Tumor Size Predicts Vascular Invasion and Histologic Grade Among Patients Undergoing Resection of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

The association between tumor size and survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing surgical resection is controversial. We sought to define the incidence of major and microscopic vascular invasion relative to ICC tumor size, and identify predictors of microscopic vascular invasion in patients with ICC ≥5 cm. A total of 443 patients undergoing surgical resection for ICC between 1973 and 2011 at one of 11 participating institutions were identified. Clinical and pathologic data were evaluated using uni- and multivariate analyses. As tumor sized increased, the incidence of microscopic vascular invasion increased: <3 cm, 3.6 %; 3–5 cm, 24.7 %; 5–7 cm, 38.3 %; 7–15 cm, 32.9 %, ≥15 cm, 55.6 %; (p?<?0.001). Increasing tumor size was also found to be associated with worsening tumor grade. The incidence of poorly differentiated tumors increased with increasing ICC tumor size: <3 cm, 9.7 %; 3–5 cm, 19.8 %; 5–7 cm, 24.2 %; 7–15 cm, 21.1 %; >15 cm, 31.6 % (p?=?0.04). The presence of perineural invasion (odds ratio [OR]?=?2.98) and regional lymph node metastasis (OR?=?4.43) were independently associated with an increased risk of microscopic vascular invasion in tumors ≥5 cm (both p?<?0.05). Risk of microscopic vascular invasion and worse tumor grade increased with tumor size. Large tumors likely harbor worse pathologic features; this information should be considered when determining therapy and prognosis of patients with large ICC.     

Simulation of Depth of Wear of Eco-Friendly Concrete Using Machine Learning Based Computational Approaches

To avoid time-consuming, costly, and laborious experimental tests that require skilled personnel, an effort has been made to formulate the depth of wear of fly-ash concrete using a comparative study of machine learning techniques, namely random forest regression (RFR) and gene expression programming (GEP). A widespread database comprising 216 experimental records was constructed from available research. The database includes depth of wear as a response parameter and nine different explanatory variables, i.e., cement content, fly ash, water content, fine and coarse aggregate, plasticizer, air-entraining agent, age of concrete, and time of testing. The performance of the models was judged via statistical metrics. The GEP model gives better performance with R² and ρ equals 0.9667 and 0.0501 respectively and meet with the external validation criterion suggested in the previous literature. The k-fold cross-validation also verifies the accurateness of the model by evaluating R², RSE, MAE, and RMSE. The sensitivity analysis of GEP equation indicated that the time of testing is the influential parameter. The results of this research can help the designers, practitioners, and researchers to quickly estimate the depth of wear of fly-ash concrete thus shortening its ecological susceptibilities that push to sustainable and faster construction from the viewpoint of environmentally friendly waste management.     

Recent updates on the bioactive compounds of the marine-derived genus Aspergillus

The genus Aspergillus is widely distributed in terrestrial and marine environments. In the marine environment, several Aspergillus species have proved their potential to produce a plethora of secondary metabolites including polyketides, sterols, fatty acids, peptides, alkaloids, terpenoids and miscellaneous compounds, displaying a variety of pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. From the beginning of 2015 until December 2020, about 361 secondary metabolites were identified from different marine Aspergillus species. In our review, we highlight secondary metabolites from various marine-derived Aspergillus species reported between January 2015 and December 2020 along with their biological potential and structural aspects whenever applicable.

The genus Aspergillus is widely distributed in terrestrial and marine environments.     

Correction: Development and in vitro evaluation of κ-carrageenan based polymeric hybrid nanocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Correction for ‘Development and in vitro evaluation of κ-carrageenan based polymeric hybrid nanocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering’ by Muhammad Umar Aslam Khan et al., RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 40529–40542. DOI: 10.1039/D0RA07446B.

The authors regret errors in Fig. 9 in the original article. The corrected Fig. 9 is shown below where all three +ive control panels and the 72 h CG-g-Aac-2 panel have been replaced.Open in a separate windowFig. 9Cell morphology of MC3T3-E1 against +ive control and all scaffold samples (CG-g-AAc1, CG-g-AAc2 and CG-g-AAc3) under standard in vitro conditions. The red arrows show thread-like morphology and the yellow arrows exhibits well-grown morphology of the cells.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Eco-Friendly Incorporation of Crumb Rubber and Waste Bagasse Ash in Bituminous Concrete Mix

The consumption of waste materials in the construction sector is a sustainable approach that helps in reducing the environmental pollution and decreases the construction cost. The present research work emphasizes the mechanical properties of bituminous concrete mix prepared with crumb rubber (CR) and waste sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA). For the preparation of bituminous concrete mix specimens with CR and SCBA, the effective bitumen content was determined using the Marshall Mix design method. A total of 15 bituminous concrete mix specimens with 4%, 4.5%, 5%, 5.5% and 6% of bitumen content were prepared, and the effective bitumen content turned out to be 4.7%. The effect of five different CR samples of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% by weight of total mix and SCBA samples of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% by weight of filler were investigated on the performance of bituminous concrete. A total of 180 samples with different percentages of CR and SCBA were tested for indirect tensile strength (ITS) and Marshall Stability, and the results were compared with conventional bituminous concrete mix. It was observed that the stability values rose with an increase in CR percentage up to 6%, while the flow values rose as the percentage of SCBA increased in the mix. Maximum ITS results were observed at 4% CR and 25% SCBA replacement levels. However, a decrease in stability and ITS result was observed as the percentages of CR and SCBA increased beyond 4% and 25%, respectively. We concluded that the optimum CR and SCBA content of 4% and 25%, respectively, can be effectively used as a sustainable alternative in bituminous concrete mix.     

Synthesis of Ni–Ag–ZnO solid solution nanoparticles for photoreduction and antimicrobial applications

ZnO is one of the most promising and efficient semiconductor materials for various light-harvesting applications. Herein, we reported the tuning of optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) by co-incorporation of Ni and Ag ions in the ZnO lattice. A sonochemical approach was used to synthesize pure ZnO NPs, Ni–ZnO, Ag–ZnO and Ag/Ni–ZnO with different concentrations of Ni and Ag (0.5%, 2%, 4%, 8%, and 15%) and Ni doped Ag–ZnO solid solutions with 0.25%, 0.5%, and 5% Ni ions. The as-synthesized Ni–Ag–ZnO solid solution NPs were characterized by powdered X-ray diffraction (pXRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis (UV) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Ni–Ag co-incorporation into a ZnO lattice reduces charge recombination by inducing charge trap states between the valence and conduction bands of ZnO and interfacial transfer of electrons. The Ni doped Ag–ZnO solid solution NPs have shown superior 4-nitrophenol reduction compared to pure ZnO NPs which do not show this reaction. Furthermore, a methylene blue (MB) clock reaction was also performed. Antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus has inhibited the growth pattern of both strains depending on the concentration of catalysts.

The synergic effect of Ni and Ag in Ni–Ag–ZnO solid solutions has tuned the optoelectronic properties of ZnO for photoreduction reactions.