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Intake of dietary antioxidants is inversely associated with reduced markers of atherosclerosis development such as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).This study was designed to assess the effects of selenium supplementation on CIMT and metabolic profiles of in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients.This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive selenium supplements or placebo (starch). Individuals in the selenium group (n = 30) received 200 μg selenium per day in the placebo group (n = 30) received for 24 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the study baseline and after 24 weeks of intervention.Following the administration of selenium supplements, was observed a significant reduction in serum insulin levels (P = 0.003), insulin resistance (P = 0.003), total cholesterol (P = 0.008), LDL-cholesterol (P 0.001) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P 0.001), and a significant increase in insulin sensitivity (P 0.001), HDL-cholesterol (P 0.001) and total glutathione (GSH) (P 0.001) compared with the placebo.Selenium supplementation in diabetic HD patients had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, CRP and GSH levels. This trial was registered at www.irct.ir as http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20170513033941N47.

The high oxygen content of biomass-derived bio-oil, a multi-component organic, has limited its application as liquid fuels. Oxygen removal from crude bio-oil by catalytic hydrogenation is an upgrading approach with huge potential to produce second-generation biofuels. In light of that, the present work mainly focuses on upgrading biomass-derived bio-oil via catalytic hydrogenation. Accordingly, a batch hydrogenation reactor with a catalyst basket of adjustable volume was specifically designed. Moreover, a supported Rh/ZrO2 catalyst was prepared and was studied for bio-oil upgrading, along with similar commercial catalysts. The developed Rh/ZrO2 catalyst could hydrogenate guaiacol completely, resulting in non-oxygenated hydrocarbons. The re-utilization of Rh/ZrO2 for five times led to the catalyst deactivation, with the conversion rate (Cgua) declining to as low as 50.3 mol%. The regeneration of deactivated Rh/ZrO2 was realized through carbon deposition removal and showed a restored Cgua to 92.4 mol%. The oxygen content of heavy-oil products obtained under Rh/ZrO2, Rh/Al2O3, and Pd/Al2O3 decreased to 28.2 wt%, 29.1 wt%, and 30.2 wt%, respectively. The catalytic groups achieved certain deoxygenation extents, with Rh/ZrO2 being ranked as the highest (58.49%). Finally, given the costly nature of noble-metal catalysts, the metal loading of Rh/ZrO2 was ten times lower, offering obvious economic advantages over its commercial counterparts.

In the current investigation, the incorporation of ethylenediamine (EDA)-modified ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework) nanostructures into the chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) membrane adsorbents was explored for the elimination of reactive green 19 (RG) from aqueous solutions. Characterization of the synthesized EDA-modified ZIF-8 nanostructures and the membranes was carried out using XRD, SEM, BET and ATR-FTIR analyses. The CHN calculated the deacetylation degree of chitosan as 93%. To attain the maximum removal efficiency, three affecting operational parameters, including pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of dye, were optimized using the central composite design technique. The optimal conditions were resulted as; pH of 4, the adsorbent mass of 0.047 g, and the initial concentration of 70 mg L−1. Afterwards, the isothermal, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were done under the optimal conditions attained. The outcomes displayed that the equilibrium and rate of reactive green 19 adsorption on the CS/PVA/EDA-modified ZIF-8 membrane surface obeyed the Freundlich isotherm and the pseudo-second order kinetic model, respectively. The adsorption capacity was found as 144.61 mg g−1. Furthermore, the entropy change (ΔS) and the enthalpy change (ΔH) for the adsorption were equal to 0.28 (kJ mol−1 K−1) and 4.83 (kJ mol−1), respectively. Negative values of ΔG° confirmed the spontaneity of the adsorption. Molecular dynamic simulation results showed that the interaction energies of CS/PVA/EDA-modified ZIF-8 membrane + RG system surpassed that of the CS/PVA + RG, which was in agreement with the adsorption performance results.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent disorders which can mainly occur due to the imbalance of acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the brain. Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis and subsequently, deficiency of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (Ach.) in the AD. Seeking for medicinal compounds with the ability to inhibit the regarding enzyme is one of the main targets in the management of AD. Generally, efficiency and therapeutic effects of medicaments with the underlying mechanism of enzyme inhibition are evaluated and determined via a value, called IC50 (the concentration, in which 50% of inhibition would be achieved). In this study, via the employment of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method, the ranking model is used to determine the most desirable agent among 16 medicinally-synthetic compounds with 626 descriptors. All of those medicaments possessed inhibitory activities against the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Herein, we considered each synthetic medicament as decision-making units, and the descriptors as inputs and outputs parameters of the DEA models. Via the DEA method, selected synthetic compounds have been ranked to determine the best agents. The outcomes have been compared with the in vitro results.

Hookah smoke is one of the major indoor sources of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), including Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX). The present study aimed to investigate potential exposure to BTEX compounds among primary school children whose parents smoked hookah at home. BTEX concentrations in indoor air were measured in 60 residential buildings of Khesht, southwestern Iran (case = 30 and control = 30). Target compounds were sampled by charcoal tubes, and the samples were then analyzed by GC-FID. Monte Carlo simulation was used to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of BTX exposure for the children aged 7–13 years. The concentrations of benzene (7.19 ± 3.09 vs. 0.82 ± 0.5 μg/m(3)), toluene (1.62 ± 0.69 vs. 0.3 ± 0.22 μg/m(3)), and xylenes (2.9 ± 1.66 vs. 0.31 ± 0.22 μg/m(3)) were considerably higher in the indoor air of the case houses compared with the control houses (p

A series of studies with sets of analogous samples was carried out to show how the technique of methanol adsorption and desorption can be used to provide useful technical information in an industrial setting. Thermal desorption of methanol and its surface reaction products (formaldehyde, dimethyl ether, CO2) offered data which could inform on the surface and even on the catalytic performance of the materials in selective oxidations such as the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde to methacrolein and of methanol to formaldehyde, although CO2 desorption profiles were less informative than the others. The first study showed how the TPD profiles change with basicity (potassium doping) on bismuth molybdate; the second showed how potassium doping affects the desorption in the presence of redox promoters (Fe, Co), the third showed how the profiles change by doping with acidic promoters (V, P, Al) and the final one showed how the technique could be applied to understand a defect in an industrially manufactured product. This set of studies indicates that the use of methanol to study the surface of oxidic materials can provide insights that support the selection of catalyst candidates and help investigate reduced performance.

Silica nanoparticles and calcium are necessary for improving plant yield and decreasing stem bending in gerbera flower (Gerbera Jamesonii L.). In order to determine the optimal concentrations of silica nanoparticles and calcium in gerberas (Gerbera Jamesonii L.), a factorial experiment in the form of completely randomized design with two factors was conducted. The first factor was the concentration of silica nanoparticles (Nanoparticle-SiO2) at four rates (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg L-1) and the second factor was the concentration of calcium chelate (Ca-Chelate) at four rates (0, 60, 120, and 240 mg L-1) which were applied as nutrient solutions. After harvest, characteristics such as stem bending, cellulose content, phenyl alanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity in leaves, and stem histological characteristics were measured. Results indicated that the lowest stem bending (deviation angle of 8.78°) was observed with applying 20 mg L-1 Nanoparticle-SiO2 and 240 mg L-1 Ca-Chelate. Comparing with control, applying 80 mg L-1 Nanoparticle-SiO2 and 240 mg L-1 Ca-Chelate increased lignin and cellulose contents by 33 and 15%, respectively. The highest amount of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (2.87 units per mg of fresh leaf) was obtained by using 60 mg L-1 calcium chelate. According to nutrient concentrations, the change patterns of xylem and stem lignification were different, which is in line with the results of the physiological studies conducted on the effects of applying silica nanoparticle and calcium in nutrient solution. Under the epidermis, there was a hypodermis (sclerenchyma) which strengthens stem tissue. Silica nanoparticles and calcium chelate due to increasing phenylalanine ammonia-lyase content and its effect on the production cycles of cellulose and lignin and increasing stem sclerenchyma, led to stems strength and lignification, which eventually decreased stem bending. According to study results, applying 40 mg L-1 Nanoparticle-SiO2 and 60 mg L-1 Ca-Chelate in hydroponic nutrient solution is recommended for growing gerbera flowers. Resumo Nanopartículas de sílica e cálcio são necessárias para melhorar a produtividade das plantas e diminuir a curvatura da haste em gérbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.). Para determinar as concentrações ótimas de nanopartículas de sílica e cálcio na gérbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.), foi realizado um experimento fatorial na forma de delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois fatores. O primeiro fator foi a concentração de nanopartículas de sílica (Nanopartícula-SiO2) em quatro doses (0, 20, 40 e 80 mg L-1) e o segundo fator foi a concentração de quelato de cálcio (Ca-Quelato) em quatro doses (0 , 60, 120 e 240 mg L-1), as quais foram aplicados como soluções nutritivas. Após a colheita, características como curvatura da haste, conteúdo de celulose, atividade da enzima fenil alanina amonia-liase nas folhas e características histológicas do caule foram determinados. Os resultados indicaram que a menor curvatura da haste (ângulo de desvio de 8,78°) foi observada com a aplicação de 20 mg L-1 de Nanopartícula-SiO2 e 240 mg L-1 de quelato de Ca. Em comparação com o controle, a aplicação de 80 mg L-1 de nanopartícula-SiO2 e 240 mg L-1 de quelato de Ca aumentou os teores de lignina e celulose em 33% e 15%, respectivamente. A maior quantidade de fenilalanina amania-liase (2,87 unidades por mg de folha fresca) foi obtida com o uso de quelato de cálcio 60 mg L-1. De acordo com as concentrações de nutrientes, os padrões de alteração do xilema e da lignificação do caule foram diferentes, o que está de acordo com os resultados dos estudos fisiológicos realizados sobre os efeitos da aplicação de nanopartículas de sílica e cálcio em soluções nutritivas. Sob a epiderme, havia uma hipoderme (esclerênquima) que fortalece o tecido do caule. Nanopartículas de sílica e quelato de cálcio decorrente do aumento do conteúdo de fenilalanina amonia-liase e seu efeito nos ciclos de produção de celulose e lignina e ao aumento do esclerênquima do caule, levaram à resistência e lignificação da haste, o que acabou diminuindo a curvatura do caule. De acordo com os resultados do estudo, a aplicação de 40 mg L-1 de Nanopartícula-SiO2 e 60 mg L-1 de quelato de Ca em solução nutritiva hidropônica é recomendada para o cultivo de flores de gérbera.

Herein, a robust Pd(II)-based polyfunctional magnetic amphiphilic artificial metalloenzyme was prepared by anchoring a Pd(2,2′-dipyridylamine)Cl2 bearing hydrophilic monomethyl ether poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) chains on the surface of amino-functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. The 2,2′-dipyridylamine (dpa) has shown excellent complexation properties for Pd(II) and it could be easily anchored onto functionalized magnetic support by the bridging nitrogen atom. Moreover, the bridging nitrogen atom at the proximity of Pd(II) catalytic center could play an important role in dynamic suppramolecular interactions with substrates. The leaching, air and moisture resistant [Pd(dpa)Cl2] complex endow the dynamic and robust structure to the designed artificial enzyme. Moreover, the water dispersibility of designed artificial metalloenzyme raised from mPEG chains and the magnetic nanoparticles core which could function as protein mimics endow it other necessary characters of artificial enzymes. The prepared artificial metalloenzyme displayed remarkable activity in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction employing low-palladium loading under mild conditions, with the exceptionally high turnover frequency, clean reaction profile, easy work-up procedure, good to excellent products yields and short reaction times. The designed air- and moisture-stable artificial metalloenzyme could recycle more than fifteen times with easy separation procedure in aqueous solution under aerobic conditions without any noticeable loss in activity.

The biophysical properties of cells change with cancer invasion to fulfill their metastatic behavior. Cell softening induced by cancer is highly associated with alterations in cytoskeleton fibers. Changes in the mechanical properties of cytoskeletal fibers have not been quantified due to technical limitations. In this study, we used the micropipette aspiration technique to calculate and compare the viscoelastic properties of non-invasive and invasive breast cancer cells. We evaluated the mechanical properties of actin fibers and microtubules of two cancerous cell lines by using multiscale tensegrity modeling and an optimization method. Cancer invasion caused altered viscoelastic behavior of cells and the results of modeling showed changes in mechanical properties of major cytoskeleton fibers. The stiffness and viscosity constant of actin fibers in non-invasive cells were 1.28 and 2.27 times higher than those of the invasive cells, respectively. However, changes in mechanical properties of microtubules were minor. Immunofluorescent staining of fibers and their quantified distributions confirmed altered actin distribution among two cell lines, in contrast to microtubule distribution. This study highlights the function of cytoskeletal fibers in cancer progression, which could be of interest in designing therapeutic strategies to target cancer progress. Firstly, the viscoelastic behavior of non-invasive and invasive cells is examined with micropipette aspiration tests. A tensegrity model of cells is developed to mimic the viscoelastic behavior of cells, and tensegrity element stiffness is evaluated in an optimization procedure based on micropipette aspiration tests. Finally, by using immunofluorescent staining and confocal imaging, mechanical properties of actin filaments and microtubules of cancer cells are investigated during the course of metastasis.

The effect of perforation-mediated modified atmosphere packaging (PM-MAP) in combination with calcium lactate (1.5% CaL) and cysteine (0.1, 0.5% Cys) immersion pretreatments on the quality preservation of fresh-cut 'Romaine' lettuce was assessed for 12 days, at 5 and 10 °C. The shredded lettuce was packed in low-density polyethylene films (LDPE, 62 µm thickness), including different perforation numbers of 0 (N-MAP), 20 (20-PM-MAP, Diameter = 64 µm), and 40 (40-PM-MAP, Diameter = 64µm) per in square meter. Indices of quality maintenance were investigated. The total microbial counts were below the specified limits for ready-to-eat vegetables (< 6 log CFU/g) considering both pretreated 20-PM-MAP and N-MAP samples on day 12. After 8 days, a significant difference (P

Direct cloning represents the most efficient strategy to access the vast number of uncharacterized natural product biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds. However, due to their large size, repetitive nature, or high GC-content, large-scale cloning of these BGCs remains an overwhelming challenge. Here, we report a scalable direct cloning method named Cas12a-assisted precise targeted cloning using in vivo Cre-lox recombination (CAPTURE) which consists of Cas12a digestion, a DNA assembly approach termed T4 polymerase exo + fill-in DNA assembly, and Cre-lox in vivo DNA circularization. We apply this method to clone 47 BGCs ranging from 10 to 113 kb from both Actinomycetes and Bacilli with ~100% efficiency. Heterologous expression of cloned BGCs leads to the discovery of 15 previously uncharacterized natural products including six cyclic head-to-tail heterodimers with a unique 5/6/6/6/5 pentacyclic carbon skeleton, designated as bipentaromycins A–F. Four of the bipentaromycins show strong antimicrobial activity to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycinresistant Enterococcus faecium, and bioweapon Bacillus anthracis. Due to its robustness and efficiency, our direct cloning method coupled with heterologous expression provides an effective strategy for large-scale discovery of novel natural products., Direct cloning of biosynthetic gene clusters is difficult due to their size and repetitive nature. Here, the authors present CAPTURE, which uses Cas12a and in vivo Cre-lox recombination for efficient cloning of gene clusters up to 113 kb, and demonstrate how this method can be used for large-scale discovery of novel natural products.

With an increase in the use of carbon fiber composites in the aerospace and automobile industry a collateral issue of what to do with end-of-life carbon fiber composites has risen. In this study, we successfully developed a second-generation composite using a heterogenous mixture of thermoset and thermoplastic recycled carbon fiber composites (CFCs). The recovered vinyl ester and epoxy CFCs (thermosets) were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis. Adhesive performance was evaluated through double lap shear tests by melt-bonding a thermoplastic polyether ether ketone (PEEK) CFC to either the thermoset epoxy or vinyl ester CFC. The waste carbon fiber composites were also mechanically milled and classified through screening techniques. The resulting milled materials were used to form and produce composite panels through high temperature compression molding. The influence of particle size and platen temperature were evalauted through mechanical testing. Results indicate that melt-bonding with the vinyl ester/CFC exhibited significantly higher lap shear strength values than that between epoxy/CFC and PEEK. Findings also show that adding thermoset CFCs to the thermoplastic system (PEEK) enhanced the flexural properties of composites.

A factorial experiment, in the form of completely randomized design with two factors, was conducted in four replicates to investigate the effects of silica nanoparticles (nanoparticle-SiO2) and cal...

The aim of this study was the development of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) based on silica MCM-41 dispersed in polysulfone (PSf) for the separation of carbon dioxide from methane. For this purpose, MCM-41 was synthesized by a hydrothermal method and was modified with 3-aminopropyltrietoxysilane (APTES). SEM, FTIR, BET and XRD analyses were used for characterization of the modified and unmodified particles. Then, various MMMs containing PSf at different weight percents (5, 10, 15 and 20) of modified and unmodified particles were prepared and the morphology and structure of the prepared membranes were studied using SEM and XRD analyses. Regardless of the particle type, the addition of MCM-41 to PSf caused an increase in gas permeability compared to a neat PSf membrane. Adding unmodified particles to PSf matrix resulted in undesirable effects, including particle agglomeration and/or the formation of interfacial voids. The MMMs with modified MCM-41 showed relatively better separation performance compared to MMMs with unmodified MCM-41. As a result, the MMM of PSf with 20 wt. % modified MCM-41 showed a significant increase in selectivity of carbon dioxide/methane and the value of selectivity reached 25.24.

Development of state-of-the-art assays for sensitive and specific detection of disease biomarkers has received significant interest for early detection and prevention of various diseases. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are two examples of proteins and nucleic acid detection assays respectively, which have been widely used for the sensitive detection of target analytes in biological fluids. Recently, immuno-PCR has emerged as a sensitive detection method, where high specificity of sandwich ELISA assays is combined with high sensitivity of PCR for trace detection of biomarkers. However, inherent disadvantages of immuno-PCR assays limit their application as rapid and sensitive detection method in clinical settings. With advances in nanomaterials, nanoparticles-based immunoassays have been widely used to improve the sensitivity and simplicity of traditional immunoassays. Owing to facile synthesis, surface functionalization, and superior optical and electronic properties, gold nanoparticles have been at the forefront of sensing and detection technologies and have been extensively studied to improve the efficacies of immunoassays. This review provides a brief history of immuno-PCR assays and specifically focuses on the role of gold nanoparticles to improve the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA, PCR and immuno-PCR assays.

Statement of problem Soft-tissue attachment to different surfaces may play a pivotal role in the long-term success of dental implants. However, studies on the issue, especially on newer materials, are sparse. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the viability and adhesion of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) on different implant abutment materials with specific surface modifications. Material and methods One hundred and fifty specimens in 6 experimental groups were evaluated: smooth-machined titanium alloy (Ti), laser-modified titanium (TiL), smooth-machined polyetheretherketone (PEEK) (P), laser-modified PEEK (PL), plasma-treated PEEK (PP), laser- and plasma-treated PEEK (PLP). Machined Ti was considered as the control group. Surface roughness (Sa), water contact angle (WCA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were measured. HGF attachment and proliferation were observed at 1, 3, and 7 days after cell seeding. Comparison of the means among the groups was performed with 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc comparison using the Tukey test (α=.05). Results Sa values of the laser modified groups were significantly higher than those of the nonmodified (smooth-machined) groups (P .05). On the first and third days of proliferation, the plasma sprayed groups (PP, PLP) showed significantly greater proliferation than all experimental groups (P .05). Conclusions Laser-modified titanium and PEEK surfaces led to guided gingival fibroblast attachment. Plasma treatment of PEEK surfaces increased the wettability of this polymer and improved proliferation of HGF.

Dentin has been considered a promising scaffold for bone regeneration. This study investigated the effects of two different demineralization and deproteinization methods on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of dentin as a potential scaffold for tissue engineering approaches. Eighty dentin discs were divided into five groups according to the treatment process: control (C), no treatment; DEM1, complete demineralization with HCl; DEM2, partial demineralization with different concentrations of EDTA; DEP1, complete deproteinization using NaOCl solution; and DEP2, partial deproteinization by boiling water. The treated dentin discs were characterized using ATR-FTIR and SEM. The compressive strength, elastic modulus, and microhardness values of all C and treated samples were measured. They were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Weibull analysis. FTIR showed significantly reduced mineral/matrix ratio in demineralized groups (DEM1 and 2) (p

The present study investigated the cefixime removal from aqueous solution using TiO2 and ZnO photocatalyst immobilised at polyurethane (PU) as well-asoptimized the effective parameters using respon...

Integration of sonication (US) with electrokinetic (EK) oxidation was studied for the treatment of a saline oily wastewater, as well as the effect of operating parameters, including pH, voltage, electrode distance (ED), sonication power, and reaction time on COD removal. A COD removal of 98 % was observed for the sono-electrokinetic (SEK) process with an applied voltage of 2.5 V, US power of 300 W, initial COD concentration of 3850 mg L–1, and reaction time of 9 h. The efficiency of SEK over sonication alone and EK oxidation alone was also confirmed with a higher pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant of 0.43 h–1, compared to values of 0.13 and 0.01 for alternative processes. In addition, the biodegradability of effluent was improved based on average oxidation state (AOS) and carbon oxidation state (COS) analysis. Oxygen consumption rate inhibition, dehydrogenase activity inhibition, and growth rate inhibition methods demonstrated the low toxicity of effluent (12–15 %) compared to influent. The current work indicated that SEK is a reliable and efficient technology for the treatment of saline oily wastewaters containing recalcitrant aromatic organics. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

One of the most effective methods for increasing the antimicrobial activity of a substance is to combine it with one or more other antimicrobial agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of buforin I and nisin alone and investigate the synergistic action of these compounds against the most important food spoilage microorganisms in clouding B. subtilis, S. epidermidis, L. innocua, E. coli, S. Enteritidis, A. oryzae, R. glutinis and G. candidum. The results of MIC and MBC/MFC examinations showed that buforin I had higher antimicrobial activity than nisin on all the microbial strains used in this study (p≤0.5). E.coli was the most resistant to both antimicrobial agents, while Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most sensitive to nisin and buforin I, respectively. The results of synergistic interaction between buforin I and nisin indicated that the combination of buforin I and nisin on B. subtilis, S. epidermidis and A. oryzae showed synergistic effect, while it had no effect on S. Enteritidis and Geotrichum candidum. The combination of buforin I and nisin showed partial synergistic effect on Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli, Rhodotorula glutinis. Assessment of viability of the microorganisms under the antimicrobial agents alone and in combination with each other at MICs and FICs indicated that use of these antimicrobial agents in combination enhances antimicrobial activity at lower concentrations of both agents. The present study investigated the antimicrobial properties of buforin I against food spoilage microorganisms for the first time and suggests that its use alone or in combination with nisin may provide a clear horizon for the application of antimicrobial peptides as natural preservatives. Thus, the combination of antimicrobial peptides and traditional antimicrobial food preservative could be a promising option for the prevention of contamination, spoilage, and infestation of food and beverage products.

The bimetallic nanocatalysts with improved catalytic activity and selectivity has emerged as an important class of nanocatalysts. Herein, a highly efficient Ag–Pd alloy-based semi heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalyst has been developed. The catalyst exhibits enzyme-like catalytic efficiency for the reduction of nitro functional group of 4-nitro phenol as water contaminant by NaBH4 even at ambient temperature. Exceptionally high turnover frequency, very short reaction time, simple recovery and reusability of catalyst and complete conversion of p-nitrophenol are some remarkable features of this semi heterogeneous nanocatalyst. The enzyme-like efficiency of developed nanocatalyst could be related to its architectural configuration, the catalytic performance of Ag–Pd bimetallic alloy nanoparticles and organophilic microenvironment which raised from semi heterogeneous nature of support. Moreover, the design of experiments methodology was employed to optimize the reaction conditions and the kinetic study was carried out to explore enzyme-like activity of designed catalyst. A novel Ag–Pd alloy-based semi heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalyst represented superior catalytic activity and selectivity for the reduction of p-nitrophenol in water even at room temperature.

PURPOSE: Over the past decades, a variety of biomaterials have been investigated in terms of their suitability for oral mucosa tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to compare collagen and GelMA hydrogels as connective tissue scaffolds for fibroblasts and as substrates for seeding and culture of oral epithelial keratinocyte cells. METHODS: Human primary oral fibroblast and keratinocyte cells were isolated from gingival biopsies. The mixture of fibroblasts with GelMA or collagen gel were aliquoted within six-well tissue culture plate inserts and cross-linked using visible light or reconstitution buffer/heat, respectively. The viability of fibroblasts in the hydrogels was investigated after one and three days of cultivation using the PrestoBlue assay. Following the addition and culture of oral keratinocytes onto the connective tissue constructs, the tissue-engineered oral mucosa was assessed histologically. RESULTS: The tissue viability assay shows that collagen hydrogels encapsulating fibroblasts displayed significantly higher cell viability than cell-laden GelMA constructs after 24 and 72 h (p

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of geologic CO2 sequestration in terms of CO2‐brine‐rock interactions in Ramin oil field, Iran. Static experiments were conducted with carbonate rocks at 70°C and atmospheric pressure for 14, 30, and 60 days. CO2‐brine‐rock interactions were inferred from the evaluation of Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SO42− concentrations and a thorough characterization of the carbonate rocks before and after treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed the formation of dissolution pits and the growth of new structures. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) indicated these minerals to be calcite. Porosity of the carbonate rocks increased from an initial value of 4.72% to the maximum value of 11.83%. Then, it decreased to a value of 5.48% until the end of the experiments, that is, 60 days. Chemical analysis of brine suggested the precipitation and dissolution of calcium sulfate. In addition, dolomite dissolution and halite precipitation/dissolution were inferred. Calcite precipitation and porosity reduction suggested that CO2 can be stored via mineral entrapment in the Ramin oil field, which is desired from the perspective of CO2 geologic sequestration. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary total sulphur amino acids (TSAA) levels and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation on performance, carcase yield and energetic molecular metabolites in heart and breast muscle of broiler chickens fed wheat-soy diet. A total of 450, male one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were assigned in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of nine treatments, five replicates and 10 birds each. Dietary treatments included three graded levels of supplementary TSAA (+0.4 g/kg per level) resulting in a deficient, adequate and plus level of recommended by strain, with three levels of GAA (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg) and were fed for 35 days. Dietary TSAA levels only enhanced performance during the starter period (p

The objective of the current study was to introduce “Polylactic co-Glycolic Acid- (PLGA-) Coated Ceramic Microparticles” as an innovative drug delivery system, loaded with a new combination of triple antibiotics (penicillin G, metronidazole, and ciprofloxacin (PMC)) for use in endodontic treatments. Ceramic microparticles were made from β-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite and examined by “Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM).” Then, fixed amounts of the selected antibiotics were added to a prepared PLGA solution and stirred thoroughly. Next, the prepared ceramic microparticles were dispersed completely in the drugs solution. The deposited “PMC-loaded PLGA-coated ceramic microspheres (PPCMs)” were dried and incubated in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for 21 days. The drug release from PPCMs was quantified by a UV spectrophotometer. The antimicrobial activity of PPCMs was investigated using the “Agar Plate Diffusion Test (ADT),” “Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC),” and “Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)” against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a). The cell viability test (MTT) was conducted for cytotoxicity against human gingival fibroblasts. SEM micrographs of PPCMs showed spherical-like ceramic microparticles with smooth surfaces. Crystal-like antibiotic particles (chunks) were also found on PPCMs. Initial burst of antibiotics (31 µg/mL, 160 µg/mL, and 18 µg/mL for ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and penicillin G, respectively, in the first 4 days) followed by gradual and sustained release was observed within a period of 21 days. PPCMs demonstrated pH close to normal physiological environment and antibacterial activity against E. faecalis and A.a in the first 2 days. MTT showed cell viability of more than 70% for PPCMs after 24 h and 72 h of exposure. In conclusion, PPCMs demonstrated satisfactory release of antibiotics, antibacterial activity against the selected microorganisms, and biocompatibility. Thus, PPCMs may be used to deliver modified triple antibiotics to the root canal system for use in endodontic applications.

This work presents the development of novel fluorinated graphene (FG)-based resistive humidity sensor. The humidity sensor was fabricated by drop-casting FG suspension, as the humidity sensing material, on silver (Ag)-based interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). The silver-based IDEs were screen printed on a flexible polyimide substrate. The FG suspension was synthesized by uniform dispersion of FG in isopropyl alcohol (IPA), using the ultra-sonication process. The resistive response of the fabricated humidity sensors towards varying relative humidity (RH) levels was investigated, when the RH was varied from 20% to 80%, in steps of 10%, and at a temperature of 24 °C. A relative resistance change of 13.3% was observed when the RH was changed from 20% to 80%, with a sensitivity of 0.22%/%RH for the FG-based humidity sensor. Response time and recovery time of 82 s and 125 s, respectively, was obtained for the fabricated sensor. In addition, the effect of varying operating temperatures on the response of the fabricated humidity sensors was investigated. The average temperature coefficient of resistance of sensors was obtained as approximately −0.3%/°C. A linear relation between the temperature and the relative resistance change of sensors was observed. Further, first-principles study, employing density functional theory calculations, was performed to investigate interactions between the fluorine atom and graphene substrate, as well as humidity sensing behavior of the FG. DFT calculations showed that hydrogen atoms of the water molecule move towards the fluorine atom of the FG during the relaxation process, confirming the hydrogen bonding between FG and water molecules. The Eads of −0.50 eV was calculated for the adsorption of water molecule on the FG, demonstrating the strong humidity sensing property of the FG. The results demonstrate that FG, a highly stable derivative of graphene, is a potential material for humidity sensing applications.

In this study, we designed an engineered tissue and transplanted it to an animal model, trying to take an effective step toward meeting the needs of diabetic patients. Here, human endometrial cells were differentiated into PDX1-expressing cells using a small molecule of Y-27632 on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun scaffolds and transplanted into diabetic rats. PAN nanofibers were made by electrospinning. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analysis were performed to express pancreatic precursor (PP) genes. The differentiated cells were then transplanted into the abdominal cavity of diabetic rats with Streptozotocin. In another group of rats, differentiated cells were injected through the tail. Blood glucose was measured 7, 14, and 28 days after transplantation, and rat weight was also measured. The results showed that the expression of PP markers including Sox-17, Ngn3, Pdx1, and NKx2.2 genes was significantly increased in differentiated cells compared to the control group. In diabetic rats receiving differentiated cells, both transplanted and injected, glucose concentration as well as body weight improved compared to the control group. Rats receiving transplants in the peritoneum had a lower blood glucose concentration than those in the cell receiving group by injection, and the cell receiving group in the form of injections was more effective in increasing the body weight of rats than in the other groups. According to the results of the study, the transplantation of PP from endometrium using PAN scaffolding at the site of peritoneum could be recommended for the treatment of diabetes, although further studies are needed to provide a complete cure.

In this study, we fabricated a mechanical joining with spot friction-stirring between an aluminum alloy plate and an aluminum–zinc alloy-coated steel sheet; this was achieved by utilizing a conventional press-punching preprocess. In the preprocessing, a hot-dip 55% aluminum–zinc alloy-coated steel sheet was punched using a press and an inclined surface was generated at the wall of a punched hole due to shear droop. Subsequently, an A5083P-O aluminum alloy plate was positioned against it, and friction stirring was conducted on its rear surface. The hole was filled with the aluminum alloy to generate a mechanical interlock at the tilt of the wall. Further, we evaluated its cross tensile strength (CTS) and tensile shear strength (TSS) and obtained an average CTS and TSS of 368 kN and 1470 kN, respectively.

In vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful analytical tool for probing complex biological processes inside living organisms. However, due to magnetic susceptibility broadening, which produces broad lines in one-dimensional NMR, 1H-13C two-dimensional (2D) NMR is required for metabolite monitoring in vivo. As each 2D experiment is time-consuming, often hours, this limits the temporal resolution over which in vivo processes can be monitored. Furthermore, to understand concentration-dependent responses, studies are traditionally repeated using different contaminant and toxin concentrations, which can make studies prohibitively long (potentially months). In this study, time-resolved non-uniform sampling NMR is performed in the presence of a contaminant concentration sweep. The result is that the lowest concentration that elicits a metabolic response can be rapidly detected, while the metabolic pathways impacted provide information about the toxic mode of action of the toxin. The lowest concentration of bisphenol A (BPA) that induces a response was ∼0.1 mg/L (detected in just 16 min), while changes in different metabolites suggest a complex multipathway response that leads to protein degradation at higher BPA concentrations. This proof of concept shows it is possible, on the basis of "real-time" organism responses, to identify the sublethal concentration at which a toxin impacts an organism and thus represents an essential analytical tool for the next generation of toxicity-based research and monitoring.

In this work, a novel series of phthalimide-4,5-dihydrothiazole-amide derivatives 5a–f have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti-epileptic activities against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induc...

This study aims at evaluating the performance of thiamine as a new eco-friendly shale inhibitor in water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs). The evaluation experiments include sedimentation, bentonite inhibition, filtration, zeta potential, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, shale cuttings recovery, linear swelling and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The performance of thiamine was compared to potassium chloride. In contrast to deionized water, the aqueous solution of thiamine exhibited greater power to inhibit montmorillonite (Mt) dispersion, much more Mt loading capacity (280 g/L) and fluid loss, lower Mt mass loss, larger aggregated Mt particles, lower interlayer space of the Mt particles, less shale cuttings disintegration and lower linear swelling. Adsorption of thiamine on Mt led to a significant shift in the value of zeta potential (from −17.1 to +8.54 mV). Thiamine demonstrated superior inhibitive performance than potassium chloride. FTIR analysis confirmed that thiamine is adsorbed on Mt particles. The compatibility test revealed the compatibility of thiamine with conventional WBDF additives. It was concluded that the main probable inhibition mechanisms of thiamine are the cation exchange and Mt surface coating. In view of its prominent inhibition capacity and great environmental acceptability, thiamine is a promising inhibitor for drilling in water-sensitive formations.

Background: The amniotic membrane plays an important role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The main population cells from amniotic membrane include human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) which have been shown to possess immunomodulatory properties. Objective: The proximity of hAECs with monocyte leads to the generation of tollerogenic dendritic cells. Materials and Methods: hAECs were obtained from normal pregnancy. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated by anti-CD14 MACS method. Co-cultures of monocytes and hAECs were established in Transwell chambers supplemented with granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the absence and presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to produce immature and mature DCs, respectively. Immunophenotyping of the obtained DCs was done through flow cytometry and the production of cytokines was measured by ELISA. Mixed leukocyte Reaction (MLR) was also performed for the functional assessment of DCs. Results: Immunophenotyping of [hAECs - Immature DC (iDC)] and [hAECs - iDC] + LPS cells revealed that the expression of CD1a, CD80, CD86, CD40, HLA-DR, and CD83 markers showed no significant difference as compared with the control group (iDCs and mDCs alone). In the [hAECs-iDCs] + LPS cells, the percentage of CD14 cells at the ratio of 1:2.5 showed significant differences compared to the control group. The production of IL-10 and IL-12 showed no significant difference in any of the cultures as compared to the control groups. Also, co-cultured DCs did not inhibit proliferation of lymphocyte. Conclusion: Our findings show that factors secreted from cultured hAECs are unable to generate of tollerogenic dendritic cells. To achieve a better understanding of other mechanisms more investigations are needed. Key words: Amniotic membrane, Dendritic cells, Human placenta, Immunomodulation, Monocyte.

In this research, hydroxyapatite (HA)-based ceramics were produced as suitable ceramic implants for orthopedic applications. To improve the physical, mechanical, electrical and biological properties of pure HA, we developed composite scaffolds of HA-barium titanate (BT) by cold isostatic pressing and sintering. Microstructure, crystal phases, and molecular structure were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. Bulk density values were measured using the Archimedes method. The effect of different percentages of BT on cell proliferation, viability, and ALP activity of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) was assessed by ProstoBlue assay, Live/Dead staining, and p-NPP assay. The obtained results indicate that the HA-BT scaffolds possess higher compressive strength, toughness, density, and hardness compared with pure HA scaffolds. After immersing the scaffold in SBF solution, more deposited apatite appeared on the HA-BT, which results in rougher surface on this scaffold thanpure HA. Electrical properties of HA in the presence of BT are improved. Based on the results of cell culture experiments, composites containing 40, 50 and 60 %wt of BT have excellent biocompatibility, with the best results occurring for the sample with 50 %wt BT.

The numerous electronic and optoelectronic applications that rely on semiconductors require tuning their properties through doping. Germanium quantum dots (Ge QDs) were successfully doped with bism...

Lactoferrin is one of the most important components in milk. Lactoferrin is an 80 kDa iron-binding glycoprotein that involves a diverse range of biological activities. However, the antimicrobial properties are its most widely studied function. The aim of this study was to assay the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of bovine lactoferrin against five of the most important foodborne pathogenic bacterial strains including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua, in planktonic and biofilm forms. Bovine lactoferrin was purchased, MIC and MBC were determined for the mentioned bacterial strains and the effect of lactoferrin concentrations on biofilm formation was evaluated using microtiter plate method. Based on the results, lactoferrin had a greater effect on gram-positive bacteria, L. monocytogenes and L. innocua were the most sensitive strains. MIC for L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was 6, 6, 8 and 14 mg/mL, respectively, Nevertheless, MIC for gram negative E. coli was not observed, even at 16 mg/mL. The result demonstrated that MBC for L. monocytogenes, L. innocua and S. aureus were 10, 12 and 16 mg/mL, respectively. However, MBC for P. aeruginosa and E. coli were not observed for the lactoferrin concentrations evaluated. The highest biofilm formation inhibitory effects of bovine lactoferrin were against L. monocytogenes and L. innocua. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the antibiofilm activity of bovine lactoferrin against foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Our findings suggest lactoferrin to possibly use as an anti-biofilm agent in both food and pharmaceutical industries.

Leaf rust is responsible for most economically important wheat disease with yield losses. Growers usually use fungicides once or twice a year to control wheat leaf rust in Iran (Khuzestan Province). The purpose of the present study was to determine profit obtained from using propiconazole in five local winter wheat cultivars with different resistance level, including Chamran 2, Star, Ofogh, Kavir, and Boolani against wheat leaf rust in 2015–16 and 2016–17. The experiment was performed in five treatments. The first was the application of fungicide as soon as the symptoms were observed. In the second, third, and fourth treatments the fungicide application was after one, two, and three weeks of the symptom appearance, respectively. In the fifth one, there was no spraying and disease was left to develop to its final severity. The price of the fungicide and spraying cost were obtained by evaluations via three representatives of pesticides sale. In the 2015–16 growing year the net return in cv. Chamran 2 in the first treatment (growth stage GS 53) was $236 ha−1. In Star and Ofogh, except for treatment 1 and 2, a significant difference was observed for all treatments (P

Indirect ligand exchange methods have been demonstrated to replace the oleylamine capping with dodecanethiol for germanium nanocrystals (Ge NCs). In these methods, hydrazine is employed to effectiv...