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Cancer drug testing in animals is an extremely poor predictor of the drug's safety and efficacy observed in humans. Hence there is a pressing need for functional testing platforms that better predict traditional and immunotherapy responses in human, live tumor tissue or tissue constructs, and at the same time are compatible with the use of mouse tumor tissue to facilitate building more accurate disease models. Since many cancer drug actions rely on mechanisms that depend on the tumor microenvironment (TME), such platforms should also retain as much of the native TME as possible. Additionally, platforms based on miniaturization technologies are desirable to reduce animal use and sensitivity to human tissue scarcity. Present high-throughput testing platforms that have some of these features, e.g. based on patient-derived tumor organoids, require a growth step that alters the TME. On the other hand, microdissected tumors (μDTs) or "spheroids" that retain an intact TME have shown promising responses to immunomodulators acting on native immune cells. However, difficult tissue handling after microdissection has reduced the throughput of drug testing on μDTs, thereby constraining the inherent advantages of producing numerous TME-preserving units of tissue for drug testing. Here we demonstrate a microfluidic 96-well platform designed for drug treatment of hundreds of similarly-sized, cuboidal μDTs ("cuboids") produced from a single tumor sample. The platform organizes a monodisperse array of four cuboids per well in 384 hydrodynamic traps. The microfluidic device, entirely fabricated in thermoplastics, features 96 microvalves that fluidically isolate each well after the cuboid loading step for straightforward multi-drug testing. Since our platform makes the most of scarce tumor tissue, it can potentially be applied to human biopsies that preserve the human TME while minimizing animal testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this study is the ST-25 Hall thruster with limited discharge power, no more than 200 W, designed by Flight Control LLC (Ukraine). The problem that was solved in the current paper was to determine the effect of residual gas pressure in vacuum chambers on the operating parameters of the Hall thruster. To solve this task, the operating parameters of the ST-25 thruster were determined, which was tested in three vacuum chambers with different sizes of residual pressure. As a result of the laboratory study into the operating parameters of the ST-25 thruster, the volt-ampere characteristics of the engine discharge at fixed values of the working gas (xenon) flow rate were obtained. The dependences of the engine thrust on the mass flow rate of the working gas at fixed values of the discharge voltage were derived. Based on the experimental data, the dependences of the specific impulse of the engine anode unit on the discharge voltage, as well as the dependence of efficiency of the engine anode unit on the discharge voltage were calculated. The studies showed that when the residual pressure in the vacuum chamber is reduced by 2–3 times, the operating parameters of the engine increase by 15–20 %. Such a reduction in residual pressure increases thrust by 25–40 %. Special feature of the results is the determination of threshold values of residual gas pressure in vacuum chambers during experimental studies, in which the operating parameters of the Hall thruster are similar to its operating parameters under space conditions. This work’s findings could be used in practice when conducting experimental studies of electric rocket engines, when it is necessary to estimate the operating parameters of Hall thrusters that will be obtained under actual space conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer incidence and mortality rate in Cameroonian women is incredibly high, thus there is need for more effective therapy. Xylopia aethiopica dry fruits are traditionally used for both nutritional and medicinal purposes, including the management of diverse ailments such as cancer. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo anti-mammary cancer potential of X. aethiopica. The cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract of X. aethiopica dry fruits was assessed at different concentrations against MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 cells using the MTT assay. Additionally, clone formation, apoptosis/necrosis, cell adhesion, cell migration, and chemotaxis were examined. Furthermore, the chemo-preventive potential of X. aethiopica dry fruit extract (XAE) was evaluated on breast tumors induced by DMBA in 42 female rats of age 45-55 days (~80 g). The normal (NOR) and negative (DMBA) control groups were daily treated with the vehicle, while the positive (Tamox) and test (XAE) groups were administered tamoxifen (3.3 mg/kg) and X. aethiopica extract (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg BW), respectively for 20 weeks. Parameters such as tumor volume and burden, tumor incidence, CA 15-3 serum level, inflammatory status, antioxidant and histopathology were evaluated. X. aethiopica significantly (p < 0.05) decreased ER+ (MCF-7) and ER- (MDA-MB 231) breast adenocarcinoma cell growth from 12.5 to 100 μg/mL after 72 h. At the 100 μg/mL concentration, clone formation, cell proliferation, and migration were notably decreased in MDA-MB 231 cells after 48 h, while there was an observed rise in cell adhesion to the collagen extracellular matrix. Additionally, there was a rise in apoptotic cell count (p < 0.01) and caspase-3 activity (p < 0.05) observed in MDA-MB 231 cells following exposure to XAE at 100 μg/mL. XAE, across all tested doses, demonstrated significant reductions in tumor incidence, burden, and volume, akin to tamoxifen, compared to untreated rats (DMBA). Furthermore, there was an elevation in antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GSH) and a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-12, and IL-6) observed at all tested doses. Overall, X. aethiopica dry fruit displays anticancer potential through caspase-3-dependent apoptosis pathways, alongside antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

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Central nervous system (CNS) injuries and neurodegenerative diseases have markedly poor prognoses and can result in permanent dysfunction due to the general inability of CNS neurons to regenerate. Differentiation of transplanted stem cells has emerged as a therapeutic avenue to regenerate tissue architecture in damaged areas. Electrical stimulation is a promising approach for directing the differentiation outcomes and pattern of outgrowth of transplanted stem cells, however traditional inorganic bio-electrodes can induce adverse effects such as inflammation. This study demonstrates the implementation of two organic thin films, a polymer/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (P(rGO)) and PEDOT:PSS, that have favorable properties for implementation as conductive materials for electrical stimulation, as well as an inorganic indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive film. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that electrical stimulation improves neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells on all three films, with the greatest effect for P(rGO). Unique material- and electrical stimuli-mediated effects are observed, associated with differentiation, cell-substrate adhesion, and translation. The work demonstrates that P(rGO) and PEDOT:PSS are highly promising organic materials for the development of biocompatible, conductive scaffolds that will enhance electrically-aided stem cell therapeutics for CNS injuries and neurodegenerative diseases., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Healthcare Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Team-based care is recognized as a foundational building block of high-performing primary care. The purpose of this study was to identify primary care practice characteristics associated with team functioning and examine whether there is relationship between team composition or size and team functioning. We sought to answer the following research questions: (1) are primary care practice characteristics associated with team functioning; and (2) does team composition or size influence team functioning. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in Fraser East, British Columbia, Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Ontario and Central Zone, Nova Scotia in Canada. Data were collected from primary care practices using an organization survey and the Team Climate Inventory (TCI) as a measure team functioning. The independent variables of interest were: physicians' payment model, internal clinic meetings to discuss clinical issues, care coordination through informal and ad hoc exchange, care coordination through electronic medical records and sharing clinic mission, values and objectives among health professionals. Potentially confounding variables were as follows: team size, composition, and practice panel size. A total of 63 practices were included in these analyses. The overall mean score of team climate was 73 (SD: 10.75) out of 100. Regression analyses showed that care coordination through human interaction and sharing the practice's mission, values, and objectives among health professionals were positively associated with higher functioning teams. Care coordination through electronic medical records and larger team size were negatively associated with team climate. This study provides baseline data on what practice characteristics are associated with highly functioning teams in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoterpenes, volatile metabolites produced by plants, are involved in the taste and aroma perception of fruits and vegetables and have been used for centuries in gastronomy, as food preservatives and for therapeutic purposes. Biological activities such as antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory are well-established for some of these molecules. More recently, the ability of monoterpenes to regulate energy metabolism, and exert antidiabetic, anti-obesity and gut microbiota modulation activities have been described. Despite their promising health effects, the lack of reliable quantification of monoterpenes in food, hindered the investigation of their role as dietary bioactive compounds in epidemiological studies. Moreover, only few studies have documented the biotransformation of these compounds and identified the monoterpene metabolites with biological activity. This review presents up-to-date knowledge about the occurrence of monoterpenes in food, their bioavailability and potential role in the modulation of intermediate metabolism and inflammation, focusing on novel findings of molecular mechanisms, underlining research gaps and new avenues to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer remains a pressing global health issue, spurring exploration into innovative therapies. This review focuses on Lippia alba (Mill.) essential oil's potential as a complementary breast cancer treatment. With growing interest in natural approaches, Lippia alba shows promise in breast cancer management. The review will explore Lippia alba's multifaceted role in treatment, highlighting its anticancer effects on breast cancer cells, potential synergy with conventional treatments, safety profiles, and existing clinical evidence. It will also address knowledge gaps, stressing the need for further research to unlock Lippia alba's full therapeutic potential in breast cancer therapy. In a field craving novel therapies, this review offers a timely analysis. Despite the lack of existing reviews on this topic, Lippia alba's significance cannot be understated. As research progresses, this article will be a valuable resource for researchers and healthcare practitioners seeking to augment breast cancer management through complementary therapies., (© 2024 Wiley‐VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Producers and crop insurance providers will benefit from an accurate assessment of yield reduction after hailstorms that considers crop management, weather, growth stage, and impacted part of crop (hail affected canopy position). But, limited information is available. The main objectives of this study were to quantify wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield losses associated with simulated hail damage timing and canopy position. The study was conducted in two locations (Garden City [irrigated], and Manhattan [rainfed]) in Kansas, from 2018 to 2020 and 2016 to 2018, respectively. Treatments were an incomplete factorial combination of stem bending at seven flowering stages, above or below the flag leaf and a nontreated control. Results of the study indicated 11%–22% wheat yield reduction due to simulated hail damage above the flag leaf and 32%–52% due to hail impact below the flag leaf under irrigated conditions. Within the high‐yielding rainfed environment, hail damage caused up to 20% yield reduction compared with the control. In rainfed and low‐yielding environments, the impact of hail damage was mainly dependent on the growth stage of wheat at hail occurrence. Hail damage at Feekes 11.2–11.4 stages decreased yield by 20%–50% from the rainfed control. Hail damage at Feekes 10.0–10.5.4 decreased yield by 50%–70% from the rainfed control. We provide empirical evidence that indicates hail damage on wheat is dependent on the interaction effect of in‐season crop water management, weather, canopy position and crop growth stage, and estimates of yield loss due to hail should consider these factors. Core Ideas: Irrigated wheat yield reduced by 11%–22% due to above flag leaf and 32%–52% below flag leaf hail damage.Hail early at flowering stage decreased yield by 50%–70% in the rainfed low yielding environment (LYE).Hail late after flowering stage decreased yield by 20%–50% in rainfed LYE.Hail damage was mainly dependent on the canopy position in irrigated wheat.Hail damage was mainly dependent on growth stage in rainfed wheat at LYE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses are key to the delivery of global primary health care services. However, there appears to be a lack of evaluation of primary health care nursing delivery models in the published literature. This evaluation is vital to the improvement of patient experiences, national and global health outcomes, and the justification of future investment in primary health care nursing services. The purpose of this review was to explore and analyze the literature that reports on the evaluation of primary health care nursing services, to ascertain the nature and utility of these evaluation methods, and identify opportunities for future research in this area. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, using the databases CINAHL, Joanna Briggs Institute, MEDLINE, and Proquest. Thirty‐two articles published between 2010 and 2022 were selected. Results were organized using the Donabedian model. A paucity of research into the evaluation of nurse‐led primary health care services was noted. Where evident, evaluation of primary health care nursing services tended to reflect the medical model. Medical outcomes measures dominated evaluation criteria including diagnosis rates, prescription costs, and disease outcomes. Primary health care principles such as service accessibility, cultural appropriateness, and availability were rarely used. The perspectives and experiences of nurses were not sought in service evaluation, including most of the nurse‐led services. Development of an evidence‐base of nursing primary health care services that are informed by the nursing experience and apply a framework of universal primary health care principles across the structure, process, and outcomes aspects of the service is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed number per silique (SNPS) is one of seed yield components in rapeseed, but its genetic mechanism remains elusive. Here a double haploid (DH) population derived from a hybrid between female 6Q006 with 35-40 SNPS and male 6W26 with 10-15 SNPS was investigated for SNPS in the year 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, and genotyped with Brassica 60K Illumina Infinium SNP array. An overlapping major QTL (qSNPS.C09) explaining 51.50% of phenotypic variance on average was narrowed to a 0.90 Mb region from 44.87 Mb to 45.77 Mb on chromosome C09 by BSA-seq. Subsequently, two DEGs in this interval were detected between extreme individuals in DH and F2 populations by transcriptome sequencing at 7 and 14 days after pollination siliques. Of which, BnaC09g45400D encoded an adenine phosphoribosyltransferase 5 (APT5) has a 48-bp InDel variation in the promoter of two parents. Candidate gene association analysis showed that this InDel variation was associated with SNPS in a nature population of rapeseed, where 54 accessions carrying the same haplotype as parent 6Q006 had higher SNPS than 103 accessions carrying the same haplotype as parent 6W26. Collectively, the findings are helpful for rapeseed molecular breeding of SNPS, and provide new insight into the genetic and molecular mechanism of SNPS in rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Zinc (Zn) as an essential micronutrient and cytokinin as phytohormone not only regulate plant growth but also play fundamental roles in plant tolerance against drought stress. Understating the function and the role of cytokinin in combined with an essential micronutrient, Zn, could improve the choice of a sustainable strategy for improvement of plant drought stress. The objective of this field research was to determine the effect of postflowering foliar application of ZnSO4 and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) on grain yield and quality of winter wheat under water deficit condition. Methods: Experiments were conducted under filed condition. Drought was imposed by with holding irrigation at the beginning of flowering till the signs of temporary wilting/leaf rolling appeared, after which all plots were irrigated to field capacity. The foliar treatment consisted of (1) foliar application of water, as control treatment; (2) foliar application of 10 g ha-1 6-BAP; (3) Foliar application of 20 g ha-1 6-BAP; (4) Foliar application of 10 g ha-1 6-BAP plus foliar application of 6 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 solution and (5) foliar application of 10 g ha-1 6-BAP plus foliar application of 6 kg ha-1 ZnSO4 solution 2 days before drought imposition. Data were collected on grain and straw yield, yield attributes, harvest index, flag leaf fresh matter and dry matter weight, TaCKX6-D1 expression, phytic acid content in grains, mycorrhiza colonization rate and succinate dehydrogenase (SD) activity. Results: According to ANOVA, the factor 'Zn' significantly affected leaf relative water content (p < 0.001). Relative water content for plants foliar applied with 6-BAP was not statistically significant. Applying Zn increased yield, straw dry weight, and kernel weight relative to plants sprayed with water alone. Increased grain yield due to foliar application of Zn was associated with decrease in cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (TaCKX) and increase in kernel weight. Results showed that the drought stress significantly decreased 1000-grain weight that was accompanied with over-expression of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (TaCKX). Foliar application of Zn increased the concentration of Zn in grains. The experimental data on the zinc content of grain indicated no significant difference between the 6-BAP at 10 mg L-1 and control treatment. The phytate to Zn molar ratio was significantly affected by foliar applied Zn, but not significantly by applied 6-BAP. In the present study, SD activity of the hyphae of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (IAMF) associated with plant roots was also assayed. Results disclose that SD activity of IAMF was significantly affected by Zn treatments during grain filling stages. Discussion: In summary, both foliar applied Zn and 6-BAP had the significant effects on all measured parameters in winter wheat. However, spike number, harvest index and mycorrhizal colonization rate were neither significantly affected by Zn nor 6-BAP. Foliar application of Zn at 0.6% (6 kg ha-1) and higher 6-BAP (20 mg L-1 m-2) promoted wheat growth and performances under imposed drought stress condition. Plant that only foliar sprayed with water showed higher level of TaCKX6-D1 expression as compared to Zn treated plants, indicating these plants were more affected by imposed drought relative to those plants treated with Zn. The results of this study provides evidence that a combination of Zn and 6-BAP could be an effective in improvement of drought tolerance of wheat and prevents grain yield from further reduction in terms of quality and quantity due to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective team communication is an essential aspect of care delivery and the coordination of patients in primary care settings. With the rapid evolution of health information technology (HIT), including the implementation of electronic health records, there remains a gap in the literature about preferred methods of primary care team communication and the subsequent impact of provider and team outcomes (e.g., team cohesiveness; burnout). This study explores the impact of varying modes of communication across provider disciplines and by geographic settings during primary care delivery.Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from a random convenience sample of PCPs (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) (n = 314) in New York State (NYS). We mailed a paper survey with validated measures for communication methods, team cohesiveness, and provider outcomes (burnout, job dissatisfaction, and the intention to leave position). Descriptive statistics, linear regression models, and crude and adjusted odds ratios while controlling for individual and practice characteristics were calculated.Results: In-person communication was found to yield greater job satisfaction and less intention to leave current position in the next year (p=0.02) compared to other forms of communication including electronic health record features. The odds of job satisfaction was 1.51 times higher with in-person communication (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.19), and the odds of intending to leave a position was 45% less with in-person communication (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.85). The odds of reporting burnout at work was 36% less with in-person communication (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.92) compared to other communication modalities. There was no significant association between team communication via the EHR and team cohesiveness, provider burnout, or job satisfaction.Conclusion: This study demonstrates evidence that in-person communication is more likely to reduce burnout and job dissatisfaction compared to other forms of communication infrastructure in primary care settings. More research is needed to understand PCP perspectives about the functionality and potential burden that inhibits the use of EHR features for provider-provider communication. In addition, attention to the needs of teams by geographic location and by workforce discipline is warranted to ensure effective HIT communication application adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that multidisciplinary healthcare teams can provide better quality of care and treatment outcomes compared to that delivered by individuals from a single health discipline. The project on which this article is based applied the interprofessional education model to university pre-licensure health students in the management of chronic care conditions in Zambia. Methods: Four distinct but interrelated approaches, namely desk review; module development workshops; review and validation of modules by experts; piloting and review of the training modules were employed. Results: Several models of interprofessional education currently in existence and used successfully by higher education institutions in other settings were identified. While several models of Interprofessional Education were identified, our project adapted the "didactic program, communitybased experience, and interprofessional-simulation experience" models. To apply the models, modules of seven chronic care conditions were developed and piloted. The extent to which the module activities promoted interprofessional education were rated between 74 - 87% (agree or strongly agree) by the students. Conclusion: Three models of Interprofessional Education were identified and adapted in the project, and seven modules were developed and administered to the students. The process was effective for putting forth an interprofessional training program at the undergraduate level, with the potential to improve quality of care for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel platform for testing the effects of interventions on the life‐ and healthspan of a short‐lived freshwater organism with complex behavior and physiology—the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. Within this platform, dozens of complex behavioral features of both routine motion and response to stimuli are continuously quantified over large synchronized cohorts via an automated phenotyping pipeline. We build predictive machine‐learning models calibrated using chronological age and extrapolate onto phenotypic age. We further apply the model to estimate the phenotypic age under pharmacological perturbation. Our platform provides a scalable framework for drug screening and characterization in both life‐long and instant assays as illustrated using a long‐term dose‐response profile of metformin and a short‐term assay of well‐studied substances such as caffeine and alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrocene‐derivatives have a well‐defined electrochemical behaviour, which can be changed upon binding to other molecules (including nonelectroactive species), as the conjugate presents a slower diffusion to the electrode surface. Therefore, the binding event can be easily detected by monitoring the decrease in the current intensity of the ferrocene‐derivative oxidation peak. An electrochemical probe composed of ferrocenecarboxylic acid conjugated with Sambucus nigra agglutinin was prepared and used to selectively detect the STn antigen, a pan‐carcinoma glycobiomarker. The probe showed high selectivity towards the STn antigen present in glycoproteins and demonstrated effectiveness in the analysis of serum samples from carcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Praziquantel's target: Praziquantel (PZQ) is a critical antiparasitic drug used to treat schistosomiasis and other parasitic helminths, but its mechanism has not been resolved. A pair of manuscripts by Park et al. and Le Clec'h et al. identified a Schistosoma mansoni transient receptor potential melastatin ion channel (TRPMPZQ) as the target of PZQ. Park et al. characterized a PZQ binding pocket in TRPMPZQ using ligand-based screening and targeted mutagenesis and confirmed that it was broadly conserved in other parasitic flatworms. Le Clec'h et al. used a genome-wide association screen and marker-assisted selection to identify TRPMPZQ as being responsible for variation in PZQ sensitivity and examine sequence variation in TRPMPZQ from field isolates. Together, these papers robustly confirm that TRPMPZQ is the molecular target of PZQ and provide critical information for monitoring PZQ resistance in the field. Mass drug administration with praziquantel (PZQ) monotherapy is considered the mainstay for control and elimination of the parasites causing schistosomiasis in humans. This drug shows imperfect cure rates in the field, and parasites showing reduced PZQ response can be selected in the laboratory, but the extent of resistance in Schistosoma mansoni populations is unknown. We examined the genetic basis of the variation in response in a PZQ-selected S. mansoni population (SmLE-PZQ-R) in which 35% of the parasitic worms survive high-dose PZQ (73 micrograms per milliliter) treatment. We used genome-wide association to map loci underlying PZQ response and identified a transient receptor potential (Sm.TRPMPZQ) channel (Smp_246790) within the major chromosome 3 peak that is activated by nanomolar concentrations of PZQ. The PZQ response showed recessive inheritance and marker-assisted selection of parasites at a single Sm.TRPMPZQ SNP that produced populations of PZQ-enriched resistant (PZQ-ER) and PZQ-enriched sensitive (PZQ-ES) parasites, exhibiting >377-fold difference in PZQ response. The PZQ-ER parasites survived treatment in rodents at higher frequencies compared with PZQ-ES, and resistant parasites exhibited 2.25-fold lower expression of Sm.TRPMPZQ relative to sensitive parasites. Specific chemical blockers of Sm.TRPMPZQ enhanced PZQ resistance, whereas Sm.TRPMPZQ activators increased sensitivity. We surveyed Sm.TRPMPZQ sequence variations in 259 parasites from different global sites and identified one nonsense mutation that resulted in a truncated protein with no PZQ binding site. Our results demonstrate that Sm.TRPMPZQ underlies variation in PZQ responses in S. mansoni and provides an approach for monitoring emerging PZQ-resistant alleles in schistosome elimination programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (PHA−L) impedimetric biosensor was developed for the selective detection of cancer‐associated N‐glycans presenting increased β1→6 GlcNAc branching. The increase in the biosensor's impedance after sample incubation was indicative of lectin recognition and complex formation between PHA−L and N‐glycans with increased β1→6 GlcNAc branching, present in serum glycoproteins. Bovine thyroglobulin was used as a model glycoprotein and a linear correlation was found between glycoprotein concentration and analytical signal from 0.05 to 2.0 mg ml−1. The biosensor was validated by analyzing serum samples from patients with diverse types of carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric propulsion systems, such as ion thrusters and Hall thrusters, are widely utilized in aerospace. The target indirect measurement method (TIMM) is a simple and robust way to measure its thrust. In general, one can obtain the thrust by scaling up the force exerted on the target surface immersed in the plume flow. However, the charge exchange (CEX) allows ions to become neutral particles, increasing the scaling coefficient. Meanwhile, the sputtered atoms and reflected incident particles exert force on the target surface and enlarge the measured thrust. In this study, the effects of the CEX, the sputtering, and the reflection on the TIMM are mathematically quantified, and then a modified model of the TIMM is proposed. Besides, the thrusts of the LIPS-200 and LIPS-300 ion thrusters were separately measured using the TIMM with the modified model, and the measured thrusts are in good agreement with the rated thrusts. Under the test conditions, the results of the LIPS-300 ion thruster show that the fast neutral atoms produced by the CEX account for more than 20% of all fast particles impacting on the target, and the force caused by the sputtered atoms is about 3.4% of the total force exerted on the target. We discuss how test conditions affect the CEX, sputtering, and reflection, thereby influencing the TIMM. The modified model was also validated through the simulation results, by showing that the measured thrust cannot be influenced by the test conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband rotational spectra of cis- and trans-(−)-carveol were recorded using a chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer in the 2–6 GHz region. To aid in spectroscopic assignments a theoretical conformational search was carried out using a combination of a two dimensional potential energy scan, scanning over the isopropenyl and hydroxyl groups torsional angles, and the Conformer–Rotamer Ensemble Sampling Tool. The theoretical results yielded a total of 23 conformers for the trans- and 19 for the cis-conformer. Utilizing these results, a total of five conformers could be assigned in the spectra, two for trans- and three for cis-(−)-carveol. In both conformers of trans-carveol, the isopropenyl group is in an equatorial position and adopts the gauche− conformation in one and the the antiperiplanar conformation in the other, with the hydroxyl group in the axial position and adopting the antiperiplanar conformation in both. For cis-carveol the analogous conformers were found but with the hydroxyl in a equatorial position, in addition to an axial isopropenyl conformer. To interpret the experimental intensity patterns and examine conformational cooling effects, transition states were identified using the Synchronous Transit Quasi-Newton method. We found that most of the higher energy conformers cool out to the five experimentally observed ones and the others are too high in energy to be sufficiently populated in the molecular expansion for an experimental observation. To investigate the interesting preference for the axial position of the isopropenyl group in cis-(−)-carveol, which has not been seen before in monoterpenoids, non-covalent interactions and quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules analyses were carried out. These analyses reveal a hydrogen bonding interaction between the hydroxyl group and the isopropenyl π-system. A natural bond orbital analysis of the hydrogen bond allowed us to decompose the interaction into its constituent natural bond orbitals, and to quantify its strength. Although relatively weak, the hydrogen bond tips the balance towards the axial position of the isopropenyl group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus, one of the most popular fruits worldwide, contains various functional components, including flavonoids, dietary fibers (DFs), essential oils (EOs), synephrines, limonoids, and carotenoids. The functional components of citrus attract special attention due to their health-promoting effects. Food components undergo complex biotransformation by host itself and the gut microbiota after oral intake, which alters their bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity in the host body. To better understand the health effects of citrus fruits, it is important to understand the in-vivo biotransformation of citrus functional components. We reviewed the biotransformation of citrus functional components (flavonoids, DFs, EOs, synephrines, limonoids, and carotenoids) in the body from their intake to excretion. In addition, we described the importance of biotransformation in terms of health effects. This review would facilitate mechanistic understanding of the health-promoting effect of citrus and its functional components, and also provide guidance for the development of health-promoting foods based on citrus and its functional components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical model for the dependence of the cathode coupling voltage in a Hall thruster on facility pressure is derived and investigated. The expression for the coupling voltage is determined by performing a line integral of the generalized Ohm's law from the cathode emitter to the thruster's main plume. The effects of pressure as well as non-classical resistance due to ion acoustic turbulence are included. The resulting model is applied to datasets from 12 different Hall thruster configurations and is shown in all cases to match the trends in the data within experimental uncertainty. The model in turn is used to extrapolate the experimental datasets to on-orbit conditions, and the confidence in these predictions is quantified through the lens of Bayesian parameter estimation. The derived model is discussed in the context of the underlying assumptions as well as previous models that have been proposed for this facility effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a simple route for the synthesis of phosphonate functionalized Brønsted solid acid carbon spheres as heterogeneous catalyst for the valorization of bio-derived α-pinene oxide. The Brønsted acidity was generated via two steps; hydrothermal carbonization of sugar to produce carbon microspheres followed by PCl3 treatment to form phosphonate functionalized carbon. The presence of phosphonate was confirmed by CP-MAS 31P and 13C NMR. In addition, the presence of the P–C, O–P–C and HO–P＝O bonds of the phosphonate group was confirmed by FT-IR, 31P NMR, and XPS. SEM-EDAX analysis revealed the presence of a phosphorus content of ∼1.71 wt% on the surface of the catalyst while elemental mapping showed a uniform dispersion of phosphorus over the carbon spheres. The as-synthesized Brønsted solid acid catalyst was used for the isomerization of α-pinene oxide which gave 100% conversion with 67% trans-carveol selectivity in highly polar basic solvent in 1 h reaction time. Also, the catalyst showed good recyclable activity even after five cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ the 2D (r–z) code Hall2De to conduct numerical simulations of the SPT-140, a Hall thruster that operates with an external hollow cathode. The simulations are informed by direct measurements of the plasma conditions in the acceleration channel that were obtained using the laser-induced fluorescence technique. We validate our simulation results with additional plasma measurements, wear test erosion rates, and performance data as a function of background pressure. The comparisons of the simulation results with thrust measurements provide insight into the longstanding question of how background pressure affects Hall thruster performance. We find that in thrusters with an external cathode changes in the thrust with varying backpressure can be partially explained by changes in the plasma density near the cathode. We argue that such changes in the density affect the voltage coupling and, eventually, the thrust. However, accounting for this mechanism alone in the simulations over-predicts the thrust measured during ground tests for backpressures less than 10 μTorr. Also, at these backpressures, the measurements showed a higher rate of change of the thrust compared to the simulations. We propose that one explanation for this discrepancy is that the acceleration region may be axially shifting downstream with decreasing backpressure. Though possible, we also recognize that such shifts are not observed in LIF measurements at the lowest pressures for which such diagnostics are possible. We discuss alternative explanations in Part II of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical model of the thrust produced by a Hall thruster has been developed to provide insight into the longstanding problem of performance dependence on facility pressure. Inputs to the model have been provided by 2D (r–z) axisymmetric simulations that were guided by measurements of the ion velocity field from laser induced fluorescence diagnostics. The combined analyses yield very good agreement with thrust measurements from ground tests of the SPT-140, a Hall thruster operating with an external cathode, and suggest two new findings. First, at intermediate pressures (∼9–15 μTorr) the rise of the thrust with increasing pressure is largely due to fast atoms produced by charge exchange collisions with beam ions. The acceleration region remains spatially invariant and the thrust rise is linear with pressure. As the pressure increases further, displacements of the acceleration region towards the anode become sizeable and reduce the rate of increase in thrust. Second, the thrust increase from vacuum to the lower values of pressure (≲9 μTorr) is driven largely by transport of electrons along magnetic lines, from the cathode to the near-plume of the thruster, which explains why the rise is nonlinear with pressure. It is argued based on first-principles that this higher rate of thrust variation observed at the lowest pressures may be strongly linked to the highly asymmetric distribution of the external-cathode electrons around the discharge. This would explain the insensitivity of performance in thrusters with centrally-mounted cathodes as well as the longstanding challenges 2D axisymmetric simulations have had in uncovering the source of the thrust dependence on facility pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) ranks as one of the most prevalent insects in food processing and storage facilities worldwide. Heat treatment has been revisited to disinfest food processing and storage facilities due to increasingly strict regulation on chemicals. The effect of acclimation of T. castaneum larvae to sublethal high temperatures of 36 and 42℃ for 10 h on their heat adaptation was investigated, and transcript-level analysis combinating with real-time PCR (RT–qPCR) was applied for elucidating the heat adaptation mechanism of T. castaneum larvae. Short-term sublethal high temperature acclimation could greatly enhance the thermal adaptability in T. castaneum larvae. In total, 575, 875, and 1017 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, determined in comparisons between the 28 and 36℃ treatments, the 28 and 42℃ treatments, and the 36 and 42℃ treatments. Fifty-three and 96 genes were commonly up- and down-regulated in both the 36 and 42℃ treatments relative to 28℃, respectively. The results of RT-qPCR analysis further confirmed the RNA-seq analysis. The current results are in favor of enhancing the insecticidal effectiveness of extreme high temperature treatment and elucidating the heat adaptation mechanism in T. castaneum larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMPing up B cell maturation: Glycolysis provides an important energy source during B cell activation. In contrast, Farmer et al. found that metabolic quiescence was important for the development of human follicular B cells from transitional B cell precursors. In comparison to transitional B cells, mouse and human follicular B cells had reduced expression of genes involved in aerobic respiration, increased AMPK activation, and greater amounts of the cell surface ectoenzymes CD39 and CD73, which generate extracellular adenosine. Transitional human B cells that expressed CD73 or were treated with an AMPK agonist preferentially acquired a follicular B cell phenotype. These data identify a previously uncharacterized metabolic checkpoint in B cell development. Transitional B cells must actively undergo selection for self-tolerance before maturing into their resting follicular B cell successors. We found that metabolic quiescence was acquired at the follicular B cell stage in both humans and mice. In follicular B cells, the expression of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis, aerobic respiration, and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling was reduced when compared to that in transitional B cells. Functional metabolism studies, profiling of whole-cell metabolites, and analysis of cell surface proteins in human B cells suggested that this transition was also associated with increased extracellular adenosine salvage. Follicular B cells increased the abundance of the cell surface ectonucleotidase CD73, which coincided with adenosine 5′-monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Differentiation to the follicular B cell stage in vitro correlated with surface acquisition of CD73 on human transitional B cells and was augmented with the AMPK agonist, AICAR. Last, individuals with gain-of-function PIK3CD (PI3Kδ) mutations and increased pS6 activation exhibited a near absence of circulating follicular B cells. Together, our data suggest that mTORC1 attenuation may be necessary for human follicular B cell development. These data identify a distinct metabolic switch during human B cell development at the transitional to follicular stages, which is characterized by an induction of extracellular adenosine salvage, AMPK activation, and the acquisition of metabolic quiescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γδ T cells: Guarding and defending tissues Specific γδ T cell subsets are known to populate tissues such as the skin and gut. To ascertain γδ T cell participation in breast cancer surveillance, Wu et al. isolated cells from grid cultures of human breast tissue. They observed cytolytic innate-like Vδ1+ T cells in healthy human breast tissue as well as tumor tissue. Analysis of a small cohort of women with triple-negative breast cancer revealed that these Vδ1+ T cells were associated with remission and overall survival. These results demonstrate that human tissue-resident γδ T cells may affect breast cancer progression; these cells could be key to existing or future immunotherapy interventions. Innate-like tissue-resident γδ T cell compartments capable of protecting against carcinogenesis are well established in mice. Conversely, the degree to which they exist in humans, their potential properties, and their contributions to host benefit are mostly unresolved. Here, we demonstrate that healthy human breast harbors a distinct γδ T cell compartment, primarily expressing T cell receptor (TCR) Vδ1 chains, by comparison to Vδ2 chains that predominate in peripheral blood. Breast-resident Vδ1+ cells were functionally skewed toward cytolysis and IFN-γ production, but not IL-17, which has been linked with inflammatory pathologies. Breast-resident Vδ1+ cells could be activated innately via the NKG2D receptor, whereas neighboring CD8+ αβ T cells required TCR signaling. A comparable population of Vδ1+ cells was found in human breast tumors, and when paired tumor and nonmalignant samples from 11 patients with triple-negative breast cancer were analyzed, progression-free and overall survival correlated with Vδ1+ cell representation, but not with either total γδ T cells or Vδ2+ T cells. As expected, progression-free survival also correlated with αβ TCRs. However, whereas in most cases TCRαβ repertoires focused, typical of antigen-specific responses, this was not observed for Vδ1+ cells, consistent with their innate-like responsiveness. Thus, maximal patient benefit may accrue from the collaboration of innate-like responses mounted by tissue-resident Vδ1+ compartments and adaptive responses mounted by αβ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epigenetic sclerotic lock: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease resulting in progressive fibrosis of connective tissue for which few therapies are available. Shin et al. found an enhancer whose epigenetic activation led to sustained up-regulation of TGFB2, but not other isoforms of TGFB, in fibroblasts from patients with diffuse SSc. Constitutive activation of TGFβ2 signaling in patient fibroblasts resulted from NF-κB and BRD4 occupancy at the enhancer. Accordingly, treatment with the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 repressed collagen synthesis and reversed fibrosis in patient skin explants. TGFβ2 signaling may thus be a key, potentially targetable mechanism of fibrosis in some patients with diffuse SSc. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), previously healthy adults develop an inflammatory prodrome with subsequent progressive fibrosis of the skin and viscera. SSc has a weak signature for genetic contribution, and there are few pathogenic insights or targeted treatments for this condition. Here, chromatin accessibility and transcriptome profiling coupled with targeted epigenetic editing revealed constitutive activation of a previously unannotated transforming growth factor–β2 (TGFB2) enhancer maintained through epigenetic memory in SSc. The resulting autocrine TGFβ2 signaling enforced a profibrotic synthetic state in ex vivo fibroblasts from patients with SSc. Inhibition of NF-κB or BRD4 achieved sustained inhibition of TGFB2 enhancer activity, mitigated profibrotic gene expression, and reversed dermal fibrosis in patient skin explants. These findings suggest a potential epigenetic mechanism of fibrosis in SSc and inform a regulatory mechanism of TGFB2, a major profibrotic cytokine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and twenty-one compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis of ethanol extract of fruits from Prosopis juliflora. The major constituents identified were terpenoids: Limonene diol, Dihydrocarvone, Limonene dioxide, trans-Carveol, Dinorsesquiterpenoid, and fatty acids and its derivatives: 2-chloroethyl linoleate, Cis-Vaccenic acid, Linoleic acid. The minor compounds identified were Monolinolein, Ricinoleic acid, Ethyl elaidate, Palmitic acid, Mome inositol, Uroterpenol, p-methylacetophenone, Glycerol, Limonene, and Cyclooctanone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome mergers between independently evolving lineages, via allopolyploidy, can potentially lead to instantaneous sympatric speciation. However, little is known about the consequences of allopolyploidy and the resultant "genome shock" on genome evolution and expression beyond the plant and fungal branches of the Tree of Life. The aim of this study was to compare substitution rates and gene expression patterns in two allopolyploid brown algae (Phaeophyceae and Heterokonta) and their progenitors in the genus Pelvetiopsis N. L. Gardner in the north‐east Pacific, and to date their relationships. We used RNA‐seq data, all potential orthologues, and putative single‐copy loci for phylogenomic, divergence, and gene expression analyses. The multispecies coalescent placed the origin of allopolyploids in the late Pleistocene (0.35–0.05 Ma). Homoeologues displayed increased nonsynonymous divergence compared with parental orthologues, consistent with relaxed selective constraint following allopolyploidization, including for genes with no evidence of pseudogenization or neofunctionalization. Patterns of homoeologue‐orthologue expression conservation and expression level dominance were largely shared with both natural plant and fungal allopolyploids. Our results provide further support for common cross‐Kingdom patterns of allopolyploid genome evolution and transcriptional responses, here in the evolutionarily distinct marine heterokont brown algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paralog-selective inhibitors of GSK3 kinases were designed by exploiting a single amino acid difference in their ATP-binding domains and studied in AML. The right GSK for the job: The enzyme glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target in many diseases, but none of the drugs targeting this enzyme so far have translated to the clinic. A major reason for this failure to translate is the existence of two closely related paralogs of GSK3 such that most drugs target both forms at once and cause unacceptable toxicity. By applying a rational structure-based approach, Wagner et al. were able to design selective inhibitors for the α and β isoforms of this enzyme and then show that selective GSK3α inhibitors specifically show promising activity against acute myeloid leukemia with no detectable effects on healthy hematopoietic cells. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), a key regulatory kinase in the wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT) pathway, is a therapeutic target of interest in many diseases. Although dual GSK3α/β inhibitors have entered clinical trials, none has successfully translated to clinical application. Mechanism-based toxicities, driven in part by the inhibition of both GSK3 paralogs and subsequent β-catenin stabilization, are a concern in the translation of this target class because mutations and overexpression of β-catenin are associated with many cancers. Knockdown of GSK3α or GSK3β individually does not increase β-catenin and offers a conceptual resolution to targeting GSK3: paralog-selective inhibition. However, inadequate chemical tools exist. The design of selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–competitive inhibitors poses a drug discovery challenge due to the high homology (95% identity and 100% similarity) in this binding domain. Taking advantage of an Asp133→Glu196 "switch" in their kinase hinge, we present a rational design strategy toward the discovery of paralog-selective GSK3 inhibitors. These GSK3α- and GSK3β-selective inhibitors provide insights into GSK3 targeting in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), where GSK3α was identified as a therapeutic target using genetic approaches. The GSK3α-selective compound BRD0705 inhibits kinase function and does not stabilize β-catenin, mitigating potential neoplastic concerns. BRD0705 induces myeloid differentiation and impairs colony formation in AML cells, with no apparent effect on normal hematopoietic cells. Moreover, BRD0705 impairs leukemia initiation and prolongs survival in AML mouse models. These studies demonstrate feasibility of paralog-selective GSK3α inhibition, offering a promising therapeutic approach in AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperbranched macromolecules (HMs, also called hyperbranched polymers) are highly branched three-dimensional (3D) structures in which all bonds converge to a focal point or core, and which have a multiplicity of reactive chain-ends. This review summarizes major types of synthetic strategies exploited to produce HMs, including the step-growth polycondensation, the self-condensing vinyl polymerization and ring opening polymerization. Compared to linear analogues, the globular and dendritic architectures of HMs endow new characteristics, such as abundant functional groups, intramolecular cavities, low viscosity, and high solubility. After discussing the general concepts, synthesis, and properties, various applications of HMs are also covered. HMs continue being materials for topical interest, and thus this review offers both concise summary for those new to the topic and for those with more experience in the field of HMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next generation sequencing allows the identification of genes consisting of differentially expressed transcripts, a term which usually refers to changes in the overall expression level. A specific type of differential expression is differential transcript usage (DTU) and targets changes in the relative within gene expression of a transcript. The contribution of this paper is to: (a) extend the use of cjBitSeq to the DTU context, a previously introduced Bayesian model which is originally designed for identifying changes in overall expression levels and (b) propose a Bayesian version of DRIMSeq, a frequentist model for inferring DTU. cjBitSeq is a read based model and performs fully Bayesian inference by MCMC sampling on the space of latent state of each transcript per gene. BayesDRIMSeq is a count based model and estimates the Bayes Factor of a DTU model against a null model using Laplace’s approximation. The proposed models are benchmarked against the existing ones using a recent independent simulation study aswell as a real RNA-seq dataset. Our results suggest that the Bayesian methods exhibit similar performance with DRIMSeq in terms of precision/recall but offer better calibration of False Discovery Rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) have been receiving a significant amount of attention due to their promising properties, unique characteristics, and novel applications in catalysis and other advanced “nano-” science and technology areas. Bimetallic DENs catalysts, as reviewed here, have shown a higher catalytic activity than the monometallic DENs in various catalytic systems. In this review, a general background for the dendrimer is first presented, which is then followed by an introduction of two major routes that are most often adopted in the preparation of dendrimers: divergent method and convergent method. Then, recent research advances in the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic applications of bimetallic DENs are summarized and highlighted in this article. A conclusion is then provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The statistical methodology developed in this study was motivated by our interest in studying neurodevelopment using the mouse brain RNA-Seq data set, where gene expression levels were measured in multiple layers in the somatosensory cortex across time in both female and male samples. We aim to identify differentially expressed genes between adjacent time points, which may provide insights on the dynamics of brain development. Because of the extremely small sample size (one male and female at each time point), simple marginal analysis may be underpowered. We propose a Markov random field (MRF)-based approach to capitalizing on the between layers similarity, temporal dependency and the similarity between sex. The model parameters are estimated by an efficient EM algorithm with mean field-like approximation. Simulation results and real data analysis suggest that the proposed model improves the power to detect differentially expressed genes than simple marginal analysis. Our method also reveals biologically interesting results in the mouse brain RNA-Seq data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of large quantities of transcriptomic data in the form of RNA-seq count data has necessitated the development of methods to identify genes differentially expressed between experimental conditions. Many existing approaches apply a parametric model of gene expression and so place strong assumptions on the distribution of the data. Here we explore an alternate nonparametric approach that applies an empirical likelihood framework, allowing us to define likelihoods without specifying a parametric model of the data. We demonstrate the performance of our method when applied to gold standard datasets, and to existing experimental data. Our approach outperforms or closely matches performance of existing methods in the literature, and requires modest computational resources. An R package, EmpDiff implementing the methods described in the paper is available from: . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fold-change (FC) to prioritize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for post-hoc characterization is a common technique in the analysis of RNA sequencing datasets. However, the use of FC can overlook certain population of DEGs, such as high copy number transcripts which undergo metabolically expensive changes in expression yet fail to exceed the ratiometric FC cut-off, thereby missing potential important biological information. Here we evaluate an alternative approach to prioritizing RNAseq data based on absolute changes in normalized transcript counts (ΔT) between control and treatment conditions. In five pairwise comparisons with a wide range of effect sizes, rank-ordering of DEGs based on the magnitude of ΔT produced a power curve-like distribution, in which 4.7-5.0% of transcripts were responsible for 36-50% of the cumulative change. Thus, differential gene expression is characterized by the high production-cost expression of a small number of genes (large ΔT genes), while the differential expression of the majority of genes involves a much smaller metabolic investment by the cell. To determine whether the large ΔT datasets are representative of coordinated changes in the transcriptional program, we evaluated large ΔT genes for enrichment of gene ontologies (GOs) and predicted protein interactions. In comparison to randomly selected DEGs, the large ΔT transcripts were significantly enriched for both GOs and predicted protein interactions. Furthermore, enrichments were were consistent with the biological context of each comparison yet distinct from those produced using equal-sized populations of large FC genes, indicating that the large ΔT genes represent an orthagonal transcriptional response. Finally, the composition of the large ΔT gene sets were unique to each pairwise comparison, indicating that they represent coherent and context-specific responses to biological conditions rather than the non-specific upregulation of a family of genes. These findings suggest that the large ΔT genes are not a product of random or stochastic phenomenon, but rather represent biologically meaningful changes in the transcriptional program. They furthermore imply that high abundance transcripts are associated with particularly cellular states, and as cells change in response to internal or external conditions, the relative distribution of the abundant transcripts changes accordingly. Thus, prioritization of DEGs based on the concept of metabolic cost is a simple yet powerful method to identify biologically important transcriptional changes and provide novel insights into cellular behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. is a medicinal plant which abundantly grows in the hilly areas of Pakistan. The dried fruit of the plant is used as condiment and has excellent spice value. S-carvone was isolated from Zanthoxylum alatum, purified using chromatographic methods, and studied by GC-MC, FT-IR, and NMR techniques. The in vitro antioxidant activity of carvone was evaluated by different in vitro systems, including lipid peroxidation, 2,2-dipenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum assay. The isolated carvone showed inhibition activity against thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) induced by different pro-oxidants (10 M FeSO and 5 μM sodium nitroprusside) in rat liver and brain homogenates. The extract also caused the scavenging of DPPH radical and the reduction of molybdenum, Mo(VI) to Mo(V). The results indicated that S-carvone possesses high antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly active glycerol-dendron-supported N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium catalysts with catalytic sites at the core position were obtained with an efficient modular synthesis. A symmetrical ligand structure was designed to build a larger microenvironment by increasing the number of dendron generations. The catalytic activity was tested in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Deprotection of the dendritic supported catalysts allowed the catalytic reaction to take place in neat water, which is highly desirable for a more sustainable processing. A positive dendritic effect was observed for coupling of activated and nonactivated bromoaryls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pooling is an important resource in microarray gene expression experiments. Due to restrictions imposed by the statistical analysis it is widespread practice to employ a fixed pool size over the whole experiment. But this limits the efficient use of experimental material. In this paper we propose a design with flexible pool sizes for mRNA pooling which includes varying numbers of experimental units per pool. Enforcing balance between the pool sizes of every treatment level, we show the unbiasedness of the generalized least squares estimator of a contrast testing for differences in gene expression between treatments. In order to model the variability of pooled observations we include random biological effects as well as a special kind of technical error (random effect for mixtures), induced by inaccuracies in blending aliquots of mRNA from different individuals into common pools. Results for one-color arrays are also extended to two-color arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]