Search

Bioplastics are plastics derived from natural resources like corn starch, biomass, sugarcane bagasse, and food waste. Unlike fossil fuel-based plastics, they are bio-degradable entirely or partially. Therefore, bioplastics are relatively less harmful to the environment. Cellulose and starch-based bioplastics are already used for applications like packaging, cutlery, bowls, straws. However, their cost and performance cannot match the conventional plastics. The present study was aimed to produce bioplastic from food waste material. As a result, orange peel is chosen because of its high cellulose content and good availability. The bio-plastic film from orange peel was produced using simple laboratory techniques. Its identification for potential applications is the new area of work. The developed film blends with glycerol as a plasticizer have indicated consistent and promising results. This has excellent strength, flexibility, and disintegration in soiling conditions, morphologically having a rough surface, and confirms the film's bio-degradability nature. Characterization methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), powderX-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed that the developed material's physicochemical and surface morphology belonged to bio-based plastic. A simple, novel, and economic process are described in the manufacturing of bio-based plastic.

Pyrazinoic acid or pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (PA), due to its nitrogenous heteroaromatic ring, can be explored as an anticancer agent. Here, a series of twenty novels PA derivatives have been synthesized and characterized using IR, NMR, and mass spectrums. Their cytotoxic activity was evaluated against three different cancer cell lines, including lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), and colon (HT-29). P16, the most potent compound, showed moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 of 6.11 μM, 10.64 μM, and 14.92 μM, against the A549, MCF-7, and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of this compound against MRC5 as a non-tumoral lung cell line, exhibited a selectivity index of 9.02. The apoptotic induction activity of P16 was also performed on the A549 cell line. The results showed that as the concentration of the compound increases (from 3 to 6 μM), the percentage of induction of apoptosis increases from 8.54% to 72.4%. Electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays showed that P16 was also able to ROS induce DNA cleavage in the presents of H2O2 (1.0 mM) in dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking was also applied to anticipate the binding locations and the binding of the synthesized compound with Bcl-2 apoptosis regulator and DNA as their proposed targets.

Rhus javanica (Anacardiaceae) containing abundant glucopyranosidal constituents, is traditionally used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcer, dysentery, and diarrhea. Rumex hastatus (Polygonaceae) widely distributed in Pakistan, has traditional importance in treating wound healing, jaundice, rheumatism, and skin diseases. Callistemon viminalis (Myrtaceae), a rich source of essential oils, saponins, triterpenoids, phloroglucinols, and flavonoids is used in industries, perfumes, nutrition, and cosmetics. Taking the importance of the subject plants, this study is designed to synthesize silver nanoparticles via aqueous extracts of R. javanica (RJAgNPs), R. hastatus (RHAgNPs), and C. viminalis (CVAgNPs). Synthesis, surface, and sizes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were confirmed using spectroscopic techniques including ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). AgNPs were produced in ratios 1:15, 1:16, and 1:9 and inferred via appearance of a sharp surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption peak (400–435 nm), which represented well-defined, stable, and spherical AgNPs. From SEM analysis, the sizes of RJAgNPs, RHAgNPs, and CVAgNPs were found to be 67 nm, 61 nm, and 55 nm, respectively. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited potential free radical scavenging, antibacterial, and catalytic properties in degradation of dyes including Congo red, methylene blue, methyl orange, rhodamine B, ortho and para-nitrophenols, and several food colours. Hence, the subject AgNPs in the current study might display promising role in drug development and remediation of environmental/industrial effluents.

Xanthones C-glycosides are plants secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities. Among the C-glycoside xanthones, the mangiferin (MF) is of widespread occurrence in plants while isomangiferin (IsoMF) is not very common. For the present study mangiferin (MF) and isomangiferin (IsoMF) were isolated from Dryopteris ramosa. The antibacterial potential of MF and IsoMF was evaluated by using agar well diffusion method while cytotoxic properties of MF and IsoMF were assessed by brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT). The antibacterial potential of MF and IsoMF increases in dose dependent manner. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) indicated strong antibacterial potential of MF against Salmonella setubal (125 µg/mL) and Bacillus subtilis (125 µg/mL) while MF showed weak antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli (500 µg/mL). On the other hand the IsoMF showed better antibacterial potential against all the tested strain including Escherichia coli (MIC = 250 µg/mL). The MF and IsoMF showed poor cytotoxicity towards Brine shrimp nauplii as indicated by their LD50 (969.77 ± 0.67 and 768.92 ± 0.81 µg/mL respectively). The present study has highlighted the antibacterial potential of MF and IsoMF. Further evaluation of these two isomeric compounds may prove to be the future remedies for various bacterial infections and other human ailments.

The growth and phase evolution characteristics of exsolved metal nanoparticles (NPs) in a Ni-doped La0.3Ca0.70Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ (LCFCrN) perovskite is investigated in H2–N2 and CO–CO2 environments. Exsolution kinetics are rapid in H2–N2 while those in CO–CO2 atmospheres are sluggish, possibly due to a combination of pO2 difference in excess of three orders of magnitude as compared to that in H2–N2, and a different reaction pathway in the two atmospheres. NPs grown in H2–N2 exhibit a compositional and structural progression from an initially Ni-rich phase to an Fe-rich phase at short and long heat treatment durations, respectively. Once the subsurface Ni depletes, the NPs seem to coarsen via a combination of addition of Fe from the parent perovskite and Ostwald ripening. For longer heat treatment durations, CaO particles are observed to be appended to the Fe–Ni NPs. Exsolution also occurred in CO2–CO atmospheres exhibiting similar trends, although the composition of the NPs was Ni-rich even after a 25 h reduction treatment in 70 : 30 CO : CO2 at 800 °C, indicating that the NPs are resistant to coarsening and stable for use in highly reducing CO–CO2 environments. In reversible solid oxide cells (RSOC) applications, the CO oxidation kinetics are typically sluggish on single phase perovskite electrodes. However, for Fe–Ni alloy NP-decorated LCFCrN (Fe–Ni@LCFCrN), the NPs are shown to enhance the CO oxidation kinetics (by ca. 75%) and the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2-RR) kinetics (by ca. 15%) as compared to the parent material, LCFCr. This makes the Fe–Ni@LCFCrN catalyst equally active for both reactions, hence significantly enhancing its potential for use in reversible solid oxide cell applications.

Allium cepa L. is a commonly consumed vegetable that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and contains nutrients and antioxidants in ample amounts. In spite of the valuable food applications of onion bulb, its peel and outer fleshy layers are generally regarded as waste and exploration of their nutritional and therapeutic potential is still in progress with a very slow progression rate. The present study was designed with the purpose of doing a comparative analysis of the antioxidant potential of two parts of Allium cepa, i.g., bulb (edible part) and outer fleshy layers and dry peels (inedible part). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of the onion bulb and peel extracts on rat intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase of porcine was also evaluated. The antioxidant potential of onion peel and bulb extracts were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), 2,2’-azino-bis- 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assay, H2O2 radical scavenging activity and Fe2+ chelating activity. Total flavonoids and phenolic content of ethanolic extract of onion peel were significantly greater as compared to that of onion bulb. Ethanolic extract of onion peel also presented better antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activity as compared to the ethanolic extract of bulb, while the aqueous extract of bulb presented weakest antioxidative potential. Onion peel extract’s α-glucosidase inhibition potential was also correlated with their phenolic and flavonoid contents. The current findings presented onion peel as a possible source of antioxidative agents and phenolic compounds that might be beneficial against development of various common chronic diseases that might have an association with oxidative stress. Besides, outer dry layers and fleshy peels of onion exhibited higher phenolic content and antioxidant activities, compared to the inner bulb. The information obtained by the present study can be useful in promoting the use of vegetable parts other than the edible mesocarp for several future food applications, rather than these being wasted. Resumo Allium cepa pertence à família Liliaceae e é rica em nutrientes e antioxidantes. Apesar das expressivas aplicações alimentares do bulbo da cebola, sua casca e outras camadas externas são geralmente consideradas resíduos, e seu potencial nutricional e terapêutico ainda é pouco explorado. O presente estudo foi delineado com o objetivo de investigar comparativamente o potencial antioxidante de duas partes de Allium cepa, por exemplo o bulbo (parte comestível) e camadas externas e cascas secas (parte não comestível). Além disso, o efeito inibitório dos extratos do bulbo de cebola e casca sobre a α-glucosidase intestinal de ratos e α-amilase pancreática suína também foi avaliado. O potencial antioxidante dos extratos da casca de cebola e bulbo foi avaliado utilizando-se 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH), método de poder antioxidante de redução do ferro (FRAP), método 2,2'-azino-bis-3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-ácido sulfônico (ABTS) de eliminação de radicais, atividade de eliminação de radicais H2O2 e atividade quelante do Fe2+. Os flavonoides totais e os teores fenólicos do extrato de etanol da casca de cebola foram significativamente maiores quando comparados ao do bulbo. O extrato de etanol da casca de cebola também apresentou melhor atividade antioxidante e eliminação de radicais livres quando comparado ao extrato de etanol do bulbo, enquanto o extrato aquoso de bulbo apresentou menor potencial antioxidante. O potencial de inibição da α-glicosidase dos extratos de casca de cebola correlacionou-se com seus teores fenólicos e de flavonoides. Os resultados encontrados identificaram que a casca de cebola é uma possível fonte de agentes antioxidantes e compostos fenólicos que podem ser benéficos contra o desenvolvimento de várias doenças crônicas que estão associadas ao estresse oxidativo. Além disso, as camadas externas secas e as cascas da cebola exibiram maior conteúdo fenólico e atividades antioxidantes, em comparação com o bulbo interno. As informações obtidas pelo presente estudo podem promover o uso de outras partes vegetais além do mesocarpo comestível para futuras aplicações em alimentos, ao invés de serem desperdiçadas.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of fused deposition modeling (FDM) process parameters on the tribological behavior of PC-ABS built prototypes. Wear resistance of FDM manufactured parts in relation to the variation of FDM process parameters was analyzed and studied using definitive screening design and analysis of variance technique. The worn surfaces of some fabricated samples were also analyzed and investigated in this study by scanning electron microscope. Genetic algorithm was applied to optimize the wear resistance and to identify the exact effect of the input parameters. The results obtained from this study would have an impact on the FDM product performance in various industrial applications. This study demonstrates how the manufacturing parameters can be understood in FDM additive manufacturing technology. By implementing a similar approach, the optimum setting of process parameters, which gives the best tribological properties, can be determined whenever a new material is used for the FDM process.

A temperature-controlled glasshouse study was conducted to evaluate the influence of elevated temperature (eT – 34/24 ± 2°C) on the growth and glyphosate susceptibility of windmill grass (Chloris t...

Background: Ligustrazine and chalcones have been reported previously for various biological activities including anticancer effects. Objectives: Based on the multitargeted biological activities approach of ligustrazine-based chalcones, in the current study 18 synthetic ligustrazine-containing α, β-unsaturated carbonyl-based 1, 3- Diphenyl-2-propen-1-one derivatives were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the growth of five different types of cancer cells. Methods: All the compounds were evaluated for anticancer effects on various cancer cell lines by propidium iodide fluorescence assay and various other assays were performed for mechanistic studies. Results: A majority of compounds exhibited strong inhibition of cancer cells, especially synthetic compounds 4a and 4b, bearing 1-Pyridin-3-yl-ethanone as a ketone moiety in the main structural backbone were found to be most powerful inhibitors of cancer cell growth. Nine most active compounds among the whole series were selected for further studies related to different cancer targets, including EGFR TK kinases, tubulin polymerization, KAF and BRAFV600E. Conclusion: Synthetic derivatives, including 4a-b and 5a-b showed a multitarget approach and strong inhibitory effects on EGFR, FAK and BRAF while three compounds, including 3e bearing methoxy substitution, 4a and 4b with 1-pyridin-3-yl-ethanone moiety showed the inhibition of tubulin polymerization.

A model to quantitatively characterize the effect of evinacumab, an investigational monoclonal antibody against angiopoietin‐like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) on lipid trafficking is needed. A quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) approach was developed to predict the transient responses of different triglyceride (TG)‐rich lipoprotein particles in response to evinacumab administration. A previously published hepatic lipid model was modified to address specific queries relevant to the mechanism of evinacumab and its effect on lipid metabolism. Modifications included the addition of intermediate‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein compartments to address the modulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity by evinacumab, ANGPTL3 biosynthesis and clearance, and a target‐mediated drug disposition model. A sensitivity analysis guided the creation of virtual patients (VPs). The drug‐free QSP model was found to agree well with clinical data published with the initial hepatic liver model over simulations ranging from 20 to 365 days in duration. The QSP model, including the interaction between LPL and ANGPTL3, was validated against clinical data for total evinacumab, total ANGPTL3, and TG concentrations as well as inhibition of apolipoprotein CIII. Free ANGPTL3 concentration and LPL activity were also modeled. In total, seven VPs were created; the lipid levels of the VPs were found to match the range of responses observed in evinacumab clinical trial data. The QSP model results agreed with clinical data for various subjects and was shown to characterize known TG physiology and drug effects in a range of patient populations with varying levels of TGs, enabling hypothesis testing of evinacumab effects on lipid metabolism.

Plant redox homeostasis governs the uptake, toxicity and tolerance mechanism of toxic trace elements and thereby elucidates the remediation potential of a plant. Moreover, plant toxicity/tolerance mechanisms control the trace element compartmentation in edible and non-edible plant organs as well as the associated health hazards. Therefore, it is imperative to unravel the cellular mechanism involved in trace element toxicity and tolerance. The present study investigated the toxicity and tolerance/detoxification mechanisms of four levels of arsenic (As(III): 0, 5, 25 and 125 µM) in Brassica oleracea under hydroponic cultivation. Increasing As levels significantly decreased the pigment contents (up to 68%) of B. oleracea. Plants under As stress showed an increase in H2O2 contents (up to 32%) in roots while a decrease (up to 72%) in leaves because As is mostly retained in plant roots, while less is translocated toward the shoot, as evident from the literature. Arsenic treatments caused lipid peroxidation both in the root and leaf cells. Against As-induced oxidative stress, B. oleracea plants mediated an increase in the activities of peroxidase and catalase. Contradictory, the ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities slightly decreased in the As-stressed plants. In conclusion and as evident from the literature data analysis, As exposure (especially high level, 125 µM) caused pigment toxicity and oxidative burst in B. oleracea. The ability of B. oleracea to tolerate As-induced toxicity greatly varied with applied treatment levels (As-125 being more toxic than lower levels), plant organ type (more toxicity in leaves than roots) and physiological response parameter (pigment contents more sensitive than other response variables). Moreover, the multivariate statistical analysis appeared to be a useful method to estimate plant response under stress and trace significant trends in the data set.

We have investigated the behaviour of change of molar conductivity of mixtures of two crown ethers (CE) (18-Crown-6; 18C6 and 24-Crown-8; 24C8) and metal ions (Mn+) (Zn2+ and Cu2+) and the complexa...

L-Asparaginase is a well know enzyme for its antineoplastic potential and is widely used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphosarcoma. The present work describes the isolation and characterization of novel L-asparaginase producing Bacillus strains from soil. Soil samples were collected from three different locations such as fruit garden, dairy farm and agricultural land in Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The isolates were screened to produce L-asparaginase in growth medium supplemented with 1% L-asparagine using a phenol red indicator. Among 30 bacterial isolates, only two strains initially coded as A5 and FG7 showed L-asparaginase activity. Based on biochemical and 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, the isolate A5 and FG7 were identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus proteolyticus respectively. Different factors like pH and time were optimized for maximum L-asparaginase activity. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens showed maximum asparaginase activity at pH 7 after 24 hours incubation at 30oC, while Bacillus proteolyticus showed optimum activity at pH 7 after 48 hours of incubation at 30oC. The present study first time reported the production of L-asparginase enzyme from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus proteolyticus. Keywords: L-asparaginase, Bacillusamyloliquefaciens, Bacillus proteolyticus, 16sRNA.

Salt stress significantly contributes to major losses in agricultural productivity worldwide. The sustainable approach for salinity-accrued toxicity has been explored. The use of plant growth regulators/phytohormones, mineral nutrients and other signaling molecules is one of the major approaches for reversing salt-induced toxicity in plants. Application of the signaling molecules such as nitric oxide (NO) and ethylene (ETH) and major mineral nutrient such as nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) play significant roles in combatting the major consequences of salt stress impacts in plants. However, the literature available on gaseous signaling molecules (NO/ETH) or/and mineral nutrients (N/S) stands alone, and major insights into the role of NO or/and ETH along with N and S in plant-tolerance to salt remained unclear. Thus, this review aimed to (a) briefly overview salt stress and highlight salt-induced toxicity, (b) appraise the literature reporting potential mechanisms underlying the role of gaseous signaling molecules and mineral nutrient in salt stress tolerance, and (c) discuss NO and ETH along with N and S in relation to salt stress tolerance. In addition, significant issues that have still to be investigated in this context have been mentioned.

This investigation was done to assess the role of abscisic acid (ABA, 25 µM) and/or nitrogen (N, 10 mM) in the alleviation of salinity (NaCl, 100 mM)-induced reduction in photosynthetic activity and growth, N and sulfur (S) assimilation of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cv. RH0-749. Salinity treatment caused oxidative stress and significantly elevated the content of both H2O2 and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and impaired photosynthetic activity and growth, but increased the content of nitrogenous osmolyte proline and the activity of antioxidant enzymes involved in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species. The application of 25 µM ABA under a controlled condition negatively affected photosynthesis and growth. However, ABA, when combined with N, minimized oxidative stress and mitigated the salinity-inhibited effects by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD, glutathione reductase, GR, ascorbate peroxidase, APX) and proline content. Overall, the supplementation of 10 mM N combined with 25 µM ABA provides an important strategy for enhancing the photosynthetic potential of B. juncea under saline conditions.

Local delivery of anticancer agents via injectable hydrogels could be a promising method for achieving spatiotemporal control on drug release as well as minimizing the disadvantages related to the systemic mode of drug delivery. Keeping this in mind, we report the development of N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (N,O-CMCS)-guar gum-based injectable hydrogels for the sustained delivery of anticancer drugs. The hydrogels were synthesized by chemical crosslinking of multialdehyde guar gum (MAGG) and N,O-CMCS through dynamic Schiff base linkages, without requiring any external crosslinker. Fabrication of injectable hydrogels, involving N,O-CMCS and MAGG via Schiff base crosslinking, is being reported for the first time. The hydrogels exhibited pH-responsive swelling behavior and good mechanical properties with a storage modulus of about 1625 Pa. Due to the reversible nature of Schiff base linkages, hydrogels displayed excellent self-healing and thixotropic properties. Doxorubicin (Dox), an anticancer agent, was loaded onto these hydrogels and its release studies were conducted at pH 7.4 (physiological) and pH 5.5 (tumoral). A sustained release of about 67.06% Dox was observed from the hydrogel after 5 days at pH 5.5 and about 32.13% at pH 7.4. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay on the human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293) and the hemolytic assay demonstrated the biocompatible nature of the hydrogels. The Dox-loaded hydrogel exhibited a significant killing effect against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with a cytotoxicity of about 72.13%. All the data presented support the efficiency of the synthesized N,O-CMCS/MAGG hydrogel as a biomaterial that may find promising applications in anticancer drug delivery.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the current pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The progression of COVID-19 is related to an excessive host inflammatory immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is considered a major cause of disease severity and death. Dysregulated immune response produces huge amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines called "cytokine storm". Moreover, the activation of microthrombi formation plays an important role in multiple organ failure. Methods: Keeping into the consideration of the potent anti-inflammatory activity of black seed and its major constituent thymoquinone (TQ), we hypothesize their potential implication in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. A literature search was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google scholar and Scopus electronic databases by using the terms, including black seed, N. sativa, thymoquinone, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and inflammatory immune response. Reslts: Various studies confirmed that Black seed and TQ reduced the thrombus formation, the expression of tissue factor and the immune activation. Furthermore, TQ demonstrated the broad spectrum antimicrobial activity that may be effective in controlling the secondary infections in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Keeping into consideration the multi-targeting nature of the black seed and TQ, they may be used as a potential therapeutic formulation or as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

In the present work, highly porous, pH-responsive, and biocompatible chitosan-based hydrogel beads were prepared through gamma-irradiated graft copolymerization technique using L-glutamic acid as the monomer. The glutamic acid grafted chitosan (CH-g-GA) hydrogel beads, loaded with the anti-cancer drug (Doxorubicin, Dox), were exploited for their potential application as anti-cancer drug delivery system. The grafting conditions were optimized by varying irradiation dose (kGy) and monomer concentration. Further, the hydrogel beads were analysed using FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA/DSC, Zeta potential studies, BET analysis and their strength was determined using rheological analysis. The swelling characteristics of the beads were studied at various simulated body pH (2.1, 5.8, and 7.4) to study their pH-responsive behaviour. The in-vitro drug release from the beads was thus evaluated at pH 5.8, 7.4 using UV-visible spectroscopy. The highest swelling ratio (426%) and drug release (81.33% in 144 h) was observed at the pH of 5.8. The MTT assay was performed on HEK-293 cell-line to check their cytocompatibilty and the cell proliferation of Dox-loaded beads was studied on MCF-7 cell-line. A significant cytotoxicity against the cancer-cells was observed which further established their promising use in the controlled delivery of anti-cancer agents for localized cancer therapy.

The current study is designed having aims i.e., to check cellulase production potential of P. spadiceus, optimization of different culture conditions for the production of exoglucanase using sugarcane bagasse as substrate and characterization of exoglucanase. P. spadiceus, a mushroom was used to enhance the production of exoglucanase enzyme by Solid State Fermentation (SSF). Effect of different conditions was observed including, fermentation period, temperature, pH, moisture level and different carbon and nitrogen sources to obtain maximum yield of exoglucanase. Crude-enzyme was then centrifuged and characterized for temperature, pH, effect of metal ions and effect of different substrate concentration for the determination of Km and Vmax. Maximum activity of exoglucanase was observed after day 4 (57.64 IU/mL/min), at 25-30oC and 50% moisture level (31.5 IU/mL/min), at pH 4.5 (47.03 IU/mL/min) and also with carbon source (5% sucrose) and nitrogen source (2.5% urea) which was 39.2 IU/mL/min. The enzyme was subjected to characterization to find out its optimum temperature, pH, effect of different metal ions and finding Km and Vmax. Exoglucanase activity at different conditions of each parameter showed that the optimum temperature was 30oC and pH 4.5. The Km and Vmax were determined by the Line-weaver-Burk-plot between 1/[VO] on the Y-axis and 1/[S] on the X-axis that results 66.66 mM and 48.73 µM/mL/min respectively The study of exoglucanase enzyme production from this fungus and to optimize different conditions will aid in more enzyme production, decrease environmental pollution and produce valued things from the resulting fermentable-sugars.

The identification of the sustainable approaches is required for the minimization of adverse impact of worldwide increasing soil salinity on plant growth, development, and productivity. This study investigated the protective role and major mechanism underlying salicylic acid (SA; 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mM)-induced glycine betaine (GB)-mediated tolerance to salinity (50 mM NaCl) in mungbean (Vigna radiata L. cultivar Punt Mung). The supply of 0.5 mM SA maximally increased the accumulation of GB (>40%) with respect to the control. This was further corroborated with the increase in water potential, antioxidant system (reduced glutathione (GSH), GSH/GSSG redox state, and glutathione reductase (GR) activity) and decreased Na+ and Cl- accumulation, Na+/K+ ratio, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation. This was also associated with the increased photosynthesis (14-18%) and growth (7-12%) parameters. Overall, SA-induced accumulation of GB protected photosynthesis and growth against 50 mM NaCl-accrued impacts in V. radiata through minimizing the accumulation of Na+ and Cl- ions, oxidative stress, and maintaining high GSH level that led to reduced cellular redox environment.

Environmental change is ascending as one of the most unpredictable issue, the effects of which are observable as rise in the onset of regular abiotic stresses like no or irregular precipitation, ascend in worldwide normal temperature, floods and so on. Among all the abiotic stresses, drought stress has become a sector of interest for decades. Drought stress can be chronic in locations with low water accessibility or irregular precipitation during the time of plant development consequently decreasing its growth and yield through its impact on plant photosynthetic rate, increased load of reactive oxygen species, changes in plant water relations and so on. A great deal of examination has been done to study the varieties of changes in the plants at the morphological, physiological and cellular level to identify the methodologies for enhancing plant drought resistance. In this regard "selenium" (Se) is considered exceptionally significant for improving plant growth and development. Spraying drought stressed plants or pre-treating the seeds with low dosage of Se have been shown to be associated with upgraded plant drought resistance. The present study is aimed to frame a review on the regulation of plant defense system, chlorophyll retention and plant water relations so as to provide comprehensive understanding into the changes caused by the application of Se which inturn are liable for improved plant drought tolerance.

Biomarker-driven targeted therapies have been an area of exploration for innovative therapeutic options in oncology. B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein is an anti-apoptotic protein expressed on the clonal plasma cells in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). MM subsets with t (11;14) have overexpression of BCL-2 and can benefit from venetoclax (VEN) when used either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents with an overall response rate (ORR) ranging from 40% to 100%. The most commonly reported grade ≥ 3 adverse effects include cytopenias and gastrointestinal side effects. This review highlights the meaningful efficacy and tolerable safety of VEN monotherapy and its combination regimens in the treatment of relapsed refractory MM.

The improvement in the compressive strength (CS) and ductility of plain concrete always remained an active area for advanced research. The present study aims to enhance the strength of low strength hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (HFRC) cylinders confined with different number of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets by examining the axial CS, axial compressive strain, and compressive stress–strain behavior of low strength HFRC cylinders confined with CFRP sheets. The HFRC consisted of steel fibers and polypropylene fibers. Two groups of low strength HFRC specimens (12.5 MPa and 16.5 MPa) were fabricated to investigate the effect of CFRP confinement on the different CS of HFRC. The experimental outcomes depicted that the lateral CFRP confinement of concrete significantly improved the CS, axial compressive strain, and axial stiffness of low strength HFRC specimens. The improvements of 115.7% and 130.7% occurred in the CS of 12.5 MPa group for single and double CFRP layers, respectively. Similarly, the improvements of 37.4% and 112.6% occurred in the CS of 16.5 MPa group for single and double CFRP layers, respectively. Therefore, the CFRP confinement is more effective for low strength HFRC as compared with high strength HFRC in terms of axial CS and axial compressive strain.

To assess the loading profiles of groundwater nitrate (NO3−) and fluoride (F−), their spatial distributions, geochemistry and associated health risks were determined for 131 groundwater samples from eastern (ESR), central (CSR) and Trans-Indus Salt Ranges (TSR) in Pakistan. Groundwater NO3− concentrations were 0.2–308 mg/L (mean 59 mg/L) in ESR, 2.7–203 mg/L (mean 73 mg/L) in CSR and 1.1–259 mg/L (mean 69 mg/L) in the TSR. Forty-one %, 57% and 36% of the ESR, CSR and TSR samples, respectively, exceeded the WHO and Pak-NEQs permissible limit of 50 mg/L NO3−. Likewise, groundwater F− concentrations ranged from 0.1–1.8 mg/L (mean 0.6 mg/L), 0.1–2.7 mg/L (mean 0.9 mg/L) and 0.3–2.5 mg/L (mean 1.6 mg/L) mg/L in the ESR, CSR and TSR sites, respectively. In this case, 3%, 17% and 27% of the ESR, CSR and TSR samples, respectively, exceeded the WHO and Pak-NEQs permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L F. Oxidation of coal and coal waste resulted in the release of NO3− to groundwater. By contrast, enrichment of F− in groundwater was due to dissolution and cation exchange processes. Elevated values of the Higher Pollution Index (PI) and Health Risk Index (HRI) reflect a non-acceptable carcinogenic risk for drinking water NO3− and F− which should be addressed on a priority basis to protect human health.

Background Polyunsaturated oils have various health-promoting effects, however, they are highly prone to oxidation. Encapsulation using biopolymers is one of the most effective strategies to enhance oil stability. This research examined the potential of gum arabic and maltodextrin for microencapsulation of omega-3 rich oils, aiming to enhance encapsulation efficiency and stability of encapsulated oil. Results We encapsulated fish and flaxseed oils by emulsification-spray drying. Spray-dried microcapsules were prepared by oil-in-water emulsions consisting of 10 wt% oil and 30 wt% biopolymer (gum arabic, maltodextrin, or their mixture). Results showed that both microcapsules were spherical in shape with surface shrinkage, and exhibited amorphous structures. Gum arabic-based microcapsules had higher encapsulation efficiency as well as better storage stability for both types of oil. Flaxseed oil microcapsules generally had higher oxidative stability regardless of the type of wall material. Conclusions Through a comprehensive characterization of the physical and chemical properties of the emulsions and resulting microcapsules, we proved gum arabic to be a more effective wall material for polyunsaturated oil microencapsulation, especially flaxseed oil. This study provides a promising approach to stabilize oils which are susceptible to deterioration, and facilitates their wider uses as food and nutraceutical products. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In this research, the effect of ZnMoO4 nanoparticles (ZM NPs: A) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT: B) on the tensile strength of the epoxy/polyurethane (EP) matrix was investigated using the response surface methodology (RSM). This model was examined through an experimental procedure, and the results illustrated that the RSM was an appropriate tool for optimizing e, σy, and σu. In addition, due to the importance of the interaction energy (Eint.) for understanding chemical reactions, the Eint. of the SWCNT-COOH, ZM NPs and SWCNT-COOH/ZM particles with the EP/PU polymers was assessed using the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. The results revealed that the Eint., values for the EP/PU/ZM, EP/PU/SWCNT-COOH, EP/PU/ZM/SWCNT-COOH nanocomposites were −31.08, −18.18, and −50.33 eV, respectively. Therefore, the Eint. values between EP/PU and ZM/SWCNT-COOH was obviously higher than that of the EP/PU/CNT and EP/PU/ZM specimens.

In this study, Ce0.85-xLa0.15CaxO2-δ was synthesized using sol-gel combustion method and appliedfor partial oxidation of methane (POM). The physicochemical properties of catalyst were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Material shows a pure cubical structure and is highly stable up to 850 °C. The performance testing indicated the conversion of CH4 is 65% and selectivity of H2 and CO are 28% and 8%, respectively. The performance indicated the catalyst has a potential to be used for partial oxidation of methane on a larger scale. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Edifenphos (EDF) is an organophosphorus pesticide with antifungal and anti-insecticidal properties. However, EDF accumulates in various agricultural products and causes potential hazards to human health. Although numerous reports have indicated EDF accumulation in agricultural products, toxic effects on cellular system is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of EDF in rat hepatocytes and its amelioration by apigenin (a dietary flavonoid). Results showed that EDF inhibited the cell viability, induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and caspase-9/-3 activation in rat hepatocytes. Incubation of hepatocytes with N-acetyl cysteine (ROS scavenger) significantly abrogated the ROS generation and apoptosis caused by EDF. In addition, this study also showed that apigenin significantly suppressed the toxic effects of EDF by quenching ROS production thereby abrogating the caspase-9/-3 and apoptosis activation in hepatocytes. Taken together, the findings of this study demonstrate that EDF induces cytotoxicity and DNA damage in hepatocytes, and apigenin can be considered as an effective dietary anti-oxidant regimen against EDF- induced toxicity in cellular system.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The objective of this study was to analyze the catalytic performance of series of cobalt-modified Zeolite-4A supported catalysts for the syngas (CO and H2) production at 800 °C via the partial oxidation of methane (POM). The Co/Zeolite-4A catalyst was synthesized using a two-step hydrothermal method from coal fly ash. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The catalyst shows a crystalline structure with stability up to 900 °C. The catalytic performance analysis shows the CH4 conversion increases from 29 to 68% for 0 and 10 wt% Co over Zeolite-4A, respectively. The H2 selectivity was improved from 28–56% while CO selectivity increased from 24–52 % making H2/CO ratio > 1. The stability analysis shows the 10% Co/Zeolite-4A withstand for 24 h a time on stream (TOS). Finally, the spent catalyst analysis was carried out to check the carbon formation along with its structural analysis. The minimal carbon formation is analyzed in 24 h TOS for POM reaction. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

This study compared the effect(s) of smear layer removal on push-out bond strength of Biodentine between laser-assisted endodontic preparation and conventional method of preparation in which the smear layer was removed using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA). Sixty single-rooted teeth were used which were decoronated and endodontically prepared. The teeth were then randomly assigned to three groups (20 per group). In the experimental group, the smear layer was removed by Er,Cr:YSGG laser with 1.25 watts radiated power, pulse repetition rate of 50 Hz, 60 µs pulse duration, 80% water, and 30% air distribution, H-mode, and followed by diode laser 940 nm, which was operated at 1 W, as a continuous wave irradiation. In the conventional group, the smear layer was removed using EDTA 17%. In the control group, the smear layer was not removed. Two teeth from each group were randomly selected for scanning electron microscopy examination, and from each of the other samples, three slices with 1.0 ± 0.1 mm of thickness were cut and each hole was filled with Biodentine. Then, the specimens were immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for 27 days. Using a universal testing machine, the bonding force for dislodgment of filling materials during the push-out test was calculated. Then, a stereomicroscope was used to assess the bond failure mode of Biodentine filling material at × 40. The debonding force in the control, conventional, and experimental groups was 5.3 ± 2.7, 5.4 ± 3.1, and 5.4 ± 2.5 MPs, respectively (p = 0.9). Also, laser and chemicals removed the smear layer effectively. The results of this study showed that, despite the smear layer removal, the push-out bond strength between Biodentine and root canal dentinal wall was not influenced by 17% EDTA + 5% NaOCl and Er,Cr:YSGG + diode lasers irradiation.

Background The dietary polyphenol resveratrol prevents various malignancies in preclinical models, including prostate cancer. Despite attempts to translate findings to humans, gaps remain in understanding pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relations and how tissue concentrations affect efficacy. Such information is necessary for dose selection and is particularly important given the low bioavailability of resveratrol. Objectives This study aimed to determine concentrations of resveratrol in prostate tissue of men after a dietary-achievable (5 mg) or pharmacological (1 g) dose. We then examined whether clinically relevant concentrations of resveratrol/its metabolites had direct anticancer activity in prostate cell lines. Methods A window trial was performed in which patients were allocated to 5 mg or 1 g resveratrol daily, or no intervention, before prostate biopsy. Patients (10/group) ingested resveratrol capsules for 7–14 d before biopsy, with the last dose [14C]-labeled, allowing detection of resveratrol species in prostate tissue using accelerator MS. Cellular uptake and antiproliferative properties of resveratrol/metabolites were assessed in cancer and nonmalignant cell cultures using HPLC with UV detection and cell counting, respectively. Results [14C]-Resveratrol species were detectable in prostate tissue of all patients analyzed, with mean ± SD concentrations of 0.08 ± 0.04 compared with 22.1 ± 8.2 pmol/mg tissue for the 5 mg and the 1 g dose, respectively. However, total [14C]-resveratrol equivalents in prostate were lower than we previously reported in plasma and colorectum after identical doses. Furthermore, resveratrol was undetectable in prostate tissue; instead, sulfate and glucuronide metabolites dominated. Although resveratrol reduced prostate cell numbers in vitro over 7 d, the concentrations required (≥10 µM) exceeded the plasma maximum concentration. Resveratrol mono-sulfates and glucuronides failed to consistently inhibit cell growth, partly due to poor cellular uptake. Conclusions Low tissue concentrations of resveratrol species, coupled with weak antiproliferative activity of its conjugates, suggest daily doses of ≤1 g may not have direct effects on human prostate. This trial was registered at clinicaltrialsregister.eu as EudraCT 2007-002131-91.

Amyloid fibril formation of proteins is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Several small molecules can accelerate the amyloid fibril formation in vitro and in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism of amyloid fibrillation is still unclear. In this study, we investigated how the food dye quinoline yellow (QY) induces amyloid fibrillation in α-lactalbumin (α-LA), a major whey protein, at pH 2.0. We used several spectroscopy techniques and a microscopy technique to explore how QY provokes amyloid fibrillation in α-LA. From turbidity and Rayleigh light scattering experiments, we found that QY promotes α-LA aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner; the optimal concentration for α-LA aggregation was 0.15 to 10.00 mM. Below 0.1 mM, no aggregation occurred. Quinoline yellow–induced aggregation was a rapid process that escaped the lag phase, but it depended on the concentrations of both α-LA and QY. We also demonstrated that aggregation switched the secondary structure of α-LA from α-helices to cross-β-sheets. We then confirmed the amyloid-like structure of aggregated α-LA by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Molecular docking and simulation confirmed the stability of the α-LA-QY complex due to the formation of 1 hydrogen bond with Lys99 and 2 electrostatic interactions with Arg70 and Lys99, along with hydrophobic interactions with Leu59 and Tyr103. This study will aid in our understanding of how small molecules induce aggregation of proteins inside the stomach (low pH) and affect the digestive process.

In this study, the reinforcing effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and TiO2 nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of epoxy were investigated. The relationship between independent variables and mechanical properties were optimized by using responsive surface methodology (RSM) combined with central composite design (CCD) models. According to the results obtained from the CCD compared to neat epoxy, elongation and tensile strength of optimal sample were increased by 70.25% and 65.96%, respectively. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were studied after exposure to the thermal cycling application (0 to 80 °C for 150 times). The results of thermal cycling tests depicted that the nanocomposites have a good mechanical stability under tاermal cycling tests. The epoxy/PEG/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and cross-section SEM images. TGA analysis was exposed that TiO2 nanoparticles could be enhanced the thermal property of the epoxy. Also, Ag–TiO2 nanostructures were synthesized by photo-deposition method and epoxy/PEG/(Ag–TiO2) were designed for enhanced antibacterial activity of nanocomposite against E. coli. The SEM images and XRD analyses were displayed the TiO2 and Ag–TiO2 nanoparticles were purely synthesized. On the other hand, the EDS mapping analysis of Ag–TiO2 nanoparticles confirmed that the Ag, Ti and oxygen were homogeneously distributed in samples.

Arsenic (As) contamination in soil–plant system is an important environmental, agricultural and health issue globally. The microbe- and sulfate-mediated As cycling in soil–plant system may depend on soil sulfate levels, and it can be used as a potential strategy to reduce plant As uptake and improve plant growth. Here, we investigated the role of soil microbes (SMs) to examine As phytoaccumulation using maize as a test plant, under varying sulfate levels (S-0, S-5, S-25 mmol kg−1) and As stress. The addition of sulfate and SMs promoted maize plant growth and reduced As concentration in shoots compared to sulfate-treated plants without SMs. Results revealed that the SMs-S-5 treatment proved to be the most promising in reducing As uptake by 27% and 48% in root and shoot of the maize plants, respectively. The SMs-S treatments, primarily with S-5, enhanced plant growth, shoot dry biomass, Chl a, b and total Chl (a + b) contents, and gas exchange attributes of maize plants. Similarly, the antioxidant defense in maize plants was increased significantly in SMs-S-treated plants, notably with SMs-S-5 treatment. Overall, the SMs-S-5-treated plants possessed improved plant growth, dry biomass, physiology and antioxidant defense system and decrease in plant shoot As concentration. The outcomes of this study suggest that sulfate supplementation in soil along with SMs could assist in reducing As accumulation by maize plants, thus providing a sustainable and eco-friendly bioremediation strategy in limiting As exposure.

A series of novel 3,3′,3″-[1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltris(azanediyl)]tris(5-aryl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-carbothioamide) derivatives were designed and synthesized through reaction of new tris-thiourea derivatives with thiosemicarbazide and sodium hydroxide in absolute ethanol under reflux conditions. The initial tris-thioureas were prepared by one-pot reaction of substituted benzoyl chlorides with potassium thiocyanate, followed by treatment with 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. The structures of the new tris-triazoles were identified on the basis of their spectral data. All newly synthesized tris-triazoles were screened for antibacterial activity against two gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and two gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus). All tested compounds exhibited promising antibacterial activities.

Melittin is vital for the endosomal escape of nanoparticles, but its excessive cytotoxicity in mammalian cells limits its value as a potential therapeutic agent. Several novel analogs of melittin have been optimized and characterized to establish a non-toxic melittin-based gene delivery system, in which the sequences of the melittin peptides were altered to reduce their cytotoxic activity. This review focusses on the involvement of melittin in nanoparticle endosomal escape and on the construction of melittin conjugates to boost gene delivery. Endosomal escape mechanisms for melittin, as well as the development of melittin as a therapeutic agent and its potential applications in nanomedicine, are discussed.

Detecting viral antigens at low concentrations in field samples can be crucial for early veterinary diagnostics. Proximity ligation assays (PLAs) in both solution and solid‐phase formats are widely used for high‐performance protein detection in medical research. However, the affinity reagents used, which are mainly poly‐ and monoclonal antibodies, play an important role in the performance of PLAs. Here, we have established the first homogeneous and solid‐phase proximity‐dependent DNA aptamer ligation assays for rapid and accurate detection of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). NDV is detected by a pair of extended DNA aptamers that, upon binding in proximity to proteins on the envelope of the virus, are joined by enzymatic ligation to form a unique amplicon that can be sensitively detected using real‐time PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the assays were validated using 40 farm samples. The results demonstrated that the developed homogeneous and solid‐phase PLAs, which use NDV‐selective DNA aptamers, are more sensitive than the sandwich enzymatic‐linked aptamer assay (ELAA), and have a comparable sensitivity to real‐time reverse transcription PCR (rRT‐PCR) as the gold standard detection method. In addition, the solid‐phase PLA was shown to have a greater dynamic range with improved lower limit of detection, upper‐ and lower limit of quantification, and minimal detectable dose as compared with those of ELAA and rRT‐PCR. The specificity of PLA is shown to be concordant with rRT‐PCR., Newcastle disease virus is detected by a pair of extended DNA aptamers that, upon binding in proximity to proteins on the envelope of the virus, are joined by enzymatic ligation to form a unique amplicon that can be sensitively detected using real‐time PCR.

An efficient procedure for the preparation of symmetrical tris-thiourea derivatives (5a – 5h) by means of one-pot condensation reaction between available benzoyl chlorides (1a –1h) with potassium thiocyanate (2) and melamine (4) under reflux conditions is presented. All the synthesized tris-thioureas were evaluated for their biological activities against a group of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The synthesized compounds showed no activity against P. aeruginosa. All compounds exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against indicated bacterial strains. The new products were characterized using FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra, and elemental analysis.

The increasing use of nanoparticles and their many applications increases the likelihood of their presence in the environment. This possibility of presence necessitates the study of the effect of these substances on aquatic species. In this research, CoWO4 nanoparticles were synthesized by the ultrasonic method. Various conditions in the synthesis process were investigated to obtain the appropriate size of the nanoparticles. After selecting the optimum particles, these nanoparticles were used to investigate their effect on the growth of Dunaliella salina. For this purpose, the algal cells were subjected to three different concentrations of nanoparticles (15, 30, and 60 mg/L). The study results on algae growth parameters showed that these parameters depend on the value of nanoparticles. At 15 and 30 mg/L concentrations of the nanoparticles, numbers of cells, specific growth, biomass, and pigments showed a significant boost compared to the mentioned parameters of the control treatment. Measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) showed that this parameter was directly related to the increase in the concentration of nanoparticles. At 60 mg/L of the nanoparticles, the MDA level was higher than the control and other treatments. This increase reflects the destructive effect of the nanoparticles on algal cells. Finally, the results showed that algae could be useful for studying the environmental effects of nanoparticles and their safety.

BACKGROUND Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection showed the presence of resistant-associated substitutions (RASs). The aim of the present study was to carry out a follow-up of patients with baseline RASs to report the impact of RASs on DAA therapy outcome. METHODS: In a cohort study, we analyzed NS5A and NS5B RASs among nine thalassemia cases by baseline RASs. In a 2-year follow-up, we analyzed viral markers and biochemical and hematological parameters of the participants and their sustained virologic response (SVR). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22. RESULTS: RASs for HCV subtype 1a included M28V, L31M, and H58P. For subtype 1b: L28M, R30Q, S24F, and C316N. And for subtype 3a: C316S, and S24F. In patients with cirrhosis (n=5), ALT ( p =0.001) and AST ( p =0.007) levels were significantly reduced after treatment, and creatinine level slightly increased ( p =0.025). However, no significant data was observed in non-cirrhotic patients following the treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study did not show any adverse effects of DAA therapy among patients with thalassemia suffering from chronic HCV infection with baseline RASs. Furthermore, reduction in ferritin and liver stiffness levels after DAA therapy could show the efficacy of DAA in such patients.

In this study, we prepared a polypyrrole-diphenyl diselenide [PPy/(PhSe)2] nanocomposite by oxidative chemical polymerization for the purpose of temperature sensing applications. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy confirmed the synthesis of the above material. Thermogravimetry (TG) revealed enhanced thermal stability as compared to pristine polypyrrole (PPy). Dielectric study showed the material to have a dielectric constant of colossal value. The material has been found to exhibit correlated barrier hopping conduction (CBH) wherein hopping of charge carriers takes place over the insulating (PhSe)2 barrier. The maximum barrier height was found to be 0.224 eV. The nanocomposite material was found to exhibit a switching-type positive temperature coefficient (PTC) behavior with a Curie temperature of 400 K. This has been explained by a CBH model wherein PPy chains expand upon heating, thereby reducing the barrier height to facilitate current flow. However, above 400 K, disruption of PPy chains allows to reflect a PTC behavior. This has been in agreement with TG data.

An economical, accessible and facile method was implemented for the synthesis of silica (SiO2) and SiO2-based hierarchical structures to improve the sorption efficiency via providing surface roughness, porous structure and increased active sites for adsorption process, aiming to attract petrol, diesel and mustard oil from aqueous solution. As synthesized materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that the composites were amorphous with the expected elemental composition and surface roughness. Absence of hydroxyl groups in FTIR spectra confirms the hydrophobic nature of composites. SiO2-based di and tri-composite were firmly anchored onto the skeleton of polyurethane (PU) sponges for adsorption application. PU sponges decorated with ternary composite (AC/GO-SiO2) exhibited marvelous sorption capacity for removal of adsorbates from oil–water mixture. This can be attributed towards the surface roughness and morphological defects which provides high surface area and active sites to reside maximum oil contents. These modified PU sponges could be recycled up to five cycles to reuse without losing the sorption capacity. Using this simple and in-expensive approach, this work could be extended to design novel SiO2-based sorbent materials with other variant functionalities over large-scale oily water treatment.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are actively used for the effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, the neuroprotective effects of organoselenium compounds such as ebselen and diselenides on the AChE activity have been investigated as potential therapeutic agents. In this work, we have carried out systematic kinetic and intrinsic fluorescence assays in combination with docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the mixed inhibition of AChE by ebselen and diphenyl diselenide (DPDSe) molecules. Our MD simulations demonstrate significant heterogeneity in the binding modes and allosteric hotspots for DPDSe on AChE due to non-specific interactions. We have further identified that both ebselen and DPDSe can strongly bind around the peripheral anionic site (PAS), leading to non-competitive inhibition similar to other PAS-binding inhibitors. We also illustrate the entry of the DPDSe molecule into the gorge through a "side door", which offers an alternate entry point for AChE inhibitors as compared to the usual substrate entry point of the gorge. Together with results from experiments, these simulations provide mechanistic insights into the mixed type of inhibition for AChE using DPDSe as a promising inhibitor for AChE.

In this research, we investigated the inhibitory effect of the ethanolic (EtOH) extract of bignay (Antidesma bunius) fruit on the viability of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) by CCK-8 assay. The results showed that the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 219 μg/mL after the cells were treated with EtOH extract for 72 hours. The EtOH extract was sequentially extracted by petroleum ether (PET), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (nBuOH). Among them, the EtOAc fraction showed higher anti-proliferative activity than the other fractions. Wound healing experiment showed the EtOAc fraction inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells and significantly delayed the transition of the G1 to S phase compared to control. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that in addition to citric acid and phenolic acids (3-Hydroxybenzoic acid, aspirin, fertaric acid), EtOH extract of bignay fruit contains active ingredient like coumarin, genistin, amentoflavone, and luteolin 7-galactoside. The anti-proliferation activity of amentoflavone against MDA-MB-231 cells was also confirmed.

This study was based on the comparison for the cultivation of microalgae species Chlorella vulgaris in domestic wastewater and distilled water in order to reduce nutrients and simultaneously generate biomass to produce biodiesel. Microalgae reduces concentration of inorganic pollutants (nutrients), and it was observed that 41% (nitrates) and 37% (orthophosphates) were removed by cultivating microalgae in wastewater, while nitrate and orthophosphate removal efficiency was found to be 36% and 23%, respectively, with its cultivation in distilled water. It is worth mentioning that maximum microalgae biomass productivity was found to be higher at 6.768 mg/L with wastewater cultivation as compared to 3.308 mg/L in distilled water. The lipid extraction from the microalgal biomass produced using wastewater was found to be 25.2% by dry weight. The GC–MS fatty acids analysis of the microalgae lipids demonstrated the presence of myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic (C18:1) and linolenic acids (C18:3), which are favourable to produce biodiesel with better fuel characteristics. FTIR peaks at 1361 cm−1 and another at 1639 cm−1 revealed the presence of ester linkages in microalgae, and a peak at 1000 cm−1 denotes strong polysaccharide (C–O) bonding. Thus, FTIR analysis revealed well-formed microalgae with all characteristic peaks and distinct finger prints of lipid existence. The energy requirement for microalgae cultivation per litre for a 10 day cultivation period showed higher value with distilled water (1.539 kWh) as compared to its cultivation in wastewater (0.966 kWh). Current investigation suggests that microalgae cultivated using domestic wastewater can produce more biomass as compared to its cultivation in distilled water, with a benefit of freshwater conservation. It also treats wastewater by taking up the nutrients and helps in mitigating eutrophication if untreated wastewater is discharged directly into water bodies.

Objective: Polysaccharide-based biomaterials are extensively used in wound care healing due to their unique liquid absorption, gelling properties and biocompatibility properties. They play an important role in controlling infections of highly exuding hard-to-heal wounds. The main objective of this study was to develop silver-containing polysaccharide-based tricomponent antibacterial fibres for use in these complex wounds. Method: The fibres were developed by coating silver-containing alginate and psyllium fibres with hydrolysed chitosan. Dope solution containing alginate, psyllium and silver carbonate was extruded into a coagulation bath containing calcium chloride and hydrolysed chitosan. The developed fibres were tested for liquid absorption, swelling and antibacterial properties against a control fibre (of alginate and psyllium). Results: The developed fibres showed comparatively better liquid absorption, gelling and antibacterial properties than the control fibres. Conclusion: The study concluded that developed fibres could be a preferred choice for application on hard-to-heal wounds with high levels of exudate, to support infection control and faster healing.

From nurturing living organisms to feeding billions of people, the transformation of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia (NH3) is essential to sustain life on earth. In nature, bacteria and plants can produce ammonia from air and water at ambient conditions via nitrogen fixation processes. To follow this feat, we couple plasma-driven nitrogen oxides intermediary (NOx) generation and their electrocatalytic reduction to pave the way for scalable green ammonia at ambient conditions. We developed a non-thermal plasma bubble column reactor that brings together dual reactor configuration with multiple discharge schemes and bubble dynamic control to generate NOx intermediaries at low specific energy consumption of 3.8 kW h mol−1. The NOx intermediaries were converted to ammonia at a rate of 23.2 mg h−1 (42.1 nmol cm−2 s−1), using a scalable electrolyzer operating at a low cell voltage of 1.4 V, current densities of over 50 mA cm−2, and specific energy consumption of 0.51 kW h mol−1 NH3.