concentric

Cigarettes with pronounced astringency can diminish consumers' enjoyment. However, due to the complex composition of cigarettes, quantifying astringency intensity accurately has been challenging. To address this, research was conducted to develop a method for assessing astringency intensity in a simulated oral environment. The astringency intensity of four cigarette brands was determined using the standard sensory evaluation method. The mainstream smoke absorbing solution (MS) was prepared by simulating the cigarette smoking process, and its physicochemical properties (such as total phenol content and pH levels) were analyzed...

BACKGROUND: The tendon-bone interface (TBI) in the rotator cuff has a poor intrinsic capacity for healing, which increases the risk of retear after rotator cuff repair (RCR). However, facilitating regeneration of the TBI still remains a great clinical challenge. Herein, the authors established a novel strategy based on magnetic seeding to enhance the TBI regeneration. HYPOTHESIS: Magnetic seeding bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO-BMSCs) into a biphasic scaffold can promote tendon-bone healing after RCR...

Accurately controlling trace additives in dielectric barium titanate (BaTiO3) layers is important for optimizing the performance of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). However, characterizing the spatial distribution and local concentration of the additives, which strongly influence the MLCC performance, poses a significant challenge. Atom probe tomography (APT) is an ideal technique for obtaining this information, but the extremely low electrical conductivity and piezoelectricity of BaTiO3 render its analysis with existing sample preparation approaches difficult...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is generally considered to represent a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and includes a disease spectrum comprising isolated steatosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis. A better understanding of the detailed underlying pathogenic mechanisms of this transition is crucial for the design of new and efficient therapeutic interventions. Thymocyte differentiation antigen (Thy-1, also known as CD90) expression on fibroblasts controls central functions relevant to fibrogenesis, including proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine responsiveness, and myofibroblast differentiation...

Exploring high strength materials with a higher concentration of reinforcements in the alloy proves to be a challenging task. This research has explored magnesium-based composites (AZ31B alloy) with tungsten carbide reinforcements, enhancing strength for medical joint replacements via league championship optimisation. The primary objective is to enhance medical joint replacement biomaterials employing magnesium-based composites, emphasising the AZ31B alloy with tungsten carbide reinforcements. The stir casting method is utilised in the manufacture of magnesium matrix composites (MMCs), including varied percentages of tungsten carbide (WC)...

The incidence of pneumonia has become increasingly prevalent, and its severity has been continuously escalating, bringing significant damage and stress to people's lives. The regulatory role of RP11-773H22.4 in the onset and development of severe pneumonia is emerging as an important factor, however, the exact mechanisms controlling its effects have not been fully elucidated. ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier curve were employed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic significance of RP11-773H22.4 in severe pneumonia...

Atogepant, an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, is approved for the preventive treatment of migraine. Atogepant is a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein, organic anion transporting polypeptide transporters, and cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and 2D6. Quinidine is a strong P-gp and CYP2D6 inhibitor. A phase 1 open-label study evaluated the effect of P-gp and CYP2D6 inhibition by quinidine on the pharmacokinetics of atogepant, and the safety and tolerability of atogepant and quinidine gluconate (QG) when co-administered and when given alone in 33 healthy adults...

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine how various amounts (0.00, 0.58, 1.52 and 4.50 g 100 g-1 ) of wine lees (WL), which contains numerous essential components, impact the emulsifying properties of fish gelatin (FG) at a low concentration (0.5 g 100 g-1 ) in the high-fat phase (65 g 100 g-1 ). This study conducted rheology, physicochemical technical and characterization analyses on the emulsions to provide sustainable and innovative approaches for spreadable oils...

Arsenic (As) is one of the most important water pollutant of global concern due to its extreme hazard. In the present study, B. subtilis synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3 O4 NPs) were used for mitigation of harmful metalloid As from the aqueous solution. Initially, the arsenic removal efficiency was tested in a batch culture experiment across various concentrations (5, 10 and 15 ppm) of B. subtilis synthesized Fe3 O4 NPs at different pH, time interval and agitation speed. Optimal removal efficiency of As by using B...

The mechanism by which genetic information was copied prior to the evolution of ribozymes is of great interest because of its importance to the origin of life. The most effective known process for the nonenzymatic copying of an RNA template is primer extension by a two-step pathway in which 2-aminoimidazole activated nucleotides first react with each other to form an imidazolium-bridged intermediate that subsequently reacts with the primer. Reaction kinetics, structure-activity relationships, and X-ray crystallography have provided insight into the overall reaction mechanism, but many puzzles remain...

Lipid binding properties of α-synuclein play a central role in protein aggregation and progression of Parkinson's Disease (PD). α-Synuclein, an intrinsically disordered protein, binds to lipid membranes through the formation of two amphipathic helices that insert into the lipid bilayer. All disease-associated single point mutations have been identified to be within these helical regions of α-synuclein: V15A, A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D, A53T, and A53V. However, the effects of these mutations on the bound states of the two α-helices of the protein have yet to be fully characterized...

Up to 70% of the nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied to agricultural soils is lost through microbially mediated processes, such as nitrification. This can be counteracted by synthetic and biological compounds that inhibit nitrification. However, for many biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs), the interaction with soil properties, nitrifier specificity, and effective concentrations are unclear. Here, we investigated three synthetic nitrification inhibitors (SNIs) (DCD, DMPP, and nitrapyrin) and three BNIs (methyl 3(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP), methyl 3(4-hydroxyphenyl) acrylate (MHPA), and limonene) in two agricultural soils differing in pH and nitrifier communities...

INTRODUCTION: Oral chlorhexidine has been widely used for ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention in the critical care setting; however, previous studies and evidence synthesis have generated inconsistent findings. Our study aims to investigate if different concentrations of oral chlorhexidine may be effective in preventing such complication in intensive care unit patients. METHODS: After pre-registration (Open Science Framework: 8CUKF), we conducted a network meta-analysis with the following PICOS: adult patients (age > 18 years old) undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation admitted in ICU (P); any concentration of chlorhexidine used for oral hygiene (I); placebo, sham intervention, usual care, or no intervention (C); rate of VAP (primary outcome), mechanical ventilation length, ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, mortality (secondary outcomes) (O); randomized controlled trials (S)...

The simultaneous assay of duloxetine hydrochloride (DLX) and avanafil (AVN) in their pure forms, synthetic mixtures, and spiked human plasma was achieved using a novel, eco-friendly, sensitive, and specific HPTLC methodology that have been established and validated. Measuring the levels of co-administered antidepressants and sexual stimulants in biological fluids is an important step for individuals with depression and sexual problems. Separation was performed successfully using pre-coated silica gel 60-F254 as a stationary phase and a mobile phase composed of methanol, acetone, and 33% ammonia (8:2:0...

BACKGROUND: REBOA is a method used to manage bleeding during surgery involving sacropelvic tumors. Nevertheless, studies on the use of REBOA among elderly people are lacking. The aim of this research was to investigate the efficacy and safety of Zone III REBOA in patients aged more than 70 years. METHODS: A comparative study was conducted using case-control methods. A group of patients, referred to as Group A, who were younger than 70 years was identified and paired with a comparable group of patients, known as Group B, who were older than 70 years...

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplementation of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) has been found to influence gut health by manipulating cecal microbiota and producing microbe-origin metabolites. But no study investigated and compared the effect of in ovo feeding of xylobiose (XOS2) and xylotriose (XOS3) in chickens. This study investigated the effect of in ovo feeding of these XOS compounds on post-hatch gut health parameters in chickens. A total of 144 fertilized chicken eggs were divided into three groups: a) non-injected control (CON), b) XOS2, and c) XOS3...

BACKGROUND: Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. (R. chrysanthum) is a plant that lives in high mountain with strong UV-B radiation, so R. chrysanthum possess resistance to UV-B radiation. The process of stress resistance in plants is closely related to metabolism. Lysine acetylation is an important post-translational modification, and this modification process is involved in a variety of biological processes, and affected the expression of enzymes in metabolic processes. However, little is known about acetylation proteomics during UV-B stress resistance in R...

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are estimated to be the leading cause of global death. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to public health worldwide. It is considered a potentially modifiable environmental risk factor for CVDs because it can be prevented by adopting the right national and international policies. The present study was conducted to synthesize the results of existing studies on the burden of CVDs attributed to air pollution, namely prevalence, hospitalization, disability, mortality, and cost characteristics...

BACKGROUND: Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) hold great therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant methodology for the isolation and culture of WJ-MSCs. Through comprehensive research, encompassing laboratory-scale experiments to pilot-scale studies, we aimed to develop standardized protocols ensuring the high yield and quality of WJ-MSCs manufacturing. METHODS: Firstly, optimization of parameters for the enzymatic digestion method used to isolate WJ-MSCs was conducted...

BACKGROUND: Pretomanid is a key component of new regimens for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) which are being rolled out globally. However, there is limited information on the prevalence of pre-existing resistance to the drug. METHODS: To investigate pretomanid resistance rates in China and its underlying genetic basis, as well as to generate additional minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data for epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF)/breakpoint setting, we performed MIC determinations in the Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube™ (MGIT) system, followed by WGS analysis, on 475 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolated from Chinese TB patients between 2013 and 2020...