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Human fetal lung mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate lung injury in an animal model
Influence of behavior of a coupled dynamic system on an energy harvester
Root uptake, translocation and persistence of EAB-specific dsRNA in ash seedlings
Synthesis of graphitic biocarbons from lignin fostered by concentrated solar energy
Abstract The approach aiming at replacing fossil-based carbons by graphitic biocarbon has gained momentum in applications from environmental remediation to battery electrodes and supercapacitors, reducing their environmental impact. To address biocarbon high production temperature and energy consumption, this work uses lignin, a renewable feedstock, and concentrated solar as a sustainable energy source. New insights into lignin’s graphitization mechanism using solar energy are provided. Graphene layers stacking appears as early as 1000 °C in solar carbonization. The structuration and reduction of amorphous carbon was further highlighted at 1400 °C and 1800 °C. At 2000 °C, high graphitic (L a(XRD) ≈ 9.1 nm, d 002 = 0.3386 nm, 110 stacked layers) and turbostratic (d 002 = 0.3593 nm, 5.5 stacked layers) phases are obtained, showing the structural heterogeneity of solar biocarbon. Contrariwise, conventional biocarbon from electrical heating was homogeneous with limited carbonization at 1800 °C (L a(XRD) ≈ 3.8 nm, d 002 = 0.3600 nm, 4.4 stacked layers). Textural analysis of solar biocarbons showed aligned graphene layers whereas only random texture was observed on conventional samples. This work established that solar carbonization triggers and enhances graphene layers stacking and growth at lower temperatures whereas conventional carbonization allows the progressive apparition of short graphene layers before stacking and growth.
Evaluating the impact of mine tailings wastes on the development of sustainable Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced concrete
Changes in the spectrum of ocular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2022 in the Hubei Province
Assessment of environmental and socioeconomic drivers of urban stormwater microplastics using machine learning
Assessment of biocompatibility for citric acid crosslinked starch elastomeric films in cell culture applications
Abstract This study investigates the synthesis of potato starch elastomers reinforced with silicon dioxide (SiO2) and citric acid as a crosslinking agent to enhance their mechanical and barrier properties. Surface morphology analysis using optical microscopy revealed that pure potato starch films had uneven surfaces. However, higher SiO2 concentrations increased roughness, while citric acid crosslinked films displayed smoother surfaces overall. Water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) indicated that native starch films were highly hydrophilic, while SiO2 incorporation and citric acid crosslinking significantly reduced WVTR of 17% (30% lower than native film), enhancing the barrier properties. Tensile strength testing revealed that citric acid crosslinking increased the tensile strength by 25%, while SiO2 further reinforced the films but decreased elasticity by 15%. SiO2 had little impact on degradation rates, while citric acid crosslinking delayed microbial growth, extending film longevity by 20%. Biocompatibility assays using SiHa, HT-29, and HEK 293 cell lines revealed that the films had varying degrees of cell confluency. Films with both SiO2 and citric acid showed improved confluency (20% higher) compared to films containing only SiO2. However, citric acid alone resulted in the highest confluency (95% viability), suggesting its significant role in biocompatibility. This eco-friendly approach demonstrates substantial advancements in film properties, offering potential applications in diverse biomedical industries.
Disruption of functional network development in children with prenatal Zika virus exposure revealed by resting-state EEG
Abstract Children born to mothers infected by Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy are at increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes including microcephaly, epilepsy, and neurocognitive deficits, collectively known as Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome. To study the impact of ZIKV on infant brain development, we collected resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 28 normocephalic ZIKV-exposed children and 16 socio-demographically similar but unexposed children at 23–27 months of age. We assessed group differences in frequency band power and brain synchrony, as well as the relationship between these metrics and age. A significant difference (p < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected) in Inter-Site Phase Coherence was observed: median Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.15 in unexposed children and 0.07 in ZIKV-exposed children. Results showed that functional brain networks in the unexposed group were developing rapidly, in part by strengthening distal high-frequency and weakening proximal lower frequency connectivity, presumably reflecting normal synaptic growth, myelination and pruning. These maturation patterns were attenuated in the ZIKV-exposed group, suggesting that ZIKV exposure may contribute to neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities that can be detected and quantified by resting-state EEG.