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Ablative composites serve as sacrificial materials, protecting underlying materials from high-temperature environments by endothermic reactions. These materials undergo various phenomena, including thermal degradation, pyrolysis, gas generation, char formation, erosion, gas flow, and different modes of heat transfer (such as conduction, convection, and radiation), all stemming from these endothermic reactions. These phenomena synergize to form a protective layer over the underlying materials. Carbon, with its superb mechanical properties and various available forms, is highlighted, alongside phenolics known for good adhesion and fabric ability and elastomers valued for flexibility and resilience. This study focuses on recent advancements in carbon-and-phenolic and carbon-and-elastomeric composites, considering factors such as erosion speed; high-temperature resistance; tensile, bending, and compressive strength; fiber–matrix interaction; and char formation. Various authors' calculations regarding the percentage reduction in linear ablation rate (LAR) and mass ablation rate (MAR) are discussed. These analyses inform potential advancements in the field of carbon/phenolic and carbon/elastomeric ablative composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lateralising calcaneal osteotomy for pes cavus is generally regarded to be harder to shift than a medialising calcaneal osteotomy for pes planus. The aim of our study was to determine the structures which restrain a lateral shift. Methods: Lateralising calcaneal osteotomy was performed on four soft-embalmed cadavers via a standard lateral approach and the lateral calcaneal shift was measured before and after the release of flexor retinaculum. Further exploratory dissection around the osteotomy site revealed the abductor hallucis muscle to be the main restraint to the lateral shift of the calcaneus. Subsequently, lateralising calcaneal osteotomy was performed on another four cadavers and the abductor hallucis muscle fascia as well as the plantar fascia was released. The lateral shift was measured before and after the fascia release, and compared with the results achieved following the flexor retinaculum release in the first four cadavers. Results: Lateralising calcaneal osteotomy alone resulted in an average of 4.5-mm lateral shift in the first four cadaveric specimens. Releasing the flexor retinaculum led to a further 3-mm increase of lateral shift on average. In the next four cadaveric specimens, lateralising calcaneal osteotomy alone resulted in an average of 5.5-mm lateral shift. Release of abductor hallucis muscle fascia and the plantar fascia in these four specimens increased the lateral shift by an additional 7 mm on average. Hence, release of abductor hallucis muscle fascia resulted in an extra 4-mm shift on average compared with what is achieved with flexor retinaculum release. Conclusions: Abductor hallucis muscle fascia was discovered to be one of the main structures limiting the lateral shift in lateralising calcaneal osteotomy. Release of fascia over this muscle as well as the plantar fascia should help in improving lateral shift. Further experimental and clinical research is necessary to confirm the findings of this pilot study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing systems have evolved tremendously from a traditional approach to the introduction of cyber physical systems and automation which enabled simulations to be performed and solving complex stochastic-deterministic problems. Simulations are improving year after year and apart from implementing it as a long-term decision maker in design phase only, it has also been incorporated into manufacturing operations such as scheduling, sequencing and dispatching as a short term decision maker. This effect has been fuelled by increase in computational speed of the computers. In this paper, a review has been presented of all the components in the manufacturing system design and operation with various examples of implementation of simulation into these components. The three different types of simulation methods that are commonly used in manufacturing systems, their support aids, intelligent and expert systems to give an idea of the structure of simulation models in industries and research have also been explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The real challenge in the solution of contact problems is the lack of an optimal adaptive scheme. As the contact zone is a priori unknown, successive refinement and iterative method are necessary to obtain a high-accuracy solution. The purpose of this paper is to provide an optimal adaptive scheme based on second-generation finite element wavelets for the solution of non-linear variational inequality of the contact problem. Design/methodology/approach: To generate an elementary multi-resolution mesh, the authors used hierarchical bases (HB) composed of Lagrange finite element interpolation functions. These HB functions are customized using second-generation wavelet techniques for a fast convergence rate. At each step of the algorithm, the active set method along with mesh adaptation is used for solving the constrained minimization problem of contact case. Wavelet coefficients-based error indicators are used, and computation is focused on mesh zones with a high error indication. The authors take advantage of the wavelet transform to develop a parameter-free adaptive scheme to generate an appropriate and optimal mesh. Findings: Adaptive wavelet Galerkin scheme (AWGS), a newly developed method for multi-scale mesh adaptivity in this work, is a combination of the second-generation wavelet transform and finite element method and significantly improves the accuracy of the results without approximating an additional problem of error estimation equations. A comparative study is performed taking a solution on a highly refined mesh and results are generated using AWGS. Practical implications: The proposed adaptive technique can be utilized in the simulation of mechanical and biomechanical structures where multiple bodies come into contact with each other. The algorithm of the method is easy to implement and found to be successful in producing a sufficiently accurate solution with relatively less number of mesh nodes. Originality/value: Although many error estimation techniques have been developed over the past several years to solve contact problems adaptively, because of boundary non-linearity development, a reliable error estimator needs further investigation. The present study attempts to resolve this problem without having to recompute the entire solution on a new mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is mainly concerned with experimental studies on the basic hydrodynamic characteristics of an oblique plunging liquid jet impinging on a liquid surface and resulting in air entrainment. To study the structure of a biphasic zone below the free surface of liquid, a needle type electrical conductivity probe has been indigenously designed and extensively used. For effective visualization of a two-phase flow field, a high-speed digital camera was utilized. With the aid of the above, the present study provides new methods and application of the phase detection probe to understand the physics of the plunging jet aeration system. This work, apart from the air entrainment characteristics, also investigates the geometry of the biphasic zone for the oblique plunging liquid jet. The experimental results were also compared with the existing correlations and are found to be in good agreement. Hence, this work contributes to the better understanding of the air entrainment process and bubble dispersion for the oblique plunging liquid jet system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical discharge machining is a non-conventional machining method that is used for machining of hard-to-machine materials, components in which length to diameter ratio is very high or products with a very complicated shape. The process is commonly used in automobile, biomedical, chemical, aerospace, tool and die industries etc. It is very essential to select optimum values of input process parameters to maximize the machining performance. In this paper an attempt has been made to carry out multiobjective optimization of the surface roughness (SR) and material removal rate (MRR) for the EDM process of EN 19 on a CNC EDM machine using copper electrode through evolutionary optimization techniques like teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) technique and biogeography-based optimization (BBO) technique. The input parameter considered for the optimization are Current (A), Voltage (V), Pulse off time (µs), and Pulse on time (µs). TLBO and BBO technique wereused to obtain maximum MRR and minimize the SR. It was found that SR and MRR increased linearly when discharge current was in mid-range however non-linear increment of MRR and SR was found when the current was too small or too large. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images also indicated a decreased SR. In addition, obtained optimized values were validated for testing the significance of the TLBO and BBO technique and a very small error value of MRR and SR was found. BBO outperformed TLBO in every aspect like less percentage error and better-optimized values, however, TLBO took less computation time than the BBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the ecological concern and fiber orientation problem, lignocellulosic wood filler reinforced epoxy composite is developed using ‘micro-size’ particle reinforcement in view of its promising applicability as automobile parts and consumer goods. To identify the phase and functional groups present, the wood microfiller is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The properties of the developed ‘specific grade’ epoxy composite are investigated in uniaxial tension mode with variable strain rate and in three-point bending mode. The linear elastic fracture mechanics is adopted to find fracture toughness and strain energy release rate at fracture initiation. The dynamic mechanical properties of the produced viscoelastic material are determined over a range of temperature. The investigations demonstrated a noticeable improvement in static and dynamic mechanical properties with the addition of micron size fillers, and properties of this developed material are comparable (or even better) with existing different wood-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work assesses the impact of the presence of Nano scaled silicon carbide on the Mechanical & Tribological behavior of aluminium matrix composites. Aluminium matrix composites containing 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt.%-nano scaled silicon carbide was set up by a mechanical stirrer. The trial comes about to demonstrate that the inclusion of Nano silicon carbide brings about materials with progressively high elastic modulus and likewise brings about expanded brittle behavior, fundamentally lessening failure strain. Shear modulus and flexural shear modulus likewise increases with silicon carbide increase. The presence of Nano scaled silicon carbide in the aluminium matrix diminishes subsurface fatigue wear and increases wear resistance, because of silicon carbide lubricant activity. Wear testing, microstructure & morphological, density & void testing, hardness, flexural and tensile test of the readied composites were investigated and outcomes were analyzed which demonstrated that including nano-SiC in aluminum (Al) matrix increased wear resistance, tensile strength, and 2 wt. % of nano scaled SiC for Al MMC indicated maximum wear resistance, tensile strength, and an optimum balanced mix of both Tribological and Mechanical properties. Microstructural observation uncovered uniformand homogeneous distribution of SiC particles in the Al matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current analysis examines the efficiency of a composite with polymer matrix reinforced with carbon fibre and graphene at the micro and nano level respectively as an alternative material for aluminium components of Orthotic callipers. An attempt has been made to use both the carbon fibre and graphene as hybrid reinforcement with the matrix as epoxy resin. The addition of graphene and carbon fibre was 2% and 10% respectively by weight of epoxy. Dispersion of graphene was carried out using an ultrasonic sonicator and carbon fibres were a reinforced using hand lay-up technique. The total fabrication was carried out under vacuum to ensure void-free test samples. The samples were tested under tension and 3 Point Bending condition to estimate the Tensile and Flexural properties, under permissible load and deflection criteria. The results found were then compared with presently used material for orthotic callipers extensively used by amputees suffering from the locomotive, gait issues, and polio-affected survivors. The proposed composite showed higher strength, lower deformation and higher stiffness with a lower weight-to-volume ratio as compared to presently used material, i.e. aluminium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a crosstalk noise model of CMOS gate-driven coupled multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) interconnects based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. The analysis is based on the transmission line model of MWCNT interconnect and modified alpha power law model of CMOS driver. It is observed that the results of proposed model closely match with that of HSPICE simulations and at the same time the model is more time efficient than the HSPICE. Moreover, it is observed that the conventional models are not useful for accurate estimation of crosstalk induced performance parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, vegetarian diets have experienced an increase in popularity. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that wholesome vegetarian diets offer distinct advantages compared to diets containing meat and other foods of animal origin. A vegetarian diet may be adopted for various reasons that can include ecological, economic, religious, ethical, and health considerations. In the latter case they arise from the desire to lose weight, in tackling obesity, improving physical fitness and/or in reducing the risk of acquiring certain diseases. It has been shown that properly applied vegetarian diet is the most effective way of reducing body mass (expressed as BMI), improving the plasma lipid profile and in decreasing the incidence of high arterial blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and arteriosclerosis. In addition, improved insulin sensitivity together with lower rates of diabetes and cancer has been observed. Some studies have however found that a vegetarian diet may result in changes adversely affecting the body. These include: hyperhomocysteinemia, protein deficiency, anemia, decreased creatinine content in muscles and menstrual disruption in women who undertake increased physical activity. Some of these changes may decrease the ability for performing activities that require physical effort. Nevertheless, on balance it can be reasonably concluded that the beneficial effects of a vegetarian diet significantly, by far, outweigh the adverse ones. It should also be noted that the term 'vegetarian diet' is not always clearly defined in the literature and it may include many dietary variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous demand of today's scenario and ecological consciousness has made the researchers think about the utilization of alternate sources of materials without compromising the mechanical behavior and characteristics while focusing on the fulfillment of the desired requirements in the wide range of industrial applications. The present work is a noble attempt and a step towards the development of silk fibre composites (SFCs) reinforced with the vinyl ester matrix material. The processing and fabrication of SFRCs have been carried out using the traditional hand layup technique using untreated silk fibres (SFs) and silk cloths (SCs) in the form of single, double, and triple layers of SFs and SCs laminates oriented in uniaxial and biaxial directions. For the prepared composite samples, the density and void contents in the sample, mechanical characteristics in terms of their tensile and flexural strength, and tribological characteristics as well as the electrical impedance have been investigated. The percentage void content was found to be within the acceptance limit. The tensile and flexural test results show a considerable increment which indicates proper stress transfer from matrix phase to fibre with triple-layer cloths showing the highest tensile and flexural properties. In the tribological test, the coefficient of friction is higher in the case of cloth loading as fibre concentration increases significantly. In the impedance test, almost for all samples, the trend of change in conductivity with applied frequency is the same. From the economic perspective, the proposed composite is suitable for a wide range of applications in industries as well as this can be utilized as an alternate source of traditionally used floor tiles currently using ceramic materials. Also, the proposed composite has a biodegradable characteristic that is completely in accordance with the demand and consciousness involved in environmental and ecological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four ammonium and imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) have been synthesized and screened against the T98G cell line (brain cancer) and HEK normal cells. Treatment induced metabolic cell death (MTT), growth inhibition, clonogenic inhibition were studied as cellular response parameters. Treatment with ILs enhanced growth inhibition and cell death in a concentration dependent manner in both the T98G and HEK cell lines. At higher concentrations (>0.09 mg/mL) the cytotoxic effects of the ILs were highly significant. An inhibitory effect on clonogenic capacity was also observed after cell treatment. Amongst all ILs; IL 4 (BMIMCl) exhibited potent activity against T98G brain cancer cells. Despite potent in-vitro activity, all ILs exhibited less cytotoxicity against the normal human HEK cells at all effective concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper proposes to study the effect of line resistance and driver width on crosstalk noise for a CMOS gate driven inductively and capacitively coupled VLSI interconnects. Design/methodology/approach - The paper considers a distributed RLC interconnect topology. The interconnect length is 4?mm and far-end capacitive loading is 30?fF. The SPICE simulation set-up uses an IBM 0.13?µm, 1.2?V technology model. The input falling ramp has a transition time of 50?ps. The victim line is grounded through a driver resistance of 50?O at near end of interconnect. While observing the effect of line resistance, the aggressor driver has PMOS and NMOS widths of 70 and 30?µm, respectively, and the line resistance is varied from 0 to 500?O. For capturing the effect of driver width, SPICE waveforms are generated at far end of victim line for three different line resistances (R=0, 30, and 60?O respectively). In each case, the aggressor PMOS driver width is swept from 20 to 100?µm. The corresponding NMOS width is half of PMOS width. Findings - It is observed that, as line resistance increases, the noise peak reduces. This is due to the fact that with increasing resistance the incident and reflected waves traveling along the line experience increasing attenuation. Hence, the waves arriving at the far-end of the line are of smaller magnitude and larger time durations. This causes noise pulses in the lossy lines to be smaller and wider compared with those in a lossless line. The effect of driver width on noise waveforms is further observed. It is observed that, as the PMOS (and corresponding NMOS) driver width is increased, the victim line gets more prone to crosstalk noise. The crosstalk magnitude level increases alarmingly as driver width is increased, because the driver resistance decreases, which in turn increases the current driving capability of driver. Originality/value - While designing coupled interconnects, driver width and line resistance play an important role in deciding the crosstalk level. An interconnect designer often increases driver width and reduces line resistance for achieving lower propagation delays. This effort may result in higher crosstalk noise in coupled interconnect. Therefore, a designer should be concerned simultaneously for crosstalk noise while reducing delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To review and explore optical fiber and carbon nanotube (CNT) as prospective alternatives to copper in VLSI interconnections. Design/methodology/approach - As the technology moves to deep submicron level, the interconnect width also scales down. Increasing resistivity of copper with scaling and rising demands on current density drives the need for identifying new wiring solutions. This paper explores various alternatives to copper. Metallic CNTs, optical interconnects are promising candidates that can potentially address the challenges faced by copper. Findings - Although, the theoretical aspects proves CNTs and optical interconnect to be better alternative against copper on the ground of performance parameters such as power dissipation, switching delay, crosstalk. But copper would last for coming decades on integration basis. Originality/value - This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in CNT interconnect and optical interconnect research; and discusses both the advantages and challenges of these emerging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal and residual stress distributions induced by the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process on Inconel 625 were studied using numerical simulation and experiments. A multi-pass welding model was developed that uses a volumetric heat source. Thermomechanical analysis is carried out to assess the Thermal and residual stress distributions. Experiments were carried out with 5 mm thick Inconel 625 plates. X-ray diffraction techniques were used to measure residual stresses, and IR thermometry was employed to capture the temperature values on the welded joints. Simulations were performed with ANSYS numerical code, and a close agreement was found between the predicted and experimentally measured residual stress. Thermal measurements were collected pass by pass from the analysis, and the agreement was 9.08%. The agreement between the measured and analysed residual stress was 11%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the graded micro-structure and high specific strength-stiffness, bamboo micro fillers are systematically utilized in reinforcing different thermoset and thermoplastic polymers as replacement of conventional glass and carbon fillers. In this work, micro-size bamboo particle fillers are reinforced in 'specific grade' thermoset epoxy matrix and its fracture properties has been evaluated by following linear elastic fracture mechanics. To enhance its compatibility with the polymer matrix and to reduce the hydrophilicity, the bamboo micro fillers are surface modified through alkaline treatment. The extent of surface modification and removal of lower weight polymers from filler surface are examined and established by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The fracture properties of bamboo-epoxy composite material are observed to be increasing with the addition of bamboo fillers and the maximum value of fracture toughness is 0.678 MPa.m0.5 which is 32% higher than the same for neat epoxy samples. In addition, the mechanisms of notch initiated fracture propagation have also been explained for the understanding of stress singularity present at the preexisted crack tip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of fiber orientation problem and seminal ecological economics, the present research work is concentrated on the development of 'commercial adhesive grade' epoxy composite reinforced with surface-modified low-cost 'agronomic waste'- based pineapple leaf (PALF) fillers. To overcome the potential adhesion and moisture absorption issues, surface modification of fillers is accomplished with alkaline treatment. The change occurred in the crystal structure and thermal stability of fillers before and after the treatment is quantified using X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The composite samples are subjected to the tensile test with varying strain rate to investigate its effect on the tensile properties and failure behavior of materials. In addition to this, the plane-strain fracture toughness and flexural test have also been carried out to evaluate the composite properties in bending mode with and without the preexisted crack in materials. The dynamic mechanical analysis has also been conducted from room temperature to 150 °C to evaluate the temperature dependence of mechanical properties. The crystallinity of treated filler has been improved by 8 % due to the loss of non-cellulosic components from filler molecules. The highest value of ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus are 22 MPa and 570 MPa, respectively. The maximum values of storage modulus of 10 GPa and glass transition temperature of 91 °C were observed for 2.5 % and 12.5 % of filler content, respectively. From these findings, it is envisaged that the balanced tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of PALF–epoxy composites will elucidate their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims at studying the anticancer role of cold plasma-activated immune cells. The direct anti-cancer activity of plasma-activated immune cells against human solid cancers has not been described so far. Hence, we assessed the effect of plasma-treated RAW264.7 macrophages on cancer cell growth after co-culture. In particular, flow cytometer analysis revealed that plasma did not induce any cell death in RAW264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis confirmed that TNF-α released from plasma-activated macrophages acts as a tumour cell death inducer. In support of these findings, activated macrophages down-regulated the cell growth in solid cancer cell lines and induced cell death in vitro. Together our findings suggest plasma-induced reactive species recruit cytotoxic macrophages to release TNF-α, which blocks cancer cell growth and can have the potential to contribute to reducing tumour growth in vivo in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing is one of the fastest-growing fields in materials engineering. This is because there is a new trend for custom, high-precision, and on-demand manufacturing. The undesired residual stress induced in the components during layer-by-layer melting and solidification of the metal powder is an important issue related to the selective laser melting (SLM) process that needs to be studied deeply. These stresses may impair mechanical performance and potentially result in premature failure. As a result, a thorough knowledge of residual stress is crucial for improved component dependability. By keeping constant process parameters, samples were produced with a difference in the scanning method. Results indicate that the defect-free parts are manufactured in all the four patterns used, and the self-balanced residual stresses are within the safe limits of yield strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 2D borophene flatland is emerging suitable for high-performance application. • Developing functionalized borophene is suitable for efficient biosensing prototypes. • These systems can be translated for POC application. • IoMT and smartphone supported such systems are required for personalized healthcare. 2D-materials-based biosensing, supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and internet-of-medical things (IoMT), has emerged as a new technological platform for intelligent diagnostics at point-of-care (POC). To achieve a desired biosensing, high performance engineering in smart functionalized opto-electric 2D materials is crucial. Recently, borophene has emerged as one of such advanced platforms due to its high electroactive surface, anisotropic behaviour, high electron transport, controlled optical properties, feasibility of deposition in thin films, and possibility to generate surface functionalities. Although ease of fabrication still stands challenging, borophene could be deposited on flexible substrate, functionalized using chemistries to immobilize bio-actives, and control over electro-optical properties to develop a highly sensitive biosensing systems operated by smartphone to achieve early stage POC diagnosis. This letter is an attempt to project borophene for smart bio-sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, distortion and residual stresses in the multipass welded joint were analyzed with respect to heat input. The welded joint was produced using the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process with dissimilar Ni-based filler of ERNiCrMo-3. This dissimilar joint is essential in power generating nuclear and thermal plants operating at elevated temperatures. The distortion and residual stress measurements were taken using the Vernier height gauge and XRD method. To evaluate the mechanical properties, tensile testing was carried out at room temperature. The welded joint qualified the tensile test with an average value of 593 MPa. In the weld metal, a significant variation of residual stresses is measured on the top surface of the weldment along with the thickness with peak magnitude of 145 MPa to 180 MPa at the fusion zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Series of novel thiourea and guanidine conjugated β‐carbolines along with other analogues of this class were designed and synthesized for in vitro antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum to overcome the threat of resistance to anti‐malarial drug. Among them, two guanidine conjugated β‐carbolines 7 a and 7 c showed promising activities against both sensitive and resistant strains Pf3D7 and PfINDO with the IC50 values ranging from 0.6–1.0 μM. The relative activities were further supported by in silico docking and binding studies of the synthesized scaffolds against specific targets, revealing that DHFR and FP3 may act as a potential target for 7 a and 7 c respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new tetracationic hetero-bimetallacycles, compounds 4 and 5, have been constructed from an N, N′-bis(4-(pyridin-4-ylethynyl)phenyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide ligand ( 1), and cis-blocked complexes [M(dppf)(OTf)2] (dppf=1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene; OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate; M=Pd ( 2), Pt ( 3)) in CH3NO2/CH2Cl2 (1:1) solvent. Both complexes were isolated with adequate yields as triflate salts and were then characterized using 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (HR-ESMS). The molecular structure of 4 was determined by molecular mechanics force-field calculations. The cytotoxic effect of both new complexes were analyzed against T98G (brain tumor), KB (head and neck cancer), SNU-80 (thyroid cancer), and HEK-293 non-malignant cell lines. The cytotoxicity of complexes 4 and 5 were found to be considerably more effective against cancer cells than reference drug cisplatin. Annexin-V/PI staining, caspase-3/7 activity, and the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential justify a significant level of apoptosis in complex-treated cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: • Fabrication of zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO-QDs) via solution process. • Photo-oxidation compression with commercial Degussa (P-25) TiO2. • Rate constant for ZnO-QDs (1.9×10−2/min) and P-25 (8.3×10−3/min) respectively. • Efficiencies were found to be 70% and 92% for P-25 and ZnO-QDs respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of tissue engineering, there are several issues to consider when designing biomaterials for implants, including cellular interaction, good biocompatibility, and biochemical activity. Biomimetic mineralization has gained considerable attention as an emerging approach for the synthesis of biocompatible materials with complex shapes, categorized organization, controlled shape, and size in aqueous environments. Understanding biomineralization strategies could enhance opportunities for novel biomimetic mineralization approaches. In this regard, mussel-inspired biomaterials have recently attracted many researchers due to appealing features, such as strong adhesive properties on moist surfaces, improved cell adhesion, and immobilization of bioactive molecules via catechol chemistry. This molecular designed approach has been a key point in combining new functionalities into accessible biomaterials for biomedical applications. Polydopamine (PDA) has emerged as a promising material for biomaterial functionalization, considering its simple molecular structure, independence of target materials, cell interactions for adhesion, and robust reactivity for resulting functionalization. In this review, we highlight the strategies for using PDA to induce the biomineralization of hydroxyapatite (HA) on the surface of various implant materials with good mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. We also discuss the interactions between the PDA-HA coating, and several cell types that are intricate in many biomedical applications, involving bone defect repair, bone regeneration, cell attachment, and antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LSPR taper fiber sensors have been developed to detect uric acid in human serum. • Tapered fiber structure of 40 µm diameter was fabricated using plasma technique. • Sensor probe was coated with AuNPs and graphene oxide to increase the sensitivity. • AuNPs and GO of absorbance peak of 519 nm and 230 nm were synthesized. • AuNPs/GO/Uricase sensor has good performance in comparison of GO/Uricase probe. In this work, two different tapered optical fiber sensor probes were developed to detect the Uric acid (UA) presents in human bodies. In first sensor probe, a uniform layer of graphene oxide (GO) was coated over the tapered fiber structure. In second probe, a layer of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was sandwiched between GO layer and fiber surface. The AuNPs ensures the generation of surface plasmons (SPs) and results in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. Thereafter, LSPR phenomenon was used to sense the change in refractive index around the sensor head. The GO layer was used due to its inherent properties of binding the biomolecules. The AuNPs and GO solutions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The coating of AuNPs and GO over the sensing region was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The linearity test was performed by detecting the different concentration of UA solutions in the range of 10 µM–800 µM. The selectivity of sensor was enhanced by functionalization of nanomaterials-coated fiber with uricase enzyme. To verify the selectivity, several biomolecules present in human serum/urine were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several applications for non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure, such as the sterilization of infected tissues, wound healing, and delicate surgery. Non-thermal plasma generates reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS). In this study, we examined human red blood cells (RBCs), platelet function, and blood coagulation, following treatments with different feeding gases (air, nitrogen (N2), and argon (Ar)) of the dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP) at different exposure times. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of DBDP on hemolysis, deformability, aggregation, and morphology of RBCs, as well as platelet function and blood coagulation at three doses (5, 10 and 15 min exposure). In comparison to N2 and Ar DBDP, air DBDP at more than 10 min exposure to RBC in culture plate with 2 ml liquid solution caused hemolysis and alterations in RBC deformability and aggregation owing to the higher levels of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl oxidants and other RONS. Moreover, air DBDP affected platelet function at high doses (more than 10 min exposure). Consequently, the air DBDP at, or more, than 10 min exposure affects blood coagulation and blood cells. The proposed method is useful for assessing the performances and dose optimization of various non-thermal plasma types used with different type of gases in biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a widely distributed type of cancer in women worldwide, and tumor relapse is the major cause of breast cancer death. In breast cancers, the acquisition of metastatic ability, which is responsible for tumor relapse and poor clinical outcomes, has been linked to the acquisition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and self-renewal traits (CSCs) via various signaling pathways. These phenomena confer resistance during current therapies, thus creating a major hurdle in radiotherapy/chemotherapy. The role of very low doses of radiation (LDR) in the context of EMT has not yet to be thoroughly explored. Here, we report that a 0.1 Gy radiation dose reduces cancer progression by deactivating the JAK1/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, LDR exposure also reduces sphere formation and inhibits the self-renewal ability of breast cancer cells, resulting in an attenuated CD44+/CD24− population. Additionally, in vivo findings support our data, providing evidence that LDR is a promising option for future treatment strategies to prevent cancer metastasis in breast cancer cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]