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The purpose of this study was to analyze the ultrastructure of the testes of sexually immature calves and reproductive bulls of the Polish Holstein-Friesian Black-and-White breed. Utilizing TEM, this study identified three distinct stages of seminiferous tubule development in calves, characterized by varying shapes, distributions, and arrangements of individual cells. In immature animals, early developing spermatocytes, prespermatogonia, and pre-Sertoli cells were observed within the seminiferous tubules. In sexually mature bulls, all cells of the spermatogenic series were observed, situated on a thin, multilayered basal lamina, which forms characteristic undulations. An abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum was observed in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia in both groups of animals, forming characteristic membranous swirls. In adult bulls, spermatogonia maintain contact with each other through numerous cytoplasmic bridges and cell connections, forming small spaces with visible microvilli between them. The ultrastructural analysis facilitated the identification of morphological changes occurring during the maturation of pre-Sertoli cells, transitioning from a large euchromatic nucleus to a nucleus in which the formation of characteristic vesicles and tubules could be observed. It should also be emphasized that two types of Sertoli cells, namely dark and light electron-dense cells, can be found in cattle. These cells differ from each other, indicating that they may perform different functions. The widespread recognition of the presence of two types of Sertoli cells in cattle will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding of the processes occurring within the testes and provide a basis for further research in this area.

This study focuses on addressing the challenges associated with doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline chemotherapeutic widely used in cancer treatment. Despite its efficacy, DOX is linked to severe side effects that limit its clinical applications. Novel pharmaceutical formulations aim to mitigate these issues, providing better safety profiles. The development of these formulations requires analytical methods that can accurately and quickly quantify DOX. A cost-effective and portable electrochemical sensor for DOX detection was developed utilizing in-house printed carbon electrodes decorated with gold nanoparticles. DOX was detected using differential pulse voltammetry. The sensor demonstrated an accurate quantification of DOX from novel pharmaceutical formulations and serum, presenting a dynamic range of 1 to 500 μg/mL and a low detection limit of 0.3 μg/mL. The method, successfully applied to characterize DOX-loaded nanosomes, offers a valuable alternative in the early stages of formulation development, reducing costs and saving time, while maintaining accuracy.

In Tunisia, self-medication is a common practice, and there is a continual rise in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Given the lack of data on the self-medication practices (SMPs) among cardiovascular patients in this area, the present study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of SMPs among cardiovascular patients in the city of Béja. A community-pharmacy-based survey was conducted among selected cardiovascular patients in Béja, Tunisia, from May 2021 to June 2021. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire provided by pharmacists during in-person surveys with patients. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. The frequency of self-medication among the 150 respondents was 96%; 70.14% of participants reported that the primary reason why people engage in self-medication is the existence of an old prescription. The most prevalent conditions leading patients to self-medicate were headaches (100%), fever (83.33%), toothache (65.97%), and dry cough (47.92%). The most frequently self-administered drugs were paracetamol (100%), antibiotics (56.94%), and antitussives (47.92%). The results of our study indicate that SMPs among Tunisian cardiovascular patients have a high prevalence. With this in mind, healthcare practitioners should ask their patients about their self-medication practices and advise cardiovascular patients about the risks and benefits associated with this practice.

Abstract Differences in crystallinity, structure and composition variation along the growing direction in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata otoliths that inhabited different environments were determined to evaluate the correlation of spectroscopic and chemical data with the lifetime development and movement pattern. The Raman spectroscopy signal provided the characteristic bands whose Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) were used to track the signal variability. The FWHM showed an initial increase in the core area, followed by a decrease depicting two minima coinciding growth rings. The crystal discontinuity linked to annual rings was confirmed. The FWHM pattern followed cycle in the individual’s activity. However, no significant correlation with FWHM and environmental factors although the slope of the FWHM variation distinguished aquaculture and costal groups from open sea and transitional, estuarine waters. Raman data were further correlated with morphological and elemental composition obtained via SEM–EDX and by LA-ICP-MS. SEM clearly confirmed CRM findings. Finally, multiparameter analysis of Ba/Ca concentrations obtained by LA-ICP-MS indicated the separation of groups associated with aquaculture and transitional waters due lowest variability in the elemental composition. Other groups are more variable possibly due to the water oligotrophic character and greater variability in prey availability in each environment. Results of the present study showed the additional potential of Raman spectroscopy as a complementary tool for inference of migration or origin of fish based on otolith composition and structure like other well-established technique.

Flexible substrates have known increased popularity over rigid ones due to their use in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). They provide irregular surfaces, ideal for in situ sensing. In this context, we report the SERS performance of hybrid ZnO@Ag thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering (MS) on flexible, thermoplastic substrates. This physical deposition method is acknowledged for obtaining high-quality and reproducible ZnO films that can be embedded in (bio)sensing devices with various applications. Three types of thermoplastic-based, commercially available substrates with different glass transition temperatures (Tg) were chosen for the variation in flexibility, transparency, and thickness. Zeonor® (Tg = 136 °C, thickness of 188 μm) and two types of Topas (Topas®: Tg = 142 °C, thickness of 176 μm; Topas2: Tg = 78 °C, thickness of 140 μm) thermoplastic sheets are nonpolar and amorphous cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) and cyclo-olefin copolymers (COC), respectively. Their thicknesses and different values of Tg can greatly affect the topographical and roughness properties of films with small thicknesses and, thus, can greatly influence the enhancement of the Raman signal. The ZnO films deposited on top of Zeonor® or Topas® have identical morphological properties, as shown by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization. Subsequently, by using the MS technique, we tuned the thickness of the deposited silver (Ag) films in the range of 7–30 nm to assess the growth influence on the morphology and the SERS signal amplification of the substrates with and without the ZnO intermediate layer. The SEM analysis showed that the Ag atoms migrated both into the interstitial areas, filling the voids between the ZnO granular structures, and over the latter, forming, in this case, isolated Ag clusters. SERS analysis performed on the ZnO-Ag hybrid films using crystal violet (CV) molecule revealed a limit of detection (LOD) of 10−7 M in the case of 15 nm thick Ag/Zeonor® interlayer films ZnO and relative standard deviation (RSD) below 10%.

Pharmacological responses vary by sex in several illnesses. This narrative review summarizes sex variations in pharmaceutical response in SARS-CoV-2 infection, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 is more severe and deadly in men than women. This may be attributed to immunological responses, genetics, and hormones. Some research shows that men may respond better to genomic vaccinations and females to antiviral medications such as remdesivir (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech). In dyslipidemia, women tend to have greater HDL-C and lower LDL-C than men. Some studies show that females may need lower statin dosages than men to obtain equal LDL-C reductions. Ezetimibe co-administered with a statin significantly improved lipid profile indicators in men compared to women. Statins reduce dementia risk. Atorvastatin decreased dementia risk in males (adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.97), whereas lovastatin lowered dementia risk in women (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58–0.95). In diabetes mellitus, evidence suggests that females may have a higher risk of developing certain complications such as diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, despite having lower rates of cardiovascular disease than males. This could be the result of differences in hormonal influences and genetic factors. Some research shows females may respond better to oral hypoglycemic medications such as metformin. In conclusion, sex-related differences in pharmacological response have been observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Further research is needed to better understand these differences and to develop personalized treatment strategies for males and females with these conditions.

Bacterial infections are a major concern as antibiotic resistance poses a great threat, therefore leading to a race against time into finding new drugs or improving the existing resources. Nanomaterials with high surface area and bactericidal properties are the most promising ones that help combating microbial infections. In our case, graphene decorated with silver nanoparticles Gr-Ag (5 wt% Ag) exhibited inhibitory capacity against S. aureus and E. coli. The newly formed hybrid material was next incubated with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, to obtain one with bactericidal properties. The modified filter had greater inhibitory action against the tested strains, compared to the control, and the effect was better against the Gram-negative model. Even if the bacteria remained attached to the filters, their colony forming unit capacity was affected by the Gr-Ag (5 wt% Ag) hybrid material, when they were subsequently re-cultured on fresh agar media. Therefore, the HEPA filter modified with Gr-Ag (5 wt% Ag) has high antibacterial properties that may substantially improve the existing technology.

A biogenic carrier for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) loading and subsequent tableting as a new drug formulation for slow release has been proposed using the biomineral from blue crab carapace. Due to its highly ordered 3D porous nanoarchitecture, the biogenic carbonate carrier could achieve increased effectiveness in colorectal cancer cure provided that the formulation would successfully pass through the gastric acid conditions. Following the recently proven viability of the concept by demonstrating the slow release of the drug from the carrier using the highly sensitive SERS technique, here we investigated the 5-FU release from the composite tablet drug in pH conditions replicating the gastric environment. The released drug from the tablet was studied in solutions with three relevant pH values, pH 2, pH 3, and pH 4. The 5-FU SERS spectral signature for each pH value was used to build calibration curves for quantitative SERS analysis. The results suggested a similarly slow-releasing pattern in acid pH environments to that in neutral conditions. Although biogenic calcite dissolution was expected in acid conditions, the X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy showed preservation of calcite mineral along with the monohydrocalcite during acid solution exposure for two hours. The total released amount in a time course of seven hours, however, was lower in acidic pH solutions, with a maximum fraction of ~40% of the total amount of loaded drug, for pH 2, as opposed to ~80% for neutral values. Nonetheless, these results clearly prove that the novel composite drug retains its slow-releasing character in environmental conditions compatible with the gastrointestinal pH and that it is a viable and biocompatible alternative for oral delivery of anticancer drug to reach the lower gastro-intestinal tract.

Alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide (CPA) are commonly used in cytotoxic or immunosuppressive therapies for different types of diseases. One of the main secondary effects of such therapy is the reduction in follicular reserve, targeting the primordial follicles. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and protective effects of Plantago sempervirens extract on the follicular pool. The experiment was performed on Wistar female rats, for 21 days. They were divided into five groups according to the treatment they received (Control, CPA (200 mg/kg BW), P. sempervirens extract in three different doses—25/50/100 dw/mL ethanol extract (5 mL/kg BW)). The investigations regarded enzymatic and non-enzymatic nitro-oxidative stress, hormone levels (FSH and estrogen), TEM sections of the ovaries, and oestrus cycle monitorization. CPA strongly increased the oxidative stress (TOS—32.8 mmol H2O2/L; NO—68.60 μmol/L; OSI—6.82), alongside a depletion of FSH and a blockage of the oestrus cycle in the metestrus phase. The follicular pool was strongly depleted during CPA exposure, but FSH concentration and the TEM images of the cells revealed a significant improvement after treatment, as the dose increases (P3). Therefore, these findings reveal that P. sempervirens therapy could have a potential protective effect against CPA-induced acute damages in the ovaries, as well as maintaining a functional oestrus cycle.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have unique properties with regard to biological and medical applications. SPIONs have been used in clinical settings although their safety of use remains unclear due to the great differences in their structure and in intra- and inter-patient absorption and response. This review addresses potential applications of SPIONs in vitro (formulations), ex vivo (in biological cells and tissues) and in vivo (preclinical animal models), as well as potential biomedical applications in the context of drug targeting, disease treatment and therapeutic efficacy, and safety studies.

Three ceramic and composite computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials from different manufacturers (Cerasmart (CS)—nanoceramic resin; Straumann Nice (SN)—glass ceramic and Tetric CAD (TC)—composite resin) were tested to investigate the biocompatibility and sustainability on human fibroblasts and keratinocytes cells. Each type of CAD/CAM blocks restorative materials with fine and rough surfaces was exposed to an acidic environment for one month. After that, various powders were obtained by milling. In parallel, powders were also prepared from each restorative material, which were not exposed to the acidic environment. The cytotoxic effects were investigated by means of MTT and LDH assays, as well as nitric oxide production on two human normal cell lines, namely, fibroblasts (BJ) and keratinocytes (HaCaT). In addition, the degree of adhesion of fibroblast cells to each CAD/CAM material was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the two samples that were exposed to an acidic environment (CS and SN) induced a reduction of mitochondrial activity and plasma membrane damage as regards the fibroblast cells. A similar effect was observed in TC_fine-exposed material, which seemed to induce necrosis at the tested concentration of 1 mg/mL. No oxidative stress was observed in fibroblasts and keratinocytes treated with the CAD/CAM materials. Regarding the adhesion degree, it was found that the fibroblasts adhere to all the occlusal veneers tested, with the mention that the CS and SN materials have a weaker adhesion with fewer cytoplasmic extensions than TC material. With all of this considered, the CAD/CAM restorative materials tested are biocompatible and represent support for the attachment and dispersion of cells.

Dexamethasone is one of the most often used corticosteroid drugs for sensorineural hearing loss treatment, and is used either by intratympanic injection or through systemic delivery. In this study, a biopolymer lipid hybrid microcarrier was investigated for enhanced local drug delivery and sustained release at the round window membrane level of the middle ear for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Dexamethasone-loaded and dexamethasone-free microparticles were prepared using biopolymers (polysaccharide and protein, pectin and bovine serum albumin, respectively) combined with lipid components (phosphatidylcholine and Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide) in order to obtain a biopolymer–liposome hybrid system, with a complex structure combining to enhance performance in terms of physical and chemical stability. The structure of the microparticles was evaluated by FTIR, XRD, thermal analysis, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The encapsulation efficiency determination and the in vitro Dexamethasone release study were performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The high value of encapsulation efficiency and the results of the release study indicated six days of sustained release, encouraging us to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Dexamethasone-loaded microparticles and their influence on the cytotoxicity induced by Cisplatin on auditory HEI-OC1 cells. The results show that the new particles are able to protect the inner ear sensory cells.

As a result of industrial development water pollution has become a major issue. Providing clean water of sufficient quality and quantity is essential. According to literature, 100 000 different dyes are used worldwide in the printing, food and textile industries. Remazol Brilliant Violet-5R belongs to the group of azo dyes used in the textile industry. The purpose of this paper is to study the removal of anionic dye RBV-5R using calcined eggshell. We investigated the effect of initial dye concentration (20-100 mg/L RBV-5R), biomass amount, contact time, temperature, and pH on the adsorption process. We calculated the amounts of adsorbed material in equilibrium and the efficiency of the adsorption process. Various studies were performed on the adsorption process and the adsorbent morphology (EDX, SEM, FTIR, Raman), as well as isotherm (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich), kinetic and diffusion models were used to characterize the process. Calcined eggshell was also characterized by thermogravimetric, BET surface methods. Based on the results obtained, it can be said that the calcined eggshell can be used effectively to remove the dye from the aqueous solution.

Chemical functionalization of graphene oxide represents a major challenge in chemical engineering with the aim of both improving the properties of the material while generating versatile platforms with a broad range of applications. The development of electrochemical (bio)sensors requires the controlled and rational immobilization of molecules as a key step in the enhancement of analytical performance. Click chemistry reactions represent an important strategy for the covalent linking of different compounds on a substrate via complementary azide or alkyne groups. The mild reaction conditions allow the preservation of the properties of biomolecules, while the orientation towards green chemistry enables a new range of biomedical applications. The azide group was inserted in the graphene oxide backbone by chemical functionalization and the resulting product was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The successful synthesis of the graphene-azide platform was also validated by electrochemical methods performed after clicking ethynylferrocene, an electroactive model molecule. The results show that this new approach is a versatile method for the covalent immobilization of biomolecules. Keywords: Graphene oxide, Azide, Click chemistry, Electrochemical methods, Ethynylferrocene

This study presents the correct processing of Co–Cr alloys as a method of preserving the properties of the materials as-cast, and therefore they can be safely placed in contact with the oral cavity tissues as resistance frameworks. The basic materials analyzed in this study were five commercial Co–Cr dental alloys with different components obtained in three processing steps. The analysis of the electrochemical behavior at the surface of the Co–Cr alloys was performed by electrochemical measurements: impedance spectroscopy (EIS), open circuit electrical potential (OCP), and linear polarization (LP). In terms of validation, all five alloys had a tendency to generate a stable oxide layer at the surface. After the measurements and the graphical representation, the alloy that had a higher percentage of tungsten (W) and iron (Fe) in composition showed a higher tendency of anodizing. After the application of the heat treatment, the disappearance of the hexagonal phase was observed, with the appearance of new phases of type (A,B)2O3 corresponding to some oxide compounds, such as Fe2O3, Cr2O3, (Cr,Fe)2O3, and CoMnO3. In conclusion, the processing of Co–Cr alloys by melting and casting in refractory molds remains a viable method that can support innovation, in the context of technology advance in recent years towards digitalization of the manufacturing process, i.e., the construction of prosthetic frameworks conducted by additive methods using Co–Cr powder alloy.

In the last years, the adsorption processes were proven effective and easy to use techniques to clean polluted wastewater. The purpose of this research is to examine the biosorption method on organic indicators (Methylene Blue, Malachite Green, Congo Red and Bromphenol Blue) in aqueous medium by using chicken eggshell. The adsorption process was investigated in static circumstance. We examined the initial change of concentration (10-50 mg/l), the pH effect on the adsorption process, the equilibrium process, and the sorption kinetics. With scanning electron microscope, we examined the morphology and texture of the eggshell; furthermore, we conducted EDX microanalysis and ecotoxicological tests. Our results support the influence of the parameters on the sorption process.

Biocompatible gel microemulsions containing natural origin excipients are promising nanocarrier systems for the safe and effective topical application of hydrophobic drugs, including antifungals. Recently, to improve fluconazole skin permeation, tolerability and therapeutic efficacy, we developed topical biocompatible microemulsions based on cinnamon, oregano or clove essential oil (CIN, ORG or CLV) as the oil phase and sucrose laurate (D1216) or sucrose palmitate (D1616) as surfactants, excipients also possessing intrinsic antifungal activity. To follow up this research, this study aimed to improve the adhesiveness of respective fluconazole microemulsions using chitosan (a biopolymer with intrinsic antifungal activity) as gellator and to evaluate the formulation variables’ effect (composition and concentration of essential oil, sucrose ester structure) on the gel microemulsions’ (MEGELs) properties. All MEGELs were evaluated for drug content, pH, rheological behavior, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release and skin permeation and antifungal activity. The results showed that formulation variables determined distinctive changes in the MEGELs’ properties, which were nevertheless in accordance with official requirements for semisolid preparations. The highest flux and release rate values and large diameters of the fungal growth inhibition zone were produced by formulations MEGEL-FZ-D1616-CIN 10%, MEGEL-FZ-D1216-CIN 10% and MEGEL-FZ-D1616-ORG 10%. In conclusion, these MEGELs were demonstrated to be effective platforms for fluconazole topical delivery.

The in vivo distribution of 50 nm clusters of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs-PEG) was conducted in this study. SPIONs-PEG were synthesized de novo, and their structure and paramagnetic behaviors were analyzed by specific methods (TEM, DLS, XRD, VSM). Wistar rats were treated with 10 mg Fe/kg body weight SPIONs-PEG and their organs and blood were examined at two intervals for short-term (15, 30, 60, 180 min) and long-term (6, 12, 24 h) exposure evaluation. Most exposed organs were investigated through light and transmission electron microscopy, and blood and urine samples were examined through fluorescence spectrophotometry. SPIONs-PEG clusters entered the bloodstream after intraperitoneal and intravenous administrations and ended up in the urine, with the highest clearance at 12 h. The skin and spleen were within normal histological parameters, while the liver, kidney, brain, and lungs showed signs of transient local anoxia or other transient pathological affections. This study shows that once internalized, the synthesized SPIONs-PEG disperse well through the bloodstream with minor to nil induced tissue damage, are biocompatible, have good clearance, and are suited for biomedical applications.

The electrospun nanosystems containing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and 1 wt% Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) (with the content of dopant in the range of 0–1 wt% Fe) deposited onto polylactic acid (PLA) film were prepared for food packaging application. They were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), antimicrobial analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) techniques. Migration studies conducted in acetic acid 3% (wt/wt) and ethanol 10% (v/v) food simulants as well as by the use of treated ashes with 3% HNO3 solution reveal that the migration of Zn and Fe falls into the specific limits imposed by the legislation in force. Results indicated that the PLA/PHBV/ZnO:Fex electrospun nanosystems exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC-27853) due to the generation of a larger amount of perhydroxyl (˙OOH) radicals as assessed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy coupled with a spin trapping method.

Hepcidin controls systemic iron levels by inhibiting intestinal iron absorption and iron recycling. Here, Pasricha et al. demonstrate that the hepcidin-chromatin locus displays HDAC3-mediated reversible epigenetic modifications during both erythropoiesis and iron deficiency.

Here we present additional data on the expression of lipoxygenases -5 and -12 in the normal and acetaminophen-damaged liver, which are associated with our manuscript recently published in Chemico-Biological Interactions on lipid metabolism and eicosanoid signaling pathways involved in acetaminophen-induced liver damage in a mouse model (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2015.10.019 [1]). It has been demonstrated that the expression of lipoxygenase-5 and leukotriene formation are increased in the livers of rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis (http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/gast.2000.17831 [2]). In addition, the lipoxygenase-12 is known to be expressed in the resident macrophage population of the liver (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(99)00396-8 [3]).Mice were injected with acetaminophen, and at 48 h their livers were processed for immunohistochemistry with anti-mouse lipoxygenase-5 and -12 antibodies. At the same time point, the RNA was also extracted from the liver to assess the expression of lipoxygenase-5 and -12 genes via qPCR analysis. Our results show that lipoxygenase-5 expression, but not that of lipoxygenase-12, changes significantly in the acetominophen-damaged liver.

The detection of folic acid in biological samples or pharmaceutical products is of great importance due to its implications in the biological functions of the human body, along with the development and growth of the fetus. The deficiency of folic acid can be reversed by the intake of different pharmaceutical formulations or alimentary products fortified with this molecule. The elaboration of sensing platforms represents a continuous work in progress, a task in which the use of conductive polymers modified with different functionalities represents one of the outcoming strategies. The possibility of manipulating their morphology with the use of templates or surfactants represents another advantage. A sensing platform based on carboxylic functionalized polypyrrole was synthesized via the electrochemical approach in the presence of a polymeric surfactant on a graphite-based surface. The sensor was able to detect the folic acid from 2.5 μM to 200 μM with a calculated limited of detection of 0.8 μM. It was employed for the detection of the analyte from commercial human serum and pharmaceutical products with excellent recovery rates. The results were double checked using an optimized spectrophotometric procedure that confirmed furthermore the performances of the sensor related to real samples assessment.

Raman mapping is becoming a very useful tool in investigating cells and cellular components, as well as bioactive molecules intracellularly. In this study, we have encapsulated beta-carotene using a layer-by-layer technique, as a way to enhance its stability and bioavailability. Further, we have used Raman mapping to characterize the as-obtained capsules and monitor their uptake by the human retinal epithelial D407 cells. We were able to successfully map the beta-carotene distribution inside the capsules, to localize the capsules intracellularly, and distinguish between capsules and other cellular components.

Medicinal plants are often used as reducing agents to prepare metal nanoparticles through green-synthesis due to natural compounds and their potential as chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, three types of eco-friendly Ag-MnO2 nanoparticles (Ag-MnO2NPs) were synthesized using C. majus (CmNPs), V. minor (VmNPs), and a 1:1 mixture of the two extracts (MNPs). These NPs were characterized using S/TEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR methods, and their biological activity was assessed in vitro on normal keratinocytes (HaCaT) and skin melanoma cells (A375). All synthesized NPs had manganese oxide in the middle, and silver oxide and plant extract on the exterior. The NPs had different forms (polygonal, oval, and spherical), uniformly distributed, with crystalline structures and different sizes (9.3 nm for MNPs; 10 nm for VmNPs, and 32.4 nm for CmNPs). The best results were obtained with VmNPs, which reduced the viability of A375 cells up 38.8% and had a moderate cytotoxic effect on HaCaT (46.4%) at concentrations above 500 µg/mL. At the same concentrations, CmNPs had a rather proliferative effect, whereas MNPs negatively affected both cell lines. For the first time, this paper proved the synergistic action of the combined C. majus and V. minor extracts to form small and uniformly distributed Ag-MnO2NPs with high potential for selective treatments.

Currently, research studies on nanoparticle cytotoxicity, uptake or internalization into the body’s cells are of great interest for the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. We report here the synthesis and characterization of very stable novel warfarin-capped gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 54 ± 10 nm which were prepared using sodium warfarin as a reducing agent. The nanoparticles were tested in terms of cytotoxicity and cellular internalization in vitro on two cell lines: normal lung fibroblast HFL-1 and human retinal pigment epithelial D407 cells. Our results showed that the normal lung fibroblast HFL-1 cells were more sensitive to the nanoparticle treatment compared to the human retinal pigment epithelial D407 cells. Moreover, any signs of potential cytotoxicity occurred during the first 24 h of treatment, the cellular viability remaining largely unchanged for longer exposure times. Transmission electron microscopy and dark field hyperspectral imaging revealed that the nanoparticles were effectively delivered and released to the HFL-1 and D407 cells’ cytoplasm. Our results provide valuable information to further investigate sodium warfarin-capped gold nanoparticles for possible biological applications.

Grammar acquisition in Romanian as foreign language. Learning Romanian as a foreign language includes acquiring the grammar of the language. Teaching the grammar must have regard to all language particularities like gender, plurals, topics and syntax. Translating from Romanian in a language that all students know is not a highly recommended method because every language has it’s own way of creating the sentences and this translating process may cause difficulties in the teaching process. This may occur because the students are focused on understanding in L1, then sending it in their mother tongue, and finally the student tries to understand the phenomenon in Romanian language. One of recommended methods is the structural exercises, like imitation and substitution, so the students do not get confused after presenting all the rules. There are also the Deductive approach, the case when the teacher gives the rules and the students have time to become familiar to them, and the Inductive approach, which allows the students to form themselves the rules after they are given the examples. The Deductive approach is recommended in case of irregular patterns and the Inductive approach in case of regular patterns, because is based on analogy. Teaching a grammatical concept should be done by offering examples using relatively simple vocabulary so their attention won't be directed on understanding the vocabulary, but on understanding the new grammatical concept. Rezumat. Achiziția gramaticii în limba română ca limbă străină. Învățarea românei ca limbă străină presupune și achizitia gramaticii. Predarea gramaticii trebuie să aibă în vedere toate particularitățile lingvistice, cum ar fi genul, plural, substantivul și sintaxa. Traducerea din limba română într-o limbă pe care toți elevii o cunosc nu este o metodă foarte recomandată, deoarece fiecare limbă are propriul mod de a crea propozițiile și acest proces de traducere poate provoca dificultăți în procesul de predare. Acest lucru se poate întâmpla, deoarece elevii se concentrează pe înțelegerea în L1, apoi traduc mesajul în limba maternă, iar în final studentul încearcă să înțeleagă fenomenul în limba română. Una dintre metodele recomandate este exercițiile structurale, cum ar fi imitația și substituția, astfel încât elevii să înțeleagă conceptul gramatical după prezentarea tuturor regulilor. Există, de asemenea, metoda deductivă în care profesorul oferă regulile și studenții au timp să se familiarizeze cu acestea și metoda inductivă, prin care se oferă exemple, ajungând apoi la regulă. Metoda deductivă este recomandată în cazul structuri neregulate, în timp ce metoda inductivă este recomandată pentru structurile regulate, deoarece se bazează pe analogie. Predarea unui concept gramatical ar trebui făcută prin oferirea de exemple folosind un vocabular relativ simplu, astfel încât atenția studenților să nu fie îndreptată spre înțelegerea vocabularului, ci spre înțelegerea noului concept gramatical. Cuvinte-cheie: achiziția gramaticii, procesul de predare, exerciții structurale, imitație, substituție, metoda deductivă, metoda inductivă, limbă străină.

The absorption of European funds is widely seen as a way of economic growth and job creation through payments made from the EU budget as co-financing for eligible projects granted to EU member states. The article presents a study on the absorption of European funds in the last 3 states that entered the European Union for the last programming period 2021-2027 and investigates the determining factors of the absorption of European funds in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. The average absorption rate at the EU level is 68% at the end of 2022. The findings of the estimates of economic and human development on the absorption of European funds show us multiple negative influences of the independent variables due to the fact that the analysis was carried out on the new countries that entered the EU have recorded low absorption rates of European funds. Positive influences are observed in the case of Gross capital formation, Imports of goods and services, Expense and Human Capital Index, but some of the variables are statistically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]