Curcumin Prevents Cerebellar Hypoplasia and Restores the Behavior in Hyperbilirubinemic Gunn Rat by a Pleiotropic Effect on the Molecular Effectors of Brain Damage

Bilirubin toxicity to the central nervous system (CNS) is responsible for severe and permanent neurologic damage, resulting in hearing loss, cognitive, and movement impairment. Timely and effective management of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by phototherapy or exchange transfusion is crucial for avoiding permanent neurological consequences, but these therapies are not always possible, particularly in low-income countries. To explore alternative options, we investigated a pharmaceutical approach focused on protecting the CNS from pigment toxicity, independently from serum bilirubin level. To this goal, we tested the ability of curcumin, a nutraceutical already used with relevant results in animal models as well as in clinics in other diseases, in the Gunn rat, the spontaneous model of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Curcumin treatment fully abolished the landmark cerebellar hypoplasia of Gunn rat, restoring the histological features, and reverting the behavioral abnormalities present in the hyperbilirubinemic rat. The protection was mediated by a multi-target action on the main bilirubin-induced pathological mechanism ongoing CNS damage (inflammation, redox imbalance, and glutamate neurotoxicity). If confirmed by independent studies, the result suggests the potential of curcumin as an alternative/complementary approach to bilirubin-induced brain damage in the clinical scenario.     

Experimental and Established Oximes as Pretreatment before Acute Exposure to Azinphos-Methyl

Poisoning with organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) represents an ongoing threat to civilians and rescue personal. We have previously shown that oximes, when administered prophylactically before exposure to the OPC paraoxon, are able to protect from its toxic effects. In the present study, we have assessed to what degree experimental (K-27; K-48; K-53; K-74; K-75) or established oximes (pralidoxime, obidoxime), when given as pretreatment at an equitoxic dosage of 25% of LD₀₁, are able to reduce mortality induced by the OPC azinphos-methyl. Their efficacy was compared with that of pyridostigmine, the only FDA-approved substance for such prophylaxis. Efficacy was quantified in rats by Cox analysis, calculating the relative risk of death (RR), with RR=1 for the reference group given only azinphos-methyl, but no prophylaxis. All tested compounds significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced azinphos-methyl-induced mortality. In addition, the efficacy of all tested experimental and established oximes except K-53 was significantly superior to the FDA-approved compound pyridostigmine. Best protection was observed for the oximes K-48 (RR = 0.20), K-27 (RR = 0.23), and obidoxime (RR = 0.21), which were significantly more efficacious than pralidoxime and pyridostigmine. The second-best group of prophylactic compounds consisted of K-74 (RR = 0.26), K-75 (RR = 0.35) and pralidoxime (RR = 0.37), which were significantly more efficacious than pyridostigmine. Pretreatment with K-53 (RR = 0.37) and pyridostigmine (RR = 0.52) was the least efficacious. Our present data, together with previous results on other OPCs, indicate that the experimental oximes K-27 and K-48 are very promising pretreatment compounds. When penetration into the brain is undesirable, obidoxime is the most efficacious prophylactic agent already approved for clinical use.     

一种针对信息网格RBAC模型私有权限问题的有效解决方案*

针对信息网格RBAC(Role-Based Access Control)模型中由于继承关系产生的子角色不能拥有私有权限的问题进行了研究,并分析了当前提出的使用私有角色和深度指示符这两种解决方法.通过分析得出这两种方法分别存在角色膨胀和组合爆炸的缺点.在此基础上,提出了一种带有权限传播深度的新解决方法,即角色中的每个权限分别具有公有和私有属性以及权限传播深度,同时提供了一个算法求解每个角色的权限集.     

Hybrid Solar Cells Based in Silicon Nanowires: Electronic Simulation and Optimization

Silicon - This paper presents recent progress in computational modeling on blend morphology of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) dispersed in a conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) P3HT hybrid solar...     

Electrolytic cell engineering and device optimization for electrosynthesis of e-biofuels via co-valorisation of bio-feedstocks and captured CO2

Utilizing CO₂ in an electro-chemical process and synthesizing value-added chemicals are amongst the few viable and scalable pathways in carbon capture and utilization technologies.CO₂ electro-reduction is also counted as one of the main options entailing less fossil fuel consumption and as a future electrical energy storage strategy.The current study aims at developing a new electrochemical platform to produce low-carbon e-biofuel through multifunctional electrosynthesis and integrated co-valorisation of biomass feedstocks with captured CO₂.In this approach,CO₂ is reduced at the cathode to produce drop-in fuels(e.g.,methanol)while value-added chemicals(e.g.,selective oxidation of alcohols,aldehydes,carboxylic acids and amines/amides)are produced at the anode.In this work,a numerical model of a continuous-flow design considering various anodic and cathodic reactions was built to determine the most techno-economically feasible configurations from the aspects of energy efficiency,environment impact and economical values.The reactor design was then optimized via parametric analysis.     

Corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in hydrochloric acid by cationic arylthiophenes as new eco-friendly inhibitors: Experimental and quantum chemical study

This study describes the adsorption behavior of three arylthiophene derivatives namely: 2-(4-amidino-3-fluorophenyl)-5-[4-methoxy phenyl] thiophene dihydrochloride salt (MA-1217), 2-(4-amidinophenyl)-5-[4-chlorophenyl] thiophene dihydrochloride salt (MA-1316) and 2-(4-amidino-3-fluorophenyl)-5-[4-chlorophenyl]thiophene dihydrochloride salt (MA-1312) at C-steel in 1.0 mol·L^-1 HCl interface using experimental and theoretical studies. Electrochemical and mass loss measurements showed that the inhibition efficiency (IE) of the arylthiophene derivatives increases with increasing concentrations and exhibited maximum efficiency 89% at 21×10^-6 mol·L^-1 (MA-1217) by mass loss method. The investigated arylthiophene derivatives obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. From polarization studies the arylthiophene derivatives act as mixed-type inhibitors. Surface analysis were carried out and discussed. The mode of orientation and adsorption of inhibitor molecules on C-steel surface was studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Quantum chemical parameters as well as the radial distribution function indices and binding energies confirm the experimental results.     

The Multifunctional Sactipeptide Ruminococcin C1 Displays Potent Antibacterial Activity In Vivo as Well as Other Beneficial Properties for Human Health

The world is on the verge of a major antibiotic crisis as the emergence of resistant bacteria is increasing, and very few novel molecules have been discovered since the 1960s. In this context, scientists have been exploring alternatives to conventional antibiotics, such as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Interestingly, the highly potent in vitro antibacterial activity and safety of ruminococcin C1, a recently discovered RiPP belonging to the sactipeptide subclass, has been demonstrated. The present results show that ruminococcin C1 is efficient at curing infection and at protecting challenged mice from Clostridium perfringens with a lower dose than the conventional antibiotic vancomycin. Moreover, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) is also effective against this pathogen in the complex microbial community of the gut environment, with a selective impact on a few bacterial genera, while maintaining a global homeostasis of the microbiome. In addition, ruminococcin C1 exhibits other biological activities that could be beneficial for human health, as well as other fields of applications. Overall, this study, by using an in vivo infection approach, confirms the antimicrobial clinical potential and highlights the multiple functional properties of ruminococcin C1, thus extending its therapeutic interest.     

An Eco-Friendly Approach to the Control of Pathogenic Microbes and Anopheles stephensi Malarial Vector Using Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (Mg-NPs) Fabricated by Penicillium chrysogenum

The discovery of eco-friendly, rapid, and cost-effective compounds to control diseases caused by microbes and insects are the main challenges. Herein, the magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) are successfully fabricated by harnessing the metabolites secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum. The fabricated MgO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, DLS, EDX, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Data showed the successful formation of crystallographic, spherical, well-dispersed MgO-NPs with sizes of 7–40 nm at a maximum wavelength of 250 nm. The EDX analysis confirms the presence of Mg and O ions as the main components with weight percentages of 13.62% and 7.76%, respectively. The activity of MgO-NPs as an antimicrobial agent was investigated against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, and exhibited zone of inhibitions of 12.0 ± 0.0, 12.7 ± 0.9, 23.3 ± 0.8, 17.7 ± 1.6, and 14.7 ± 0.6 mm respectively, at 200 µg mL⁻¹. The activity is decreased by decreasing the MgO-NPs concentration. The biogenic MgO-NPs exhibit high efficacy against different larvae instar and pupa of Anopheles stephensi, with LC50 values of 12.5–15.5 ppm for I–IV larvae instar and 16.5 ppm for the pupa. Additionally, 5 mg/cm² of MgO-NPs showed the highest protection percentages against adults of Anopheles stephensi, with values of 100% for 150 min and 67.6% ± 1.4% for 210 min.     

Gurum Seeds: A Potential Source of Edible Oil

Cucurbitaceae family seeds are mostly discarded as agro-industrial wastes. Gurum (Citrullus lanatus var. colocynthoide) is an underutilized wild cucurbit plant, closely related to desert watermelon, which is grown abundantly in some African countries. Gurum seeds can play a significant role in health and nutrition due to their high oil content. This review describes the nutritional composition of gurum seeds and their oil profile. Gurum seeds are a good source of oil (27–35.5%), fiber (26–31%), crude protein (15–18%), and carbohydrates (14–17%). Gurum seeds oil is extracted by supercritical CO₂ (SFE), screw press, and solvent extraction techniques. The gurum seeds oil is composed of unsaturated fatty acids with a high proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2) and oleic acid (C18:1). Gurum seeds oil contains various bioactive compounds, such as tocopherols, phytosterols, and polyphenols. It is reported that solvent extraction gives a higher yield than the screw press and SFE, but the SFE is preferred due to safety issues. More studies are required for producing better quality gurum seeds oil by using novel extraction techniques that can increase oil yield.     

Combustion synthesis of NbC/ZrO2 composites: Influence of Cr additives on the microstructure and mechanical properties

Composites of NbC/ZrO₂ reinforced with different weight ratios of Cr metal were prepared by dynamic compaction combustion from a blend of Nb₂O₅–Zr–Cr powders. Factors controlling the synthesis process, the microstructure, and the mechanical properties of the samples, such as Cr wt% and the compression loads were studied. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, porosity, and hardness measurements. The porosity value of the sample with no additives was high and reached 31.6 vol%. A sudden decrease in the sample porosity to 2.4 vol % was noticed for the sample containing 3.0 wt% of Cr. A high-density sample with less than 2.0 vol % porosity and maximum hardness of 1038 HV was produced using 5.0 wt% Cr under 300 MPa compression load. Detailed thermodynamic calculations for the effect of Cr additives on the physicochemical properties of the system were introduced.