Explore the vast range of titles available.

Prussian Blue (PB) thin films were prepared by DC chronoamperometry (CHA), symmetric pulse, and non-symmetric pulse electrodeposition techniques. The formation of PB was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and UV-Vis transmission measurements. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows the stabilization of the insoluble form of PB. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies, an increase in porosity is obtained for the shorter pulse widths, which tends to improve the total charge exchange and electrochemical stability of the films. While the film prepared by CHA suffered a degradation of 82% after 260 cycles, the degradation reduced to 24% and 34% for the samples prepared by the symmetric and non-symmetric pulse methods, respectively. Additionally, in the non-symmetric pulse film, the improvement in the charge exchange reached ~522% after 260 cycles. According to this study, the deposition time distribution affects the physical/chemical properties of PB films. These results then render pulse electrodeposition methods especially suitable to produce high-quality thin films for electrochemical devices, based on PB.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. Despite recent advances in the treatment of this pathology, which include a personalized approach using radio- and chemotherapies in combination with advanced surgical techniques, it is imperative to enhance the performance of these treatments and decrease their detrimental side effects on patients’ health. Nanomedicine is likely the pathway towards solving this challenge by enhancing both the therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities. In particular, plasmonic nanoparticles show remarkable potential due to their dual therapeutic functionalities as photothermal therapy agents and as radiosensitizers in radiotherapy. Their dual functionality, high biocompatibility, easy functionalization, and targeting capabilities make them potential agents for inducing efficient cancer cell death with minimal side effects. This review aims to identify the main challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. The heterogeneous nature of this cancer is also discussed from a single-cell point of view. The most relevant works in photo- and radiotherapy using nanotechnology-based therapies for colorectal cancer are addressed, ranging from in vitro studies (2D and 3D cell cultures) to in vivo studies and clinical trials. Although the results using nanoparticles as a photo- and radiosensitizers in photo- and radiotherapy are promising, preliminary studies showed that the possibility of combining both therapies must be explored to improve the treatment efficiency.

Globally, better health care access and social conditions ensured a significant increase in the life expectancy of the population. There is, however, a clear increase in the incidence of age-related diseases which, besides affecting the social and economic sustainability of countries and regions around the globe, leads to a decrease in the individual’s quality of life. There is an urgent need for interventions that can reverse, or at least prevent and delay, the age-associated pathological deterioration. Within this line, this narrative review aims to assess updated evidence that explores the potential therapeutic targets that can mimic or complement the recognized anti-aging effects of physical exercise. We considered pertinent to review the anti-aging effects of the following drugs and supplements: Rapamycin and Rapamycin analogues (Rapalogs); Metformin; 2-deoxy-D-glucose; Somatostatin analogues; Pegvisomant; Trametinib; Spermidine; Fisetin; Quercetin; Navitoclax; TA-65; Resveratrol; Melatonin; Curcumin; Rhodiola rosea and Caffeine. The current scientific evidence on the anti-aging effect of these drugs and supplements is still scarce and no recommendation of their generalized use can be made at this stage. Further studies are warranted to determine which therapies display a geroprotective effect and are capable of emulating the benefits of physical exercise.

Recent research in solid-state physics and materials engineering focuses on the development of new dielectric materials, with bismuth-based pyrochlores being already extensively applied in communications technology for their excellent dielectric properties and relatively low sintering temperatures. Herein, the structural, morphological, electrical, and magnetic properties of Bi1.34Fe0.66Nb1.34O6.35 ceramic, prepared by the sol–gel method and sintered at 500 °C, are investigated. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD pattern showed a cubic phase belonging to the space group Fd-3m and a crystallite size of 42 nm. Transmission electron microscopy further confirmed the crystallite size and the homogeneous distribution of Bi, Fe, Nb, and O elements, as evidenced by high-angle annular dark field imaging and STEM-EDX mapping. The morphology of the sample, assessed by scanning electron microscopy, is characterized by submicron-sized spherical particles. Dielectric spectroscopic studies revealed that the dielectric properties, strongly influenced by frequency and temperature, indicate the material’s potential for energy storage due to lower dielectric loss compared to the dielectric constant. The observed relaxation phenomena, confirmed through variations in dielectric loss and loss tangent, highlight the influence of grain boundaries and temperature on electron hopping and charge carrier dynamics. Using SQUID magnetometry, we identified two distinct magnetic phases. The primary phase, corresponding to the Bi1.34Fe0.66Nb1.34O6.35 ceramic, exhibits an antiferromagnetic behavior below its Néel temperature at around 8.8 K. A secondary high-Curie temperature ferrimagnetic phase, likely vestigial maghemite and/or magnetite, was also detected, indicating an estimated fraction below 0.02 wt.%.

This work focuses on studying the possibility of 3D printing of composite materials composed by cork and a polymer matrix (CPC). Initially the cork was mixed with two types of polymers (HDPE and PP) in different proportions and later processed using extrusion and injection. The composites were tested to study the physical, chemical and mechanical properties. The material was then tested on a large-scale 3D printer to study its feasibility and the ability to produce new products through 3D printing. Attention was focused on the use of pure cork, varying the concentration of cork and coupling agent in thermoplastic matrix composites of PP and HDPE. It was demonstrated that the increase of 5wt.% of coupling agent in the two types of polymers significantly improved the mechanical properties and adhesion between the phases but the increase in cork concentration decreased mechanical properties and crystallinity. The CPCs with PP showed to have better mechanical properties, better aesthetic and internal structural quality, and easier processability than those with HDPE matrix. Nevertheless, the HDPE CPCs showed a high degree of crystallization. Concerning 3D printing, with the filament obtained was demonstrated the possibility of making new products based on natural cork fibers, showing promising results, although additional research is still needed to optimize the process.

Cereals and cereal-based foods continue to be basic foods in all diets. Despite being known for their high nutritional value; they can also contain contaminants (hazards) such as toxic metals. This study assesses the Cd, Pb and Hg dietary exposure from cereals and derivatives marketed in Madeira and the Azores and characterizes the risks by evaluating the Cd and Hg intake contributions to the tolerable intakes and by estimating the Margin of Exposure (MOE) in the case of Pb. In Madeira, metals follow the descending order of Cd > Pb > Hg. Cd stands out as having the highest levels (0.307 mg Cd/kg in oats; 0.237 mg/kg in rye). High levels of Pb (0.347 mg/kg) were also detected in rye. Regarding total mercury, rice stands out (0.0013 mg/kg) followed by wheat (0.001 mg/kg). While all cereals and derivatives except maize consumed in Madeira exceed the maximum value of Cd allowed by the EU, 50.0% of the rye and 25.0% of the corn flour samples exceeded the European Pb limit. The daily consumption of 100 g of oats, rye flour and rye represent high contributions to the TWI of Cd (93.2 – 120%). The MOE values of Pb from the consumption of rye (100 g/day) are 1,294 (nephrotoxic effects) and 3,082 (cardiotoxic effects). In the Azores, corn flour (0.72 mg Pb/kg) stands out with 85.7% of the samples exceeding the maximum Pb EU limit and MOE values of 626 (nephrotoxic effects) and 1,490 (cardiotoxic effects). Regular daily consumption of corn flour makes a low (< 10%) contribution to the Cd TDI. In conclusion, the Pb exposure from the consumption of cereals and derivatives could have toxic effects such as nephrotoxicity or cardiotoxicity in adults. The results highlight the need to set up monitoring and surveillance programs for the safety of cereals and their derivatives in Madeira and the Azores in terms of lead and cadmium.

The electrospinning technique is being widely explored in the biomedical field due to its simplicity to produce meshes and its capacity to mimic the micro-nanostructure of the natural extracellular matrix. For skin tissue engineering applications, wound dressings made from electrospun nanofibers present several advantages compared to conventional dressings, such as the promotion of the hemostasis phase, wound exudate absorption, semi-permeability, easy conformability to the wound, functional ability and no scar induction. Despite being a relatively simple technique, electrospinning is strongly influenced by polymer solution characteristics, processing parameters and environmental conditions, which strongly determine the production of fibers and their morphology. However, most electrospinning systems are wrongly designed, presenting a large number of conductive components that compromises the stability of the spinning process. This paper presents a new design of an electrospinning system solving the abovementioned limitations. The system was assessed through the production of polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin nanofibers. Different solvents and processing parameters were considered. Results show that the proposed electrospinning system is suitable to produce reproducible and homogeneous electrospun fibers for tissue engineering applications.

Horta, J., Moura, D., Gabriel, S., Ferreira, Ó., 2013. Measurement of pocket beach morphology using geographic information technology: the MAPBeach toolbox The measurement and evaluation of the morphological response of a beach to changes on wave conditions has been the subject of several studies over the past years. This paper presents and discusses a methodology to compute variations in pocket beaches after morphological monitoring performed trough topographical surveys. The GIS toolbox MAPBeach – GIS tools for Morphological Analysis at Pocket Beaches – was developed to simplify the morphological analysis of pocket beaches. The methodology was applied and tested at two beaches (Galé and Olhos de Água, Algarve, Portugal) with different exposition to the predominant swell. The morphological monitoring used the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and was performed with relative positioning in real time kinematic (RTK) mode. The obtained data were compiled and used to produce digital terrain models in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The developed GIS toolbox enabled a quick and efficient evaluation of the morphological changes occurred at the selected beaches, associated to different forcing conditions, through the determination and further analysis of a set of pre-defined morphological parameters, including beach profiles, beach slope, elevation, volumes, beach curvature, beach rotation, among others. The developed tools proved to be robust and easy to operate, facilitating both the scientific analysis as the determination of useful parameters for coastal management, being therefore of broad application.

The measurement and evaluation of the morphological response of a beach to changes on wave conditions has been the subject of several studies over the past years. This paper presents and discusses a methodology to compute variations in pocket beaches after morphological monitoring performed trough topographical surveys. The GIS toolbox, GIS tools for Morphological Analysis at Pocket Beaches, was developed to simplify the morphological analysis of pocket beaches. The obtained data were compiled and used to produce digital terrain models in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The developed GIS toolbox enabled a quick and efficient evaluation of the morphological changes occurred at the selected beaches, associated to different forcing conditions, through the determination and further analysis of a set of pre-defined morphological parameters, including beach profiles, beach slope, elevation, volumes, beach curvature, beach rotation, among others. The developed tools proved to be robust and easy to operate, facilitating both the scientific analysis as the determination of useful parameters for coastal management, being therefore of broad application.

Research into the consequences of engineering works on the long-term behaviour of inlet systems has been hindered by the absence of suitable datasets, the shortcomings of existing formulae and evaluation tools. This paper presents the development of a Web GIS tool (WebInletAnalyst) that allows any coastal or hydraulic engineer to autonomous extract the evolution of key tidal inlet parameters such as minimum cross-section area, inlet width, maximum depth and migration distance, from a set of bathymetric charts and raw data surveys. The tool is built on a web interface written and compiled using source codes. The tool was applied to a test case using available datasets and compared with results from other studies, following the Coastal Engineering Manual guidelines. Overall results showed that mean differences between manual and automate techniques were small and randomly distributed. The user' definition of the location and orientation of minimum cross-section profile affects the accuracy of the tool.