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RSC Advances Jun 2024Quantum dots (QDs), with their unique optical and physical properties, have revolutionized the field of biological imaging, providing researchers with tools to explore... (Review)
Review
Quantum dots (QDs), with their unique optical and physical properties, have revolutionized the field of biological imaging, providing researchers with tools to explore cellular processes and molecular interactions in unprecedented detail. This review explores the diverse properties of QDs, emphasizing their application in biological imaging and addressing both their advantages and challenges. We discuss the developments in QD technology that have facilitated their integration into bioimaging, highlighting the role of surface modifications in enhancing their biocompatibility and functionality. The varied applications of QDs in both and imaging settings are examined, showcasing their capacity to deliver brighter, more stable, and multiplexed imaging solutions compared to traditional fluorescent dyes. Furthermore, we delve into the challenges associated with QD use, particularly concerns regarding their potential toxicity and long-term effects on biological systems, and explore ongoing research aimed at mitigating these issues. Finally, we discuss future directions in QD technology, anticipating advancements that will further solidify their role in biological imaging and open up new avenues for scientific exploration.
PubMed: 38957578
DOI: 10.1039/d4ra04402a -
Proceedings of SPIE--the International... Feb 2024Medical image auto-segmentation techniques are basic and critical for numerous image-based analysis applications that play an important role in developing advanced and...
Medical image auto-segmentation techniques are basic and critical for numerous image-based analysis applications that play an important role in developing advanced and personalized medicine. Compared with manual segmentations, auto-segmentations are expected to contribute to a more efficient clinical routine and workflow by requiring fewer human interventions or revisions to auto-segmentations. However, current auto-segmentation methods are usually developed with the help of some popular segmentation metrics that do not directly consider human correction behavior. Dice Coefficient (DC) focuses on the truly-segmented areas, while Hausdorff Distance (HD) only measures the maximal distance between the auto-segmentation boundary with the ground truth boundary. Boundary length-based metrics such as surface DC (surDC) and Added Path Length (APL) try to distinguish truly-predicted boundary pixels and wrong ones. It is uncertain if these metrics can reliably indicate the required manual mending effort for application in segmentation research. Therefore, in this paper, the potential use of the above four metrics, as well as a novel metric called Mendability Index (MI), to predict the human correction effort is studied with linear and support vector regression models. 265 3D computed tomography (CT) samples for 3 objects of interest from 3 institutions with corresponding auto-segmentations and ground truth segmentations are utilized to train and test the prediction models. The five-fold cross-validation experiments demonstrate that meaningful human effort prediction can be achieved using segmentation metrics with varying prediction errors for different objects. The improved variant of MI, called MIhd, generally shows the best prediction performance, suggesting its potential to indicate reliably the clinical value of auto-segmentations.
PubMed: 38957573
DOI: 10.1117/12.3006471 -
Journal of Analytical Methods in... 2024The extraction of gum from natural raw materials is of increasing importance in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, particularly due to...
The extraction of gum from natural raw materials is of increasing importance in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, particularly due to their emulsifying properties and potential applications as stabilizers and thickeners. This study presents an insight on the influence of changing parameters like reagents and operating condition on yield and some properties of the flax ( L.) seed gum. The extraction conditions were meticulously examined using a full factorial design, highlighting the significant impact of pretreatment, seed preparation, and solvent selection on the extraction yield. A response surface methodology (RSM) was then applied to optimize the water/benzoic acid ratio of the pretreatment step, the ethyl alcohol/water ratio, and the medium pH of the extraction method, resulting in a maximum yield of 14.47%. Furthermore, detailed analyses of the chemical and emulsifying properties of the gum were conducted showing emulsifying capacities over 94%, offering promising application prospects, particularly in the food industry.
PubMed: 38957570
DOI: 10.1155/2024/5135565 -
Case Reports in Dentistry 2024Graphite tattoos are rarely reported because they are mainly caused by an accidental injury or habits during childhood that cause a pencil to penetrate the oral mucosa....
Graphite tattoos are rarely reported because they are mainly caused by an accidental injury or habits during childhood that cause a pencil to penetrate the oral mucosa. Unlike other pigmentations, it stains layers that are deeper than the subepithelial and mucosal layers, and in most cases, it takes the form of a grayish black macule. This case report describes depigmentation with the denudation technique that was followed by a novel approach of using platelet-rich fibrin to cover exposed bone. A 41-year-old male patient presented with an aesthetic complaint from a grayish black staining on the labial gingiva near the maxillary central and lateral incisors. The lesion was diagnosed as a graphite tattoo due to the patient's history of sticking his gum with pencils when he was young. The entire pigmented gingiva was surgically removed and covered with two layers of PRF membrane to protect the exposed bone surface and provide an extracellular matrix for migration of gingival fibroblasts. Healing patterns were observed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks, and satisfactory clinical and aesthetic results were obtained. Creeping attachment was observed at 8 years postop, and there was no recurrence for a long-term period of 13 years.
PubMed: 38957457
DOI: 10.1155/2024/5559986 -
Materials Advances Jul 2024Respiratory diseases, including influenza, infectious pneumonia, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide....
Respiratory diseases, including influenza, infectious pneumonia, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The recent COVID-19 pandemic claimed over 6.9 million lives globally. With the possibility of future pandemics, the creation of affordable antimicrobial meshes for protective gear, such as facemasks, is essential. Electrospinning has been a focus for much of this research, but most approaches are complex and expensive, often wasting raw materials by distributing antiviral agents throughout the mesh despite the fact they can only be active if at the fibre surface. Here, we report a low cost and efficient one-step method to produce nanofibre meshes with antimicrobial activity, including against SARS-CoV-2. Cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) was deposited directly onto the surface of polycaprolactone (PCL) fibres by coaxial electrospinning. The CTAB-coated samples have denser meshes with finer nanofibres than non-coated PCL fibres (mean diameter: ∼300 nm ∼900 nm, with mean pore size: ∼300 nm > 600 nm). The formulations have > 90% coating efficiency and exhibit a burst release of CTAB upon coming into contact with aqueous media. The CTAB-coated materials have strong antibacterial activity against ( 100%) and (96.5 ± 4.1%) bacteria, as well as potent antiviral activity with over 99.9% efficacy against both respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2. The CTAB-coated nanofibre mesh thus has great potential to form a mask material for preventing both bacterial and viral respiratory infections.
PubMed: 38957404
DOI: 10.1039/d4ma00125g -
International Journal of Dentistry 2024To evaluate the solubility and the volumetric and morphological alterations of bioceramic filling material (Bio-CP) for primary teeth.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the solubility and the volumetric and morphological alterations of bioceramic filling material (Bio-CP) for primary teeth.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bio-CP, Calen thickened with zinc oxide (Calen-ZO), and with zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) were placed in 1- or 2-mm-diameter polyethylene tubes and immersed in water or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 30 days. The solubility (mass loss) was assessed using methodology modified from ISO 6876. Filling capacity, volumetric changes, and presence of voids were assessed by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). The surface distribution of the chemical elements and the crystalline phases was evaluated by energy scattering X-ray scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to detect hydroxyapatite precipitate and components. The Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn's or two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were used ( = 0.05).
RESULTS
The solubility was ZOE > Calen-ZO = Bio-CP. Calen-ZO and Bio-CP were more soluble in water than in PBS. All the materials showed greater solubility in 2-mm tube diameter in both PBS and distilled water, except for Bio-CP in distilled water, which showed no difference between both tube diameters (1 and 2 mm). Only Calen-ZO and ZOE were analyzed by micro-CT, because Bio-CP separated into two phases during scanning. Calen-ZO had greater volumetric loss and presence of voids than ZOE in water, but there was no difference in PBS. The hydroxyapatite precipitate on the surface of Bio-CP and Calen-ZO was detected after immersion in PBS.
CONCLUSION
Although Bio-CP had acceptable solubility and filling capacity, its composition did not allow a proper volumetric and void assessment. From a clinical perspective, Bio-CP has the potential to become a suitable material for root canal filling in primary teeth. Nonetheless, its composition must first be revised to achieve better chemical stability prior to its recommendation.
PubMed: 38957372
DOI: 10.1155/2024/5945033 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. C,... Jun 2024In the field of electrochemical CO reduction, both continuum models and molecular dynamics (MD) models have been used to understand the electric double layer (EDL). MD...
In the field of electrochemical CO reduction, both continuum models and molecular dynamics (MD) models have been used to understand the electric double layer (EDL). MD often focuses on the region within a few nm of the electrode, while continuum models can span up to the device level (cm). Still, both methods model the EDL, and for a cohesive picture of the CO electrolysis system, the two methods should agree in the regions where they overlap length scales. To this end, we make a direct comparison between state-of-the-art continuum models and classical MD simulations under the conditions of CO reduction on a Ag electrode. For continuum modeling, this includes the Poisson-Nernst-Planck formulation with steric (finite ion size) effects, and in MD the electrode is modeled with the constant potential method. The comparison yields numerous differences between the two modeling methods. MD shows cations forming two adsorbed layers, including a fully hydrated outer layer and a partial hydration layer closer to the electrode surface. The strength of the inner adsorbed layer increases with cation size (Li < Na < K < Cs) and with more negative applied potentials. Continuum models that include steric effects predict CO to be mostly excluded within 1 nm of the cathode due to tightly packed cations, yet we find little evidence to support these predictions from the MD results. In fact, MD shows that the concentration of CO increases within a few Å of the cathode surface due to interactions with the Ag electrode, a factor not included in continuum models. The EDL capacitance is computed from the MD results, showing values in the range of 7-9 μF cm, irrespective of the electrolyte concentration, cation identity, or applied potential. The direct comparison between the two modeling methods is meant to show the areas of agreement and disagreement between the two views of the EDL, so as to improve and better align these models.
PubMed: 38957368
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c03469 -
The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Jun 2024This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plasma treatment of sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium implants on surface cleansing and osseointegration in...
PURPOSE
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plasma treatment of sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium implants on surface cleansing and osseointegration in a beagle model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For morphological analysis and XPS analysis, scanning electron microscope and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the surface topography and chemical compositions of implant before and after plasma treatment. For this animal experiment, twelve SLA titanium implants were divided into two groups: a control group (untreated implants) and a plasma group (implants treated with plasma). Each group was randomly located in the mandibular bone of the beagle dog (n = 6). After 8 weeks, the beagle dogs were sacrificed, and volumetric analysis and histometric analysis were performed within the region of interest.
RESULTS
In morphological analysis, plasma treatment did not alter the implant surface topography or cause any physical damage. In XPS analysis, the atomic percentage of carbon at the inspection point before the plasma treatment was 34.09%. After the plasma treatment, it was reduced to 18.74%, indicating a 45% reduction in carbon. In volumetric analysis and histometric analysis, the plasma group exhibited relatively higher mean values for new bone volume (NBV), bone to implant contact (BIC), and inter-thread bone density (ITBD) compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups ( > .05).
CONCLUSION
Within the limits of this study, plasma treatment effectively eliminated hydrocarbons without changing the implant surface.
PubMed: 38957293
DOI: 10.4047/jap.2024.16.3.189 -
Surface treatment, liquid, and aging effects on color and surface properties of monolithic ceramics.The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Jun 2024The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of surface treatments, liquids, and aging on color, translucency, and surface properties of monolithic ceramics.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of surface treatments, liquids, and aging on color, translucency, and surface properties of monolithic ceramics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Lithium disilicate (LDS) and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramics (n = 135 each) were cut and divided into three groups [crystallization+glaze (single stage), crystallization-glaze (two stages), and crystallization-polish (two stages)]. One sample from each group was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Remaining samples were divided into four subgroups (distilled water, coffee, grape juice, and smoothie) (n = 11 each), stored for 12 d in the respective liquids, and thermally aged. One sample from each subgroup was analyzed using SEM. The color, gloss, and roughness values of the samples were analyzed after surface treatment (initial) and storage under different liquids+aging conditions. The initial data and both the aged data and data change values were analyzed using robust two- and three-way analyses of variance.
RESULTS
The glazed groups exhibited smoother surfaces. Ceramic type and ceramic-surface treatment interactions affected the initial translucency parameter (TP) ( < .001) and the initial and aged roughness values ( ≤ .001). Surface treatment type affected the color change ( < .001), and ceramic type affected the aged TP values ( < .001). Type of ceramic, surface treatment, and their interactions affected both the initial and aged gloss ( ≤ .001) and TP change values ( ≤ .015). Surface treatment type and ceramic-surface treatment interactions affected the gloss change values ( ≤ .001).
CONCLUSION
Although both ceramics and all surface treatments are clinically applicable, crystallization-glaze is recommended. When gloss and smoothness are important or when translucency is important, ZLS or LDS may be preferred, respectively.
PubMed: 38957290
DOI: 10.4047/jap.2024.16.3.174 -
The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics Jun 2024This study assessed the effect of storage time on chemical structure of a single-bottle and a two-bottle experimental ceramic primer and micro-shear bond strength...
PURPOSE
This study assessed the effect of storage time on chemical structure of a single-bottle and a two-bottle experimental ceramic primer and micro-shear bond strength (µSBS) of composite to ceramic.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted on 60 sintered zirconia and 60 feldspathic porcelain blocks. Half of the specimens (n = 30) were subjected to surface treatment with the single-bottle Clearfil ceramic primer (n = 15) and two-bottle experimental primer (n = 15) after 24 hours. The remaining half received the same surface treatments after 6 months storage in distilled water. Composite cylinders were bonded to the ceramics, and they were then subjected to µSBS test. Also, the primers underwent Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) after 24 hours and 6 months to assess their chemical structure. Data were analyzed with 3-way ANOVA and adjusted Bonferroni test (alpha = 0.05).
RESULTS
The µSBS of both ceramics significantly decreased at 6 months in one-bottle ceramic primer group ( = .001), but it was not significantly different from the two-bottle experimental primer group ( = .635). FTIR showed hydrolysis of single-bottle primer, cleavage of silane and 10-MDP bonds, and formation of siloxane bonds after 6 months.
CONCLUSION
Six months of storage caused significant degradation of single-bottle ceramic primer, and consequently had an adverse effect on µSBS.
PubMed: 38957288
DOI: 10.4047/jap.2024.16.3.163