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In this article, we investigate the radiation of cold plasma composed of helium gas on the amount of hydrogen storage in cobalt/carbon nanotube nanocomposite. For this study, the solution is divided into two parts, one part of which does not receive any radiation from the plasma. For the other part, before the layers are deposited, a cold plasma consisting of helium gas is applied to the suspension consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. and we irradiate cobalt salt for 30 seconds, then we address the layers by electrochemical method. The results show that plasma treatment even in a short period like 30 seconds increases the hydrogen desorption capacity by creating defects and active groups on the surface of nanotubes that are favorable for hydrogen storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cynometra iripa Kostel. is a Fabaceae species of mangrove used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory conditions. The present study aims to establish monographic botanical and chemical quality criteria for C. iripa leaf and bark as herbal substances and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant potential. Macroscopic and microscopic qualitative and quantitative analyses, chemical LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS profiling, and the quantification of key chemical classes were performed. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays. Macroscopically, the leaf is asymmetrical with an emarginated apex and cuneate base. Microscopically, it shows features such as two-layered adaxial palisade parenchyma, vascular bundles surrounded by 3–6 layers of sclerenchyma, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals (5.89 ± 1.32 μm) along the fibers, paracytic stomata only on the abaxial epidermis (stomatal index–20.15), and non-glandular trichomes only on petiolules. The microscopic features of the bark include a broad cortex with large lignified sclereids, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals (8.24 ± 1.57 μm), and secondary phloem with distinct 2–5 seriated medullary rays without crystals. Chemical profile analysis revealed that phenolic derivatives, mainly condensed tannins and flavonoids, are the main classes identified. A total of 22 marker compounds were tentatively identified in both plant parts. The major compounds identified in the leaf were quercetin-3-O-glucoside and taxifolin pentoside and in the bark were B-type dimeric proanthocyanidins and taxifolin 3-O-rhamnoside. The total phenolics content was higher in the leaf (1521 ± 4.71 mg GAE/g dry weight), while the total flavonoids and condensed tannins content were higher in the bark (82 ± 0.58 mg CE/g and 1021 ± 5.51 mg CCE/g dry weight, respectively). A total of 70% of the hydroethanolic extracts of leaf and bark showed higher antioxidant activity than the ascorbic acid and concentration-dependent scavenging activity in the DPPH assay (IC50 23.95 ± 0.93 and 23.63 ± 1.37 µg/mL, respectively). A positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the phenol content and antioxidant activity was found. The results obtained will provide important clues for the quality control criteria of C. iripa leaf and bark, as well as for the knowledge of their pharmacological potential as possible anti-inflammatory agents with antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new analytical method combining magnetic micro‐solid phase extraction (μ‐SPE) in tandem with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet (HPLC‐UV) analysis was developed and used for the simultaneous extraction/preconcentration of tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC) residues in drug manufacturing effluents. The μ‐SPE conducted by the introduction of iron oxide reduced‐graphene oxide (MrGO) doped tin‐lanthanium intercalated with thiosulfate ions to produce magnetic LDH (MrGO/Sn‐La‐S). The adsorbent was synthesized and characterized using x‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive x‐ray, elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and value stream mapping techniques. The effective parameters, including the extraction and desorption steps, were investigated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) for TC and OTC were obtained as 5.42 and 3.31 μg.L−1, respectively, while the linearity was in the range of 10.0–500.0 μg.L−1 for both antibiotics with satisfactory determination coefficients (R2) of 0.9811 and 0.9846 for TC and OTC, respectively. The recovery percentages for the analytes in real samples were achieved in the ranges of 89.2%–101.6% and 91.0%–101.3% for TC and OTC antibiotics, respectively. All these features proved the potential of the developed method and adsorbent for real world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomagnifications of emergent contamination with diclofenac in aquatic media exert adverse effects on ecosystems and the environment. Hence, employing an effective remediation route, especially magnetic adsorption, is highly beneficial to eliminating hazardous pharmaceutical wastes. In this research, an efficient magnetic nanoadsorbent derived from aminated manganese ferrite, cellulose, and graphene oxide (GO) has been characterized and employed for diclofenac (DF) removal. Results of EDX analysis showed that aminopropyltriethoxysilane, as an amine source, have been anchored on the magnetic adsorbent surface with high density. Moreover, FESEM and TEM images, as well as the XRD pattern, confirmed that the nanocomposite is a three-component adsorbent. Response surface methodology was adopted to optimize effective parameters for DF adsorption. Solution pH, contact time, adsorbent amount, and concentration of NaNO3 were four variables that have been optimized. Kinetic and isotherm studies for the adsorption experiments showed that diclofenac adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Moreover, the thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and follows an exothermic path. With a high maximum adsorption capacity of 439.0 mg.g−1 and an adequate removal efficiency of 98.0%, the aminated MnFe2O4-cellulose-GO is a suitable candidate to mitigate the side effects of DF in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensors are essential for protecting humans against hazardous gases such as flammable and toxic gases. Unlike traditional gas sensors, MXenes gas sensors act at room temperature, Which is a good advantage. In this work Reactive molecular dynamics simulation calculations were run through the canonical ensemble calculation method with the Nosé Hoover thermostat temperature controller at T=298 K and the dynamic condition of the simulation was based on the popular Verlet algorithm with a time step of 0.01 fs and conducted MD simulation for 0.3 ns. the ReaxFF force field allowed atoms to break and form bonds with other atoms during the simulation, So it is a powerful force field. Adsorption of the CO and CO2 pollution gas molecules by Ti2C monolayer and nanotube was investigated and adsorption weight percentages were reported. Results show that Ti2C monolayer, and nanotube, have more adsorbed weight percentage against CO2 pollution gas molecules than CO one, and two gases have more affinity to the Ti2C monolayer than Ti2C nanotube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root tubers of Asphodelus bento-rainhae subsp. bento-rainhae (AbR), a vulnerable endemic species, and Asphodelus macrocarpus subsp. macrocarpus (AmR) have traditionally been used in Portugal to treat inflammatory and infectious skin disorders. The present study aims to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of crude 70% and 96% hydroethanolic extracts of both medicinal plants, specifically against multidrug-resistant skin-related pathogens, to identify the involved marker secondary metabolites and also to assess the pre-clinical toxicity of these medicinal plant extracts. Bioguided fractionation of the 70% hydroethanolic extracts of both species using solvents of increasing polarity, namely diethyl ether (DEE: AbR-1, AmR-1), ethyl acetate (AbR-2, AmR-2) and aqueous (AbR-3, AmR-3) fractions, enabled the identification of the DEE fractions as the most active against all the tested Gram-positive microorganisms (MIC: 16 to 1000 µg/mL). Furthermore, phytochemical analyses using TLC and LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS techniques revealed the presence of anthracene derivatives as the main constituents of DEE fractions, and five known compounds, namely 7′-(chrysophanol-4-yl)-chrysophanol-10'-C-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-anthrone (p), 10,7′-bichrysophanol (q), chrysophanol (r), 10-(chrysophanol-7′-yl)-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (s) and asphodelin (t), were identified as the main marker compounds. All these compounds showed high antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC: 3.2 to 100 µg/mL). Importantly, no cytotoxicity against HepG2 and HaCaT cells (up to 125 µg/mL) for crude extracts of both species and genotoxicity (up to 5000 µg/mL, with and without metabolic activation) for AbR 96% hydroethanolic extract was detected using the MTT and Ames tests, respectively. Overall, the obtained results contribute to the concrete validation of the use of these medicinal plants as potential sources of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dried leaves of Lannea velutina A. Rich. and Sorindeia juglandifolia (A. Rich.) Planch. ex Oliv. (family Anacardiaceae) are used in African traditional medicine. Although these medicinal plants have widespread use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, there is no scientific data concerning their preclinical or clinical safety. This work aimed to investigate the phytochemical properties of the leaves of both species using HPLC-UV/DAD, as well as the in vivo oral repeated-dose toxicity of 70% hydroethanolic leaf extract of S. juglandifolia and the in vitro genotoxicity of 70% hydroethanolic leaf extracts of L. velutina and S. juglandifolia. Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight variations, and changes in food consumption, mortality, and blood biochemical parameters were monitored. Genotoxicity was assessed using the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) with and without metabolic activation, according to OECD guidelines. The obtained results showed the presence of gallic acid and anacardic acid as the main marker constituents in both species. No significant changes in general body weight or food intake were observed; small significant changes with no critical relevance were observed in the blood biochemistry of animals treated with S. juglandifolia hydroethanolic extract (50, 400, and 1000 mg/kg body weight) compared to those in the control group. No genotoxicity was observed in the bacterial reverse mutation assay with S. juglandifolia and L. velutina extracts (up to 5 mg/plate). The safety data obtained in vivo and lack of genotoxic potential in vitro points to the safe medicinal use of S. juglandifolia and L. velutina extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) contains more than 50 shrub species in Iran, and Salvia limbata C.A. Meyer grows widely in the north and central parts of the country. Six flavones and rosmarinic acid were isolated from the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the flowered aerial parts of S. limbata collected from Semnan province. The separation process was carried out using several chromatographic methods. Structural elucidation was based on NMR data, in comparison with those reported in the literature. The isolated compounds were identified as ladanein (1), salvigenin (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether (3), cirsiliol (4), eupatorin (5), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (6) and rosmarinic acid (7). Some of these flavonoids have been reported to show antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the ethyl acetate and methanol extract of the aerial parts of Satureja atropatana Bonge, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family, four flavonoids were isolated. Their structures were determined to be 5,6,3'-trihydroxy-7,8,4'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone or 5-desmethoxynobiletin (2), 5,6,4'-trihydroxy-7,8,3'-trimethoxyflavone or thymonin (3) and luteolin (4) using 1H and 13C-NMR and MS spectra. Brine shrimp cytotoxicity effects of the crude extracts and isolated compounds were examined. Berberine hydrochloride (LC50 = 26 µg mL-1) was used as a positive control. Among them, compounds 2 (199 µg mL-1) and 3 (157 µg mL-1) were effective against Artemia salina larva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Puerperal infection is used to describe any bacterial infection of the reproductive tract after delivery. Identifying the factors affecting postpartum infections can reduce the risk and complications of such factors and postpartum maternal mortality., Objective: This structured study was designed to evaluate factors affecting postpartum infections., Methods: In this study, after selecting Scopus, PubMed, SID, and Web of Science electronic databases, all observational studies (cohort and case-control) available and published in Farsi and English to investigate factors affecting postpartum infections were searched. The search was performed using the terms postpartum, infection, wound infection, puerperium, reason, risk factor, and their equivalent Persian words from 2010 to November 2019 regardless of publication status., Results: Out of the 3227 studies obtained, 19 were reviewed after removing irrelevant articles, duplicates (shared in databases), and animal samples. Age, level of education, delivery method, presence of episiotomy, anemia due to postpartum hemorrhage, interventions and manipulations during childbirth, prenatal hygiene, Povidone Iodine usage before delivery to wash the vagina, antibiotic prevention, increased labor duration, obesity, and the presence of bacteria were common symptoms affecting postpartum infection., Conclusion: In this study, the factors affecting postpartum infection have been identified, some of which are avoidable. Identifying these factors helps reduce postpartum infections and their complications., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Happiness is a drive and constructive force of life. A person feels wellbeing under different effective factors. Religious dogmatism that has an influence on the entire world is one of the depreciatory factors of happiness or wellbeing. The current study decided to analyze the relation between dogmatism and wellbeing, and according to a model, answer the following question: how does religious dogmatism decrease wellbeing?, Methods: This study is a correlation research. Population of study includes all people with 30-50 yr old who live in Tehran, Iran, in 2015. Among all, 180 subjects were selected as in access sample. The Oxford happiness questionnaire and Rokeach dogmatism scale were used. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test., Results: There is a significant negative correlation between dogmatism and happiness (α=0.05)., Conclusion: Dogmatism is one of the factors that have a negative effect on wellbeing. Religious dogmatism is the most dangerous factor against wellbeing. Dogmatic individuals have an inflexible cognitive system that emerges as a stable personality trait and decreases their adjustment with environment. Affective well-being and cognitive wellbeing are affected by individual adjustment. Therefore, in dogmatic individuals with low adjustment, the decrease of affective well-being and cognitive wellbeing is inevitable. This process will result in decrease of happiness and increase of aggression.

Background: Metal ions effect on homeostasis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the metal ions (Iron, Zinc and Copper) and CBC in patients with AD in comparison with normal range., Methods: The samples of study were 17 patients with AD in Tehran's aging centers in 2015, selected as an access sample. Blood samples were analyzed in a pathobiology laboratory. Data were analyzed by one sample t -test., Results: According to the normal range, provided by laboratory, there is a significant difference between zinc in patients with AD and normal reference interval (α=0.01). The comparison of CBC of the AD patients with normal group showed also some decreases., Conclusion: Zinc value in AD patients is significantly lower than normal range. It should be repeated by a larger sample size.