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Protein films have gained significant attention in the development of sustainable packaging materials due to their exceptional properties and versatility. These films offer superior gas barrier properties, specific mechanical characteristics, and enhanced intermolecular connection capabilities compared to other biopolymers. Researchers are exploring innovative methods to enhance the film-forming properties of proteins, improve their mechanical strength, and optimize their gas barrier performance. Various protein sources, such as gelatin, whey protein, soy protein, corn zein, wheat gluten, and casein, are being investigated for film fabrication. Techniques to modify protein films, including the incorporation of additives, crosslinking agents, and nanomaterials, are being explored to enhance their properties. The development of protein-based composite films, by blending proteins with other biopolymers or synthetic materials, is also being explored to achieve improved performance and functionality. Advancements in processing technologies, such as film casting, extrusion, and electrospinning, enable precise control over the thickness, morphology, and structural properties of protein films. These films not only offer enhanced barrier properties but also possess biodegradability and renewable characteristics, aligning with the increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. The preparation and improvement of protein films hold significant potential for revolutionizing the packaging industry and contributing to a greener and more environmentally friendly future. This review provides an overview of current research and advancements in the field, addressing various protein sources, film modification techniques, processing methods, challenges, and future prospects.

The CaSiO3 system exhibits notable structural complexity, featuring different polymorphs and polytypes across various pressure (P) and temperature (T) conditions compatible with Earth's environments. Among these, the pseudowollastonite and breyite structures are characterized by the presence of threefold tetrahedral rings. In this study, we conducted multianvil syntheses in the pressure and temperature range 4–5 GPa and 600–800 °C to stabilize crystals of a new high-pressure polymorph reported by Chatterjee et al. (1984) and obtain structural information. The structure was solved by combining 3D electron diffraction (ED) and synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD). The new high-pressure polymorph, here referred to as parabreyite, features threefold tetrahedral rings, with a different configuration compared to breyite. Parabreyite is triclinic, P1‾, with unit cell parameters a= 8.1911(10) Å, b= 9.3441(9) Å, c= 10.4604(10) Å, α= 73.901(8)°, β= 89.814(9)° and γ= 77.513(9)°. The bulk modulus, K0= 90.7(5) GPa, was determined by an in situ SC-XRD experiment using a diamond anvil cell (DAC) in the pressure interval 0–10 GPa. Thermal expansion was also determined by low- and high-temperature SC-XRD measurements and resulted in a larger value compared to breyite. Additionally, we performed in situ synchrotron SC-XRD on synthetic pseudowollastonite in the pressure interval 0–14 GPa and did not observe any structural phase transition in this ring-type polymorph. We also report the differences between the Raman spectra of parabreyite and breyite to help with the in situ identification of these polymorphs. The threefold ring topology of parabreyite suggests a new configuration for high-density tetrahedra structures, with significant implications for the prediction of high-pressure sp3 carbonates.

Background For the time being, tafamidis is the only approved treatment for wild‐type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. However, benefits on all‐cause death only emerge after ≈18 months. The current available staging systems are unable to specifically discriminate patients at high risk of death within 18 months from diagnosis, and the selection of patients who are expected to benefit from tafamidis is left to the clinical judgment of treating physicians, being often based primarily (and sometimes only) on age. We searched baseline variables able to discriminate patients at risk of death within 18 months. Methods and Results We randomly divided our prospectively maintained database in 2 cohorts, a testing (two thirds) and a validating (one third) set, respectively. We used the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–Performance Status as a simple scoring of frailty. We analyzed the clinical, laboratory and instrumental features of 691 consecutive wild‐type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2021. Median follow‐up was 43 months, and 367 patients (53%) died. Eighteen‐month death was predicted by NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide; cutoff 4200 ng/L), cardiac troponin I (cutoff 92 ng/L), and age (cutoff 80 years). At multivariable analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–Performance Status >1 along with the selected variables were independent prognostic determinants and outperformed New York Heart Association functional class. The combination of these variables identified standard‐ and high‐risk patients (all variables above the cutoffs) with a median survival of 57 and 17 months, respectively (P

IntroductionCurrent in vitro intestinal models lack the mechanical forces present in the physiological environment, limiting their reliability for nanotoxicology studies. Here, we developed an enhanced Caco-2/HT29-MTX-E12 co-culture model incorporating orbital mechanical stimulation to better replicate intestinal conditions and investigate nanoparticle interactions.MethodsWe established co-cultures under static and dynamic conditions, evaluating their development through multiple approaches including barrier integrity measurements, gene expression analysis, and confocal microscopy. We introduced novel quantitative analysis of dome formation as a differentiation marker and demonstrated the model application by investigating cellular responses to titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles in a digested food matrix.ResultsDynamic conditions accelerated epithelial differentiation, achieving functional barrier properties by day 14 rather than day 21, with enhanced mucin production and more organized three-dimensional structure. Mechanical stimulation selectively promoted goblet cell differentiation without affecting general epithelial markers. The optimized model successfully detected concentration-dependent oxidative stress responses to TiO₂ exposure, revealing cellular dysfunction preceding membrane damage.DiscussionThis improved co-culture system provides a better physiological platform for nanotoxicology studies. By incorporating mechanical forces, each cell type exhibits more representative behavior, creating a more realistic experimental setup. The model bridges the gap between simple monocultures and complex 3D systems, offering a practical approach for investigating nanoparticle-epithelium interactions in a food-relevant context.

A braking system is a fundamental part of any vehicle and represents a very complex topic due to its highly coupled phenomena taking place at once during its functioning. Serving as an extension of a previous work from the same authors, this paper extends the approach applied to a single braking discs coupled to a complete braking system. With means of a wall relative velocity approach coupled with a thermal energy dissipation cycle the braking event is modelled in a multiphase air/oil system. Two different lubricating oil inlets, vertical and horizontal, were investigated on the cooling efficiency of the system. The investigation was carried over the same operating conditions defined by the main operating parameters, defining the braking cycle and the machine characteristics. The different configuration was found out to lead to a slight improving in efficiency for the horizontal configuration seemingly linked to the different oil accumulation into the discs’ chamber due to the different ability of the system within the cooling oil circulation.

Objective: To investigate longitudinal trends in fetal and offspring cardiovascular adaptation in fetal growth restriction (FGR). Design: Prospective longitudinal study. Setting: Fetal Medicine Unit. Sample: Thirty‐five FGR pregnancies and 37 healthy controls assessed as term fetuses (mean age 37 ± 1 weeks) and again in infancy (mean age 8 ± 2 months). Methods: Conventional echocardiographic techniques, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography. Main Outcome Measures: Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) geometry and function. Echocardiographic parameters were normalised by ventricular size adjusting for differences in body weight between groups. Results: Compared to healthy controls, late FGR fetuses showed significant alterations in cardiac geometry with more globular LV chamber (LV sphericity index, 0.56 vs. 0.52), increase in biventricular global longitudinal systolic contractility (MAPSE, 0.29 vs. 0.25 mm; TAPSE, 0.42 vs. 0.37 mm) and elevated cardiac output (combined CO: 592 vs. 497 mL/min/kg, p < 0.01 for all). Indices of LV diastolic function in FGR fetuses were significantly impaired with myocardial diastolic velocities (LV A', 0.30 vs. 0.26 cm/s; IVS E', 0.19 vs. 0.16 cm/s) and LV torsion (1.2 vs. 3.5 deg./cm, p < 0.01 for all). At postnatal assessment, FGR offspring revealed persistently increased SAPSE (0.27 vs. 0.24 mm), LV longitudinal strain (−19.0 vs. −16.0%), reduced LV torsion (1.6 vs. 2.1 deg./cm) and elevated CO (791 vs. 574 mL/min/kg, p < 0.01 for all). Conclusions: Perinatal cardiac remodelling and myocardial dysfunction in late FGR fetuses is most likely due to chronic placental hypoxaemia. Persistent changes in cardiac geometry and function in FGR offspring may reflect fetal cardiovascular maladaptation that could predispose to long‐term cardiovascular complications in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate classification of host phenotypes from microbiome data is crucial for advancing microbiome-based therapies, with machine learning offering effective solutions. However, the complexity of the gut microbiome, data sparsity, compositionality, and population-specificity present significant challenges. Microbiome data transformations can alleviate some of the aforementioned challenges, but their usage in machine learning tasks has largely been unexplored. Results: Our analysis of over 8500 samples from 24 shotgun metagenomic datasets showed that it is possible to classify healthy and diseased individuals using microbiome data with minimal dependence on the choice of algorithm or transformation. Presence-absence transformations performed comparably to abundance-based transformations, and only a small subset of predictors is necessary for accurate classification. However, while different transformations resulted in comparable classification performance, the most important features varied significantly, which highlights the need to reevaluate machine learning–based biomarker detection. Conclusions: Microbiome data transformations can significantly influence feature selection but have a limited effect on classification accuracy. Our findings suggest that while classification is robust across different transformations, the variation in feature selection necessitates caution when using machine learning for biomarker identification. This research provides valuable insights for applying machine learning to microbiome data and identifies important directions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention is a key mechanism underlying many aspects of sexuality, with eye-tracking studies revealing that attention is both sustained by sexual stimuli and corresponds with sexual interest. Despite its utility, eye-tracking experiments typically require specialized equipment and are conducted in a laboratory setting. The overarching objective of this research was to assess the utility of a novel online method, MouseView.js, for assessing attentional processing of sexual stimuli outside of a laboratory context. MouseView.js is an open-source, web-based application where the display is blurred to mimic peripheral vision and an aperture is directed using a mouse cursor to fixate on regions of interest within the display. Using a discovery (Study 1, n = 239) and replication (Study 2, n = 483) design, we examined attentional biases to sexual stimuli among two diverse samples with respect to gender/sex and sexual orientation. Results revealed strong attentional biases toward processing sexual stimuli relative to nonsexual stimuli, as well as dwell times that correlated with self-report sexuality measures. Results mirror those observed for laboratory-based eye-tracking research, but using a freely available instrument that mirrors gaze tracking. MouseView.js offers important advantages to traditional eye-tracking methods, including the ability to recruit larger and more diverse samples, and minimizes volunteer biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to illustrate and compare different approaches for the limit analysis of masonry domes of revolution with an oculus at the top. It specifically focuses on the influence of the limited compressive and tensile strength of masonry on the bearing capacity of the dome. The first assessment is conducted through a semi-analytical formulation that revisits Durand-Claye's method within the framework of the lower bound theorem of limit analysis. The second investigation is performed using a kinematic approach, which allows for closed-form solutions by exploiting the upper bound theorem of limit analysis and the virtual work theorem. These approaches are applied to a case study that was experimentally tested, involving a hemispherical dome with an oculus. The dome is subjected to its self-weight and a vertical load at the crown. Parametric investigations are presented to compare the results obtained through the proposed methods with those derived from the classical limit analysis of masonry structures, based on Heyman's hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulphonamides and trimethoprim, although generally well‐tolerated, have been temporally associated with aseptic meningitis. To address its presentation and outcome, a literature search was performed. We retained articles reporting patients with features of acute aseptic meningitis following intake of trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole or sulfisoxazole. A cerebrospinal fluid investigation in ≥1 episode was a prerequisite for inclusion. Sixty articles reporting on 74 patients experiencing a total of 155 episodes were retained. Forty‐five (61%) patients had one or more recurrences. Median age at first episode was 43 (interquartile range [IQR] 23–61) years. Symptoms presented within 48 (IQR 6–168) hours of intake at the first episode and within 1.3 (IQR 1–5) hours at recurrences (p <.0001). Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a predominantly neutrophilic (82%, IQR 65%–94%) pleocytosis (180, IQR 38–507 106 cells/L), without low glucose or high proteins. Recovery took place within 2 (IQR 1–3) days after stopping the suspected agent. All but one patient completely recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust estimates of the relative efficacies of alternative management interventions are essential for developing evidence‐informed fisheries bycatch policy. Bycatch is a major threat to the conservation of albatrosses and other pelagic seabirds. Branchline weighting is one approach prescribed by regional fisheries management organisations and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels to reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. We used a Bayesian multilevel network meta‐regression modelling approach to conduct the first synthesis of available evidence to assess the relative efficacies at mitigating seabird bycatch of alternative pelagic longline weighting designs. Unlike conventional pairwise meta‐analysis, network meta‐analysis enables the simultaneous comparison of multiple interventions within a coherent modelling framework. There was a > 97% probability that all weighting designs significantly reduced seabird bycatch compared to a reference design with no weight within 5 m of the hook. Nonetheless, some weighting designs were significantly more effective at reducing seabird bycatch than others—for instance, the 2 designs with weights >60 g and >1 m from the hook performed the best with >93% probability that those 2 designs performed significantly better than 2 more commonly used designs with less weight but attached closer to the hook. These two best performing designs reduced seabird bycatch by ca 89% relative to the reference design. These relative efficacies and rankings, when combined with other performance criteria such as costs to commercial viability and crew safety, support robust evaluations of alternative bycatch management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article aims to address the response from the higher education (HE) sector in the United Kingdom (UK) to the full-scale war in Ukraine which started in 2022. Design/methodology/approach: Relying on theoretical ideas of neoliberalism and the collection and thematic analysis of relevant official communications from six UK universities, the article uncovers three major ways in which these universities have been responding to the war. Findings: They include (1) altruistic responses, (2) the promotion of equal treatment of all people and (3) the condemnation of the invasion and its implications for UK's international cooperation in HE. These responses suggest the strengthening of the liberal ideals in the UK HE sector, heavily dominated by marketisation. Originality/value: This analysis is significant not only for advancing a very limited scholarship on the topic of HE in the context of this war but also for understanding the development of the neoliberal landscape of UK HE and neoliberalism as a phenomenon in times of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the development and characterization of tetragonal barium titanate nanoparticles (BTO NPs) and their surface functionalization with dopamine dodecylamine (DDA), a lipophilic organic ligand. The so‐obtained lipophilic NPs (BTO‐DDA) are then formulated at low loadings (< 5 wt.%) into liquid photocurable resins for vat photopolymerization (VP) and 3D printed into solid objects. The printed composites are mechanically characterized in order to assess the effect of the nanomaterial on the mechanical properties of the 3D printed polymer, revealing no significant variations in the mechanical properties (tensile or flexural) of the nanocomposites compared to the original polymer matrix. In light of these results, the printed nanocomposites are studied in terms of their capacity to generate a separation of charge by the piezoelectric effect, typical of the BTO crystal structure. This study reveals that BTO‐loaded nanocomposites display outstanding piezoelectric coefficients as high as 50 pC/N when BTO‐DDA is formulated at 3.0 wt.%, only slightly less than one‐third of the piezoelectric coefficient previously reported for bulk BTO, while preserving the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids (FAs) exert diverse biological functions in humans, influencing physiological responses and, ultimately, health and disease risk. The analysis of FAs in human samples has significant implications and attracts interest in diagnostics and research. The standard method for assessing FA profiles involves the collection of blood samples, which can be inconvenient, invasive, and potentially painful, particularly for young individuals outside hospital settings. Saliva emerged as a promising alternative for evaluating FA profiles in both clinical and research settings. However, to the best of our knowledge, an updated synthesis of the related evidence is unavailable. This comprehensive review aims to summarize data on FA analysis and highlight the potential of the use of salivary FAs as a biomarker in health and disease. Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in studying salivary FAs in chronic diseases, and more recently, researchers have explored the prognostic value of FAs in acute conditions to check the availability of a non-invasive sampling methodology. A deeper understanding of salivary FAs could have relevant implications both for healthy individuals and patients, particularly in elucidating the correlation between the dietary lipidic content and salivary FA level, Finally, it is crucial to address the standardization of the methods as the sampling, processing, and analysis of saliva are heterogeneous among studies, and limited correlation between blood FAs and salivary FAs is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Special issue: Integrated approaches for the mechanics of masonry structures: Novel strategies for experimental characterization, mathematical modelling and computer simulations" published in Mathematics & Mechanics of Solids discusses interdisciplinary advancements in the study of masonry structures. It covers topics such as mathematical modeling, experimental testing, and computer simulations, focusing on innovative materials like Textile-Reinforced Mortars and Fiber-Reinforced Polymers. The contributions to this special issue include analytical methods for assessing limit strength in vaults and arches, constitutive models for masonry simulations, fracture processes in masonry, and numerical procedures for analyzing masonry structures at the mesoscale. The research presented aims to deepen understanding of masonry behavior and guide improved design and restoration strategies. [Extracted from the article]