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Oxidative stress induces cell senescence and aging. Cell senescence is an irreversible cell cycle arrest mechanism responsible for various pathological diseases and aging. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) have been found to have anti-oxidant effects with a capacity to scavenge free radicals. With this background, we aimed to investigate the senolytic property of CeO2 NPs on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH3T3). NIH3T3 cells were exposed to CeO2 NPs with or without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The senolytic effect of CeO2 NPs was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation (LPO), β-galactosidase, cell cycle phase analysis, and expression of p21, p38, p53, and NF-кB genes. EC50 of CeO2 NPs significantly reduced the β-galactosidase activity in NIH3T3 cells without apparent cytotoxicity and generation of ROS. Also, it decreased LPO, and expression of IL-6. The number of cells increased significantly, indicating that CeO2 NPs can reverse cell senescence and cell cycle arrest in the S phase. Also, p21, p38, p53, and NF-кB gene expressions were significantly down-regulated. CeO2 NPs as a senolytic or inhibitor of senescence can attenuate the senescence-inducing signal transduction pathways, i.e., p38/ NF-кB and p53/p21. It reduced the production of ROS and LPO and the expression of IL-6.

Cu2O as a new heterogeneous green nanocatalyst is biosynthesized from Cressa leaf extract and characterized by some techniques including XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, SEM, and TEM. Then, the prepared nanocatalyst was applied in the synthesis of some chromeno[4,3-b]chromenes under aerobic conditions. Reusability studies warrant acceptable reproducibility of the nanomaterial. Low reaction time, easy workup, cost-effectiveness, wide substrate scope, good to excellent yield, and complete atom economy are significant features of this new method. At the final part of this study, the in vitro cellular toxicity of Cu2O nanoparticles is examined on SKOV3 human ovarian carcinoma cell line via an MTT assay. The reduction in cell viability proved the cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles toward the performed ovarian cancer cell line.

Anethum graveolens essential oil (AGEO) is used as an anticancer compound that can be made more efficacious by improving its biosolubility and biocompatibility. In the current study, we aimed to improve AGEO bioactivity using the nanoemulsion-based encapsulation technique. To formulate stable AGEO-NE, an ultrasonication method was utilized. The size, stability, and morphology of the AGEO-NE was measured, and then its cytotoxic impacts were evaluated on adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test was done to measure the antioxidant activity of AGEO-NE. Its cytotoxic property was analyzed by measuring the viability percentage of cancer (A549) and normal human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cell lines after increasing AGEO-NE treatment doses. AGEO-NE apoptotic activity was evaluated by studying the flow cytometry of the cells and measuring the apoptotic gene expression profile (Cas-3 and Cas-8) in the A549 cell line. The results showed a significant correlation between the increase of AGEO-NE concentrations and decrease of cancer (A549) cell viability (p < 0.05) when AGEO-NE was compared with normal HFF cells. Thus, AGEO-NE can be an efficient novel apoptosis and antioxidant inducer for human lung cancer cells without any undesirable side effects. However, further In Vitro and In Vivo studies are needed to confirm the results.

PURPOSE: In this study MgAl- layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDH) nanoparticles were prepared by a simple and fast co-precipitation method and used as a catalyst in the ozonation process to degrade diazinon from aqueous solutions. METHODS: The structure of the synthesized MgAl-LDH was investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX). The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the effects of different parameters including of reaction time, initial diazinon concentration, pH, and LDH dose on the removal of diazinon by MgAl-LDH catalytic ozonation process. Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed for the optimization and modeling of the process. Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method was used to extract diazinon from aqueous samples. The GC-Mass analysis was performed to determine intermediate compounds during diazinon degradation reactions. To evaluate the process performance, TOC and COD removal were measured under optimum conditions. RESULTS: The highest removal efficiency of 92% was observed in optimum conditions as follow; initial diazinon concentration: 120 mg/L, pH: 8.25, LDH dose: 750 mg/L, and reaction time: 70 min. The quadratic model was obtained with a good fit. The removal of COD and TOC were 80% and 74%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This process can be suggested and used in the treatment of various industrial wastewaters. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-021-00687-w.

BackgroundBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease which causes various health problems for elderly men such as urinary retention, recurring urinary tract infection and bladder stones. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects ofJuniperus communisL.seed extract (JCS) on BPH in male Wistar rats.MethodsTo this end, 30 rats were divided into 5 groups (N = 6): group 1 (vehicle), group 2 (disease control), group 3 (standard medicine; 10 mg/kg finasteride), and groups 4 and 5 were treated with 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg of the hydroalcoholic JCS seed extract, respectively. Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 received testosterone enanthate to induce prostatic hyperplasia. At the end of experimental period (28 days), prostate glands were cut off under anesthesia. Histopathological examination was done and biochemical parameters such as Malondialdehyde, Glutathione and protein carbonyl were also measured. Their body weights were also observed during the study. At the end of the experiment, prostate weights and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were measured. Prostate index, inhibition prostate weight and inhibition prostate index were also calculated.ResultsBoth histopathological examination and biochemical parameter results showed significant improvements in rats treated with finasteride and 600 mg/kg JCS extract (p ConclusionsOral administration of JCS extract is effective on preventing testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) accessibility coupled with their simple generation make them as a typical embryonic cell model and feeder layer for in vitro expansion of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). In this study, a mechanical isolation technique was adopted to isolate MEFs and the efficiency of this technique was compared with enzymatic digestion method. The suspended MEFs were prepared either by mechanical method or 0.25% trypsin enzymatic digestion. The effect of tissue processing on cell apoptosis/necrosis, morphology, viable cell yield, population doubling time, surface marker expression, and the capacity to support PSCs were determined. The mechanical method yielded a significantly higher number of viable cells. However, it showed similar morphology and proliferation characteristics as compared to enzymatic digestion. The mechanical method induced slight apoptosis in MEFs; however, it did not exert the necrotic effect of trypsinization. Treatment of tissue slurry with trypsin solution caused cell lysis and subsequently cell clump formation. Mechanically isolated cells exhibited a higher expression of the MEF surface antigens Sca1, CD106, and CD105. The PSCs on mechanically isolated MEFs displayed a higher expression of pluripotency genes, and formed more compact colonies with a stronger tendency to crowding compared with those cultured on cells isolated by enzymatic digestion. The mechanical method based on tissue inter-syringe processing is relatively a rapid and simple method for MEF isolation. Compared to the enzymatic digestion, the cells obtained from this method show higher expression of embryonic fibroblasts markers and a more functional capacity in supporting PSCs culture.

Background: Today, the tendency to use biodegradable biopolymers as one of the appropriate technologies to prevent food oxidation has received much attention. Objective: The aim of the present study was to produce a new biodegradable films containing free ethanolic extracts and nanocapsules of kak kosh biabani (Pulicaria gnaphalodes (Vent.) Boiss.), in order to investigate the antioxidant properties in laboratory conditions. Methods: In this study, the effects of different films on mechanical properties, antioxidant activities, encapsulation efficiency, water vapor permeability, microstructure and morphology and color characteristics were evaluated. Results: The average particle size was 153-166 nm and the encapsulation efficiency was 49.87-73.07%. Nanoliposomes with the lowest size and highest encapsulation efficiency were merged with the film samples. The results obtained from FT-IR spectra revealed new interactions between chitosan and nanoliposomes. Despite the increase in yellow color and decrease in whiteness indices, the nanoliposome composition improves the mechanical stiffness and results in reduced water vapor permeability (WVP). Conclusion: The properties of chitosan-zein films were affected by the amount of extract used, which generally improved the properties of the films and their antioxidant properties. Due to these features, this film can be used in food storage.

In this study, two treatment steps were performed to completely remove p-nitroaniline (PNA). In the first stage, the catalytic ozonation process (COP) using the synthesized nanoparticles of magnesium–aluminum layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) was applied for pre-treatment. Effective parameters in the COP, including initial pH, initial PNA concentration, catalyst dose, and contact time has been investigated. Response Surface Method)RSM(was applied to optimize process conditions in the COP. The effluent from the COP entered the sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor (SBMBBR). The optimum conditions for the COP process were initial PNA concentration: 120 mg/L, pH: 8.25, LDH dose: 750 mg/L, and reaction time: 70 min. Under these conditions, the maximum removal efficiency of PNA, COD, and TOC was about 91.5, 83, and 70%, respectively. The biological reactor was operated under conditions of hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 h, pH of 6.5–7, mixed liquor suspended solids attached to bio-carriers (MLSSatt.) of 4700 mg/L, mixed liquor volatile suspended solids attached to bio-carriers (MLVSSatt.) of 3200 mg/L, MLSS of 1000 mg/L, and MLVSS of 880 mg/L. In this study, using the COP/SBMBBR system, the complete PNA analysis and maximum removal efficiency of COD and TOC were about 99 and 97%, respectively.

Disposal of textile industrial effluents causes many environmental problems. The presence of chemical dyes in textile wastewater lead to the primary environmental pollution as well as the production of hazardous secondary compounds that are toxic and carcinogenic. In this study, Chitosan and Chitosan-zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite were prepared and selected as a low-cost adsorbent with high adsorption capacity for removing reactive red 198 (RR 198) dye from contaminated. After preparation, it was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy [FT-IR], X-ray diffraction spectrophotometer [XRD], and scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. The effect of pH, temperature, time, adsorbent amount, and initial dye concentration were investigated in the removal efficiency of reactive red 198 (RR 198) dyes. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity (qm) obtained from the Langmuir equation was 172.41 mg/g in adsorbent dose of 0.1 g/L, pH: 4, temperature of 25°C, adsorption time of 40 min. The thermodynamic parameters demonstrated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. Due to the high efficiency of chitosan/ZnO nanocomposite in removal of RR 198 from water and advantages such as high adsorption capacity, simple synthesis, and easy application, it can be used as an effective method in removal of RR 198 from water.

Most synthetic dyes are toxic and hardly biodegradable compounds that enter the environment mainly through the discharged of non-treated textile industry effluents. The present study investigated the removal of the textile monoazo dye Reactive Red 198 (RR-198) from aqueous solutions using the ultraviolet light and ozonation alone and in combination (i.e., UV/O3) followed by a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR). The pH (5 ≤ pH ≤ 9) and dye initial concentration (50–300 mg/L) parameters were optimized in the ozonation process at reaction time of 0–60 min. Then, TOC removal and dye discoloration percentage was compared with the O3, UV and O3/UV processes. In order to compare the performance of the SBR in dye discoloration of RR-198 and TOC removal, four types of effluent, including Raw dye, O3-pretreated dye, UV-treated dye and UV/O3-pretreated dye were separately treated in the SBR system. In the ozonation process, by increasing the pH and reducing the initial dye concentration increased the discoloration percentage. The highest dye discoloration percentage and TOC removal obtained in the hybrid UV/O3/SBR process. Combining biological systems and Advanced Oxidation Processes is an appropriate option for the decomposition of resistant pollutants and increasing the biodegradability of these compounds and is applicable in the water and wastewater industry.

International audience; The Unfolded Protein response is an adaptive pathway triggered upon alteration of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. It is transduced by three major ER stress sensors, among which the Inositol Requiring Enzyme 1 (IRE1) is the most evolutionarily conserved. IRE1 is an ER-resident type I transmembrane protein exhibiting an ER luminal domain that senses the protein folding status and a catalytic kinase and RNase cytosolic domain. In recent years, IRE1 has emerged as a relevant therapeutic target in various diseases including degenerative, inflammatory and metabolic pathologies and cancer. As such several drugs altering IRE1 activity were developed that target either catalytic activity and showed some efficacy in preclinical pathological mouse models. In this review, we describe the different drugs identified to target IRE1 activity as well as their mode of action from a structural perspective, thereby identifying common and different modes of action. Based on this information we discuss on how new IRE1-targeting drugs could be developed that outperform the currently available molecules.

The selectivity of the ligand MKC9989, as inhibitor of the Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1α (IRE1α) transmembrane kinase/ribonuclease protein, towards the residue K907 in the context of Schiff base formation, has been investigated by employing an array of in silico techniques including Multi-Conformation Continuum Electrostatics (MCCE) simulations, Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) calculations, covalent docking, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. According to the MCCE results, K907 displays the lowest pKa value among all 23 lysine residues in IRE1α. The MMCE simulations also indicate a critical interaction between K907 and D885 within the hydrophobic pocket which increases significantly at low protein dielectric constants. The QM/MM calculations reveal a spontaneous proton transfer from K907 to D885, consistent with the low pKa value of K907. A Potential Energy Surface (PES) scan confirms the lack of energy barrier and transition state associated with this proton transfer reaction. Covalent docking and MD simulations verify that the protein pocket containing K907 can effectively stabilize the inhibitor by strong π–π and hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, Radial Distribution Function (RDF) analysis shows that the imine group formed in the chemical reaction between MKC9989 and K907 is inaccessible to water molecules and thus the probability of imine hydrolysis is almost zero. The results of the current study explain the high selectivity of the MKC9989 inhibitor towards the K907 residue of IRE1α.

The olive oil extraction industry is one of the most polluting wastewaters from the food industry, which is considered an important economic activity in the world. The environmental effects of olive wastewater are related to chemical and organic loading, which is resistant to biodegradation processes. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficiency of combined electrocoagulation, catalytic ozonation, to reduce organic load and improve the biodegradability of olive oil sewage. The present study was experimental on a laboratory scale and was done at a batch reactor on actual olive wastewater. The electrocoagulation process was performed using Fe electrodes at a current density of 0.73, 0.5, 0.05..dm... The optimal conditions for the electrocoagulation process were obtained at a flow rate of 0.5 ..dm. for 45 min reaction time, so that the removal efficiency of TOC, COD, and turbidity was 75, 80 and 94%, respectively. Then the treated wastewater under these optimal conditions entered the catalytic ozonation process (COP) reactor. In the COP process, the TOC and COD concentrations reached 105 and 210 mg/L after 90 min (44% and 56% removal). Eventually, the effluent was introduced into the biology*ical reactor and the removal efficiency of COD and TOC were investigated. So, the amount of TOC and COD decreased from 105 and 210 mg/L to 22.3 mg/L and 37 mg/L, respectively. As a result, the overall efficiency of the EC/COP/SBR system in removing COD and TOC was 98.4% and 97.2%, respectively. The combination of these processes is very effective in comparison with other processes for the treatment of olive sewage.

Novel photoanodes for photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation were designed based on the electrodeposited thin film of palladium and silver-doped graphitic carbon nitride. For the first time, the pho...

ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized via a hydrothermal technique has been utilized for synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles, which had been immobilized on glass plates for the purpose of sett...

PURPOSE In the present study, we aimed to synthesize and investigate the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnONPs) on both human and murine breast cancer cell lines and define their untoxic concentrations (IC50 ) to clarify their apoptotic properties and introduce them as the anticancer agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS The in vitro study was initiated by ZnONPs green synthesizing process applying the Cucumis melo inodorus rough shell extract, and verified by the transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In following, the human (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 [MCF7]) and murine (TUBO) breast cancer cell lines were cultured for taking the time and dose-dependent treatment planes by ZnONPs. Also, MCF7 cell cultures were treated by three different doses of ZnoNPs (8, 4, and 2 µg/mL) separately and prepared for genes expression (Cas-3 and Cas-8) analysis using real-time quantitative PCR method. The in vivo initiated by providing the 39 murine breast cancer models, then they were injected intraperitoneally with different doses of ZnONPs (75, 50, and 25 mg/kg) treatments. Then their collected biopsies were stained by hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate their breast cancer tissue morphology and compare with Tamoxifen anticancer properties. RESULTS The in vitro study results demonstrate a significant correlation among the expression of Cas-3 and Cas-8 genes with increasing ZnONPs concentrations. The results of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assays for the treated cancer cell lines (MCF7 and TUBO) detected a significant negative correlation among the ZnONPs concentrations and the viability of the cells. CONCLUSION Unlike the majority of resent studies, we found the ZnONPs as a powerful apoptosis inducer in the human cell line (MCF7) and murine (TUBO cell line and cancer model).

Empirical modeling the partition behavior and recovery of a recombinant Pseudomonas putida POS-F84 proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) was carried out by response surface methodology (RSM). Polyethylene glycol 1000 (PEG-1000) concentration, sodium carbonate concentration, and pH, which were the most important factors, were chosen for modeling the partition feature of enzyme. The adequacy of the models was investigated by means of variance analysis. Also, to confirm the efficiency of the ATPS in partition and purification of recombinant ProDH, purity and enzymatic activity was studied. After numerical optimization, an optimal ATPS composed of 14.33% PEG-1000 and 11.79% sodium carbonate at pH 7.48 was achieved. Yield, purification factor, and recovery were 81.41%, 60.82, and 270.82%, respectively. Purified recombinant ProDH was found as a single protein band into the upper PEG-rich phase and the specific activity was calculated to be 46.23 ± 2.1 U/mg. Collectively, our data showed that the RSM could be an appropriate and powerful tool to define the best ATPS system for recovery and purification of P. putida ProDH.

Dimethyl Ether Waterflooding (DEW) is a promising water-soluble solvent-based EOR technique. Here, we study DEW mechanisms by developing a mathematical model taking into account the swelling and viscosity reduction of oil. Our analyses show that the swelling and viscosity reduction of oil cannot explain the observed increased recovery of DEW in the published core flooding data. Therefore, we define the residual oil saturation as a linear function of DME concentration in the oil phase to fit the model to the experimental data. After model validation against a 1D core flooding experiment, we utilize the model to study the effect of permeability heterogeneity and the injected DME slug size on the recovery of oil from a water-flooded chalk reservoir. We observe a sharp increase in the ultimate recovery when the DME slug size increases from 0.2 to 1.8 pore volume with a DME concentration of 10 wt%. Since DME is an expensive agent, the optimal slug size requires an integrated economic evaluation. We calculate the increased Net Present Value (NPV) of DEW flooding in the heterogeneous chalk reservoirs compared to the conventional water flooding for two scenarios of well completions. By comparing the water breakthrough and DME induced recovery, we conclude that the most economical scenario for the DEW flooding is observed in the reservoirs with the lowest heterogeneity.

Separation of hydrogen gas from the outlet of water-gas shift reactor via palladium membrane was simulated with a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model. To study the influence of the geometry of membrane on the separation of hydrogen, four various membrane modules with cylindrical shells and cone tubes were considered. The results showed that the conical membrane module with upper and bottom diameters of 2 mm and 16 mm can potentially have the highest average flux across the other studied cases. To investigate the effect of flow pattern, four various flow patterns were applied to the model and it was found that the counter-current flow pattern has the highest flux across the membrane for the case in which the cross section is reduced along with the length of the membrane. The results also indicated that the change in the cross section of the membrane module can prevent the intensification of the concentration polarization index within the membrane.

Hydrogen storage capacity (HSC) of multilayer graphitic carbon nitride, d-g-C3N4 (d is interlayer spacing), and its palladium nanocomposite, d-Pd@g-C3N4, were investigated using multiscale computational techniques including quantum mechanics calculations and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. According to the results, the volumetric HSC of 8-g-C3N4 and 8-Pd@g-C3N4 can reach to DOE target of 30 gH2/L at 177 K, 5.7 MPa, and 177 K, 4.0 MPa, respectively. The gravimetric HSC of 10-g-C3N4 and 12-Pd@g-C3N4 meet the DOE target of 4.5 wt% at 150 K, 3.5 MPa, and 125 K, 4.0 MPa, respectively. The incorporation of Pd atoms enhances the delivery volumetric HSC of 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-g-C3N4 by 49, 55, 129, and 146%, respectively at 177 K and 0.5 MPa. On the other hand, the incorporation of Pd atoms has a negative effect on the delivery gravimetric HSC of 6- and 8-g-C3N4 and positive effect for 10- and 12-g-C3N4. The estimated isostric heat, Qst, of adsorption is 5.5–8.5 kJ/mol. The maximum value of Qst for both nanoadsorbents belong to those with d = 8 A. The structure of adsorbates and possibility of multilayer adsorption occurrence were also investigated using pair correlation functions and density profiles.

The aim of this research was to investigate the removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CPX) from aqueous solutions by a novel semi-fluid Fe/charcoal micro-electrolysis reactor and process optimization using response surface methodology (RSM). Effective factors in the removal process including CPX initial concentration, pH, amount of Fe/charcoal, aeration amount and contact time were investigated. The total organic carbon (TOC) removal was determined under optimum conditions of the reactor. The maximum removal efficiency of 95.5% was obtained in optimal conditions as follow; initial concentration of CPX: 17.27 mg/L, pH: 5.38, Fe/charcoal mass: 22.70 g/300 mL, aeration rate: 4.33 L/min and contact time: 105.36 min. The quadratic equation was obtained with a high degree of fit. TOC concentration in optimal conditions decreased from 16 mg/L to 4 mg/L. As a result of this, the Fe/charcoal semi-fluidized micro-electrolysis reactor has a high efficiency in removing drug compounds such as CPX from aqueous solutions.

The direct insertion of niobium(V) and zirconium (IV) into the ordered cubic pores of Ia3d mesoporous silica, KIT-6, was performed by employing a hydrothermal method and utilizing a versatile structure directing agent, Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer, in n-butanol as co-solvent. The effect of simultaneous incorporation of niobium and zirconium on the acidity of KIT-6 nanomaterial was investigated and compared to Nb-KIT-6 and Zr-KIT-6. The prepared mesoporous Nb Zr/KIT-6 was characterized by N2 porosimetry, TEM, FESEM, XRD, NH3-TPD, FT-IR, and ICP-OES. Results displayed that niobium and zirconium ions were well incorporated into the KIT-6 framework and the entire ordered pore structure has been retained. Incorporation of niobium and zirconium ions enhanced the catalytic activity of KIT-6 as strong acid sites. Eventually, the synthesized Nb Zr/KIT-6 was used as an effective, recyclable and green catalyst for the multi-component, one-pot production of some substituted benzylpyrazolyl coumarins via condensation of phenylhydrazine, ethyl acetoacetate, 4-hydroxycoumarin and various aldehydes under mild solvent-free conditions with fair to excellent yields.

Background: Phthalates are widely used in the plastics industry. Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most important phthalate metabolites that disrupt the function of endocrine glands. Exposure to DEHP causes numerous effects on animals, humans, and the environment. Low doses of DEHP increase neurotoxicity in the nervous system that has arisen deep concerns due to the widespread nature of DEHP exposure and its high absorption during brain development. Objective: In this review article, we evaluated the impacts of DEHP exposure from birth to adulthood on neurobehavioral damages. Then, the possible mechanisms of DEHP-induced neurobehavioral impairment were discussed. Methodology: Peer-reviewed articles were extracted through Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar till the year 2021. Results: The results showed that exposure to DEHP during pregnancy and infancy leads to memory loss and irreversible nervous system damage. Conclusion: Overall, it seems that increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators possess a pivotal role in DEHP-induced neurobehavioral impairment.

Topical instillation of eye drops represents the treatment of choice for many ocular diseases. Ophthalmic formulations must meet general requirements, i.e. pH, osmolality, transparency and viscosity to ensure adequate retention without inducing irritation and the development of eye infections. We developed a phosphorylated xanthan gum–Ag(I) complex (XGP-Ag) showing pH (pH = 7.1 ± 0.3) and osmolality values (311 ± 2 mOsm/kg) close to that of human tears (pH = 6.5–7.6 and 304 ± 23 mOsm/kg) thanks to the presence of phosphate moieties along the chain. The presence of phosphate groups covalently bound to the XG chains avoids their dispersion in fluid, thus reducing the risk of corneal calcification. 0.02% w/v XGP-Ag solution showed high transparency (higher than 95% along the entire visible range), adequate refractive index (1.334 ± 0.001) and viscosity in the range: γ 1 s-1-10,000 s- 1 (26.4 ± 0.8–2.1 ± 0.4 mPa·s). Its cytotoxicity and capability to hinder bacterial proliferation was also verified.

The death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) is a fundamental multiprotein complex, which triggers the extrinsic apoptosis pathway through stimulation by death ligands. DISC consists of different death domain (DD) and death effector domain (DED) containing proteins such as the death receptor Fas (CD95) in complex with FADD, procaspase-8, and cFLIP. Despite many experimental and theoretical studies in this area, there is no global agreement neither on the DISC architecture nor on the mechanism of action of the involved species. In the current work, we have tried to reconstruct the DISC structure by identifying key protein interactions using a new protein–protein docking meta-approach. We combined the benefits of five of the most employed protein–protein docking engines, HADDOCK, ClusPro, HDOCK, GRAMM-X, and ZDOCK, in order to improve the accuracy of the predicted docking complexes. Free energy of binding and hot spot interacting residues were calculated and determined for each protein–protein interaction using molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area and alanine scanning techniques, respectively. In addition, a series of in-cellulo protein-fragment complementation assays were conducted to validate the protein–protein docking procedure. The results show that the DISC formation initiates by dimerization of adjacent FasDD trimers followed by recruitment of FADD through homotypic DD interactions with the oligomerized death receptor. Furthermore, the in-silico outcomes indicate that cFLIP cannot bind directly to FADD; instead, cFLIP recruitment to the DISC is a hierarchical and cooperative process where FADD initially recruits procaspase-8, which in turn recruits and heterodimerizes with cFLIP. Finally, a possible structure of the entire DISC is proposed based on the docking results.

4-Nitroaniline (4-NA) is one of the common pollutants in wastewater. Because of the toxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, it has been reported as priority pollutants. The purpose of this study was to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles and its immobilization on the surface of stones to study the removal efficiency of 4-NA by the hybrid advanced oxidation process (UV/ZnO/O3). The SEM, TEM and XRD analyzes were used to investigate the physiochemical properties of nanoparticles. The effective parameters on the process including the initial pH of the solution, contact time, dose of immobilized nanoparticles, the initial concentration of 4-NA, were investigated. The kinetics of the degradation reactions were determined. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-16 software. By increasing the catalyst dose from 1 g/L to 3 g/L, the removal efficiency increased from 75% to 92%. The highest 4-NA removal efficiency of 96% was achieved by hybrid advanced oxidation process (UV/ZnO/O3) in optimal conditions including pH: 5–7, the dose of immobilized ZnO: 3 g/L, the initial concentration of 4-NA: 10 mg/L and contact time: 60 min. Therefore, this process is recommended for the removal of resistant and toxic pollutants from aqueous solutions with a relatively high efficiency.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress is a hallmark of various diseases. Cells cope with ER stress through the activation of an adaptive signaling pathway named the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) which is mediated by three ER-resident sensors. The most evolutionary conserved of the UPR sensors is IRE1alpha that elicits diverse downstream effects through its kinase and endoribonuclease (RNase) activities. IRE1alpha RNase activity can either catalyze the initial step of XBP1 mRNA unconventional splicing or degrade a number of RNAs through Regulated IRE1-Dependent Decay (RIDD). The degree of exertion of these two activities plays an instrumental role in cells life and death decisions upon ER stress. Until now, the biochemical and biological outputs of IRE1alpha RNase activity have been well documented, however, the precise mechanisms controlling whether IRE1 signaling is adaptive or pro-death (terminal) remain unclear. This prompted us to further investigate those mechanisms and we hypothesized that XBP1 mRNA splicing and RIDD activity could be co-regulated within the context of the IRE1alpha RNase regulatory network. We showed that a key nexus in this pathway is the tRNA ligase RtcB which, together with IRE1alpha is responsible for XBP1 mRNA splicing. We demonstrated that RtcB is tyrosine phosphorylated by c-Abl and dephosphorylated by PTP1B. Moreover, we identified RtcB Y306 as a key residue which, when phosphorylated, perturbs RtcB interaction with IRE1alpha, thereby attenuating XBP1 mRNA splicing and favoring RIDD. Our results demonstrate that the IRE1alpha RNase regulatory network is dynamically fine-tuned by tyrosine kinases and phosphatases upon various stresses and depending on the nature of the stress determines cell adaptive or death outputs.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is considered as a biological resistant pollutant. The CoFe2O4/activated carbon@chitosan (CoFe2O4/AC@Ch) prepared as a new magnetic nanobiocomposite and used for adsorption of CIP. CoFe2O4/AC@Ch was characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The pHZPC value of the nanobiocomposite was estimated to be 6.4 by solid addition method. The prepared magnetic nanobiocomposites can be separated easily from water by an external magnet and reused. The effect of CIP concentration (10–30 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (12–100 mg/L), contact time (5–30 min) and pH (3–11) as independent variables on ciprofloxacin removal efficiency was evaluated. Optimum conditions were obtained in CIP concentration: 10 mg/L, adsorbent dosage: 100 mg/L, contact time: 15 min and pH: 5. In this condition, maximum CIP removal was obtained as 93.5%. The kinetic and isotherm equations showed that the process of adsorption followed the pseudo-second order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm. The results indicate that the prepared magnetic nanobiocomposite can be used as good adsorbent for the removal of CIP from aqueous solution and can be also recycled.

A novel series of N-functionalized 4-aryl-tetrahydrobiquinoline-2,5-(1H,3H)-diones were synthesized in high yields by a one-pot three-component reaction involving 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehydes, Meldrum’s acid, and enaminones (dimedone-based enaminones) in the presence of K2CO3 in CH3CN under reflux condition. To gain a deep insight on the mechanism of the reaction, an extensive series of quantum mechanics calculations in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) were carried out for supporting the suggested reaction pathway.

Ab initio MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations have been carried out to study the effect of F − H···F hydrogen bonds on the As···X pnicogen bond in X…AsH2F…HF complexes (X = NR3, PR3 and OR2; R = C...

The raw and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes mixed with H2SO4/HNO3 were used to remove PNA from aqueous solutions. Heat recovery using nanotubes was performed in two stages. The effective factors on PNA removal were studied. The adsorption isotherms and kinetic reactions were determined. Optimal conditions for a real solution of petrochemical wastewater were performed to evaluate the PNA adsorption. The maximum removal efficiencies of PNA by raw and oxidized carbon nanotubes was obtained at optimal conditions. The equilibrium adsorption capacity is dependent on the amount of adsorbent and also the initial concentration of material that will be adsorbed. The process of adsorption followed second order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm. This is a good adsorbent in PNA removal from aqueous solution. It also can recover in several stages.

Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is an environmentally friendly technology and a new method for desalination. The aim of this research is to investigate the extent of removal of arsenic (As) from aqueous solutions by MDC. To examine the efficiency of the process, synthetic As were prepared with concentrations of 100–600 μg/L in deionized water. The removal efficiency was examined at retention times of 30–120 min, at psychrophilic, mesophilic, and thermophilic temperatures and dissolved oxygen of 2–6 mg/L. The real water sample of Bardsir region in Kerman as well as the synthetic wastewater sample was experimented with to examine removal efficiency under the optimal conditions. The optimal conditions for removal of As were obtained as 600 mg/L of As, 6 mg/L of dissolved oxygen, temperature of 25–30 °C, and retention time of 120 min. Under these conditions, As removal efficiency in the synthetic samples of As, real water sample of Bardsir region, and synthetic wastewater sample was obtained as 75, 68, and 56%, respectively. Considering the relatively high efficiency of MDC in removal of As and its advantages including being environmentally friendly and saving energy, it is an effective method in removal of As from aqueous solutions.

This study aims at the mathematical optimization by Box-Behnken statistical design, fabrication by ionic gelation technique and in vitro characterization of insulin nanoparticles containing thiolated N- dimethyl ethyl chitosan (DMEC-Cys) conjugate. Then Optimized insulin nanoparticles were loaded into the buccal film, and in-vitro drug release from films was investigated, and diffusion coefficient was predicted. The optimized nanoparticles were shown to have mean particle size diameter of 148nm, zeta potential of 15.5mV, PdI of 0.26 and AE of 97.56%. Cell viability after incubation with optimized nanoparticles and films were assessed using an MTT biochemical assay. In vitro release study, FTIR and cytotoxicity also indicated that nanoparticles made of this thiolated polymer are suitable candidates for oral insulin delivery.

Summary Introduction: Ziziphora species are traditionally used for treatment of different infectious and non-infectious diseases as antiseptic agents. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of Ziziphora clinopodioides and Z. tenuir essential oils and their antifungal effects againt five strains of dermatophytes. Methods: GC and GC-MS methods were used for essentional oils analize. The anti-elastase activities were determined by porcine pancreatic elastase assays. Results: 48 different compounds were identified in these two essential oils, which thymol, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole and γ-terpinene were their major components. The anti-dermatophyte activities of essential oils against dermatophytes showed that the essential oils (150 ppm) inhibited the mycelium growth, about 5–100%, which Z. clinopodioides essential oil had higher mycelium growth inhibition (28–100%) than that of Z. tenuir oil. The MIC and MFC values of essential oils were 0.01–1 µl/ml. 0.5 µl/ml essential oils inhibited porcine pancreatic elastase, dose-dependently. Conclusions: Due to the anti-dermatophyte and anti-elastase effects of Ziziphora sp., it can be considered as natural antifungal agent for more clinical and pre-clinical trials.

Background: Contamination of fruit juices with heavy metals presents a risk for human health. Concentrations of lead, and arsenic in fruit juices of market in Mashhad, Iran, were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Methods: Fifty varieties of commercial fruit juices (grape, apple, orange, pomegranate, and multi-fruit) from 5 popular brands (A, B, C, D and E) were purchased from local markets of Mashhad during spring and winter 2016. Five samples of each brand were analyzed by AAS. Results: The mean concentrations of lead and arsenic were 39.4 and 1.9 ng/mL, with a range of 18.5–54.6 and 1.52-2.35 ng/mL, respectively. The orange A and multi-fruit A samples had a higher lead level than the others, whilst multi-fruit E contained the lowest. The lowest arsenic content was found in grape B, while the highest was found in multi-fruit C. Conclusion: Eighty-three percent of the samples had lead levels exceeding the maximum level (30 ng/mL) accepted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, while arsenic levels were below the maximal permissible value (10 ng/mL). Due to the fact that fruit juices are used by all age groups including infants and children, it is necessary to minimize the health risk from heavy metal contamination in fruit juices. For this reason, the amount of heavy metals contaminants in fruit juice samples should be regularly checked and controlled by the local health authorities.

Thymus spp. and Zataria multiflora essential oils are known in Iran as thyme oils. The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity were compared of different thyme oils from different regions of Iran. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated using disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution assays. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed. Thymol, carvacrol, para-cymene and linalool were the main components of the thyme essential oils. The geographical region can affect the chemical composition of essential oils. Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans were the most sensitive microorganisms to thyme oils. Based on minimal inhibitory concentration and minimum lethal concentration values, respectively, the best antimicrobial thyme essential oils were T. vulgaris-SH (0.27 μL/mL, 0.41 μL/mL), T. kotschyanus-SH (0.37 μL/mL, 0.64 μL/mL) and T. pubescens-SE (0.26 μL/mL, 0.75 μL/mL). In broth media, three chemotypes of thyme essential oils showed the highest antimicrobial effects: 1) linalool, thymol and carvacrol chemotype; 2) thymol, carvacrol and para-cymene; and 3) high amounts of carvacrol and para-cymene. Identification of the role of each component in the antimicrobial effect was not possible and additional software is required to draw the matrices of these reactions. Keywords: Chemical composition, Carvacrol, Thyme, Thymol, Zataria multiflora

Propolis as a honeybee's product is famous for its biological and pharmacological effects. The subject of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of the Iranian propolis ethanol extract against different kinds of microorganisms by disc diffusion method and microbroth dilution assay. Due to the high antimicrobial effect of propolis extract, the efficacy of topical propolis cream was compared with mupirocin against Staphylococcus aureus wound infection model in mice. The in-vitro antimicrobial evaluations showed the more sensitivity of Gram positive bacteria to propolis ethanol extract, followed by yeast. In wound infection model, propolis cream significantly reduced the log CFU of S.aureus,compared to placebo cream (p

Propylene glycol (PG), classed as alcohol, has been used in many industrial additives. Leaching PG in aquatic environments would cause a significant decrease in dissolved oxygen, and this is the main reason for treatment of runoffs and wastewater contaminated with this pollutant. Previous researches on PG removal from wastewater indicate that biological methods are more economically suitable. Therefore, a new biological reactor was introduced and used for the treatment of wastewater containing PG. Two main approaches for increasing removal efficiency in presented research are utilizing two serial lab-scale Sequencing Batch Reactors and feed backward connection between these reactors. This novel reactor was named Feed Backward Serial Sequencing Batch Reactor. Moreover, response surface method was used for modeling of PG treatment and investigation of interactions and simultaneous effects of independent parameters. Retention time, influent COD, and flow recirculation percentage were considered as independent variables, where COD removal efficiency was the dependent variable. According to the results, the best COD removal efficiency was 47%, and it was achieved in 3.52 h retention time, 1667.76 mg/L influent COD, and 23.33% flow recirculation percentage. Based on the results of the presented research, PG treatment with the presented reactor is feasible.

Background: Fraxinus excelsior L. has been traditionally used as a diuretic, carminative and gallstone crusher. The antimicrobial activity of Fraxinus excelsior L. leaves and bark extract has been confirmed against bacteria and fungi. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Fraxinus excelsior L. seed essential oil. Methods: Chemical composition of F. excelsior was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and its antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion and micro broth dilution assays. Results: Overall, 53 components were identified in the essential oil, which constitute 99.98% of total oil composition. Carotol (16.25%), α-cadinol (13.33%), δ-cadinene (12.4%), bicyclogermacrene (10.34%), α-muurolol (9.69%), and E-caryophyllene (5.9%) were the main components of the essential oil. The essential oil showed the best activity against the standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans had less sensitivity to it. The mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the essential oil against clinical isolates of S. aureus were 0.162 ± 0.024 and 0.31 ± 0.067 μL/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Therefore, the essential oil can be a suitable candidate for further studies against staphylococcal infections.

Phenol is classified as priority pollutant. Phenol and its derivatives are stable in water, environmental contamination, and health concerns that are used as raw material in many chemical industries. This study investigated the removal of phenol by electro-H2O2/UV system.The response surface methodology (RSM) using central composite design (CCD) was used to modeling and optimization of experimental parameters such as pH, contact time, initial concentration of phenol, concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and current density.The obtained results demonstrated that the efficiency of the electro-H2O2/UV system was maximum (>99%) under the optimal conditions for the phenol removal from aqueous solutions, 2 mM of hydrogen peroxide concentration, 50 mg/L of initial phenol concentration, pH of 5, 10 mA/cm2 of current density, reaction time of 25 min and 2.1 kW h/m3 of energy consumption. Therefore, the electro-H2O2/UV system is an efficient method for the removal of organic compounds from industrial wastewater. Protocol name: A combined system from Electrochemical and Advance Oxidation Process, Keywords: Electrode, Phenol, UV, Peroxide hydrogen

Herein, graphene-analogue nanoscale hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with a sheet-like morphology is successfully synthesized by reacting borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O) and NH4Cl powder as inexpensive starting materials in air via a facile microwave-assisted method with a short reaction time (10 min). The as-prepared product is structurally characterized via X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface area measurements. X-ray diffraction indicates the formation of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with lattice constants of a = 2.50 and c = 6.67 A. The purity of the BN nanosheets is confirmed via X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. TEM and FE-SEM indicate that the as-synthesized product is composed of fine loosely aggregated plate-like particles with lengths in the range of 0.5 to 3.5 μm and thicknesses of 20–30 nm. EDX gives an average B/N atomic ratio of about 1 : 1. FT-IR displays strong B–N absorptions at 1396 and 805 cm−1. In addition, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy reveals that the as-prepared h-BN has an obvious band gap (5.92 eV). The as-prepared BN nanosheets also have a relatively large specific surface area of 177.07 m2 g−1. Due to these characteristics, the as-prepared BN nanosheets exhibit a very quick adsorption rate for cationic methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB) dye and their adsorption capacity is as high as 472.4 mg g−1. Furthermore, these BN nanosheets can also selectively adsorb MB from binary and ternary mixed dye solutions. Therefore, these BN nanosheets have wide promising applications in wastewater treatment and the recovery of valuable organic compounds from wastewater.

Intermolecular complexes of thiothionyl-fluoride (SSF2) with HY molecules (HY = HF, H2O, NH3, HCN and CH3OH) have been studied theoretically at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ computational level. The SSF2 can have both hydrogen and chalcogen-bond (CB) interactions with HY molecules. The central S atom of SSF2 as a better electron acceptor gives stronger adducts with HY molecules. CB interactions for the central S atom correlate with red shift of the S═S band. The QTAIM and NBO analyses were carried out on SSF2 complexes.

Hypertriglyceridemia is an established risk factor for coronary-heart-disease. Inflammatory cytokines are known to be important mediators of atherogenesis; however, the relationship between the concentrations of specific inflammatory cytokines and the presence of hypertriglyceridemia has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the presence of hypertriglyceridemia.Four hundred and eighty-four subjects with/without established hypertriglyceridemia were recruited. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical analysis (including a full fasting lipid profile) were determined. The serum levels of several cytokines and growth factors including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, and VEGF were measured followed by univariate and multivariate analyses.Individuals with hypertriglyceridemia had a significantly higher body mass index, total-cholesterol and triglyceride, compared to the group without hypertriglyceridemia. Serum levels of MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-8 were significantly higher in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia [e.g., IL-8 from 7.8ng/L (95% CI: 4.6-18.9) versus 5.7ng/L (95% CI: 3.6-11.9), P0.05]. The multivariate analysis showed that the increased serum concentration of TNF-α was independently associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), while the serum levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 were associated with hypertriglyceridemia.Subjects with serum triglycerides of ≥2.25mmol/L had an altered cytokine-profile, particularly with respect to serum IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-α, which might partially account for its adverse clinical-consequences. Further-investigations in a large multi-center setting are warranted to unravel the potential functional-importance of these cytokines in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia.

Thermo-mechanical properties of boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNRs) were computed using molecular dynamics simulation with optimized Tersoff empirical potential. Thermal conductivity (TC) and heat transport properties of BNNRs were calculated as functions of both temperature and nanoribbon’s length. The results show that TC of BNNRs decreases with raising temperature by T−1.5 up to 1000 K. The phonon–phonon scattering relaxation time, mean free path of phonons, and contribution of high frequency optical phonons in TC of BNNRs were calculated at various temperatures. TC decreases as nanoribbon size increases and it converges to ∼500 W m−1K−1 for nanoribbons with length longer than 30 nm. The mechanical properties, including Gruneisen parameter, stress-strain response curves, Young’s modulus, intrinsic strength, critical strain, and poisson’s ratio were calculated in the temperature range of 137–1000 K. The simulation results show that Gruneisen parameter and poisson’s ratio of BNNRs are −0.092 and 0.245, respectively. The Young’s modulus of BNNRs decreases with raising temperature and its value is 630 GPa at 300 K. According to the results, BNNRs duo to their extraordinary thermo-mechanical properties, are the promising candidate for the future nano-device manufacturing.