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In this work, biocomposites based polylactic acid (PLA) filled with piper betle fiber (PBF) were successfully synthesized by solvent cast-film method using chloroform as the solvent. The PBF was treated with 7% NaOH. The biocomposites were loaded separately with untreated and treated PBF at 1 to 3 wt% and investigated for tensile properties and morphological of fractured surfaces. Tensile strength and modulus elasticity of biocomposites were increased with addition of betel particles and found to be higher than the matrix. Furthermore, the alkali treatment of PBF had considerably improved tensile and modulus of biocomposites compared to those of biocomposites with untreated PBF. A contrary trend was found in the case of elongation at break. However, biocomposites with treated PBF had greater elongation compared to those of biocomposites with untreated PBF. These results were identified by fracture examination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM observations showed the good bonds formed between treated PBF and PLA. This indicated by less cavity and roughness on biocomposite fractured surface with treated PBF.

Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) is the most fatal among the other Plasmodium parasites that infect humans with the malaria disease. Currently, the resistance of P. falciparum against some antifolate drugs has become a severe problem. On the other hand, xanthone and thioxanthone derivatives have been reported to have remarkable antimalarial activity. However, molecular docking studies have not evaluated thioxanthone derivative compounds as antimalarial agents. Accordingly, this research investigated the binding pose and inhibition mechanism of several thioxanthone derivatives against P. falciparum proteins DHFR (PDB ID: 1J3K) and DHODH (PDB ID: 1TV5) through molecular docking study. The compound structures were geometrically optimized using Gaussian 09 software and docked to the receptors using AutoDock4 software. The results showed that the free binding energy of thioxanthone derivatives ranged between -6.77 to -7.50 and -8.45 to -9.55 kcal mol–1 against pfDHFR and pfDHODH, respectively, with RMSD values of less than 2 Å. Compound F (4-iodo-3,4-dihydroxy-thioxanthone) gave the most substantial free binding energy against both proteins. Furthermore, the hydrogen bond interaction of compound F was the same as the native ligands of pfDHFR and pfDHODH. These results suggested that compound F has a more robust interaction in pfDHFR and pfDHODH. Thus, it is promising to further evaluate the compound as a candidate for a new antimalarial agent.

In this work, two-dimensional crystalline C3N4 (CCN) was obtained by promoting the self-condensation reaction of dicyandiamide in an air atmosphere via the molten salt method. Studies show that compared with polymer-C3N4 (PCN) ((9.8 m2/g)), CCN has a larger specific surface area (77.1 m2/g)) and better crystallinity. Additionally, the resistance of CCN in the air is 40 MΩ, 1250 times lower than that of polymer-C3N4 (PCN) (∼50000 MΩ). Secondly, when 50 ppm toluene gas analysis flows into the CCN based gas sensor at room temperature, the gas response value is 350. The CCN based gas sensor works for 60 days, or after 25 cycles continuously, the gas response value remains at about 350 (Rg/Ra), which is due to the excellent crystallinity, optimized π conjugate system, and enhanced interlayer van der Waals of CCN. Additionally, the critical effect of crystallinity on the gas sensitivity of carbon nitride is also discussed in detail.

Magnesium alloys are considered the most suitable absorbable metals for bone fracture fixation implants. The main challenge in absorbable magnesium alloys is their high corrosion/degradation rate that needs to be controlled. Various coatings have been applied to magnesium alloys to slow down their corrosion rates to match their corrosion rate to the regeneration rate of the bone fracture. In this review, a bioactive coating is proposed to slow down the corrosion rate of magnesium alloys and accelerate the bone fracture healing process. The main aim of the bioactive coatings is to enhance the direct attachment of living tissues and thereby facilitate osteoconduction. Hydroxyapatite, collagen type I, recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins 2, simvastatin, zoledronate, and strontium are six bioactive agents that show high potential for developing a bioactive coating system for high-performance absorbable magnesium bone implants. In addition to coating, the substrate itself can be made bioactive by alloying magnesium with calcium, zinc, copper, and manganese that were found to promote bone regeneration., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Bioactive-coated magnesium implant could accelerate bone fracture healing time to match with magnesium degradation. • Hydroxyapatite, collagen type I, recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins 2, simvastatin, zoledronate, and strontium are high potential bioactive coating materials. • The incorporation of Ca, Zn, Cu, Sr, and Mn in Mg base-metal could further enhance bone formation.

Fonny Josh,1,2 Tomie Hermawan Soekamto,3 Januar Rizky Adriani,4 Billy Jonatan,4 Hiroshi Mizuno,5 Muhammad Faruk4 1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia; 2Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia; 3Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Koja Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia; 4Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia; 5Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, JapanCorrespondence: Fonny JoshDivision of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 11, Makassar, 90245, IndonesiaFax +62411585984Email fonnyjosh2003@yahoo.comIntroduction: Thermal burns release reactive oxygen species, which cause profound systemic and local changes. Stromal vascular fraction cells (SVFs) combined with platelet-rich plasma accelerate burn wound healing. This study investigated the effect of a combination of locally injected SVFs and PRP on malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) serum and tissue levels in a deep dermal burn model in Wistar rats.Methods: Thirty-six adult Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 250 grams were used in this study to establish a deep dermal degree burn wound model. They were randomly divided into 4 groups: locally injected the combination SVFs and PRP, the Vaseline group, the placebo group, and healthy Wistar rats (the normal control group). MDA and NO levels in blood serum and burn wound tissue were measured at 8, 24, and 48 hours. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA followed by multiple comparisons tests and regression tests.Results: Local injection of SVFs and PRP in combination affected blood MDA, tissue MDA, blood NO and tissue NO levels, with reductions of 0.257μmol/L, 0.427 μmol/L, 21.78nmol/mg, and 23.777nmol/mg, respectively. Injection of SVFs and PRP in combination reduced tissue MDA levels by 1.282 times, NO blood levels by 2.305, and NO tissue levels by 2.377 times compared to Vaseline application.Conclusion: The combination of SVFs and PRP undeniably reduced the MDA and NO levels in blood and tissue compared to those in the Vaseline and placebo groups. The injection of these two preparations in combination inhibited the local and systemic stress oxidative response, as illustrated by the decreased MDA and NO levels in blood serum and tissue.Keywords: stromal vascular fraction cells, platelet rich plasma, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, burn injury

This study was aimed to evaluate the use of corn steep powder (CSP) as a plant protein source in Oreochromis niloticus diet. A commercial feed with 28% protein content and 368 kcal/g energy was used as reference diet, while the test feed consisting of various CSP content, namely 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% and feed containing soybean meal (SBM) at the level of 20% and 30%. Tilapia were used in the trial with the initial body weight of 6.44 ± 0.29 g, and reared for thirty days in the aquarium at the density of fifteen and fed 3 times daily at a satiation level. All diets were supplied by 0.5% of Cr2O3 as an indicator for digestibility measurement. This study applied the completely randomized design experimental method containing six diet treatments and four replications. The result showed that CSP contains 40.27% protein, 26.10% lactic acid, and minerals. CSP is low in crude fiber and anti-nutritional factors. This study results that increasing the level of CSP significantly decreased feed acidity (P

Melinjo seed extract contains melinjo resveratrol compounds that has antioxidant activity. The radical-scavenging sites required for the antioxidant activity, however, is yet to be located. We report a computational study that aims to locate scavenging sites of the simplest resveratrol dimer, gnetin C. We consider the reaction of gnetin C and hydroperoxyl radical energetically with the basis of density-functional calculations, to be compared with the reaction of the resveratrol monomer, trans-resveratrol, and hydroperoxyl radical. The results show that OH group at the para position is the most reactive scavenging site for both molecules. Besides the OH group, gnetin C also provides two CH groups in the furan ring that are favorable as scavenging sites. Therefore, furan ring plays an important role in the scavenging activity, which is contrary to the experimental speculation that propose resorcinol ring. Our study shows the prospect of density-functional calculation for studying the radical-scavenging reaction.

The tropical climate of Indonesia, which has moderately high rainfall, has an impact on the output of outdoor insulators. The presence of chemical particles, pollen, and salt in the air will bind to the insulating material's outer surface and settle, resulting in crystallization that allows the insulating material's surface roughness to increase. One of the insulators that are being produced is an insulator made of epoxy resin. The injection of fillers is used to further improve the durability of the outdoor epoxy resin insulators installed in tropical climatic conditions. Epoxy resin from bisphenol A-epichlorohydrin and polyaminoamide combined with silane, alumina, and SiO2 is used as research materials. The parameters examined were leakage current and resistance to insulation. The use of silane as a hardener will also improve the resistivity on the surface of the insulator, which makes it more difficult to flow or reduces the leakage current. Alumina is well-known for being a solid heat and voltage insulator. The addition of SiO2 to the epoxy resin insulating material increases the insulator's mechanical strength in the form of tensile and compressive strength. With fluctuations in temperature and humidity, the artificial tropical environment is replicated in a test chamber. The value of the leakage current increases with an increase in temperature and humidity. The correlation between air temperature and humidity and insulation resistance is inversely proportional, the higher the temperature applied to the insulator, the lower the insulator resistivity. The same refers to the relationship between air humidity and resistance to insulation. The higher the humidity applied to the insulator, the lower the insulator resistivity. At a test voltage of 11 kV, a humidity of 60%, and a temperature variation of 25oC, the leakage current of epoxy resin insulators is up to 9.2 uA lower than in a factory-made SiR insulator. The leakage current and insulator resistivity's number is already in the good and protected range such that the insulator can be used and reproduce.

CO2 utilization technologies can not only provide a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but may also enable renewable energy to be incorporated into important materials used in the society such as fuel and chemicals. Power to gas (PtG) technologies, especially Power to methane has been deemed as one of the promising pathways for the conversion of CO2 into valuable gaseous fuel. Many reports have reviewed the academic literature related to CO2 methanation. While the benefits of high temperature methanation for overall process efficiency are well understood, the potential for low-temperature methanation is less understood. In particular the opportunities that arise from coupling a low-temperature methanation process with low temperature hydrogen production technologies, such as PEM electrolysis, have received little attention. It is therefore considered valuable to provide a critical review of the state of the art of this technology at low temperature conditions for the interests of broader research community. In this paper we focus on the recent work around low temperature CO2 methanation including reaction thermodynamics and kinetics, catalyst materials including supports and promoters, and suitable reactor technologies. We discuss each of these critical aspects of the technology and identify key challenges and opportunities for low temperature CO2 methanation (methanation conducted at temperatures less than 300 °C). As part of this paper, we also present the results of an ASPEN Plus simulation study based on data available from the literature to highlight the potential energy efficiency gains of a low temperature methanation process.

Acetone, as widely used reagents in industry and laboratories, are extremely harmful to the human. So the detection of acetone gas concentrations and leaks in special environments at room temperature is essential. Herein, the nanocomposite combining SnO-SnO2 (p-n junction) and Ti3C2Tx MXene was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. Because of the existence of a small amount of oxygen during the hydrothermal conditions, part of the p-type SnO was oxidized to n-type SnO2, forming in-situ p-n junctions on the surface of SnO. The hamburger-like SnO-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx sensor exhibited improved acetone gas sensing response of 12.1 (Rg/Ra) at room temperature, which were nearly 11 and 4 times higher than those of pristine Ti3C2Tx and pristine SnO-SnO2, respectively. Moreover, it expressed a short recovery time (9 s) and outstanding reproducibility. Because of the different work functions, the Schottky barrier was formed between the SnO and the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, acting as a hole accumulation layer (HALs) between Ti3C2Tx and tin oxides. Herein, the sensing mechanism based on the formation of hetero-junctions and high conductivity of the metallic phase of Ti3C2Tx MXene in SnO-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx sensors was discussed in detail.

Background: Acne is caused by several factors, including the active secretion of sebaceous sweat glands, hyperkeratosis in the hair infundibulum and the effects of bacteria. One plant which has the potential as an antibacterial agent is the extract of Arum Manis mango leaves. Methods: The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of methanol extract of mango leaves was determined, which can inhibit Propionibacterium acnes activity. The antibacterial activity tests were performed using agar diffusion. The ointment formulation, the characteristics of ointment preparations, and the ointment activity against P. Acnes are discussed. Results: MIC of methanol extract of mango leaves value is 5 ppm with an inhibition zone of 1 mm. The ointment obtained is white, has a distinctive smell, semisolid form, possesses a pH of 4.92 - 5.87, dispersive power of 5.05 - 6.30 cm, and adhesive power of 1 - 3.67 seconds, homogeneous and protective. Ointment preparations of methanol extract of mango leaves have activity on P. acnes on the 0 and 15th day of storage. The activities of ointment preparation on day 0 with concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 15 ppm are 0.00 mm; 10.20 mm; 19.97 mm and 23.60 mm respectively, while the inhibition zones produced by the preparation of ointment on day 15 with concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 15 ppm are 0.00 mm; 5.71 mm; 9.58 mm and 21.88 mm respectively. Conclusion: Methanol extract of mango leaves (Mangifera indica L.) and ointment preparation can inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes.

We study the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol on subnanometer Pd7 and transition metal doped Pd6M (M = Cu, Ni, Pt, and Rh) clusters using a combination of density functional theory and microkinetic calculations. We find that, in general, the inclusion of transition metal dopants could decrease the activation energy of several important elementary reactions. This condition results in a significant improvement in the activity of the catalyst, especially for the Pd6Ni cluster. We find that the Pd6M clusters are more selective toward the formate pathway than the RWGS + CO hydrogenation pathway. We also compare the turnover frequency profiles of the clusters with that of the Cu(111) surface, representing the standard industrial catalyst. We find that the Pd6Ni cluster can successfully overcome the TOF of Cu(111) surface, even at the low-pressure condition.

Protein is one of the nutrient components in milk that is related to product quality. The components of milk protein are divided into casein alpha-s1, beta, alpha-s2, kappa, and whey fractions such as alpha lactalbumin and beta lactoglobulin. There are no existing data of milk protein fraction in dairy cow and goats in Banyumas Regency. This study aimed to determine the profile in form of protein fractions of cow and goat milk in Banyumas. Milk sample from fifty cows and thirty dairy goats was taken by random sampling in some areas. The milk protein profile was identified by the technique of sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and protein quantity prediction by software. The data obtained were analyzed statistically by Mann-Whitney between cows and goats. The results were significantly different (p

A numerical model of unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composite material at the micro-level has been introduced to complement the experiment and analytical model in estimating the elastic properties of composite material. Idealization was performed in the model by using a periodically distributed fiber following square and hexagonal packing arrangement. The determination of the unit cell configuration was made by considering the periodic boundary condition associated with the selected configuration. The idealization using periodic fiber arrangement was proved to adequately estimate the elastic properties of composite material. The hexagonal model was proved to solve the drawbacks of the square model in estimating the shear properties with error reduction up to 50 % in comparison to the square model.

The citric acid (CA)-based adhesive, as a new environment-friendly adhesive, has been developed and used for the manufacturing of plywood to resolve the problem of formaldehyde-based adhesive for h...

Summary Conventional chemotherapy leads to severe adverse effects since it involves systemic administration of toxic drugs at high dosage. Unlike traditional chemotherapeutics, calcium phosphate and citrate have both been discussed as very promising anticancer agents and are not inherently toxic. Yet, their breakthrough has been hampered by the lack of an administration approach that overcomes the strict regulatory mechanisms of the cell. Here, we present a combinatorial administration of calcium, phosphate, and citrate as colloidal, amorphous nanoparticles (CPCs) that selectively kill cancer cells without involvement of inherently toxic drugs. The particles are toxic neither before endosomal release nor after their degradation. This highly selective toxicity allowed us to successfully treat two different aggressive pleural tumors in mice, reducing their size by about 40% and 70% after only two local applications. Safety assessment studies over 2 months show no signs of adverse effects except for slightly enhanced pleural thickening after eight applications.

Coal as catalytic support is advantageous in many respects. The pore structure and surface composition are controllable, and the high thermal conductivity can increase the thermal efficiency of the reactor. It is stable in acidic or basic media and it is easy to recycle the catalyst after use. In this study, six different coals were evaluated as catalytic supports based on their ability to disperse of the metal and their catalytic performance. Nickel particles with an average diameter of

Purpose: The failure of chemotherapy in breast cancer is caused by breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), a minor population of cells in bulk mammary tumors. Previously, hesperetin, a citrus flavonoid, showed cytotoxicity in several cancer cells and increased cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and cisplatin. Hesperetin also inhibited osteogenic and adipocyte differentiation, however, a study of the effect of hesperetin on BCSCs has not yet been performed. Methods: In this study, we combined bioinformatics and in vitro works. A bioinformatic approach was performed to identify molecular targets, key proteins, and molecular mechanisms of hesperetin targeted at BCSCs, and genetic alterations among key genes. In addition, an in vitro study was carried out to measure the effects of hesperetin on BCSCs using the spheroids model of MCF-7 breast cancer cells (mammospheres). Results: Using a bioinformatics approach, we identified P53, PPARG, and Notch signaling as potential targets of hesperetin in inhibition of BCSCs. The in vitro study showed that hesperetin exhibits cytotoxicity on mammospheres, inhibits mammosphere and colony formation, and inhibits migration. Hesperetin modulates the cell cycle and induces apoptosis in mammospheres. Moreover, hesperetin treatment modulates the expression of p53, PPARG, and NOTCH1. Conclusion: Taken together, hesperetin has potential for the treatment of BCSC by targeting p53, PPARG and Notch signaling. Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved is required for the development of hesperetin as a BCSC-targeted drug.

Cancer therapy is a strategic measure in inhibiting breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) pathways. Naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, was found to increase breast cancer cells’ sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Bioinformatics study and 3D tumorsphere in vitro modeling in breast cancer (mammosphere) were used in this study, which aims to explore the potential therapeutic targets of naringenin (PTTNs) in inhibiting BCSCs. Bioinformatic analyses identified direct target proteins (DTPs), indirect target proteins (ITPs), naringenin-mediated proteins (NMPs), BCSC regulatory genes, and PTTNs. The PTTNs were further analyzed for gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, and hub protein selection. Mammospheres were cultured in serum-free media. The effects of naringenin were measured by MTT-based cytotoxicity, mammosphere forming potential (MFP), colony formation, scratch wound-healing assay, and flow cytometry-based cell cycle analyses and apoptosis assays. Gene expression analysis was performed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-RT PCR). Bioinformatics analysis revealed p53 and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) as PTTNs, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that TGF-ß and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways are regulated by PTTNs. Naringenin demonstrated cytotoxicity and inhibited mammosphere and colony formation, migration, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in the mammosphere. The mRNA of tumor suppressors P53 and ERα were downregulated in the mammosphere, but were significantly upregulated upon naringenin treatment. By modulating the P53 and ERα mRNA, naringenin has the potential of inhibiting BCSCs. Further studies on the molecular mechanism and formulation of naringenin in BCSCs would be beneficial for its development as a BCSC-targeting drug.

Introduction: Malaria is still one of the major health problems, specifically due to drug resistance in Plasmodium, which encourages extensive research to find effective alternatives. One of the new antimalarial compounds is chalcone-derivative compound (E)-1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-(2,3-dimethoxy phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one. However, its potency is still needed to be evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the efficacy and identify the pharmacological mechanism of this chalcone-derivative. Methods: An experiment using post-test only with control group design was conducted from May 2016 to July 2017 in the laboratory of Parasitology and Clinical Pathology Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Swiss mice were used and infected with Plasmodium before being divided into nine groups with different concentrations of (E)-1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-(2,3-dimethoxy phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one. Histological examination was conducted to count the number of Kupffer cells and the proportion of Kupffer cells that had phagocytosed the Plasmodium. Results: Both doxycycline and (E)-1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-(2,3-dimethoxy phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one  decreased the parasitemia in the tested mice with higher efficacy was observed in the doxycycline group. Likewise, both compounds also increase the number of Kupffer cells which become phagocytes of erythrocytes containing Plasmodium was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (p 0.000

Background Mercury is a heavy metal that is widely used in various aspects of human life. However, mercury exposure can damage the liver. The high antioxidant found in coriander leaves is expected to be a solution to the problem in preventing liver damage due to mercury exposure. Aim Proving that administration of coriander leaf extract can reduce the degree of wistar rats liver microscopic damage due to mercury exposure. Methods Experimental study with post test only control group design for 14 days, used 24 male Wistar rats, divided randomly into 4 groups : C (-), C (+) (given mercury orally 10 mg / kgBW), X1 ( given mercury orally 10 mg / kgBW and coriander leaf extract 100 mg / kgBW) and X2 (given mercury orally 10 mg / kgBW and coriander leaf extract 200 mg / kgBW). On the 15th day, rats were terminated, the livers were harvested, microscopic preparations were made and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. Observed with a magnification of 400x in 5 different fields of view of each sample and were assessed using Manja Roenigk's score. Results Were obtained normal, mild damage, moderate damage, and severe damage respectively in the group: C (-): 80%, 20%, 0%, 0%; C (+): 0%, 3%, 67%, 30%; X1: 47%, 33%, 17%, 3%; X2: 77%, 23%, 0%, 0%. Spearman test found significant correlation (p = 0,000) with storng correlation ( r = 0.781) and the direction between the two variables is negative (-) . Kruskal Wallis test found significant differences (p = 0,000). Continued Mann Whitney test found significant differences between groups C (-) with C (+) (0,000), C (-) with X1 (0.004), C (+) with X1 (0,000), C (+) with X2 (0,000) ), and X1 with X2 (0.007) and the difference is not significant between C (-) and X2 (0.756). Conclusion Giving coriander leaves extract can reduce the degree of microscopic damage of Wistar rat liver due to mercury exposure.

Hydrogen is a promising renewable energy source for fossil-free transportation and electrical energy generation. However, leaking hydrogen in high-temperature production processes can cause an explosion, which endangers production workers and surrounding areas. To detect leaks early, we used a sensor material based on a wide bandgap aluminum nitride (AlN) that can withstand a high-temperature environment. Three unique AlN morphologies (rod-like, nest-like, and hexagonal plate-like) were synthesized by a direct nitridation method at 1400°C using γ-AlOOH as a precursor. The gas-sensing performance shows that a hexagonal plate-like morphology exhibited p-type sensing behavior and showed good repeatability as well as the highest response (S = 58.7) toward a 750 ppm leak of H2 gas at high temperature (500°C) compared with the rod-like and nest-like morphologies. Furthermore, the hexagonal plate-like morphology showed fast response and recovery times of 40 and 82 s, respectively. The surface facet of the hexagonal morphology of AlN might be energetically favorable for gas adsorption-desorption for enhanced hydrogen detection.

In this research, hWJ-MSCs were grown on silk scaffolds and induced towards chondrogenesis by supplementation with L-ascorbic acid (LAA) or platelet rich plasma (PRP). Silk scaffolds were fabricated with salt leaching method by mixing silk fibroin (SF) with silk spidroin (SS). The silk fibroin was obtained from Bombyx mori cocoon that had been degummed, and the silk spidroin was obtained from wild-type spider Argiope appensa. The effect of scaffold composition and inducer on cell proliferation was observed through MTT assay. The most optimal treatment then continued to be used to induce hWJ-MSC towards chondrogenic differentiation for 7 and 21 days. Scaffolds characterization showed that the scaffolds produced had 3D structure with interconnected pores, and all were biocompatible with hWJ-MSCs. Scaffold with the addition of 10% SS + 90% SF showed higher compressive strength and better pore interconnectivity in comparison to 100% silk fibroin scaffold. After 48 h, cells seeded on scaffold with spidroin and fibroin mix had flattened morphology in comparison to silk fibroin scaffold which appeared to be more rounded on the scaffold surface. Scaffold with 10% (w/w) of silk spidroin (SS) + 90% (w/w) of silk fibroin (SF) was the most optimal composition for cell proliferation. Immunocytochemistry of integrin β1 and RGD sequence, showed that scaffold with SS 10% provide better cell attachment with the presence of RGD sequence from the spidroin silk which could explain the higher cell proliferation than SF100% scaffold. Based on Alcian Blue staining and Collagen Type II immunocytochemistry (ICC), cells grown on 10% SS + 90% SF scaffold with 10% PRP supplementation were the most optimal to support chondrogenesis of hWJ-MSCs. These results showed that the addition of spidroin silk from A. appensa. had impact on scaffold compressive strength and chondrogenic differentiation of hWJ-MSC and had the potential for further development of bio-based material scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering.

Due to many advantages, the use of imprinted monolith columns has become the choice to replace conventional particle columns. An imprinted monolith column has high permeability with minimal backpressure. Several factors can affect the performance of a column, such as the condition of synthesis, back pressure and the nature of the stationary phase. The latter feature relies on its constituent components, one of which lies in the pore structure. Another factor that influences the structure and morphology of pores is the porogenic solvent, where the selection of a porogen must be based on the solubility of all the polymer-forming components in it and must provide a sufficient pore size to facilitate the flow of the mobile phase. The use of porogenic solvents with different polarity levels and mixtures of more than one type of porogen can affect the pore structure of the formed polymers and, thus, also affect the performance of the resulting column. In this review, we will further discuss the role of porogenic solvent—polar or non-polar, single or mixed—on the performance of monolithic polymer columns as well as its applications.

Objective Metastasis is the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients. Previously, a combination of brazilin and doxorubicin has been shown to inhibit metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. This present study used an integrative bioinformatics approach to identify new targets and the molecular mechanism of brazilin in inhibiting metastasis in breast cancer. Methods Cytotoxicity and mRNA arrays data were retreived from the DTP website, whereas genes that regulate metastatic breast cancer cells were retreived from PubMed with keywords "breast cancer metastasis". Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and Drug association analysis were carried out by using WEB-based GEne SeT AnaLysis Toolkit (WebGestalt). Construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed by STRING-DB v11.0 and Cytoscape, respectively. The genetic alterations of the potential therapeutic target genes of brazilin (PB) were analyzed using cBioPortal. Results Analysis of cytotoxicity with the public database of COMPARE showed that brazilin exerts almost the same cytotoxicity in the NCI-60 cells panel showing by similar GI50 value, in which the lowest GI50 value was observed in MDA-MB 231, a metastatic breast cancer cells. KEGG enrichment indicated several pathways regulated by brazilin such as TNF signaling pathway, cellular senescence, and pathways in cancer. We found ten drugs that are associated with PB, including protein kinase inhibitors, TNFα inhibitors, enzyme inhibitors, and anti-inflammatory agents. Conclusion In conclusion, this study identified eight PB, including MMP14, PTGS2, ADAM17, PTEN, CCL2, PIK3CB, MAP3K8, and CXCL3. In addition, brazilin possibly inhibits metastatic breast cancer through inhibition of TNFα signaling. The study results study need to be validated with in vitro and in vivo studies to strengthen scientific evidence of the use of brazilin in breast cancer metastasis inhibition.

This work reports the first utilization of anthocyanin extracted from black rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains as a structure-directing agent for the synthesis of hollow zinc oxide (ZnO) spheres via a simple solvothermal reaction and their subsequent modifications with various amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Following hybridization with MWCNTs, some MWCNTs are observed to penetrate into the inner cavities of the spheres, while ZnO nanoparticles are formed on the surface of some MWCNTs. When employed as a sulfur dioxide (SO2) sensor, the ZnO-MWCNT (15:1) composite displays a high response of 156 to 70 ppm of SO2 at an optimum temperature of 300 °C as well as good selectivity to SO2 with the response to 50 ppm of SO2 gas being 3 times higher than those to other gases, such as CO, CO2, methanol, toluene, hexane, and xylene. Interestingly, the sensing behavior of this composite is strongly influenced by the proportion of MWCNTs. Specifically, n-type sensing behavior is observed for both ZnO-MWCNT (10:1) and (15:1) composites, while p-type behavior is observed for the ZnO-MWCNT (5:1) composite. The switch in sensing behavior suggests the major contribution of p-type MWCNTs to the electronic and sensing properties of the ZnO/MWCNT composites. The density functional theory (DFT) simulations on the adsorption of SO2 on the ZnO/CNT system reveal that the SO2 molecule only chemically interacts with the O adatom of ZnO (i.e., oxygen atom adsorbed on the surface of ZnO) to form sulfur trioxide (SO3), and charge transfer is observed from ZnO to CNT, which enhances the change in resistance of the composite sensor upon exposure to SO2 gas.

Two new steroid sulfates 1 and 2 were obtained from a lipophilic extract of an undescribed bryozoan species in the genus Calyptotheca. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical modifications. Steroids 1 and 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity at IC50 54 and 30 µM, respectively, against NBT-T2 cells.

We reported a facile preparation of a uniform decoration of spherical n-type SnO2 by p-type CuO nanoparticles as well as their utilization for enhanced performance on toluene gas detection. CuO nanoparticles and spherical SnO2 were synthesized by a facile non-hydrolytic solvothermal reaction, which could easily control their morphology. A uniform CuO nanoparticles decoration onto spherical SnO2 was achieved by a simple sonication and vigorous stirring at room temperature. We revealed organic solvents used in the oxide synthesis had a considerable influence on its surface charge that was beneficial for a uniformly electrostatic self-decoration between positively charged p-type CuO nanoparticles and negatively charged n-type spherical SnO2. Interestingly, CuO was partially reduced to Cu metal during high concentration of toluene exposure destroying p-n contact and developing new metal-semiconductor contact so-called ohmic junction, resulting in extraordinarily responsive and selective to toluene gas at 400 °C as compared to a single p- CuO and n- SnO2. It was also found that the amount of particle decoration had an influence on sensor response and resistance. The optimum amount of CuO nanoparticle decoration was 0.1 mmol on 0.5 mmol SnO2. The response (S = Ra/Rg) and selectivity of CuO/SnO2 based material toward the exposure of 75 ppm toluene had reached to such high as 540 and 5, respectively. The effect of p-n heterojunction and metal-semiconductor contact on the gas sensing mechanism of p-type CuO/n-type SnO2 was discussed. Furthermore, by decorating with CuO nanoparticles, CuO/SnO2 morphology was well-maintained after gas sensing evaluation demonstrated its excellency for high temperature toluene gas sensor application.

Fe- and Cu-exchanged zeolites are known to oxidize methane directly to methanol at low temperature and have been intensively discussed in recent literature studies including theoretical works based...