Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Efficacy of Green Synthesised Haloxylon Capped Silver Nanoparticles Against Enterococcus faecalis.

This study synthesised and characterised Haloxylon-capped silver nanoparticles (Haloxylon-AgNPs) and assessed their antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against Enterococcus faecalis. The study also examined Haloxylon-AgNPs' ability to target E. faecalis biofilms in root canals.

Lifestyle habits and type 2 diabetes traits in patients from healthcare centers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Given the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in this cross-sectional study we analyzed the dietary habits, physical activity, as well as anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory parameters in patients with T2D and nondiabetic (ND) subjects from the UAE.

Subjects And Methods: This study included 344 UAE nationals, age 18 or older, who completed a questionnaire to assess their dietary habits and physical activity. The mean age of the recruited participants was 50.

Self-Propelling Water Droplets on Conical Spikes with Sawtooth Surface Structure.

Directional fluid transport is critical for water, energy, and biomedical applications, including passive fog harvesting. The unique shape gradient of conical structures can induce capillary pressure and drive the self-propulsion of droplets as the droplets settle on wettable sharp cones and move toward the cone base as they grow. In this work, we achieve passive droplet transport by fabricating conical spikes with sawtooth and imbricated (reversed-sawtooth) surface structures via high-resolution 3D printing.

Nanodiamonds Interact with Primary Human Macrophages and Dendritic Cells Evoking a Vigorous Interferon Response.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) display several attractive features rendering them useful for medical applications such as drug delivery. However, the interactions between NDs and the immune system remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated amino-, carboxyl-, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-terminated NDs with respect to primary human immune cells.

A dynamically crosslinked, self-adapting, injectable gelatin-chondroitin sulfate hydrogel with antibacterial and antioxidant properties for treatment of deep and irregular wounds.

Chronic, deep, and irregularly shaped wounds often infected with bacteria are considered a major clinical concern. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disruption of the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines delay the healing process. Traditionally used dressings are unable to address these multiple issues.

Endothelial cell metabolism in cardiovascular physiology and disease.

Endothelial cells are multifunctional cells that form the inner layer of blood vessels and have a crucial role in vasoreactivity, angiogenesis, immunomodulation, nutrient uptake and coagulation. Endothelial cells have unique metabolism and are metabolically heterogeneous. The microenvironment and metabolism of endothelial cells contribute to endothelial cell heterogeneity and metabolic specialization.

Evaluating postoperative conversion trends in the elderly: an Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program-based analysis of bariatric surgery outcomes.

Background: Bariatric surgery is increasingly common among elderly patients, yet postoperative conversion trends remain underexplored in this population.

Objectives: Utilizing the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of conversion trends postbariatric surgery in the elderly.

Setting: MBSAQIP national database.

Polypyridyl-based bridging corrosion inhibitors: A critical review on interface and ligands properties.

The ligand characteristics of polypyridyls, primarily bipyridine (bipy), phenanthroline (Phen), terpyridine (Tpy), naphthyridine (NC), and their derivatives, are popular for their ability to create stable chelating complexes with metal ions. Because of these characteristics, they and their coordination complexes have been used for many purposes. Polypyridyl-based heterocycles have been widely employed as corrosion inhibitors in the aqueous phase as they provide long-lasting, consistent and efficient protection.

Exploring the potential of green-synthesized hydroxyapatite for cadmium remediation in paddy soils.

The Cadmium contamination in paddy soils significantly threatens soil health and food safety. This study addresses the urgent need for cost-effective and sustainable remediation methods by evaluating the efficacy of green-synthesized hydroxyapatite (GHAP) in immobilizing Cd in paddy soils. The investigation focused on the effects of applying GHAP, commercial hydroxyapatite (CHAP), and pure hydroxyapatite (CK) on soil physicochemical properties, as well as Cd mobility and transfer within the soil-rice system.

Machine Learning for Toxicity Prediction Using Chemical Structures: Pillars for Success in the Real World.

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly valuable for predicting molecular properties and toxicity in drug discovery. However, toxicity-related end points have always been challenging to evaluate experimentally with respect to translation due to the required resources for human and animal studies; this has impacted data availability in the field. ML can augment or even potentially replace traditional experimental processes depending on the project phase and specific goals of the prediction.

Leaching characteristics of strontium from gypsum soil and calcareous sand present in saline land in arid regions: consequences for migration of radiostrontium.

The research presents a novel investigation into Aridosol, which are characteristic of arid regions and have not been previously studied concerning radionuclide migration. Additionally, the role of salinity as a factor affecting radionuclide adsorption has been largely overlooked. To elucidate the adsorption characteristics of strontium in these local soils, both batch and column experiments were conducted.

An atomically precise alloy AgCu cuboid nanocluster with a cubic core: gram scale synthesis, total structure, electronic structure, and catalytic performance.

Although atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters (NMNCs) are highly desirable to unravel the size and structure-activity relationships in catalysis, their synthesis in a controlled way at the atomic level is challenging. Herein, we report the structure and gram scale synthesis of a highly symmetric 2-phenylethanethiol (PETH) and triphenylphosphine (PPh)-protected AgCu alloy nanocluster (NC) [AgCuH(PET)Cl(PPh)][BF] with a cuboid shape, denoted as AgCu. This was accomplished a facile one-pot reduction method.

Self-Assembled Peptide-Based Fibrous Hydrogel as a Biological Catalytic Scaffold for Nitric Oxide Generation and Encapsulation.

Biomolecular hydrogels are promising scaffolds for biomedical applications ranging from controlled drug release to personalized medicine. However, existing macromolecular scaffolds for nitric oxide (NO) release face several challenges, such as a low payload capacity, rapid release, and limited biocompatibility. Here, we present the design of short peptide derivatives as low-molecular-weight gelators that spontaneously self-assemble into nanofibrous hydrogels under basic aqueous conditions.

Transforming meat waste into sustainable corneal keratoplasty models.

With a rapidly global population, there is a critical need to enhance food production and waste management. This necessity is driving opportunities for sustainable integrated food chains committed to biovalorization and circular bioeconomic practices. One approach that aligns with this vision relies on sustainable tissue engineering, which offers opportunities to leverage food systems in the search for natural biomaterials from agricultural waste.

Multifunctional Cyclic Olefin Copolymer-Titanium Dioxide-Based Nanocomposites for Enhanced Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties.

The growing demand for multifunctional materials in biomedical and packaging applications necessitates the development of advanced nanocomposites with superior mechanical, barrier, and antibacterial properties. This study presents cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)/titanium dioxide (TiO) nanocomposite films fabricated through the facile solution casting method, incorporating TiO at concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt %. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed effective TiO dispersion at lower concentrations, while agglomeration was observed at 5 wt %.

Pea protein-potato peel starch complex coacervation for the encapsulation of bioactive date seed extract: Bio-functional characterization and in vitro release.

The demand for eco-friendly encapsulation systems has boosted interest in the use of plant protein-polysaccharide coacervates to deliver bioactive compounds. This study investigated the potential of pea protein concentrate (PPC) and gelatinized potato peel starch (GPPS) as wall materials for the complex coacervation of date seed extract. The physicochemical properties, stability, bioactive compound retention, in vitro release, and bio-accessibility of the encapsulated extract were evaluated.

SELEX-derived DNA aptamer utilized for sensitive electrochemical biosensing of Toxoplasma gondii surface antigen 1.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a global parasitic pathogen with significant health implications. Effective diagnosis is crucial, especially for vulnerable populations like immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women.

Structure-Induced Selectivity of Hydroxylated Covalent Organic Framework Nanofibers for Advanced Sensing Applications: An Experimental and Density Functional Theory Study.

This study reports on the rational design of hydroxyl-functionalized covalent organic framework nanofibers (HO-COFs: PyTA-2,3-NA(OH) and PyTA-2,6-NA(OH)) by a scalable solvothermal method. The resulting PyTA-2,3-NA(OH) HO-COF is more hydrophilic than the PyTA-2,6-NA(OH) HO-COF, which can effectively enhance the sensitivity of the sensor toward basic ethylenediamine (EDA). The fabricated HO-COF nanofiber-based quartz crystal microbalance sensor exhibits a rapid sensing response and a distinguished selectivity toward EDA vapor, arising from the strong hydrogen bonding interactions with the NH groups of EDA, as investigated by a wide variety of chemical analysis techniques and density functional theory calculations.

Flexural performance of shape memory alloy/CF-PEKK fiber metal laminates for aircraft morphing under varied temperature conditions.

In this study, novel Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) were manufactured using Nickel Titanium (NiTi) sheets together with Carbon Fiber-Polyetherketoneketone (CF-PEKK) prepregs for different aerospace applications. We have investigated the effect of various temperatures on the flexural properties of NiTi/CF-PEKK FMLs. Prior to manufacture, NiTi sheets were anodized to improve the adhesion between the metal surface with the prepreg.

reduced gold nanoparticles in PDMS contact lenses for color blindness management.

Color vision deficiency, or color blindness, is an ocular condition in which individuals have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors. While there is currently no cure for this condition, various wearables can be used to improve the color perception of those affected. The most common wearables used are color-filtering glasses and lenses, which filter out the problematic wavelengths.

Mechanochemistry for the Sustainable Synthesis of Organic Hole Transport Materials in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Mechanochemical coupling reactions are typically single-site events that are thermally driven, require an inert atmosphere, and are kinetically slow under ball milling conditions. Here, we demonstrate the rapid 4-fold single-pot mechanochemical C-N coupling of tetrabromopyrene and phenothiazine leading to a novel pyrene-phenothiazine (PYR-PTZ) molecule that is shown to be an effective hole-transport material (HTM) in a perovskite solar cell (PSC). When compared to previously reported mechanochemical C-N coupling reactions, the mechanosynthesis of PYR-PTZ is achieved in just 99 min of ball-milling under ambient conditions without a glovebox or the need for external heating.

Multifunctional Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Coated EuBiGdO Nanocomposite as an Effective Contrast Agent in Spectral Photon Counting CT, MRI, and Fluorescence Imaging.

Introduction: Recently, diagnostic methods based on multimodal and non-invasive imaging, such as MRI and CT scanners, have been developed for accurate cancer diagnosis. A key limitation of these imaging systems is their low contrast. Therefore, developing stable, non-toxic, and efficient multimodal imaging contrast agents is desirable.