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Introduction: Disinfectants play a critical role in reducing healthcare-associated infections by eliminating microorganisms on surfaces. However, prolonged use of disinfectants may adversely affect the skin microflora, essential for skin health and infection prevention. This study investigates the impact of disinfection on the skin microbiota and metabolites of medical personnel in operating rooms, aiming to provide a scientific foundation for safeguarding their skin health. Methods: We conducted 16S sequencing and metabolomic analysis to assess the effects of disinfection on the skin microbiota and metabolites of medical personnel. Samples were collected from operating room personnel after disinfectant exposure to identify changes in microbial communities and metabolite profiles. Results: Our analysis revealed that prolonged use of disinfectants led to alterations in skin microbial communities and microbial metabolites. These alterations included the production of harmful metabolites that could potentially promote skin infections and other health issues among medical personnel. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of minimizing disruptions to skin microbiota and metabolites caused by long-term disinfectant use to preserve the overall health of medical personnel. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between disinfectant use, skin microbiota, and metabolites, highlighting the necessity for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic and comprehensive analysis of the hot deformation and mechanisms of SiC particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites is significant for optimizing the processing of the composites and obtaining the desired components. Based on this, related research on 11 vol% SiCp particle-reinforced 7050Al matrix composites was carried out. Hot compression experiments were carried out on the Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator to study the hot deformation behavior of composites at the temperature of 370–520 °C and strain rate of 0.001–10 s−1. The hyperbolic sine constitutive equation of the material was established, and the processing map was calculated. Combining the typical metallograph and misorientation angle distribution, the microstructure evolution mechanism of composites was analyzed, and the effect of particles on recrystallization behavior was investigated. Under certain process conditions, the dominant deformation mechanism of composites changed from dynamic recovery (DRV) to dynamic recrystallization (DRX), and the grain boundary sliding mechanism began to play a role. In addition, high temperature tensile and elongation at break were tested, and it was found that the dominant form of fracture failure changed from brittle fracture of the particles to ductile fracture of the matrix as the temperature increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Chondrosarcoma is difficult to treat because of resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol in combination with doxorubicin in chondrosarcoma cells.Materials& Methods: JJ012, was treated with doxorubicin alone or in combination with ethanol. Effects on cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and the cell cycle were evaluated.Results: Treatment of JJ012 cells with 100 mM ethanol and doxorubicin resulted in reduced cell growth, invasion, and migration. In addition, doxorubicin uptake into the nucleus was enhanced and p53 mRNA expression was upregulated in JJ012 cells.Conclusion: Ethanol combined with doxorubicin increased doxorubicin uptake in the nucleus and enhanced the effects of doxorubicin in JJ012 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) defines an important stage in the progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.Objective: To establish a mouse model of AFLD.Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following two groups: (i) a control group, which was allowed free access to food and water and (ii) an alcohol-treated group, which was administered a 15% (v/v) alcohol solution instead of water. After 8-9 months of treatment, serum biochemical indexes, histopathological changes, liver triglyceride content, iron storage, and ferritin light chain protein expression were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, a commercially available kit, Prussian blue staining, and Western blot analysis, respectively.Results: Compared with the control group, the alcohol-treated group displayed increased levels of serum LDH, ALT, and AST, decreased levels of ALB, and no significant change in levels of TP. Additionally, increased levels of serum TG, T-CHO, and LDL and decreased levels of serum GLU and HDL were observed in the alcohol-treated mice. HE staining showed that lipid vacuolization occurred in the livers of alcohol-treated mice. The alcohol-treated mice also exhibited increased liver triglyceride content. Moreover, Prussian blue staining and Western blot analysis demonstrated that chronic alcohol administration caused iron overloading of the liver.Conclusions: Chronic administration of 15% (v/v) alcohol in the drinking water over 8-9 months caused AFLD in mice. Our results establish an AFLD model that represents a promising tool for the future study of the progression of ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal/diamond composites have been considered as the new generation of thermal management material. The critical challenge to obtain composites with high thermal conductivity (TC) is to improve the interfacial bonding between the matrix and diamond. In the present study, a titanium coating was plated on the surface of diamond particles via vacuum evaporation–deposition, and Al/diamond composites were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The TC and microstructure of composites, respectively, with coated and uncoated diamond particles are compared and discussed. The results show that the Ti coating can significantly increase the wetting property between Al and diamond, leading to a strong interfacial bonding. The diffusion of Ti into the matrix and the formation of TiC are detected at the Al–diamond interface. The properties of composites, respectively, with coated and uncoated diamond exhibit different trends with increasing sintering temperature or diamond volume fraction. Compared with composites with uncoated particles, the Al/Ti–diamond composites obtained the much higher relative density and TC as high as 491 W/mK. Based on the comparison between the experimental and theoretical values, it is found that the thermal conductivities of Al/Ti–diamond composites have reached or surpassed the theoretical calculations with the particle volume fraction not more than 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite/Al composites have attracted much attrition due to their excellent thermal properties. However, the improvement of thermal conductivity (TC) is limited by the difficulty in controlling the orientation of graphite and the poor wettability between graphite and aluminum. In this study, a novel process for fabricating the Graphite/Al composites is proposed, which involves fabricating graphite film and aluminum foil into laminate material. Then, taking a rolling method, the fractured and well oriented graphite film can help the composite achieve high TC while maintaining a certain strength. The result reveals that both single and total reduction have a significant influence on the diameter and orientation of the graphite, and by adjusting the process parameters, composites with high TC can be acquired at a relatively low reinforcement volume. This near-net-forming process can directly meet the thickness requirements for electronic packaging and avoids the exposure of graphite to the surface during secondary processing, which is promising to promote the application for high TC Graphite/Al composites in thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite/Al composites had attracted significant attention for thermal management applications due to their excellent thermal properties. However, the improvement of thermal properties was restricted by the insufficient wettability between graphite and Al. In this study, silicon carbide and titanium carbide coatings have been uniformly coated on the graphite by the reactive sputtering method, and Graphite/Al laminate composites were fabricated by a hot isostatic pressing process to investigate the influence on thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. The results show that carbide coating can effectively improve the interfacial thermal conductance of SiC@Graphite/Al and TiC@Graphite/Al composites by 9.8 times and 3.4 times, respectively. After surface modification, the in-plane thermal conductivity (TC) of the composites with different volume fractions are all exceeding the 90% of the predictions. In comparison, SiC is more conducive to improving the thermal conductivity of composite materials, since the thermal conductivity of the 28.7 vol.% SiC@Graphite/Al reached the highest value of 499 W/m·K, while TiC is favorable for improving the mechanical properties. The finding is beneficial to the understanding of carbide coating engineering in the Graphite/Al composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strengthening and weakening effects of SiC particles on composite strength and ductility were studied. Al-Cu-Mg alloys matrices with three different mechanical properties were used. Their yield strength, ultimate strength, and elongation range from 90 to 379 MPa, 131 to 561 MPa, and 18% to 31%, respectively. SiC particles with sizes of 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, and 30 μm were used to reinforce these three matrices, separately, and the composites of eighteen combinations of the particle sizes and matrix strengths were manufactured. Yield strength, ultimate strength, elongation, and fracture morphology of these composites were characterized. Based on the analysis, the strengthening to weakening behavior on strength and ductility were comprehensively discussed. The critical particle size having the best ductility was obtained. The strengthening limit and match range of the particle and the matrix to achieve effective strengthening were defined as a function of the particle size and matrix strength. This work offers an important reference for optimization of mechanical properties of the particle-reinforced metal matrix composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roles of the particle, strengthening, and weakening during deformation of the particle reinforced metal matrix composite, were studied using in situ technique. Composites with three different strengths Al-Cu-Mg alloy matrices reinforced by three sizes SiC particles were manufactured and subjected to in situ tensile testing. Based on in situ observation, damage process, fraction and size distribution of the cracked particles were collected to investigate the behavior of the particle during composite deformation. The presence of the particle strengthens the composite, while the particle cracking under high load weakens the composite. This strengthening to weakening transformation is controlled by the damage process of the particle and decided by the particle strength, size distribution, and the matrix flow behavior together. With a proper match of the particle and matrix, an effective strengthening can be obtained. Finally, the effective match range of the particle and the matrix was defined as a function of the particle size and the matrix strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous epidemiological studies have reported that moderate alcohol drinking has beneficial effects. However, few studies have focused on the beneficial effects of ethanol, the common component in alcoholic beverages. Here we fed the C57BL/6 mice with 3.5% v/v ethanol as drinking water substitute to investigate the effects of long-term low-dose ethanol intake in vivo . We evaluated the metabolic rate and mitochondrial function of the long-term low-dose ethanol-intake (LLE) mice, assessed the exercise ability of LLE mice, and fed the LLE mice with a high-fat diet to investigate the potential impact of ethanol on it. The LLE mice showed improved thermogenic activity, physical performance, and mitochondrial function, as well as resistance against the high-fat diet-induced obesity with elevated insulin sensitivity and subdued inflammation. Our results suggest that long-term low-dose ethanol intake can improve healthspan and resist high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. It may provide new insight into understanding the protective effects of moderate alcohol drinking.

Aim: Chondrosarcoma is difficult to treat because of resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol in combination with doxorubicin in chondrosarcoma cells., Materials & Methods: JJ012, was treated with doxorubicin alone or in combination with ethanol. Effects on cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and the cell cycle were evaluated., Results: Treatment of JJ012 cells with 100 mM ethanol and doxorubicin resulted in reduced cell growth, invasion, and migration. In addition, doxorubicin uptake into the nucleus was enhanced and p53 mRNA expression was upregulated in JJ012 cells., Conclusion: Ethanol combined with doxorubicin increased doxorubicin uptake in the nucleus and enhanced the effects of doxorubicin in JJ012 cells.

Cell death inducing DNA fragmentation factor-alpha-like A (Cidea) is a member of cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector (CIDE) protein. The initial function of CIDE is the promotion of cell death and DNA fragmentation in mammalian cells. Cidea was recently reported to play critical roles in the development of hepatic steatosis. The purpose of present study is to determine the effect of chronic alcohol intake on Cidea expression in the livers of mice with alcoholic fatty liver disease. Cidea expression was significantly increased in the liver of alcohol-induced fatty liver mice. While, knockdown of Cidea caused lipid droplets numbers reduction. Next, we detected the activity of ALDH2 reduction and the concentration of serum acetaldehyde accumulation in our alcohol-induced fatty liver mice. Cidea expression was elevated in AML12 cells exposed to 100uM acetaldehyde. Interestingly, Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that 100 uM acetaldehyde led to the activation of Cidea reporter gene plasmid which containing SRE element. What's more, the knockdown of SREBP1c suppressed acetaldehyde-induced Cidea expression. Overall, our findings suggest that Cidea is highly associated with alcoholic fatty liver disease and Cidea expression is specifically induced by acetaldehyde, and this up-regulation is most likely mediated by SREBP1c.