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This study offers a detailed examination of vinyl ester composites strengthened with nettle fibres and annealed biosilica from foxtail millet husk biomass waste. The primary objective is to investigate how the different dwell time processed heat treated biosilica particles perform under repeated and prolonged loading applications in natural fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials. The biosilica particles were annealed at 1200 °C and dwelled for 2 h and 4 h. The results highlight VNS32 (resin with nettle fibre of 30 vol.% and biosilica of 2 vol.%) as the superior composite, exhibiting higher fatigue counts of 29,108, 27,898, and 26,247 for 25%, 50%, and 75% of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Similarly, VNS32 demonstrates superior values in creep and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). In creep testing, VNS32 shows creep strain values of 0.0015, 0.0019, and 0.0035 for 5000 s, 10,000 s, and 15,000 s, while in DMA, it achieves a storage modulus of 5.6 GPa at 107 °C and a loss factor of 0.42. These findings suggest that the utilization of prolonged annealed biosilica contributes to enhanced structural integrity and uniform load transfer, both in normal and cyclic loading conditions at specific temperatures. Moreover, these composites could be used in automotives, lightweight building material applications, drones, defence and food packaging where lightweight and high strength is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the effect of particle shape and size on the mechanic behavior of glass-particle reinforcing Nylon matrix composite is evaluated. There are many parameters effecting on the composite such as types, size, position and shape of reinforcement material. Particle morphology has received enormous interest in particulate composite; small particles adhere strongly to the polymer, which leads to a strong reinforcing effect. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of reinforcement shape and size with different volume fractions and for three packing (square, hexagonal and random) using finite element method. The composite is subject to unidirectional tensile loading. Numerical results are presented for a variety of particle shapes and size including circular, triangular, square and two distributions grouping these shapes together. The results show that the variation of the Von Mises and longitudinal stresses consistently increased when the shape of the reinforcement changed from triangle to square, distribution 1 and distribution 2 to circular in this order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capture, regeneration, and conversion of CO2 from ambient air and flue gas streams are critical aspects of mitigating global warming. Solid sorbents for CO2 absorption are very promising as they have high mass transfer areas without energy input and reduce emissions and minimize corrosion as compared to liquid sorbents. However, precisely tunable solid CO2 sorbents are difficult to produce. Here, we demonstrate the high‐throughput production of hydrogel‐based CO2‐absorbing particles via liquid jetting. By wrapping a liquid jet consisting of an aqueous solution of cross‐linkable branched polyethylenimine (PEI) with a layer of suspension containing hydrophobic silica nanoparticles, monodisperse droplets with a silica nanoparticle coating layer was formed in the air. A stable Pickering emulsion containing PEI droplets was obtained after these ejected droplets were collected in a heated oil bath. The droplets turn into mm‐sized particles after thermal curing in the bath. The diameter, PEI content, and silica content of the particles were systematically varied, and their CO2 absorption was measured as a function of time. Steam regeneration of the particles enabled cyclic testing, revealing a CO2 absorption capacity of 6.5 ± 0.5 mol kg−1 solid PEI in pure CO2 environments and 0.7 ± 0.3 mol kg−1 solid PEI for direct air capture. Several thousands of particles were produced per second at a rate of around 0.5 kg per hour, with a single nozzle. This process can be further scaled by parallelization. The complete toolbox for the design, fabrication, testing, and regeneration of functional hydrogel particles provides a powerful route toward novel solid sorbents for regenerative CO2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Bioactive glass is a multifunctional synthetic composite material that releases active ions slowly and exhibits certain biological activities after affinity with tissues. Their versatility stems from the versatility of their preparation processes and components, allowing them to be applied in different clinical scenarios. OBJECTIVE: To review the main application forms, application fields of bioactive glass, as well as the influence of doping different elements on its function. METHODS: A literature search was conducted across WanFang Medical Database, CNKI Database, PubMed Database, and Web of Science Database, using the search terms “bioactive glass, slow-release ions, bone tissue engineering, composite scaffold, tissue regeneration and repair, biomedical engineering” in Chinese and English. The timeframe was limited from 2000 to 2023. Finally, 88 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In terms of application forms, bioactive glass can be fabricated as coatings, particles, bone cements, and scaffolds according to needs. Coatings have the potential to enhance the biological activity of implants, yet they are susceptible to instability as a result of degradation. Particles offer a viable solution for the repair of irregular bone defects; however, particles produced through traditional methods often possess limited functionality. Bone cement provides the benefits of minimal invasiveness and injectability, yet its application is restricted to smaller bone defects. Scaffolds exhibit excellent mechanical properties and are commonly used for larger-sized bone defects, yet they have limited toughness. (2) In terms of applications, bioactive glass can be used in a variety of tissue regeneration and repair and disease treatment fields, including dentistry, orthopedics, soft tissue engineering, and cancer. (3) In terms of element doping, the addition of specific elements to bioactive glass not only improves its mechanical properties but also endows it with special biological functions such as bioactivity, degradability, and antibacterial properties. (4) Biologically active glass is a versatile material that can be used in different forms and functions by adjusting the preparation process and element doping to meet various clinical needs in bone tissue engineering and is widely used in the field of biomedical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research study, a non-deformable, stiff electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material was prepared and characterized. The composites were prepared using industrial waste silver slag fine particles; woven abaca fiber and silk fabric with two different stacking order designated as ASSA and SAAS. The composites were created utilizing a hand layup technique and the American society for testing of materials (ASTM) standards were used to assess their performance. The findings showed that the abaca/silk/silk/abaca sequence of fibers had greater dielectric values. The ASSA2 composite designation was observed to have a maximum dielectric constant of 4.81. Similar to this, the ASSA2 configuration produced a total EMI shielding effectiveness of 56.85 dB at 20 GHz. Moreover, the ASSA2 composite configuration resulted in enhanced mechanical and hardness qualities. These mechanically hardened epoxy-based composites with increased EMI shielding could be employed in applications for radar, radomes, and the telecommunications industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruise-type aquaculture on deep-sea aquaculture vessels is an important direction for developing of modern marine fisheries. The article explored the effect of transverse rolling motion on the flow field characteristics in the tank based on FLOW-3D software, and calculated the removal of waste particles in the flow field under different transverse rolling conditions on this basis. The results showed that when controlling the period of transverse rolling, the flow velocity in the aquaculture tank increased slightly as the amplitude of the transverse rolling angle increased from 0° to 2°. When the amplitude of the transverse rolling angle was increased from 2° to 7º, the flow velocity in the aquaculture tank showed a large increase, and the v50% increased from 0.171 m/s to 0.477 m/s; the increase of the transverse rolling angle also made the overall distribution of the flow velocity more discrete. The flow uniformity index of the conditions with the transverse rolling angle amplitude of 2° or less is mainly concentrated in 0.8-0.85, while when the transverse rolling angle amplitude is increased to 3º, the flow uniformity of the aquaculture tank decreases significantly. The flow uniformity indices of the water in the aquaculture tank are all less than 0. 8. When the amplitude of the transverse rolling angle is certain, the transverse rolling period is shortened, the flow velocity in the aquaculture tank increases sharply, and the v50% of the flow velocity of each condition and the other quartiles show a linear growth trend while the uniformity of the flow of the water in the tank does not change significantly. For the removal of waste solid particles in the aquaculture tank, the whole process is divided into two phases with opposite effects when the period of transverse rolling and the properties of particles themselves are certain. From the time when the particles were released into the flow field to the 1000 s after the release, the smaller the amplitude of the transverse rolling angle was, the higher the removal rate was; thereafter, until the end of the calculation of the whole example, the larger the transverse rolling angle was, the higher the removal rate of the particles was. The period of transverse rolling did not effect the removal of particles in the aquaculture tanks, and the time to reach the standard for particles removal was very close for each condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite as a back-filling (buffer) material for repositories of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) has an obvious multiple-pore structure. The particle characteristics of its constituent minerals have significant impacts on its macroscopic physical and mechanical properties. After purification, the nanoscale montmorillonite mineral particle morphology of GMZ bentonite in suspension was observed by atomic force microscope (AFM). The particle size, particle shape and stacking characteristics of particles were statistically analysed. The effects of the hydration process, ambient temperature, and interlayer cation types on its particle characteristics are explored. The particle gradation of GMZ bentonite particles is discontinuous. The large particles have a long stripe shape with an equivalent particle size of 1200 ~ 2500 nm; the small particles have an elliptical shape with an equivalent particle size of 5 ~ 600 nm. Larger the particles particle size, more irregular the particle shape. The complete hydrated bentonite particles contain generally less than 20 layers. The layer thickness is about 0.98 nm, and the layer basal distance is about 1.15 ~ 1.55 nm. The particles with more layers would have a smaller layer basal distance. Low ambient temperature could increase the layer basal distance. Calcium ion exchange increases the layer basal distance, and the opposite is true for sodium ions. The research would be facilitating the understanding of the evolution of multiple pore structures during the bentonite hydration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable utilization of biomass, particularly troublesome waste biomass, has become one of the pathways to meet the urgent demand for providing energy safety and environmental protection. The variety of biomass hinders the design of energy devices and systems, which must be highly efficient and reliable. Along with the technological developments in this field, broad works have been carried out on the mathematical modeling of the processes to support design and optimization for decreasing the environmental impact of energy systems. This paper aims to provide an extensive review of the various approaches proposed in the field of the mathematical modeling of the thermochemical conversion of biomass. The general focus is on pyrolysis and gasification, which are considered among the most beneficial methods for waste biomass utilization. The thermal and flow issues accompanying fuel conversion, with the basic governing equations and closing relationships, are presented with regard to the micro- (single particle) and macro-scale (multi-particle) problems, including different approaches (Eulerian, Lagrangian, and mixed). The data-driven techniques utilizing artificial neural networks and machine learning, gaining increasing interest as complementary to the traditional models, are also presented. The impact of the complexity of the physicochemical processes and the upscaling problem on the variations in the modeling approaches are discussed. The advantages and limitations of the proposed models are indicated. Potential options for further development in this area are outlined. The study shows that efforts towards obtaining reliable predictions of process characteristics while preserving reasonable computational efficiency result in a variety of modeling methods. These contribute to advancing environmentally conscious energy solutions in line with the global sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health is significantly impacted by the quality of the air in living areas. Numerous factors, such as the kind of particle, clean air delivery rate, room geometry, surface features, and thermal plume produced by people or other equipment, all have an impact on indoor particle movement. This work uses computational fluid dynamics to quantitatively examine the performance of a portable air purifier that is routinely used to improve the indoor air quality of a room. The volumetric flow rate, particle diameter, and placement of the air cleaner device were considered in the assessment of the particle transport characteristics. The temperature, velocity, and age of the air distribution in the room were computed in three-dimensional simulations, and the effectiveness of the air cleaning device (ACD) in eliminating contaminants was then investigated. Clean air delivery rate (CADR), collection efficiency, and particle concentration rate values were also computed for every case that was taken into consideration. It is found that CADR and collection efficiency values for larger particles are about 2–7% better than those for smaller particles. The collection efficiency of ACD with different operating conditions is in the range of 71% to 87%. Better collection performance parameters are observed with higher flow rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction With similar prevalence to injuries from fires, stings, and natural disasters, soft tissue injuries may occur from fireworks, industrial accidents, or other explosives. Surgeons are less familiar with treating high-velocity penetration from small debris, which may increase the chance of infection and subsequent fatality. Penetration risk curves have been developed to predict V50, the velocity with 50% probability of penetration, for various sized projectiles. However, there has been limited research using nonmetallic materials to achieve lower density projectiles less than 1 g cm−2, such as sand or rocks. Material and Methods To emulate the size and density of these energized particles, 14 ball bearings of stainless steel, silicon nitride, or Delrin acetal plastic ranging from 1.59 mm (1/16") to 9.53 mm (3/8") with sectional densities between 0.3 g cm−2 and 5  g cm−2 were launched toward porcine legs at a range of velocities to determine the penetration thresholds. High-speed videography was captured laterally at 40 kHz and impact velocity was captured using a physics-based tracking software. A generalized linear model with repeated measures and a logit link function was used to predict probability of penetration for each projectile. A total of 600 impacts were conducted to achieve at least 15 penetrating impacts for each projectile over a range of velocities. Results Higher impact velocities were required to penetrate the skin as sectional density of the projectile decreased, and the relationship between velocity and sectional density exhibited an exponential relationship (V 50, |$ = 184.6*S{D^{ - 0.385}}$|⁠ , R 2 = 0.95) with substantial change for nonlinearity in sectional densities ranging from 0.3 g cm−2 to 1  g cm−2. Compared to previous studies, the empirical relationship was consistent in the linear region (2-5  g cm−2), and novel experimentation filled in the gaps for sectional densities less than 1  g cm−2, which expressed more nonlinearity than previously estimated. For low-density projectiles with diameters of 1.59 (1/16") or 3.18 (1/8"), 32 impacts were lodged into the epidermis but did not penetrate through the dermis; however, penetration was defined as displacement into or through the dermis. Conclusions These experimental results may be used to develop and validate finite element simulations of low-density projectile impacts to address complex, multivariate loading conditions for the development of protective clothing to reduce wounding and subsequent infection rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article I argue that A+P adverbs like hardop 'aloud' and languit 'at full length' are words composed of an adjective (hard 'hard', lang 'long') and an intransitive adposition (a particle or sometimes a locational adposition) functioning as a suffix. This description differs from Corver's (2022), according to whom the expressions are adpositional phrases. His analysis is meant to illustrate six points of view that have become constants in generative grammar. I follow these constants, but because of a partially different application, the result is different. Corver treats the P in these expressions as if it were used transitively, which leads to a description that is semantic in nature, but presented as abstract and syntactic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric and structural integrity often deteriorate in 3D printed cell-laden constructs over time due to cellular compaction and hydrogel shrinkage. This study introduces a new approach that synergizes the advantages of cell compatibility of biological hydrogels and mechanical stability of elastomeric polymers for structure fidelity maintenance upon stereolithography and extrusion 3D printing. Enabling this advance is the composite bioink, formulated by integrating elastomeric microparticles from poly(octamethylene maleate (anhydride) citrate) (POMaC) into biologically derived hydrogels (fibrin, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and alginate). The composite bioink enhanced the elasticity and plasticity of the 3D printed constructs, effectively mitigating tissue compaction and swelling. It exhibited a low shear modulus and a rapid crosslinking time, along with a high ultimate compressive strength and resistance to deformation from cellular forces and physical handling; this was attributed to packing and stress dissipation of elastomeric particles, which was confirmed via mathematical modelling. Enhanced functional assembly and stability of human iPSC-derived cardiac tissues and primary vasculature proved the utility of the composite bioink in tissue engineering. In vivo implantation studies revealed that constructs containing POMaC particles exhibited improved resilience against host tissue stress, enhanced angiogenesis, and infiltration of pro-reparative macrophages.

Bioassay technology has been proved important in the field of environmental monitoring, disease diagnosis and clinical treatment. At present, diverse bioassay technologies have achieved reliability, rapid responsiveness, convenient operation, along with high sensitivity, and specificity. Among them, micro-nano structure particles-based bioassay will inevitably play an important role for future development. Especially, compared with typical solid, porous or hollow particles, hierarchical particles are featured with hierarchical configurations and considerable surface area, and thus have gained extensive research interest as ideal scaffolds for biological, medical and catalytic applications in biomedicine. In this review, we present the recent advances in bio-inspired hierarchical particles. After introducing a variety of hierarchical particles and their synthesis methods, we focus on their applications in multiple biological detections of different targets such as proteins, DNA, RNA, exosomes and cells. In addition, the highlighted applications of hierarchical particles in bioassays for clinical diagnosis are also summarized and prospected.

Accurately determining if the sample parameters from a natural gas pipeline's sampling system reflect the fluid characteristics of the main pipe has been a significant industry concern for many years. In this paper, samples of natural gas in a horizontal pipeline are investigated. CFD is used in this work and the turbulence is considered in the simulation. Firstly, the critical diameter for particles affected by gravity within such pipeline is determined. And then, the effects of the operation pressure and velocity of sampling branches on sample parameters, and the influence of particle density on these sample parameters, are analyzed. Finally, four different structures of sample branches for natural gas in a horizontal pipeline are compared. It is found that 100 μm is the critical diameter at which particles are affected by gravity; the operating pressure of the sampling branch has a significant impact on the particle mass concentration. The particle density has little impact on the sampling system. Overall, the design of the sampling branches does not cause significant sampling errors. This study provides guidance for optimal sampling in existing natural gas pipelines and enables effective monitoring of particle impurity content and properties in natural gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, natural and artificial colloids, as well as nanoparticles, have been increasingly used in various applications. Consequently, with this rising consumption, surface and subsurface environments are more exposed to these particles. The presence of these particles and the colloid-facilitated transport of microorganisms, the interactions between dissolved contaminants and mobile colloids in porous media, and the fate and transport of colloids through groundwater—one of the primary sources of water supply for human societies—have attracted extensive research. This study investigates the performance of several image processing methods in the field of colloid detection, which is a prerequisite for the subsequent steps in porous media research. We employed four different categories of image processing approaches on microscopy images—segmentation-based methods, background-detection-based methods, filter-based methods, and morphology-based methods—to conduct the detection process of colloids. Eight methods were applied and subsequently analyzed in terms of their drawbacks and advantages to determine the best ones in this domain. Finally, we proposed an ensemble approach that leverages the strengths of the three best methods using a majority vote to detect colloids more accurately. In experiments, Precision, Recall, F-measure, and TCR criteria were considered as evaluation tools. Experimental results demonstrate the high accuracy of image processing methods in recognizing colloids. Among all these methods, morphology-based methods were the most successful, achieving the best detection performance and improving the limited distinguishing features of small colloids. Moreover, our ensemble approach, achieving perfect scores across all evaluation criteria, highlights its superiority compared with other detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This present study discusses the effects of adding moringa gum powder to Cissus quadrangularis fiber–reinforced polyester resin composites on their mechanical, wear, and drop load impact properties. The moringa gum powder was synthesized from the moringa tree, whereas the Cissus quadrangularis fiber was as-received. The composite laminates were manufactured by hand layup process using 40 vol.% of fiber along with 0.5, 1, and 2 vol.% of moringa gum powder. The results revealed that the load bearing properties such as tensile, flexural strength and tensile, flexural modulus were better for composites containing 1 vol.% of moringa gum particle with 40 vol.% of fiber. The Izod impact test reveals that composite designation (moringa gum particles of 1 vol.%) PE3 has the highest impact-absorbing capacity up to 3.75 J. The maximum microhardness value for composite designation PE4 (moringa gum particles of 2 vol.%) is about 84 Shore-D. It is observed that moringa gum toughening with an increase in particles vol.% improves wear characteristics. As well as drop load impact toughness increased by 96% for 1 vol.% of particles. However, further increment up to 2 vol.% of particle decreases the drop load impact toughness. According to SEM (scanning electron microscopy) fractography, and overall performances of composites, adding 1.0 vol.% of moringa gum particle is the better inclusion for producing highly performing composites. These enhanced features of composites, which contain 40 vol.% of fiber and 1 vol.% of particle named as PE3, could be utilized in the automotive and industrial sectors, and they may even be utilized for home decoration purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the behavior of layered aloe vera and silk woven fiber in an epoxy composite filled with copper slag powder at sub (3–4 GHz)- and hyper (8–20 GHz)-frequency bands. The main goal of this work was to explore how the stacking order of fabrics affected the EMI shielding and to create an efficient EMI shielding material for protecting electronic devices from EMI attack. The ASTM standards were used to characterize the composite laminates, which were created utilizing the hand layup method. According to the findings, the fiber with the staking sequence silk/aloe vera/silk/aloe vera demonstrates increased dielectric values of 5%, 14%, 25%, and 66% at sub- and hyper-frequency bands. The composite designation RA2 has a higher dielectric constant than the other composite designations, which are respectively 5.6, 3.1, 1.80, and 0.70. The use of silk fiber further improves the EMI shielding qualities. At sub- and hyper-frequency bands, the composite designation RA2 records up to 6.4, 15.4, 34.1, and 48.3dB. It should be emphasized that the composites also have better mechanical properties. The material RA2 exhibited the highest mechanical qualities, including tensile strength, flexural strength, Izod impact, and hardness of up to 164 MPa, 216 MPa, 6.22 J, and 91 shore-D. These composite materials, which have good mechanical, dielectric, and shielding capabilities, could be used in the satellite, aerospace, defense, industrial, instrumentation and electronic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the actual operation process, the impact of particles will cause the leading edge to degenerate into a blunt shape, which will affect the internal flow field and lead to the decline of aerodynamic performance of the engine. Leading edge optimization based on blunt blades can restore its aerodynamic performance. In order to explore the influence of aerodynamic optimization process on the erosion rate of particle, the fan rotor blade of the CFM56-7B high bypass ratio turbofan engine was taken as the research object, and the steady numerical simulation method and unidirectional fluid-structure coupling calculation were used to study the erosion wear rate of particle. The results show that the erosion area is close to the leading edge of the blade, and the erosion rate increases with the increase of blade height. Most particles collide with fan blades at the pressure surface. The erosion rate is directly proportional to the concentration of particulate matter. Compared with the design point condition, the erosion area is closer to the leading edge of the blade at the surge point. The erosion rate of particle at the leading edge of blunt blade increases compared with that of the original blade. The optimized leading edge blade based on aerodynamic performance can reduce the erosion rate, but this law is not applicable to all positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) is successfully performed in water in the presence of a poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) macromolecular chain transfer agent (macroCTA) leading to the formation of self‐stabilized PMAA‐b‐PMMA amphiphilic block copolymer particles. At pH 3.7, the reactions are well‐controlled with narrow molar mass distributions. Increasing the initial pH, particularly above 5.6, results in a partial loss of reactivity of the PMAA macroCTA. The effect of the degree of polymerization (DPn) of the PMMA block, the solids content, the nature of the hydrophobic segment, and the pH on the morphology of the obtained diblock copolymer particles is then investigated. Worm‐like micelles are formed for a DPn of PMMA of 20 (PMMA20), while "onion‐like" particles and spherical vesicles are obtained for PMMA30 and PMMA50, respectively. In contrast, spherical particles are obtained for the DPns higher than 150. This unusual evolution of particle morphologies upon increasing the DPn of the PMMA block seems to be related to hydrogen bonds between hydrophilic MAA and hydrophobic MMA units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Computational Mechanics / Jisuan Lixue Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Computational Mechanics Editorial Office, Dalian University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Localized chemotherapy is emerging as a potential strategy for cancer treatment due to its low systemic toxicity. However, the immune evasion of tumor cells and the lack of an intelligent design of the delivery system limit its clinical application. Herein, photothermal responsive microcarriers are designed by microfluidic electrospray for colorectal tumor treatment. The microcarriers loaded with Cangrelor, 5‐FU and MXene (G‐M@F/C+NIR) show sustained delivery of antiplatelet drug Cangrelor, thus inhibiting the activity of platelets, interactions of platelet‐tumor cell, as well as the tumor cells invasion and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, the sustained delivery of chemotherapeutics 5‐FU and the photothermal effect provided by MXene enable the microcarriers to inhibit tumor cells proliferation and migration. In vivo studies validate that the G‐M@F/C+NIR microcarriers significantly inhibites tumor growth, decreased the expression of Ki‐67 in tumor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the tumor microenvironment, while increased the expression of E‐cadherin. It is believe that by means of the proposed photothermal responsive microcarriers, the synergistic strategy of platelet inhibition, chemotherapy, and photothermal therapy can find practical applications in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The USEPA issued the "Framework for Metal Risk Assessment" in 2007, recognizing that human and environmental exposure to metals and metalloids (MMEs) poses challenges risk assessment. Inhalation of aerosols containing MMEs is a primary pathway for exposure in the occupational setting, for consumer exposure, and to general population exposure associated with point‐source emissions or ambient sources. The impacts of inhalation can be at the point of deposition (local exposure) or may manifest after uptake into the body (systemic exposure). Both local and systemic exposure can vary with factors that determine the regional deposition of MME‐containing aerosols. Aerosol characteristics such as particle size combine with species‐specific characteristics of airway morphology and lung function to modulate the deposition and clearance of MME particulates. In contrast to oral exposure, often monitored by measuring MME levels in blood or urine, inhalation exposure can produce local pulmonary impacts in the absence of significant systemic distribution. Exposure assessment for nutritionally essential MMEs can be further complicated by homeostatic controls that regulate systemic MME levels. Predictions of local exposure can be facilitated by computer models that estimate regional patterns of aerosol deposition, permitting calculation of exposure intensity in different regions of the respiratory tract. The utility of deposition modeling has been demonstrated in assessments of nutritionally essential MMEs regulated by homeostatic controls and in the comparison of results from inhalation studies in experimental animals. This facilitates extrapolation from animal data to humans and comparisons of exposures possessing mechanistic linkages to pulmonary toxicity and carcinogenesis. Pulmonary deposition models have significantly advanced and have been applied by USEPA in evaluations of particulate matter. However, regional deposition modeling has yet to be incorporated into the general guidance offered by the agency for evaluating inhalation exposure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:952–964. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: The USEPA is urged to promote the application of models for regional deposition in assessing impacts of inhalation exposure to metal and metalloid particulate matter.The local and systemic impacts of inhaled metals and metalloids are determined by patterns of regional deposition in the respiratory tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bohemistyka is the property of Instytut Filologii Slowianskiej Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study focuses on the development and evaluation of musa and silk hybrid composites incorporated with silver slag particles for their electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness. The main objective is to study the angular staking of silk and musa fiber fabric in the composite and its influence on the mechanical, dielectric, and electromagnetic properties. The composites were developed via the hand layup method using two different stacking order series such as EA and EB. The composites underwent forced cutting after the composites naturally cured at room temperature for 24 h. Further, the composites were undergone for property evaluation strictly based on ASTM standards. According to the results, the composite EB2 demonstrated a highest dielectric constant of 4.28 at a frequency of 20 GHz. Furthermore, when operating at a frequency of "20 GHz," the EB2 composite material exhibited the most effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, with a shielding effectiveness of 62.44 dB. Furthermore, the EB structured composites have superior mechanical characteristics compared to the EA designation. The EB2 composite exhibited superior tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness characteristics with − 45°/ + 45° fabric laying angle orientation. The SEM fractographs indicated highly reactive phases of fiber with resin and traces of toughness improvement along with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum confirming the silver particle presence. Similarly in flame retardant properties also the composites performed well. Almost all composites show a V-0 flame rating in the vertical and well as horizontal flame test. Consequently, the incorporation of silk fiber to enhance conductivity, musa to provide substantial mechanical strength, and silver slag to enable multi-reflection in the EB configuration resulted in overall enhanced outcomes. These composites, which have enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties and high load-bearing capacity, can be used in telecommunication, aviation, and gadget works using electromagnetic wave (mobile phones). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the packing material under an alternating electric field are an important factor in the removal of FCCS particles. In this study, the electric field distribution of a separation unit consisting of packed spheres under an alternating electric field is simulated, and the movement mechanism of catalyst particles is analysed. An "effective contact point" model is derived to predict the adsorption of filler contact points on catalyst particles under the alternating electric field, and the model is validated by simulations and experiments. The numerical calculation and experimental results indicate that the electrical properties of the filler spheres, the filler angle q, and the frequency f of the alternating electric field affect the adsorption of catalyst particles. As the frequency of the electric field increases, the particle removal efficiency of the high-conductivity filler (silicon carbide) increases and then settles, and the separation efficiency of the low-conductivity filler (glass, zirconia) is not sensitive to the change in electric field frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mist chemical vapor deposition (mist‐CVD) is expected to be a potentially low‐environment‐impact and low‐cost crystal growth technique. With mist‐CVD, soluble materials are usually selected as raw materials, and mist is usually generated from an aqueous solution including raw materials. However, any substances to be included in the mist can be potentially supplied as raw materials. Namely, there is no need for the substances to be dissolved in some solvent. Therefore, as a trial, it is demonstrated that mist including poorly soluble particles are used as raw materials for mist‐CVD crystal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several crystallization strategies are being implemented to enhance the solubility of acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the cooling and anti-solvent crystallization on the properties of acetaminophen. The results showed that the anti-solvent recrystallization produced achieved an impressive yield of up to 41.40%, while the cooling method yielded approximately 2–9%. Through FTIR, XRD, and DSC analysis on the samples, it was discovered that these methods had minimum effects on the molecular and thermal properties of the compound. Furthermore, the methods did not alter the crystallinity of acetaminophen, with crystal form I dominating the products. In addition, processing using the cooling and anti-solvent effectively reduced particle size of acetaminophen from 68.60 μm to 26.92 μm and 28.25 µm, respectively. In conclusion, the solubility of paracetamol in aqueous solutions experienced a significant enhancement. In the unprocessed samples, it measured 0.0107 gram/ml, while the recrystallized samples had an improved range of 0.0123 to 0.0167 g/ml.

The study of the attachment process between particles and bubbles in a turbulent environment is essential for understanding the microscopic process of flotation. The interaction force model between particles and bubbles is developed based on the API (Application Programming Interface) secondary development module of EDEM. The model establishes a three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) to simulate the interaction process between particles and bubbles. Isotropic turbulence is generated by constructing regular grids in the Fluent software. The turbulent environment is then incorporated into the EDEM software using the computational fluid dynamics discrete element (CFD-DEM). The simulation consists of regular particles with sizes ranging from 0.10 to 0.30 mm and densities of 1500, 2000 and 2500 kg/m3. Additionally, the irregular particles with sphericity values ranging from 0.746 to 0.854 are included. Bubble sizes are set at 1.00, 1.20, 1.60, and 2.00 mm. To study the attachment process between particles and bubbles, the distance between the grid and the bubble in the turbulent environment are set as 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, and 3.00 mm. The results demonstrate the existence of a critical detachment flow rate (the minimum turbulent flow velocity where particles and bubbles cannot achieve a stable attachment state) for both regular and irregular particles adhering to bubbles in a turbulent environment. It is found that the particles with larger density and diameter exhibit a smaller critical detachment flow velocity when adhering to bubbles, indicating that particles with larger diameter and density have difficulty in achieving stable attachment with bubbles. As the bubble diameter increases, the critical detachment flow velocity required for stable particle-bubble attachment decreases, making it more difficult for particles to achieve stable attachment. At the same flow velocity, a smaller distance between the bubbles and the grid results in a higher turbulent flow intensity, leading to a smaller critical detachment flow velocity for stable particle-bubble attachment, suggesting that an increase in turbulent intensity is detrimental to the stable attachment of particles and bubbles. Furthermore, the particles with lower sphericity also exhibit a smaller critical detachment flow velocity for stable attachment to bubbles, indicating that the particles with lower sphericity have difficulty in achieving stable attachment with bubbles.

Abstract In this study, the impact of flow channel structures on the acceleration of metal particles in a vacuum environment is explored, with the aim of enhancinge the acceleration quality in the centrifugal impact molding of metal powders. To assess this phenomenon, three evaluation indices are introduced: the average speed of particles thrown $${V}_{p}$$ V p , the average speed of the particles $${V}_{all}$$ V all , and the particle velocity distribution V f (t). Additionally, the effects of six distinct runner structures on the centrifugal acceleration of the particles are analyzed in this research. The findings indicate that the arc-shaped flow channel structure not only ensures a more consistent acceleration process but also results in a higher ejection speed, leading to an improved acceleration effect. The unique contribution of this study is the examination of the relationship between flow channel designs and particle accelerations in a vacuum.

Abstract Background Imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS) has long been administered intravenously as a carbapenem antibiotic. However, since this agent is poorly soluble in liquid, occasional reports have described its use as a short-acting, temporary embolic agent. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of IPM/CS particles, which are thought to have pain-relieving effects against osteoarthritis-related pain, as an embolic agent. Methods Three aspects of IPM/CS as an embolic agent were evaluated in vitro: particle size; particle shape; and change in particle size over time. For particle size, the long diameter was measured. Results Mean particle size (n=244) was 29.2±12.0 µm (range, 1–60 µm). Shape (n=109) was round in 18.35%, elliptical in 11.93%, and polygonal in 69.72%, showing that most particles were polygonal. In observations of changes in particle size over time (n=9), particles had decreased to 75% of their original size at 82±10.7 min, 50% at 89.3±9.14 min, 25% at 91.3±8.74 min, complete dissolved at 91.8±9.02 min. A rapid shrinkage in diameter was seen in the final period. Conclusions IPM/CS particles are ultrafine and the majority display a polygonal shape. This substance shows ultra-short embolic activity. This study revealed the characteristics of a substance that demonstrates an embolic effect not found in existing embolic materials.

Abstract Background The objective was to investigate self-reported hand eczema, and skin complaints at other skin locations among workers exposed to particulate matter, especially ultrafine particles. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study on workers from one ferro-silicon smelter plant, eight chimney sweeper stations and one firefighter station across Norway. Participants answered an extended version of the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2022), with additional questions about whole-body skin complaints and visible dust deposition. Results are presented as descriptive data using firefighters as reference group. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated using logistic regression on lifetime prevalence of hand eczema adjusted for potential confounders and mediators. P-values were calculated using likelihood ratio test against the crude OR. Results A total of 186 participants answered the questionnaire: 74 chimney sweepers, 52 firefighters and 60 smelter workers. Participation rate was 95.0, 94.5 and 63.6%, respectively. Lifetime prevalence of hand eczema was 9.5, 9.6, and 28.3%, respectively. The point prevalence of hand eczema was 1.4, 1.9 and 10.0%, respectively. We estimated OR for lifetime hand eczema in smelter workers to 4.36 [95% CI: 1.31–14.43, p = 0.016] and for lifetime skin complaints in other locations to 2.25 [95% CI: 0.98–5.18, p = 0.058]. The lifetime prevalence of skin complaints at other locations was 18.9, 23.1 and 40.0%, respectively. The point prevalence was 14.9, 9.6 and 16.7%, respectively. These estimates were not statistically significant but indicates that smelter workers have more skin complaints also at other locations. Conclusion This study reports a more than four-fold increased risk of hand eczema in smelter workers, and possibly a higher risk of skin complaints in other body locations, compared to the other occupations. Longitudinal studies with larger population are needed to verify the marked increased risk of eczema among smelters and establish causation.

Introduction: To ensure the sterility of cell products that cannot undergo conventional sterilization processes, it is imperative to establish and maintain a clean room environment, regulated through environmental monitoring, including particle counts. Nevertheless, the impact of particles generated by operators as potential contaminants remains uncertain. Thus, in this study, we conducted an accelerated test to assess the correlation between particles generated by operators and airborne bacteria, utilizing biosafety cabinets within a typical laboratory setting. These biosafety cabinets create a controlled environment with air conditioning and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, offering fundamental data relevant to cell production. Materials and methods: We conducted a simulation followed by real-time experiments involving human operations to explore the quantity of particles, particle sizes, and the percentage of bacteria within these particles. This investigation focused on conditions with heightened particle generation from operators within a biosafety cabinet. The experiment was conducted on operators wearing textile and non-woven dustless clothing within biosafety cabinets. It entailed tapping the upper arms for a duration of 2 min. Results: Observations under biosafety cabinet-off conditions revealed the presence of various particles and falling bacteria in textile clothing. In contrast, no particles or falling bacteria were detected in operators wearing dustless clothing within biosafety cabinets. Notably, a correlation between 5 μm particles and colony-forming units in textile clothing was identified through this analysis. The ratio of falling bacteria to the total number of particles within the biosafety cabinet was 0.8 ± 0.5 % for textile clothing, while it was significantly lower at 0.04 ± 0.2 % for dustless clothing. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the number of particles and falling bacteria varied depending on the type of clothing and that quantitative data could be used to identify risks and provide basic data for operator education and evidence-based control methods in aseptic manufacturing areas. Although, this study aims to serve as an accelerated test operating under worst-case conditions, the results need to make sure the study range in general research.

Background: Oncologic surgical resection is the standard of care for extremity and truncal soft tissue sarcoma (STS), often accompanied by the addition of pre- or postoperative radiation therapy (RT). Preoperative RT may decrease the risk of joint stiffness and fibrosis at the cost of higher rates of wound complications. Hypofractionated, preoperative RT has been shown to provide acceptable outcomes in prospective trials. Proton beam therapy (PBT) provides the means to decrease dose to surrounding organs at risk, such as the skin, bone, soft tissues, and adjacent joint(s), and has not yet been studied in patients with extremity and truncal sarcoma. Methods: Our study titled "PROspective phase II trial of preoperative hypofractionated protoN therapy for extremity and Truncal soft tissue sarcOma (PRONTO)" is a non-randomized, prospective phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of preoperative, hypofractionated PBT for patients with STS of the extremity and trunk planned for surgical resection. Adult patients with Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status ≤ 2 with resectable extremity and truncal STS will be included, with the aim to accrue 40 patients. Treatment will consist of 30 Gy radiobiological equivalent of PBT in 5 fractions delivered every other day, followed by surgical resection 2–12 weeks later. The primary outcome is rate of major wound complications as defined according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada Sarcoma2 (NCIC-SR2) Multicenter Trial. Secondary objectives include rate of late grade ≥ 2 toxicity, local recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival at 1- and 2-years, functional outcomes, quality of life, and pathologic response. Discussion: PRONTO represents the first trial evaluating the use of hypofractionated PBT for STS. We aim to prove the safety and efficacy of this approach and to compare our results to historical outcomes established by previous trials. Given the low number of proton centers and limited availability, the short course of PBT may provide the opportunity to treat patients who would otherwise be limited when treating with daily RT over several weeks. We hope that this trial will lead to increased referral patterns, offer benefits towards patient convenience and clinic workflow efficiency, and provide evidence supporting the use of PBT in this setting. Trial registration: NCT05917301 (registered 23/6/2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the mechanical, thermal stability, and water absorption behaviour of silane-treated high content cellulose Abelmoschus esculentus (okra fibre) and macromolecule tamarind kernel powder (MTP)–toughened epoxy composites. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of adding surface-modified high content cellulose okra fibre (CCO) and the contribution of tamarind kernel macromolecule powder to various properties of epoxy resin composite. The fibre and particle were surface-treated by an amino silane (3- Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS). The composites were fabricated by the hand lay-up process and post cured at 120 °C. The outcomes of the Izod impact tests indicated that the combination of surface-treated okra fibre and tamarind kernel powder increased the resistance to damage. Similarly, the tensile, flexural, and thermal tests reported improvements in load-bearing and high thermal stability. The hardness test and SEM images revealed enhanced adhesion and distribution of kernel particles in the resin, resulting in a maximum attainable hardness of 93 shore-D. Moreover, the contact angle of the silane-treated composites was higher, indicating a retained hydrophobicity. Such mechanical, thermal, and impact toughness, as well as hardness improved composites with higher hydrophobic nature, would be highly preferable for structural and industrial applications like automobile body parts, armour guards in defence, sports goods, and domestic appliances manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses the importance of studying Earth systems and climate change. It explains that Earth systems, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere, help us understand how the planet works and supports life. The article also highlights the impact of human activities on Earth systems and the current drought conditions in the United States, particularly in the southwest and western states. It emphasizes the need for proactive measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including improving irrigation methods, desalination, demand management, and respecting the rights and interests of Native American tribes. The article concludes by suggesting various ways individuals can contribute to reducing the effects of climate change, such as using renewable energy sources and supporting local businesses that promote climate-smart practices. [Extracted from the article]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules of 200 nucleotides or more in length that are not translated into proteins. Their expression is tissue-specific, with the vast majority involved in the regulation of cellular processes and functions. Many human diseases, including cancer, have been shown to be associated with deregulated lncRNAs, rendering them potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for differential diagnosis. The expression of lncRNAs in the nervous system varies in different cell types, implicated in mechanisms of neurons and glia, with effects on the development and functioning of the brain. Reports have also shown a link between changes in lncRNA molecules and the etiopathogenesis of brain neoplasia, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is an aggressive variant of brain cancer with an unfavourable prognosis and a median survival of 14–16 months. It is considered a brain-specific disease with the highly invasive malignant cells spreading throughout the neural tissue, impeding the complete resection, and leading to post-surgery recurrences, which are the prime cause of mortality. The early diagnosis of GBM could improve the treatment and extend survival, with the lncRNA profiling of biological fluids promising the detection of neoplastic changes at their initial stages and more effective therapeutic interventions. This review presents a systematic overview of GBM-associated deregulation of lncRNAs with a focus on lncRNA fingerprints in patients' blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analytical analysis of the effect of heat losses on the possibility of occurrence of the most effective gas-phase combustion of a single boron particle in air at different initial temperatures and pressures of the oxidizing medium. The analysis is performed with account for the possibility that the particle enters into an air medium (its temperature is lower than the melting point of boron) after its ignition and the establishment of a steady gas-phase combustion. A method for calculating the maximum initial air temperature below which a burning boron particle cools down and extinguishes is developed. The boundaries of the regions of its gas-phase combustion and extinguishing are determined. It has been established that when a single boron particle in a state of gas-phase combustion enters air with a temperature below the melting point, the main factor determining the its combustion mechanism is the air temperature. Depending on the air temperature, either the gas-phase combustion of the particle continues or the particle cools down and the gas-phase combustion changes to heterogeneous combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in synthesizing functional materials from natural compounds has increased recently. For this reason, compound particles attract attention due to their multifunctional properties. Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Okra) is a vegetable species belonging to the Hibiscus family, widely used for its edible unripe fruit. This study synthesized the particle from the Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) extract (Oe) by emulsion polymerization. In this synthesis, ammonium persulfate (APS, initiator) to form free radicals at the Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) extract (Oe) and ethylene glycol di methacrylate to cross-link the formed radicals were used. The synthesized poly(Okra) ((p(O)) particles structure Field emission scanning and Fourier transform infrared and biological activities (biocompatible, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging) were characterized. The p(O) particle showed good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. It has been measured to have high antioxidant and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity with p(O) particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary goal of this article is to present recent developments in erosion research and associated particles in centrifugal slurry pumps. Solid particles in transported liquid cause severe erosion of components in centrifugal pumps causing poor performance and reduced lifespan. Erosion necessitates frequent repairs and maintenance replacements, resulting in significant financial losses. This article summarizes the effect of slurry erosion on the performance characteristics of centrifugal pumps handling different fluid and solid mixtures, as well as methods to reduce erosion. According to the majority of the literature, particle properties, pump geometry, and operating parameters have a paramount influence on pump characteristics. Recently, researchers attempted to improve the performance characteristics of centrifugal pumps by employing various flow visualization techniques, which also aid in understanding the solid particle interaction with various pump components. Therefore, recent advancements in flow visualization technology inside the centrifugal pump are also included. Further, specific studies on erosion in centrifugal slurry pumps from different industries are also provided. This study is beneficial to designers, process managers and researchers involved with slurry centrifugal pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Breast implants have always been composed of a silicone elastomer envelope filled with either silicone gel or saline. Breast implant illness (BII) is a set of symptoms that has previously been linked to the leakage of silicone particles from the implants into the body. Objectives Our research aimed to quantify the number of silicone particles present in the capsules of breast implants available in North America. Methods Thirty-five periprosthetic capsules were sampled and analyzed, and silicone particles were counted and measured. The capsule surface area was then measured and utilized to calculate particle density and total number of silicone particles. Results Eighty-five percent of capsules analyzed from silicone gel implants contained silicone, with an average of 62 particles per mm3 of capsular tissue. These implants had approximately 1 million silicone particles per capsule. In contrast, none of the saline implant capsules contained silicone. Capsules from macrotextured tissue expanders contained fewer and larger silicone particles. Conclusions Silicone gel implants presented silicone particle bleeding into the periprosthetic capsule, totaling on average 1 million silicone particles per capsule. On the other hand, no silicone particle bleeding was observed from saline breast implants. These data suggest that particle bleeding comes from the inner silicone gel, and not from the smooth outer silicone shell. Previous studies have reported the presence of breast implant illness in patients with both silicone- and saline-filled implants. Therefore, our data suggest that silicone migration is not the sole cause of BII. Level of Evidence: 4 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]