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INTRODUCTION: In trials of amyloid-lowering drugs for Alzheimers disease (AD), differential eligibility may contribute to under-inclusion of racial and ethnic underrepresented groups. We examined plasma amyloid beta 42/40 and positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid eligibility for the ongoing AHEAD Study preclinical AD program (NCT04468659). METHODS: Univariate logistic regression models were used to examine group differences in plasma and PET amyloid screening eligibility. RESULTS: Of 4905 participants screened at time of analysis, 1724 were plasma eligible to continue in screening: 13.3% Hispanic Black, 24.7% Hispanic White, 20.8% non-Hispanic (NH) Asian, 24.7% NH Black, and 38.9% NH White. Plasma eligibility differed across groups in models controlling for covariates (odds ratio from 1.9 to 4.0 compared to the NH White reference group, P

OBJECTIVE: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with an elevated risk of developing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes of hospitalizations related to DIC in APL and their impact on healthcare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study entailed a cross-sectional and retrospective analysis of the US National Inpatient Sample database. We identified adults with APL and categorized them into groups of patients with and without DIC. Our focus areas included in-hospital mortality, length of stay, charges, and complications associated with DIC. Unadjusted odds ratios/coefficients were computed in univariate analysis, followed by adjusted odds ratios (aOR)/coefficients from multivariate analysis that accounted for confounding factors. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that APL patients with DIC had a substantially higher aOR for mortality (aOR: 6.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.76-9.37, p

Young blood plasma is known to confer beneficial effects on various organs in mice and rats. However, it was not known whether plasma from young adult pigs rejuvenates old rat tissues at the epigenetic level; whether it alters the epigenetic clock, which is a highly accurate molecular biomarker of aging. To address this question, we developed and validated six different epigenetic clocks for rat tissues that are based on DNA methylation values derived from n = 613 tissue samples. As indicated by their respective names, the rat pan-tissue clock can be applied to DNA methylation profiles from all rat tissues, while the rat brain, liver, and blood clocks apply to the corresponding tissue types. We also developed two epigenetic clocks that apply to both human and rat tissues by adding n = 1366 human tissue samples to the training data. We employed these six rat clocks to investigate the rejuvenation effects of a porcine plasma fraction treatment in different rat tissues. The treatment more than halved the epigenetic ages of blood, heart, and liver tissue. A less pronounced, but statistically significant, rejuvenation effect could be observed in the hypothalamus. The treatment was accompanied by progressive improvement in the function of these organs as ascertained through numerous biochemical/physiological biomarkers, behavioral responses encompassing cognitive functions. An immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation pattern shift from pro- to anti-inflammatory also indicated reversal of glycan aging. Overall, this study demonstrates that a young porcine plasma-derived treatment markedly reverses aging in rats according to epigenetic clocks, IgG glycans, and other biomarkers of aging.

We investigate the transmittance spectrum of a multichannel filter composed of dielectric (A) and plasma (P) materials in the microwave region within the transfer matrix formalism. Two configurations of the proposed filter are studied under the influence of an applied magnetic field: (1) a periodic structure containing (A/P)N unit cells surrounded by air and (2) the introduction of a second dielectric material (D) acting as a defect layer to produce an (AP)N/2/D/(AP)N/2 structure. Our findings reveal that in the periodic case, the number of resonant states of the transmittance increases with number N; however, the observed blue and red shifts depend on the intensity and orientation of the applied magnetic field. We present contour plots of the transmission coefficients that show the effect of the incident angle on the shifts of the photonic band gaps. Furthermore, we find that the introduction of a defect layer generates additional resonant states and merges the central resonant peak into a miniband of resonances. Moreover, we show that the number of resonant peaks and their locations can be modulated by increasing the unit cell number, N, as well as increasing the width of the inserted defect layer. Our proposed structures enable the design of novel photonic filters using magnetized plasma materials operating in the microwave region.

Chlorinated paraffins (CP) are complex molecular mixtures occurring in a wide range of isomers and homologs of environmental hazards, whose analytical complexity demand advanced mass spectrometry (MS) methods for their characterization. The reported formation of chlorinated olefins (COs) and other transformation products during CP biotransformation and degradation can alter the MS analysis, increasing the high resolution required to distinguish CPs from their degradation products. An advanced setup hyphenating a plasma ionization source and an external high-performance data acquisition and processing system to the legacy hybrid LTQ Orbitrap XL mass spectrometer is reported. First, the study demonstrated the versatility of a liquid sampling atmospheric pressure glow discharge, as a soft ionization technique, for CP analysis. Second, enhanced resolution and sensitivity provided by the absorption mode Fourier transform spectral representation on this legacy mass spectrometer are shown. The developed Orbitrap-based platform allowed the detection of new isotopic clusters and CPs and COs to be distinguished at medium resolution (setting 30,000 at m/z 400, ~ 400 ms transients), and even chlorinated di-olefins (CdiOs) at higher resolution (setting 100,000 at m/z 400, ~ 1500 ms transients). Overall, such proof-of-principle instrumental improvements are promising for environmental and analytical research in the field of CP analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the fat transfer combined with plasma energy and only fat transfer methods for genital rejuvenation and to investigate the efficacy enhancing properties of plasma energy. Methods: Forty-six patients were equally divided into two groups according to the surgical method as the group A (n = 23) and the group B (n = 23). The patients in the group A received only fat transfer, while the patients in the group B received fat transfer combined with plasma energy. Both groups were scheduled for postoperative follow-up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The lifting effect on the labia majora after the procedure was evaluated with photographs and patient satisfaction questionnaires including the female genital self-image scale (FGSIS). Results: The mean age of all participants was 32.8 ± 5.1 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.7 ± 3.4 kg/m2. The mean preoperative FGSIS scores were similar between the groups (p = 0.542). The mean total FGSIS score was 18.8 ± 1.4 in the group A and 18.3 ± 1.5 in the group B in the preoperative period. However, the mean FGSIS scores at 1, 3, and 6 months were significantly higher in the group B than the group A (p = 0.032, p = 0.012, and p = 0.009, respectively). At 6 months of follow-up, the mean total FGSIS score was 20.7 ± 1.4 in the group A and 22.3 ± 1.5 in the group B, indicating a statistically significant difference (p = 0.028). Conclusion: This novel technique is a more minimally invasive technique compared to other energy modalities with lower lateral and vertical energy dissipation than other conventional methods, and labia majora fat filling augmentation application can be performed with more permanent and longer-lasting outcomes than fat transfer only. Level of Evidence II: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etching of p‐GaN requires extremely strict control over etching depth and morphology; otherwise, it will result in poor electrical characteristics. This work uses ALD(Atomic layer deposition) in situ N2 plasma and postanneal‐assisted passivation to effectively recover the electrical properties degraded by p‐GaN etching. Compared to unpassivated devices, this approach eliminates surface oxygen bonds, recovering drain current from 10 to 126 mA mm−1, reducing gate leakage by an order of magnitude, achieving an ON/OFF current ratio exceeding 108, a breakdown voltage of 930 V at 1 μA mm−1, and effectively suppressing current collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare the plasma (PL) and seminal plasma (SP) pharmacokinetic profile of ceftiofur (CEFT) and desuroylceftiofur acetamide (DFCA) after administration of CEFT crystalline-free acid (CCFA) by SC route in two sites of the ear in beef bulls. Four clinically healthy Hereford bulls received a comprehensive physical exam and subsequently a breeding-soundness examination, CBC, and chemistry profile panel. All bulls were diagnosed healthy and satisfactory potential breeders. In one group (n = 2), a single dose of CCFA was administered SC route at the base of the ear (BOE) at a dose of 6.6 mg/kg of body weight. The second group (n = 2) was also administered by SC route in the middle third of the posterior aspect of the ear (MTE). The concentrations of CEFT and DFCA in PL and SP were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Blood and semen samples were collected before the administration of CCFA and at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h after injection. No levels of CEFT were detected in PL and only in 20 of the 40 SP samples (P = 0.0001). The mean level of CEFT in SP was 0.11 % in comparison with the DFCA level. DFCA was found in all PL and SP samples. Therefore, DFCA was chosen to be utilized in the study of the pharmacokinetics parameters both in PL and SP. There were no differences in the mean PL levels of DFCA for the two sites of SC administration between the BOE (102.9 ± 78.9 ng/mL; X ± SD) and to MTE (116.1 ± 70.2 ng/mL; P = 0.58). The mean SP levels of DFCA after administration in the BOE was 857 ± 747 ng/mL, and for the MTE was 549 ± 488 ng/mL without differences between both sites (P = 0.15). The mean level of DFCA in PL was 109.5 ± 74.0 ng/mL, which was lower than the mean SP levels of 695 ± 103 ng/mL (P = 0.001). Moreover, the PL peak DFCA concentration (C max) was 229 ± 46 ng/mL at 36.0 ± 29.4 h (T max) post-administration. The SP C max was 1851 ± 533 ng/mL at 30.0 ± 28.6 h (T max) post-administration. The C max between PL and SP were distinctive (P = 0.004) without any differences in T max between PL and SP (P = 0.60). The terminal half-life for PL DFCA (47.4 ± 29.3 h) was not different than in SP (53.1 ± 23.6 h; P = 0.77). The PL area under the curve concentration time from the first to the last sample (AUC 0–last) was 18,984 ± 4841 ng/mL/h, which was significatively smaller compared with 125,677 ± 59,445 ng/mL/h for SP AUC 0–last (P = 0.04). The PL mean residence time from the first to the last sample (MRT 0–last) was 69.7 ± 15.1 h, and it was similar than for SP of 66.5 ± 7.7 h (P = 0.69). From the present investigation, based in its pharmacokinetic features, it was concluded that CCFA should be an appropriate antibiotic that could be used for the treatment of bull genital infections when its indication is properly outlined. To study the pharmacokinetics of CCFA in SP, DFCA metabolite was appropriated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a microbubbles flow electrolytic plasma polishing (MF-EPP), which is based on electrolytic plasma polishing (EPP), but allows for local control polishing. MF-EPP energy consumption is lower, only 70–90 W power supply can complete the processing. Using Ti-6Al-4 V alloy sample as the polishing object, design and construct the original prototype to conduct theoretical and experimental research on the polishing process. The results show that the polishing solution has a stable polishing performance at a voltage of 210–430 V, functioning as a flexible polishing head, forming a circular polishing area of 14 mm in diameter on the workpiece surface, and reducing the surface roughness of polishing area from Ra 0.546 to 0.081 µm within 180 s. The processing phenomena, voltage and current characteristics, and surface morphology of the specimen are analyzed. Importantly, macroscopic and microscopic "pin-plate" models are proposed to elucidate the formation mechanism of MF (microbubbles flow) and the polishing mechanism of MF-EPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various seeds, including sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seeds, are sources of different bioactive compounds. They can show anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antibacterial, antioxidant, or other biological properties in in vitro and in vivo models. Our preliminary in vitro results have demonstrated that the extracts from raw (no thermal processing) and roasted (thermally processed) sea buckthorn seeds have antioxidant potential and anticoagulant activity. However, it was unclear which compounds were responsible for these properties. Therefore, in continuation of our previous study, the extracts were fractionated by C18 chromatography. Phytochemical analysis of three fractions (a, b, and c) from raw sea buckthorn seeds and four fractions (d, e, f, and g) from roasted sea buckthorn seeds were performed. Several in vitro assays were also conducted to determine the antioxidant and procoagulant/anticoagulant potential of the fractions and two of their major constituents—isorhamnetin 3-O-β-glucoside7-O-α-rhamnoside and serotonin. LC–MS analyses showed that serotonin is the dominant constituent of fractions c and f, which was tentatively identified on the basis of its HRMS and UV spectra. Moreover, fractions c and f, as well as b and e, contained different B-type proanthocyanidins. Fractions b and e consisted mainly of numerous glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. The results of oxidative stress assays (measurements of protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, and thiol groups oxidation) showed that out of all the tested fractions, fraction g (isolated from roasted seeds and containing mainly dihexoses, and serotonin) demonstrated the strongest antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Di (2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) plasticizer must be removed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) medical devices due to toxicity. DEHP/PVC blood bags were shown to provide stable quality under blood component production and to create good storage conditions for red blood cells concentrate (RBC). It is important that substitution of the DEHP maintains the RBC quality during storage, which should be achieved with Di (isononyl) cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DINCH), although substitution of the plasticizer has been challenging.A DEHP‐free Top & Bottom in‐line RBC set was validated in a tertiary hospital blood bank facility. Volunteer blood donors were randomly allocated for blood collection into DINCH/PVC or DEHP/PVC set. The groups were additionally divided according to additive solution/filter combination: PAGGS‐M + DINCH/PVC filter (only with DINCH/PVC set), and SAG‐M + DINCH/PVC filter and SAG‐M + DEHP/PVC filter (only with DEHP/PVC set). Processing and storage effects were assessed in all components.RBC concentrates, platelet concentrates and plasma that was processed and stored in DEHP‐free set fulfilled European requirements for quality. The cells stored in PAGGS‐M after filtration through DEHP‐free PVC filter showed the same low haemolysis compared with conventional set at 49 days of storage. Platelets stored in DINCH/PVC bag provided a sufficient quality of platelets after 7 days of storage. Plasma maintained the coagulation factors during 12 months of storage.A new DINCH/PVC set allows production of blood components of satisfactory quality in DEHP‐free environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General Relativity describes the trajectories of light-rays through curved spacetime near a massive object. In addition to gravitational lensing, we include an absorbing dielectric medium given by a complex refractive index known as the Drude model. When absorption is included the eikonal becomes complex, with the imaginary part related to the absorption along a ray between emission and observation points. We extend results from the literature to include dispersion in the index of refraction. The complex Hamiltonian splits into a real part that describes the equations of motion and a constraint equation that governs the momentum loss in the system. We work in coordinates which are fully real, with a real metric in physical spacetime. We assume the dust and plasma distributions of the Drude matter to coincide and vary as a power-law 1 / r h . We find that transmission requires h > 1, otherwise exponential absorption occurs along ray paths. We use ray-tracing through strongly absorbing matter near the surface of the compact star, as well as specializing to a point-lens in the weak-field limit with weakly absorbing matter to generate potentially observable light curves for distant observers. In the appropriate limits, our theory reproduces results from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fluoride plays a vital role in preventing dental caries, with its addition to oral care products significantly promoting oral hygiene. A no-rinse brushing method aims to increase fluoride retention in the oral cavity, as rinsing with water decreases fluoride levels in saliva, which could affect remineralization. While the no-rinse brushing method holds promise for improving fluoride retention in the oral cavity, critical inquiries persist regarding its safety. This study investigated the kinetics of oral fluoride and potential risks to fully assess its effectiveness and implications for oral health. Methods: Ten healthy adults participated in a crossover study comparing the no-rinse with the rinse method. All subjects followed American Dental Association (ADA) brushing guidelines. Levels of fluoride in saliva (supernatant and sediment) and urine were measured over time, and plasma fluoride was measured one hour after brushing. Pharmacokinetic parameters were also calculated from the data. Results: Participants using the no-rinse method had higher fluoride levels in supernatant immediately and up to 30 min post-brushing compared to the rinse method. Fluoride levels in sediment were higher only immediately after brushing. The total fluoride concentration in saliva remained elevated for up to 5 min with the no-rinse method. Systemic fluoride absorption showed no significant difference between the two methods based on blood and urine analysis. Conclusion: This research indicates that the no-rinse method can enhance fluoride retention in the oral cavity for up to 30 min after a single brushing. In addition, our findings suggest that this method does not significantly influence systemic fluoride levels or toxicity. Registry: Thai Clinical Trials Registry, TCTR (http://thaiclinicaltrials.org). Clinical trial registration number: TCTR20231104001 (4/11/2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Winter warfare training (WWT) is a critical component of military training that trains warfighters to operate effectively in extreme environments impacted by snow and mountainous terrain. These environmental factors can exacerbate the disruption to the hormone milieu associated with operating in multi-stressor settings. To date, there is limited research on the physiological responses and adaptations that occur in elite military populations training in arduous environments. The purpose of this study was to quantify hormone responses and adaptations in operators throughout WWT. Materials and Methods Participants engaged in baseline laboratory metrics at their home station, Fort Carson, located in Colorado (CO) prior to WWT, for one week in Montana (MT) and one week in Alaska (AK). WWT periods were separated by approximately one month. Blood was collected upon wake at baseline (CO) and on the first and last day of WWT at each location (MT and AK). Plasma was analyzed for stress, metabolic, and growth-related hormones via enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Sleep quality was assessed via the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline (CO) and on the first day of training in MT and AK. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) at baseline (CO) and on the first and last day of WWT in both MT and AK. Results Fourteen US Army operators in 10th Special Forces Group (SFG) Operational Detachment participated in winter warfare training (WWT; age: 31.5 years; 95%CI[28.1, 34.3]; height: 180.6 cm; 95%CI[177.3, 183.4]; weight: 87.4 kg.; 95%CI[80.6, 97.7]; body fat: 18.9%; 95%CI[13.7, 23.1]; male: n=13; female: n=1). Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels increased from baseline (19.9 pg/mL; 95%CI[8.6, 24.2])  to pre-WWT (26.9 pg/mL; 95%CI [16.2, 37]; p=0.004), decreased from pre-  (26.9 pg/mL; 95%CI [16.2, 37]) to post-WWT in MT (22.3 pg/mL; 95% CI [8, 23.7]; p=0.004;), and increased from pre-  (25 pg/mL; 95%CI[ 28.4) to post-WWT (36.6 pg/mL; 95%CI [17.9, 48.9]) in AK (p=0.005). Plasma cortisol levels decreased from pre- (174 ng/mL; 95%CI[106.2, 233.6])  to post-WWT (94.5 ng/mL; 95%CI[54.8, 101.7]) in MT (p=0.001) and, conversely, increased from pre- (123.1 ng/mL; 95%CI[97.5, 143.9]) to post-WWT  (162.8 ng/mL; 95%CI[128, 216.7]) in AK (p<0.001). Alterations in growth-related hormones (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1], insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 [IGFBP-3], and sex hormone binding globulin [SHBG]) were observed throughout WWT (p<0.05). The Total Testosterone / Cortisol ratio (TT / CORT; molar ratio) was lower pre-WWT in MT (0.04; 95%CI[0.01,0.04) compared to baseline in CO (0.07; 95%CI[0.04, 0.07]; p=0.042). Triiodothyronine (T3) levels increased from pre-  (101.7 ng/dL; 95%CI[93.7, 110.4]) to post-WWT  (117.8 ng/dL; 95%CI[105.1, 129.4]) in MT (p=0.042). No differences in sleep quality were reported between locations (CO, MT, and AK). Alterations in cognitive function were exhibited between locations and during WWT in both MT and AK (p<0.05). Conclusions Over the course of WWT, elite operators experienced alterations in stress, metabolic, and growth-related hormones, as well as cognitive performance. The increase in stress hormones (i.e. ACTH and cortisol) and reduction in cognitive performance following training in AK are suggestive of heightened physiological strain, despite similarities in physical workload, self-reported sleep quality, and access to nutrition. The variation in hormone levels documented between MT and AK may stem from differences in environmental factors, such as lower temperatures and harsh terrain. Further research is warranted to provide more information on the combined effects of military training in extreme environments on operator health and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) or the upper atmosphere, Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) can be used to counteract the drag effects of the atmosphere or provide attitude control without the need for onboard propellant storage. The Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) inspired the design of an ABEP Pulsed Plasma Thruster (TAMU PPT) which takes advantage of the simplicity, scalability, and high energy density of the DPF. This work details the design and testing of a PPT for use on satellites in the upper atmosphere. Testing was conducted at a variety of pressures and pulsing energies to determine which conditions provide maximum thrust and thrust to power ratios (TPR). It was found through single pulse experiments that a pressure of 6.3 hPa (corresponding to an altitude of about 35 km) and an energy per pulse of 9 J yield a TPR of 21 mN/kW. High frequency operation at 20 Hz in similar conditions showed a TPR of up to 28 mN/kW with a corresponding thrust of 4.8 mN. High speed imaging of the plasma plume found plasma velocities in excess of 2 km/s and identified metal ejecta with velocities up to 350 m/s. The pinching phenomenon associated with a DPF was also observed and a plasma jet velocity up to 50 km/s was recorded. The TPR of the TAMU PPT demonstrated in this work is comparable to that of other ABEP thrusters, however the TAMU PPT has an advantage when comparing thrust density. The TAMU PPT has a thrust density between 4.8 and 19 mN/cm2 while other ABEP thrusters have thrust densities between 0.019 and 0.36 mN/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To screen differentially-expressed circRNA in plasma exosomes of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and verify its diagnostic value for NSCLC. Methods The plasma exosomes of six patients with NSCLC and six healthy people were analyzed by circRNA sequencing. The expression of hsa_circ_0052513 in plasma exosomes of 60 NSCLC patients and 60 healthy controls was detected by qRTPCR. The expression level of hsa_circ_0052513 in plasma exosomes of NSCLC patients before and after surgery was detected by qRT-PCR. The correlation between the expression of plasma exosomal hsa_circ_0052513 and clinical data of patients with NSCLC was statistically analyzed. Results Sequencing results showed that the expression of hsa_circ_0052513 in the plasma exosomes of NSCLC patients was higher than that of healthy controls, and the results were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Hsa_circ_0052513 was decreased in patients with NSCLC after tumor resection (P<0.05). The high expression of plasma exosomal hsa_circ_0052513 in patients with NSCLC was correlated with tumor size, distant metastasis, and TNM stage of NSCLC (all P<0.05). The area under the curve of plasma exosomal hsa_circ_0052513 in the diagnosis of patients with NSCLC was 0.790 4 (P<0.0001). Conclusion Hsa_circ_0052513 is highly expressed in the plasma exosomes of patients with NSCLC and is related to tumor size, metastasis, and TNM stage. Hence, Hsa_circ_0052513 could be a new diagnostic marker for NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, geopolitical instability across the globe has increased the risk of a large-scale radiological event, when radiation biomarkers would be needed for an effective triage of an irradiated population. Ionizing radiation elicits a complex response in the proteome, genome, and metabolome and hence can be leveraged as rapid and sensitive indicators of irradiation-induced damage. We analyzed the plasma of total-body irradiated (TBI) leukemia patients (n = 24) and nonhuman primates (NHPs; n = 10) before and 24 h after irradiation, and we performed a global metabolomic study aiming to provide plasma metabolites as candidate radiation biomarkers for biological dosimetry. Peripheral blood samples were collected according to the appropriate ethical approvals, and metabolites were extracted and analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. We identified an array of metabolites significantly altered by irradiation, including bilirubin, cholesterol, and 18-hydroxycorticosterone, which were detected in leukemia patients and NHPs. Pathway analysis showed overlapping perturbations in steroidogenesis, porphyrin metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. Additionally, we observed dysregulation in bile acid biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism in the TBI patient cohort. This investigation is, to our best knowledge, among the first to provide valuable insights into a comparison between human and NHP irradiation models. The findings from this study could be leveraged for translational biological dosimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a higher safety profile compared to vitamin K antagonists, rivaroxaban therapy is still connected with multiple adverse effects, such as a high risk of bleeding. Thus, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of rivaroxaban concentrations is suggested. An alternative to plasma samples can be dried blood spots (DBS), which minimize the cost of sample storage and transport. In this study, we developed a UPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of rivaroxaban in DBS and plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm; 3.5 µm, Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% formic acid. The analytes were detected using a positive ionization mode by multiple reaction monitoring. We validated the method according to ICH guidelines. The precision and accuracy were satisfactory. Extraction recovery was approximately 57% and 66% for DBS and plasma samples, respectively. A high correlation between rivaroxaban concentrations in plasma and DBS samples collected from patients was confirmed with Deming regression. The suitability of both sampling techniques for the rivaroxaban TDM was also verified by Bland–Altman plots based on DBS-predicted and observed plasma concentrations. In addition, we found a significant relationship between rivaroxaban concentrations and coagulation parameters, including prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To conquer the challenges of charge accumulation and surface flashover in epoxy resin under direct current (DC) electric fields, numerous efforts have been made to research dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatments using CF4/Ar as the medium gas, which has proven effective in improving surface flashover voltage. However, despite being an efficient plasma etching medium, SF6/Ar has remained largely unexplored. In this work, we constructed a DBD plasma device with an SF6/Ar gas medium and explored the influence of processing times and gas flow rates on the morphology and surface flashover voltage of epoxy resin. The surface morphology observed by SEM indicates that the degree of plasma etching intensifies with processing time and gas flow rate, and the quantitative characterization of AFM indicates a maximum roughness of 144 nm after 3 min of treatment. Flashover test results show that at 2 min of processing time, the surface flashover voltage reached a maximum of 19.02 kV/mm, which is 25.49% higher than that of the untreated sample and previously reported works. In addition to the effect of surface roughness, charge trap distribution shows that fluorinated groups help to deepen the trap energy levels and density. The optimal modification was achieved at a gas flow rate of 3.5 slm coupled with 2 min of processing time. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that fluorination introduces additional electron traps (0.29 eV) and hole traps (0.38 eV), enhancing the capture of charge carriers and suppressing surface flashover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to compare the performance of complementary clinical laboratory approaches to monitoring exposure to apixaban and rivaroxaban, the most prescribed direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOAC's): an automated commercial anti-Xa chromogenic assay suitable for emergency and pre-surgery testing and a laboratory-developed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method employed for non-emergency analysis in plasma and in dried blood volumetric absorptive microsamples (VAMS) collectible by the patients in their homes. The full validation of the LC-MS/MS method was performed. Cross-validation of the methodologies was accomplished by processing 60 specimens collected for whole blood count and DOAC monitoring in a central clinical laboratory. For VAMS samples, dried plasma and whole blood calibrators were found to be suitable, and a cycle run for seven days could be implemented for rational and economic sample processing. The anti-Xa chromogrenic assay and the LC-MS/MS method delivered discordant plasma analyte concentrations. Moreover, the lack of agreement between plasma and VAMS concentrations was observed. Clinical laboratories must be aware of the differences between the performance of apixaban and rivaroxaban LC-MS/MS and anti-Xa assays. Hematocrit must always be measured along with VAMS samples to obtain accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose is among the most promising materials for enhancing the mechanical properties of polymer composites. Broad application is, however, limited by inadequate surface properties. A standard technique for tailoring the surface composition and wettability of polymers is a brief treatment with non-equilibrium gaseous plasma, but it often fails when treating materials with a large surface-to-mass ratio, such as cellulose nanofibers. In this paper, the theoretical limitations are explained, the approaches reported by different groups are reviewed, and the results are interpreted. The treatment of dry nanocellulose is limited by the ability of uniform treatment, whereas the plasma treatment of nanocellulose dispersed in liquids is a slow process. The methods for enhancing the treatment efficiency for both dry and water-dispersed nanocellulose are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. While placental dysfunction is a core underlying issue, the pathogenesis of this disorder is thought to differ between early-onset (EOPE) and late-onset (LOPE) subtypes. As recent reports suggest that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contribute to the development of PE, we have compared systemic sEV concentrations between normotensive, EOPE, and LOPE pregnancies. To circumvent lengthy isolation techniques and intermediate filtration steps, a streamlined approach was developed to evaluate circulating plasma sEVs from maternal plasma. Polymer-based precipitation and purification were used to isolate total systemic circulating maternal sEVs, free from bias toward specific surface marker expression or extensive subpurification. Immediate Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) of freshly isolated sEV samples afforded a comprehensive analysis that can be completed within hours, avoiding confounding freeze–thaw effects of particle aggregation and degradation. Rather than exosomal subpopulations, our findings indicate a significant elevation in the total number of circulating maternal sEVs in patients with EOPE. This streamlined approach also preserves sEV-bound protein and microRNA (miRNA) that can be used for potential biomarker analysis. This study is one of the first to demonstrate that maternal plasma sEVs harbor full-length hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) protein, with EOPE sEVs carrying higher levels of HIF-1α compared to control sEVs. The detection of HIF-1α and its direct signaling partner microRNA-210 (miR-210) within systemic maternal sEVs lays the groundwork for identifying how sEV signaling contributes to the development of preeclampsia. When taken together, our quantitative and qualitative results provide compelling evidence to support the translational potential of streamlined sEV analysis for future use in the clinical management of patients with EOPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We evaluated whether plasma Alzheimer disease (AD)–related biomarkers were associated with cancer-related cognitive decline among older breast cancer survivors. Methods We included survivors aged 60-90 years with primary stage 0-III breast cancers (n = 236) and frequency-matched noncancer control paricipant (n = 154) who passed a cognitive screen and had banked plasma specimens. Participants were assessed at baseline (presystemic therapy) and annually for up to 60 months. Cognition was measured using tests of attention, processing speed, and executive function and learning and memory; perceived cognition was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function v3 Perceived Cognitive Impairments. Baseline plasma neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-amyloid 42 and 40 and phosphorylated tau 181 were assayed using single molecule arrays. Mixed models tested associations between cognition and baseline AD biomarkers, time, group (survivor vs control participant), and their 2- and 3-way interactions, controlling for age, race, Wide Range 4 Achievement Test Word Reading score, comorbidity, and body mass index; 2-sided P values of.05 were considered statistically significant. Results There were no group differences in baseline AD-related biomarkers except survivors had higher baseline neurofilament light levels than control participants (P  = .013). Survivors had lower adjusted longitudinal attention, processing speed, and executive function than control participants starting from baseline and continuing over time (P  ≤ .002). However, baseline AD-related biomarker levels were not independently associated with adjusted cognition over time, except control participants had lower attention, processing speed, and executive function scores with higher glial fibrillary acidic protein levels (P  = .008). Conclusion The results do not support a relationship between baseline AD-related biomarkers and cancer-related cognitive decline. Further investigation is warranted to confirm the findings, test effects of longitudinal changes in AD-related biomarkers, and examine other mechanisms and factors affecting cognition presystemic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apilimod dimesylate is a first-in-class phosphoinositide kinase, FYVE-type zinc finger-containing (PIKfyve) inhibitor with a favourable clinical safety profile and has demonstrated activity in preclinical C9orf72 and TDP-43 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models. In this ALS clinical trial, the safety, tolerability, CNS penetrance and modulation of pharmacodynamic target engagement biomarkers were evaluated. This phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, biomarker-end-point clinical trial was conducted in four US centres (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05163886). Participants with C9orf72 repeat expansions were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive twice-daily oral treatment with 125 mg apilimod dimesylate capsules or matching placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week open-label extension. Safety was measured as the occurrence of treatment-emergent or serious adverse events attributable to the study drug and tolerability at trial completion or treatment over 12 weeks. Changes from baseline in plasma and CSF and concentrations of apilimod dimesylate and its active metabolites and of pharmacodynamic biomarkers of PIKfyve inhibition [soluble glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (sGPNMB) upregulation] and disease-specific CNS target engagement [poly(GP)] were measured. Between 16 December 2021 and 7 July 2022, 15 eligible participants were enrolled. There were no drug-related serious adverse events reported in the trial. Fourteen (93%) participants completed the double-blind period with 99% dose compliance [ n = 9 (90%) apilimod dimesylate; n = 5 (100%) placebo]. At Week 12, apilimod dimesylate was measurable in CSF at 1.63 ng/ml [standard deviation (SD): 0.937]. At Week 12, apilimod dimesylate increased plasma sGPNMB by >2.5-fold (P < 0.001), indicating PIKfyve inhibition, and lowered CSF poly(GP) protein levels by 73% (P < 0.001), indicating CNS tissue-level proof of mechanism. Apilimod dimesylate met prespecified key safety and biomarker end-points in this phase 2a trial and demonstrated CNS penetrance and pharmacodynamic target engagement. Apilimod dimesylate was observed to result in the greatest reduction in CSF poly(GP) levels observed to date in C9orf72 clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To present a new method for displaying blood utilization data based on analysis of decision time intervals (DTIs). Methods Retrospective study of patients treated in a medical intensive care unit (ICU), surgical ICU, or postcardiac surgery ICU at an academic hospital between January 2018 and June 2023. Each patient's episode of care was divided into a series of DTIs. Transfusions during each time interval were recorded. Results In total, 16,562 patients received 6980 units of plasma and 21,034 units of red blood cells during 111,557 time intervals of care. Patients had international normalized ratio (INR) values ranging from less than 1.0 to more than 4.0. Data on plasma transfusion at different INR values were displayed as the number of transfusion episodes, number of units given, or the proportion of DTIs with transfusion. Clinicians transfused plasma on 1.5% of occasions when the INR was 1.5 or less and on 2.2% of occasions when the INR was less than 2.0. Plasma was transfused without red blood cells in only 0.75% of DTIs. Transfusion practice was statistically different among the 3 ICUs. Conclusions Compared with traditional methods of displaying the results of blood audits, DTI analysis displays information regarding the decision both to transfuse and to not transfuse. Utilization reviews that display data based on decision time analysis reveal clinical practice patterns very different from those suggested by traditional displays of plasma audit data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sulbactam dosing for Acinetobacter baumannii infections has not been standardized due to limited available pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) data. Herein, we report a comprehensive PK/PD analysis of ampicillin-sulbactam against A. baumannii pneumonia. Methods Twenty-one A. baumannii clinical isolates were tested in the neutropenic murine pneumonia model. For dose-ranging studies, groups of mice were administered escalating doses of ampicillin-sulbactam. Changes in log10cfu/lungs relative to 0 h were assessed. Dose-fractionation studies were performed. Estimates of the percentage of of time during which the unbound plasma sulbactam concentrations exceeded the MIC (% f T > MIC) required for different efficacy endpoints were calculated. The probabilities of target attainment (PTA) for the 1-log kill plasma targets were estimated following clinically utilized sulbactam regimens. Results Dose-fractionation studies demonstrated time-dependent kill. Isolates resistant to both sulbactam and meropenem required three times the exposures to achieve 1-log kill; median [IQR] % f T > MIC of 60.37% [51.6–66.8] compared with other phenotypes (21.17 [16.0–32.9] % f T > MIC). Sulbactam standard dose (1 g q6h, 0.5 h infusion) provided >90% PTA up to MIC of 4 mg/L. Sulbactam 3 g q8h, 4 h inf provided greater PTA for isolates with sulbactam-intermediate susceptibility (8 mg/L, 100% versus 86% following the standard dose). Despite the higher exposure following 3 g q8h, 4 h inf, PTA was ≤57% among sulbactam-resistant/meropenem-resistant isolates. Conclusion Sulbactam standard dose is a valuable regimen across sulbactam-susceptible isolates while the high-dose extended-infusion provides additional benefit against sulbactam-intermediate isolates. Given that most of the sulbactam-resistant A. baumannii isolates are meropenem-resistant, high-dose prolonged-infusion regimens are not expected to be effective as monotherapy against infections due to these isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Temocillin, a carbapenem-sparing β-lactam antibiotic, is commonly used at the standard 4 g/day dosage for treating complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). However, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data supporting this regimen is limited. This study evaluated the plasma pharmacokinetics (PK) and PTA of temocillin in non-critically ill cUTI patients with varying degrees of renal insufficiency (RI). Methods In this single-centre clinical study, 22 cUTI patients received a fixed 4 g/day (2 g q12h, intravenously) temocillin dose, irrespective of renal function (no RI: n  = 5, mild RI: n  = 8, moderate RI: n  = 9). Plasma samples were collected post-dosing for LC-MS analysis of total and unbound temocillin levels. Monte Carlo simulations were performed based on the established PK/PD target of ≥35% f T > MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). Results Among patients, the highest plasma drug exposure and PK/PD target attainment were observed in those with moderate RI (median AUC0–12h = 1143 h.mg/L and % f T > MIC = 68%), followed by mild RI patients (median AUC0–12h = 918 h.mg/L and % f T > MIC = 34%), and the lowest in those with healthy kidney function (median AUC0–12h = 692 h.mg/L and % f T > MIC = 26%). Simulations indicated that the 4 g/day temocillin dose achieves 90% PTA only for glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min and MIC ≤ 8 mg/L. Conclusion The standard temocillin dose may need to be increased from 4 to 6 g/day to treat non-critically ill cUTI patients, in line with recent EUCAST recommendations. For patients with moderate RI, who experience higher exposure due to reduced renal drug clearance, 4 g/day temocillin remains appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the shear bond strength (SBS) of repair material to conventionally, subtractive‐, and additive‐manufactured denture bases after different surface treatments. Materials and Methods: Disk‐shaped test specimens (N = 300) were prepared from denture base materials produced by one conventional (Procryla), one subtractive (Yamahachi), and one additive (Curo Denture) method. The test specimens were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10) and exposed to a variety of surface treatments—Group A: no surface treatment; Group B: grinding with silicon carbide paper; Group C: sandblasting; Group D: erbium: yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet laser; and Group E: plasma. Repair was performed with autopolymerizing acrylic resin (Meliodent). Surface roughness analyses were performed with a profilometer. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine one specimen from each subgroup. SBS was evaluated on a universal testing machine. Failure types were observed under a stereomicroscope. Results: Surface roughness values were significantly higher in all test materials in Group D than in the other groups (p < 0.001). For conventional resin, the SBS values were higher in Group C than in Groups A, D, and E (p < 0.001). For CAD/CAM material, Groups B and C had significantly greater SBS increases compared with Group E (p < 0.001). For 3D material, Group D showed higher SBS than all groups except Group C (p < 0.001). Conclusions: For SBS, sandblasting was most effective in the conventional group, whereas laser treatment was the most effective in the additive‐manufactured group. For the subtractive group, surface treatments other than plasma exhibited similar SBS. Clinical Significance: In repairing fractured prostheses, any degree of roughening suitable for the material content may provide an SBS benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare leukodystrophy caused by dominant gain-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the astrocyte intermediate filament, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). However, there is an urgent need for biomarkers to assist in monitoring not only the progression of disease but also the response to treatment. GFAP is the obvious candidate for such a biomarker, as it is measurable in body fluids that are readily accessible for biopsy, namely cerebrospinal fluid and blood. However, in the case of ASOs, the treatment that is furthest in development, GFAP is the target of therapy and presumably would go down independent of disease status. Hence, there is a critical need for biomarkers that are not directly affected by the treatment strategy. Methods: We explored the potential utility of biomarkers currently being studied in other neurodegenerative diseases and injuries, specifically neurofilament light protein (NfL), phosphorylated forms of tau, and amyloid-β peptides (Aβ42/40). Results and Conclusions: Here, we report that GFAP is elevated in plasma of all age groups afflicted by AxD, including those with adult onset. NfL and p-tau are also elevated, but to a much lesser extent than GFAP. In contrast, the levels of Aß40 and Aß42 are not altered in AxD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the potential use of plasma symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) as a marker of kidney function in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The current measures of kidney function, such as creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), have limitations, particularly in patients with low muscle mass. SDMA, which is produced in almost all nucleated cells and solely cleared by the kidneys, may provide a muscle mass-independent marker of kidney function. The study found that plasma SDMA correlated more strongly with measured GFR than creatinine in two large cohorts of KTRs. Additionally, higher SDMA levels were associated with a higher risk of graft failure, independent of other factors. The findings suggest that SDMA may be a valuable marker of kidney function, especially in patients with low muscle mass. However, further research is needed to validate these findings in diverse populations and compare SDMA with other kidney function markers. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death. Nicotine is the primary reinforcing ingredient in cigarettes sustaining addiction. Cotinine is the major metabolite of nicotine that produces a myriad of neurobehavioral effects. Previous studies showed that cotinine-supported self-administration in rats and rats with a history of cotinine self-administration exhibited relapse-like drug-seeking behavior, suggesting that cotinine may also be reinforcing. To date, whether cotinine may contribute to nicotine reinforcement remains unknown. Nicotine metabolism is mainly catalyzed by hepatic CYP2B1/2 enzymes in rats and methoxsalen is a potent CYP2B1/2 inhibitor. Aims and Methods The study examined nicotine metabolism, self-administration, and locomotor activity. The hypothesis is that methoxsalen inhibits nicotine self-administration and cotinine replacement attenuates the inhibitory effects of methoxsalen in male rats. Results Methoxsalen decreased plasma cotinine levels following a subcutaneous nicotine injection. Repeated daily methoxsalen treatments reduced the acquisition of nicotine self-administration, leading to fewer nicotine infusions, lower nicotine intake, and lower plasma cotinine levels. However, methoxsalen did not alter the maintenance of nicotine self-administration despite a significant reduction of plasma cotinine levels. Cotinine replacement by mixing cotinine with nicotine for self-administration dose-dependently increased plasma cotinine levels and enhanced the acquisition of self-administration. Neither basal nor nicotine-induced locomotor activity was altered by methoxsalen. Conclusions These results indicate that methoxsalen inhibition of cotinine formation impaired the acquisition of nicotine self-administration, and cotinine replacement attenuated the inhibitory effects of methoxsalen on the acquisition of self-administration, suggesting that cotinine may contribute to the initial development of nicotine reinforcement. Implications Smoking cessation medications targeting nicotine's effects are only moderately effective, making it imperative to better understand the mechanisms of nicotine misuse. Methoxsalen inhibited nicotine metabolism to cotinine and impaired the acquisition of nicotine self-administration. Cotinine replacement restored plasma cotinine and attenuated the methoxsalen inhibition of nicotine self-administration in rats. These results suggest that (1) the inhibition of nicotine metabolism may be a viable strategy in reducing the development of nicotine reinforcement, (2) methoxsalen may be translationally valuable, and (3) cotinine may be a potential pharmacological target for therapeutic development given its important role in the initial development of nicotine reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the role of asymmetry in the beam profile of finite Airy-Gaussian (AiG) laser is presented to explore its propagation dynamics in collisionless magnetized plasma. Emphasis is on analyzing the self-trapping condition for both extraordinary (E) and ordinary (O) modes of propagation of AiG laser beam. Theoretical formulation is based on obtaining nonlinear coupled differential equations for beam-width parameters in both transverse dimensions of the beam with the help of parabolic equation approach under WKB and paraxial approximations. It is found that asymmetry in the modulation parameters significantly affects self-focusing of finite AiG beam. Moreover, the same initial intensity parameter for simultaneous self-trapping of both modes of propagation is noteworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid therapy is the principal mechanism by which a clinician can stabilize a hemodynamically compromised patient. To ensure the provision of fluids is therapeutic, it is essential to know the osmolality of the administered fluid relative to the plasma of the species being treated. The clinical utility of common isotonic fluids for reptiles was determined through comparisons to the plasma osmolality of 15 Australian reptile species representing 3 genera. All sampled species had an osmolality that was either comparable, or significantly hyperosmolar, to that of the isotonic fluids. Pairwise comparisons revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) between monitor lizards (Varanus spp.; x ¯ = 329.71 mOsm/kg) and carpet pythons (Morelia spp.; x ¯ = 294.92 mOsm/kg), and at a species-subspecies level, between eastern carpet pythons (Morelia spilota mcdowelli; x ¯ = 318.25 mOsm/kg) and Bredli carpet pythons (Morelia spilota bredli; x ¯ = 306.33 mOsm/kg). In support of previous studies, almost all species demonstrated a wider tolerable range in plasma osmolality than would be expected in mammals. Lizards in the genus Varanus demonstrated the most clinically significant results, with all species means being greater than any commercial isotonic fluid. The facultatively aquatic Mertens water monitor (Varanus mertensi) was the species with the most significant difference ( x ¯ = 344.50 mOsm/kg). A preliminary exploration of taxonomic rank (at the genus and species level) and habitat aridity was also performed to assess their utility as indicators for estimating the plasma osmolality of an unmeasured species. Neither were found to be suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel plasma ageing technique has been used to investigate the effects of different treatment times of a co-polymer reinforced with montmorillonite nanoclay, where the effects of plasma ageing of the reinforced acrylic co-polymer (BA, STY and MAA) were obtained with nanoclay (sodium MMT) at different concentrations. The molecular weights of the samples were obtained by observing the change in the viscosity of the nonreinforced polymers, as well as an analysis of the thermal properties using the thermogravimetric analysis technique to determine their thermal stability, which showed an early decomposition of the exposed nanoreinforced materials to plasma concerning the reference sample 0 min. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed an increase in the glass transition temperature when adding the nanoreinforcement, but a decrease with saturation, likewise, it was observed that when adding this nanoreinforcement (MMT) to the polymeric matrix this protects the matrix when exposed to plasma. This acquires an increase in elastic modulus, which indicates a fragility in the nanomaterial. The structure of the nanocomposite was studied by means of the X-ray diffraction technique of the samples exposed to plasma treatment, obtaining patterns where intercalated nanocomposites are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cold plasma treatments are employed to modify peanuts. This study systematically investigates the effects of various plasma treatment conditions, including power, duration, and gas type, on the microstructure of peanut seed coats and embryos. Observations under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveal that as plasma treatment power increases from 100 W to 500 W, the etching level of peanut seed coats significantly intensifies, surface roughness deepens, and concavities become more pronounced. Additionally, micro-pores on the seed coat gradually enlarge and form cracks. Specifically, when the plasma treatment is set at 200 W for 60 s, the oxygen (O2) treatment group shows interconnected cracks on the peanut seed coat surface, with lipid particles exuding and protein particles and polymers decomposing. In contrast, the helium (He) treatment group displays clear cell structures and deep grooves, with no noticeable lipid particles exuding around surface cracks. The argon (Ar) treatment group exhibits a distinct rectangular cell structure with clear boundaries, and although surface cracks form, only a few protein particles escape from the cracks. The embryo surface structure becomes looser after plasma treatment, leading to the disintegration of lipid particles, protein particles, and polymers, affecting the fusion and migration of large and small lipid bodies within the peanut's internal structure. Increasing treatment duration intensifies the etching phenomenon, resulting in more lipid particles exuding, which indicates a positive correlation between lipid particles exuding and treatment duration. This study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying changes in peanut microstructure due to cold plasma treatment, providing scientific evidence for improving peanut quality, enhancing oil extraction efficiency, and optimizing food processing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in plasma reflect neuroinflammation and are linked to cognitive decline. Preclinical studies show that dietary change can attenuate astrocyte reactivity and neuroinflammation. In the current study, we investigate if the Okinawa-based Nordic (O-BN) diet alters plasma GFAP levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), a metabolic disorder associated with cognitive disturbances and an increased risk of dementia. Plasma GFAP levels were measured in T2D patients (n = 30) at baseline, after 3 months of the diet, and after a subsequent 4 months of unrestricted diets. The GFAP levels decreased significantly after 3 months of the diet (p = 0.048) but reverted to baseline levels after 4 months of unrestricted diets. At baseline, the GFAP levels correlated significantly with levels of the neurodegeneration marker neurofilament light polypeptide (r = 0.400*) and, after correcting for age, sex, and body mass index, with proinflammatory plasma cytokines (ranging from r = 0.440* to r = 0.530**) and the metabolic hormone islet amyloid polypeptide (r = 0.478*). We found no correlation with psychological well-being. These results suggest that the O-BN diet reduces neuroinflammation in T2D patients and may thus be an important preventive measure for managing T2D and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a UPLC-MS/MS assay was established for the determination of morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine in rat plasma. ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column was employed for chromatographic separation with the mobile phase comprised acetonitrile-10 mmol L−1 ammonium acetate aqueous solution (0.05% aqueous ammonia) using gradient elution. Midazolam was used as internal standard (IS). Electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive-ion mode with reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for quantitative analysis. The calibration curves for morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine demonstrated good linearity (r > 0.995) in the range of 5–500 ng mL−1 for morphine and codeine, and 1–100 ng mL−1 for thebaine, papaverine and noscapine. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine were within 15%, the intra-day and inter-day accuracies were 89–114%, the recovery was better than 65%, and the matrix effects were 96–112%. The developed UPLC-MS/MS assay was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetics of papaverine and noscapine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) is an inert polymer that is very difficult to dye and finish. In the current work, PP fabrics were activated by an oxygen plasma beam, followed by treatment with a renewable natural biopolymer, namely keratin, in the presence of glutardialdehyde as a crosslinker using the pad-dry-cure method. The treated PP fabric exhibited adequate hydrophilic characteristics which make it dyeable with cationic dyestuffs with excellent fastness properties. The effects of curing time and temperature on the fibers' weight, strength, elongation, wettability, and yellowness were monitored. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy were used to verify the formation of polar functional groups within the chemical structure of the treated PP fabrics. The proposed method has a positive effect on some of the comfort attributes of the treated PP fabrics, such as the enhanced resistance to ultraviolet rays as well as the accumulation of electrostatic charge without deterioration in the fabrics' inherent properties. The microscopic investigation using scanning electron microscopy demonstrated a coating of PP fabric with a layer of keratin. The induced effect was durable in terms of their wettability and dyeability, against washing for up to 20 washing cycles, indicating the formation of a fortified bond between the O2-plasma-irradiated PP fabric and keratin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of fly ash melting by plasma technology, additives are usually added to improve the melting characteristics of fly ash and reduce the leaching toxicity of heavy metals, thus reduce energy consumption and pollution risk. However, the effect of additives on the migration and transformation of chlorine salts in fly ash during the melting process is rarely reported. In this study, the effect of additives (SiO2, Al, B2O3, bottom slag collected from the same incinerator) on the migration and transformation of chlorine was investigated by experiments and thermodynamic analysis, and the promotion mechanism of water vapor atmosphere on the migration and transformation of chlorine was also discussed. Soluble chloride is transformed into insoluble chloride during plasma melting of fly ash, B2O3 and Al play a role in solidification of the chloride in fly ash, SiO2 promotes the volatilization of heavy metal chloride salts, the co-melting of fly ash and its homologous bottom ash significantly promotes the reduction of soluble chloride in fly ash, and the content of soluble chloride in fly ash is reduced from 22.39% to 2.2% with the addition of 20% bottom ash. Steam can be used as an inducer and vaporizer to further promote the chlorine volatilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, a novel method is presented to enhance the antimicrobial properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) via plasma-induced grafting of quaternary ammonium (QA). The results show that the content of oxygen-containing functional groups on PVC surface is significantly increased after Ar-O2 plasma treatment, beneficially enhancing the thickness and adhesion of QA coating. Plasma treatment time critically affects the morphology of PVC surface, which is closely related to the number, depth and diameter of pit on the surface. With the increase of pits size, the PVC surface forms ridge-like protrusions. The coating formed by grafting QA maintains the morphology characteristics of plasma-treated PVC surface. Results of antibacterial test show that specimens have the best antibacterial activity when there are a high and sharp ridge-like structure of QA coating on the plasma-treated PVC surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation behavior of actual diesel particulate matter (DPM) prepared from diesel combustion was studied using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The primary oxidation temperature (T30 at which 30% of DPM was oxidized) was reduced from 524 °C (with non-discharge, NDC) to 409 °C with discharge (DC). It was found that the dry soot (DS) from DPM after dichloromethane extraction was more difficult to be oxidized than DPM due to the loss of soluble organic fraction (SOF) from DPM. The order of activation energies of DPM and DS under conditions of DC and NDC is: DPM–DC < DPM–NDC < DS–DC < DS–NDC. The intermediates of DPM oxidation at different temperatures, pulse peak voltages and reaction gas atmospheres were investigated via operando DRIFTS–MS. It is found that under DC, SOF can be oxidized to oxygen containing compounds (OCC) at low temperatures, and a higher pulse peak voltage is beneficial to DPM oxidation. The main product of 10 vol% O2/N2 discharge gas is high valence nitrogen oxides like NO2, which participates in DPM oxidation. DBD plasma enhances DPM oxidation primarily through two mechanisms: first, by ionizing O2 to produce strong oxidizing substances, and second, by inhibiting the increasing content of graphitized components. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of DPM oxidation kinetics and intermediates under DBD plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a currently a lack of large-area plasma sterilization devices that can intelligently identify the shape of a wound for automatic sterilization. For this reason, in this work, a plasma sterilization device with wound-edge recognition was developed using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and a high-performance image-processing platform to realize intelligent and precise sterilization of wounds. SOLIDWORKS was used to design the mechanical structure of the device, and it was manufactured using 3D printing. The device used an improvement of the traditional Sobel detection algorithm, which extends the detection of edges in only the x and y directions to eight directions (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315°), completing the wound-edge detection by adaptive thresholding. The device can be controlled according to different shapes of sterilization area to adjust the positioning of a single plasma-jet tube in the horizontal plane for two-dimensional movement; the distance between the plasma-jet tube and the surface of the object to be sterilized can be also adjusted in the vertical direction. In this way, motors are used to move the plasma jet and achieve automatic, efficient, and accurate plasma sterilization. It was found that a good sterilization effect could be achieved at both the culture-medium level and the biological-tissue level. The ideal sterilization parameters at the culture-medium level were a speed of 2 mm/s and a flow rate of 0.6 slm, while at the biological-tissue level, these values were 1 mm/s and 0.6 slm, respectively. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: • Image processing combining eight-direction Sobel edge detection and a median-filtering adaptive threshold was used for wound-edge recognition. • A device with x, y, and z degrees of freedom was designed and 3D printed. • An FPGA-based sterilization platform combining edge-recognition detection, a three-degree-of-freedom kinematic device, and a plasma injector was built to precisely sterilize wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel model was studied that explains the interaction between the equations governing the photo-thermoelasticity theory in the case of the presence of the diffusion of moisture of the semiconductor medium with the electromagnetic field. The photo-thermoelasticity theory is used to investigate the photothermal excitation process for an elastic semiconductor medium in a one-dimensional deformation. This article discusses the effect of the magnetic field on conductive moisture diffusivity. The coupling interactions between magneto-thermo-elastic stresses and moisture diffusivity are investigated. According to some initial conditions, the governing equations are investigated using the Laplace transform technique to calculate the numerical solution of the key physical field contribution in the Laplace domain. The basic quantities for the process in the Laplace domain are calculated using all mechanical stresses, thermal conditions, and plasma boundary surface conditions. To obtain complete solutions in the time domain for the main problems, the numerical method approach is used to invert the Laplace transform. Some comparisons are made under the influence of different parameters to show the wave propagation of the main fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the continuous growth of bullfrog supply, it has become an important aquaculture species. Due to the lack of actionable industry standards and regulation, the misuse of anti-disease drugs and abnormal liver lipid metabolism in bullfrogs have become a major obstacle to the development of bullfrog aquaculture industry. Glutathione is a natural tripeptide that can be synthesized intracellularly, and its physiological functions mainly include the treatment of liver diseases, antioxidant, detoxification, anti-tumor, enhancement of immunity, and delaying aging. Methods: In this study, the therapeutic effect of glutathione on bullfrogs with abnormal liver lipid metabolism was revealed from hepatic lipid metabolism and serum metabolomics analysis. The survival rate, liver histomorphology, serum antioxidant enzyme activity, liver lipase activity and serum metabolomics, liver metabolomics were studied and analyzed by feeding the bullfrogs with abnormal lipid metabolism with glutathione for 20 days in the NC, FI and GSH groups. Results: The results of the study showed that glutathione was able to repair the liver and improve the survival rate of bullfrogs with abnormal lipid metabolism; the activity of serum SOD enzymes was significantly increased; the activities of ACP and AKP were significantly decreased; the activities of HDL-C and T-CHO were significantly increased; and the activities of LDL-C, TBA, and TG were significantly decreased in the liver; the contents of metabolites, such as PC, PS, and PE were significantly up-regulated, and the levels of up-regulated Autophagy - other, Necroptosis and ErbB signaling pathway, and down-regulated Sphingolipid metabolism, D-Amino acid metabolism metabolic pathway, to some extent The metabolic pathways of Sphingolipid metabolism and DAmino acid metabolism were down-regulated to alleviate the disorders of glycerophospholipid and amino acid metabolism to a certain extent, thus alleviating the abnormalities of liver lipid metabolism. Discussion: The results showed that glutathione could effectively treat the liver lipid metabolism disorder of bullfrogs, promote the growth and development of bullfrogs, repair the liver function, reduce the inflammation, and promote the healthy and green development of bullfrog industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The severe course of COVID-19 causes cardiovascular injuries, although the mechanisms involved are still not fully recognized, linked, and understood. Their characterization is of great importance with the establishment of the conception of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, referred to as long COVID, where blood clotting and endothelial abnormalities are believed to be the key pathomechanisms driving circulatory system impairment. Methods: The presented study investigates temporal changes in plasma proteins in COVID-19 patients during hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and six months after recovery by targeted SureQuant acquisition using PQ500 panel. Results: In total, we identified 167 proteins that were differentially regulated between follow-up and hospitalization, which functionally aggregated into immune system activation, complement and coagulation cascades, interleukins signalling, platelet activation, and extracellular matrix organization. Furthermore, we found that temporal quantitative changes in acute phase proteins correlate with selected clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: In-depth targeted proteome investigation evidenced substantial changes in plasma protein composition of patients during and recovering from COVID-19, evidencing a wide range of functional pathways induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, we show that a subset of acute phase proteins, clotting cascade regulators and lipoproteins could have clinical value as potential predictors of long-term cardiovascular events in COVID-19 convalescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma‐based CO2 conversion has attracted increasing interest. However, to understand the impact of plasma operation on post‐plasma processes, we studied the effect of adding N2, N2/CH4 and N2/CH4/H2O to a CO2 gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) to obtain valuable insights into their impact on exhaust stream composition and temperature, which will serve as feed gas and heat for post‐plasma catalysis (PPC). Adding N2 improves the CO2 conversion from 4 % to 13 %, and CH4 addition further promotes it to 44 %, and even to 61 % at lower gas flow rate (6 L/min), allowing a higher yield of CO and hydrogen for PPC. The addition of H2O, however, reduces the CO2 conversion from 55 % to 22 %, but it also lowers the energy cost, from 5.8 to 3 kJ/L. Regarding the temperature at 4.9 cm post‐plasma, N2 addition increases the temperature, while the CO2/CH4 ratio has no significant effect on temperature. We also calculated the temperature distribution with computational fluid dynamics simulations. The obtained temperature profiles (both experimental and calculated) show a decreasing trend with distance to the exhaust and provide insights in where to position a PPC bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first demonstration of plasma‐flash sintering (PFS) is presented in this work. PFS is performed under a low‐pressure atmosphere that consecutively generates plasma and flash events. It is shown, by using several combined characterization techniques, that PFS stabilizes metastable phases on the surface of the material, which may be partially, but not solely, attributed to the generation of oxygen vacancies, and induces the absorption of ionized species, if a reactive atmosphere is employed. Even though additional research is required to understand the fundamentals of PFS, it is evidenced its potential to be used as a material surface engineering tool, which may widen the technological capabilities of flash sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replacing cereals with food leftovers could reduce feed-food competition and keep nutrients and energy in the food chain. Former food products (FFPs) are industrial food leftovers no more intended for human but still suitable as alternative and sustainable feedstuffs for monogastric. In this study, omics approaches were applied to evaluate the impact of dietary FFPs on pig liver proteome and plasma peptidome. Thirty-six Swiss Large White male castrated pigs were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments [control (CTR), 30% CTR replaced with salty FFP (SA), 30% CTR replaced with sugary FFP (SU)] from the start of the growing phase (22.4 ± 1.7 kg) until slaughtering (110 ± 3 kg). The low number of differentially regulated proteins in each comparison matrix (SA/SU vs. CTR) and the lack of metabolic interaction indicated a marginal impact on hepatic lipid metabolism. The plasma peptidomics investigation showed low variability between the peptidome of the three dietary groups and identified three possible bioactive peptides in the SA group associated with anti-hypertension and vascular homeostasis regulation. To conclude, the limited modulation of liver proteome and plasma peptidome by the SA and SU diets strenghtened the idea of reusing FFPs as feed ingredients to make pig production more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Preoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions increase post‐operative venous thromboembolic (VTE) events. Erythropoietin‐stimulating agents (ESAs) increase VTE risk in cancer patients; we aimed to assess ESA versus RBC‐associated VTE risks in a broad population of surgical patients.We queried TriNetX Diamond Network from 2006 to 2023, comparing patients with anaemia within 3 months preoperatively who received preoperative ESAs with or without intravenous (IV) iron to patients who received preoperative RBCs. Sub‐analyses included (1) all surgeries and (2) cardiovascular surgeries.We propensity score matched for demographics, comorbidities, medical services, post‐treatment haemoglobin (g/dL) and, for all‐surgery comparisons, surgery type. Outcomes included 30‐day post‐operative mortality, VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and haemoglobin.In our 19,548‐patient cohorts, compared with preoperative RBC transfusion, ESAs without IV iron were associated with lower mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45–0.59]), VTE (RR = 0.57 [0.50–0.65]) and PE (RR = 0.67 [0.54–0.84]). Post‐operative haemoglobin was higher in the ESA without IV iron cohort compared with the transfusion cohort (10.0 ± 1.4 vs. 9.4 ± 1.8 g/dL, p = 0.002). Cardiac surgical patients receiving ESAs with or without IV iron had lower risk for post‐operative mortality, VTE and PE (p < 0.001) than those receiving RBCs. Post‐operative haemoglobin differed between patients receiving ESAs with IV iron versus RBCs (10.1 ± 1.5 vs. 9.4 ± 1.9 g/dL, p = 0.0009).Compared with surgical patients who were transfused RBCs, ESA recipients had reduced 30‐day post‐operative risk of mortality, VTE, PE and DIC and increased haemoglobin levels. IV iron given with ESAs improved mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]