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Borophene 2D nanosheets of boron and the evolving group III trans-graphene are a potential material for a plethora of applications; however, they have not been well explored due to the ambiguity in their electronic configuration and consequent polymorphism. Here, we introduced liquid-phase treatments utilizing surfactants exfoliating boron to 2D borophene. Poly-(ethelyene glycol) (PEG) polymeric chains with neutral characteristics simultaneously with surfactants of cationic and anionic characteristics, respectively, as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were utilized to constructively engineer a β rhombohedral crystal structure in borophene layers. These engineered borophene layers, on further analyzing their electrochemical performance by hydrogen evolution reactions, showed a heightened efficacy for borophene sheets synthesized in the presence of PEG, characterized by a Tafel slope of 178 mV/dec in a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. This enhanced performance was intricately linked to the elevated quality of the borophene sheets during PEG-assisted liquid-phase treatment and to the increased accessibility of active sites characterized by the β rhombohedral crystal lattices engineered by PEG polymeric chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has posed a serious threat to health, economic, environmental, and social aspects of human lives. Currently, there are no approved treatments that can effectively block the virus although several existing antimalarial and antiviral agents have been repurposed and allowed use during the pandemic under the emergency use authorization (EUA) status. This review gives an updated overview of the antiviral effects of phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids against the COVID‐19 virus and their mechanisms of action. Search for natural lead molecules against SARS‐CoV‐2 has been focusing on virtual screening and in vitro studies on phytochemicals that have shown great promise against other coronaviruses such as SARS‐CoV. Until now, there is limited data on in vivo investigations to examine the antiviral activity of plants in SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected animal models and the studies were performed using crude extracts. Further experimental and preclinical investigations on the in vivo effects of phytochemicals have to be performed to provide sufficient efficacy and safety data before clinical studies can be performed to develop them into COVID‐19 drugs. Phytochemicals are potential sources of new chemical leads for the development of safe and potent anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique properties of Zinc Oxide, Graphene and their nanocomposite have enabled them to fabricate many optoelectronic devices which offer advantages like light weight, good stability and optical transparency. Conducting polymer/graphene hybrids are also a major class of composite materials for the fabrication of donor/acceptor based electronic devices. In this paper we report the synthesis, characterization and conductivity measurements in ZnO/rGO and ZnO/PANI binary nanohybrids. ZnO nanotops are synthesized by low temperature hydrothermal method, graphene oxide (GO) by modified Hummer's Method, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by hydrothermal in situ reduction technique and PANI from aniline by chemical polyoxidation reaction. ZnO/rGO nanohybrid is prepared by hydrothermal treatment of ZnO and GO, whereas ZnO/PANI by in-situ oxidative polymerization of aniline in presence of ZnO. All the materials were characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, UV-Vis, IR&TGA. The as-synthesized samples were dispersed in IPA, coated on quartz glass using spin-coating technique, and dark conductivity measurements were done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the effect of various reaction variables of a tailor-made sol–gel synthesis method on the morphology and photocatalytic behaviour of nanostructured anatase TiO2 photocatalysts. Reaction variables like solvent effects, hydrothermal and microwave conditions, type of capping agents and calcination affect the TiO2 crystal growth, and thereby, their optimal conditions are anticipated and discussed in detail. It is proposed that TiO2 exposed with characteristic facets can be prepared by a hydrothermal-modified sol–gel method employing a quaternary solution system at pH 3 along with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the capping agent. The optimal hydrothermal temperature affected the restructuring and crystallization of TiO2 by enhancing the phase transformation from amorphous to anatase. TiO2 crystal growth under microwave assistance was faster, which primarily resulted in low-energy facets exposure. The primary determination of photocatalytic efficiency of the samples was obtained from the photodegradation profiles of model dye methylene blue. An interesting find was that TiO2 synthesized under hydrothermal treatment in the presence of CTAB had a morphology determining behaviour at pH 3 favouring the selective stabilization of co-exposing high energy {010}/{100}, {001} and low energy {101} facets in TiO2. The optimum percentage of high- and low-energy facets resulted in superior photocatalytic activity due to the spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Furthermore, the present study has a great perspective on how particularly the reaction variables determine the direction of crystal growth of nano TiO2 and thereby its morphology that directly affect its photocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal stem rot, caused by the basidiomycete fungus, Ganoderma boninense, is an economically devastating disease in Malaysia. Our study investigated the changes in lignin content and composition along with activity and expression of the phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes and genes in oil palm root tissues during G. boninense infection. We sampled control (non-inoculated) and infected (inoculated) seedlings at seven time points [1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-inoculation (wpi)] in a randomized design. The expression profiles of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), and peroxidase (POD) genes were monitored at 1, 2, and 3 wpi using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Seedlings at 4, 8, and 12 wpi were screened for lignin content, lignin composition, enzyme activities (PAL, CAD, and POD), growth (weight and height), and disease severity (DS). Gene expression analysis demonstrated up-regulation of PAL, CAD, and POD genes in the infected seedlings, relative to the control seedlings at 1, 2, and 3 wpi. At 2 and 3 wpi, CAD showed highest transcript levels compared to PAL and POD. DS increased progressively throughout sampling, with 5, 34, and 69% at 4, 8, and 12 wpi, respectively. Fresh weight and height of the infected seedlings were significantly lower compared to the control seedlings at 8 and 12 wpi. Lignin content of the infected seedlings at 4 wpi was significantly higher than the control seedlings, remained elicited with no change at 8 wpi, and then collapsed with a significant reduction at 12 wpi. The nitrobenzene oxidation products of oil palm root lignin yielded both syringyl and guaiacyl monomers. Accumulation of lignin in the infected seedlings was in parallel to increased syringyl monomers, at 4 and 8 wpi. The activities of PAL and CAD enzymes in the infected seedlings at DS = 5-34% were significantly higher than the control seedlings and thereafter collapsed at DS = 69%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is being increasingly utilized in the treatment of prostate cancer. With the advent of high-precision radiosurgery systems, it is possible to obtain dose distributions akin to high-dose rate brachytherapy with SBRT. However, urethral toxicity has a significant impact on the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. Contouring the male urethra on a CT scan is difficult in the absence of an indwelling catheter. In this pictorial essay, we have used the MRI obtained for radiotherapy planning to aid in the delineation of the male urethra and have attempted to define guidelines for the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by Mycobacteria. WHO estimates that around eight million people are suffering from tuberculosis every year. The Administration of antibiotics fails due to the multi-drug resistant capability of Mycobacterium. Traditional methods require time and huge investment. Therefore, it is essential to provide an alternative strategy to treat tuberculosis disease. The present study conducted molecular docking against InhA protein, which is a potential target of tuberculosis disease. After docking with 1200 ligand molecule, 30 hits were selected based on the GOLD score. Finally, five potential hits were identified after redocking. The hydrogen bonding pattern, Lipinski's rule, and drug likeliness were also checked for their potentiality as suitable drug candidates. We believe that our study will facilitate the selection of InhA as a potential target and selected hits as successful drug candidates for tuberculosis diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) oxidize structurally diverse PAH trans -dihydrodiols to yield reactive and redox active o -quinones. This study examined the ability of AKR1C2 and AKR1C4 to oxidize PAH trans -dihydrodiols of the benz[ a ]anthracene series. The enzymes oxidized 100% of the racemic trans -dihydrodiols and the highest utilization ratios were observed for the more potent proximate carcinogens 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene-3,4-diol (DMBA-3,4-diol) and 7-methylbenz[ a ]anthracene-3,4-diol (7-MBA-3,4-diol). Human multiple tissue expression array analysis revealed high expression of AKR1C isoforms in the human lung carcinoma cell line A549. Both Western blot analysis using AKR1C9 antisera and enzymatic assays using 1-acenapthanol as substrate confirmed the presence of active AKR1C enzymes in A549 cells. To determine the importance of AKR1C-mediated trans -dihydrodiol oxidation in A549 cells, DMBA-3,4-diol was incubated with cell lysates in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis identified peaks that corresponded to the synthetically prepared mono- and bis -thioether conjugates of DMBA-3,4-dione confirming the ability of these cells to oxidize DMBA-3,4-diol to the corresponding o -quinone. Together, these studies demonstrate the importance of human AKR1Cs in PAH activation and their possible role in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aldo-keto reductases (AKRs), are monomeric 37 kDa oxidoreductases that catalyze the NADP + -dependent oxidation of PAH trans -dihydrodiol proximate carcinogens to their reactive and redox-active o -quinones. Five human isoforms have been cloned and expressed as purified recombinant enzymes (AKR1C1-AKR1C4 and AKR1A1). Of these the general metabolic enzyme aldehyde reductase (AKR1A1) displays the highest utilization ratio for the oxidation of (-) R,R -benzo[ a ]pyrene-7,8-diol (BP-7,8-diol) to benzo[ a ]pyrene-7,8-dione (BP-7,8-dione). AKR1A1 is coexpressed with CYP1A1 and epoxide hydrolase suggesting that it is exposed to its trans -dihydrodiol substrates in situ. PAH o -quinones produced by AKRs are highly electrophilic yielding bimolecular rate constants for the addition of GSH of at least 1.3 × 10 3 M -1 min -1 . By reacting with DNA, PAH o -quinones form both stable and depurinating adducts in vitro. By entering into futile redox-cycles the PAH o -quinones can amplify the production of reactive oxygen species and increase 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dGuo) formation. The spectrum of DNA-adducts and generation of prooxidants (reactive oxygen) may explain how PAHs can act as complete carcinogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous pseudolymphomas are benign lymphoproliferative processes mimicking lymphomas clinically and histologically. One of the precipitating factors for pseudolymphoma is drugs like anticonvulsants, antidepressants and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. According to existing literature phenytoin-induced cutaneous pseudolymphomas are usually T-cell predominant. Most often withdrawal of the drug with or without short-course systemic steroids can attain a cure. Rarely malignant transformation has been reported years later despite withdrawal of the offending drug, which necessitates a long-term follow up of the affected. We report an 80-year-old male patient who was receiving phenytoin sodium and who presented with diffuse erythema and infiltrated skin lesions which histologically resembled cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. Substituting phenytoin with levetiracetam achieved resolution of symptoms. Further evaluation was suggestive of a reactive process. A detailed drug history is of paramount importance in differentiating drug-induced pseudolymphoma from lymphoma. Searching literature we could not find any previous reports of phenytoin-induced cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Basal stem rot disease causes severe economic losses to oil palm production in South-east Asia and little is known on the pathogenicity of the pathogen, the basidiomyceteous Ganoderma boninense. Our data presented here aims to identify both the house-keeping and pathogenicity genes of G. boninense using Illumina sequencing reads. Description: The hemibiotroph G. boninense establishes via root contact during early stage of colonization and subsequently kills the host tissue as the disease progresses. Information on the pathogenicity factors/genes that causes BSR remain poorly understood. In addition, the molecular expressions corresponding to G. boninense growth and pathogenicity are not reported. Here, six transcriptome datasets of G. boninense from two contrasting conditions (three biological replicates per condition) are presented. The first datasets, collected from a 7-day-old axenic condition provide an insight onto genes responsible for sustenance, growth and development of G. boninense while datasets of the infecting G. boninense collected from oil palm-G. boninense pathosystem (in planta condition) at 1 month post-inoculation offer a comprehensive avenue to understand G. boninense pathogenesis and infection especially in regard to molecular mechanisms and pathways. Raw sequences deposited in Sequence Read Archive (SRA) are available at NCBI SRA portal with PRJNA514399, bioproject ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Health care service utility behaviour of mothers," by T. S. Nisha and colleagues is presented.