Search

Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitutes a multifactorial neurodegenerative pathology characterized by cognitive deterioration, personality alterations, and behavioral shifts. The ongoing brain impairment process poses significant challenges for therapeutic interventions due to activating multiple neurotoxic pathways. Current pharmacological interventions have shown limited efficacy and are associated with significant side effects. Approaches focusing on the early interference with disease pathways, before activation of broad neurotoxic processes, could be promising to slow down symptomatic progression of the disease. Curcumin-an integral component of traditional medicine in numerous cultures worldwide-has garnered interest as a promising AD treatment. Current research indicates that curcumin may exhibit therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative pathologies, attributed to its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additionally, curcumin and its derivatives have demonstrated an ability to modulate cellular pathways via epigenetic mechanisms. This article aims to raise awareness of the neuroprotective properties of curcuminoids that could provide therapeutic benefits in AD. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the neuroprotective efficacy of curcumin against signaling pathways that could be involved in AD and summarizes recent evidence of the biological efficiency of curcumins in vivo., (© 2024 The Authors. BioFactors published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)

Background: Health beliefs may mediate the relationship between trust and vaccination decisions, as confidence in online health information has expanded quickly. However, little is known about how health attitudes and trust in health information affect COVID-19 vaccine intention. This study aimed to assess the effect of health beliefs and trust in information sources on the willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine among the general public in Saudi Arabia., Methods: This study was designed and carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Selected items were extracted from the Saudi Residents' Intention to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19 (SRIGVAC) survey. They were categorized and validated into constructs of a health belief model (the perceived threat of COVID-19, vaccine-related benefits, barriers, and safety concerns) and trust in health information (from online platforms and health authorities/providers). Regression analysis and parallel mediation were used to assess the predictors of vaccination intentions., Results: Based on the responses of 3,091 participants, vaccine-related barriers and safety concerns negatively influenced vaccination intention, whereas vaccine benefits and the perceived threat of COVID-19 were positively correlated with vaccination intention. Trust in online health information had a direct relationship with intentions (β = 0.09, p  < 0.0001) as well as indirect relationships through the perceived benefits (β = 0.095), the perceived barriers (β = -0.029), and the perceived safety concerns toward the vaccine (β = -0.010). The relationship between the willingness to vaccinate and trust in authentic information was fully mediated by all domains of health beliefs, with indirect coefficients of 0.004, 0.310, -0.134, and -0.031 for the perceived threat, vaccine benefits, barriers, and safety concerns, respectively., Conclusion: The relationship between the willingness to vaccinate and trust in authentic information was fully mediated by all domains of health beliefs. Vaccine coverage in Saudi Arabia can be optimized by targeting the health beliefs of the general public., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Alzahrani.)

Recent studies have shown an association between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T2DM), but the precise relationship between these conditions has yet to be clarified. In this study, we aimed to estimate the incidence of VDD among diabetic patients and identify any relationship between diabetes and the determinants of VDD among T2DM individuals. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients of either gender were selected from electronic records and checked for vitamin D levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and other parameters. A total of 864 subjects were enrolled. Subjects were grouped according to HbA1c levels, with < 5.7%, 5.7% to 6.49%, and > 6.5% considered normal, impaired, and diabetic, respectively. VDD was common, with an incidence of 723 (83.7%) subjects. A significantly lower vitamin D level was found in diabetic subjects than in nondiabetic subjects (29.1 ± 12.0 vs 44.0 ± 28.3, P < .001). A total of 207/209 (99%) subjects with impaired HbA1c and 179/183 (97.8%) people with diabetes had VDD. Interestingly, none of the diabetic or impaired HbA1c subjects had normal vitamin D levels. A significant association was found between VDD and being > 50 years old, overweight, or obese, as well as HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, calcium, and total cholesterol (TC) levels. A high rate of VDD and significantly lower vitamin D levels were found in diabetic subjects. Age, being overweight, obesity, HbA1c, and fasting plasma glucose were the few determinants of VDD among T2DM patients. These findings highlight the importance of addressing vitamin D status in managing and preventing T2DM, particularly in those over the age of 50, those who have higher body weight, and those with raised HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Chlorpyrifos (CPS), an organophosphorus insecticide, is widely used for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes with hazardous health effects. Berberine (BBR) is a traditional Chinese medicine and a phytochemical with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. The present study evaluated the effects of BBR against kidney damage induced by CPS and the underlying mechanisms. An initial study indicated that BBR 50 mg/kg was optimal under our experimental conditions. Then, 24 rats (6/group) were randomized into: control, BBR (50 mg/kg/day), CPS (10 mg/kg/day), and CPS + BBR. BBR was administration 1 h prior to CPS. Each treatment was delivered daily for a period of 28 consecutive days using a gastric gavage tube. Compared to CPS-alone treated rats, BBR effectively improved renal function by preventing the rise in serum urea, creatinine, and uric levels. The reno-protective effects of BBR were confirmed through a histological examination of kidney tissues. BBR restored oxidant-antioxidant balance in renal tissues mediated by Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis modulation. In addition, BBR decreased nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. This was paralleled with the potent down-regulation of NF-κB. Furthermore, BBR exhibited anti-apoptotic activities supported by the upregulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that BBR attenuates CPS-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by restoring oxidant-antioxidant balance and inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis in renal tissue. This is mediated, at least partly, by modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) is an up-and-coming technology for generating sustainable fuel using light energy. Significant progress has been made in the developing of PWS innovations over recent years. In addition to various water-splitting (WS) systems, the focus has primarily been on one- and two-steps-excitation WS systems. These systems utilize singular or composite photocatalysts for WS, which is a simple, feasible, and cost-effective method for efficiently converting prevalent green energy into sustainable H 2 energy on a large commercial scale. The proposed principle of charge confinement and transformation should be implemented dynamically by conjugating and stimulating the photocatalytic process while ensuring no unintentional connection at the interface. This study focuses on overall water splitting (OWS) using one/two-steps excitation and various techniques. It also discusses the current advancements in the development of new light-absorbing materials and provides perspectives and approaches for isolating photoinduced charges. This article explores multiple aspects of advancement, encompassing both chemical and physical changes, environmental factors, different photocatalyst types, and distinct parameters affecting PWS. Significant factors for achieving an efficient photocatalytic process under detrimental conditions, ( e.g. , strong light absorption, and synthesis of structures with a nanometer scale. Future research will focus on developing novel materials, investigating potential synthesis techniques, and improving existing high-energy raw materials. The endeavors aim is to enhance the efficiency of energy conversion, the absorption of radiation, and the coherence of physiochemical processes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background and Aims: In Saudi Arabia, very limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the validity of culturally appropriate food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The aim of this study was to validate a newly designed FFQ against two reference methods in Saudi adults., Methods: A new FFQ adapted from the Block FFQ was completed via interview and validated against three-day food records (3DFRs; n = 126) and 24-hour urinary urea nitrogen (UUN)-based protein intake estimates (n = 118) in adult Saudis living in Jeddah. FFQ-estimated nutrient intake was compared to the 3DFR and UUN methods using Pearson's correlations (r), Bland-Altman plots, and weighted kappa (κ w ) statistics., Results: This study included 126 participants (80 females and 46 males). The FFQ generally overreported nutrient intakes compared to the reference methods. The FFQ was strongly correlated with 3DFRs for energy, protein, carbohydrate, and total fat (r > 0.7); moderately correlated with cholesterol (r = 0.55) and iron (r = 0.44); and weakly correlated with the other micronutrients (r = 0.1-0.3). A moderate positive correlation for protein intake was found (r = 0.62) between the FFQ and 24-hour UUN method. The Bland-Altman analysis indicated the FFQ had an acceptable level of agreement with no significant proportional bias (P > 0.05) with the 3DFRs for energy, protein, total fat, and iron and with protein intake. Similarly, an acceptable level of agreement was found between the FFQ and the 24-hour UUN method for estimating protein intake. Cross-classification analysis showed that ≥ 50% of participants were ranked within the same quartile for energy, protein, and total fat. The FFQ showed good agreement with the 3DFRs for energy and protein (κ w  ≥ 0.61) and acceptable agreement with protein intake. An acceptable agreement was reported between the FFQ and 24-hour UUN method (κ w  = 0.56). Separate analyses of females and males showed stronger correlations and agreements between the FFQ and the two reference methods only in females., Conclusion: The developed FFQ is an effective and valid tool for assessing dietary intake in Saudi adults. However, it still requires future optimization to improve its validity., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is more prevalent among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), elevating their risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and premature mortality. There is a need to modify treatment strategies to prevent or delay these adverse outcomes. Currently, there are no sensitive or specific biomarkers for predicting NAFLD in Saudi T2DM patients. Therefore, we aimed to explore the possibility of using fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), free fatty acids (FFAs), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) as possible markers. Methodology In this study, a total of 67 T2DM patients were recruited. NAFLD was detected by ultrasonography in 28 patients. Plasma glucose, FFAs, FGF-21, and serum insulin were measured in fasting blood samples. HOMA-IR and QUICKI were calculated. The means of the two groups with and without NAFLD were statistically compared. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the ability to identify NAFLD. Results The mean levels of FGF-21 and HOMA-IR were significantly higher and that of QUICKI was significantly lower in patients with NAFLD than in those without (p < 0.001, p = 0.023, and p = 0.018, respectively). FGF-21 had the highest AUC to identify NAFLD (AUC = 0.981, 95% confidence interval = 0.954-1, P < 0.001). The AUCs for HOMA-IR, QUICKI, and FFA were <0.7. The highest sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and the lowest negative likelihood ratio were found when FGF-21 was used to predict NAFLD. Conclusions FGF-21 may be used as a biomarker to predict NAFLD in people with T2DM due to its high sensitivity and specificity compared to the other markers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Bahijri et al.)

Phenylacetaldehyde (PAH), an aromatic odorant, exists in varied fruits including overripe bananas and prickly pear cactus, the 2 major host fruits of Drosophila melanogaster. It acts as a potent ligand for the Ionotropic receptor 84a (IR84a) and the Odorant receptor 67a (OR67a), serving as an important food and courtship cue for adult fruit flies. Drosophila melanogaster larvae respond robustly to diverse feeding odorants, such as ethyl acetate (EA), an aliphatic ester. Since the chemical identity and concentration of an odorant are vital neural information handled by the olfactory system, we studied how larvae respond to PAH, an aromatic food odorant with aphrodisiac properties for adult flies. Our findings revealed that PAH attracted larvae significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Larvae could also be trained with PAH associated to appetitive and aversive reinforcers. Thus, like EA, PAH might serve as an important odorant cue for larvae, aiding in food tracking and survival in the wild. Since IR84a/IR8a complex primarily governs PAH response in adult flies, we examined expression of Ir84a and Ir8a in early third-instar larvae. Our experiments showed the presence of Ir8a, a novel finding. However, contrary to adult flies, PAH-responsive Ir84a was not found. Our behavioral experiments with Ir8a1 mutant larvae exhibited normal chemotaxis to PAH, whereas Orco1 mutant showed markedly reduced chemotaxis, indicating an OR-mediated neural circuitry for sensing of PAH in larvae. The results obtained through this study are significantly important as information on how larvae perceive and process PAH odorant at the neuronal level is lacking., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.)

Photocatalytic oxidation of antibiotic waste over semiconducting heterojunction photocatalysts is considered eco-friendly because it is simple and operates under light irradiation. In this work, we apply a solvothermal-based process for obtaining high surface area barium stannate (BaSnO 3 ) nanosheets followed by adding 3.0-12.0 wt% of spinel copper manganate (CuMn 2 O 4 ) nanoparticles to form n-n CuMn 2 O 4 /BaSnO 3 heterojunction photocatalyst after calcination process. The CuMn 2 O 4 -supported BaSnO 3 nanosheets exhibit mesostructure surfaces with a high surface area range of 133-150 m 2 g -1 . Moreover, introducing CuMn 2 O 4 to BaSnO 3 shows a significant broadening in visible light absorption range due to bandgap reduction down to 2.78 eV in 9.0% CuMn 2 O 4 /BaSnO 3 compared to 3.0 eV for pure BaSnO 3 . The produced CuMn 2 O 4 /BaSnO 3 is used for photooxidation of tetracycline (TC) in water as emerging antibiotic waste under visible light. The photooxidation of TC exhibits the first-order reaction model. The specific dose of 9.0 wt% CuMn 2 O 4 /BaSnO 3 at 2.4 gL -1 displays the highest-performed and recyclable photocatalyst for total oxidation of TC after 90 min. This sustainable photoactivity is attributed to the improved light harvesting and charges migration upon coupling between CuMn 2 O 4 and BaSnO 3 ., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of premature adult death. Various factors contribute to the development of CVDs, such as atherosclerosis leading to myocardial infarction (MI), and compromised cardiac function after MI leads to chronic heart failure with systemic health complications and a high mortality rate. Microtubule detyrosination has rapidly evolved as an essential mechanism to regulate cardiomyocyte contractility. Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) regulates cardiomyocyte contractility in a way that it promotes phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 4, thereby facilitating the access of vasohibin 2-a tubulin carboxypeptidase-to microtubules for the detyrosination of α-tubulin. Lisinopril, a drug belonging to the class of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, is used to treat high blood pressure. This is also used to treat heart failure, which plays a vital role in improving the survival rate post-heart attack. In this study, we will evaluate the MARK4 inhibitory potential of lisinopril employing molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approaches. Molecular docking analysis suggested that lisinopril binds to MARK4 with a significant binding affinity forming interactions with functionally essential residues of MARK4. Additionally, MD simulation deciphered the structural dynamics and stability of the MARK4-lisinopril complex. The findings of MD studies established that minimal structural deviations are observed during simulation, affirming the stability of the MARK4-lisinopril complex. Altogether, this study demonstrates lisinopril's crucial role in the therapeutic management of CVD by targeting MARK4.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Carbon materials technology provides the possibility of synthesizing low-cost, outstanding performance replacements to noble-metal catalysts for long-term use. Graphdiyne (GDY) is a carbon allotrope with an extremely thin atomic thickness. It consists of carbon elements, that are hybridized with both sp. and sp 2 , resulting in a multilayered two-dimensional (2D) configuration. Several functional models suggest, that GDY contains spontaneously existing band structure with Dirac poles. This is due to the non-uniform interaction among carbon atoms, which results from various fusions and overlapping of the 2p z subshell. Unlike other carbon allotropes, GDY has Dirac cone arrangements, that in turn give it inimitable physiochemical characteristics. These properties include an adjustable intrinsic energy gap, high speeds charging transport modulation efficiency, and exceptional conductance. Many scientists are interested in such novel, linear, stacked materials, including GDY. As a result, organized synthesis of GDY has been pursued, making it one of the first synthesized GDY materials. There are several methods to manipulate the band structure of GDY, including applying stresses, introducing boron/nitrogen loading, utilizing nanowires, and hydrogenations. The flexibility of GDY can be effectively demonstrated through the formation of nano walls, nanostructures, nanotube patterns, nanorods, or structured striped clusters. GDY, being a carbon material, has a wide range of applications owing to its remarkable structural and electrical characteristics. According to subsequent research, the GDY can be utilized in numerous energy generation processes, such as electrochemical water splitting (ECWS), photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC WS), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), overall water splitting (OWS), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), energy storage materials, lithium-Ion batteries (LiBs) and solar cell applications. These studies suggested that the use of GDY holds significant potential for the development and implementation of efficient, multimodal, and intelligent catalysts with realistic applications. However, the limitation of GDY and GDY-based composites for forthcoming studies are similarly acknowledged. The objective of these studies is to deliver a comprehensive knowledge of GDY and inspire further advancement and utilization of these unique carbon materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Duk is a well-established traditional drug which has been used since time immemorial by Indian practitioners to cure various human ailments., Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-cancer activity and the possible mechanism of Duk against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis., Methods & Results: We administered Duk at 3 doses, viz., 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day, 2 weeks before the DEN and continued it for 16 weeks. After 1 week of DEN recovery, 2-aminoacetylflourine (2-AAF) was administered to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. We found that Duk significantly reduced the DEN and 2-AAF induced phenotypical changes in rats and restored the activities of serum markers. Furthermore, Duk counteracted the oxidative stress induced by carcinogens as observed by restoration in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Duk significantly diminished the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in a dose dependent manner and restored the liver microarchitecture as assessed by histopathological studies. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that Duk inhibited the DEN-induced decrease in the number of cells positive for Bid and Caspase-9. It also reduces the number of cells positive for Cyclin D., Conclusion: Duk significantly protects rat liver from hepatocarcinogenesis by regulating oxidative damage and restoring serum markers. The chemopreventive effect of Duk might be through induction of apoptosis., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The protein galectin, which binds to carbohydrates and is involved in a number of therapeutic processes including cell proliferation, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, etc., has been discovered as a potential therapeutic target. Galectin-3 is a stable biomarker that exhibits both increased and decreased expression in a variety of illnesses and infections, regardless of sex, age, or body mass index. The goal of the current study is to apply bioinformatics techniques to examine the possibility of cardiovascular medications to inhibit Galectin-3-related biological activities. Unsupervised clustering techniques, molecular docking, and guided molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were used to create a computational pipeline that was used to screen potential chemical compounds from a library of chemical compounds with related molecular fingerprints. Utilizing input factors such as gene expression, mode of action, and chemical descriptors, clustering enables prioritization of medicinal molecules. Twenty-four compounds were screened and repurposed against Galectin-3 utilizing molecular docking as part of the cluster-facilitated virtual screening technique. The polar interactions that Arg144, Glu184, Arg162, His158, and Asn174 have with Bufalin, Cymarin, and Ouabalin have the highest binding affinities, according to docking studies. Studies using MD simulations confirm the tested compounds' ability to inhibit Galectin-3. Galactin-3 targeted experimental and in vivo animal model-based validation studies using Bufalin, Cymarin, and Ouabalin are also necessary.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), is an organophosphate pesticide that is widely used for agricultural purposes. However, it has well-documented hepatotoxicity. Lycopene (LCP) is a plant-derived carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present work was designed to evaluate the potential hepatoprotective actions of LCP against CPF-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals were assigned into five groups namely: Group I (Control), Group II (LCP), Group III (CPF), Group IV (CPF + LCP 5 mg/kg), and Group V (CPF + LCP 10 mg/kg). LCP offered protection as evidenced by inhibiting the rise in serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) induced by CPF. This was confirmed histologically as LCP-treated animals showed liver tissues with less proliferation of bile ducts and periductal fibrosis. LCP significantly prevented the rise in hepatic content of malondialdehyde (MDA), depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH), and exhaustion of glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Further, LCP significantly prevented hepatocyte death as it ameliorated the increase in Bax and the decrease in Bcl-2 expression induced by CPF in liver tissues as determined immunohistochemically. The observed protective effects of LCP were further confirmed by a significant enhancement in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression. In conclusion, LCP possesses protective effects against CPF-induced hepatotoxicity. These include antioxidation and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the diabetes mellitus (DM) knowledge, attitudes, preventive practices, and associated factors among a sample of adult non-diabetic Saudi residents., Methods: The present survey was conducted in April-June 2022. People from the general population were invited to participate in the study, and the data were collected using a validated questionnaire., Results: A total of 1207 non-diabetic subjects participated in the study [females 798(66.1%) and males 409(33.9%)], and the response rate was 80% (1207/1500). Two-thirds (66.86%) of non-diabetic adult community members had good knowledge of DM, 47.8% had positive attitudes, and 62.14% maintained a healthy lifestyle to avoid DM. There was a family history of DM in more than half of the subjects 723(59.9%). Participants who had a direct relative with diabetes scored higher on the knowledge question than those who did not (p<0.001). Practice questions responses for preventing DM showed that about 459(38%) were using fatty food less frequently, and only 338(28%) and 153(12.7%) were doing physical activities 30-60 minutes per day frequently and very frequently, respectively. Most participants were smoking tobacco, 890(73.7%), and getting checked their BP, 704(58.3%), very frequently. The participants with a master's and Ph.D. degree were likelier to have positive attitudes and good practices than students. Individuals with a history of DM in their families were 2.10 times (OR=2.10, p<0.001), 1.95 times (OR=1.95, p<0.001), and 2.03 times (OR=2.03, p<0.001) more likely to be knowledgeable, had positive attitudes and good practices than those with no DM in their family, respectively., Conclusion:  Over half of the individuals possessed a positive mindset, adequate knowledge, and good practicing behavior for preventing DM. Having Master's and Ph.D. degrees and a family history of DM were associated with a positive attitude and good practices. There is a need to expand community awareness campaigns utilizing social media channels., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2023 Baig et al.)

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) has gained tremendous interest in the sector of power transformation and retention, because of its distinctive stacked composition, adjustable electronic structure, metal-free feature, superior thermodynamic durability, and simple availability. Furthermore, the restricted illumination and extensive recombination of photoexcitation electrons have inhibited the photocatalytic performance of pure g-C 3 N 4 . The dimensions of g-C 3 N 4 may impact the field of electronics confinement; as a consequence, g-C 3 N 4 with varying dimensions shows unique features, making it appropriate for a number of fascinating uses. Even if there are several evaluations emphasizing on the fabrication methods and deployments of g-C 3 N 4 , there is certainly an insufficiency of a full overview, that exhaustively depicts the synthesis and composition of diverse aspects of g-C 3 N 4 . Consequently, from the standpoint of numerical simulations and experimentation, several legitimate methodologies were employed to deliberately develop the photocatalyst and improve the optimal result, including elements loading, defects designing, morphological adjustment, and semiconductors interfacing. Herein, this evaluation initially discusses different dimensions, the physicochemical features, modifications and interfaces design development of g-C 3 N 4 . Emphasis is given to the practical design and development of g-C 3 N 4 for the various power transformation and inventory applications, such as photocatalytic H 2 evolution, photoreduction of CO 2 source, electrocatalytic H 2 evolution, O 2 evolution, O 2 reduction, alkali-metal battery cells, lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and metal-air batteries. Ultimately, the current challenges and potential of g-C 3 N 4 for fuel transformation and retention activities are explored., (© 2023 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4), 752 amino acids long, belonging to the AMPK superfamily, plays a vital role in regulating microtubules due to its potential to phosphorylate microtubule-associated proteins (MAP's) and thus, MARK4 plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. MARK4 is a druggable target for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. In this study, we have evaluated the MARK4 inhibitory potential of Huperzine A (HpA), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), a potential AD drug. Molecular docking revealed the key residues governing the MARK4-HpA complex formation. The structural stability and conformational dynamics of the MARK4-HpA complex was assessed by employing Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results suggested that the binding of HpA with MARK4 leads to minimal structural alterations in the native conformation of MARK4, implying the stability of the MARK4-HpA complex. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies deciphered that HpA binds to MARK4 spontaneously. Moreover, the kinase assay depicted significant inhibition of MARK by HpA (IC 50  = 4.91 μM), implying it to be a potent MARK4 inhibitor that can be implicated in the treatment of MARK4-directed diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Millions of people in developing countries are affected by arsenic (As) toxicity and its prevalence. Arsenic's detrimental effects on humans have been amplified by an unacceptable level of exposure to food and drinking water, the ongoing rise in industrial usage, and several other occupational conditions. Due to increased cellular absorption and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), inorganic arsenic (iAs) is extremely hazardous to living organisms in its trivalent form. Arsenic toxicity damages an organism's tissues and organs, resulting in skin cancer, circulatory system abnormalities, and central nervous system disorders. However, a competent model system is required to investigate the acute effects of arsenic on the brain, cognition ability, and to assess any behavioral impairment. Hence, Drosophila , with its short generation time, genomic similarities with humans, and its availability for robust behavioral paradigms, may be considered an ideal model for studying arsenic toxicity. The present study helps to understand the toxic effects of acute arsenic treatment on the behavior, cognition, and development of Drosophila in a time-dependent manner. We found that the exposure of fruit flies to arsenic significantly affected their locomotor abilities, pupae size, cognitive functions, and neurobehavioral impairment. Hence, providing a better understanding of how arsenic toxicity affects the brain leading to acute behavioral disorders and neurological alterations, this study will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms.

We consider the Casson hybrid nanofluid (HN) (ZnO + Ag/Casson fluid) that flows steadily along a two-directional stretchable sheet under the influence of an applied changing magnetic flux and is electrically conducting. The basic Casson and Cattaneo-Christov double diffusion (CCDD) formulations are used for the simulation of the problem. This is the first study on the analysis of the Casson hybrid nanofluid by using the CCDD model. The use of these models generalize basic Fick's and Fourier's laws. The current produced due to the magnetic parameter is taken into consideration by using the generalized Oham law. The problem is formulated and then transformed to a coupled set of ordinary differential equations. The simplified set of equations is solved using the homotopy analysis method. The obtained results are presented through tables and graphs for various state variables. A comparative survey in all the graphs is presented for the nanofluid (ZnO/Casson fluid) with the HN (ZnO + Ag/Casson fluid). These graphs depict the effect of various pertinent parameters, like Pr , M , Sc , γ, Nt , m , Nb , δ 1 , and δ 2 , varying values over the flow. The Hall current parameter m and stretching ratio parameter γ show increasing trends for the velocity gradient, while the magnetic parameter and the flux of mass depict opposite trends for the same profile. The increasing values of the relaxation coefficients show an opposite trend. Furthermore, the ZnO + Ag/Casson fluid shows a good performance in the transfer of heat and thus can be used for cooling purposes to increase the efficiency of the system., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Viruses are the most abundant living things and a source of genetic variation. Despite recent research, we know little about their biodiversity and geographic distribution. We used different bioinformatics tools, MG-RAST, genome detective web tools, and GenomeVx, to describe the first metagenomic examination of haloviruses in Wadi Al-Natrun. The discovered viromes had remarkably different taxonomic compositions. Most sequences were derived from double-stranded DNA viruses, especially from Myoviridae , Podoviridae , Siphoviridae , Herpesviridae , Bicaudaviridae, and Phycodnaviridae families; single-stranded DNA viruses, especially from the family Microviridae ; and positive-strand RNA viruses, especially from the family Potyviridae . Additionally, our results showed that Myohalovirus chaoS9 has eight Contigs and is annotated to 18 proteins as follows: tail sheath protein, tco, nep, five uncharacterized proteins, HCO, major capsid protein, putative pro head protease protein, putative head assembly protein, CxxC motive protein, terl, HTH domain protein, and terS Exon 2. Additionally, Halorubrum phage CGphi46 has 19 proteins in the brine sample as follows: portal protein, 17 hypothetical proteins, major capsid protein, etc. This study reveals viral lineages, suggesting the Virus's global dispersal more than other microorganisms. Our study clarifies how viral communities are connected and how the global environment changes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, recommended clinical procedures to detect it are unavailable in many locations. Therefore, better and more available diagnostic biomarkers for NAFLD are needed. Various serum parameters were suggested, and algorithms that employ routine measurements in clinical practice have been developed for the prediction of fat stores in the liver in different populations. However, no such studies have been conducted on Saudis. We aimed to compare selected biochemical markers and calculated indices in T2DM patients diagnosed with NAFLD and patients without NAFLD to find the best markers associated with NAFLD. A cross-sectional study was employed to recruit 67 people with T2DM from endocrine outpatient clinics at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital. NAFLD was detected by ultrasonography in 28 patients. Demographic information, anthropometric, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure glucose, glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile, liver function tests, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein. Fatty liver index, hepatic steatosis index, NAFLD-liver fat score, and triglyceride and glucose index were calculated. Following stepwise forward likelihood ratio regression with independent variables included in one model using binary logistic regression with age and waist circumference (WC) entered as covariates, elevated diastolic BP and low high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol remained significantly associated with NAFLD ( p = 0.002 and 0.03, respectively). However, none of the investigated indices could be used to diagnose the disease adequately due to low specificity, even after calculating new cut-off values. Investigating novel markers and adjusting existing equations used to calculate indices to improve sensitivity and specificity in our population is needed.

Nerve tissue engineering aims to create scaffolds that promote nerve regeneration in the damaged peripheral nervous system. However, there remain some challenges in the construction of scaffolds in terms of mechanical properties and cellular behaviour. The present work aims to develop multifunctional implantable nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve regeneration. Using electrospinning, nanofibrous neat polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PCL-MWCNT) composite scaffolds were prepared in random and aligned morphology. Schwann cells and their secreted biochemical factors are responsible for neuronal survival in the peripheral nervous system. Therefore, the acellular matrix of Schwann cells was spin-coated on the PCL-MWCNT scaffolds to aid nerve regeneration. Physicochemical and mechanical properties, and the in vitro cellular response of the developed nanofibrous were investigated. We observed no significant change in fibre diameter between neat PCL and PCL-MWCNT scaffolds regardless of the morphology. However, the inclusion of MWCNT reduced the mechanical strength of nanocomposite scaffolds compared to neat PCL. In vitro study revealed biocompatibility of the developed scaffolds both with and without an acellular matrix. Gene expression study revealed a significant increase in peripheral myelin protein (PMP22) expression on acellular matrix-coated PCL-MWCNT scaffolds compared to neat PCL counterparts. Overall, the results suggested Schwann cell matrix-coated PCL-MWCNT nanofibers as a promising conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Despite a century of intensive research, there is still a lack of disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative diseases that pose a threat to human society. A well-documented knowledge and resource gap has impeded the translation of fundamental research into promising therapies. In addition, the analysis of extensive preclinical data to allow the improved selection of therapeutic technologies and clinical candidates for further development is challenging. To address this need, we describe technologies that have emerged over the past decade that have enabled the development of novel, high-quality, cost-effective treatments for major neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Moreover, we benchmark emerging technologies that have been adopted by top pharmaceutical companies looking to bridge the gap between drug discovery and drug development in neurodegenerative disease., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Advancements in medicine have increased the longevity of humans, resulting in a higher incidence of chronic diseases. Due to the rise in the elderly population, age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. The available treatment options only provide symptomatic relief and do not cure the underlying cause of the disease. Therefore, it has become imperative to discover new markers and therapies to modulate the course of disease progression and develop better treatment options for the affected individuals. Growing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation is a common factor and one of the main inducers of neuronal damage and degeneration. Galectins (Gals) are a class of β-galactoside-binding proteins (lectins) ubiquitously expressed in almost all vital organs. Gals modulate various cellular responses and regulate significant biological functions, including immune response, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and cell growth, through their interaction with glycoproteins and glycolipids. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on the Gal superfamily, with Gal-1, Gal-3, and Gal-9 in prime focus. Their roles have been described in modulating neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative processes. In this review, we discuss the role of Gals in the causation and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. We describe the role of Gals in microglia and astrocyte modulation, along with their pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. In addition, we discuss the potential use of Gals as a novel therapeutic target for neuroinflammation and restoring tissue damage in neurodegenerative diseases.

We report a one-dimensional titanium dioxide encapsulated with gold heterojunction nanofibers (TiO 2 /Au NFs) as robust electrocatalysts for electrochemical detection of diphenylamine (DPA). A TiO 2 /Au NFs were successfully synthesized by a coaxial electrospinning method. The formation of TiO 2 /Au NFs was confirmed by various analytical and spectroscopic approaches. The fabricated TiO 2 /Au NFs modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) exhibit a well-enhanced detection activity towards DPA sensing as compared to other electrodes. Under the experimental conditions, the proposed electrode leading to the sensing range from 0.05 to 60 µM with a detection limit of 0.009 µM was obtained for the DPA detection. Moreover, the TiO 2 /Au NFs/SPCE showed good selectivity towards the electrochemical oxidation of DPA. Interestingly, the TiO 2 /Au NFs modified electrode was then applied to detect the effect of DPA on spiked content in the food samples., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) possesses various biological functions, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. EGCG is an abundant polyphenolic component originating from green tea extract that has exhibited versatile bioactivities in combating several cancers. This review highlights the pharmacological features of EGCG and its therapeutic implications in cancer and other metabolic diseases. It modulates numerous signaling pathways, regulating cells' undesired survival and proliferation, thus imparting strong tumor chemopreventive and therapeutic effects. EGCG initiates cell death through the intrinsic pathway and causes inhibition of EGFR, STAT3, and ERK pathways in several cancers. EGCG alters and inhibits ERK1/2, NF-κB, and Akt-mediated signaling, altering the Bcl-2 family proteins ratio and activating caspases in tumor cells. This review focuses on anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenesis, and apoptotic effects of EGCG. We further highlighted the potential of EGCG in different types of cancer, emphasizing clinical trials formulations that further improve our understanding of the therapeutic management of cancer and inflammatory diseases., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a selective and semipermeable boundary that maintains homeostasis inside the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB permeability of compounds is an important consideration during CNS-acting drug development and is difficult to formulate in a succinct manner. Clinical experiments are the most accurate method of measuring BBB permeability. However, they are time taking and labor-intensive. Therefore, numerous efforts have been made to predict the BBB permeability of compounds using computational methods. However, the accuracy of BBB permeability prediction models has always been an issue. To improve the accuracy of the BBB permeability prediction, we applied deep learning and machine learning algorithms to a dataset of 3,605 diverse compounds. Each compound was encoded with 1,917 features containing 1,444 physicochemical (1D and 2D) properties, 166 molecular access system fingerprints (MACCS), and 307 substructure fingerprints. The prediction performance metrics of the developed models were compared and analyzed. The prediction accuracy of the deep neural network (DNN), one-dimensional convolutional neural network, and convolutional neural network by transfer learning was found to be 98.07, 97.44, and 97.61%, respectively. The best performing DNN-based model was selected for the development of the "DeePred-BBB" model, which can predict the BBB permeability of compounds using their simplified molecular input line entry system (SMILES) notations. It could be useful in the screening of compounds based on their BBB permeability at the preliminary stages of drug development. The DeePred-BBB is made available at https://github.com/12rajnish/DeePred-BBB., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Kumar, Sharma, Alexiou, Bilgrami, Kamal and Ashraf.)

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in hematopoietic cell survival, cell cycle control, DNA repair, and other cellular processes. It plays a significant role in cancer progression and viral infection. CK2 is considered a potential drug target in cancers and COVID-19 therapy. In this study, we have performed a virtual screening of phytoconstituents from the IMPPAT database to identify some potential inhibitors of CK2. The initial filter was the physicochemical properties of the molecules following the Lipinski rule of five. Then binding affinity calculation, PAINS filter, ADMET, and PASS analyses followed by interaction analysis were carried out to discover nontoxic and better hits. Finally, two compounds, stylopine and dehydroevodiamines with appreciable affinity and specific interaction towards CK2, were identified. Their time-evolution analyses were carried out using all-atom molecular dynamics simulation, principal component analysis and free energy landscape. Altogether, we propose that stylopine and dehydroevodiamines can be further explored in in vitro and in vivo settings to develop anticancer and antiviral therapeutics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) have received great interest from researchers around the world since the advent of nanotechnology and nanoengineering. This can be attributed due to the unique characteristics of NEMS devices and their wide range of applications. Among these applications, nanobeams and nanotubes now have an important role in the design of a variety of NEMS engineering devices. In the current research, the thermoelastic vibration analysis of Euler-Bernoulli nanobeams has been investigated using the theory of non-local elasticity proposed by Eringen. Also to study the effect of temperature change, the generalized thermoelastic model with dual phase-lag (DPL) is applied. The studied nanobeam is subjected to an axial thermal excitation load and surrounded by a magnetic field of constant strength. The Laplace transform technique has been used to solve the system differential equations and to find an approximate analytical solution for the different physical fields of the nanobeam. The numerical results obtained for the studied variables have been graphically clarified and discussed analytically. The effects of various influencing factors such as magnetic field strength, temperature change, non-local parameter as well as ramp type parameter have been examined and studied in detail., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

From a unicellular bacterium to a more complex human, smell and taste form an integral part of the basic sensory system. In fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster , the behavioral responses to odorants and tastants are simple, though quite sensitive, and robust. They explain the organization and elementary functioning of the chemosensory system. Molecular and functional analyses of the receptors and other critical molecules involved in olfaction and gustation are not yet completely understood. Hence, a better understanding of chemosensory cue-dependent fruit flies, playing a major role in deciphering the host-seeking behavior of pathogen transmitting insect vectors (mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks) and crop pests ( Drosophila suzukii , Queensland fruit fly), is needed. Using D. melanogaster as a model organism, the knowledge gained may be implemented to design new means of controlling insects as well as in analyzing current batches of insect and pest repellents. In this review, the complete mechanisms of olfactory and gustatory perception, along with their implementation in controlling the global threat of disease-transmitting insect vectors and crop-damaging pests, are explained in fruit flies.

In the present work, bismuth borate glass samples with the composition of (99- x ) B 2 O 3 + 1Cr 2 O 3 + ( x ) Bi 2 O 3 ( x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt %) were prepared using the melt quenching technique. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of the prepared glass samples was measured through a narrow beam technique using a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. Four point sources were used ( 241 Am, 133 Ba, 152 Eu, and 137 Cs) to measure the MAC for the prepared glasses. The experimental data were compared with the theoretical results obtained from the XCOM, and it was shown that for all samples at all tested energies, the relative deviation between the samples is less than 3%. This finding signifies that the experimental data can adequately be used to evaluate the shielding ability of the glasses. The MAC of the sample with x = 25 wt % was compared with different lead borate glasses and the results indicated that the present sample has high attenuation which is very close to commercial lead borate glasses. We determined the transmission factor (TF), and found that it is small at low energies and increases as the energy increases. The addition of Bi 2 O 3 leads to reduction in the TF values, which improves the shielding performance of the glass system. The half value layer (HVL) of the BCrBi-10 sample was 0.400 cm at 0.595 MeV, 1.619 cm at 0.2447 MeV, and 4.946 cm at 1.4080 MeV. Meanwhile, the HVL of the BCrBi-20 sample is equal to 0.171 and 4.334 cm at 0.0595 and 1.4080 MeV, respectively. The HVL data emphasize that higher energy photons tend to penetrate through the glasses with greater ease than lower energy photons. Furthermore, the fast neutron removable cross section (FNRC) was determined for the present samples and compared with lead borate glass and concrete, and the results showed a remarkable superiority of the bismuth borate glass samples.