Light Spectral Composition Modifies Polyamine Metabolism in Young Wheat Plants

Although light-emitting diode (LED) technology has extended the research on targeted photomorphogenic, physiological, and biochemical responses in plants, there is not enough direct information about how light affects polyamine metabolism. In this study, the effect of three spectral compositions (referred to by their most typical characteristic: blue, red, and the combination of blue and red [pink] lights) on polyamine metabolism was compared to those obtained under white light conditions at the same light intensity. Although light quality induced pronounced differences in plant morphology, pigment contents, and the expression of polyamine metabolism-related genes, endogenous polyamine levels did not differ substantially. When exogenous polyamines were applied, their roborative effect were detected under all light conditions, but these beneficial changes were correlated with an increase in polyamine content and polyamine metabolism-related gene expression only under blue light. The effect of the polyamines on leaf gene expression under red light was the opposite, with a decreasing tendency. Results suggest that light quality may optimize plant growth through the adjustment of polyamine metabolism at the gene expression level. Polyamine treatments induced different strategies in fine-tuning of polyamine metabolism, which were induced for optimal plant growth and development under different spectral compositions.     

Systematic Review: Targeted Molecular Imaging of Angiogenesis and Its Mediators in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Extensive angiogenesis is a characteristic feature in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a very early stage of the disease onward and constitutes a crucial event for the development of the proliferative synovium. This process is markedly intensified in patients with prolonged disease duration, high disease activity, disease severity, and significant inflammatory cell infiltration. Angiogenesis is therefore an interesting target for the development of new therapeutic approaches as well as disease monitoring strategies in RA. To this end, nuclear imaging modalities represent valuable non-invasive tools that can selectively target molecular markers of angiogenesis and accurately and quantitatively track molecular changes in multiple joints simultaneously. This systematic review summarizes the imaging markers used for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and/or positron emission tomography (PET) approaches, targeting pathways and mediators involved in synovial neo-angiogenesis in RA.     

Antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticle suspensions on food‐borne pathogens

Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly recognised for their utility in biological applications including nanomedicine and food safety. The present study investigated the antibacterial activity of zinc oxide (ZnO) when tested against the Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli as well as the Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and the effect was more pronounced with the Gram‐positive than with the Gram‐negative bacteria. ZnO NPs also exhibited a preferential ability to suppress growth of E. coli and S. aureus in milk. This study suggested that the application of ZnO NPs as antibacterial agents in food systems and medicine may be effective at inhibiting certain pathogens.     

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Amygdalus scoparia Spach stem bark extract and their applications as an alternative antimicrobial,anticancer, and anti-diabetic agent

For the first time in this study, Zinc oxide nanoparticles were biosynthesized by the eco-friendly and cost-effective procedure using Amygdalus scoparia stem bark extract then used as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-diabetic agents. The characterization techniques confirmed the biosynthesis, crystalline nature, structure, size, elemental composition of ZnO NPs and bioactive compounds that exist in A. scoparia extract accounting for Zn²⁺ ion reduction, capping and stabilization of ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs displayed remarkable inhibitory activity against E. coli, E. aerigenes, S. aureus, P. oryzae, F. thapsinum, and F. semitectum compared to antibiotic standards. The ZnO NPs showed significant inhibitory effects on cancer cell lines, while it had no toxic effect on Vero normal cell line. The ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg)-treated diabetic rats showed significantly higher levels of insulin and lower AST, ALT and blood glucose compared with the STZ induced diabetic group and other treated groups (P < 0.05). The ZnO NPs- and extract-treated rats showed significantly higher levels of IR, GluT2, and GCK expression and lower TNFα expression compared with the STZ induced diabetic rats. Our findings showed that ZnO NPs represented an outstanding performance for biological applications.     

Experimental investigation on corrosion inhibition of thiourea on aluminum surface in 0.5 M H2SO4 acid solution

Effect of thiourea on corrosion resistance of aluminum in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution is experimentally investigated. Results show that the addition of thiourea inhibits the sulfuric acid corrosion of aluminum. The inhibition efficiency can be enhanced with an increase in thiourea concentration. It is found that Rp values increases and C _dl values decreases with increasing inhibitor concentration. The inhibition happens through adsorption of thiourea on the metal surface without modifying the mechanism of corrosion process. Inhibition efficiency obtained from all methods is in good agreement. The adsorption of inhibitor on aluminum surface from 0.5 M H₂SO₄ acid solution obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

     

Mathematical Modeling and Genetic Algorithm Optimization of Reactive Absorption of H2S

A rate‐based mathematical model was developed for the reactive absorption of H₂S in NaOH, with NaOCl or H₂O₂ as the chemical oxidant solutions in a packed column. A modified mass transfer coefficient in the gas phase was obtained by genetic algorithm and implemented in the model to correct the assumption of instantaneous reactions. The effects of different operating variables including the inlet H₂S concentration, inlet gas mass flux, initial NaOH, concentrations of the chemical oxidants in the scrubbing solutions, and liquid‐to‐gas ratio on the H₂S removal efficiency were studied. A genetic algorithm was employed to optimize the operating variables in order to obtain maximum removal efficiency of H₂S. The model results were in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Superior Tribological Properties of Particulate Aluminum Matrix Nano Composites

Aluminum is the best metal for producing metal matrix composites which are known as one of the most useful and high-tech composites in our world. Combining aluminum and nano Al₂O₃ particles will yield a material with high mechanical properties. Characterization of tribological properties revealed that the presence of nano particles significantly increased wear resistance of the composite. In case of unreinforced Al alloy, the depth of penetration is governed by the hardness of the specimen surface and applied load. But, in case of Al matrix composite, the depth of penetration of the harder asperities of hardened steel disk is primarily governed by the protruded hard ceramic reinforcement. The hard Al₂O₃ particles act as a protrusion over the matrix, carries a major portion of the applied load and protect the abrasives from penetration into the specimen surface.     

Multidimensional appraisal of customer relationship management: integrating balanced scorecard and multi criteria decision making approaches

This paper presents a comprehensive integrative framework for measuring the performance of customer relationship management (CRM) system based on a detailed empirical study of 32 Iranian internet service provider (ISP) firms. At first, by an extensive literature review and experts who have real practical experiences in the field of CRM, appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs) based on four perspectives of balanced scorecard have been extracted. Then, due to the interdependency and feedback among these KPIs, multiple criteria decision making techniques are used to evaluate CRM performance. Specifically, this study first applies the decision making trial and evaluation laboratory approach to determine the interrelated relationships among criteria, and to find the crucial central and influential factors. Then, the analytical network process method is used to obtain the criterion weights. Finally, according to these previous results, the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method is adopted to analyze the CRM performance of 32 Iranian ISP firms. The results of this study illustrated that learning and growth is the most crucial influential perspective and it would influence on the other perspectives much more. Furthermore, indicators including organization capital, human capital, customer retention process, customer perceived value, and customer expansion process play an essential role in succeeding of CRM. The results of this study can provide a comprehensive insight for managers into discerning how and through which mechanisms CRM can create merits for the organizations.     

Synthesis,characterization and investigation of the electrochemical hydrogen storage properties of CuO–CeO2 nanocomposites synthesized by green method

Pure CuO–CeO₂ nanocomposites were synthesized by simple thermal decomposition method in presence of various Cu salts as a copper source and fructose as a green capping agent. In this study, the effect of various parameters such as the type of copper sources, temperature and time of reaction on the morphology and the particles size were studied. The products were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption (BET), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and infrared spectrum (FT-IR). The optical property of the nanocomposite was examined via UV–vis (DRS) spectroscopy and the band gap was calculated to 3 eV. Also, the hydrogen storage capacity of CuO–CeO₂ nanocomposites and CeO₂ nanoparticles were investigated via chronopotentiometry method for the first time. The discharge capacity of CeO₂ nanoparticles and CuO–CeO₂ nanocomposites in 1 mA current and 20 cycles obtained 2150 and 2450 mAh/g, respectively.