To date electric pianos and samplers tend to concentrate on authenticity in terms of temporal and spectral aspects of sound. They barely recreate the original sound radiation characteristics, contribute to the perception of width and depth, vividness and voice separation, especially for instrumentalists, who are located in the near field. This paper describes an operational procedure to measure, store, and synthesize the complete sound of a harpsichord, including its spatial sound radiation characteristics. First, actuators excite the instrument at the intersection point of each string with the bridge with an exponential sine-sweep. Then, the radiated sound field is recorded in the near and the far field with microphone arrays. The pressure distribution in the near field is propagated back to the soundboard of the instrument, using Minimum Energy Method. The vibration of each single string is captured with lightweight contact microphones. The soundboard is then replaced by an array of 128 loudspeakers. The loudspeaker signal is a convolution of the back-propagated sweep recording with the string recording to perform a wave field synthesis. Above the spatial Nyquist frequency, the Radiation Method is applied to perform a sound field synthesis which is valid for the listening region of the instrumentalist. The result is an electric harpsichord, that approximates the sound of a real harpsichord precisely in time, frequency, and space domain. Applications for such a radiation keyboard are music performance, instrument and synthesizer building and interactive psychoacoustic research.

New class of triazinoindole bearing thiosemicarbazide (1-25) was synthesized and evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. All synthesized analogues exhibited excellent inhibitory potential having IC50 values ranging from 1.30 ± 0.01 to 35.80 ± 0.80 µM when compared with the standard acarbose having IC50 value 38.60 ± 0.20 µM. Among series the analogues 1 and 23 was found the most potent having IC50 values 1.30 ± 0.05 and 1.30 ± 0.01 µM respectively. Structure activity relationship (SAR) was mainly based upon by bring about difference of substituents on phenyl rings. To confirm the binding interactions, molecular docking study was performed. Synthesized analogues were characterized through HREI-MS, 1H and 13C-NMR analysis.

Nanoscience is a rapidly growing science stream that has been one of the cost-effective and energy-efficient approaches with wide applications. Water pollution is a major issue that is increasing continuously due to anthropogenic activities and several organic and inorganic contaminants. To overcome this issue, nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully used to treat water. These NPs possess many beneficial applications in many fields like agriculture, cosmetics, photoconductors, environmental biotechnology, glass and alloy production, solar cells, nanomedicine and drug deliveries, biosensors, food industries, etc. The properties comprising high surface area, greater chemical reactivity, and mechanical properties play a vital role in imparting such beneficiary properties. As a result, there has been an increasing demand for the synthesis of NPs. However, excess usage of NPs further creates toxic by-products. Therefore, scientists and researchers are now focussing on the biogenic synthesis of NPs. The biological routes of NP synthesis have been crucial because they are eco-friendly and environmentally safe. This chapter highlights the usage of different approaches and biogenic sources for the production of NPs. It also discusses the recent advancement in the use of biogenic NPs with respect to applications for wastewater treatment.

The frequency synthesizer is a critical component in Cs beam clock technology. In this paper, we present a demonstration of a direct microwave frequency-synthesis chain for a cesium-beam atomic clock, which utilizes frequency multiplication and a dual-phase-locked loop mode. A detailed analysis of the frequency-synthesis chain is conducted, and a mathematical model is established. The phase settling time and system stability are simulated, measured, and verified. The experimental results for the phase settling time align with the simulation outcomes. The phase settling time can be adjusted within the range of 644.5 µs to 1.5 ms, and the absolute phase noise values are -63.7 dBc/Hz, -75.7 dBc/Hz, -107.1 dBc/Hz, and -122.5 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz offset frequencies, respectively. Additionally, the Ramsey fringes are detected, and the Allan deviations of the 10 MHz output from the cesium-beam atomic clock are measured to be 2.99×10−12 at 1s and 8.02×10−14 at 10,000 s.

We present a crack-free optically active SiO2 glass-composite material containing YAG:Ce synthesized by a modified sol-gel technique. A glass-composite material consisting of yttrium aluminum garnet doped with Ce3+ (YAG:Ce) entrapped into a SiO2 xerogel. This composite material has been prepared by sol–gel technique with modified gelation and drying process to obtain crack-free optically active SiO2 glass. The concentration of the YAG:Ce was from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%. All synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The luminescence properties of the obtained materials were studied.

ZnO has many technological applications which largely depend on its properties that can be tuned by controlled synthesis. Ideally, the most convenient ZnO synthesis is carried out at room temperature in aqueous solvent. However, the correct temperature values are often loosely defined. In the current paper we performed synthesis of ZnO in aqueous solvent, by varying reaction and drying temperature by 10°C steps and monitored the synthesis products primarily by XRD. We found out that a simple direct synthesis of ZnO, without additional surfactant, pumping of freezing, required both a reaction (TP) and a drying (TD) temperature of 40°C. Higher temperatures also afford ZnO, but lowering any of the TP or TD below the threshold value results either in the achievement of Zn(OH)2 or in a mixture of Zn(OH)2/ZnO. A more detailed Rietveld analysis of the ZnO samples reveals a density variation with the synthesis temperature and an increase of the nanoparticles average size also verified by SEM images. The optical properties of ZnO obtained by UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy indicate a red shift of the band gap by ~0.1 eV.

Under the guidance of our previous achievements, and in order to extend this small molecular library. In current work, other 21 novel structures of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines containing isoxazole-moiety (1a-1u) were firstly synthesized and the cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines was evaluated using the MTT method. The results showed that most target compounds exhibited good to excellent cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines, especially 6-Methyl-4-{[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-isoxazol-5-yl-]-methoxy-}-thieno[2,3-d]-pyrimidine (1e) exhibited a broad-spectrum and the most potent cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines (IC50s: 2.79, 6.69 and 4.21×10^-3 μM, respectively) as compared with the reference drug gefitinib (IC50s: 17.90, 21.55 and 20.68 μM, respectively). 1e can be seen as the best drug candidates for development of anticancer drugs.

In this work, fluorinated graphene nanoscrolls (FGN) were synthesized via facile chemical methods under simple and mild conditions. Interestingly, the formation of the featured FGN was significantly solvent sensitive. Experimental results indicated that in the presence of aprotic solvent, for example, N,N dimethylformamide (DMF), the reaction system inclined to form the interesting FGN nanostructures. The structure and morphology of the prepared FGN were detailed characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) etc. The obtained FGN was used as a cathode material for primary lithium ion batteries with superior discharge specific capacity (eg. 979.3 mAhg-1), stable discharge platform and high energy density (eg. 2287.9 Wh kg-1), which fosters it a high density, low cost and durable candidate for cathode material for lithium ion batteries..

Carbon nanotubes are hybridized with metal crystals to impart multifunctionality into the nanohybrids (NHs). Simple but effective synthesis techniques are desired to form both zero-valent and oxides of different metal species on carbon nanotube surfaces. Sol-gel technique brings in significant advantages and is a viable technique for such synthesis. This study probes the efficacy of sol-gel process and aims to identify underlying mechanisms of crystal formation. Standard electron potential (SEP) is used as a guiding parameter to choose the metal species; i.e., highly negative SEP (e.g., Zn) with oxide crystal tendency, highly positive SEP (e.g., Ag) with zero-valent crystal-tendency, and intermediate range SEP (e.g., Cu) to probe the oxidation tendency in crystal formation are chosen. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to evaluate the synthesized NHs. Results indicate that SEP can be a reliable guide for the resulting crystalline phase of a certain metal species, particularly when the magnitude of this parameter is relatively high. However, for intermediate range SEP-metals, mix phase crystals can be expected. For example, Cu will form Cu₂O and zero-valent Cu crystals, unless the synthesis is performed in a reducing environment.

A series of novel sulfonylurea benzothiazoline were designed by splicing active groups and bioisosterism. A solvent-free synthetic route was developed for the sulfonylurea benzothiazoline derivatives via the cyclization and carbamylation. All the compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS. The biological activity tests indicated the compounds could protect maize against the injury caused by chlorsulfuron to some extent. The molecular docking result showed that the new compound competed with chlorosulfuron to bind with the herbicide target enzyme active site to attain detoxification.

The utilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has garnered significant attention in recent times, particularly in the field of biomedical research. The utilization of AuNPs in chemical synthesis procedures raises apprehensions regarding their potential toxicity in living organisms, which is inconsistent with their purported eco-friendly and cost-effective aspects. In this investigation, AuNPs were synthesized via the green synthesis approach utilizing Jeju Hallabong peel extract (HPE), a typical fruit variety indigenous to South Korea. The visible-range absorption spectrum of gold nanoparticles from green synthesis (HAuNPs) that are red wine in color occurs at a wavelength of λ = 517 nm. The morphology and particle size distribution were analysed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ImageJ software. The TEM images reveal that the HAuNPs exhibit a high degree of dispersion and uniformity in their spherical shape, with an average size of approximately 7 nm. Moreover, elevating the initial pH level of the mixed solution has an impact on the decrease in particle dimensions, as evidenced by the blue shift observed in the UV-visible spectroscopy absorbance peak. Elevating the reaction temperature may accelerate the synthesis duration. However, it does not exert a substantial impact on the particle dimensions. The outcomes of an avidin-biocytin colorimetric assay provide preliminary analyses of possible sensor tunability using HAuNPs. The cytotoxicity of HAuNPs was evaluated through in vitro studies using the MTT assay on RAW 264.7 cell lines. The results indicated that the HAuNPs exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to both chemically reduced gold nanoparticles (CAuNPs) and commercially available gold nanoparticles (SAAuNPs).

CoCr2O4 and doped lithium Co1-xLixCr2O4 chromate powder and nanoparticles were prepared by modified by sol-gel method. The morphological and structural properties of nano chromates were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and Photoluminescence (PL). Nanoparticles of doped lithium were synthesized by adding appropriate amount of cobalt nitrate, chromium nitrate, lithium nitrate and 1,2 Ethanediol as a complexing agent. The sample were heated at 105 ˚C for ten hours in oven to obtain dry gel. Calcination temperature for these samples was 700˚C for 3 hours in a furnace. The particle size of parent compound ranges from 4.4 nm to 11 nm, determined by SEM. The tendency of particles to form the aggregates with the increased annealing temperature was observed. The SEM and optical characterization of this compound has shown the sol gel derived material may be successfully used as an effective doped lithium cobalt ceramic pigment with controlled variation in structural and optical properties. SEM images showed that spherical like doped particle have diameter 33nm. From PL spectra Nano structure shows band gap 2.5ev and when we doped Lithium in it band gap decreases and become 1.19ev, which is associated to band gap transition.

Biosensors are analytical devices that utilize biological interactions to detect and quantify clinical biomarkers, contaminants, allergens, and microorganisms. They combine different disciplines including analytical chemistry, molecular biology, and electrical engineering. Biosensors operate by coupling a bioreceptor, such as nucleic acid or proteins, with a transducer that converts the biological interaction into an electrical signal. Electrochemical and optical transduction are commonly used approaches due to their high detection capability and compatibility with miniaturization. Biosensors provide both high specificity and sensitivity and can be integrated into low-cost microfluidic platforms for rapid and point-of-care applications. These attributes make these devices valuable tools in analytical chemistry, particularly for early diagnostic applications. However, conventional biosensors face challenges related to the immobilization of biorecognition elements on the transducer surface, leading to issues like lost of sensitivity and selectivity. To address these problems, the introduction of nanomaterials, particularly magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and magnetic beads (MBs), has been implemented. MNPs combine their magnetic properties with other interesting characteristics such as small size, high surface-to-volume ratio, and excellent biocompatibility. They can be tailored for specific applications and have been extensively used in various fields, including biosensing and clinical diagnosis. Furthermore, MNPs simplify sample preparation by isolating target analytes through magnetic separation, thus improving sensitivity, and reducing analysis time and interference phenomena. The synthesis and modification of MNPs play a crucial role in adjusting their properties for different applications. This review presents an overview of the synthesis and surface modifications of magnetic nanoparticles, their role in the development of biosensors and bioassays, and their applications across various scientific areas.

Kummerowia striata is a traditional medicine used for the therapy of inflammation-related diseases. Herein, we investigated the anti-melanogenic and antioxidant activities of an ethanolic extract of K. striata (EKS) using a number of in vitro and cell culture model systems. The anti-melanogenic effect was assessed in B16F10 melanoma cells based on melanin synthesis and in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity and the anti-oxidant activity assays were performed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2ʹ-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS); EKS exhibited strong anti-oxidant activities in both the assays. The expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, tyrosinase-related protein 2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor was decreased in a dose-dependent manner at mRNA and protein levels upon treatment with EKS. Notably, EKS did not affect the cell viability at all the EKS concentrations used in this study, indicating that EKS-mediated inhibition of melanin synthesis is not accompanied with cytotoxicity. Collectively, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that EKS possesses anti-melanogenic and anti-oxidant activities, and suggest that further evaluation and development of EKS as a functional supplement or cosmetic might be useful for skin whitening and for reduction wrinkles.

This paper studies the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized using an extract of convolvulus leaves and expired ZnCl₂, as an efficient inhibitor for carbon steel corrosion in 1M HCl solution. ZnO-NPs are characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and UV–Vis analysis. The technique of weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has also been used to investigate the prevention of carbon steel corrosion in 1M HCl. The results showed that the efficiency of restraint increased when the concentration of ZnO-NPs was raised to 91% and that the inhibition efficiency is still high despite its decrease at high temperature, and it acts as a mixed-type inhibitor A sample of carbon steel with the protective inhibitor layer on top was immersed for 20 hours and observed; an increase in the charge transfer resistance (Rct) and stability of the inhibitor was noticed after 6 hours. Adsorption isotherm models demonstrated that the inhibitor adsorption mechanism on the carbon steel surface followed Langmuir, more than Freundlich and Temkin, behavior. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process is a mixed adsorption, spontaneous, and exothermic. The results illustrated that the acid medium was a strong inhibitor of carbon steel corrosion. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the ZnO-NPs formed a good protective film on the carbon steel surface.

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules and one of the most versatile products of the chemical industry. They can be absorbed at the air-water interface and can align themselves so that the hydrophobic part is in the air while the hydrophilic part is in water. This alignment lowers the surface or interfacial tension. Gemini surfactants are a modern variety of surfactants with unique properties and a very wide range of potential applications. Hexamethylene-1,6-bis(N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromide) is one such representative compound that is a better alternative to a single analogue. It shows excellent surface, antimicrobial, and anticorrosion properties. With a highly efficient synthetic method and a good ecological profile, it is a potential candidate for numerous applications, including biomedical applications.

In recent years, many researchers have begun to shift their focus onto the synthesis of nanomaterials as this field possesses immense potential that may provide incredible technological advances in the near future. The downside of conventional synthesis techniques, such as co-precipitation, sol-gel and hydrothermal methods, is that they necessitate the use of toxic chemicals, produce harmful by-products and require a considerable amount of energy; therefore, more sustainable fabrication routes are sought after. Biological molecules have been previously utilised as precursors to nanoparticle synthesis, thus eliminating the negative factors involved in traditional methods. In addition, transition-metal nanoparticles possess a wide scope of applications due to their multiple oxidation states and large surface areas; thereby allowing for a higher reactivity when compared to their bulk counterpart and rendering them an interesting research topic. However, this field is still relatively unknown and unpredictable. Therefore, this review aims to obtain a better understanding on the plant-mediated synthesis process of the major transition-metal and transition-metal oxide nanoparticles, and how different parameters affect their unique properties.

The versatile one-pot green synthesis of a highly concentrated and stable colloidal dispersion of AgNPs was carried out using the self-assembled tannic acid without using any other hazardous chemicals. Tannic acid (Plant-based polyphenol) was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent for silver nitrate in a mild alkaline condition. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized for their concentration, capping, size distribution, and shape. The experimental results confirmed the successful synthesis of nearly spherical and highly concentrated (2281 ppm) AgNPs, capped with poly-tannic acid (AgNPs-PTA). The average particle size of AgNPs-PTA was found 9.90 ± 1.60 nm. The colloidal dispersion of synthesized nanoparticles was observed stable for more than 15 months in the ambient environment (25 oC, 65 % relative humidity). The synthesized AgNPs-PTA showed an effective antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus Aureus Escherichia coli. Ag-PTA also exhibited enhanced catalytic properties. It reduces 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 with a normalized rate constant (Knor = K/m) of 615.04 mL·s-1·mg-1. Furthermore, AgNPs-PTA were stable for more than 15 months under ambient conditions. The unique core-shell structure and ease of synthesis render the synthesized nanoparticles superior to others, with potential for large-scale applications, especially in the field of catalysis and biomedical.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing L-isoleucine (L-Ile) on milk protein synthesis, using an immortalized bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cell line. In this case, the cells were treated with 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 mM of supplemental Isoleucine (Ile), and the most efficient time for protein synthesis for each amino acid was determined by measuring the cell, medium and total protein at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Confirmatory tests showed that 48h incubation time and 0.6 mM dosage of L-Ile are considered as the optimal time and dosage. The mechanism of milk protein synthesis was elucidated through proteomics analysis to clarify the metabolic pathway. When the L-Ile was supplemented, extracellular protein (medium protein) reached a peak at 48h, whereas in the case of the intracellular cell protein, it was shown to have reached to its peak at 24h in all L-Ile dosage treatments. In total, it is noted that there were 63 upregulated and 52 downregulated proteins. The results of the protein pathway analysis showed that the L-Ile group stimulated insulin/IGF pathway-mitogen activated protein kinase kinase/MAP kinase cascade, insulin/IGF pathway-protein kinase B signaling cascade, p53 pathway, de novo purine biosynthesis, Wnt signaling pathway, glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, and ATP synthesis which are pathways involved and related to protein and energy metabolism. Together, these results demonstrate that L-Ile supplementation was effective in stimulating β-casein synthesis by stimulating genes and pathways which are significantly related to protein and energy metabolism.

Background: Reducing the impact of malaria is a key to achieving the sustainable development goals which are geared towards eradicating the disease. The main objective of this study was to synthesize, determine the efficacy and safety of antiplasmodial hybrid drug comprising of sarcosine and aniline derivative for management of plasmodial infections. Results: The hybrid drug was synthesized by adding thionyl chloride to sarcosine in order to form acyl chloride which was then added to aniline to form sarcosine-aniline hybrid molecule. The IC50 of sarcosine-aniline hybrid was 44.80 ± 4.70 ng/ml compared to that of aniline derivative which was 22.86 ± 1.26 ng/ml. The IC50 of control drugs were 2.63 ± 0.38 ng/ml, 5.69 ± 0.39 ng/ml for artesunate and chloroquine respectively. There was a significant difference between IC50 of sarcosine-aniline hybrid and aniline derivative (P<0.05). There was also a significant difference between sarcosine-aniline hybrid and standard drugs used to treat malaria including artesunate and chloroquine (P<0.05). The ED50 of sarcosine-aniline hybrid drug was 6.49mg/kg compared to that of aniline derivative which was 3.61mg/kg. The ED50 of control drugs were 3.56 mg/kg, 2.94mg/kg and 1.78 mg/kg for artesunate-aniline hybrid, artesunate and chloroquine respectively. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between ED50 of sarcosine-aniline hybrid and both controls such as aniline derivative, artesunate, artesunate-aniline hybrid and chloroquine. Cytotoxicity results revealed that sarcosine-aniline hybrid was safe to vero cells with a CC50 of 50.18±3.53µg/ml. Sarcosine-aniline hybrid was significantly less toxic compared to artesunate, chloroquine and doxorubicin. Sarcosine-aniline hybrid was also safe to mice. Conclusion: Therefore, covalent bitherapy should be used in drug development for drug resistance mitigation.

In the present study, the polysaccharide-hydrolyzing secretomes of Irpex lacteus BCC104, Pycnoporus coccineus BCC310, and Schizophyllum commune BCC632 were analyzed in submerged fermentation conditions to elucidate the effect of chemically and structurally different carbon sources on the expression of cellulases and xylanase. Among polymeric substrates, crystalline cellulose appeared to be the best carbon source providing the highest endoglucanase, total cellulase, and xylanase activities. Mandarin pomace as a growth substrate for S. commune allowed to achieve comparatively high volumetric activities of all target enzymes while wheat straw induced a significant secretion of cellulase and xylanase activities of I. lacteus and P. coccineus. A synergistic effect on the secretion of cellulases and xylanases by the tested fungi was observed when crystalline cellulose was combined with mandarin pomace. In I. lacteus the cellulase and xylanase production is inducible in the presence of cellulose-rich substrates but is suppressed in the presence of an excess of easily metabolizable carbon source. These enzymes are expressed in a coordinated manner under all conditions studied. It was shown that the substitution of glucose in the inoculum medium with Avicel provides accelerated enzyme production by I. lacteus and higher cellulase and xylanase activities of the fungus. These results add new knowledge to the physiology of basidiomycetes to improve cellulase production.

In the search of potent α-amylase inhibitors, we have synthesized seventeen derivatives of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole bearing sulfonamide (1-17) and evaluated for their α-amylase inhibitory potential. All compounds display a variable degree of α-amylase activity having IC50 values ranging between 0.90 ± 0.05 to 11.20 ± 0.30 µM when compared with the standard drug acarbose having IC50 value 1.70 ± 0.10 µM. Compound 1, 2, 11, 12 and 14 having IC50 values 1.40 ± 0.10, 1.30 ± 0.05, 0.90 ± 0.05, 1.60 ± 0.05 and 1.60 ± 0.10 µM respectively were found many folds better than the standard drug acarbose. The remaining analogs showed good inhibitory potentials. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by HREI-MS, 1H and 13C-NMR. Structure activity relationship (SAR) has been recognized for all newly synthesized analogs. Through molecular docking study, binding mode of active analogs with α-amylase enzyme was confirmed.

Alkaloids are the most diversified nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites having antioxi-dant, and antimicrobial properties and are extensively used in pharmaceuticals to treat different types of cancer. Nicotiana serves as a reservoir of anticancer alkaloids and is also used as a model plant for the de novo synthesis of various anti-cancer molecules through genetic engineering. Up to 4% of the total dry weight of Nicotiana was found to be composed of alkaloids where nicotine, nornicotine, anatabine, and anabasine are reported as the dominant alkaloids. And, among the alkaloids present in Nicotiana, β-carboline (Harmane and Norharmane), Kynurenines are found to show anti-tumor effects, especially in the case of colon and breast cancer. Creating new or shunting of existing biosynthesis pathways in different species of Nicotiana resulted in de novo or increased synthesis of different anti-tumor molecules or their derivatives or precursors includ-ing Taxadiane (~22.5 µg/g), Artemisinin (~120 μg/g), Parthenolide (~2.05 ng/g), Costunolide (~60 ng/g), Etoposide (~1 mg/g), Crocin (~400 µg/g), Catharanthine (~60 ng/g), Tabersonine (~10 ng/g), Strictosidine (~0.23 mg/g), etc. Enrich precursor pool especially Dimethylallyl Diphos-phate (DMAPP) and down-regulating of other bi-product pathways, compartmentalization or metabolic shunting, or organelle-specific reconstitution of the precursor pool might trigger the enhanced accumulation of the targeted anticancer alkaloid in Nicotiana.

In the present study, we have followed the hydrothermal path for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) from the biomaterial Elaeocarpus ganitrus seeds extract, which is a rapid, eco-friendly, non-chemical way. The prepared NPs were thoroughly analyzed by PXRD & HR-TEM studies and also tested for photocatalytic dye degradation and anticancer studies. Besides, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer properties of Au NPs were studied. In vitro studies revealed the dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of Au NPs. The prepared nanoparticles showed good cytotoxic impact against Prostate cancer (PC-3) cells line. The results of the present study could contribute to synthesize new and cost-effective drugs from Elaeocarpus ganitrus seeds extract by using bio approach.

Monodisperse and semi-facetted ultra-small templated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (US-MSN) of 20-25 nm were synthesized using a short-time hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) at room temperature followed by a dilution for nucleation quenching. According to dynamic light scattering (DLS), a two-step pH adjustment was necessary for growth termination and colloidal stabilization. The pore size was controlled by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the tiny amount of neutral surfactant F127 was added for minimizing the coalescence between US-MSN and favoring the transition towards internal ordering. Flocculation eventually occured allowing to harvest a powder by centrifugation ( 60% silica yield after one month). The scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and 3D high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (3D-HR-TEM) images revealed that the US-MSNs are partially ordered. The 2D FT transmorm images evidences the coexistance of four, five and sixfold patterns characterizing an “on-the-edge” crystallization step between amorphous raspberry and hexagonal pore array morphologies, typical of a protocrystalline state. Calcination preserved this state and yields a powder characterized by a packing developping a hierarchical porosity centered at 3.9 ± 0.2 (internal pores) and 68 ± 7 nm (packing voids) of high potential as support for separation and catalysis.

A technology for obtaining nanosized aluminum nitride powder by plasma-chemical synthesis is presented. Nitrogen gas (N2), melamine (C3H6N6) and ammonia (NH3) were used as a source of nitrogen. Aluminum powder of different fractions was used as a source of aluminum. The influence of the nitrogen source, the height of the injector, and the input power of the plasma equipment on the synthesized aluminum nitride powder is shown. The resulting aluminum nitride powder has a size d90=60 nm. The parameters of aluminum nitride synthesis did not in any way affect the granulometric composition of the synthesized powder materials. It was found that, due to the high binding energy, the nitrogen molecule (N2) reacts poorly with aluminum powder particles, as a result a mixture of nitrogen and ammonia gases was used in a ratio of 70/30 (mol.%) for aluminum nitride synthesis.

Viral infections inflict many serious human diseases, being responsible for remarkably high mortality rates. In this sense, both the academy and the pharmaceutical industry are continuously searching for new compounds with antiviral activity, and in addition, face the challenge of developing greener and more efficient methods to synthesize these compounds. This becomes even more important with drugs possessing stereogenic centers as highly enantioselective processes are required. In this minireview, the advances achieved to improve synthetic routes efficiency and sustainability of important commercially antiviral chiral drugs are discussed, highlighting the use of organocatalytic methods.

The hydrothermal synthesis of aluminophosphate molecular sieve type AlPO4-11 was processed from chemicals containing psueudobohemite, 85% phosphoric acid, water, and di-isopropylamine as templating agent. The crystallization of the samples was studied by taking samples in times from 2 to 74 hours. The obtained white powder products have been characterized by XRD patterns, FT-IR spectra, thermogravimetric data, scanning electron microscopy and pH measurement of the mother liquor. The pore volume, as determined from TG and DTG curves, was ca. 0.17 cm3g-1. The crystallization process of the aluminophosphate exhibited in its initial phase a behavior of first order reaction with a specific velocity constant of ca. 0.25 h-1, as determined from XRD and FT-IR data.

A vehicle boom barrier gate system is one of the recently developed technologies operating at the entrances to the restricted areas. This paper aims to design and control of vehicle’s boom barrier gate system using robust augmentation technique. H 2 optimal and H infinity synthesis controllers are used to improve the performance of the system. The open loop response analysis of the vehicle boom barrier gate system shows that the input of the system need to be improved. Comparison of the vehicle boom barrier gate system with H2 optimal and H infinity synthesis controllers have been done to track a set point desired angular position using a step and operational open and close input signals and a promising results have been observed.

In this study, an improved UPLC-MS method for simultaneously quantifying twelve major components belonging to two chemical types was developed and validated, and was applied to quantitatively compare the quality of Astragali Radix sulfur-fumigated with different durations and the fresh reference sample. The results showed that the contents of triterpenes Astragaloside III and Astragaloside IV decreased moderately, while the flavonoids calycosin, formononetin, and 7,2'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavane decreased significantly, and its corresponding flavonoid glycosides increased accordingly, which indicatied that the happening of chemical transformation of flavonoids and glycosides in the sulfur-fumigated process. These transformations were further confirmed by the the synthesis of flavonoid glycosides under the simulated sulphur-fumigation circumstances. Furthermore, the sulfur-fumigated duration had a proportional relationship with the contents of compounds 7, 11, and 12. All these results suggested that the established method was precise, accurate and sensitive enough for the global quality evaluation of sulfur-fumigated Astragali Radix, and sulfur-fumigation can not only change the proportions of bioactive components, but also cause the chemical transformation in the Astragali Radix.

Graphene is a remarkable material with numerous applications. Due to its thin and lightweight design, it is ideal for a variety of applications. The synthesis of high-quality graphene in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner continues to be a significant challenge. Chemical reduction is considered to be the most advantageous method for preparing reduced graphene oxide (rGO). However, this process necessitates the use of toxic and harmful substances, which can have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health. Thus, to accomplish the objective, the green synthesis principle has prompted researchers worldwide to develop a simple method for green reduction of graphene oxide (GO), which is readily accessible, sustainable, economical, renewable, and environmentally friendly in nature. For example, the use of natural materials such as plants is generally considered safe. Furthermore, plants contain reducing and capping agents. The current review will focus on the discovery and application of rGO synthesis using extracts from a variety of different parts of the plant. The review aims to aid current and future researchers in their search for a novel plant extract that acts as a reductant in the green synthesis of rGO. The review aims to assist current and future researchers in their research for a novel plant extract that acts as a reductant in the green synthesis of rGO as well as their potential applications in a variety of industries.

A powder synthesis of PbMoO₄ from ancient lead (Pb) and deeply purified commercial MoO₃ powders was performed using a wet chemistry technique to achieve the low radioactivity scintillator for neutrinoless double beta decay search in ¹⁰⁰Mo. The synthesized powders were used to grow single crystals of PbMoO₄ by a Czochralski technique in Ar environment. The luminescence and scintillation properties were measured with excitations using UV, X- and γ-rays in temperature range of 10-300 K. Annealing of the grown PMO crystal in air atmosphere enhanced the scintillation light yield by ~3 orders of magnitude compared to that measured before annealing. The scintillation light yield of grown PMO crystal at 10 K is found to be 127% to that of a reference PMO crystal under 662 keV γ-rays excitation from a ¹³⁷Cs source. The background measurement of the grown crystal performed at 50 K shows negligible activity from ²¹⁰Pb compared to that of reference PMO crystal. These preliminary performances show that the PMO crystal grown from ancient Pb and deeply purified MoO₃ powders has the great potential to be used as cryogenic scintillator for the neutrinoless double beta decay search in ¹⁰⁰Mo.

In this paper, modelling designing and simulation of a Ward Leonard layout system is done using robust control theory. In order to increase the performance of the Ward Leonard layout system with H infinity optimal control synthesis and H infinity optimal control synthesis via gamma-iteration controllers are used. The open loop response of the Ward Leonard layout system shows that the system needs to be improved. Comparison of the Ward Leonard layout system with H∞ optimal control synthesis and H infinity optimal control synthesis via gamma-iteration controllers to track a desired step speed input have been done. Finally, the comparative simulation results prove the effectiveness of the proposed Ward Leonard layout system with H infinity optimal control synthesis controller in improving the percentage overshoot and the settling time.

Despite the strong anticancer activity of SN38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin), some defects prevent its clinical application, such as severe side effects and loss of anticancer activity due to lack of selectivity to cancer cells and hydrolysis of ring E, respectively. To address the issue, herein a multifunctional SN38 derivative (compound 9) containing biotin (tumor-targeting group) and valproic acid (histone deacetylase inhibitor, HDACi) was synthesized via click chemistry and evaluated using MTT assay. The in vitro cytotoxicity study showed that compound 9 exhibited superior cytotoxicity as irinotecan against human cervical cancer HeLa cells, albeit inferior to SN38. More significantly, compound 9 significantly reduced toxicity in mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH3T3 cells, indicating that compound 9 had the capacity to enhance tumor targeting due to its cell selectivity. Further studies demonstrated that compared with irinotecan, compound 9 induced similar apoptosis of cancer cells. Consequently, compound 9 can not only improve its tumor-targeting ability mediated by biotin but also exert the potent anticancer activity through the synergism of SN38 and valproic acid, indicating that the design concept is an effective strategy for structural modification of SN38.

To develop peptide drugs targeting integrin receptors, synthetic peptide ligands endowed with well-defined selective binding motifs are necessary. The snake venom KTS-containing disintegrins, that selectively block collagen α1β1 integrin, were used as lead compounds for the synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a series of linear peptides containing the KTS-pharmacophore and alternating natural amino acids and 3-aminobenzoic acid (MABA). To ensure a better stiffness and metabolic stability, one, two and three MABA residues, were introduced around the KTS pharmacophore motif. Molecular dynamics simulations have determined that the solution conformation of MABA peptide 4 is more compact, underwent larger conformational changes until convergence, and spent most of the time in a single cluster. The peptides’ binding affinity has been characterized by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in which the most potent peptide 4 inhibited with IC50 of 324±8 µM and 550±45 µM the binding of GST-α1-A domain to collagen IV fragment CB3, and the cell adhesion to collagen IV using α1-overexpressor cells, respectively. Docking studies and MM-GBSA calculations confirmed that peptide 4 binds a smaller region of the integrin near the collagen- binding site and penetrated deeper into the binding site near Trp1. Peptide 4, inhibited tube formation by endothelial cell migration in the Matrigel angiogenesis in vitro assay. Peptide 4 was acutely tolerated by mice, showed stability in human serum, decreased tumor volume and angiogenesis, and significantly increased the survival of mice injected with B16 melanoma cells. These findings propose that MABA-peptide 4 can further serve as an α1β1-integrin antagonist lead compound for further drug-optimization in angiogenesis and cancer therapy.

In this study we used a recently developed ex vivo-in vitro model to assess the effect of feeding older adults a casein protein hydrolysate (CPH) compared with non-bioactive non-essential amino acid (NEAA) supplement on Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) and Breakdown (MPB). Serum from six healthy older males following overnight fast and 60 min postprandial ingestion of CPH or NEAA (0.33 g.kg^-1 body mass) was used to condition C2C12 myotube media. CPH-fed serum significantly increased MPS compared to fasted serum. In addition, CPH-fed serum induced myotube growth and markedly suppressed atrogin-1, but not MuRF1, expression. Comparatively, no change in MPS, myotube growth and gene expression was observed following NEAA-fed serum treatment. CPH-fed serum from older adults stimulated de novo MPS, suppressed markers of protein breakdown and resulted in myotube growth, indicating a potential role for CPH as a dietary protein source to prevent age-related sarcopenia.

A high perovskite activity is sought for use in magnetic applications. In this paper, we present the simple synthesis of (2.5 and 5%) Tellurium-impregnated-LaCoO3 (Te-LCO), Te and LaCoO3 (LCO) by using a ball mill, chemical reduction, and hydrothermal synthesis, respectively. We also explored the structure stability along with the magnetic properties of Te-LCO. Te has a rhombohedral crystal structure, whereas Te-LCO has a hexagonal crystal system. The reconstructed Te was imbued with LCO that was produced by hydrothermal synthesis; as the concentration of the imbuing agent grew, the material became magnetically preferred. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectra, the oxidation state of the cobaltite is one that is magnetically advantageous. As a result of the fact that the creation of oxygen-deficient perovskites has been shown to influence the mixed (Te4+/2-) valence state of the incorporated samples, it is abundantly obvious that this process is of utmost significance. The TEM image confirms the inclusion of Te in LCO. The samples start out in a paramagnetic state (LCO), but when Te is added to the mixture, the magnetic state shifts to a weak ferromagnetic one. It is at this point that hysteresis occurs due to the presence of Te. Despite being doped with Mn in our prior study, rhombohedral LCO retains its paramagnetic characteristic at room temperature (RT). As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the impacts of RT field dependency of magnetization (M-H) for Te-impregnated LCO in order to improve the magnetic properties of RT because it is a low-cost material for advanced multi-functional and energy applications.

The study compared the influence of chitosan sources on rumen fermentation, methane emission and milk production in lactating dairy cows fed a glycerin-based diet. Six, lactating Holstein-Frisian crossbreeds (410 ± 5.0 kg BW, 120 ± 21 day-in-milk), were arranged in a 3 x 3 replicated Latin square design. In addition to control, a 2% chitosan extract supplement and a 2% commercial chitosan supplement of dry matter intake were the treatments. The results denoted that no significant differences on daily dry matter, nutrients or estimated energy intake were noted when cows received different sources of chitosan. Nutrient digestibility was not influenced differently by extraction based or commercial chitosan supplements. The pH, temperature, ammonia nitrogen, blood urea and microbial count were similar among treatments. The different sources of chitosan supplements did not change the totals of volatile fatty acids, acetate and butyrate; in contrast, different chitosan sources influenced (P<0.05) propionate content. The ruminal acetate to propionate ratio was markedly (P<0.05) reduced with chitosan supplement, but no change appeared between sources of chitosan. At 4 hours after feeding, the methane estimation significantly decreased with the addition of chitosan supplementation (P<0.05) compared to the control group. The purine derivatives and microbial protein synthesis were not altered by the treatments. No significant differences existed on milk yield, milk composition or milk urea nitrogen when cows received different sources of chitosan (P>0.05). In sum, supplementing extracted chitosan showed more potential than did commercial chitosan for enhancing economic efficiency and recycling shrimp residues, therefore, reducing environmental waste.

Mango industry played important roles in the economy of tropical and subtropical regions in China. Embryo abortion, flesh rotten, pericarp stain and so on always result in heavy loss. Transgenic breeding is a potential way for solving these problems. However, dependable protocol for mango transgene has not been reported until now. In this research, we found that after mango embryogenic callus were infected by Agrobacterium, most callus necrotized and died. No seedling was differentiated from the survived callus. Contents of 106 compounds in mango callus infected by Agrobacterium were found significantly different from those in control. The top 7 up-regulated compounds were gallic acid, phosphoenolpyruvic acid, dihydrotricetin, ubiquinone, dihydrokaempferol, D-erythrose-4-phosphate and cyanidin. The expressions of ROS-related genes, gallic acid synthesis genes, and defense related genes in callus infected by Agrobacterium were significantly higher than those in control. The growth of Agrobacterium on culturing plate pipetting gallic acid was inhibited. Mango callus infected by Agrobacterium transformed with type III secretion system gene cluster (T3SS) and effector gene AvrPto isolated from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 brown and necrotize slower than those infected by Agrobacterium transformed with net vector (NV). The contents of ROS in callus in-fected by Agrobacterium (T3SS-AvrPto) were less than those in callus infected by Agrobacterium (NV). The expressions of genes participated in immune responses in mango callus infected by Agrobacterium (T3SS-AvrPto) were also less than those in mango callus infected by Agrobacterium (NV). The transformation rate of mango callus infected with Agrobacterium (T3SS-AvrPto-gfp) was 1.6 %. No callus infected with Agrobacterium (NV-gfp) was transformed successfully. The efficiency of mango transformation can be improved by constructing Agrobacterium strains harboring type III secretion system gene cluster and its effector gene.

A new cocrystal salt of metformin, an antidiabetic drug, and N,N’-(1,4-phenylene)dioxalamic acid, was synthesized by mechanochemical synthesis, purified by crystallization from solution and characterized by single X-ray crystallography. The structure revealed a salt-type cocrystal composed of one dicationic metformin unit, two monoanionic units of the acid and four water molecules namely H2Mf(HpOXA)2∙4H2O. X-ray powder, IR, 13C-CPMAS, thermal and BET adsorption-desorption analyses were performed to elucidate the structure of the molecular and supramolecurar structure of the anhydrous microcrystalline mesoporous solid H2Mf(HpOXA)2. The results suggest that their structures, conformation and hydrogen bonding schemes are very similar between them. To the best of our knowledge, the selective formation of the monoanion HpOXA⁻, as well as its structure in the solid, is herein reported for the first time. Regular O(-)∙∙∙C(), O(-)∙∙∙N+ and bifacial O(-)∙∙∙C()∙∙∙O(-) of n→* charge-assisted interactions are herein described in H2MfA cocrystal salts which could be responsible of the interactions of metformin in biologic systems. The results, support the participation of n→* charge-assisted interactions independently, and not just as a short contact imposed by the geometric constraint due to the hydrogen bonding patterns.

Magnetic iron oxide particles are used for in vitro diagnostics for nearly 40 years. Due to their unique physical, chemical, thermal and mechanical properties, as well as biocompatibility and low toxicity in the human body, iron oxide nanoparticles have been used in many biomedical applications, such as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, carriers for controlled drug delivery and immunoassays, but also in magnetic hyperthermia. Our aim is to investigate the effect of pressure and temperature on the structural, thermal and magnetic properties of iron oxide nanomaterials prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized at temperatures of 100-200°C and pressures of 20-1000 bar. It has been found that pressure influences the type of iron oxide crystalline phase. Thus, for lower pressure values (< 100 bar), iron oxide is predominantly formed as hematite, while at pressures > 100 bar, the major crystalline phase is goethite. The complex thermal analysis revealed the polymorphic changes of iron oxides at different temperatures. The existence of specific magnetite and hematite phases in all thermally treated samples are evidenced through the specific Verwey and Morin transitions highlighted by ZFC-FC (Zero Field Cooled-Field Cooled) measurements, whereas their relative content is precisely provided by Mössbauer spectroscopy.

(1) Background: The synthesis of core-shell magnetic mesoporous nanoparticles (MMSN) from phase transfer process is usually performed at 100-250 mg scale. At the gram scale, nanoparticles without core or with multicore systems are observed. (2) Methods: Iron oxide core nanoparticles (IO) were synthesized through thermal decomposition procedure of -FeO in oleic acid. Phase transfer from chloroform to water was then performed in order to wrap IO with mesoporous silica shell through the sol-gel procedure. MMSN were then functionalized with DTPA, and used for the separation of metal ions. Their toxicity was evaluated (3) Results: The phase transfer pro-cedure was crucial to obtained MMSN at large scale. Three synthesis parameters were rigorously controlled: temperature, time and glassware. Homogeneous dispersion of MMSN at the gram scale was successfully obtained. After functionalization with DTPA, the MMSN-DTPA were shown to have a strong affinity for Ni ions. Furthermore toxicity was evaluated in cells, zebrafish and through seahorse metabolic assays, and the nanoparticles were found nontoxic. (4) Conclusions: We developed a method of preparation of MMSN at the gram scale. After function-alization with DTPA, the nanoparticles were efficient in metal ion removal and separation, fur-thermore, no toxicity was noticed up to 125 µg.mL-1 in zebrafish.

Electron beam treatment of ZnS:Cu,Br (Cu activator content 0…0.6%wt.) radioluminescent phosphors as well as charge mixture with the electron energy 900 keV and absorbed dose of 600 kGy resulted in a enhancement of brightness up to 80%. The increased brightness is due to increase of content of wurtzite phase relative to sphalerite one with formation of wurtzite/sphalerite nanocomposite structure. Transformation of crystal structure is accompanied with corresponding change in content of active surface centers characteristic for sphalerite and wurtzite phases. A model describing surface centers of ZnS:Cu,Br radioluminescent phosphor is suggested.

Li3FeN2 material was synthesized by two-step solid-state method from Li3N (adiabatic camera) and FeN2 (tube furnace) powders. Phase investigation of Li3N, FeN2 and Li3FeN2 were carried out. Discharge capacity of Li3FeN2 is 343 mAh g-1, that is about 44.7% of theoretic capacity. The molar heat capacity of Li3FeN2 at constant pressure in the temperature range 298-900 K should be calculated as Cp,m = 77,831 + 0,130 × T – 6,289 × T-2, where T is absolute temperature, . Thermodynamic characteristics of Li3FeN2 were determined as next: entropy S0298 = 116.2 J mol-1 K-1, molar enthalpy of dissolution ΔdHLFN = ˗ 206,537 ± 2,8 kJ mol−1, the standard enthalpy of formation ΔfH0 = ˗ 291.331 ± 5.7 kJ mol−1, entropy S0298 = 113.2 J mol-1 K-1 (Neumann-Kopp rule) and 116.2 J mol-1 K-1 (W.Herz rule), the standard Gibbs free energy of formation ∆f G0298 = ˗276,7 kJ mol-1.

This article reports the two-step synthesis of NiFeO_x nanomaterials, their characterisation and bifunctional electrocatalytic activity measurements in alkaline electrolyte for metal-air batteries. The samples were mostly in layered double hydroxide at the initial temperature, but upon heat treatment, they were converted to NiFe₂O₄ phases. The electrochemical behaviour of the different samples was studied by linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry on the glassy carbon electrode. The OER catalyst activity was observed for low mass loadings (0.125 mg cm⁻²), whereas high catalyst loading exhibited the best performance on the ORR side. The sample heat treated at 250 °C delivered the highest bi-functional oxygen evolution and reduction reaction activity (OER/ORR) thanks to its thin-holey nanosheet like structure with higher nickel oxidation state at 250 °C. This work further helps to develop low-cost electrocatalyst development for metal-air batteries.

Pathogenic microorganisms can cause a range of infectious diseases and are often treated with antimicrobial agents. The rise of antimicrobial resistance caused by inappropriate use of these agents in various settings has become a global health threat. There is, therefore, a need to find new and effective agents to combat infections caused by resistant pathogens. Nanotechnology has seen significant growth and development in recent years and has a wide range of applications in various fields, including health, agriculture, and industry. This novel area offers the potential for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with antimicrobial activity, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The use of IONPs is a promising way to overcome antimicrobial resistance or pathogenicity because of their ability to interact with several biological molecules and to inhibit microbial growth. This review focuses on the most common green synthesis methods for producing IONPs using bacteria, fungi, plants, and organic waste, as well as the most common methods for the characterization of these IONPs. Finally, it summarizes their application as promising antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral agents.

The creation of nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) by implementing plant extracts is an environmentally friendly process. High antioxidant capacity and phenol content indicated the possibility of oak-nZVI synthesis using oak leaf extract as a stable material with minimal agglomeration. Simultaneously removal of Cd and phosphates and Ni and phosphates was optimized by a statistically designed experiment with a definitive screening design. In terms of significance, 4 input parameters on process productivity were monitored: initial metal concentration (1 - 9 mgL-1), initial ion concentration (1- 9 mgL-1), pH value (2 - 10) and oak-nZVI dosage (2 - 16 ml). Phosphate removal efficiency, in the presence of cadmium, was the most influenced by oak-nZVI dose and cadmium concentration, while pH gave three statistically significant interactions with oak-nZVI dosage, cadmium concentration, and phosphate concentration. Phosphate removal efficiency, in the presence of Ni, is the most influenced by nickel concentration, phosphate concentration, pH, two-factor interaction between nZVI dose and Ni concentration, and quadratic phosphate interaction. The process optimization yielded the highest simultaneous removal efficiency of 98.99% and 87.30% for cadmium and phosphate ions, respectively. Also, the highest simultaneous removal efficiency of nickel and phosphates ion was 93.44% for 96.75%, respectively. The optimization process fits into the confidence intervals, confirming the assumption that the adopted regression model describes the process well. This work demonstrated an enormous potential and prosperous application for the Cd(II), Ni(II), and phosphate removal from water matrices.

An asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated from the corresponding imino esters to trans-β-nitrostyrene catalyzed by chiral aziridine-containing phosphines and phosphine oxides is described. Of the sixteen stereoisomers that could be formed as a result of the title reac-tion, three were formed, two of which were obtained in an enantiomerically enriched or pure form, and one in a racemic form. One of the products underwent epimerization under basic reaction conditions.

A metal-free electrochemical oxidative difluoroethylation of 2-arylbenzimidazoles was accomplished, which provided an efficient strategy for the synthesis of MeCF2-containing benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]-isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones. In addition, the method also enabled the efficient construction of various difluoroethylated indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H) ones. Notably, this electrochemical synthesis protocol proceeded well under mild conditions without metal catalysts or exogenous additives/oxidants added.

In a recent effort to mitigate harm from human pathogens, many biosynthetic pathways are extensively evaluated for their ability to inhibit pathogen growth and determine drug targets. Among those, one of the important products/targets of such pathways is isopentenyl diphosphate, the universal precursor of isoprenoids, which are essential for the normal functioning of microorganisms. In general, two biosynthetic pathways lead to the formation of isopentenyl diphosphate: 1) the mevalonate pathway in animals and 2) the non-mevalonate or methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) in many bacteria, some protozoa, and plants. Because the MEP pathway is not found in mammalian cells, it is considered an attractive target for the development of antimicrobials against a variety of human pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). In the MEP pathway, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-c-methyl-d-erythritol kinase (IspE) phosphorylates 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol (CDPME) to form 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2-phosphate (CDPME2P), followed by cyclization to 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (MECPP) by 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (IspF). A virtual high throughput screening was done by docking IspE protein with commercially available compounds and identified an active heterotricyclic compound. Hence, we designed, synthesized, and tested similar new heterotricyclic compounds. This study will provide the critical insight necessary for the ability to develop novel antimicrobials that target the MEP pathways in pathogens.

Boron carbide (B4C) powders with defined stoichiometry, high crystallinity, minimal impurity content, and a fine particle size are imperative for realizing the exceptional properties of this compound in advanced high-technology applications. Nevertheless, achieving the desired stoi-chiometry and particle size using traditional synthesis methods, which rely on prolonged, high-temperature processes, can be challenging. The primary objective of this study is to syn-thesize fine B4C powders characterized by high crystallinity and a sub-micron particle size, em-ploying a fast, and energy-efficient method. B4C powders are synthesized from elemental boron and carbon in a high-frequency induction heating furnace using the Electromagnetic Induction Synthesis (EMIS) method. The rapid heating rate achieved through contactless heating promotes the ignition and propagation of the exothermic chemical reaction between boron and carbon. Additionally, electromagnetic effects accelerate atomic diffusion, allowing the reaction to be completed in an exceptionally short timeframe. The grain size and crystallinity of B4C can be finely tuned by adjusting various process parameters, including the post-ignition holding temperature and the duration of heating. As a result, fine B4C powders can be synthesized in under 10 minutes. Moreover, these synthesized B4C powders exhibit high resistance to oxidation when exposed to air.

We have recently reported that a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-ylbenzenesulfonamides acts as potent and specific monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors with some compounds possessing potencies in the nanomolar range. While sulfonamide compounds (e.g., zonisamide) have been reported to inhibit the MAO enzymes, nanomolar MAO inhibition potencies for this class are not frequently observed. The present study expanded on these findings by replacing the 1,3,4-oxazole moiety with a 1,3-thiazole heterocycle. A series of 23 primary sulfonamides were synthesized by reaction of an α-haloketone with a substituted carbothioamide. The results of the MAO inhibition studies showed that the 1,3-thiazolylbenzenesulfonamides were specific inhibitors of human MAO-B. The most potent MAO-B inhibitor exhibited an in vitro IC50 value of 0.103 µM (3j). The derivatives were, however, weaker inhibitors of human MAO-A with the most potent compound exhibiting an IC50 value of 11.9 µM (3a). Examination of the structure-activity relationships (SARs) showed that the most potent MAO-B inhibition was obtained with substitution of the sulfonamide on the meta position of the phenyl rather than the para position. This study concludes that 1,3-thiazolylbenzenesulfonamides represent a class of potent and specific MAO-B inhibitors, which may serve as leads for the development of new treatments for disease states such as Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers are increasingly focusing on green synthesis methods for silver nanoparticles due to their cost-effectiveness and reduced environmental impact. In this study, we utilized an edible bird's nest (EBN), a valuable economic resource, as the primary material for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using only water as the solvent. Metabolite profiling of the EBN extract was conducted using LC-QTOF-MS in positive mode (ESI+), revealing the presence of lipids, glycosides, peptides, polysaccharides, and disaccharides. Upon the addition of silver nitrate to the aqueous EBN extract, noticeable color changes from transparent to brown indicated the successful formation of AgNPs. Subsequent characterization of these silver nanoparticles involved UV-Visible spectroscopy, which revealed an absorption peak at 421 nm. Further characterization was carried out using Field Effect Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis. The involvement of phenolic agents, proteins, and amino acids in reducing the silver particles was confirmed. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a crystalline nature, a spherical shape, and a particle size ranging from 10 to 20 nm. The presence of elemental silver was confirmed by a strong, intense peak around 3 keV in the EDX spectrum. To assess their potential, the antibacterial properties of the silver nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated using the agar diffusion method.

Aromatic azo compounds have -N=N- double bonds as well as larger π electron conjugation system, which endows aromatic azo compounds with wide applications in the fields of functional materials. The properties of aromatic azo compounds are closely related to the substituents on their aromatic rings. However, traditional synthesis methods, such as the coupling of diazo salts, have a great limitation on the structural design of aromatic azo compounds. Therefore, many scientists have devoted their efforts to developing new synthetic methods. Moreover, recent advances in the synthesis of aromatic azo compounds led to the improvement of design and preparation of light-response materials at molecular level. This review summarizes the important synthetic progress of aromatic azo compounds in recent years, with an emphasis on the pioneering contribution of functional nanomaterials in the field.

Diamond powders with inclusions of europium atoms were synthesized at high pressure (7.7 GPa) and temperature (1800oC) from a mixture of pentaerythritol, C(CH2OH)4, and pyrolyzate of diphthalocyanine (C64H32N16Eu) served as a special precursor. In prepared diamonds by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, we have found the concentration of Eu atoms of 51±5 ppm that is by two orders of magnitude greater than that in known natural and synthetic diamonds. X-ray diffraction, SEM, X-ray exited optical luminescence, Raman and IR spectroscopy have confirmed the formation of diamond monocrystals of high quality with em-bedded Eu atoms and a nitrogen content of ~500 ppm. Numerical simulation has allowed us de-termine the energy cost of 5.8 eV needed for the incorporation of a single Eu atom with adjacent vacancy into growing diamond crystal (528 carbons).

Pretreatment with non-convulsive dose of methionine sulfoximine (MSO) attenuated lithi-um-pilocarpine-induced (Li-Pilo) seizures in young rats [1]. We hypothesized that the effect of MSO results from a) glutamine synthetase block-mediated inhibition of conversion of Glu/Gln precursors to neurotransmitter Glu, and/or from b) altered synaptic Glu release. Pilo was admin-istered 60 min prior to sacrifice, MSO at 75 mg/kg, i.p., 2.5 h earlier. [1,2-13C]acetate and [U-13C]glucose were i.p.-injected either together with Pilo (onset) or 15 min before sacrifice (final phase). Their conversion to Glu and Gln in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex was followed us-ing [13C] gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Release of in vitro loaded [3H]D-Asp from ex vi-vo brain slices was measured in continuously collected superfusates. Protein and mRNA expres-sion were measured by Western Blot and real-time PCR techniques, respectively. At no time point nor brain region did MSO modify incorporation of [13C] to Glu or Gln in Pilo-treated rats. MSO pretreatment decreased by ~37% high potassium-induced [3H]D-Asp release and reduced by ~50% the synaptic vesicular Glu transporter VGLUT1 protein, but not mRNA content in the hippo-campus. The results indicate that MSO at non-convulsive dose mitigates the initial Pilo-induced seizures by interfering with synaptic Glu-release but not with neurotransmitter Glu recycling.

The development of a method to produce coumarins unsubstituted on the pyranic nucleus catalyzed from Wells–Dawson heteropolyacid (H₆P₂W₁₈O₆₂), phenol derivatives and ethyl 3,3-diethoxypropionate using Pechmann condensation under solvent-free conditions is described. This catalytic method was also applied successfully to synthesize various substituted coumarins, including the corresponding phenols and ethyl 3,3-diethoxypropionate. This work provides a novel, cheaper and safer way to syhthesize coumarins unsubstituted on the pyranic nucleus.

The purpose of our work was the search for safe and effective biologically active substances of cardiotropic action among 1,3- thiazole derivatives. New derivatives of 1-[(2Z)-2-[R-imin]-4-methyl-3-R¹-2,3-dihydro-1,3-thiazole-5-yl]ethan-1-one and ethyl-(2Z)-2-[R-imin]-4-methyl-3-R¹-2,3-dihydro-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylate were synthesized by the Hantzsch reaction. The structure of the compounds obtained was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and by the elemental analysis. The pharmacological screening showed that the obtained substances possess cardiotropic activity. The cardiotropic properties of the new 1,3-thiazole derivatives were studied on the isolated rings of the thoracic aorta of laboratory rats. A prospective substance 1-[(2Z)-2-[(4-methoxyphenyl)imin]-4-methyl-3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) -2,3-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]ethan-1-one hydrochloride, which exhibits cardiotropic activity exceeding the activity of L-carnitine and meldonia has been revealed during pharmacological researches of the substances obtained.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been demonstrated to restrain bacterial growth while maintaining the minimal risk in development of bacterial resistance and human cell toxicity that conventional silver compounds exhibit. Several physical and chemical methods have been reported to synthesize AgNPs. However, these methods are expensive and involve heavy chemical reduction agents. An alternative approach to produce AgNPs in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way employs a biological pathway using various plant extracts to reduce metal ions. The size control issue and the stability of nanoparticles remain some of the latest challenges in such methods. In this study, we used two different concentrations of fresh leaf extract of the plant Arbutus Unedo (LEA) as a reducing and stabilizing agent to produce two size variations of AgNPs. UV-Vis spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, Transmission Electron Microscopy and zeta potential were applied for the characterization of AgNPs. Both AgNP variations were evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy against the gram-negative species Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as the gram-positive species Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Although significant differences have been achieved in the nanoparticles’ size by varying the plant extract concentration during synthesis, the antibacterial effect was almost similar.

The asymmetric synthesis of polyunsaturated triene C18:3 n-3 and C18:3 n-6 methoxylated ether lipids (MEL) of the 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerol type is described as possible structural candidates for a triene C18:3 MEL of an unknown identity found in a mixture of shark and dogfish liver oil. Their C18:3 hydrocarbon chains constitute an all-cis methylene skipped n-3 or n-6 triene framework, along with a methoxyl group at the 2'-position and R-configuration of the resulting stereogenic centre. The methoxylated polyenes are attached by an ether linkage to the pro-S hydroxymethyl group of the glycerol backbone. The syntheses were based on the polyacetylene approach that involves a semi-hydrogenation of the resulting triynes. Both syntheses were started from our previously described enantio- and diastereomerically pure isopropylidene-protected glyceryl glycidyl ether, a double-C3 building block that was designed as a head group synthon for synthesis of various types of MELs.

The increasingly common occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become an urgent public health issue. There are currently some infections without any effective treatment, which require new therapeutic strategies. An attractive alternative is the design of compounds capable of disrupting bacterial communication known as quorum sensing (QS). In gram-negative bacteria, such communication is regulated by acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). QS allows bacteria to proliferate before expressing virulence factors. Our group previously reported that hexyloxy phenyl imidazoline (9) demonstrated 71% inhibitory activity of QS at 100 µM (IC50=90.9 µM) in Chomobacterium violaceum, a gram-negative bacterium. The aim of the present study was to take 9 as a lead compound to design and synthesize three 2-imidazolines (13-15) and three 2-oxazolines (16-18), to be evaluated as quorum sensing inhibitors on C. violaceum CV026. We were looking for compounds with a higher affinity towards the Cvi receptor of this bacterium and the ability to inhibit QS. The binding mode of the test compounds on the Cvi receptor was explored with docking studies and molecular dynamics. It was found that 8-pentyloxyphenyl-2-imidazoline 13 reduced the production of violacein (IC50=56.38 µM) without affecting bacterial growth, suggesting inhibition of quorum sensing. Indeed, compound 13 is apparently one of the best QS inhibitors known to date. Molecular docking revealed the affinity of compound 13 for the orthosteric site of the N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C₆-AHL) on the CviR protein. Ten aminoacid residues in the active site of C₆-AHL interacted with 13, and 7 of these are the same as those interacting with AHL. Contrarily, 8-octyloxyphenyl-2-imidazoline 14, 8-decyloxyphenyl-2-imidazoline 15 and 9-decyloxyphenyl-2-oxazoline 18 bound only to an allosteric site and thus did not compete with C₆-AHL for the orthosteric site.

Neural radiance fields (NeRF) leverage a neural representation to encode scenes, obtaining photo-realistic rendering of novel views. However, NeRF has notable limitations. A significant drawback is that it does not capture surface geometry and only renders the object surface colors. Furthermore, the training of NeRF is exceedingly time-consuming. We propose Depth-NeRF as a solution to these issues. Specifically, our approach employs a fast depth completion algorithm to denoise and complete the depth maps generated by RGB-D cameras. These improved depth maps guide the sampling points of NeRF to be distributed closer to the scene's surface, benefiting from dense depth information. Furthermore, we have optimized the network structure of NeRF and integrated depth information to constrain the optimization process, ensuring that the termination distribution of the ray is consistent with the scene’s geometry. Compared to NeRF, our method accelerates the training speed by 18% and significantly reduces the RMSE between the rendered scene depth and the ground truth depth, which indicates that our method can better capture the geometric information of the scene. With these improvements, we can train the NeRF model more efficiently and achieve more accurate rendering results.

Caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, among others, infectious diseases can spread directly or from one individual to another. According to the World Health Organization, these diseases are known to cause high mortality rates, severe burdens of disability and serious worldwide aftermaths. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans are the main origins of the development of drug-resistant pathogens, which reduce the efficacy of these therapies, thus accentuating the need to search for effective antimicrobials. Medicinal plants have served as starting material for the preparation of a number of antimicrobial agents. To this end, the present study highlights the green synthesis of Cocos nucifera-based nanomaterials and evaluation of the mechanistic basis of their antimicrobial action. Accordingly, Cocos nucifera extract was used to reduce different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mM) of silver nitrate solution to afford silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These entities were further incorporated onto activated carbons (obtained by chemical activation using sulphuric acid as activation agent) to generate the nanocomposites. The antimicrobial activity of the as-prepared nanomaterials was evaluated using the broth microdilution method, while, the antioxidant activity was assessed through standard methods, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. Cytotoxicity of potent nanomaterials was assessed on Vero cells by spectrophotometric method. As a result, nanoparticles were successfully synthesized as evidenced by the color change of the solution from transparent to dark brown. Further characterization was carried out by UV-visible spectroscopy that showed an intense absorption spectrum at 433 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the functional group moieties involved as a capping and reducing agent in the synthesis of AgNPs. The incubation of nanomaterials with selected bacterial and fungal strains led to significant inhibitory effects of these pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 7.813 to 250 μg/ml. In antioxidant assays, the nanocomposites presented scavenging activities comparable to that of ascorbic acid. Cytotoxicity experiment revealed no toxic effects on the human mammalian cells Vero (range of selectivity indices: from &gt;4 to &gt;128). These results provide evidence of the implication of Cocos nucifera-based nanomaterials in targeting bacterial or fungal systems that mediate free-radical damage or by inhibiting the oxidative damage caused by selected bacteria and fungi, the most susceptible being Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, respectively.

A brown seaweed consumed worldwide, Fucus vesiculosus, has been used to prevent atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia, among other uses, however, the mechanisms of action that lead to these effects are not yet fully understood. An F. vesiculosus aqueous extract, prepared as a soup was characterized as rich in sev-eral bioactive compounds, mainly phlorotannin and peptides. This work aims to study the in vitro effect of this extract on the expression of different proteins involved in the synthesis and transport of cholesterol in HepG2 cells, though a proteomic analysis, western blot and qRT-PCR. The results demonstrated that, in liver cells, the extract decreases the expression of 4 proteins involved in cholesterol biosynthesis process and also decrease the expression of two important transporters proteins of cholesterol, NPC1L1 and ABCG5, as well as decrease the NPC1L1 mRNA levels. Our study demonstrates some mechanisms of action of bioactive com-pounds from F. vesiculosus that may explain its previously reported hypocholesterolemic effect.

In this work, we propose an easy and a low cost method for the synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Graphene NDG and its silver nanowires NW functionalization NWGN. The synthesis was performed using the improved graphene oxide method, chemical reduction of graphene oxide in the presence of caffeine as green nitrogen source and the subsequently the silver nanowires growth in the surface, by the chemical reductions salts in the presence of NG. Achieving a homogeneous growing (coating) of graphene sheets. The samples were analyzed using conventional characterization techniques: SEM-EDX, XRD, FT-IR, RAMAN, TEM, HRTEM, STEM and XPS.

A series of LaF₃:Ce³⁺ phosphors for the application in photodynamic therapy is synthesized using a one-stage solvothermal synthesis. The conditions providing the maximum intensity of UV- and X-ray-excited luminescence, lowest size and highest colloidal stability of the phosphor nanoparticles are found to respectively include cerium content 5% mol., use of ethanol as the reaction medium for the solvothermal synthesis and addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer in an optimized amount.

heterocycles are particularly common moieties within marine natural products. Specifically, tetrahydrofuranyl rings are present in a variety of compounds which present complex structures and interesting biological activities. Focusing on terpenoids, a high number of tetrahydrofuran-containing metabolites have been isolated during the last decades. They show promising biological activities, making them potential leads for novel antibiotics, antikinetoplastid drugs, amoebicidal substances or anticancer drugs. Thus, they have attracted the attention of the synthetic community, and numerous approaches to their total syntheses have appeared. Here, we offer the reader an overview of marine-derived terpenoids and related compounds, with a special focus on their isolation, structure determination, biological profiles and total syntheses.

In recent decades, perovskite-type compounds (ABB′O3) have been exhaustively studied due to their unique ferroelectric properties. In this work, a systematic study aiming to prepare fine particles in the binary system SrZrO₃–SrTiO₃ was conducted under hydrothermal conditions in a KOH (5 M) solution at 200 °C for 4 h under a constant stirring speed of 130 rpm. The precursors employed were SrSO₄ powder (&lt; 38 μm size) and coprecipitated hydrous gels of Zr(OH)₄•9.64 H₂O (Zr-gel) and Ti(OH)₄•4.5H₂O (Ti-gel), which were mixed according to the stoichiometry of the SrZr_1-xTixO₃ in the compositional range of 0.0&gt;x&gt;100.0 mol% Ti⁴⁺. The XRD results revealed the formation of two crystalline phases rich in Zr⁴⁺, an orthorhombic structured SrZr0.93Ti0.07O3 and a cubic structured SrZr0.75Ti0.25O3 within the compositional range of 0.1–0.5 mol of Ti4+. A cubic perovskite-structured solid solution, SrTi1-xZrxO3, was preferentially formed within the compositional range of 0.5&gt;x&gt;0.1 mol% Ti⁴⁺. The SrZrO₃ and SrZr_0.93Ti_0.07O₃-rich phases had particle sizes averaging 3 m with a cubic morphology. However, a remarkable reduction in the particle size occurred on solid solutions prepared with hydrous Ti-gel over contents of 15 mol% Ti⁴⁺ in the reaction media, resulting in the formation of nanosized particles agglomerates with cuboidal shape self-assembled via a 3D hierarchical architecture, the sizes of these particles varied in the range between 141.0–175.5 nm. The limited coarsening of the particles is discussed based on the Zr-gel and Ti-gel dehydration capability differences that occurred under hydrothermal processing.

Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂Solid-state reaction was used for Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ material synthesis from Li₂CO₃, La₂O₃ and ZrO₂ powders. Phase investigation by XRD, SEM and EDS methods of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ were carried out. The molar heat capacity of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ at constant pressure in the temperature range 298-800 K should be calculated as Cp,m = 518.135+0.599 × T - 8.339 × T−2, where T is absolute temperature, . Thermodynamic characteristics of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ were determined as next: entropy S0298 = 362.3 J mol-1 K-1, molar enthalpy of dissolution ΔdHLlZO = ˗ 1471.73 ± 29.39 kJ mol−1, the standard enthalpy of formation from elements ΔfH0 = ˗ 9327.65 ± 7.9 kJ mol−1, the standard Gibbs free energy of formation ∆f G0298 = ˗9435.6 kJ mol-1.

Background. Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a major clinical problem in many chronic illnesses, in cancer and in the elderly. Exercise and adequate nutrition, peculiarly dependents on availability of essential amino acids, considered the primary strategies for prevention and treatment of protein synthetic deficits, affect both the efficient scavenging of aged and overused protein molecules and the renewal, by maintaining muscular protein synthesis. Many questions still remain about the regulation of protein syntheses and degradation. Degradation of inefficient proteins or organelles is performed by the sum of micro and macro-autophagy plus ubiquitin-proteasome system, activities known as proteostasis, necessary to preserve and promote protein masses and consequently, the body’s reserves. However, how protein synthesis is regulated, and how activation of the mTOR complex may modulate and transduce the flow of information provided by exercise and nutrition to balance proteostasis and syntheses, is far from being fully understood. We suggest that energy production and availability, thus also mitochondria, may have a pivotal role in synchronizing activity and functional outcomes of protein syntheses, and that those syntheses, since higly energy demanding, are main effectors of AMPK dependent autophagy activation by consuming ATP and producing AMP. Conclusion. While in normal conditions protein syntheses drive autophagy activation by decreasing ATP to AMP ratio, conversely autophagy may be inefficiently activated when chronic both low production and consumption of ATP would result in lowest concentrations of AMP, and therefore both blunted rates of protein syntheses and autophagy would be observed. We suggest that this functional hypothesis may explain sarcopenia in many pathological conditions , as in cancer or in aging muscles.

Green synthesis offers a superior alternative to traditional methods for producing metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. This approach is not only benign and safe but also cost-effective, scalable, and straightforward, operating under ambient conditions. Notable metals and metal oxide nanoparticles, such as manganese oxides, iron oxides, silver, and gold, have been produced using various bio-reductants derived from plant extracts. These biological agents not only expedite the reduction process but also stabilize the nanoparticles, serving dual roles as reducing and capping agents. This review presents the green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) obtained from biogenic wastes and plant extracts. The green-synthesized nanostructured MnO2 are evaluated as a potential photocatalyst for water treatment and as an electrode material in lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. The green-derived iron oxide nanoparticles are examined as promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic agents. Additionally, this review discusses the green synthesis of precious metal nanoparticles, specifically silver (Ag NPs) and gold (Au NPs), highlighting their potential medical applications in areas like antiviral treatments and cancer therapy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed an exponential increase in its use in various applications. Recently, the academic community started to research and inject new AI-based approaches to provide solutions to traditional software engineering problems. However, a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the current status is missing. To close the above gap, synthetic knowledge synthesis was used to induce a research landscape of the contemporary research literature on the use of AI in software engineering. The synthesis resulted in 15 research categories and five themes, namely natural language processing in software engineering, use of artificial intelligence in the management of software development life cycle, use of machine learning in fault/defect prediction and effort estimation, employment of deep learning in intelligent software engineering and code management, and mining software repositories to improve software quality. The most productive country was China (n=2042), followed by the United States (n=1193), India (n=934), Germany (n=445), and Canada (n=381). A high percentage (n=47.4%) of papers were funded, showing a strong interest in this research topic. The convergence of AI and software engineering can significantly reduce needed resources, improve quality, increase user experience, and improve the well-being of software developers.

Synthesis of natural products with complicated architecture often requires segments having the functional groups that can be structurally transformed with the desired stereogenic centers. Bicyclic ?-lactones have a great potential for a suitable segment for natural product synthesis. However, the stereoselective construction of such functionalized bicyclic ?-lactones is not as straightforward as one might expect. On the other hand, the Lewis acid template-mediated Diels-Alder reaction is one of the most powerful and versatile methods for providing bicyclic ?-lactones with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity. In this reaction, the Lewis acid template activates the dienophile as well as linking the diene and dienophile by a temporary tether. Therefore, Diels-Alder reaction smoothly proceeds in a stereocontrolled manner, allowing a simple access to bicyclic ?-lactone as a valuable building block for the synthesis of complicated natural products. In this review, some highlights of the Lewis acid-mediated Diels-Alder reaction, along with its application to the synthesis of biologically active compounds are discussed.

Building heterojunction is promising strategy for the achievement of highly efficient photocatalysis. In this study, a novel SnIn4S8@ZnO Z-scheme heterojunction with tight contact interface was successfully constructed through a facile two-step hydrothermal method. The phase composition, morphology, and photophysical properties of SnIn4S8@ZnO were studied through a series of characterization methods, respectively. Methylene blue (MB) was selected as the target pollutant for photocatalytic degradation and the degradation process was fitted with pseudo-first order kinetics. The as-prepared SnIn4S8@ZnO heterojunctions exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activities for the degradation of MB. The optimized sample (ZS800), in which the molar ratio of ZnO to SnIn4S8 was 800, displayed the highest photodegradation efficiency of MB (91%) within 20 min. Furthermore, the apparent rate constant of photodegradation for MB of ZS800 (0.121 min−1) was 2.2 times higher than that of pure ZnO (0.054 min−1). The improvement of photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the effective spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers through a Z-scheme heterojunction with intimate contact interface. This work will provide a new insight into constructing excellent ZnO-based photocatalytic systems for wastewater purification.

Graphene nanostructures (GNS) are among the most promising materials for creating supercapacitors. However, GNS are still not used in creating supercapacitors due to the impossibility of obtaining large volumes of high-quality material at an acceptable cost. In this work, we investigated the efficiency of using few-layer graphene (FLG) with the number of layers is not more than 5 synthesized under Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) conditions as basic material for supercapacitors. Using the SHS process makes it possible to synthesize large volumes of FLG without Stone-Wales defects. It was found that the synthesized FLG makes it possible to obtain better results than using classical materials, namely activated carbon (AC). It was found that the sample based on FLG has a higher specific capacitance – 65 F×g-1 compared to the sample from AC, the specific capacitance of which is 35 F×g-1, for a speed of 5 mV×s-1 these values are 170 and 64 F×g-1, respectively. The drop in capacitance over 1000 cycles was 4%, which indicates a sufficiently high stability of FLG and allows us to consider FLG as perspective material for use in supercapacitors.

Present study reports the green synthesis of pectin fabricated silver-based nanocomposite (Pectin-AgNPs) with Carpesiumnepalense leaves extract and evaluated their bactericidal kinetics, in-vivo hepatoprotective and cytotoxic potentials with their possible mechanisms. GC/MS and LC/MS analysis indicated the presence of different new phytochemicals constituents in the plant extract. The physicochemical characterization of Pectin-AgNPs by UV/Vis, SEM, DLS, FTIR and EDX techniques showed the spherical and uniform size range synthesis of nanocomposite i.e. 50-110 nm. The highly significant (P<0.005) antibacterial activity was found against all tested four bacterial strains with the ZIs of 24.8 to 27.2 mm. Significant damage in bacterial cell membrane was also observed in AFM study after treated with Pectin-AgNPs. At the doses of 0.05 mg/kg, nanocomposite showed highly significant (P<0.005)hepatoprotective activity in biochemical and histopathology analysis as compared to CCL4 administered control group. The ameliorative effects of Pectin-AgNPs were observed in PCR analysis on both GAPDH and PPARs genes expression and its potential to restore gene alterations caused by CCl4 intoxication.Pectin-AgNPs produced cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines at higher doses with the LC50 of 223.7 µg/mL. The current findings demonstrate positive attributes of pectin fabricated AgNPs as a promising antibacterial, hepatoprotective and cytotoxic agent.

The supramolecular based macrocyclic amphiphiles have attracted great attention in the field of drug delivery due to their unique self-assembling nature. Therefore, these macrocycles are used as nanocarriers for the delivery of poor water soluble drugs, and also for those which have lower permeability, and cannot cross the barrier to reach the desired site. Herein, we design and synthesized a new supramolecular amphiphilic macrocycle to overcome these problems. The macrocycle was synthesized in two steps. In first step 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde was treated with 1-bromotetradecane to obtain a derivatized product which was then treated with resorcinol to cyclize and get calix(4)resorcinarene based supramolecular amphiphilic macrocycle. The synthesized macrocycle and intermediate products were characterized by Mass spectrometry, IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The amphiphile was screened for biocompatibility studies, vesicles formation, and then Amphotericin-B was loaded in the supramolecular amphiphile based vesicles and was characterized for shape, size, homogeneity, surface charge, drug entrapment, in-vitro release profile and stability through atomic force microscopy (AFM), Zetasizer, HPLC and FT-IR. Amp-B loaded macrocycle based vesicles were investigated for in-vivo bioavailability in rabbits. The synthesized macrocycle was nontoxic in cancer cells, hemo-compatible and safe in mice. The drug-loaded macrocycle based vesicles appeared spherical, nano-ranged, and homogeneous in size with negative surface charge and were able to load an increased amount of drug. The vesicles are stable upon storage and when incubated with gastric simulated fluid. Amp-B increased oral bioavailability was achieved when delivered in synthesized macrocycle based vesicles. These results point out that the synthesized supramolecular amphiphile is an efficient nanocarrier to enhance the oral bioavailability of lipophilic drugs

Data scarcity is a significant challenge in the field of Machine Learning (ML), as data collection can be expensive, time-consuming, and difficult, particularly in developing countries. This challenge is exaggerated on the need to use dataset for livestock disease predictions for early intervention and surveillance. To address this challenge, this paper presents a data synthesis method that has been used to accurately generate new data samples from few real-world data. With much data available to train the ML models, overfitting is eliminated. We present the use of Generative Adversarial Networks mainly the Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Network to synthesize categorical data for training machine learning models for prediction of the Pestes des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease. The results showed that training score became 0.89 and the cross-validation score was 0.87 after synthesized data was used with Random Forest algorithm. The resulting dataset can be used to support the prediction and surveillance of the Pestes des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease. The proposed method can also be applied to any domain with categorical data, and has the potential to improve the performance of machine learning models with increased data availability.

In this paper we present an efficient technique for the synthesis of very large sparse arrays, with arbitrary circularly symmetrical upper bounds for the pattern specifications. The algorithm, that is based on iterative smooth re-weighted L1 minimizations is very flexible, and is capable of achieving very good performances with respect to competitive algorithms. Furthermore, thanks to its efficiency, planar arrays of hundreds of wavelengths can be synthesized with limited computational effort.

Iron oxide nanoparticles are widely used as contrast agent for MRI and may be used as therapeutic agent by magnetic hyperthermia if they display a high magnetic anisotropy. Considering the effect of the nanoparticles shape on anisotropy, the reproducible shape control of nanoparticles is currently a challenge of synthesis methods. By investigating reaction parameters which are the iron precursor structure, the water content and the amount of the surfactant, sodium oleate, reported to trigger the cubic shape, iron oxide nanoparticles with different shape and composition were observed to form. In particular, iron oxide nanoplates have been thus synthesized. The effect of the surfactant coming from precursor was taking into account by using in house iron stearates bearing either two or three stearate chains and the negative effect of water on shape was confirmed by considering these precursors after their dehydration. Nanocubes with straight faces and a FeO@Fe3-xO4 composition were obtained only with dehydrated precursors and 50% of sodium oleate in the oleic acid and sodium oleate surfactant mixtures. When iron stearates with three chains led mainly to nanocubes in presence of soduim oleate, Iron stearates with two chains led to the formation of nanoplates with 80% of sodium oleate. The original flat shape of the plates was confirmed with 3D TEM tomography. The investigation of the synthesis mechanisms confirmed the major role of deprotonated carboxylic acid and of the heating rate to drive the cubic shape of nanoparticles and showed that the nanoplate formation would depend mainly on the nucleation step and possibly on the presence of a given ratio of oleic acid and deprotonated carboxylic acid.

Ferroelectric materials are crucial for today’s technological society, and nanostructured ferroelectric materials are important for downscaling of devices. Controlled and reproducible synthesis of these materials are therefore of immense importance. Hydrothermal synthesis is a well-established synthesis route, with a large parameter space for optimization, but a better understanding of nucleation and growth mechanisms is needed for full utilization and control. Here we use in situ X-ray diffraction to follow the nucleation and growth of BaTiO₃ formed by hydrothermal synthesis using two different titanium precursors, an amorphous titania precipitate slurry and a Ti-citric acid complex solution. Sequential Rietveld refinement was used to extract the time dependency of lattice parameters, crystallite size, strain and atomic displacement parameters. Phase pure BaTiO₃ nanoparticles 10 - 15 nm in size were successfully synthesized at different temperatures (100, 125, and 150 °C) from both precursors after reaction times ranging from a few seconds, to several hours. The two precursors resulted in phase pure BaTiO₃ with similar final crystallite size. Finally, two different growth mechanisms were revealed, where the effect of surfactants present during hydrothermal synthesis is discussed as one of the key parameters.

2017 was an excellent year in terms of new drugs (chemical entities and biologics) approved by the FDA, with a total of forty-six. In turn, one of the highlights was the number of peptides (six) included in this list. Here, the six peptides are analysed in terms of chemical structure, synthetic strategy used for their production, source, biological target, and mode of action.

Material identification based on R_value (transparency natural logarithm ratio of low-energy to high-energy) of line-scan dual-energy X-ray transmission (DE-XRT) has a good prospect for industrial application. Unfortunately, the DE-XRT signals before attenuation cannot be directly measured, whereas their precision is very important to R_value. Therefore, a context-based signal synthesis method which takes the filtered signals that remove high-frequency noises and retain low-frequency actual fluctuations as the reference value, and takes into account the vertical (forward/column) direction and horizontal (scanning/row) direction anisotropy of line-scan images was proposed. The vertical is a time series with continuity of signal trend; the horizontal is a spatial characteristic with the fluctuation synchronization within the same row signals. The special synthesis evaluations of curve synthesis difference and surface synthesis difference were also proposed. Experimental results show that the tow evaluations are both only about 0.0007, and it only takes 35 ms to complete the surface synthesis of 119×119 pixels on the CPU with 3.4 GHz main frequency. The presented method can achieve high signal synthesis precision and calculation real-time, so as to facilitate DE-XRT material identification. It can be extended to improve the precision of numerical synthesis in other line-scan uncomplete signals.

Remdesivir (RDV) has garnered much hope for its moderate anti-COVID-19 effects, but its limited amelioration of survival in hospitalized patient causes a huge controversy over the applicability of RDV to COVID-19 treatment. Developing strategies to improve its antivirus efficacy is urgently required. As anticipated, RDV exhibits similar behavior with other nucleotide analogs to disrupt the metabolism of natural endogenous ribonucleotides (RNs) and deoxyribonucleotides (dRNs). Alterations in endogenous RNs and dRNs play a critical role in virus replication as well as other key cellular functions. Thus elucidation of the disturbances of RDV on RNs and dRNs could help to understand its exact mechanism of action. Here, the metabolic profiling determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method showed a general increase in the abundance of nucleotides and a more than 2-fold increase for specific nucleotides. However, the variation of pyrimidine ribonucleotides was relative slight or even contrary, resulting in obvious imbalance between purine and pyrimidine ribonucleotides, which implied the obstacle of RDV to pyrimidine synthesis and could further block the transcription and replication of viral RNA. Additionally, the extreme disequilibrium between cytidine triphosphate (CTP) and cytidine monophosphate might result from the inhibition of CTP synthase and provide a metabolic target for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. Since nucleotides metabolism pathways are vulnerable to nucleotide analogues and are liable to be the regulation targets, it is promising to enhance the efficacy of RDV through co-administration with CTP synthase inhibitors or de novo pyrimidine synthesis inhibitors to exacerbate the imbalance of nucleotide pools.

A series of novel asymmetrical mono-carbonyl analogs of curcumin (AMACs) were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxic activity using the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) and the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay against Vero, HeLa, and MCF7 cell lines. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectral data. The results of the cytotoxicity evaluation showed that the synthesized compounds exhibited moderate to very high toxic activity in BSLT, requiring a concentration of 13.06–714.49 µg/mL to kill half the population. Most of the compound exhibited cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines, comparable to the activity of cisplatin with a concentration of the synthesized compounds required to inhibit 50% of the growth of the cell lines (IC₅₀) value of 40.65–95.55 µM, and most of the compounds tested against MCF7 cell lines exhibited moderate to very high cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ value 7.86–35.88 µM). However, the selectivity index of the compounds was low, less than 1–1.96. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 1b showed the highest cytotoxicity and selectivity against MCF7 cell lines. Compound 1b could be considered for further development to obtain more active and selective chemotherapeutic agents against breast cancer.

Introduction: The academic landscape is increasingly recognizing the complex interplay of personal and professional responsibilities on scholarly productivity. For women scholars, particularly those with significant parenting duties, this balance is even more precarious. This study aims to explore how family responsibilities, personal vulnerabilities, and motivational theories such as Imposter Syndrome and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) influence the motivation to publish scholarly work. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing supportive mechanisms that can enhance academic productivity and personal fulfilment. Methods: Utilizing a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) framework, this study will systematically review and synthesize qualitative research on women scholars' experiences in academia, focusing on the challenges and motivators related to publishing. Data sources will include academic databases, grey literature, and first-hand narratives. Thematic analysis will be employed to identify key themes and patterns across the collected data. Results/Findings: Preliminary findings suggest that the dual demands of parenting—especially in extreme cases such as assuming responsibility for seven children—and academic work significantly impact women scholars' publishing activities. Personal vulnerabilities, including imposter syndrome and low self-efficacy, further exacerbate these challenges. However, the data also highlight resilience strategies and the potential for intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors to mitigate these effects. Discussion: The study underscores the nuanced impact of familial and personal factors on academic motivation. The preliminary findings suggest that addressing imposter syndrome and enhancing self-determination could be pivotal in supporting women scholars. The role of institutional policies and academic culture in either exacerbating or alleviating these challenges is also discussed. Significance: By elucidating the specific challenges and motivators for women scholars in publishing, this study will contribute to the development of targeted interventions and policies that support work-life integration and promote academic productivity. The insights that will be gained could inform mentorship programs, institutional support systems, and policy reforms aimed at fostering a more inclusive and supportive academic environment.

New Schiff base ofN'-((E)-3,3-diphenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-ylidene)-2-((Z)-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothiohydrazide (HL) and its Co(II),Ni(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II) complexes were created, isolated, and characterized by analytical analysis in good yields of 60 to 90%, UV–Vis, magnetic measurements, molar conductivity, and FT-IR. Additionally, mass spectrometry was used to examine the new ligand complexes' structural characteristics.1H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Depending on the electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements, these complexes are predicted to have octahedral molecular geometry. As an example, the quantum chemical properties, bond lengths, and bond angles were discussed. The structural formula for the examined ligand was improved using the Gaussian09 tool. The DFT/B3LYP method was used to calculate the energy gaps and other crucial theoretical features. The prepared hydrazine ligand complexes Co (II), Ni (II), Fe (III), Cu (II), Cd (II), Zn (II) and Mn (II) complexes were evaluated for its antimicrobial properties. As antimicrobial agents, it was found that the organic ligand was less biologically active than the targeted complexes. Gram positive bacteria (3ty7-Staphylococcus), Gram negative bacteria (3t88-Escherichia coli), and fungi (5k04-Candida albicans) all have crystal structures that interact well with the chemicals in the title, according to molecular docking.

Green and sustainable electrocatalytic conversion of nitrogen-containing compounds to ammonia are currently in high demand in order to replace the eco-unfriendly Haber-Bosch process. Model catalysts for the nitrate reduction reaction were obtained by electrodeposition of metal Co, Fe and bimetallic Fe/Co nanoparticles from aqueous solutions onto a graphite substrate. The samples were characterized by the following methods: SEM, XRD, XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic (and linear) voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Besides, the determination of electrochemically active surface was also performed for all electrocatalysts. The best electrocatalyst was a sample containing Fe-nanoparticles on the layer of Co-nanoparticles, which showed the Faradaic efficiency 58.2% (E=-0.785 V vs. RHE) at the ammonia yield rate of 14.6 μmol h-1 cm-2. An opinion was expressed on elucidation of the mechanism of coordinated electrocatalytic action of a bimetallic electrocatalyst. This work can serve primarily as a starting point for future investigations on electrocatalytic conversion reactions to ammonia using model catalysts of the proposed type.

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a predominant cause of mortality, especially in low- and middle-income nations. Recently antimicrobial peptides were discovered that at low concentrations could stimulate the growth of M. tuberculosis (hormetic response). In this study, such a peptide was used to investigate the effects on the time to positivity (TTP). A systematic substitution analysis of peptide 14D was synthesized using Spot synthesis technology, resulting in 171 novel peptides. Our findings revealed a spectrum of interactions, with some peptides accelerating M. tuberculosis growth, potentially aiding in faster diagnostics, while others exhibited inhibitory effects. Notably, peptide NH2-wkivfiwrr-CONH2 significantly reduced the TTP by 25 hours compared to the wild-type peptide 14D, highlighting its potential in improving TB diagnostics by culture. Several peptides demonstrated potent antimycobacterial activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 20 µg/mL against H37Rv and a multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strain. Additionally, a reduction in the formation of cord-like structures was observed, which is indicative of reduced virulence and transmission potential. This study underscores the multifaceted roles of antimicrobial peptides in TB management, from enhancing diagnostic efficiency to offering therapeutic avenues against M. tuberculosis.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have been studied extensively in the past years due to the novel electronic, photonic, mechanical and electrochemical properties. Recently, more attention has been paid to assemble nanoscale building blocks into three dimensional (3D) complex hierarchical structures, which not only inherit the excellent properties of the single building blocks but also provide potential applications in the bottom-up fabrication of functional devices. This review article focuses on 3D ZnO hierarchical nanostructures, and summarizes major advances in the solution phase synthesis, applications in environment, and electrical/electrochemical devices. We present the principles and growth mechanisms of ZnO nanostructures via different solution methods, with an emphasis on rational control of the morphology and assembly. We then discuss the applications of 3D ZnO hierarchical nanostructures in photocatalysis, field emission, electrochemical sensor, and lithium ion batteries. Throughout the discussion, the relationship between the device performance and the microstructures of 3D ZnO hierarchical nanostructures will be highlighted. This review concludes with a personal perspective on the current challenges and future researches.

Currently, metal nanoparticles have varied uses for different medical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural applications. Nano-biotechnology combined with green chemistry has great potential for the development of novel and necessary products that benefit human activities, while encourages the reduction of hazardous reagents for nanoparticle production. Green chemistry has an important role due to its contribution to unconventional synthesis methods of gold and silver nanoparticles from plant extracts, which have exhibited antimicrobial potential among other outstanding properties. Biodiversity-rich countries need to collect and convert knowledge from biological resources into processes, compounds, methods, and tools, which need to be achieved along with sustainable use and exploitation of biological diversity. Therefore, this review focuses on the importance of metal nanoparticles, the use of plant extract for their synthesis as well as other available methods, and the relevant antimicrobial activity that can be exploited in a sustainable model of agricultural management through a modern nanotechnological approach.

Alginate-silver nanocomposites in the form of spherical beads and films were prepared using a green approach by using the aqueous extract of Ajwa dates seeds. The nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ reduction and gelation method by ionotropic crosslinking using calcium ions in solution. The rich phytochemicals of the dates seeds extract played a dual role as reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was studied using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and a distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 421 nm characteristic of silver nanoparticles confirmed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the nanocomposite beads and film was compact with even distribution of silver nanoclusters. The catalytic property of the nanocomposite beads was evaluated for the degradation of 2-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The degradation followed pseudo-first order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.40 ´ 10^-3 s^-1 at 23 °C with an activation energy of 18.45 kJ mol^-1. The thermodynamic parameters such as changes in enthalpy and entropy were evaluated to be 15.22 kJ mol^-1 and -197.50 J mol^-1 K^-1, respectively. The nanocomposite exhibited properties against three clinically important pathogens (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria)

Given the high prevalence of cutaneous genus beta human papillomavirus (β-HPV) infections, it is important to understand how they are manipulating their host cells. This is particularly true for cellular responses to UV damage, since our skin is continually exposed to UV. The E6 protein from β-HPV (β-HPV E6) decreases the abundance of two essential UV-repair kinases (ATM and ATR). Since β-HPV E6 reduces their availability, the impact on downstream signaling events has been uncertain. We demonstrate that β-HPV E6 decreases ATM and ATR activation. This inhibition extended to XPA, an ATR target necessary for UV repair, lowering both its phosphorylation and accumulation. β-HPV E6 hinders POLη phosphorylation and foci formation, critical steps in translesion synthesis. ATM’s phosphorylation of BRCA1 is also attenuated by β-HPV E6. However, β-HPV E6’s hindrance of ATM/ATR signaling during UV-associated cell cycle arrest was incomplete. While there was less phosphorylation of immediate downstream targets (CHK1), events further down the cascade were not decreased. These observations are consistent with β-HPV infections making UV radiation more deleterious and support the proposed role of β-HPV in early stages of non-melanoma skin cancer development.

New series of compounds containing both heterocycle moieties and pseudo-symmetric hydroxyethylamine core were obtained using a simple synthetic path that can provide a library of compounds in few steps and high yields. Furthermore, diversity-oriented synthesis was studied to change different functionalities according to needs. The in vitro inhibition activity against recombinant HIV-1 protease was evaluated. A beneficial effect of this class of compounds can be obtained either for the presence of a bis-benzyl group into the core and for the heterocyclic moiety in P1, specifically the indole ring. Docking analysis was also reported.

Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) are a large group of terpenoids most commonly found in plants of the Asteraceae family, e. g. in chicory plants, displaying a wide range of interesting biological activities. However, further studies on the biological potential of chicory derived STLs and analogues are challenging as only four of these molecules are commercially available (as analytical standards), and to date there are no published or patented simple extraction-purification processes capable of large scale STLs isolation. In this work we describe a novel three-step large scale extraction and purification method for the simultaneous purification of 11,13-dihydrolactucin (DHLc) and lactucin (Lc) starting from a chicory genotype rich in these STLs and in the corresponding glycosyl and oxalyl conjugated forms. After a small-scale screening on 100 mg of freeze-dried chicory root powder, the best results were achieved with a 17 h water maceration at 30°C. With these conditions we managed to increase the content of DHLc and Lc, at the same time favouring the hydrolysis of their conjugated forms. On a larger scale, the extraction of 750 g of freeze-dried chicory root powder, followed by a liquid-liquid extraction step and a reversed-phase chromatography, allowed the recovery of 642.3 ± 76.3 mg of DHLc and 175.3 ± 32.9 mg of Lc. The two pure STLs were subsequently used in the context of semi-synthesis to generate analogues for biological evaluation as antibacterial agents. In addition, other described chicory STLs that are not commercially available were also synthesized or extracted to serve as analytical standards for the study. In particular, lactucin-oxalate and 11,13-dihydrolactucin-oxalate were synthesized in two steps starting from Lc and DHLc, respectively. On the other hand, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin-glycoside was obtained after a MeOH/H₂O (70/30) extraction, followed by a liquid-liquid extraction step and a reversed-phase chromatography. Together, this work will help facilitate the evaluation of the biological potential of chicory derived STLs and their semisynthetic analogues.

Target recognition and fine-grained ship classification in remote sensing face the challenges of high inter-class similarity and sample scarcity. A transfer fusion-based ship image harmonization algorithm is proposed to overcome these challenges. This algorithm designs a feature transfer fusion strategy based on the combination of region aware instantiation and attention mechanism. Implement adversarial learning through image harmony generator and discriminator module to generate realistic remote sensing ship harmony images. Furthermore, the do-main encoder and domain discriminator modules are responsible for extracting feature representations of foreground and background, and further aligning ship foreground with remote sensing ocean background features through feature discrimination. Compared with other advanced image conversion techniques, our algorithm delivers more realistic visuals, improving classification accuracy for six ship types by 3% and twelve types by 2.94%, outperforming Sim2RealNet. Finally, a mixed dataset containing data augmentation and harmonizing samples and real data was proposed for the fine-grained classification task of remote sensing ships. Evaluation experiments were conducted on 8 typical fine-grained classification algorithms, and the accuracy of fine-grained classification for all categories of ships was analyzed. The experimental results show that the mixed dataset proposed in this paper effectively alleviates the long tail problem in real datasets, and the proposed remote sensing ship data augmentation framework performs better than state-of-the-art data augmentation methods in fine-grained ship classification tasks.

The reaction of pyridinium chlorochromate with furan to give enedione derivatives cannot be performed by using commercial PCC. Homemade and commercial PCC had different color and showed some differences in the XRD spectrum. XPS showed the presence of relevant amount of Cr(III) in the homemade reagent. DFT calculations showed that Cr(III) impurities in the reagent can catalyze the reaction with furan derivatives, if oxygen atom in the Cr(III) derivative attacks the furan ring, while it is reoxidized by PCC, through a migration of a chlorine atom.

Graphene is a two-dimensional nanostructured material with intrinsic properties that show promising performance in various applications, including electronics, renewable energy, medicine, mechanical enforcement and others. This study reports a bottom-up approach for the conversion of cyclohexane into graphene nanoflakes, which were then deposited onto fiberglass using a non-thermal generator. The composite was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, which revealed the formation of stacked few-layer graphene with a partially disordered structure and a d-spacing of 0.358 nm between the layers. X-ray diffraction confirmed the observations from the TEM images. SEM images showed the agglomeration of carbonaceous material onto the fiberglass, which experienced some delamination due to the synthesis method. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained graphene exhibited a predominance of defects in its structure. Additionally, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses revealed the formation of graphene layers with varying levels of porosity.

Isoamyl (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (1) was obtained 95% yield by 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA)/4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-catalyzed reaction at room temperature for 190 minutes in dichloromethane. The structure of isoamyl (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (1) was established by NMR, FTIR, and the high resolution of mass spectroscopies. In vitro sun protection factor evaluation exhibited value of 37.10 ± 0.03 which indicates that isoamyl (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (1) as a sunscreen agent with high protection.

Purposes: To provide abdominal contrast-enhanced MR image synthesis, we developed an image gradient regularized multi-modal multi-discrimination sparse-attention fusion generative adversarial network (GRMM-GAN) to avoid repeated contrast injections to patients and facilitate adaptive monitoring. Methods: With IRB approval, 165 abdominal MR studies from 61 liver cancer patients were retrospectively solicited from our institutional database. Each study included T2, T1 pre-contrast (T1pre), and T1 contrast-enhanced (T1ce) images. The GRMM-GAN synthesis pipeline consists of a sparse attention fusion network, an image gradient regularizer (GR), and a generative adversarial network with multi-discrimination. The studies were randomly divided into 115 for training, 20 for validation, and 30 for testing. The two pre-contrast MR modalities, T2 and T1pre images, were adopted as inputs in the training phase. The T1ce image at the portal venous phase was used as an output. The synthesized T1ce images were compared with the ground truth T1ce images. The evaluation metrics include peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural-similarity-index (SSIM), and mean-squared-error (MSE). A Turing test and experts’ contours evaluated the image synthesis quality. Results: The proposed GRMM-GAN model achieved a PSNR of 28.56, an SSIM of 0.869, and an MSE of 83.27. The proposed model showed statistically significant improvements in all metrics tested with p-values <0.05 over the state-of-the-art model comparisons. The average Turing test score was 52.33%, close to random guessing, supporting the model's effectiveness for clinical application. In the tumor-specific region analysis, the average tumor contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the synthesized MR images was not statistically significant from the real MR images. The average DICE from real vs. synthetic images was 0.90, compared to the inter-operator DICE of 0.91. Conclusion: We demonstrated the function of a novel multi-modal MR image synthesis neural network, GRMM-GAN, for T1ce MR synthesis based on pre-contrast T1 and T2 MR images. GRMM-GAN shows promise for avoiding repeated contrast injections during radiation therapy treatment.