Ligand-controlled growth and stabilization of doped ZnO nanoparticles for dual antibacterial and enzyme inhibition.

Maintaining structural stability in multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) remain a challenge in nanomedicine. To address this limitation, organic ligand-capped pristine and doped zinc peroxide (ZnO) NPs were synthesized via co-precipitation method for enhanced antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Bacillus cereus (BC)), and inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). The synthesized samples were characterized using complementary characterization techniques.

Structure and dynamics of ionic liquids under shear flow.

We investigate the intrinsic behavior of ionic liquids under shear flow using a coarse-grained model of [C4mim]+ [PF6]- as a prototypical example. The importance of long-ranged electrostatics is assessed as a function of shear rate by comparing Ewald and reaction field treatments. An appropriate comparison is achieved through the implementation of the proper Lees-Edwards boundary conditions within the ESPResSo++ simulation software.

Comprehensive Robustness Evaluation of Proton and Carbon-Ion Plans in Thoracic Cancer Treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of setup errors, range uncertainty, and respiratory motion on dose distributions for clinically delivered pencil beam scanning proton and carbon-ion plans.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 23 lung cancer and trachea adenoid cystic carcinoma patients who received treatment at our center. Plans were generated using Syngo with planning target volume-based optimization.

Impact of Charge-Transfer Excitons on Unidirectional Exciton Transport in Lateral TMD Heterostructures.

Lateral heterostructures built of monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides host a thin one-dimensional interface exhibiting a large energy offset. Recently, the formation of spatially separated charge-transfer (CT) excitons at the interface has been demonstrated, but their impact on technologically important exciton propagation across the interface has remained in the dark. In this theoretical work, we microscopically investigate the spatiotemporal exciton dynamics in the exemplary hBN-encapsulated WSe-MoSe lateral heterostructure.

The Impact of PEO and PVP Additives on the Structure and Properties of Silk Fibroin Adsorption Layers.

Materials formed with a base of silk fibroin (SF) are successfully used in tissue engineering since their properties are similar to those of natural extracellular matrixes. Mixing SF with different polymers, for example, polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), allows the production of fibers, hydrogels, and films and their morphology to be controlled. The impact of PEO and PVP on formation and structure of SF adsorption layers was studied at different was studied at different polymer concentrations (from 0.

Dynamic Properties of Mixed Layers of a Lipid with a Protein or Its Fibrils.

Investigation of a spread monolayer of dipalmitoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG), a simplified model of biocell membranes, on the surface of solutions of macromolecules of different surface activity can provide additional information on the processes in cell membranes and, on the other hand, can help in the development of biocompatible materials. In this work, the interactions of β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and its fibrils with a lipid monolayer on the surface of an aqueous solution or a fibril dispersion were studied. The surface layer structure and the ability of macromolecules to penetrate a lipid monolayer depend on electrostatic interactions, the surface activity of the macromolecules, and the packing density of the lipid monolayer.

Fluctuation induced network patterns in active matter with spatially correlated noise.

Fluctuations play a central role in many fields of physics, from quantum electrodynamics to statistical mechanics. In active matter physics, most models focus on thermal fluctuations due to a surrounding solvent. An alternative but much less explored noise source can occur due to fluctuating external fields, which typically feature certain spatial correlations.

Induction of Cytoplasmic dsDNA and cGAS-STING Immune Signaling After Exposure of Breast Cancer Cells to X-ray or High-Energetic Carbon Ions.

Purpose: Radiation therapy can trigger activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)- Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) axis via cytoplasmic dsDNA fragment induction. The activation of cGAS-STING initiates innate immune signaling mediated by interferon type I that can contribute to eradicate the malignancy. The effect was shown to depend on the fractionation scheme employed.

Comparative molecular dynamics simulation studies of simple and polymerized ionic liquids.

We perform molecular dynamics simulations to compare the structures and dynamics of a simple and a polymerized ionic liquid. The latter comprises [BF] anions and [(CH)-CHN] cations and, hence, the charged imidazolium rings are, unlike in most previous studies, embedded in the polymer backbone rather than in side chains. It is found that cation polymerization weakly affects the local structure but leads to a strong slowdown and an enhanced heterogeneity of the dynamics.

Green synthesis an eco-friendly route for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Thevetia peruviana and their biological activities.

This study reports the plant extract-assisted synthesis of iron oxide (FeO) using the aqueous extract of Thevetia peruviana. The synthesized IONPs were confirmed via UV-Vis spectroscopy (295 nm) and characterized using FTIR and SEM. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations indicated a thermodynamically and mechanically stable system with semimetallic behavior and visible light absorption.

Dynamic Properties of β-Casein Fibril Adsorption Layers at the Air-Water Interface.

Although the formation of the layers of fibrillar aggregates at liquid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces can significantly increase the stability of disperse systems, like foams and emulsions, any information on their structure and properties is rather limited. In the present work, surface properties of the adsorption layers of fibrils of intrinsically disordered β-casein are investigated. For unpurified dispersions of the fibrils of this protein, the dynamic surface elasticity proved to be close to the values for the native protein solutions.

HyperSHArc: Single-Isocenter Stereotactic Radiosurgery of Multiple Brain Metastases Using Proton, Helium, and Carbon Ion Arc Therapy.

Purpose: This work presents a proof-of-concept study of HyperSHArc, spot-scanning hadron arc (SHArc) therapy for single-isocenter stereotactic radiosurgery of multiple brain metastases (MBMs). HyperSHArc plans using proton, helium, and carbon ions were compared with state-of-the-art volumetric modulated photon arc therapy.

Methods And Materials: Treatment design and optimization procedures were devised using commercial and in-house treatment planning systems.

Regulation of Water Molecule Filling in Carbon Nanochannels via Oxidation.

Carbon-based materials play a crucial role in water treatment, and their oxidation significantly enhances their potential applications. Understanding the behavior of water molecules in carbon materials with varying degrees of oxidation is crucial for optimizing their performance. Experimental studies have demonstrated that mixed functional groups form on the surface of graphene oxide, and the presence of these mixed groups limits the application performance of graphene oxide.

Feasibility study of 4D-online monitoring of density gradients induced by lung cancer treatment using carbon ions.

Tumor motion is a major challenge for scanned ion-beam therapy. In the case of lung tumors, strong under- and overdosage can be induced due to the high density gradients between the tumor- and bone tissues compared to lung tissues. This work proposes a non-invasive concept for 4D monitoring of high density gradients in carbon ion beam therapy, by detecting charged fragments.

Achieving Higher-Order Exceptional Points in a Terahertz Metasurface.

Exceptional points (EPs) are unique features of non-Hermitian systems, where eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce, enabling functionalities such as ultrasensitive sensing and topological energy transfer. While higher-order EPs have been studied in microdisk cavities and circuits, their realization in metasurfaces has been challenging. In this work, we demonstrate the first realization of a third-order EP (EP3) in terahertz metasurfaces by tuning the near-field interaction between three gold split-ring resonators.

Impact of Surfactants on Silk Fibroin Self-Assembly at the Air-Water Interface.

Silk fibroin (SF)-based materials attract significant interest because of their biocompability and great diversity of possible morphologies. One of the approaches to obtain SF materials is the use of an air-water or oil-water interface as a template for protein self-assembly. Surfactants can change the surface properties of adsorbed SF layers by promoting or preventing the formation of SF fiber networks.

Evaluation of motion mitigation strategies for carbon ion therapy of abdominal tumors based on non-periodic imaging data.

To identify suitable combination strategies for treatment planning and beam delivery in scanned carbon ion therapy of moving tumors.. Carbon ion treatment plans for five abdominal tumors were optimized on four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) data using the following approaches.

adioresistant, are, ecurrent, and adioinduced: 4s of Hadrontherapy for Patients Selections.

Purpose: To describe the role of hadrontherapy (HT) in treating radioresistant, rare, recurrent, and radio-induced tumors, which can be defined, in assonance with the 4Rs of radiobiology, the "4Rs" of HT indications.

Materials And Methods: This is a narrative review written by a multidisciplinary team consisting of radiation oncologists, radiobiologists, and physicists on the current literature on HT, particularly carbon ion radiation therapy. To refine HT indications within the context of the "4Rs" framework, we evaluated tumor histologies across different clinical indication settings and emphasized the radiobiological mechanisms contributing to the effectiveness of HT.

Exact Quantization of Topological Order Parameter in SU(N) Spin Models, N-ality Transformation and Ingappabilities.

We show that the ground-state expectation value of twisting operator is a topological order parameter for U(1)- and Z_{N}-symmetric symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in one-dimensional "spin" systems-it is quantized in the thermodynamic limit and can be used to identify different SPT phases and to diagnose phase transitions among them. We prove that this (nonlocal) order parameter must take values in Nth roots of unity, and its value can be changed by a generalized lattice translation acting as an N-ality transformation connecting distinct phases. This result also implies the Lieb-Schultz-Mattis (LSM) ingappability for SU(N) spins if we further impose a general translation symmetry.

Correction: Hu et al. Dynamics of Nanomotors Propelled by Enzyme Cascade Reactions. 2024, , 12586.

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Inclusivity is child's play: pilot study on usability, acceptability and user experience of a sensory-motor PC game for children with cerebral palsy (GiocAbile).

Background: The use of video games in rehabilitation settings is gaining increasing popularity. However, the lack of commercial video games suitable for children with disabilities and the disappointing user experience of serious games limit their applicability. The aim of this study was to assess the usability, acceptability and user experience of GiocAbile, an active video game for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Dynamics of Nanomotors Propelled by Enzyme Cascade Reactions.

Enzyme-powered nanomotors have attracted significant attention in materials science and biomedicine for their biocompatibility, versatility, and the use of biofuels in biological environments. Here, we employ a hybrid mesoscale method combining molecular dynamics and multi-particle collision dynamics (MD-MPC) to study the dynamics of nanomotors powered by enzyme reactions. Two cascade enzymes are constructed to be layered on the same surface of a Janus colloid, providing a confined space that greatly enhances reaction efficiency.

How to define temperature in active systems?

We are used to measuring temperature with a thermometer, and we know from everyday life that different types of thermometers measure the same temperature. This experience can be based on equilibrium thermodynamics, which explains the equivalence of different possibilities to define temperature. In contrast, for systems out of equilibrium such as active matter, measurements performed with different thermometers can generally lead to different temperature values.

FLASH Bragg-Peak Irradiation With a Therapeutic Carbon Ion Beam: First In Vivo Results.

Purpose: In recent years, ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) irradiation has emerged as a promising innovative approach to cancer treatment. Characteristic feature of this regimen, commonly referred to as FLASH effect, demonstrated primarily for electrons, photons, or protons, is the improved normal tissue sparing, whereas the tumor control is similar to the one of the conventional dose-rate (CDR) treatments. The FLASH mechanism is, however, unknown.

Lieb-Schultz-Mattis Theorem for 1D Quantum Magnets with Antiunitary Translation and Inversion Symmetries.

We study quantum many-body systems in the presence of an exotic antiunitary translation or inversion symmetry involving time reversal. Based on a symmetry-twisting method and spectrum robustness, we propose that a half-integer spin chain that respects any of these two antiunitary crystalline symmetries in addition to the discrete Z_{2}×Z_{2} global spin-rotation symmetry must either be gapless or possess degenerate ground states. This explains the gaplessness of a class of chiral spin models not indicated by the Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem and its known extensions.