Optimisation of activated carbon from fruit stones and shells derived via molten salt activation for dye removal.

Recent advancements in activated carbon production involve molten salt activation using a eutectic mixture of ZnCl-NaCl-KCl. This study explores the production of activated carbon from fruit waste, specifically walnut shells, using a 60:20:20 mol % eutectic mixture. Optimal conditions were identified through response surface methodology, with 400 °C and a salt-to-biomass ratio of 10 g/g, yielding a surface area of 276 m/g.

High heterogeneity in the size distribution of the micellar fraction from in vitro digestions: sample preparation and reporting recommendations.

Background: Understanding the size and surface charge (ζ-potential) of particles in the mixed micellar fraction produced by in vitro digestion is crucial to understand their cellular absorption and transport. The inconsistent presentation of micellar size data, often limited to average particle diameter, makes comparison of studies difficult. The present study aimed to assess different size data representations (mean particle diameter, relative intensity- or volume-weighted size distribution) to better understand physiological mixed micelle characteristics and to provide recommendations for size reporting and sample handling.

Towards Recycling of All-Solid-State Batteries with Argyrodite Sulfide Electrolytes: Insights into Electrolyte and Electrode Degradation in Dissolution-Based Separation Processes.

All-solid-state Li-ion batteries (ASSBs) represent a promising leap forward in battery technology, rapidly advancing in development. Among the various solid electrolytes, argyrodite thiophosphates Li6PS5X (X = Cl, Br, I) stand out due to their high ionic conductivity, structural flexibility, and compatibility with a range of electrode materials, making them ideal candidates for efficient and scalable battery applications. However, despite significant performance advancements, the sustainability and recycling of ASSBs remain underexplored, posing a critical challenge for achieving efficient circular processes.

Thickness Dependent Structural Transition in Ph-BTBT-10 Thin Films and Stabilization of the Ubiquitous Interface Bilayer.

The influence of the film/substrate interface and the role of film thickness on the structural transition temperature for thin films of the asymmetric BTBT derivative 7-decyl-2-phenyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-][1]-benzothiophene (Ph-BTBT-10) have been addressed by using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and synchrotron grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). Our data strongly suggest that the structural transformation from a single-layer phase to the thermodynamically stable bilayer structure develops from the bottom of the film to its surface. Contrary to observations in other organic semiconductor films, notably, the thinner the Ph-BTBT-10 film, the lower is the transition temperature.

Unravelling the genetic architecture of soybean tofu quality traits.

Unlabelled: Tofu is a popular soybean ( (L.) Merr.) food with a long tradition in Asia and rising popularity worldwide, including Central Europe.

Organic Metasurfaces with Contrasting Conducting Polymers.

Conducting polymers have emerged as promising active materials for metasurfaces due to their electrically tunable states and large refractive index modulation. However, existing approaches are often limited to infrared operation or single-polymer systems, restricting their versatility. In this Letter, we present organic metasurfaces featuring dual conducting polymers, polyaniline (PANI) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), to achieve contrasting dynamic optical responses at visible frequencies.

Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas 9 screens identify BCL family members as modulators of response to regorafenib in experimental glioma.

Background: Registered systemic treatment options for glioblastoma patients are limited. The phase II REGOMA trial suggested an improvement of median overall survival in progressive glioblastoma by the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor regorafenib. This has not been confirmed by GBM AGILE.

Electrical impedance-based tissue classification for bladder tumor differentiation.

Including sensor information in medical interventions aims to support surgeons to decide on subsequent action steps by characterizing tissue intraoperatively. With bladder cancer, an important issue is tumor recurrence because of failure to remove the entire tumor. Impedance measurements can help to classify bladder tissue and give the surgeons an indication on how much tissue to remove.

Ab initio machine-learning unveils strong anharmonicity in non-Arrhenius self-diffusion of tungsten.

The knowledge of diffusion mechanisms in materials is crucial for predicting their high-temperature performance and stability, yet accurately capturing the underlying physics like thermal effects remains challenging. In particular, the origin of the experimentally observed non-Arrhenius diffusion behavior has remained elusive, largely due to the lack of effective computational tools. Here we propose an efficient ab initio framework to compute the Gibbs energy of the transition state in vacancy-mediated diffusion including the relevant thermal excitations at the density-functional-theory level.

European Guideline on Chronic Nausea and Vomiting-A UEG and ESNM Consensus for Clinical Management.

Introduction: Chronic nausea and vomiting are symptoms of a wide range of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal conditions. Diagnosis can be challenging and requires a systematic and well-structured approach. If the initial investigation for structural, toxic and metabolic disorders is negative, digestive motility and gut-brain interaction disorders should be assessed.

Genome-wide development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers at 2-Mb intervals in lotus (Nelumbo Adans.).

Background: Despite the rapid advancement of high-throughput sequencing, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) remain indispensable molecular markers for various applied and research tasks owing to their cost-effectiveness and ease of use. However, existing SSR markers cannot meet the growing demand for research on lotus (Nelumbo Adans.) given their scarcity and weak connections to the lotus genome.

CIROZ is dispensable in ancestral vertebrates but essential for left-right patterning in humans.

Four genes-DAND5, PKD1L1, MMP21, and CIROP-form a genetic module that has specifically evolved in vertebrate species that harbor motile cilia in their left-right organizer (LRO). We find here that CIROZ (previously known as C1orf127) is also specifically expressed in the LRO of mice, frogs, and fish, where it encodes a protein with a signal peptide followed by 3 zona pellucida N domains, consistent with extracellular localization. We report 16 individuals from 10 families with bi-allelic CIROZ inactivation variants, which cause heterotaxy with congenital heart defects.

Observation of 1/3 fractional quantum Hall physics in balanced large angle twisted bilayer graphene.

Magnetotransport of conventional semiconductor based double layer systems with barrier suppressed interlayer tunneling has been a rewarding subject due to the emergence of an interlayer coherent state that behaves as an excitonic superfluid. Large angle twisted bilayer graphene offers unprecedented strong interlayer Coulomb interaction, since both layer thickness and layer spacing are of atomic scale and a barrier is no more needed as the twist induced momentum mismatch suppresses tunneling. The extra valley degree of freedom also adds richness.

European consensus on endoscopic surgery for bilateral vocal fold immobility: classification and nomenclature.

Introduction: There are inconsistencies in how different endoscopic procedures to manage Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility (BVFI) have been described in the literature. This limits our ability to compare functional outcomes. There is no unifying international terminology available that precisely describes the anatomical boundaries and extent of the different types of treatment.

Surveys of genotypes in breeding stations and commercial rice fields in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico from 2017 to 2019.

Major resistance (R) gene mediated resistance to rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is often overcome by the fungus due to the occurrences of new races with altered corresponding avirulence (AVR) genes. In this study, blast diseased rice tissue samples were collected from breeding stations and commercial rice fields in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico during 2017-2019 to determine the efficacy of major R genes, Pi-ta, Pik, Pizt, Pi9, and Pi33. A total of 185 blast isolates were isolated from the diseased tissue samples to examine the existence of AVR genes AVR-Pita1, AVR-Pib, AVR-Pik, AVR-Pizt, AVR-Pi9 and ACE1.

Cotton undergarments as a tool for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons whole body dosimetry of firefighters.

Firefighters are exposed to a variety of hazardous substances during firefighting activities. Fire smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) some of which have been shown to cause cancer in humans. To assess dermal exposure of firefighters during real-life firefighting, a whole-body dosimetry method was applied to determine the PAH that settles on the skin despite firefighters wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Simulation training with haptic feedback of instrument vibrations reduces resident workload during live robot-assisted sleeve gastrectomy.

Background: New surgeons experience heavy workload during robot-assisted surgery partially because they must use vision to compensate for the lack of haptic feedback. We hypothesize that providing realistic haptic feedback during dry-lab simulation training may accelerate learning and reduce workload during subsequent surgery on patients.

Methods: We conducted a single-blinded study with 12 general surgery residents (third and seventh post-graduate year, PGY) randomized into haptic and control groups.

Risk profiles of common brachial plexus block sites: results from the net-ra registry.

Introduction: Regional anesthesia is frequently used for upper limb surgeries and postoperative pain control. Different approaches to brachial plexus blocks are similarly effective but may differ in the frequency and severity of iatrogenesis. We, therefore, examined large-scale registry data to explore the risks of typical complications among different brachial plexus block sites for regional anesthesia.