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Scientific Reports Oct 2023A new bismuth-based CT agent was synthesized through a facile synthesis strategy. The in vitro stability, toxicity and CT performance were evaluated. The in vivo imaging...
A new bismuth-based CT agent was synthesized through a facile synthesis strategy. The in vitro stability, toxicity and CT performance were evaluated. The in vivo imaging performance was investigated using three different doses (0.5, 1.2 and 5 mmol/kg) and the result obtained at 1.2 mmol/kg was compared with the clinically approved CT agent iopamidol at the same dosage.
Topics: Contrast Media; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Bismuth
PubMed: 37798332
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43031-y -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023This study proposes the use of vinasse, an inexpensive and readily available waste biopolymer, as a fundamental component of a waste culture medium that can enhance the...
This study proposes the use of vinasse, an inexpensive and readily available waste biopolymer, as a fundamental component of a waste culture medium that can enhance the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) method for sustainable soil improvement. Vinasse enriched with urea, sodium caseinate, or whey protein concentrate is employed to optimize bacterial growth and urease activity of Sporosarcina pasteurii (S. pasteurii) bacterium. The best culture medium is analyzed using Taguchi design of experiments (TDOE) and statistical analysis, considering the concentration of vinasse and urea as effective parameters during growth time. To test the best culture medium for bio-treated soil, direct shear tests were performed on loose and bio-treated sand. The results demonstrate a substantial cost reduction from $0.455 to $0.005 per liter when using the new culture medium (vinasse and urea) compared to the conventional Nutrient Broth (NB) culture medium. Additionally, the new medium enhances soil shear strength, increasing the friction angle by 2.5 degrees and cohesion to 20.7 kPa compared to the conventional medium. Furthermore, the recycling of vinasse as a waste product can promote the progress of a circular economy and reduce environmental pollution. As ground improvement is essential for many construction projects, especially those that require high shear strength or are built on loose soil, this study provides a promising approach to achieving cost-effective and sustainable soil microbial improvement using enriched vinasse.
Topics: Soil; Soil Microbiology; Calcium Carbonate; Bacteria; Urea; Culture Media
PubMed: 38097757
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49401-w -
ACS Applied Bio Materials Jan 2024Reconstruction of critical sized bone defects in the oral and maxillofacial region continues to be clinically challenging despite the significant development of...
Reconstruction of critical sized bone defects in the oral and maxillofacial region continues to be clinically challenging despite the significant development of osteo-regenerative materials. Among 3D biomaterials, hydrogels and hydrogel composites have been explored for bone regeneration, however, their inferior clinical performance in comparison to autografts is mainly attributed to variable rates of degradation and lack of vascularization. In this study, we report hydrogel composite magnetic scaffolds formed from calcium carbonate, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), using PVA as matrix and calcium carbonate particles in vaterite phase as filler, to enhance the cross-linking of matrix and porosity with MNPs that can target and regulate cell signaling pathways to control cell behavior and improve the osteogenic and angiogenic potential. The physical and mechanical properties were evaluated, and cytocompatibility was investigated by culturing human osteoblast-like cells onto the scaffolds. The vaterite phase due to its higher solubility in comparison to calcium phosphates, combined with the freezing-thawing process of PVA, yielded porous scaffolds that exhibited adequate thermal stability, favorable water-absorbing capacity, excellent mineralization ability, and cytocompatibility. An increasing concentration from 1, 3, and 6 wt % MNPs in the scaffolds showed a statistically significant increase in compressive strength and modulus of the dry specimens that exhibited brittle fracture. However, the hydrated specimens were compressible and showed a slight decrease in compressive strength with 6% MNPs, although this value was higher compared to that of the scaffolds with no MNPs.
Topics: Humans; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; Hydrogels; Calcium Carbonate; Magnetic Phenomena
PubMed: 38109842
DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00732 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2023Catalytic conversion of biomass-derived ethanol into n-butanol through Guerbet coupling reaction has become one of the key reactions in biomass valorization, thus...
Catalytic conversion of biomass-derived ethanol into n-butanol through Guerbet coupling reaction has become one of the key reactions in biomass valorization, thus attracting significant attention recently. Herein, a series of supported Cu catalysts derived from Ni-based hydrotalcite (HT) were prepared and performed in the continuous catalytic conversion of ethanol into butanol. Among the prepared catalysts, Cu/NiAlO shows the best performance in terms of butanol selectivity and catalyst stability, with a sustained ethanol conversion of ~35% and butanol selectivity of 25% in a time-on-stream (TOS) of 110 h at 280 °C. While for the Cu/NiFeO and Cu/NiCoO, obvious catalyst deactivation and/or low butanol selectivity were obtained. Extensive characterization studies of the fresh and spent catalysts, i.e., X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H-TPR), reveal that the catalysts' deactivation is mainly caused by the support deconstruction during catalysis, which is highly dependent on the reducibility. Additionally, an appropriate acid-base property is pivotal for enhancing the product selectivity, which is beneficial for the key process of aldol-condensation to produce butanol.
Topics: 1-Butanol; Butanols; Ethanol; Catalysis
PubMed: 37834306
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914859 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Microwaves are used for diverse applications such as mobile phones, ovens, and therapy devices. However, there are few reports on the effects of microwaves on diseases...
Microwaves are used for diverse applications such as mobile phones, ovens, and therapy devices. However, there are few reports on the effects of microwaves on diseases other than cancer, and on physiological processes. Here, we focused on CaCO mineralization as a model of biomineralization and attempted to elucidate the effect of microwaves on CaCO mineralization using peptides. We conducted AFM, ζ potential, HPLC, ICP-AES, and relative permittivity measurements. Our findings show that microwaves alter the nanomorphology of the CaCO precipitate, from sphere-like particles to string-like structures. Furthermore, microwaves have little effect on the mineralization when the mineralization ability of a peptide is high, but a large effect when the precipitation ability is low. Our findings may be applicable to not only the treatment of teeth and bones but also the development of organic-inorganic nanobiomaterials. This methodology can be expanded to other molecular/atomic reactions under various microwave conditions to alter reaction activity parameters.
Topics: Calcium Carbonate; Microwaves; Peptides; Biomineralization; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
PubMed: 37491445
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37473-7 -
Study on dynamic response characteristics of impact of freeze-thaw saturated marble in plateau area.PloS One 2023To study the effects that the perennial freeze-thaw environment exerts on the dynamic mechanical properties of marble, which characterizes the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,...
To study the effects that the perennial freeze-thaw environment exerts on the dynamic mechanical properties of marble, which characterizes the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, impact tests were conducted, and saturated marble was utilized; thus, we analyzed the effect of different loading rates on its dynamic compressive strength, fragmentation pattern, and energy-absorbing density. The results indicate the following: (1) When 42.02s-1 ≤[Formula: see text]≤ 49.20s-1, the degree of fragmentation and the fractal dimension of saturated state marble is greater than that of the dry state marble; when [Formula: see text]<42.02s-1 or [Formula: see text]>49.20s-1, the dry state marble exhibits greater fragmentation than the saturated marble; (2) When the saturated state marble is subjected to a specific fractal dimension, the energy-absorbing density of the marble that characterizes the saturated state is great compared with the dry state, and when the fractal dimension increases, the energy-absorbing densities that characterize the two states gradually converge. (3) The effect of water on the mechanical properties of marble has an obvious rate dependence, showing a weakening effect at low strain rates and a strengthening effect at high strain rates. In regard to the analysis pertaining to the dynamic fracture mechanism of marble under the influence of the freeze-thaw environment that characterizes the plateau, the aforementioned experimental results exhibit considerable significance.
Topics: Humans; Calcium Carbonate; Chemical Phenomena; Compressive Strength; Fractals; Fractures, Bone
PubMed: 37683026
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290628 -
Nature Ecology & Evolution Sep 2023Abyssal seafloor communities cover more than 60% of Earth's surface. Despite their great size, abyssal plains extend across modest environmental gradients compared to...
Abyssal seafloor communities cover more than 60% of Earth's surface. Despite their great size, abyssal plains extend across modest environmental gradients compared to other marine ecosystems. However, little is known about the patterns and processes regulating biodiversity or potentially delimiting biogeographical boundaries at regional scales in the abyss. Improved macroecological understanding of remote abyssal environments is urgent as threats of widespread anthropogenic disturbance grow in the deep ocean. Here, we use a new, basin-scale dataset to show the existence of clear regional zonation in abyssal communities across the 5,000 km span of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (northeast Pacific), an area targeted for deep-sea mining. We found two pronounced biogeographic provinces, deep and shallow-abyssal, separated by a transition zone between 4,300 and 4,800 m depth. Surprisingly, species richness was maintained across this boundary by phylum-level taxonomic replacements. These regional transitions are probably related to calcium carbonate saturation boundaries as taxa dependent on calcium carbonate structures, such as shelled molluscs, appear restricted to the shallower province. Our results suggest geochemical and climatic forcing on distributions of abyssal populations over large spatial scales and provide a potential paradigm for deep-sea macroecology, opening a new basis for regional-scale biodiversity research and conservation strategies in Earth's largest biome.
Topics: Ecosystem; Biodiversity; Calcium Carbonate; Carbonates
PubMed: 37488225
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02122-9 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2024The most common denture material used for dentistry is poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA). Usually, the polymeric PMMA material has numerous biological, mechanical and...
The most common denture material used for dentistry is poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA). Usually, the polymeric PMMA material has numerous biological, mechanical and cost-effective shortcomings. Hence, to resolve such types of drawbacks, attempts have been made to investigate fillers of the PMMA like alumina (AlO), silica (SiO), zirconia (ZrO) etc. For the enhancement of the PMMA properties a suitable additive is required for its orthopedic applications. Herein, the main motive of this study was to synthesize a magnesium oxide (MgO) reinforced polymer-based hybrid nano-composites by using heat cure method with superior optical, biological and mechanical characteristics. For the structural and vibrational studies of the composites, XRD and FT-IR were carried out. Herein, the percentage of crystallinity for all the fabricated composites were also calculated and found to be 14.79-30.31. Various physical and optical parameters such as density, band gap, Urbach energy, cutoff energy, cutoff wavelength, steepness parameter, electron-phonon interaction, refractive index, and optical dielectric constant were also studied and their values are found to be in the range of 1.21-1.394 g/cm, 5.44-5.48 eV, 0.167-0.027 eV, 5.68 eV, 218 nm, 0.156-0.962, 4.273-0.693, 1.937-1.932, and 3.752-3.731 respectively. To evaluate the mechanical properties like compressive strength, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the composites a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) was used and their values were 60.3 and 101 MPa, 78 and 40.3 MPa, 5.85 and 9.8 MPa-m respectively. Tribological tests of the composites were also carried out. In order to check the toxicity, MTT assay was also carried out for the PM0 and PM15 [(x)MgO + (100 - x) (COH)] (x = 0 and 15) composites. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the structural, physical, optical, and biological features of the fabricated PMMA-MgO composites, highlighting the potential of the PM15 composite with its enhanced density, mechanical strength, and excellent biocompatibility for denture applications.
Topics: Polymethyl Methacrylate; Magnesium Oxide; Silicon Dioxide; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Polymers; Dental Materials
PubMed: 38267527
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52202-4 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2024Extensive research has provided a wealth of data on prokaryotes in caves and their role in biogeochemical cycles. Ice caves in carbonate rocks, however, remain enigmatic...
Extensive research has provided a wealth of data on prokaryotes in caves and their role in biogeochemical cycles. Ice caves in carbonate rocks, however, remain enigmatic environments with limited knowledge of their microbial taxonomic composition. In this study, bacterial and archaeal communities of the Obstans Ice Cave (Carnic Alps, Southern Austria) were analyzed by next-generation amplicon sequencing and by cultivation of bacterial strains at 10 °C and studying their metabolism. The most abundant bacterial taxa were uncultured Burkholderiaceae and Brevundimonas spp. in the drip water, Flavobacterium, Alkanindiges and Polaromonas spp. in the ice, Pseudonocardia, Blastocatella spp., uncultured Pyrinomonadaceae and Sphingomonadaceae in carbonate precipitates, and uncultured Gemmatimonadaceae and Longimicrobiaceae in clastic cave sediments. These taxa are psychrotolerant/psychrophilic and chemoorganotrophic bacteria. On a medium with Mg/Ca = 1 at 21 °C and 10 °C, 65% and 35% of the cultivated strains precipitated carbonates, respectively. The first ~ 200 µm-size crystals appeared 2 and 6 weeks after the start of the cultivation experiments at 21 °C and 10 °C, respectively. The crystal structure of these microbially induced carbonate precipitates and their Mg-content are strongly influenced by the Mg/Ca ratio of the culture medium. These results suggest that the high diversity of prokaryotic communities detected in cryogenic subsurface environments actively contributes to carbonate precipitation, despite living at the physical limit of the presence of liquid water.
Topics: Archaea; Bacteria; Calcium Carbonate; Ice; Phylogeny; Extremophiles
PubMed: 38302670
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53131-y -
Cells Dec 2023Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor that often utilizes aerobic glycolysis for energy production (Warburg effect), resulting in increased methylglyoxal...
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor that often utilizes aerobic glycolysis for energy production (Warburg effect), resulting in increased methylglyoxal (MGO) production. MGO, a reactive dicarbonyl compound, causes protein alterations and cellular dysfunction via glycation. In this study, we investigated the effect of glycation on sialylation, a common post-translational modification implicated in cancer. Our experiments using glioma cell lines, human astrocytes (hA), and primary glioma samples revealed different gene expressions of sialyltransferases among cells, highlighting the complexity of the system. Glycation has a differential effect on sialyltransferase expression, upregulating in the LN229 and U251 cell lines and decreasing the expression in normal hA. Subsequently, polysialylation increased in the LN229 and U251 cell lines and decreased in hA. This increase in polysialylation could lead to a more aggressive phenotype due to its involvement in cancer hallmark processes such as immune evasion, resistance to apoptosis, and enhancing invasion. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying GBM aggressiveness and suggest that targeting glycation and sialylation could be a potential therapeutic strategy.
Topics: Humans; Glioblastoma; Magnesium Oxide; Maillard Reaction; Cell Line, Tumor; Glioma; Sialyltransferases
PubMed: 38067186
DOI: 10.3390/cells12232758