliogenesis is that now there are no universal astrocyte markers, that characterize the whole mature astrocyte population or precursors at each stage of development.

Magnetite-Incorporated 1D Carbon Nanostructure Hybrids for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

The increasing reliance on electronic technologies has elevated the urgency of effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. This review explores the development and potential of magnetite-incorporated one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanostructure hybrids, focusing on their unique properties and synthesis methods. By combining magnetite's magnetic properties with the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon fibers (CFs), these hybrids offer superior EMI shielding performance.

Comparative Study of Physicochemical Properties and Antibacterial Potential of Cyanobacteria -Derived and Chemically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles.

The "green synthesis" of nanoparticles (NPs) offers cost-effective and environmentally friendly advantages over chemical synthesis by utilizing biological sources such as bacteria, algae, fungi, or plants. In this context, cyanobacteria and their components are valuable sources to produce various NPs. The present study describes the comparative analysis of physicochemical and antibacterial properties of chemically synthesized (Chem-AgNPs) and cyanobacteria -derived silver NPs (Splat-AgNPs).

Therapeutic Efficacy of Interferon-Gamma and Hypoxia-Primed Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles: Underlying Mechanisms and Potentials in Clinical Translation.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold promises for cell therapy and tissue engineering due to their self-renewal and differentiation abilities, along with immunomodulatory properties and trophic factor secretion. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from MSCs offer similar therapeutic effects. However, MSCs are heterogeneous and lead to variable outcomes.

Valorization of castor seed shell waste as lead adsorbent by treatment with hot phosphoric acid: Optimization and evaluation of adsorption properties.

Lead is used in many industries such as refining, mining, battery manufacturing, smelting. Releases of lead from these industries is one of the major public health concerns due to widespread persistence in the environment and its resulting poisoning character. In this work, the castor seed shell (CSS) waste was exploited for preparing a beneficial bio-adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) ions from water.

Hydrophobization of Cold Plasma Activated Glass Surfaces by Hexamethyldisilazane Treatment.

The objective of this study was to investigate the modification of glass surfaces by the synergistic combination of cold plasma and chemical surface modification techniques. Glass surface hydrophobicity was obtained as a result of various plasma and deposition operational conditions. The mechanisms governing the hydrophobization process were also studied.

The Influence of Personality Type D and Coping Strategies on Cognitive Functioning in Students.

Introduction: Academic and emotional challenges faced by medical students can affect their psychological well-being and health. Personal characteristics may also predispose one to the manifestation of distress reactions. Individuals with type D personality have an increased tendency to develop depressive reactions and somatic diseases, including the presence of cognitive dysfunction.

Quantifying annual microplastic emissions of an urban catchment: Surface runoff vs wastewater sources.

Urban clusters are recognized as hotspots of microplastic pollution, and the associated urban rivers convey microplastics into the global oceans. Despite this knowledge, the relative contributions of various sources to the annual microplastic emissions from urban catchments remain scarcely quantified. Here, we quantified microplastic emissions from a riverine urban catchment in Japan.

Strengthening Pediatric and Public Health Collaboration to Protect Children's Health During a Pandemic.

This article examines lessons learned from previous pandemics, including the 2009 H1N1 influenza and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Pediatric providers have a unique and important role and strategies to improve collaboration and communication between public health and pediatric providers are essential during public health emergencies. A robust network of communication channels, effective public health messaging, and pediatric-focused disease related, and program outcome data are key to supporting a coordinated response to future pandemics.

Exotic Animal Practice in West Asia/Middle East.

Middle East is a diverse and developing exotic animal market. Undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development (CPD) education are noticeably absent except in few countries. Avian species are the most commonly kept due to traditional falconry or aviculture.

Investigation of Silk Fibroin/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Interactions in Aqueous Solution.

Silk fibroin (SF) is a protein with many outstanding properties (superior biocompatibility, mechanical strength, etc.) and is often used in many advanced applications (epidermal sensors, tissue engineering, etc.).