Microstructural investigations of carbon foams derived from modified coal-tar pitch

This is the final peer-reviewed manuscript accepted for publication in Micron. Citation of the published version is: Micron, 34-42 (2016)

Quantitative X-ray microscopic analysis of individual thermoresponsive microgel particles in aqueous solution

This is the final peer-reviewed manuscript accepted for publication in RSC Advances. Citation of the published version is: RSC Advances 6, 98228 (2016)

Iron oxide nanoparticles - in vivo/in vitro biomedical applications and in silico studies

The review presents a broad overview of the biomedical applications of surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents for sensitive and precise diagnosis tool and synergistic combination with other imaging modalities. Then, the recent progress in therapeutic applications, such as hyperthermia is discussed and the available toxicity data of magnetic nanoparticles concerning in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications are addressed. This review also presents the available computer models using molecular dynamics (MD), Monte Carlo (MC) and density functional theory (DFT), as a basis for a complete understanding of the behaviour and morphology of functionalized IONPs, for improving NPs surface design and expanding the potential applications in nanomedicine

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life

Some ways of efficient warehouse management method “finished production” use in manufacturing enterprise

In the pre­sent pa­per pos­sib­le wa­ys of wa­re­hou­se ma­na­ge­ment met­hod “Fi­nis­hed Pro­duc­tion” are being ana­ly­zed; ef­fi­cien­cy of ma­nu­fac­tu­ring pro­cess is se­en as the ul­ti­ma­te aim. Ef­fect is de­fi­ned by ta­king in­to ac­count the term of de­li­ve­ring of al­re­a­dy fi­nis­hed pro­duc­tion to the wa­re­hou­se. Article in German. Einige Probleme bei der Funktionierung Der Methode “Auf Lager” Fuer Abstimmung Der Arbeit In Der Produktionseinheitender Industrieunternehmen Auszug. In diesem Beitrag warden die moegliche Falle fuer eine Reaktion der Methode “Auf Lager” fuer Abstimmung derArbeit der zusammengebundenen Produktionseinheiten des Industrieunternehmens dargestellt. Das betrifft Faelle bei denendie Fristen fuer Fertigung der Produktion von Serienerzeugnisse und ihre Abgabe in die Lager fuer Fertigproduktion nichteingehalten worden sind. Schlüsselwörter: Produktions- und Operationsmanagement, Methoden fuer Abstimmung, Jahresproduktionsprogramm,Groesse der Serien und Parrtien, Produktionszyklus, effective Zeit. First published online: 19 May 200

Quantitative X-ray microscopic analysis of individual thermoresponsive microgel particles in aqueous solution

High resolution scanning soft X-ray transmission microscopy (STXM) has been employed to investigate individual thermoresponsive microgel particles in aqueous environments. STXM generates 2-dimensional projections with spatial resolutions in the regime of a few 10 s of nm. In the present study we are able to regain a 3D representation of the investigated specimen and observe the deswelling of the microgel particles upon heating, thus offering insight into the thermoresponsive behaviour of individual differently sized particles. We employ a 2-shell model that is able to derive the radial concentration profile of individual microgels particles and thus serves as a complementary method to scattering experiments that average over all particles. Furthermore, we are able to detect the different deswelling behaviour of the particle interior and its interface to the water environment. Graphical abstract: Quantitative X-ray microscopic analysis of individual thermoresponsive microgel particles in aqueous solutio