The present investigation reports the greener synthesis and characterization of novel acrylic acid grafted amphoteric chitosan/TiO2 (CAT) bionanocomposites using ultrasonic radiations. This was done ...by grafting of acrylic acid onto chitosan in the presence of potassium persulfate by free radical polymerization reaction. The uniform distribution of metal oxide in CA/TiO2 nanocomposites was achieved on grafted acrylic acid/chitosan which contains a weak anionic group (-COOH) using ultrasonication technique. Physiochemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize synthesized CAT. Nanocomposite CAT was applied for degradation of industrial dye. Malachite green (MG) often presents in the waste waters. The degradation kinetics were studied by monitoring the photocatalytic reaction for degradation of MG under visible light, and the rate constant of the reaction was found to be 7.13x10−3min−1. The current research work opens vistas for the new dimensions in the area of water treatment by solving the issues related to degradation reaction efficiency in visible light and cost effectiveness.
The direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) constitute an emerging group of small molecule inhibitors that effectively treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a common comorbidity in end‐stage renal disease ...patients. To date, there are no data to guide use of these agents in kidney transplant patients. The authors collected data from 20 consecutive kidney recipients treated with interferon‐free treatment regimens for HCV at their center: 88% were infected with genotype 1; 50% had biopsy‐proved advanced hepatic fibrosis on their most recent liver biopsy preceding treatment (Metavir stage 3 fibrosis F3 or F4); and 60% had failed treatment pretransplantation with interferon‐based therapy. DAA treatment was initiated a median of 888 days after renal transplantation. All patients cleared the virus while on therapy, and 100% have achieved a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after completion of DAA therapy. The most commonly used regimen was sofosbuvir 400 mg daily in combination with simeprevir 150 mg daily. However, four different treatment approaches were used, with comparable results. The DAAs were well tolerated, and less than half of patients required calcineurin inhibitor dose adjustment during treatment. Eradication of HCV infection with DAAs is feasible after kidney transplantation with few treatment‐related side effects.
The authors describe 20 renal transplant recipients successfully treated posttransplant for hepatitis C with directacting antivirals. See also the article from Kamar et al on page 1474 and the editorial from Saxena and Terrault on page 1345.
Listening to sabad kīrtan (sung scriptural verse) is a core, everyday, widespread, and loved worship practice of Sikhs around the globe. Thus, it would be fair to state that sounding is central to ...Sikh worship. Indeed, the Sikh scripture considers kīrtan to be an eminent mode of devotion. Yet, the ultimate aim of this sonic practice is to sense the “unsounded” vibration—anhad—and thereby the divine and divine ethical virtues. Based on a close reading of Sikh sacred texts and ethnographic research, and drawing on the analytic of transduction, the paper explicates the embodied vibratory dimensions of the (unsounded) anhad and (sounded) sabad kīrtan. It argues that the central purpose of the Sikh (un)sounding perceptual practice is embodied ethical attunement for an unmediated experience of the divine and divine ethical virtues, and thereby the development of an ethical life. At the intersection of music, sound, religious, and philosophical studies, the analysis reveals the centrality of the body in worship and ethical development, and contributes to interdisciplinary conversations on sensory epistemologies in faith traditions.
Wake Up: it’s Time to Bloom Kumar, A.; Choudhary, A.; Kaur, N. ...
Russian journal of plant physiology,
07/2021, Letnik:
68, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The transition from vegetative to floral buds is a complex phenomenon regulated by many factors. The timing of floral transduction has a direct impact on the reproductive success and is influenced by ...physiological signals mediated endogenously as well as exogenously. Flowering is the first step of sexual reproduction, so it is important to find out the factors that regulate the signals during the transition phase. The instance of floral evocation has started an unstoppable cascade on the path of reproductive success which can be regulated by sensible signals. The receptivity and inductive signals essential for flowering vary in plant species, and, create a line of differentiation, although basic calls are conserved. The transition progression in plants for blooming under diverse environmental facilities provokes the identity to force the change from vegetative to reproductive phase. Winter memory, light flakes, endogenous hormonal cycling, nutrient status, and contiguous environments are all the factors which set the center stage for flowering. Flowering is well-established by approaches which work in a combinatorial manner and, ensure a cushion for the plant to create a miniature for future. In this review, we provide a detailed outlook on fundamental cues instigating blooming: where, how and when the flowering signals are created.
The quantitative nature of abiotic stresses makes the understanding of its molecular basis a demanding task. For developing a rational breeding and/or genetic engineering strategy—understanding the ...environmental signal perception, its transmission to cellular machinery and adaptive responses of the plant is critical. Here, subjecting sugarcane seedlings to salt and cold stresses resulted in chlorosis, wilting, leaf rolling and the drought stress led to decrease in relative water content. The LPO content accumulated during drought and salt stress indicate the stress responses of the plant. The proline content increased in response to drought and salt stress underscore the proline function as an important osmoprotectant in sugarcane. The differential gene expression under drought, salt and cold stress for abiotic stress responsive genes like p5CS1, APX, CAT, GST, HSP, LEA, NAC, SOD, NHX, NFY, NCED, ERA, SOS, and DREB in sugarcane seedlings indicates the molecular basis of stress response in this commercially important crop.
The quality of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used to assess the outcomes of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), a common endocrine disorder that can negatively affect patients' ...health-related quality of life due to chronic symptoms, has not been rigorously examined. This systematic review aimed to summarize and evaluate evidence on the measurement properties of PROMs used in adult patients with PHPT, and to provide recommendations for appropriate measure selection.
After PROSPERO registration (CRD42023438287), Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Trials were searched for full-text articles in English investigating PROM development, pilot studies, or evaluation of at least one PROM measurement property in adult patients with any clinical form of PHPT. Two reviewers independently identified studies for inclusion and conducted the review following the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Methodology to assess risk of bias, evaluate the quality of measurement properties, and grade the certainty of evidence.
From 4989 records, nine PROM development or validation studies were identified for three PROMs: the SF-36, PAS, and PHPQoL. Though the PAS demonstrated sufficient test-retest reliability and convergent validity, and the PHPQoL sufficient test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and responsiveness, the certainty of evidence was low-to-very low due to risk of bias. All three PROMs lacked sufficient evidence for content validity in patients with PHPT.
Based upon the available evidence, the SF-36, PAS, and PHPQoL cannot currently be recommended for use in research or clinical care, raising important questions about the conclusions of studies using these PROMs. Further validation studies or the development of more relevant PROMs with strong measurement properties for this patient population are needed.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly being recognized as being involved in cancer development and progression in gliomas.
Using a model cell system developed in our lab to study glioma progression ...comprising human neuroglial culture (HNGC)-1 and HNGC-2 cells, we report here that miR-145 is one of the miRNAs significantly downregulated during malignant transformation in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In a study using tumor samples derived from various glioma grades, we show that expression of miR-145 is decreased in a graded manner, with GBM patients showing lowest expression relative to lower-grade gliomas (P < .05) and normal brain tissues (P < .0001). Functional studies involving ectopic expression of miR-145 in glioma cells had a negative impact on cell proliferation and tumor development, as well as invasion and induced apoptosis, providing further support to the concept that inactivation of miR-145 is important for glioma disease pathogenesis. More notably, these growth-suppressive effects of miR-145 are mediated through its target proteins Sox9 and the cell adhesion-associated molecule adducin 3 (ADD3).
Inhibiting Sox9 and ADD3 rescued effects of miR-145 loss. Interestingly, miR-145 loss in glioma cells led to overexpression of molecules involved in cell proliferation, like cyclin D1, c-myc, and N-myc, as well as enhanced expression of cell adhesion- and invasion-related molecules N-cadherin and E-cadherin, an effect which was again restored upon miR-145 overexpression in glioma cells. The miR-145 promoter was methylated at its cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) islands in the glioma cell lines studied.
Our study demonstrates that miR-145 has a tumor-suppressive function in glioblastoma in that it reduces proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of glioblastoma cells, apparently by suppressing the activity of oncogenic proteins Sox9 and ADD3. Reduced levels of miR-145 may lead to neoplastic transformation and malignant progression in glioma due to unregulated activity of these proteins.
Humidity control and moisture measurements have a wide range of applications like monitoring humidity in food storages, chemical plants, electronic instruments, building constructions, hospitals, ...museums and libraries. In this work we have developed a fully optical humidity sensor. The device is based on a hygroscopic polymer, polyimide, which undergoes reversible volume expansion on exposure to the humid environment. Multiphysics tool, COMSOL, is used to investigate the mechanism of humidity absorption by the polymer layers. Moisture absorption and diffusion into the polymer layers are modeled and simulated. The sensor is designed using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) developed along an optical fiber. Layers of the polyimide coated the FBG. The induced strain caused by polyimide expansion and deformed geometry of the fiber is modeled. To develop a high sensitive sensor, a π-phase shifted fiber Bragg grating (π-PSFBG) is selected as a sensing element because of its sharp spectrum signal. To further improve the spectral signal, an optimum apodization function is implemented in design of the device. The spectral signal of sensing element is modeled and simulated using mathematical analysis in MATLAB. The results of theoretical modeling are used to fabricate the sensor containing two 24-mm long π-PSFBGs separated by 12 mm on a SMF 28 fiber. A distributed feedback laser scanner is used to characterize the device precisely. The sensor response to the changes in the humidity and temperature of the environment is studied. The experimental results are relatively in good agreement with those obtained theoretically.
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