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The genus Thesium, family Santalaceae, comprises about 350 species, and, although many of them are used as functional food and in traditional medicine, there are limited studies evaluating their pharmacological potential. The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical profile, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition potential of aerial parts and roots of T. bertramii Azn. Extracts were rich in phenolics: MeOH and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the best antioxidant activity in most assays. Ethyl acetate extracts of both organs exerted comparable anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity, while their methanol extracts displayed comparable anti-tyrosinase activity. The highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was recorded from the root's ethyl acetate extract, while that of the aerial parts revealed the best α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Chemically, the aerial parts were dominated by quercetin derivatives, feruloylquinic acids, caffeoylquinic acids, and elenolic acid glucoside. Roots showed a lower diversity of compounds with elenolic acid, quercetin glycoside, and kaempferol glycoside as major compounds. Additionally, network pharmacology analyses (KEGG and STRING) identified critical molecular pathways and hub genes, including IL6, TNF, BCL-2, and JUN, indicating the multi-target potential of T. bertramii in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, this study assessed the chemical and biological properties of T. bertramii for the first time, and the obtained results indicated the potential of this species as a valuable source of bioactive molecules for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries., 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) stands out as a critical health issue due to its high mortality and morbidity rates. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the biochemical and metabolic alterations induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) using an in vitro model., Methods and Results: The study investigated the impact of LPS on HEK-293 cells by evaluating cytotoxicity using the MTT assay, analyzing apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and oxidative stress via flow cytometry, measuring TNF-α levels through ELISA, and assessing amino acid metabolism with LC-MS/MS. The findings demonstrated that LPS significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, increased apoptotic cell populations, induced DNA damage by arresting the cell cycle in the Sub-G1 phase, and activated oxidative stress pathways. Notably, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α highlighted LPS's inflammatory and cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, systematic analysis revealed LPS-induced disruptions in amino acid metabolism, including marked reductions in alanine, arginine, and aspartic acid levels. KEGG pathway analysis identified significant metabolic alterations in pathways such as the urea cycle, TCA cycle, and glutathione metabolism. Interestingly, elevated citrulline levels suggested a potential adaptive mechanism to counteract LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, ROC analysis identified cystine as a highly reliable biomarker, with an AUC value of 1.00, emphasizing its critical role in metabolic reprogramming associated with SA-AKI., Conclusions: This study provides critical insights into the molecular pathophysiology of SA-AKI and emphasizes the promise of metabolomic approaches in the early diagnosis of sepsis-related complications and the development of targeted therapies., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: It is not applicable since only cell lines were used. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The present study investigates the chemical profile and biological activities of Polygonum istanbulicum M. Keskin, a species endemic to Turkey, aiming to explore its potential applications in pharmacology. We assessed its phenolic and flavonoid content by employing ethyl acetate, methanol, and water as extraction solvents. The methanol extract demonstrated the highest concentrations of these compounds, with liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-qTOF) analysis identifying a wide range of bioactive substances, such as derivatives of quercetin and myricetin. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and phosphomolybdenum assays, with the methanol extract showing the most potent activity (DPPH: 892.22 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g; ABTS: 916.21 mg TE/g; CUPRAC: 1082.69 mg TE/g; FRAP: 915.05 mg TE/g). Enzyme inhibition assays highlighted the efficacy of P. istanbulicum extracts against key enzymes, with potential implications for managing Alzheimer's disease, hyperpigmentation, and type 2 diabetes. Cytotoxicity tests against various cancer cell lines showed notable activity, particularly with the aqueous extract on the HGC-27 cell line (IC 50 : 29.21 µg/mL), indicating potential for targeted anti-cancer therapy. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further supported the binding affinities of quercetin and myricetin derivatives to cancer-related proteins, suggesting significant therapeutic potential. This study underscores the value of P. istanbulicum as a source of bioactive compounds with applications in antioxidant, anti-cancer, and enzyme-inhibitory treatments.

Efficient microalgae harvesting and dewatering are critical processes for a range of applications, including the production of raw materials, nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals, sustainable biofuels, and wastewater treatment. The optimization of these processes poses significant challenges due to the need for high efficiency and sustainability while managing costs and energy consumption. This review comprehensively addresses these challenges by focusing on the development and application of various membrane filtration technologies specifically designed for the effective harvesting and dewatering of algal biomass. Membrane filtration has emerged as a predominant method due to its ability to handle large volumes of microalgae with relatively low energy requirements. This review systematically examines the different membrane-based technologies and their effectiveness in recovering valuable components from algal biomass, such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The discussion begins with an overview of the physical characteristics of microalgae and their cultivation conditions, which are critical for understanding how these factors influence the performance of membrane filtration processes. Key aspects such as the features of algal cells, the presence of algal organic matter, and transparent exopolymer particles are explored in detail. The review also delves into various strategies for improving membrane antifouling properties, which are essential for maintaining the efficiency and longevity of the filtration systems. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of different membrane techniques are reviewed, highlighting their respective performance in separating microalgae and dewatering. Finally, the review offers insights into future research directions and technological advancements that could further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of microalgae processing. This comprehensive evaluation aims to provide a thorough understanding of current membrane technologies, their applications, and the ongoing developments necessary to overcome existing limitations and improve overall process performance., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, we introduce a category of Novel Jerk Chaotic (NJC) oscillators featuring symmetrical attractors. The proposed jerk chaotic system has three equilibrium points. We show that these equilibrium points are saddle-foci points and unstable. We have used traditional methods such as bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits, and Lyapunov exponents to analyze the dynamic properties of the proposed novel jerk chaotic system. Moreover, simulation results using Multisim, based on an appropriate electronic implementation, align with the theoretical investigations. Additionally, the NJC system is solved numerically using the Dormand Prince algorithm. Subsequently, the Jerk Chaotic System is modeled using a multilayer Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN), leveraging its nonlinear mapping capability. This involved utilizing 20,000 values of x 1 , x 2 , and x 3 for training (70%), validation (15%), and testing (15%) processes, with the target values being their iterative values. Various network structures were experimented with, and the most suitable structure was identified. Lastly, a chaos-based image encryption algorithm is introduced, incorporating scrambling technique derived from a dynamic DNA coding and an improved Hilbert curve. Experimental simulations confirm the algorithm's efficacy in enduring numerous attacks, guaranteeing strong resiliency and robustness., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Schiff base network-1 (SNW-1) covalent organic framework (COF) nanomaterials and their application in the fabrication of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes. The embedding of SNW-1 COF in reverse osmosis (RO) membranes with a polysulfone (PSf) substrate was done using the interfacial polymerization method. The result of the study demonstrated that the porous and hydrophilic structure of the COF increased the hydrophilic properties of the produced RO membranes. When the COF was embedded with a concentration of 0.02 wt %, the hydrophilicity of the RO membrane was higher than that of the other membranes, with a contact angle value of 45.2°. Pure water flux, saline solution flux, and humic acid (HA)/sodium chloride (NaCl) foulant solution flux were measured to determine the membrane performance, and it was found that as the COF ratio increased, the fluxes increased up to a certain concentration rate. The RO membrane with a SNW-1 concentration of 0.005 wt % had the highest values of pure water flux and saline solution flux with high salt rejection (34.2 and 32.2 LMH, 97.1%, respectively) and was the most resistant membrane against fouling. This study presents the potential of the SNW-1 COF with precise design capabilities and controlled unique properties as an additive for desalination applications.

Objectives: Propofol and thiopental are widely used as hypnotic, sedative, antiepileptic, and analgesic agents in general anesthesia and intensive care; however, their side effects remain unknown. They are used for long periods and at high doses for sedation in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and intensive care units. Long-term and high-dose use of these drugs can lead to accumulation in plasma and tissues, resulting in high drug concentrations and increasing the risk of potential toxicity (e.g., nephrotoxicity). In our study, the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of propofol and thiopental on kidney cells (HEK-293) and their effects on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when used in high doses were investigated and compared in vitro., Materials and Methods: The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of each drug in HEK-293 cells was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. The apoptotic effects were assessed at two different doses of each drug using the annexin V method. Morphological examinations were conducted using the acridine orange/ethidium bromide method, and intracellular ROS levels were determined by flow cytometry., Results: The IC 50 values of propofol and thiopental for HEK-293 cells were 206.59 μg/ml and 109.68 μg/ml, respectively. Compared to the control group, thiopental at ≥25 μg/ml and propofol at ≥50 μg/ml exhibited cytotoxicity. Additionally, propofol exhibited significantly lower cytotoxic effects than thiopental did., Conclusion: Our study showed that both propofol and thiopental exerted significant cytotoxic effects on HEK-293 cells at concentrations exceeding clinical levels, primarily by increasing intracellular ROS levels and inducing apoptosis. Future research in this area will deepen our understanding of these mechanisms and improve patient safety in clinical anesthesia practice., Competing Interests: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: This research was supported by the Harran University Scientific Research Projects Unit (HUBAK: 31/12/2019; project number: 19342). Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Pehlivan et al.)

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CHD is among the most common causes of mortality and morbidity world wide. In addition, CHD is one of the most important causes of health expenditures world wide. Today, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations are a widely used surgical procedure and have an important place in the treatment of CHD. Many scoring systems have been evaluated to estimate the risk of mortality and morbidity. 30-day mortality rates after CABG have been reported as 1-4% in large-scale studies., Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between 1-month mortality in patients undergoing CABG and the Hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet index (HALP score) and Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) calculated using laboratory data in the preoperative period., Methods and Design: A total of 239 patients who underwent CABG were evaluated retrospectively. Preoperative biochemical and hemogram values, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, HALP score and PNI values of the patients were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups: Exitus group ( n  = 51) and survival group ( n  = 188). The data of the two groups were compared, mainly HALP score and PNI., Results: It was observed that 51 of 239 patients (21.3%) developed exitus during the 30-day follow-up after CABG. When demographic data are compared; advanced age, female gender, history of DM (Diabetes Mellitus), history of HL (hyperlipidemia) and smoking were found to be associated with mortality. When laboratory data are compared; high troponin levels, low hemoglobin, low lymphocyte and low albumin levels were found to be associated with mortality. Low HALP score ( p  < 0.001) and low PNI ( p  < 0.001) were also found to be associated with mortality. In univariate and multivariate regression analysis; advanced age, history of DM, HALP score and PNI were found to be independent predictors of 30-day mortality after CABG. It was determined that a cut-off value of 0.29 for the HALP score and 39.1 for PNI had found, respectively, 81 and 79% sensitivity and 82 and 80% specificity., Conclusion: Preoperatively measured HALP score and PNI can be used to predict 1-month mortality after CABG., 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 © 2024 Koyuncu and Koyun.)

In recent years especially during COVID-19, the increased usage of antiviral drugs has led to increased interest in monitoring their presence in wastewater worldwide. In this study, it was examined the occurrence, fate and environmental risks of favipiravir which is used for COVID-19 treatment in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different treatment processes in Istanbul, Turkey. Favipiravir was measured in WWTPs influent samples, effluent samples and sludge samples with maximum concentrations of 97 μg/L, 64.11 μg/L and 182.47 μg/g, respectively. Favipiravir had removal efficiency below 55 % for both WWTPs. Mass balance analysis showed that favipiravir removal in WWTPs mainly attributed to biodegradation/biotransformation. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between favipiravir concentration and COVID-19 incidence in Istanbul. The microbial distribution analysis indicated that comparison of collected COVID-19 pandemic sludge and post-pandemic period sludge samples, a noteworthy reduction in the Chloroflexi and Actinobacteriota phyla at the phylum level was observed. Environmental risk assessment using risk quotients ranged from 168 to 704, indicating that the presence of this antiviral drug posed significant ecological risks to aquatic organisms. The study concluded that WWTPs were releasing antiviral drugs into the environment, thereby posing risks to both the aquatic ecosystem and public health. The results of this study demonstrate the persistence of favipiravir in WWTPs and offer crucial supporting data for further research into the advancement of wastewater treatment technology. Also, this study shows wastewater based monitoring is supplementary and early warning system for determining the occurrence of antiviral drugs., 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Energy-efficient wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) utilize systems like high-rate activated sludge (A-stage) system to redirect organics from wastewater are redirected into energy-rich sludge (A-sludge). Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) offer lower footprint and higher effluent quality compared to conventional digesters. In this study, the biological treatment and the filtration performances of AnMBRs for A-sludge digestion under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions were comparatively evaluated through lab-scale experiments, mass balancing and dynamic modeling. Under thermophilic conditions, a higher COD fraction of the influent sludge was converted into methane gas than under mesophilic conditions (65% versus 57%). The energy balance indicated that the surplus energy recovery under thermophilic conditions was less than the additional energy required for heating the AnMBR, resulting in a more than three-fold higher net energy recovery under mesophilic conditions. Therefore, operating an AnMBR for sludge digestion under mesophilic conditions has a higher potential to improve the energy balance in WWTPs., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Understanding the mechanisms of pH-responsiveness allows researchers to design and fabricate membranes with specific functionalities for various applications. The pH-responsive membranes (PRMs) are particular categories of membranes that have an amazing aptitude to change their properties such as permeability, selectivity and surface charge in response to changes in pH levels. This review provides a brief introduction to mechanisms of pH-responsiveness in polymers and categorizes the applied polymers and functional groups. After that, different techniques for fabricating pH-responsive membranes such as grafting, the blending of pH-responsive polymers/microgels/nanomaterials, novel polymers and graphene-layered PRMs are discussed. The application of PRMs in different processes such as filtration membranes, reverse osmosis, drug delivery, gas separation, pervaporation and self-cleaning/antifouling properties with perspective to the challenges and future progress are reviewed. Lastly, the development and limitations of PRM fabrications and applications are compared to provide inclusive information for the advancement of next-generation PRMs with improved separation and filtration performance., 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissues. However, the exact pathogenesis of HT remains unclear. Metabolomic analysis was performed to obtain information about the possible pathogenic mechanisms and diagnostic biomarkers of HT. The amino acid profile was analyzed using an LC-MS/MS method using serum samples obtained from 30 patients diagnosed with ultrasonographic imaging and laboratory markers (thyroid stimulating hormone) free thyroxine and thyroid peroxidase) and 30 healthy individuals. There were statistically significant changes in 27 amino acids out of 32 amino acids analyzed (p < 0.05). Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the six amino acid (1-methylhistidine, cystine, norvaline, histidine, glutamic acid and leucine) biomarkers showed high sensitivity, specificity (area under the curve > 0.98), positive likelihood ratio and low negative likelihood ratio. Also, according to pathway analysis, degradation of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis was the highest metabolic pathway according to the impact value (p < 0.001 and impact value = 1.0). We provide serum amino acid profiles of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and identify five potential biomarkers for early diagnosis by clinicians., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The use of rare earth elements (REE) in many various fields, including high-tech products, increases the demand for these materials day by day. The production of REE from primary sources has expanded in response to increasing demand; however, due to its limited, a more sustainable supply is also started to offer for the REE demand by using secondary sources. The most commonly used metallurgical method for REE recovery is hydrometallurgical processes. However, it has some disadvantages, like pyrometallurgical methods. In the review, studies of the environmental impacts of REE production from primary sources and life cycle assessments of products containing REE were investigated. According to the results, it has been seen that those studies in the literature in which hydrometallurgical methods have changed to more environmentally friendly approaches have begun to increase. In this review, mine wastes, which are secondary sources, were defined, conventional methods of recovery of rare earth elements were discussed, greener approaches to the recovery of REE from these sources were comprehensively examined and studies in the literature were evaluated. Furthermore, it was stated that there are limited studies on green approaches and REE recovery from mineral wastes and that this field is developing with an emphasis on the current outlook and future perspectives., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Five solvent extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water (70%), and water) of Gladiolus italicus Mill. from Turkey were evaluated for chemical and biological properties., Methods: Antioxidant activities, inhibitory properties against key enzymes involved in the etiology of chronic diseases were tested, as well as cytotoxic effects on different cell lines. Chemical characterization was also carried out to determine the most abundant compounds of each extract., Results: The highest total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in the water extract while highest TFC in ethanol/water extract. The most abundant compounds in the extracts were hyperoside (69041.06 mg kg -1 ), isoquercitrin (46239.49 mg kg -1 ), delphindin-3,5-diglucoside (42043.81 mg kg -1 ), myricetin (21486.61 mg kg -1 ), and kaempferol-3-glucoside (21199.76 mg kg -1 ). Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations confirmed the structural stability and dynamic conformational integrity of these complexes over a period of 100 ns. In network pharmacology, A total of 657 unique target genes were screened: 52 associated with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), 85 with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), and 130 with fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2), identifying crucial gene interactions for these proteins. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted, revealing significant interactions and pathways such as the advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their receptors (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications and T- helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation, among others. This elucidation of complex networks involving key genes like AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1), MYC proto-oncogene (MYC), tumor protein 53 (TP53), Interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) provides a promising foundation for the development of targeted therapies in the treatment of non-communicable diseases., Conclusion: These results show that G. italicus could be a natural source of potent antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors which need to be further explored for the development of biopharmaceuticals.

The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water (70% ethanol), and water extracts of Astragalus aduncus aerial parts were investigated for their antioxidant potential, enzyme inhibition activity (anti-acetylcholinesterase [AChE], anti-butyrylcholinesterase [BChE], antityrosinase, antiamylase, and antiglucosidase) and antiproliferative effect (against colon adenocarcinoma cell line [HT-29], gastric cancer cell line [HGC-27], prostate carcinoma cell line [DU-145], breast adenocarcinoma cell line [MDA-MB-231], and cervix adenocarcinoma cell line [HeLa]). In addition, the phytochemical profile of the extracts was evaluated using validated spectrophotometric and high-pressure liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectroscopy methods. Generally, the 70% ethanol extract demonstrated the strongest antioxidant properties, and it was the richest source of total phenolic constituents. Our findings indicated that the ethyl acetate extract was the most potent BChE inhibitor (11.44 mg galantamine equivalents [GALAE]/g) followed by the ethanol extract (8.51 mg GALAE/g), while the ethanol extract was the most promising AChE inhibitor (3.42 mg GALAE/g) followed by the ethanol/water extract (3.17 mg GALAE/g). Excellent tyrosinase inhibitory activity (66.25 mg kojic acid equivalent/g) was observed in ethanol/water extracts of the aerial part of A. aduncus. Тhese results showed that the most cytotoxic effects were exhibited by the ethyl acetate extract against HGC-27 cells (IC 50 : 36.76 µg/mL), the ethanol extract against HT-29 cells (IC 50 : 30.79 µg/mL), and the water extract against DU-145 cells (IC 50 : 37.01 µg/mL). A strong correlation was observed between the highest total flavonoid content and the highest content of individual compounds in the ethanol extract, including rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside (delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside), and kaempferol-3-glucoside (kaempferol-3-O-glucoside). In the present study, the A. aduncus plant was considered a new source of antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors, and anticancer agents and could be used as a future health-benefit natural product., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Tanacetum nitens (Boiss. & Noë) Grierson is an aromatic perennial herb used in Turkish traditional medicine to treat headache, fever, and skin diseases. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxic properties of T. nitens aerial parts. Organic solvent extracts were prepared by sequential maceration in hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol while aqueous extracts were obtained by maceration or infusion. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and LC-DAD-MS analysis allowed the identification and quantification of different phytoconstituents including parthenolide, tanacetol B, tatridin B, quinic acid derivatives, β-sitosterol, and glycoside derivatives of quercetin and luteolin. The type and amount of these phytochemicals recovered by each solvent were variable and significant enough to impact the biological activities of the plant. Methanolic and aqueous extracts displayed the highest scavenging and ions-reducing properties while the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts exerted the best total antioxidant activity and metal chelating power. Results of enzyme inhibition activity showed that the hexane, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane extracts had comparable anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and the latter extract revealed the highest anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity. The best α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities were obtained from the hexane extract. The dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited the highest cytotoxic effect against the prostate carcinoma DU-145 cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that T. nitens can be a promising source of biomolecules with potential therapeutic applications., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Background: Coronary collaterals are the feeding bridges between the main epicardial arteries, and research has shown that this collateral development plays a crucial role in myocardial performance, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the evolution of these collaterals has not been fully explained., Objective: In this study, we aimed to reveal the effect of CD31 on coronary collateral development., Methods: As a result of coronary angiography performed in our clinic, 89 patients with coronary artery disease and 90 patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the study. Collateral development degrees were recorded from the angiographic images of the subjects. CD31 values were compared between the group with coronary artery disease and the control group. In addition, the coronary artery disease group was divided into subgroups according to the collateral development in terms of good collateral development and poor collateral development, and the factors that may affect the collateral development were tried to be determined., Results: CD31 levels were significantly higher in the group with coronary artery disease compared to the control group (p <0.001). In addition, CD31 levels in the subgroup with good collateral were significantly higher than in the group with weak collateral (p <0.001). In the correlation analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between serum CD31 level and SYNTAX score, age, glucose, and rentrop grade. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed CD31 to be an independent predictor of good coronary collateral development., Conclusion: CD31, a marker of angiogenesis, may be involved in coronary collateral development., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

In this work, the hydrophobic polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was modified by incorporating Ti 3 AlCN MAX phase. Synthesis of Ti 3 AlCN MAX phase was performed using the reactive sintering method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed a 3D compressed layered morphology for the synthesized MAX phase. The Ti 3 AlCN MAX phase was added to the casting solution, and the mixed-matrix membranes were fabricated by the non-solvent induced phase inversion method. The performance and antifouling features of bare and modified membranes were explored by pure water flux, flux recovery ratio (FRR), and fouling resistance parameters. Through the modification of membranes by introducing the Ti 3 AlCN MAX phase, the enhancement of these features was observed, in which the membrane containing 1 wt% of MAX phase showed 17.7 L/m 2 .h.bar of permeability and 98.6% for FRR. Also, the separation efficiency of all membranes was evaluated by rejecting organic and inorganic pollutants. The Ti 3 AlCN MAX membranes could reject 96%, 95%, and 88% of reactive blue 50, Rose Bengal, and azithromycin antibiotics, respectively, as well as 98%, 80%, 86%, and 36% of Pb 2+ , As 5+ , Na 2 SO 4, and NaCl, respectively. Finally, the outcomes indicated the Ti 3 AlCN MAX phase was an excellent and efficient novel additive for modifying the PES membrane., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lantana camara is widely known as a garden plant, but its use for various medicinal purposes is widespread in traditional medicine. In the frame of this study, L. camara was subjected to several different extraction techniques, including supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), homogenizer-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, maceration, and Soxhlet extraction. The investigation encompasses the analysis of the chemical composition alongside assessments of biological activities, such as antioxidant and enzyme-inhibition potential and cytotoxicity of the obtained extracts. The obtained results showed that the extract obtained by accelerated-solvent extraction was the richest in the content of total phenols and of individual compounds. Of the 17 components identified in total, hispidulin was detected in the highest concentration (5.43-475.97 mg/kg). In the antioxidant assays, the extracts obtained by accelerated-solvent and microwave extraction possessed the highest level of antioxidant and antiradical protection. All obtained extracts showed enzyme-inhibitory action on amylase, glucosidase, tyrosinase, and cholinesterase, showing a high potential for application against diseases induced by excessive activity of these enzymes. Cytotoxic analysis was performed on normal and tumor cells, whereby the obtained IC 50 values were in the range of 7.685-79.26 µg/mL, showing the high cytotoxicity of the obtained extracts. Using Z score analysis, ASE resulted in an optimal combination of tested quality characteristics of the L. camara extracts., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Palladium is now frequently utilized in fuel cells, electroplating, electronics, and catalysis. Due to their rarity and high cost, precious metal recovery has taken on a significant role. The extraction method frequently utilized in polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) is both efficient and simple since it has been demonstrated that precious metal adsorption on the membrane significantly controls the mechanism of chemical adsorption. In this study, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a polymer, A336 as a plasticizer, and trioctylamine (TOA) as a carrier were used to produce a PIM by evaporation. After the production of PIMs, palladium extract was studied. The stripping phase, palladium concentration in the feed phase, and components of the membrane were changed to determine the optimum condition with better extraction ability. When 0.5 M of HCl was used, higher kinetic parameter results and higher than 85% extraction efficiency were achieved compared to other concen- trations. When the EDX results were examined, 3.3% palladium was retained on the membrane surface. When the palladium concentration was selected at 2.5 ppm, higher kinetic parameters were observed, and the extraction efficiency was over 90%. The best membrane was the PIM containing 40% PVC-40% A336-20% TOA., Competing Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict., (© 2024 The Authors This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits copying and redistribution for non-commercial purposes with no derivatives, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

The disintegration of raw sludge is of importance for enhancing biogas production and facilitates the degradation of substrates for microorganisms so that the efficiency of digestion can be increased. In this study, the effect of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) as a pretreatment approach for waste activated sludge (WAS) was investigated at two upstream pressures (0.83 and 1.72 MPa) by using a milli-scale apparatus which makes sludge pass through an orifice with a restriction at the cross section of the flow. The HC probe made of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) material was tested using potassium iodide solution and it was made sure that cavitation occurred at the selected pressures. The analysis on chemical effects of HC bubbles collapse suggested that not only cavitation occurred at low upstream pressure, i.e., 0.83 MPa, but it also had high intensity at this pressure. The pretreatment results of HC implementation on WAS were also in agreement with the chemical characterization of HC collapse. Release of soluble organics and ammonium was observed in the treated samples, which proved the efficiency of the HC pretreatment. The methane production was improved during the digestion of the treated samples compared to the control one. The digestion of treated WAS sample at lower upstream pressure (0.83 MPa) resulted in higher methane production (128.4 mL CH 4 /g VS) compared to the treated sample at higher upstream pressure (119.1 mL CH 4 /g VS) and control sample (98.3 mL CH 4 /g VS). Thus, these results showed that the HC pretreatment for WAS led to a significant increase in methane production (up to 30.6%), which reveals the potential of HC in full-scale applications., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Cucurbita genus has been widely used in traditional medicinal systems across different countries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic effects of methanol and aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial parts, seeds, and fruit shells of Cucurbita okeechobeensis. Antioxidant properties were assessed using various chemical methods, including radical quenching (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), metal chelation, and phosphomolybdenum assays. The extracts' enzyme inhibitory effects were tested against cholinesterase, amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase, whereas different cancer cell lines were used for the cytotoxicity study. The chemical composition, evaluated by HPLC-ESI-MS n , showed that the most abundant compounds were flavonoids (mainly quercetin glycosides) followed by phenolic acids (mostly caffeic acid derivatives). The aerial parts displayed stronger antioxidant ability than the seed and fruit shells, in agreement with the highest content in phytochemicals. In addition, the methanol extracts presented the highest bioactivity and content in phytochemicals; among them, the extract of the aerial part exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis. Overall, our results suggest that C. okeechobeensis is a valuable source of bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Objective: Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibition in cardiac tissue causes inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which is responsible for protecting cardiac tissue during stress. Therefore, there is an increase in the risk of arrhythmia. This study explores the prediction of that risk with the Age-Creatinine-Ejection Fraction (ACEF) score as a simple scoring system based on the components of age, creatinine, and ejection fraction., Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and receiving ibrutinib treatment for at least 1 year were evaluated with echocardiography and Holter electrocardiography and the results were compared with a control group of CLL patients who had not received treatment. ACEF score was calculated with the formula age/left ventricular ejection fraction+1 (if creatinine >2.0 mg/dL)., Results: When the arrhythmia development of the patients was evaluated, no statistically significant difference was found between the control and ibrutinib groups in terms of types of arrhythmias other than paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). PAF was found to occur at rates of 8% versus 22% (p=0.042) among ibrutinib non-users versus users. For patients using ibrutinib, an ACEF score of >1.21 predicted the development of PAF with 77% sensitivity and 75% specificity (area under the curve: 0.830, 95% confidence interval: 0.698-0.962, p<0.001)., Conclusion: The ACEF score can be used as a risk score that predicts the development of PAF in patients diagnosed with CLL who are scheduled to start ibrutinib., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors., (©Copyright 2024 by Turkish Society of Hematology Turkish Journal of Hematology, Published by Galenos Publishing House.)

This study examines efficiency of a newly synthesized sulfonamide derivative 2-bromo-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)propanamide (MMH-1) on the inhibition of Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA IX), which is overexpressed in many solid tumors including breast cancer. The inhibitory potential of MMH-1 compound against its four major isoforms, including cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II, as well as tumor-associated membrane-bound isoforms hCA IX and XII, was evaluated. To this context, the cytotoxic effect of MMH-1 on cancer and normal cells was tested and found to selectively affect MDA-MB-231 cells. MMH-1 reduced cell proliferation by holding cells in the G0/G1 phase (72 %) and slowed the cells' wound healing capacity. MMH-1 inhibited CA IX under both hypoxic and normoxic conditions and altered the morphology of triple negative breast cancer cells. In MDA-MB-231 cells, inhibition of CA IX was accompanied by a decrease in extracellular pH acidity (7.2), disruption of mitochondrial membrane integrity (80 %), an increase in reactive oxygen levels (25 %), and the triggering of apoptosis (40 %). In addition, the caspase cascade (CASP-3, -8, -9) was activated in MDA-MB-231 cells, triggering both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. The expression of pro-apoptotic regulatory proteins (Bad, Bax, Bid, Bim, Cyt-c, Fas, FasL, TNF-a, TNF-R1, HTRA, SMAC, Casp-3, -8, P21, P27, and P53) was increased, while the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, apoptosis inhibitor proteins (IAPs), and heat shock proteins (HSPs) (Bcl-2, Bcl-w, cIAP-2, HSP27, HSP60, HSP70, Survivin, Livin, and XIAP) was decreased. These results propose that the MMH-1 compound could triggers apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells via the pH/MMP/ROS pathway through the inhibition of CA IX. This compound is thought to have high potential and promising anticancer properties in the treatment of aggressive tumors., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin-9 (ADAMTS-9), one of the ADAMTS enzymes, is expressed in all fetal tissues, unlike other ADAMTS enzymes, and is thus thought to play a role in fetal development. In this context, the objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between ADAMTS-9 activity and the development of congenital heart diseases (CHD) with a view to using ADAMTS-9 level as a biomarker for CHDs., Study Design: Newborns diagnosed with CHD and healthy newborns were included in the study as the CHD and control groups, respectively. Gestational age, maternal age, and mode of delivery information pertaining to the mothers and Apgar score and birthweight information pertaining to the newborns were recorded. Blood samples were taken from all newborns to determine their ADAMTS-9 levels in the first 24 hours of life., Results: Fifty-eight newborns with CHD and 46 healthy newborns were included in the study. Median ADAMTS-9 levels were 46.57 (interquartile range [IQR]: 33.31 [min: 26.92, max: 124.25]) and 23.36 (IQR: 5.48 [min: 11.7, max: 37.71]) ng/mL in the CHD and control groups, respectively. ADAMTS-9 levels in the CHD group were statistically significantly higher than in the control group ( p  = 0.000). ADAMTS-9 levels of the CHD and control groups were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristics curve. The area under the curve value for ADAMTS-9 levels of >27.86 ng/mL as the cut-off value for predicting the development of CHD in newborns was 0.836 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.753-0.900, p  = 0.0001). ADAMTS-9 levels of >27.86 ng/mL were determined to predict the development of CHD in newborns with a sensitivity of 77.78% (95% CI: 65.5-87.38) and a specificity of 84.78% (95% CI: 71.1-93.60)., Conclusion: In conclusion, it was found that the serum ADAMTS-9 levels were significantly higher in newborns with CHD than in healthy newborns. In parallel, ADAMTS-9 levels above a certain cut-off value were associated with CHD., Key Points: · ADAMTS-9 is expressed in fetal tissues.. · Its level increases in congenital heart diseases.. · It can be used as a biochemical marker in diagnosis.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the chemical profiles and biological activities of different extracts (ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, ethanol, and water) of Pelargonium endlicherianum parts (aerial parts and roots). Free radical scavenging, reducing power, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating were assayed for antioxidant properties. To detect enzyme inhibitory properties, cholinesterase, amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase were chosen as target enzymes. The ethanol extract of the aerial parts contained higher amounts of total bioactive compounds (120.53 mg GAE/g-24.46 mg RE/g). The ethanol and water extracts of these parts were tentatively characterized by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS and 95 compounds were annotated. In addition, the highest acetylcholiesterase (3.74 mg GALAE/g) and butyrylcholinesterase (3.92 mg GALAE/g) abilities were observed by the ethanol extract of roots. The water extract from aerial parts exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effects on multiple cancer cell lines, especially A549 (IC 50 : 23.2 µg/mL) and HT-29 (IC 50 : 27.43 µg/mL) cells. Using network pharmacology, P. endlicherianum compounds were studied against cancer, revealing well-connected targets such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, and growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (GRB2) with significant impact on cancer-related pathways. The results could open a new path from natural treasure to functional applications with P. endlicherianum and highlight a new study on other uninvestigated Pelargonium species., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Environmental contamination caused by heavy metals is a significant global concern. The presented study investigated the efficiency of iron PAMAM-OH encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe-MNP-G2-OH) as sorbent for the preconcentration of copper and cobalt from tea samples. High metal-chelating ethylenediamine core polyamidoethanol generation-2 (PAMAM-G2-OH) was encapsulated with iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) to synthesize the sorbent. Limit of detection (LOD) values for copper and cobalt extracted and detected by the developed Fe-MNP-G2-OH -SPE-FAAS method were 0.52 and 1.1 μg L -1 , respectively. There were 230- and 101-fold improvement in detection limits for copper and cobalt, respectively, when compared to direct FAAS measurement. The percent recovery results for the analytes in green and black tea samples ranged from 93 to 107%, with low relative standard deviation (%RSD) values. The synthesis of nanoparticle was carried out through a unique method, which was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. The analytical results demonstrated the applicability and effectiveness of Fe-MNP-G2-OH nanoparticles on the preconcentration of copper and cobalt from tea samples and the developed method is suitable for the trace detection of heavy metals by FAAS method. To the best our knowledge, this is the first study where copper and cobalt in green and black tea samples were extracted by Fe-MNP-G2-OH adsorbent and precipitation of the adsorbent during its synthesis was carried out in acetone medium rather than aqueous one., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.)

Recently, one of the main purposes of wastewater treatment plants is to achieve a neutral or positive energy balance while meeting the discharge criteria. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology is a promising technology that has low energy and footprint requirements as well as high treatment performance. The effect of co-treatment of municipal wastewater and food waste (FW) on the treatment performance, granule morphology, and settling behavior of the granules was investigated in the study. A biochemical methane potential (BMP) test was also performed to assess the methane potential of mono- and co-digestion of the excess sludge from the AGS process. The addition of FW into wastewater enhanced the nutrient treatment efficiency in the AGS process. BMP of the excess sludge from the AGS process fed with the mixture of wastewater and FW (195 ± 17 mL CH 4 /g VS) was slightly higher than BMP of excess sludge from the AGS process fed with solely wastewater (173 ± 16 mL CH 4 /g VS). The highest methane yield was observed for co-digestion of excess sludge from the AGS process and FW, which was 312 ± 8 mL CH 4 /g VS. Integration of FW as a co-substrate in the AGS process would potentially enhance energy recovery and the quality of effluent in municipal wastewater treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant species C. majus, which is a very rich source of secondary metabolites, was used to obtain extracts, using a conventional extraction technique. For the extraction of bioactive molecules, three solvents were used: ethyl acetate, methanol and water, which differ from each other based on their polarity. The obtained extracts were examined in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory activity, and cytotoxic effects. The research results indicate that methanol was a better and more efficient extractant in the process of isolating bioactive compounds than ethyl acetate and water. The chemical composition of this solvent, i.e. its polarity, contributed the most to the extraction of alkaloids and flavonoids. The high content of total phenolic compounds in the methanol extract, as well as individual alkaloids, caused a very strong antioxidant activity, as well as a strong inhibitory power when it comes to inhibiting the excessive activity of cholinesterase and tyrosinase. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts achieved very good cytotoxic activity against cancerous cells HGC-27 and HT-29 and did not exert a toxic effect on non-cancerous cell lines (HEK293). Extracts of plant species C. majus, especially methanol extract could be characterized as a very good starting plant material for the formulation of products intended for various branches of the food and pharmaceutical industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study is to develop a mechanistic model to predict the long-term dynamic performance of High-Rate Activated Sludge (HRAS) process, including the removal of carbon (COD), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). The model was formulated with inspiration from Activated Sludge Models No. 1 and 3 (ASM1 and ASM3) to incorporate essential mechanisms, such as adsorption and storage substrate, specific to HRAS systems. A stepwise protocol was followed for calibration with dynamic data from a pilot-scale HRAS plant. Sensitivity analysis identified influential model parameters, including maximum specific growth rate (μ), growth yield (Y H ), storage yield (Y STO ), storage rate (k STO ), decay rate (b), and half saturation of the readily biodegradable substrate for growth (K S1 ). The calibrated model achieved prediction efficiencies above the normalized Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 70 % for mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD), soluble COD (SCOD), particulate COD (XCOD), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (SNH), total phosphorus (TP), soluble TP (STP), and particulate TP (XTP). Uncertainty analysis revealed that SCOD was underestimated. Based on the dynamic profiles of uncertainty bands and observed data, there is potential for improving the estimation of dynamic behavior in STP. The observed discrepancies may be attributed to variations in wastewater characteristics during the monitoring period, particularly concerning the phosphorus (P) fractions of the readily biodegradable substrate (S S ) and soluble inerts (S I ), which were not considered as dynamically changing parameters in the model., 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Idiopathic atrioventricular block (iCAVB) is the most common reason for the need for a permanent pacemaker in the elderly population. The fibrotic process that occurs in the conduction system of the heart with aging is the main pathogenesis in the development of iCAVB. However, the processes that trigger the development of iCAVB in the elderly population have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to reveal the possible relationship between the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) layer and idiopathic complete atrioventricular block. A group of 68 consecutive patients who developed iCAVB and a group of 68 healthy subjects matched for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors were included in the study. The groups were compared for clinical, laboratory, and levels of Syndecan-1 (SDC1), an EG layer marker. In the study, SDC1 levels were found to be significantly higher in the iCAVB group compared to the control group (23.7 ± 7.5 vs 16.7 ± 5.2; p = 0.009). In multivariable regression analysis, SDC1 was determined as an independent potential predictor for iCAVB (OR: 1.200; 95% CI: 1.119-1.287; p < 0.001). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, SDC1 predicted iCAVB with 74% sensitivity and 72% specificity at the best cut-off value of 18.5 ng/mL (area under the curve: 0.777; confidence interval: 0.698-0.856; p < 0.001). Disruption of the endothelial glycolic layer may be one of the main triggering factors for the process leading to iCAVB., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

This study is dedicated to the enhancement of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes for their application in membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes. The improvement is achieved through the incorporation of graphitic carbon nitride nanotubes/carbon dots (g-C 3 N 4 NT/CDs) and subsequent heat post-treatments at varying temperatures. Notably, the hot-pressing methodology effectively mitigates surface roughness and significantly reduces issues related to peeling during nanofiber experimentation. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of 0.5 wt% of g-C 3 N 4 NT/CDs leads to a substantial enhancement in water flux. In particular, nanocomposite membranes subjected to hot-pressing at 90 °C for 10 min exhibited an impressive flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 70%. Furthermore, the heat-treated nanocomposite membranes exhibited remarkable antifouling properties and significantly reduced fouling rates when compared to their heat-treated bare counterparts. This study underscores the noteworthy potential of g-C 3 N 4 NT/CDs-modified PAN nanofiber membranes to substantially elevate MBR performance, firmly positioning them as highly promising candidates for critical applications in the domains of water and wastewater treatment. However, it is imperative to underscore that the existing written material necessitates a comprehensive overhaul to align with the provided structural framework., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This research investigates the potential use of Jurinea mesopotamica Hand.-Mazz. (Asteraceae) in cancer treatment. In this study, a plant extract was prepared using all parts of J. mesopotamica, and its effect on the proliferation of cancer and normal cells was tested using the MTT method. It was found to have a selective cytotoxic effect on prostate cancer cells, with the lowest IC 50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of 10μg/mL found in the butanol extract (JMBE). The extract suppressed the proliferation of prostate cancer cells (67 %), disrupted organelle integrity (49 %), increased reactive oxidative stress (66 %), and triggered cell death (51 %). In addition, apoptotic gene expressions and protein levels increased, and the profile of amino acids related to energy metabolism was elevated. Based on LC-MS/MS results, the plant contained higher levels of flavonoids, including isoquercitrin, cosmosiin, astragalin, nicotiflorin, luteolin, and apigenin. These results suggest that J. mesopotamica has a selective effect on prostate cancer due to its high flavonoid content and might be a promising natural alternative for cancer treatment., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic properties of different extracts from aerial parts of V. diversifolium (family Scrophulariaceae), a plant that is native to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. Six extracts, namely, hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), ethanol (EtOH), 70% EtOH, and water (aqueous) were prepared by maceration. The EtOH extract was predominated by the presence of rutin (4280.20 μg g -1 ) and p -coumaric acid (3044.01 μg g -1 ) while the highest accumulation of kaempferol-3-glucoside (1537.38 μg g -1 ), caffeic acid (130.13 μg g -1 ) and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (465.93 μg g -1 ) was recorded in the 70% EtOH, aqueous, and EtOAc extracts, respectively. The EtOH (46.86 mg TE/g) and 70% EtOH (46.33 mg TE/g) extracts displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging result. Both these extracts, along with the aqueous one, exerted the highest ABTS radical scavenging result (73.03-73.56 mg TE/g). The EtOH and 70% EtOH extracts revealed the most potent anti-AChE (2.66 and 2.64 mg GALAE/g) and anti-glucosidase (1.07 and 1.09 mmol ACAE/g) activities. The aqueous extract was the most efficacious in inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer (DU-145) cells with an IC 50 of 8.71 μg/mL and a Selectivity Index of 3.7. In conclusion, this study appraised the use of V. diversifolium aerial parts as a potential therapeutic source for future development of phytopharmaceuticals that target specific oxidative stress-linked diseases including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease among others., 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. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Yagi, Nilofar, Uba, Caprioli, Mustafa, Angeloni, Koyuncu, Seker, Polat, Supti, Tasnim, Al Dhaheri, Zengin and Eid.)

In the current study, braid reinforced membranes were fabricated from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers with two different molecular weights, and the blending of the polymers in a 1:1 ratio to upgrade the performance of the membrane. Characterization, filtration studies, and membrane bioreactor (MBR) application were done to evaluate membrane performance by applying the same operation conditions on each membrane. Characterization studies indicated that the fabricated membrane from blending polymers was a hydrophilic structure with a contact angle of 50.78° and smoother surface properties compared to the other fabricated membranes. According to the MBR results, at the end of the operation process, TMP levels of the membrane from the blending method are found 150 mbar, membrane from high molecular weight PVDF polymer had 250 mbar, and membrane from low molecular weight PVDF polymer had 800 mbar. As a consequence of the investigation, it is seen that the hydrophilic structure of the membrane allows the pollutant to adsorb less to the blend membrane surface, and the lower roughness is also a factor in reducing fouling.

Due to low-cost, sustainability and good mechanical stability, cellulose-based materials are frequently used in fabrication of polymeric gas separation membrane as potential carbohydrate polymers to substitute traditional petrochemical-based materials. In this review, the performance of cellulose-based polymeric membranes i.e. cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, ethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose in the separation of different gases were investigated. This review paper provides the main features and advantages in the fabrication of cellulose-based gas separation membranes. The influence of the functionalization of cellulose on gas separation and permeability performance of related membranes is considered. Influence of different modification procedures such as blending with polymers, nanomaterials and ionic liquids on the gas separation ability of cellulose-based membranes were reviewed. Moreover, a brief inquiry of the potential of cellulose-based gas separation membranes for industrial applications, by examining the performance of different cellulose derivatives and identifying potential strategies for membrane modification and optimization are given, along with the current restrictions and the future perspectives are discussed., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)