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In this research, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were prepared with a concentration of 2% through a hydrolysis procedure using concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This was followed by the preparation of CNC/Klucel E nanocomposites films with various concentrations (10, 15, 20, 30, 50 %). The obtained films were investigated and evaluated using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and tensile strength testing. Based on the results obtained, films with concentrations of 20 and 30 %, which gave the best results, were applied on aged wood specimens in order to study the influence of this nanocomposite on different properties of wood. The influence was studied in terms of mechanical properties, change in chemical composition, and change in physical appearance through tensile tests, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and color change measurements (CIE lab), respectively. The tensile strength of the films was improved after addition of CNC to Klucel E by almost 70% at 30% concentration, and compression strength for wooden samples significantly increased after using the same concentration of the nanocomposite, which reached 35 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to study the power of surfactant solutions on the remediation of soils contaminated by crude oil during a batch washing process. We used as surfactants Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS). In this study, we examined the effect of various parameters: level of contamination, type of surfactant and contamination Age on the surfactant elimination of oil from soil. The results obtained in this study showed the potential of surfactants in the cleanup of soils contaminated by hydrocarbons, and the structure of surfactants has a crucial effect on the kinetic elimination. The calculated correlation coefficients (R2) suggest a good closeness-of-fit range for the first and second order kinetic model. It varies between 0.87 and 0.94 for first order kinetic model and between 0.75 and 0.89 for second order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor-outdoor environments are polluted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mainly benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and the three isomers ortho, meta and para-xylene, commonly known as BTEX. Motor vehicles are the main source of these compounds. In this regard, we propose to study the simulation of the dispersion of benzene, emitted by the exhaust gases of a vehicle in a (3D) medium, in order to predict the concentration of the polluting gas and the different physical dispersion parameters as a function the distance from the emission source of the vehicle to the location of the study and the height of the buildings. In our work, CFD simulations were carried out using the k-ε turbulence model provided by the commercial code ANSYS-CFX. The results showed that whenever the source of pollution approaches the urban environment, pollution remains high in urban areas, which affects the well-being of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present information on the feasibility and acceptability of a Stroke Champion "train-the-trainer" program, including lessons learned, for dissemination of stroke prevention knowledge and resources among African Americans (AA) residing within the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN metropolitan area., Design: One arm pre-post-test design., Methods: Twelve AA "Stroke Champions" were recruited to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online stroke prevention education curriculum and peer-to-peer education., Results: We successfully designed, developed, and implemented a stroke prevention education website for community use. All Stroke Champions completed initial training and evaluation, and reported the usefulness and usability of the website., However, they also reported that they needed more facilitation support from our research team to deliver education in the community., Conclusion: Engaging Stroke Champions is potentially beneficial in increasing stroke prevention knowledge. However, Stroke Champions need more support to effectively engage, educate, and disseminate knowledge among peers.

Gene therapeutics are promising for treating diseases at the genetic level, with some already validated for clinical use. Recently, nanostructures have emerged for the targeted delivery of genetic material. Nanomaterials, exhibiting advantageous properties such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, facile functionalization, substantial loading capacity, and tunable physicochemical characteristics, are recognized as non-viral vectors in gene therapy applications. Despite progress, current non-viral vectors exhibit notably low gene delivery efficiency. Progress in nanotechnology is essential to overcome extracellular and intracellular barriers in gene delivery. Specific nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon quantum dots (CQDs), nanodiamonds (NDs), and similar carbon-based structures can accommodate diverse genetic materials such as plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), small interference RNA (siRNA), micro RNA (miRNA), and antisense oligonucleotides (AONs). To address challenges such as high toxicity and low transfection efficiency, advancements in the features of carbon-based nanostructures (CBNs) are imperative. This overview delves into three types of CBNs employed as vectors in drug/gene delivery systems, encompassing their synthesis methods, properties, and biomedical applications. Ultimately, we present insights into the opportunities and challenges within the captivating realm of gene delivery using CBNs.

Potato chips are popular high-consuming ready-to-eat meals in all of the world which specially attract a lot of attention from youth and children. Reducing oil absorption and improving the quality of chips are major undertakings within the industry. This research aimed to find the best ultrasonic bath-based method by investigating the optimal ultrasonic pre-treatment and developing an ultrasound (US) assisted frying system (UAFS) to reduce the oil absorption of potato chips while maintaining an acceptable quality. Through this technique, the potato chips get sonicated during deep frying in hot oil. US-pretreatment at temperatures of 25 °C and 73 °C, along with US-assisted frying, resulted in the minimal amount of oil which may be due to the US creating potential pores during the pre-treatment phase, which then expand further during the subsequent sonication stage. UAFS in combination with US-pretreatment produced more crispy chips due to the fact that the texture of potato slices becomes more porous. UAFS resulted in a decrease in the moisture content of the fried chips attributed to an increase in the effective diffusion coefficient and mass. Pretreating the chips at 73 °C significantly reduce the color change producing brighter product by inactivation of enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase. Finally, the result of TOPSIS optimization based on potato chips properties confirms that US-pretreatment in 73 °C brine followed by frying using UAFS is the best approach. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of potato chips also support this issue., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic Central nervous system autoimmune disease. There is no absolute treatment for MS and the available remedies are called disease modifying therapies (DMTs). Glatiramer acetate (GA) is one of the FDA approved DMTs. Currently, injection-site problems and unfavorable daily injection are the most common milestones in administration of GA. So that, the design of improved drug delivery systems with sustained release profile seem necessary and helpful in order to minimize GA adverse effects and improve patients' compliance. In this study, we have manufactured a novel chitosan-PLGA (poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)) hydrogel-microparticles containing GA by double emulsion method. Hydrogel-microparticles' properties including size, morphology and GA loading were investigated. In-vitro drug release was studied during 30 days. In vivo efficacy of GA-hydrogel-microparticles was evaluated in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as an established animal model for MS. Pathological studies were performed through H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) staining of brain, spine, liver, skin and kidney tissues. Luxol fast blue staining of brain tissue was also done. The obtained results were applied for safety and efficacy evaluations. GA loading and Entrapment efficiency (EE %) of 60% and 95% were achieved, respectively. In- vitro release studies confirms a sustained release profile for GA-hydrogel-microparticles. Mean clinical scores and mean body weights obtained from EAE animal model for GA-hydrogel-microparticles were compared to the outcomes achieved from conventional Iranian brand-generic injection solution of GA (Copamer ® , 20 mg/ml). EAE outcomes and pathological studies confirm similar therapeutic efficacy with longer dosing intervals possibility, improved safety through decreased adverse effects and elimination of site injection reactions for GA-hydrogel-microparticles. Further studies on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics in human volunteers are still required to thoroughly examine different aspects of this newly developed GA- hydrogel-microparticles., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Recently, antimicrobial activities of various carbon-based nanomaterials against specific pathogens have become one of the most significant research interests in this field. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising multidisciplinary nanostructures in biomedicine, drug delivery, genetic engineering, biosensors, and artificial implants. However, the biomedical administration of CNTs is dependent on their solubility, toxicity, and biocompatibility, as well as novel drug-delivery applications through optimization of the drug's loading capacity, cellular absorption, and continuous release within the target cell. The usage of CNTs and Graphene materials as antimicrobial agents and nanocarriers for antibiotics delivery would possibly improve their bioavailability and facilitate better anti-infective therapy. However, it is worth mentioning that CNTs' antimicrobial activity and toxicity are highly dependent on their preparation and synthesis method. Various types of research have confirmed that diameter, length, residual catalyst, metal content, surface coating, electronic structure, and dispersibility would affect CNTs' toxicity toward bacteria and human cells. In this review article, a general study was performed on the antimicrobial properties of carbon-based nanomaterials, as well as their toxicity and applications in confronting different microorganisms. This study could be useful for researchers who are looking for new and effective drug delivery methods in the field of microbial resistance.

In the present work, single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were successively functionalized with phospholipid DSPE-PEG carboxylic acid, and then, with ethylenediamine (EDA), to obtain double functionalized single wall carbon nanotube (DFSWCNT). Then, DFSWCNT was applied as a carrier for delivering amphotericin B (Amb) and EGFP plasmid. FSWCNT's concentration obtained via UV-visible analysis was 0.99 mg/mL. The TGA analysis results provided the lost weights of DSPE-PEG-COOH, EDA, Amb and SWCNT impurities. XPS results showed that carbon atoms' percentage decreased during the functionalization processes from 97.2% (SWCNT) to 76.4% (FSWCNT) and 69.9% (DFSWNCT). Additionally, the oxygen atoms' percentage increased from 2.3% (SWCNT) to 21% and 22.5% for FSWCNT and DFSWCNT, respectively. New bonds such as C-N and N-C=O appeared in the synthesized nanocarrier. The I G /I D ratio in Raman analysis decreased from 7.15 (SWCNT) to 4.08 (FSWCNT). The amount of Amb released to phosphate buffer saline medium was about 33% at pH = 5.5 and 75% at pH = 7.4 after 48 h. CCK8 results confirmed that the toxicity of functionalized SWCNT had decreased. In a 2:1 ratio of DFSWCNT/EGFP plasmid, the cell viability (87%) and live transfected cells (56%) were at their maximum values. The results indicate that carbon nanotubes have the potential to be applied as drug/gene delivery systems with outstanding properties such as high loading capacity and easy penetration to cell membrane., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Purpose: Adverse cardiovascular health disparities persist for African American men. Although changing health behaviors is perhaps one of the most effective methods to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths, previous behavior change programs targeting single or multiple CVD risk factors in target groups have had mixed success. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether a multi-faceted peer group intervention model based on American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 was feasible, safe, acceptable, and efficacious in producing meaningful risk reduction for African American men., Methods: A convenience sample of 24 African American men with at least one CVD risk factor participated quasi-experimental study having peer intervention vs . nonequivalent comparison groups, with pretest-posttests at two church sites in Minneapolis, MN (MPLS) and Washington, D.C. (DC). Feasibility, safety, acceptability, and potential efficacy were assessed by examining completion of peer group sessions, adverse events, attendance, attrition, within and between-group changes in measures using nonparametric statistics., Results: All twenty-four men completed the study with no study-related adverse symptoms and medical events. The peer groups had moderate to high attendance, and the peer program evaluation was highly positive among participants. Between baseline and 6-months, there were significant differences between the intervention and the comparison group in cholesterol levels and weights ( p = .041, p = .034, respectively) at one site (DC). There were no significant between-group changes at the other site (MPLS)., Implication for Practice: The multi-faceted peer support intervention was feasible, acceptable, and shown to have potential efficacy to reduce CVD risk for highly motivated African American men. Future studies with a larger sample size are needed to test the effectiveness of this intervention model to reduce CVD risk among African American men., (© Copyright 2022 Springer Publishing Company, LLC.)

Root system architecture (RSA) is an important agronomic trait with vital roles in plant productivity under water stress conditions. A deep and branched root system may help plants to avoid water stress by enabling them to acquire more water and nutrient resources. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the genetics and molecular control mechanisms of RSA is still relatively limited. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome response of root tips to water stress in two well-known genotypes of rice: IR64, a high-yielding lowland genotype, which represents a drought-susceptible and shallow-rooting genotype; and Azucena, a traditional, upland, drought-tolerant and deep-rooting genotype. We collected samples from three zones (Z) of root tip: two consecutive 5 mm sections (Z1 and Z2) and the following next 10 mm section (Z3), which mainly includes meristematic and maturation regions. Our results showed that Z1 of Azucena was enriched for genes involved in cell cycle and division and root growth and development whereas in IR64 root, responses to oxidative stress were strongly enriched. While the expansion of the lateral root system was used as a strategy by both genotypes when facing water shortage, it was more pronounced in Azucena. Our results also suggested that by enhancing meristematic cell wall thickening for insulation purposes as a means of confronting stress, the sensitive IR64 genotype may have reduced its capacity for root elongation to extract water from deeper layers of the soil. Furthermore, several members of gene families such as NAC , AP2/ERF , AUX/IAA , EXPANSIN , WRKY , and MYB emerged as main players in RSA and drought adaptation. We also found that HSP and HSF gene families participated in oxidative stress inhibition in IR64 root tip. Meta-quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis revealed that 288 differentially expressed genes were colocalized with RSA QTLs previously reported under drought and normal conditions. This finding warrants further research into their possible roles in drought adaptation. Overall, our analyses presented several major molecular differences between Azucena and IR64, which may partly explain their differential root growth responses to water stress. It appears that Azucena avoided water stress through enhancing growth and root exploration to access water, whereas IR64 might mainly rely on cell insulation to maintain water and antioxidant system to withstand stress. We identified a large number of novel RSA and drought associated candidate genes, which should encourage further exploration of their potential to enhance drought adaptation in rice., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Abdirad, Ghaffari, Majd, Irian, Soleymaniniya, Daryani, Koobaz, Shobbar, Farsad, Yazdanpanah, Sadri, Mirzaei, Ghorbanzadeh, Kazemi, Hadidi, Haynes and Salekdeh.)

Nowadays, finding a novel, effective, biocompatible, and minimally invasive cancer treatment is of great importance. One of the most promising research fields is the development of biocompatible photothermal nanocarriers. PTT (photothermal therapy) with an NIR (near-infrared) wavelength range (700-2000 nm) would cause cell death by increasing intercellular and intracellular temperature. PTT could also be helpful to overcome drug resistance during cancer treatments. In this study, an amine derivative of phospholipid poly ethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG (5000) amine) was conjugated with SWCNTs (single-walled carbon nanotubes) to reduce their intrinsic toxicity. Toxicity studies were performed on lung, liver, and ovarian cancer cell lines that were reported to show some degree of drug resistance to cisplatin. Toxicity results suggested that DSPE-PEG (5000) amine SWCNTs might be biocompatible photothermal nanocarriers in PTT. Therefore, our next step was to investigate the effect of DSPE-PEG (5000) amine SWCNT concentration, cell treatment time, and laser fluence on the apoptosis/necrosis of SKOV3 cells post-NIR exposure by RSM and experimental design software. It was concluded that photothermal efficacy and total apoptosis would be dose-dependent in terms of DSPE-PEG (5000) amine SWCNT concentration and fluence. Optimal solutions which showed the highest apoptosis and lowest necrosis were then achieved.