Investigation of the Experimental and Theoretical Release of Caffeine from Cosmetic Hydrogels and Patches

Molecular docking (MD) is a tool that performs computational simulation. In the systems such as solutions, gels, and creams, it can be used to predict types of chemical interactions by calculating binding energies of temporary created complexes between the molecules. This study explores experimental (IVRT) and theoretical (MD) release of caffeine from six different cosmetic hydrogels and patches. The aim of the study was to compare the experimental and theoretical data and determine whether MD can be used as a tool to predict the release of caffeine

Current and Prospective Applications of 3D Printing in Cosmetics: A Literature Review

3D printing (3DP) is a manufacturing technology that produces 3D objects from a design file using layer-by-layer deposition of material. It has already found applications in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, while its use in the field of topical delivery has been extensively studied in the last two decades. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the 3DP-based developments in topical delivery, with special emphasis on its current and potential use in the cosmetic field. This review covers the principles and main types of 3DP technology, production and characteristics of two key 3DP skin delivery platforms (patches and microneedles—MNs), as well as topical active materials used, focusing on those for cosmetic application

A New HASM-Based Downscaling Method for High-Resolution Precipitation Estimates

Obtaining high-quality precipitation datasets with a fine spatial resolution is of great importance for a variety of hydrological, meteorological and environmental applications. Satellite-based remote sensing can measure precipitation in large areas but suffers from inherent bias and relatively coarse resolutions. Based on the high accuracy surface modeling method (HASM), this study proposed a new downscaling method, the high accuracy surface modeling-based downscaling method (HASMD), to derive high-quality monthly precipitation estimates at a spatial resolution of 0.01° by downscaling the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) precipitation estimates in China. A scale transformation equation was introduced in HASMD, and the initial value was set by including the explanatory variables related to precipitation. The performance of HASMD was evaluated by comparing the results yielded by HASM and the combined method of HASM, Kriging, IDW and the geographical weighted regression (GWR) method (GWR-HASM, GWR-Kriging, GWR-IDW). Analysis results indicated that HASMD performed better than the other four methods. High agreement was achieved for HASMD, with bias values ranging from 0.07 to 0.29, root mean square error (RMSE) values ranging from 9.53 mm to 47.03 mm, and R2 values ranging from 0.75 to 0.96. Compared with the original IMERG precipitation products, the downscaling accuracy with HASMD improved up to 47%, 47%, and 14% according to bias, RMSE and R2, respectively. HASMD was able to capture the spatial variation in monthly precipitation in a vast region, and it might be potentially applicable for enhancing the spatial resolution and accuracy of remotely sensed precipitation data and facilitating their application at large scales

Diverse Geological Evolution of Impact Basins on the Moon

Impact basins are the dominant landforms on the lunar surface, and their geological evolution varies. This research studied the diversity in the geological evolution of three impact basins: the Dirichlet–Jackson Basin, the Nectaris Basin, and the Orientale Basin. First, the regional topography and geomorphology of the three basins were studied using the SLDEM2015 digital elevation model (DEM). Clementine ultraviolet–visible (UVVIS) data and Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) data were used to study the chemical composition and mineralogical composition of the three basins. Additionally, the lunar crust thickness data have been used to study the subsurface structure of the three basins. The topographical analogies of the three basins indicate that the shapes of the basins are cavity-like. However, the shape of the Dirichlet–Jackson basin is not an obvious cavity compared with the other basins. The positions with minimum and maximum crustal thickness of the three basins are located at the center and the rim. The uplift of the crust-mantle interface of the Nectaris Basin and Orientale Basin is relatively larger than in the Dirichlet–Jackson Basin. Below the center of the maria of the Nectaris Basin and Orientale Basin, collapses occurred at the crust–mantle interface. The concentrations of FeO and TiO2 in the non-mare formation of the basin and maria show expected bimodal distributions. Moreover, we found exposures of olivine-rich materials in the Nectaris Basin and Orientale Basin which are located in the Rosse and Maunder craters, respectively. These exposures of olivine may be explained by the fact that the formation of the large impact basin, which might penetrate and blast away the upper lunar crust, excavating deep-seated material

An Analysis of the Impact of the Digital Economy on High-Quality Economic Development in China—A Study Based on the Effects of Supply and Demand

The development of information technology draws forth the digital economy, representing the third form of economic and social development following the agricultural and industrial economies. It represents one of the new era’s most important economic growth points. How to use the advantages of the digital economy to escape the “Malthusian trap” has always been an essential part of the attention of economists and policymakers. This paper investigates the degree of development of China’s digital economy and employs the entropy method and fixed-effect model to test how the digital economy has impacted high-quality economic development. Based on the study, digital economy development significantly promotes high-quality economic development. After controlling various factors that influence high-quality economic development and using instrumental variables to correct endogenous estimation biases, the results remain stable. The analysis also finds that the digital economy in economically backward areas has a more significant impact on high-quality economic development. In addition, the analysis of Nax’s “Vicious Circle of Poverty” theory shows that the digital economy can promote high-quality economic development through the supply and demand effect. Therefore, it is imperative to actively promote digital economy development and form a dynamic balance between supply and demand at a higher level by stimulating the consumption potential to ensure high-quality economic growth

The Geological History of the Chang’e-5 Sample Return Region

Chang’e-5 (CE-5), China’s first sample-return mission, has successfully landed in Oceanus Procellarum near Mons Rümker. It is important to have a detailed study of the geological evolution of the CE-5 sample return region. This work aims to study the geological background, topography, geomorphology, major chemical composition, mineralogy, and chronology of the landing site region. First, we used the map of topography obtained by the Kaguya TC merged Digital Terrain Model (DTM) to analyze the topographic characteristics. Then, we used the Kaguya Multiband Imager (MI) reflectance data to derive FeO and TiO2 abundance and the hyperspectral data of the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) onboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft to study the mineralogy of the landing site region. Later, we defined and dated the geological units of the landing area using the crater size–frequency distribution (CSFD) method. Finally, we conducted a detailed analysis of the volcanism and tectonism that occurred in the CE-5 landing area. The study region has experienced multi-stage magmatic activities (~3.36 Ga to ~1.22 Ga) and formed multiple mare units with different chemical and mineral compositions. The relationship between the wrinkle ridges cut by small impact craters suggests that the U7/Em5 has experienced Copernican aged tectonism recently ~320 Ma. The U7/Em5 unit where the Chang’e-5 sample return mission landed is dominantly composed of mature pyroxene and the basalts are mainly high-iron and mid-titanium basalts. Additionally, the analysis of pure basalt in the U7/Em5 suggests that the samples returned by the CE-5 mission may contain the ejecta and ray materials of young craters, including sharp B, Harding, Copernicus, and Aristarchus

ZrgA contributes to zinc acquisition in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

ABSTRACTMetals are nutrients essential for almost all lifeforms. Bacteria have evolved several mechanisms to overcome the metal restrictions imposed by the host. Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes severe threats to public health and significant economic losses in shrimp aquaculture. Herein, we report that ZrgA contributes to zinc acquisition in this pathogen. The operon VP_RS01455 to VP_RS01475 of V. parahaemolyticus encodes the putative Zn transporter ZrgABCDE, whose homologs are widely distributed in Vibrionaceae. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that V. parahaemolyticus modulates the transcriptome in response to Zn limitation. Genes in the Zinc uptake regulator (Zur) regulon are upregulated during Zn limitation, including three genes annotated to encode Zn-binding proteins. Significant upregulation of these three genes during Zn limitation was also confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. However, only the mutants containing a VP_RS01470 (zrgA) deletion exhibited impaired growth under Zn-deficient conditions, indicating that VP_RS01470 plays the predominant role in V. parahaemolyticus Zn acquisition. The VP_RS01470 deletion mutant displayed a false appearance of decreased swimming motility under Zn-deficient conditions, as revealed by the fact that the polar flagellar-related genes were not downregulated in the mutant. Moreover, VP_RS01470 deletion produced no noticeable impact on the swarming motility and virulence in mice. qRT-PCR analysis and β-galactosidase activity assays indicated that Zur negatively regulates VP_RS01470 expression in V. parahaemolyticus. Collectively, our findings suggest that ZrgA is required for Zn acquisition in V. parahaemolyticus and highlight the importance of detecting the expression of flagellar genes during analysis of motility of a mutant deficient in growth