Fat Distribution and Lipid Profile of Young Adults with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Due to 21-Hydroxylase Enzyme Deficiency

We aimed to compare detailed fat distribution and lipid profile between young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency and a control group. We also verified independent associations of treatment duration and daily hydrocortisone dose equivalent (HDE) with lipid profile within patients. This case–control study included 23 patients (7 male and 16 female) matched by an age range of young adults (18–31 years) with 20 control subjects (8 male and 12 female). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the fat distribution. Male patients demonstrated elevated indices of fat mass for total (7.7 ± 2.1 vs. 4.5 ± 1.3 kg/m², p = 0.003), trunk (4.0 ± 1.2 vs. 2.2 ± 0.8 kg/m², p = 0.005), android (0.63 ± 0.24 vs. 0.32 ± 0.15 kg/m², p = 0.008), gynoid (1.34 ± 0.43 vs. 0.74 ± 0.24 kg/m², p = 0.005), arm (0.65 ± 0.16 vs. 0.39 ± 0.10 kg/m², p = 0.009), and leg regions (2.7 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.4 kg/m², p = 0.005) than the control group, but not in females. However, female patients demonstrated elevated ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.90 ± 0.46 vs. 1.39 ± 0.47, p = 0.009) than the control group, but not in males. Total fat mass was inversely correlated with total testosterone (r = −0.64, p = 0.014) and positively correlated with leptin in males (r = 0.75, p = 0.002). An elevated daily HDE (β = 0.43, p = 0.038 and β = 0.47, p = 0.033) and trunk to total fat mass ratio (β = 0.46, p = 0.025, and β = 0.45, p = 0.037) were independently correlated with impaired lipid profile markers. Although there is no altered lipid profile, male patients demonstrated an increased fat distribution. However, female patients presented with an impaired lipid profile marker but demonstrated close values of normal fat distribution. Interestingly, the dose of glucocorticoid therapy can have some role in the lipid mechanisms.     

Polyetherimide-LaNi5 composite films for hydrogen storage applications

This study investigates the preparation of polyetherimide (PEI) – LaNi₅ composites films for hydrogen storage. Prior to the polymer addition, LaNi₅ was ball-milled at different conditions (250, 350, and 450 RPM) and annealed at 500 °C for 1 h under vacuum. The composites were produced with BM-LaNi₅-350 (PEI/LaNi₅-350) and annealed BM-LaNi₅-350 (PEI/LaNi₅-350-TT). Membranes were successfully produced through solvent casting assisted by an ultrasonic bath. The particles dispersion and the film morphology did not change after hydrogenation cycles. In the H₂ sorption experiments at 43 °C and 20 bar, the films stored H₂ without incubation time; both samples reached a capacity of ~0.6 wt%. The H₂ sorption kinetics of PEI/LaNi₅-350 was comparable to that of BM-LaNi₅-350, whereas PEI/LaNi₅-350-TT presented significantly slower kinetics. LaNi₅ oxidation was hindered by PEI, showing that it can be explored to improve metal hydrides air resistance. The results demonstrated that PEI films filled with LaNi₅ are promising materials for hydrogen storage.     

Dynamic Oscillation via Negative Differential Resistance in Type III Junction Organic/Two-Dimensional and Oxide/Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Diodes

Among many of 2D semiconductor-based devices, type III PN junction diodes are given special attentions due to their unique function, negative differential resistance (NDR). However, it has been found uneasy to achieve well-matched type III PN junctions from 2D–2D van der Waals heterojunctions. Here, the authors present other alternatives of type III heterojunctions, using 2D p-MoTe₂/organic n-type dipyrazino[2,3-f:2′,3′-h]quinoxaline-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexacarbonitrile (HAT-CN) and 2D p-WSe₂/n-MoO_x systems. Those junction diodes appear to well-demonstrate static and dynamic NDR behavior via resonant tunneling and electron–hole recombination. Extended to an inverter circuit, p-MoTe₂/n-HAT-CN diode enables multilevel inverter characteristics as monolithically integrated with p-MoTe₂ channel field effect transistor. The same NDR diode shows dynamic LC oscillation behavior under a constant DC voltage, connected to an external inductor. From p-WSe₂/n-MoO_x oxide diode, similar NDR behavior to those of p-MoTe₂/n-HAT-CN is again observed along with LC oscillations. The authors attribute these visible oscillation results to high peak-to-valley current ratios of their organic or oxide/2D heterojunction diodes.     

Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties of Synthetic Peptides Derived from the Wasp Parachartergus fraternus

Agelaia-MPI and protonectin are antimicrobial peptides isolated from the wasp Parachartergus fraternus that show antimicrobial and neuroactive activities. Previously, two analogues of these peptides, neuroVAL and protonectin-F, were designed to reduce nonspecific toxicity and improve potency. Here, the three-dimensional structures of neuroVAL, protonectin and protonectin-F were determined by using circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. Antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic and hemolytic activities were tested for the parent peptides and analogues. All peptides showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with agelaia-MPI being the most active. Protonectin and protonectin-F were found to be toxic to cancerous and noncancerous cell lines. Internalization experiments revealed that these peptides accumulate inside both cell types. By contrast, neuroVAL was nontoxic to all tested cells and was able to enter cells without accumulating. In summary, neuroVAL has potential as a nontoxic cell-penetrating peptide, while protonectin-F needs further modification to realize its potential as an antitumor peptide.     

Sulfonylguanidine Derivatives as Potential Antimelanoma Agents

Sulfonylguanidines are interesting bioactive compounds with a broad range of applications in the treatment of different pathologies. 2-Aminobenzazole-based structures are well employed in the development of new anticancer drugs. Two series of novel N-benzazol-2-yl-N′-sulfonyl guanidine derivatives were synthesized with the sulfonylguanidine in either an extra- or intracyclic frame. They were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against malignant melanoma tumor cells, thus allowing structure-activity relationships to be defined. Additionally, NCI-60 screening was performed for the best analogue to study its efficiency against a panel of other cancer cell lines. The stability profile of this promising compound was then validated. During the synthetic process, an unexpected new deamidination of the sulfonylguanidine towards sulfonamide function was also identified.     

A pragmatic approach to hierarchical categorization of research expertise in the presence of scarce information

International Journal on Digital Libraries - Throughout the history of science, different knowledge areas have collaborated to overcome major research challenges. The task of associating a...     

Prediction and comparison of textural properties of magnetic copolymer supports for enzyme immobilization

Magnetic polymers supports have proven to be valuable materials for enzyme immobilization, as they allow recovering the catalyst by magnetic separation, precluding the need for costly and time-consuming separation steps. In this study, magnetic copolymer supports were synthesized using styrene (STY) and different crosslinking agents (divinylbenzene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, or triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and initiators (azobisisobutyronitrile or benzoyl peroxide) and used to immobilize Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). The aim was to obtain biocatalysts with high enzymatic activity and satisfactory morphological properties for use in biotransformation reactions. Two morphological properties known to influence the immobilization yield were taken into consideration, specific surface area, and swelling index. Experimental data were compared to the predictions of a model based on molar balance, method of moments, numerical fractionation, and elementary gel structures. The high correlation (R² = 0.9974) between experimental and predicted values demonstrated the suitability of the model for estimating the textural properties of enzyme supports. CALB was successfully immobilized, showing high hydrolytic activity (500–700 U g⁻¹) and good thermal stability at 50°C. CALB/STY-EGDMA-M was 14 times more stable than free CALB. The results confirm the efficiency of the immobilization method and the suitability of the copolymers for enzyme immobilization.