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Today, human activities are the leading cause of severe environmental damages, especially regarding shortage and instability of natural resources. The sustainability concept was developed in response, to limit these risks and facilitate living conditions for future generations. Life and nature have historically been considered as inspiring in architecture among others, prompting an environmental-oriented sense of direction towards resolving present-day issues. Despite the proliferation of nature-inspired sciences, hardly any attention is paid to classifications and interconnections between these sciences regardless of benefits associated with such studies. However, the availability of such a classification and its use in present-day architecture can significantly contribute to the advancement of environmental sustainability. The current research has identified and presented a comprehensive framework of sciences inspired by life and nature (bio) and their relationship. The research method is qualitative-descriptive and focuses on articles containing the word ‘bio’, published in Springer publishers between 2020 and 2022. The review of the 1927 articles have led to a classification of biological studies into 11 groups (bionic, biomimetic, biomorphic, biofuel (biodiesel, bioalcohol, bioethanol, biohydrogen, and biogas), biomaterial, biohybrid, bioaerosol, biotechnology, bioalgorithm (biodesign intelligence and biomaterial intelligence), bioart (bio-inspired design and biodecoration), biophilia (biophilic design) and the relationship between them environmental sustainability. The outcome is a development of the theoretical knowledge about bio-inspired sciences and indicates that international bioscience studies mainly focus on biofuels and biotechnology, along the lines of reducing human activities’ impact on the environment, efficient use of natural resources, protect biodiversity, and a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides a concise overview of recent advances and future perspectives in co-processed excipients which is characterized by their synergistic combinations have become pivotal in pharmaceutical formulations. This review delves in to the latest innovations manufacturing techniques and applications of co-processed excipients. Emphasis is placed on enhanced functionality, and improved performance and the potential for addressing formulation challenges. The abstract concludes by highlighting the future prospects and emerging trends in this dynamic field,offering valuable insights for researchers and pharmaceutical professionals alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Multiple ecological tactics, like the ones described here, can be imitated to strongly affect these two components in the construction sector. This article provides an in‐depth examination of the literature on biomimicry‐based strategies intended to enhance building designs. This analysis is motivated by the rising need for energy legislation to achieve future local goals and provide a framework for use in Panama. These biomimicry‐based methods have undergone more review and evaluation, and the incorporation of organism‐based design for three of Panama's climate types has been proposed. Therefore, a SWOT analysis assisted in realizing the full potential that biomimicry‐based techniques might have in raising the likelihood of satisfying local and international regulatory standards. In order to design constructions using biomimicry, multidisciplinary collaboration is required. This gives a competitive edge for better‐trained human resources and expands horizons in the conventional construction industry. Finally, the analysis provided here might act as the preliminary step for the additional technical assessment using numerical and experimental procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial polypropylene (PP) was developed by plasma functionalization and subsequent immobilization of chitosan (CS)‐chlorhexidine (CHX) nanogels as the bioactive component. Oxygen plasma was used to create a hydrophilic surface monitored by water drop interaction with the fabric surface. CS nanogels were prepared by the ionic gelation method. The characterization of the nanogels was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis (EDX). The functionalized fabric exhibited excellent antimicrobial nature against S. aureus and E. coli microbes. The animal studies involving mice showed that the material exhibited excellent biocompatibility in contact with the skin. There was no evidence of inflammatory cells in the histopathology. This investigation suggests that the fabric has enormous potential as infection‐resistant material in applications such as wet wipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energies are the best solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and supply reliable electricity. This study aims to find the best combination of various components considering economic, environmental, and technical factors together. The most important consideration factors are the limitation of using PV panels due to the land constraints and applying CO2 penalties where diesel generators and the grid are generating electricity. Findings show that providing electricity by hybrid systems would be useful even in the well-provided electricity regions by the grid with the least blackouts. The best combination of the proposed components, including PV, bio generator, diesel generator, batteries, and grid for the case study region where the load demand is 890 kWh/day and peak load is 167.2 kW, would be an off-grid hybrid system including PV, bio generator, diesel generator, and battery. The optimization results show an NPC (present value of the costs of investment and operation of a system over its lifetime) of $1.02 million and a COE (the average cost per capital of useful electricity produced by the system) of 0.188 $/kWh. Finally, due to the showing of the effect of different conditions on the optimization results and making the study usable for other circumstances of the case study region, some sensitivity analyses have been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mélanges francophones is the property of Galati University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) was recently implicated in the dysregulated biology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Low concentrations of GSK-3 inhibitors, SB216763 and BIO, suppressed the proliferation of AML cells with FLT3-ITD as early as 24 h after treatment. BIO was used in subsequent assays since it exhibited higher inhibitory effects than SB216763. BIO-induced G1 cell cycle arrest by regulating the expression of cyclin D2 and p21 in MV4-11 cells, and promoted apoptosis by regulating the cleaved-caspase3 signaling pathways. In vivo assays demonstrated that BIO suppressed tumor growth, while metabolomics assay showed that BIO reduced the levels of ATP and pyruvate in MV4-11 cells suggesting that it inhibited glycolysis. BIO markedly suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis of AML cells with FLT3-ITD by partially inhibiting glycolysis, suggesting that BIO may be a promising therapeutic candidate for AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subdigital adhesive pads of Caribbean Anolis lizards are considered to be a key innovation that permits occupation of novel ecological niches. Although previous work has demonstrated that subdigital pad morphology and performance vary with habitat use, such investigations have only considered the macroscale aspects of these structures (e.g. pad area). The morphological agents of attachment, however, are arrays of hair-like fibres (setae) that terminate in an expanded tip (spatula) and have not been examined in a similar manner. Here we examine the setal morphology and setal field configuration of ecologically distinct species of the monophyletic Jamaican Anolis radiation from a functional and ecological perspective. We find that anoles occupying the highest perches possess greater setal densities and smaller spatulae than those exploiting lower perches. This finding is consistent with the concept of contact splitting, whereby subdivision of an adhesive area into smaller and more densely packed fibres results in an increase in adhesive performance. Micromorphological evidence also suggests that the biomechanics of adhesive locomotion may vary between Anolis ecomorphs. Our findings indicate that, in a similar fashion to macroscale features of the subdigital pad, its microstructure may vary in relation to performance and habitat use in Caribbean Anolis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) is a candidate small molecule that effectively modulates Wnt signalling owing to its stable property. The present study investigated the influence of BIO on the odonto/osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). hDPSCs were treated with 200, 400, or 800 nM BIO, and the effects on hDPSC responses and osteogenic differentiation were assessed. BIO-mediated Wnt activation was confirmed by β-catenin nuclear translocation detected by immunofluorescence staining. BIO attenuated colony formation and cell migration determined by in vitro wound-healing assay. BIO increased early apoptotic cell population evaluated using flow cytometry. For osteogenic induction, BIO promoted alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralisation in a dose-dependent manner. ALP, RUNX2, OCN, OSX, ANKH, DMP1, and DSPP mRNA expression were significantly upregulated. The OPG/RANKL expression ratio was also increased. Further, BIO attenuated adipogenic differentiation as demonstrated by decreased lipid accumulation and adipogenic-related gene expression. Bioinformatic analysis of RNA sequencing data from the BIO-treated hDPSCs revealed that BIO modulated pathways related to autophagy and actin cytoskeleton regulation. These findings demonstrated that BIO treatment promoted hDPSC osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, this small molecule is a strong candidate as a bioactive molecule to enhance dentin repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade mark law reflects economic and social trends. With the shift towards an economy based on sustainable development, the rise of environmental awareness among consumers, and the growing popularity of eco-marketing, marks containing indications such as „green", „eco" or „bio" appear increasingly on the market. Such labels can inform and assist consumers in purchasing products that comply with the eco-requirements, strengthen the competitiveness of producers by promoting the least environmentally damaging products, offering higher quality products, and consequently encouraging both parties to act in an eco-friendly manner. Their registration is possible, but more difficult than for „classic trade marks" submitted for protection before the patent offices. This text is intended to provide an overview of the registration requirements of so-called „green trade marks". The study mainly used the formaldogmatic method. Based on an analysis of the European Union Intellectual Property Office practice and the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union, authors indicate the applicable interpretation of EU trade mark law. They analyze binding restrictions taking into account the interests of both individual market players and the public. This issue has not yet been commented on by the doctrine. Eco-labels and symbols, which can be used by entities meeting criteria that are defined by certification bodies are outside the scope of this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria is the property of Asociacion Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario (AIDA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bismuth halide oxide with three halogen elements (P‐BiOXs) catalyst was prepared by a facile precipitation method at room temperature only for 30 min. Several measurement technologies were employed to characterise the structures and morphologies of the obtained samples. Coloured Rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and colourless bisphenol A (BPA) were selected to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the samples. The experimental results showed the P‐BiOXs thin nanoplates exhibited the most excellent photocatalytic activity among the prepared samples for the degradation of MO under visible light illumination. More importantly, the catalyst P‐BiOXs could effectively degradate RhB, MB and BPA. The P‐BiOXs catalyst displayed good photocatalytic stability by the recycling tests. The highly efficient visible light catalytic properties of P‐BiOXs could be due to the high specific surface area, enhanced light‐harvesting ability, the suitable bandgap energy and the lower recombination rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: GSK-3 has been reported to be upregulated in malignant diseases, including lung cancers, thus suggesting it to be a valid target for cancer treatment. The study elucidates the possible mechanism involved in the ability of GSK-3 inhibitors: BIO and CHIR 98014 to regulate proteins involved in cell death of H1975 lung cancer cells. Results: BIO and CHIR 98014 successfully induced apoptosis at lower concentrations in H1975 cells but not in H460 lung cancer cells. Moreover, increased ROS generation and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential were observed in both treatments. Cleavage of caspase-3 was observed in both BIO and CHIR 98014-treated cells after 72 h with monolayer and tumorsphere cell culture models. Conclusions: The use of GSK-3 inhibitors shows promising apoptotic abilities in clinical cancer treatments, particularly for lung cancer cells. This study is the first report to describe the significant apoptotic effects of BIO and CHIR 98014 through multiple mechanisms of H1975 NSCLC that are linked to their proliferative and migratory capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We investigated the efficacy of the traditional herbal extract 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mastitis in mice and inflammatory signaling in mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMECs). In vivo, breast inflammation scores and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection of pro-inflammatory factor expression were used to assess the effect of BIO against mastitis. In vitro, the effects of BIO on LPS-induced changes in the expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and signaling factors of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and TLR4/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways were examined by qRT-PCR and ELISA. In LPS-injected mice, BIO pretreatment downregulated the expression of the pro-inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in mammary glands and reduced inflammatory lesions in breast tissue. In MMECs, BIO pretreatment downregulated the LPS-induced expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Further, BIO inhibited both the expression and phosphorylation of TLR4/NF-κB and TLR4/MAPK signaling factors. Thus, BIO downregulates IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MPO expression, upregulates IL-10 expression, and suppresses LPS-induced inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB and TLR4/MAPK pathways. BIO may be a potential treatment agent for mastitis and other inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pediatrie pro Praxi is the property of SOLEN sro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Traditional degumming of bast fibers results in problems such as environmental pollution and inferior fiber quality. For these reasons, biodegumming was considered as a potential process for bast fibers. In biodegumming process, decomposition of noncellulosic components was the pivotal problem. In this manuscript, the bast fiber of Apocynum venetum was processed with combinatorial processing, containing physical, chemical and microbial effect. The structural bio-recalcitrance was analyzed at molecular, supermolecular and morphological level in each stage. The results show that main substance in recalcitrance of Apocynum venetum bast is lignin and hemicellulose. And the protein and wax is also the constituent of bio-recalcitrance. The recalcitrance in the bast tissue can be divided into three layers. The spatial structure and the distribution of the noncellulosic substances also contribute to the recalcitrance. This paper provides directions for pretreatment design to render biomass more amenable to bioprocessing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oilseeds & Fats, Crops & Lipids (OCL) is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The change in average volume temperature of the product (on the example of meat) when it is cooled is considered in the paper. Various calculation methods are used. An important value when calculating the amount of heat (heat flux) released from the product when it is cooled is the average volume of temperature. The easiest way to determine it is to measure an average of the arithmetic mean of surface temperature and product center. There is also a series of formulas - analytic, empirical for its definition. For analytical calculations of product temperatures: the average volume temperature, the surface temperature and the center temperature, it is necessary to take into consideration in the formulas not only the Fourier criterion (internal problem), but also the criterion Bio (external). It is not always correct that in case when the values of the Fourier criterion are less than one, the possibility of a product to give off heat is lower (due to the low coefficient of temperature conductivity that is characteristic of any product) than the ability of the cooling medium to accept this heat. In the conditions of air cooling the values of the thermophysical characteristics of the air are also not high, that’s why the increase in the temperature in the chamber at the initial moment of time is observed[ 1, 2]. It should also be taken into account that the chamber equipment is selected according to the average thermal load, and its ability to remove heat from the air is not sufficient in the initial period of the product cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article features an analysis of the cointegration relationships among agricultural commodity, ethanol and Cushing crude oil spot, and future prices. The use of grains for the creation of bio-fuels has sparked fears that these demands are inflating food prices. We analyse approximately 10 years of daily spot and futures prices for corn, wheat, sugar ethanol, and oil prices from Datastream for the period 19 July 2006 to 2 July 2015. The analysis features Engle-Granger pairwise cointegration and partial cointegration. Pairs of series, that are cointegrated, are analysed using Markov-switching VECM and Impulse Response Analysis, which confirms that these markets have significant linkages that vary according to whether they are in low or high volatility regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite the huge efforts of the government and other key players in Nigeria's oil industry to reduce the volume of gas flaring during oil exploration; very little progress can be seen. Billions of standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas are still flared quarterly, which puts the country air quality at a risk. The country's level of particulate matter is still at 10% ratio. This level of particulate matter (PM) is proven to pose high adverse environmental and health implication such as climate change, acid rain, agricultural loss, physiological effects, air pollution caused by burning of petro chemical products causing the destruction of zinc roof, depletion of the ozone layer, decay of concrete walls/ foundations and economic loss. It is therefore the aim of this paper to engage the use of Biodynamic technology and art-oriented approach to see how most of these chemical products could be converted to art forms by way of recycling for aesthetic purposes and also as street furniture instead of resulting to burning them. With these suggestions therefore, the solution to air pollution problems being faced in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria will be reduced to its barest minimum. Through Biodynamic, smog from the atmosphere could be absorbed/ purified via a catalytic reaction with sunlight and then turned the smog into harmless salt. Being that this technology has already been validated by European Union Studies to 75% active and also owing to the fact that it's basic constituents such as Titanium oxide and Marble mineral is in commercial quantity abundant in Nigeria, is not to rule out the fact that with proper environmental management and control, the Niger Delta Region will be relieved of these menace of pollution. Moreover, the works of art produced from these chemical wastes can also be exported as income generation for the country. Therefore, it is imperative for this technology and creative ventures to be embraced and developed, to allow for not only improvement of air quality but to also see to the emergence of a product that can bring a new face in the diversification of Nigeria's economy through exportation of these products. This will not only grow the country's Gross Domestic Products, but will also be in line with the developmental vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel BiO@TiO heterojunction was constructed by a simple two-step method. The charges migration between BiO and TiO via the heterojunction improves the electron/hole separation efficiency. Furthermore, BiO@TiO heterostructures exhibit better adsorption capability for methyl orange molecular due to their higher specific surface area than pure BiO. As a result, BiO@TiO hybrids show an improved visible light photocatalytic activity and photostability for the degradation of methyl orange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's economy increased attention is given towards re-using of available resources and using of resources which are re-generable, to evaluate and reduce the impact on the environment. For the polymer industry, the development of alternative and renewable raw materials represents an essential task. The study evaluates the different choices of unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) for production of centrifugally-cast glass reinforced pipe (cc-GRP) systems. The environmental impacts of three types of resin were evaluated and compared. The resins are: UPR standard, UPR containing recycled PET material (rPET-UPR) and UPR containing bio-sourced material (BIO-UPR).The analysis focuses on comparing the variations in environmental indicators caused by resin selection for three increasingly complex product layers (Base plate of cc-GRP shaft, cc-GRP Shaft and 1km cc-GRP Pipe-system). The study equally provides an insight onto R&D and LCA collaboration across the supply-chain. One of the main challenges in LCA today is using specific data from the suppliers instead of generic data. The paper indicates how LCA tools and established R&D processes can be employed to transfer LCA calculations across the supply-chain.BIO-UPR and rPET-UPR are alternatives which are realistic in terms of costs and which ensure the required quality for the manufactured products. rPET-UPR can be used for production of complete pipe systems, with positive environmental indicators. Mechanical proprieties of BIO-UPR restrict its usability and use of this resin presents similarities with the debate regarding use of bio-diesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bond strength durability of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to concrete is investigated for two bio-based resins and compared with conventional epoxy (E). The first is an epoxidized pine oil blend (EP) and was used for wet layup installation. The second is a furfuryl alcohol resin derived from corn cobs and sugar cane (FA), and was used to prefabricate CFRP plates, which were installed using an epoxy paste. A total of 137 concrete prisms with a midspan half-depth saw cut were tested. Specimens were conditioned in a 3.5% saline solution at 23, 40, or 50°C for up to 240 days before testing for bond strength. Short-term bond strengths were 3.9, 4.3, and 5.5 MPa for the E, EP, and FA resins, respectively, using a 33 MPa concrete. Reductions in bond strength over the 240 days of conditioning did not exceed 15%. Bond failures of E-CFRP (EC) and EP-CFRP (EPC) were predominantly adhesive-based, where a thin layer of cement paste remained attached to CFRP, while that of FA-CFRP (FAC) was cohesive-based, where there was a thicker layer of concrete remaining on the CFRP. This suggests that bond between the furfuryl alcohol resin and epoxy paste is excellent and remained intact. ANOVA showed that the difference between EPC and EC strengths were insignificant, while that between FAC and EC were statistically significant. Only FAC at 40°C after 240 days showed a statistically significant difference from its unconditioned counterpart. Finally, the 40 and 50°C conditioning was not statistically different from the 23°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Surgery & Clinical Research is the property of Master Editora and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Alexandria Science Exchange Journal is the property of Alexandria Science Exchange Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In work the analysis of nuclear reactor for processing solid organic waste into biogas and biofertilizers with their structural strengths and weaknesses. In the work brought reactors for analysis structures of solid REFINING Organic waste in biogas and byoudobrenye with specified konstruktsyonnыh s Benefits and drawbacks. The analysis of reactor designs for processing solid organic waste into biogas and biofertilizer with their structural strengths and weaknesses is presented in work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO/BiO nanocomposites (Sonic-TiO/BiO) were synthesized via combination of thermohydrolysis and ultrasonic chemical precipitation techniques. For the sake of contrast, pure TiO nanoparticles (NPs) and conventional TiO/BiO nanocomposites (Stir-TiO/BiO) were also prepared. XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, TEM, EDX and UV-Vis studies were adopted to determine the structural, chemical composition and optical properties of the as-prepared samples. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by measuring the photo-degradation of Orange II in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation ( λ ≥ 400 nm). The efficiencies towards OII degradation were determined to be 44.0, 81.8 and 94.7 % for pure TiO NPs, Stir-TiO/BiO and Sonic-TiO/BiO, respectively. These results reveal that the loading of BiO can greatly improve visible light photocatalytic performance of TiO, and the ultrasonic treatment can also improve photocatalytic performance of TiO/BiO nanocomposites. Based on the experimental results, possible enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation mechanisms were also discussed. The present findings may provide a new approach to synthesize high efficiency TiO/BiO nanocomposite photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research studies the effects of activation and inhibition of Wnt3A signaling pathway in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryonic stem (ES) cell-like cells. Materials and Methods: To carry on this experimental study, the effects of activation and inhibition of Wnt3A signaling in buffalo ES cell-like cells were examined using Bio (0.5 mM) combined with WNT3A (200 ng/ml), as an activator, and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1, 250 ng/ml), as an inhibitor, of the pathway. ES cells were cultured up to three weeks in ES cell medium without fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), but in the presence of Bio, WNT3A, Bio+WNT3A and Dkk1. The effects of these supplements were measured on the mean area of ES cell colonies and on the expression levels of a number of important genes related to pluripotency (Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and c-Myc) and the Wnt pathway (β-catenin). ES cell colonies cultured in ES cell medium that contained optimized quantities of LIF and FGF-2 were used as the control. Data were collected for week-1 and week-3 treated cultures. In addition, WNT3A-transfected ES cells were compared with the respective mock-transfected colonies, either alone or in combination with Dkk1 for expression of β-catenin and the pluripotency-related genes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, and statistical significance was accepted at P<0.05. Results: Among various examined concentrations of Bio (0.5-5 mM), the optimum effect was observed at the 0.5 mM dose as indicated by colony area and expressions of pluripotency- related genes at both weeks-1 and -3 culture periods. At this concentration,the expressions of Nanog, Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc and β-catenin genes were nonsignificantly higher compared to the controls. Expressions of these genes were highest in the Bio+WNT3A treated group, followed by the WNT3A and Bio-supplemented groups, and lowest in the Dkk1-treated group. The WNT-transfected colonies showed higher expressions compared to both mock and Dkk1-treated mock transfected colonies. Conclusion: WNT3A functions to maintain the pluripotency of ES cell-like cells both as an exogenous growth factor as well as an endogenously expressed gene. It complements the absence of FGF-2 and LIF, otherwise propounded essential for buffalo ES cell culture. WNT3A antagonizes the inhibitory effects of Dkk1 and acts in combination with its activator, Bio, to activate the Wnt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium oxide is a common semiconductor used in heterogeneous photocatalysis. However, TiO efficiency is limited because TiO absorbs only a small fraction of visible light. An alternative would be to use bismuth oxide (Bi2O) in association with TiO because Bi2O has a strong absorption in the visible light region. We have optimized the synthesis of α- and β-BiO, drawing from the two main methods, namely precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis. The structural and light absorption properties of as-prepared composites were determined using different spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis DRS and XRD). The photocatalytic activity of the β-BiO has been compared to commercial and prepared α-BiO for the photodegradation of Orange II under visible and UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kunming mice are widely used in China; however, it is difficult to isolate embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in conventional derivation condition containing feeder cells and serum. 6-Bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), a glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitor, could facilitate the maintenance of pluripotency of ESCs. Therefore, BIO could be considered as a candidate to replace feeder cells and serum. On the other hand, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is an important technology in assisted reproduction. It is reported that there was some difference in gene expression between IVF and in vivo developed blastocyst. ESCs derived from IVF blastocyst could provide a valuable tool to research the effect of IVF on differentiation and development. In the present study, we established two novel ESC lines from IVF blastocyst of Kunming mice in a feeder- and serum-free condition containing 2.5 μM BIO. In this condition, expanded IVF blastocyst could spontaneously hatch from zonae pellucidae and attached to the gelatin-coated bottom of dishes. ESC-like outgrowth could be observed without overfull trophoblast cells. After further propagation, two Kunming mice ESC lines, designated as KMES1 and KMES2, were obtained. These two novel ESCs shared common morphological characteristics with other rodent ESCs, showed strong alkaline phosphatase activity, and expressed pluripotent markers, including Oct-4, Nanog, and SSEA-1. Embryoid body (EB) and teratoma test indicated that these ESCs could spontaneously differentiate into cells representative of all three embryonic germ layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous growth of rodent incisors relies on epithelial stem cells (SCs) located in the SC niche called labial cervical loop (LaCL). Here, we found a population of apoptotic cells residing in a specific location of the LaCL in mouse incisor. Activated Caspase 3 and Caspase 9, expressed in this location colocalized in part with Lgr5 in putative SCs. The addition of Caspase inhibitors to incisors ex vivo resulted in concentration dependent thickening of LaCL. To examine the role of Wnt signaling in regulation of apoptosis, we exposed the LaCL of postnatal day 2 (P2) mouse incisor ex vivo to BIO, a known activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This resulted in marked thinning of LaCL as well as enhanced apoptosis. We found that Wnt/β-catenin signaling was intensely induced by BIO in the mesenchyme surrounding the LaCL, but, unexpectedly, no β-catenin activity was detected in the LaCL epithelium either before or after BIO treatment. We discovered that the expression of Fgf10, an essential growth factor for incisor epithelial SCs, was dramatically downregulated in the mesenchyme around BIO-treated LaCL, and that exogenous Fgf10 could rescue the thinning of the LaCL caused by BIO. We conclude that the homeostasis of the epithelial SC population in the mouse incisor depends on a proper rate of apoptosis and that this apoptosis is controlled by signals from the mesenchyme surrounding the LaCL. Fgf10 is a key mesenchymal signal limiting apoptosis of incisor epithelial SCs and its expression is negatively regulated by Wnt/β-catenin. S tem C ells 2015;33:1670-1681 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established a method for bioluminescence imaging (BLI) to track real-time gene expression in live Drosophila embryos. We constructed a transgenesis vector containing multiple cloning sites and enhanced green-emitting luciferase (ELuc; Emerald Luc), a brighter and pH-insensitive luciferase for promoter analysis. To evaluate the utility of BLI using an ELuc reporter together with an optimized microscope system, we visualized the expression pattern of armadillo ( arm), a member of the Wnt pathway in Drosophila, throughout embryogenesis. We generated transgenic flies carrying the arm:: ELuc fusion gene, and successfully performed BLI continuously for 22 h in the same embryos. Our study showed, for the first time, that arm:: Eluc expression was dramatically increased in the anterior midgut rudiment, myoblasts of the dorsal/lateral musculature, and the posterior spiracle after stage 13, and the cephalic region at stage 17. To further demonstrate the application of our BLI system, we revealed that arm transcriptional activity in embryos was modulated inversely by treatment with ionomycin or 6-bromoindirubin-3-oxime (BIO), an inhibitor and activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, respectively. Therefore, our microscopic BLI system is useful for monitoring gene expression in live Drosophila embryos, and for investigating regulatory mechanisms by using chemicals and mutations that might affect expression. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depleting Natural Energy resources with its huge environmental hazards has forced scientists to search for a perfect alternative energy that can substitute this conventional power sources like Coal and Petrol. Although alternative fuels have certain disadvantages, in the near future, they will emerge as a force to reckon with, in meeting the world's energy shortage and thus replacing oil and gas. This paper deals with different sources of energy like Bio ,Solar, Wind, Nuclear, Hydrogen, Algae, Silk and Human energy. The paper also examines the benefits, the setbacks and cost effectiveness of all these forms of energy, the countries involved in making and the effect of the alternated fuels which are reducing our carbon footprint and arresting climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agris On-Line Papers in Economics & Informatics is the property of Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Consulting Center of the Faculty of Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

γ-phase bismuth oxide is a well known high oxygen ion conductor and can be used as an electrolyte for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). This study aims to determine new phases of BiO-NbO binary system and the temperature dependence of the electrical transport properties. The reaction products obtained in open air atmosphere were characterized by X-ray powder diffractions (XRD). The unit cell parameters were defined from the indexes of the powder diffraction patterns. The γ-BiO crystal system were obtained by doping 0.01 < mole% NbO < 0.04 at 750 °C for 48 and 96 h. Thermal behaviour and thermal stability of the phases were investigated by thermal analysis techniques. Surface and grain properties of the related phases were determined by SEM analysis. The temperature dependence of the electrical properties of γ-BiO solid solution was measured by four-point probe d.c. conductivity method. In the investigated system, the highest value of conductivity was observed for σ = 0.016 ohm cm at 650 °C on 4 mole% NbO addition. The electrical conductivity curves of studied materials revealed regular increase with temperature in the form of the Arrhenius type conductivity behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University Journal of Social & Economic Research / Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Ekonomi̇k Araştırmalar Dergi̇si is the property of Karamanoglu Mehmetbey Universitesi Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on the statistical data concerning the sheep breeding in district Sibiu and on the information obtained by making investigations markets and fairs where they sell traditional/bio products, the extent was appreciated to which this products are known and desired. The survey was conducted between May and November 2012 in four locations: "Transilvania Peasant Market (Piata Taraneasca Transilvania)", "Traditional agro-food products Fear (Targul de Produse Agroalimentare Traditionale)" from Huet Market, "Traditional Products and Handicrafts Fear (Targul de Produse Traditionale si Mestesugaresti)" inside the Carrefour hypermarket and in "Agricultural Market" Rasinari, Sibiu county. There were also comments mentioned on the topics on the occasion of Peony Festival (Festivalul Bujorului) from Gura Raului (July 2012), "Cheese and Plum Brandy Festival (Festivalul Branzei si al Tuicii" from Rasinari Commune (August 2012), "Countryside Fear (Targul de Tara)" from the Museum of Popular Civilization Astra Sibiu (August and September 2012). The research instrument used was the questionnaire. The items of the questionnaire aimed to identify issues such as motivation of buying traditional/local/bio products, frequency of supply with traditional/bio products, the link established with manufacturers, knowing locations where you can buy traditional/bio products. Research methods were documenting appropriate, design and develop of a questionnaire, 25 buyers of traditional/bio products were asked. The questionnaires were applied by a single interviewer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaO-AlO-SiO system float glasses were melted at an elevated temperature, and about 60% of the total energy was occupied by melting and clarification stage. In order to reduce the melting temperature of the float glasses, BiO was added as fluxing agent. The structure and some melting properties such as the influence of the addition of the oxidation bismuth on the properties of float glass melt, melting temperature, and the structure of glass were studied. The results showed that the basic structure was not changed with the addition of BiO from 0.5% to 2%. The viscosity of the glass melt decreased with the addition of BiO obviously, as the viscosity of the glass melt was 1.35 Pa·s, the temperature was reduced by about 30 °C from sample A to sample A. With the increasing of BiO, the bending strength of glass was reduced and the transmisivity of glass samples had no change in visible light range, and the transmissivity of the glass samples was more than 88%. The ultraviolet cut-off length showed red shift with the addition of BiO. With the increasing of BiO, the water resistance of the glass samples was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiO and Bi-metal powders were mixed with MgB powder. Starting compositions were (MgB)(BiO), x=0.0025, 0.005, 0.015, and (MgB)(Bi), y=0.01. Mixtures were processed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. As obtained composite samples show high density, above 94 % of the theoretical density. Samples with BiO for x=0.0025 and 0.005 show higher critical current densities, J, at high fields and at 20 K than for the pristine sample. Their irreversibility field, H, is also higher. On the other hand, sample added with Bi-metal has lower J and H at any temperature than for the pristine sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, to develop the optimal composition of ceramics for low loss piezoelectric actuator and ultrasonic motor applications, (KNa)(NbSb)O + 0.009 KCuTaO + 0.1wt%LiCO + xwt%BiO(x = 0 ~ 0.9) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with a fixed quantity of 0.009 KCuTaO (abbreviated as KCT) were manufactured using the conventional solid-state solution processes. The effects of BiO addition on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties were then investigated. From the X-ray diffraction analysis result the specimens demonstrated orthorhombic symmetry when BiO was less 0.6 wt%, a pseudo-cubic phase appeared when BiO was 0.9 wt%. SEM images indicate that a small amount of BiO addition affect the microstructure. The piezoelectric properties of (KNa)(NbSb)O ceramics were greatly improved by a certain amount of BiO addition. Excellent properties of density = 4.54 g/cm, relative densities = 98.5 %, k = 0.468, Q = 1,715 and d = 183 pC/N were obtained with a composition of 0.3 wt% BiO [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SAMtools utilities comprise a very useful and widely used suite of software for manipulating files and alignments in the SAM and BAM format, used in a wide range of genetic analyses. The SAMtools utilities are implemented in C and provide an API for programmatic access, to help make this functionality available to programmers wishing to develop in the high level Ruby language we have developed bio-samtools, a Ruby binding to the SAMtools library. Results: The utility of SAMtools is encapsulated in 3 main classes, Bio::DB::Sam, representing the alignment files and providing access to the data in them, Bio::DB::Alignment, representing the individual read alignments inside the files and Bio::DB::Pileup, representing the summarised nucleotides of reads over a single point in the nucleotide sequence to which the reads are aligned. Conclusions: Bio-samtools is a flexible and easy to use interface that programmers of many levels of experience can use to access information in the popular and common SAM/BAM format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the chemical composition and organoleptic properties of 5-made industrial products that are declared as "yogurt" with 2,8% fat and 5 products made by traditional technology, which are known as traditional products called "sour milk". Tests were conducted to determine the differences between the two products (which are very similar), and attempt to execute the standardization of "sour milk" made according to traditional technology, and to determine the acceptability of these products by consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

new flame-assisted spray pyrolysis (FASP) reactor design is presented, which allows the use of inexpensive precursors and solvents (e.g., ethanol) for synthesis of nanoparticles (10-20 nm) with uniform characteristics. In this reactor design, a gas-assisted atomizer generates the precursor solution spray that is mixed and combusted with externally fed inexpensive fuel gases (acetylene or methane) at a defined height above the atomizing nozzle. The gaseous fuel feed can be varied to control the combustion enthalpy content of the flame and onset of particle formation. This way, the enthalpy density of the flame is decoupled from the precursor solution composition. Low enthalpy content precursor solutions are prone to synthesis of non-uniform particles (e.g., bimodal particle size distribution) by standard flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) processes. For example, metal nitrates in ethanol typically produce nanosized particles by gas-to-particle conversion along with larger particles by droplet-to-particle conversion. The present FASP design facilitates the use of such low enthalpy precursor solutions for synthesis of homogeneous nanopowders by increasing the combustion enthalpy density of the flame with low-cost, gaseous fuels. The effect of flame enthalpy density on product properties in the FASP configuration is explored by the example of BiO nanoparticles produced from bismuth nitrate in ethanol. Product powders were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray disk centrifuge, and transmission electron microscopy. Homogeneous BiO nanopowders were produced both by increasing the gaseous fuel content and, most notably, by cutting the air entrainment prior to ignition of the spray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and dielectric properties of perovskite Ag(NbTa)O ceramics were explored. A small amount of BiO was used to modify the dielectric properties of the ceramics. The addition of BiO led the ceramics to a high densification and optimal dielectric properties. With the addition of 4.5 wt% BiO, the permittivity of Ag(NbTa)O ceramics increased from 470 to 733, the dielectric loss decreased from 62×10 to 6.7×10, and the temperature coefficient of capacitance, TCC, decreased from 2004 ppm/°C to −50 ppm/°C. The high permittivity obtained was due to the high densification and weak Ta-O or Nb-O bond strength in the oxygen octahedron that results from the addition of BiO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of ecological products is an expensive "fashion" on the international market. However, the production and processing of the row BIO materials represent a complex problem, which demands solutions. The Romanian BIO products market has a favourable image, even though consumption represents only 1% of the total consumption. 90% of the raw materials are exported. Unfortunately, the products exported return to Romania, processed, with 4-5 times higher prices. The direction for a clean and healthier life style is designed. Its evolution will decide the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) plays a significant role in the development of visible light responsive photocatalysts. Based on the first-principles plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential (USPP) method, the crystal structures of α, β, γ, and δ-BiO were optimally calculated for the total density of states (TDOS) and the partial density of states (PDOS) of Bi, O atoms. The calculation for Ti(IV) doped BiO supercell was carried out. The effects of Ti(IV)-doping on the electron structures and light absorption properties of various BiO were analyzed. The results showed that Ti 3d orbital appeared in the forbidden band of BiO and hybridized with O 2p, Bi 6p orbitals. The narrowed band gap ( E) and red-shift of light absorption edge are responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiO. The β-BiO and Ti-doped β-BiO were prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis method. The improvement of the photocatalytic activity of BiO has also been verified by the characteristics of the UV-vis diffuse reflection spectrum and the experimental evaluation of the photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet in aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]