Applied Research最新文献

This study elaborated on the influence of bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃, Bi) on optical and radiation shielding properties of Barium titanate (BaTiO₃, BTO) when added with different wt% concentrations. To study these properties, BaTiO₃–xBi₂O₃; x = 0,2,4,6 and 8 wt% ceramics samples were fabricated via solid state reaction method. The optical properties of prepared samples were inspected with the help of the UV–Vis technique. The absorption coefficient increased while transmittance decreased with increasing the wt% of Bi content. Samples show a decrement in indirect optical bandgap values from 3.44 to 3.35 eV while direct bandgap from 3.19 to 3.02 eV when Bi content increases from x = 0 wt% to 8 wt%. The other optical parameters, such as Urbach energy, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and dielectric constant, were also calculated. The FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscope) technique was used to identify the homogeneity in the samples. The prepared samples were tested at 356, 511, 600, 1173, 1275, and 1333 keV energies to estimate radiation shielding properties with radioactive sources 133_Ba, 22_Na, 137_Cs, and 60_Co. As Bi content increased in prepared samples, the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) increased. At energy 356 keV, the observed MAC values are 12.685, 12.983, 13.282, 13.58, and 13.898 cm²/g while at 1333 keV, the values noticed as 5.054, 5.066, 5.079, 5.091, and 5.103 cm²/g as Bi content increased from x = 0 wt% to x = 8 wt%. Both atomic cross-section (ACS) and electronic cross-section (ECS) were calculated. ACS values are improved from 9.825 to 11.1967 barn/atom while the ECS values enhanced from 3.8949 to 4.0226 barn/electron at 356 keV as Bi content increased from x = 0 wt% to x = 8 wt%. This similar trend was observed at other energies (511, 600, 1173, and 1275 keV) for all prepared samples. The theoretical values obtained from Phy-X/PSD software were compared with calculated values and found a close agreement between them. From results, it was clear that prepared samples showed enhanced optical and radiation shielding properties when Bi content increased in BTO ceramics.

Cell-based neutralization assays are of central importance for the development of new vaccine candidates as well as quality assurance of already approved vaccines. Suppression of viral infection by neutralizing antibodies present in serum of vaccinated individuals serves as an indicator for efficacy of a vaccine. Established readouts used to date are hardly automated, provide no time resolution and require expensive reagents. These shortcomings are limiting factors in vaccine development. In contrast, when virus-compatible host cells are grown on multi-electrode arrays, the cellular infection state and the associated cell response are assessable by impedance measurements. Unlike endpoint assays, the host cell response is followed continuously in real time, label-free and noninvasively. Here, a sensor platform comprising hardware, software and disposable electrode arrays is described suitable for fully automated cell-based neutralization assays tailored for high throughput screening campaigns. To develop cost-effective, disposable electrode arrays for impedance measurements, we screen printed film electrodes made from conducting polymers on the bottom of multi-well plates. The polymer electrodes were characterized for their host cell compatibility and readout performance in comparison to established gold-film electrodes. Hard- and software were tailored for robust and routine use in virological assays. Virus titration, virus neutralization as well as antiviral drug (Efavirenz) intervention studies were conducted using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotypes or the Env HIV-1 infectious molecular clones Ce1176 and X1632 as viral model systems. The assays showed very similar analytical performance in terms of titration curves and dose–response relationships for polymer electrodes compared to commercial gold-film electrode arrays and reporter-based endpoint assays. Considering their technical advantages over established assays, impedance readings based on low-cost polymer electrode arrays may become an attractive alternative to conventional assays using luminescent or colorimetric readouts.

The cytoskeleton is a multiplex network of different proteins and filaments and is involved in a variety of important functions. Nevertheless, its deregulation leads to various diseases. Cells' cytoskeleton characteristics and structures can be accessed with image analysis tools. Our purpose, therefore, was to identify relevant freeware tools that can be used for assessing cytoskeleton characteristics from microscopy images and create an application note for them. The tools covered in this application note are the ImageJ/Fiji, FilamentSensor, and Ilastik software. These three softwares are presented and described regarding their uses, features and other characteristics, and examples of using this software for analyzing the cell cytoskeleton are provided. These tools might contribute to the advancement of biological research and the enhancement of therapeutic outcomes, particularly regarding pathological conditions, suggesting further development and adoption of open-source tools in the scientific community.

Robotic coreless filament winding (CFW) of high-performance materials in 3D geometries presents a promising avenue for advancing lightweight and civil engineering. However, the unique challenges posed by CFW necessitate the development of novel path planning algorithms. Traditional slicing techniques, commonly used in regular 3D printing, are inadequate due to the complexities of filament winding processes and the utilization of materials with exceptional mechanical properties. In this article, we propose an innovative approach to automate 3D robotic CFW. The key focus of our work lies in overcoming the limitations of conventional algorithms and addressing the specific boundary conditions associated with diverse applications. Our method builds upon Hierholzer's algorithm that is then expanded to accommodate the intricate constraints of CFW. We achieve a comprehensive path planning framework capable of navigating complex 3D geometries while optimizing the utilization of high-performance materials. This approach allows efficient and precise CFW, preserving the excellent mechanical properties of the materials. Furthermore, the generated path is automatically converted into a robot program. The procedure to automatically convert a designed part to an executable robot program can be used in various sectors, including aerospace, automotive, and construction industry. This facilitates the utilization of high-performance fiber composites in lightweight engineering applications in the future.

C. Ciulla, B. Shabani, and F. Yahaya, “Two-Dimensional Adaptive Whittaker–Shannon Sinc-Based Zooming,” Application Research 3 (2024): e202400018, https://doi.org/10.1002/appl.202400018.

The Ethics Statement was omitted. The Ethics Statement should be:

Ethics approval, Consent to participate, and Consent for publication: MRI acquisition was consented. Approval was obtained from subjects to use the images for research through the administration of written consent. The research protocol for MRI data acquisition was approved by the Department of Radiology at the General Hospital 8-mi Septemvri located in Boulevard 8th September in the city of Skopje—Republic of North Macedonia. This study was conducted according to principles stated in Helsinki declaration of the year 1964.

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A. Bardhan, T. J. Abraham, R. Das, P. K. Patil, “Unraveling Florfenicol's Effects on Splenic Histology, Erythrocytes, and Hematology of Healthy Oreochromis Niloticus Juveniles,” Application Research 3 (2024): e202400017, https://doi.org/10.1002/appl.202400017.

In Section 2, “Materials and Methods” the Ethics Statement was omitted. The Ethics Statement should be:

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Ethics Statement

The experimental protocols conducted within the framework of the All-India Network Project on Fish Health received support from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (CIBA/AINP-FH/2015-16). The research adhered to the relevant rules and guidelines of the Government of India, New Delhi, as outlined by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA, 2021).

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Additive manufacturing (AM), known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, uses computer-controlled materials deposition to fabricate 3D objects by selectively depositing materials, usually in a layer-wised fashion, to build a 3D object using free-form fabrication. Integrating silicone elastomers with AM deposition strategies has been of interest due to the important application characteristics of silicones such as excellent mechanical properties, thermal resistance, and chemical inertness. This work presents a study on the shear-thinning properties of thermally-curable liquid silicone feedstocks to describe ideal flow and shape-retention properties for direct ink writing of liquid silicone rubbers. To complement the direct ink writing process developed in this work for silicone AM, flow properties of various silicone feedstocks were identified through measurement of rheological properties using the AM fluid dispenser under various pressures, supported by parallel plate oscillatory shear rheology. A systematic process for evaluating and investigating the AM performance of seven different grades of silicones is introduced. The shape retention, overhang, and dimensional accuracy of these silicones in 3D printing process have been compared and summarized. This systematic evaluation methodology can be applied for silicone material selection and printing of silicone parts with complicated architectures.