Tricin isolated from Allium atroviolaceum potentiated the effect of docetaxel on PC3 cell proliferation: role of miR-21

For more effectiveness and overcoming the drug resistance Chemotherapy agents, the combination treatment is raised. Flavonoids with different anti-cancer effects are an appropriate choice as lead compounds. Over expressed MiR-21 in prostate cancer is associated with metastasis and drug resistance to chemotherapy with Docetaxel. In this study, the anticancer effect of 4′, 5, 7-Trihydroxy-3′, 5′-dimethoxyflavone (Tricin) was investigated with Docetaxel on PC3 cell line. Tricin was initially isolated from the Allium atroviolaceum by column chromatography and recrystallization method. The chemical structure of isolate was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. IC₅₀ of Tricin and Docetaxel were assessed 117.5 ± 4.4 μM and 0.1 ± 0.02 nM by MTT assay, respectively. Analysis of results indicates the synergistic effect of combination therapy on decreased proliferation. MiR-21 in treated cells with Tricin significantly decreased compared to control cells. So, Tricin can be effective in the reduction of metastasis and drug resistance of Docetaxel.     

Janus Gold Nanostars–Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for NIR-Light-Triggered Drug Delivery

Janus gold nanostar–mesoporous silica nanoparticle ( AuNSt–MSNP ) nanodevices able to release an entrapped payload upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) light were prepared and characterized. The AuNSt surface was functionalized with a thiolated photolabile molecule ( 5 ), whereas the mesoporous silica face was loaded with a model drug (doxorubicin) and capped with proton-responsive benzimidazole-β-cyclodextrin supramolecular gatekeepers ( N 1 ). Upon irradiation with NIR-light, the photolabile compound 5 photodissociated, resulting in the formation of succinic acid, which induced the opening of the gatekeeper and cargo delivery. In the overall mechanism, the gold surface acts as a photochemical transducer capable of transforming the NIR-light input into a chemical messenger (succinic acid) that opens the supramolecular nanovalve. The prepared hybrid nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic to HeLa cells, until they were irradiated with a NIR laser, which led to intracellular doxorubicin release and hyperthermia. This induced a remarkable reduction in HeLa cells viability.     

Pushing the Upper Limit of Nucleophilicity Scales by Mesoionic N-Heterocyclic Olefins

A series of mesoionic, 1,2,3-triazole-derived N-heterocyclic olefins (mNHOs), which have an extraordinarily electron-rich exocyclic CC-double bond, was synthesized and spectroscopically characterized, in selected cases by X-ray crystallography. The kinetics of their reactions with arylidene malonates, ArCH=C(CO₂Et)₂, which gave zwitterionic adducts, were investigated photometrically in THF at 20 °C. The resulting second-order rate constants k₂(20 °C) correlate linearly with the reported electrophilicity parameters E of the arylidene malonates (reference electrophiles), thus providing the nucleophile-specific N and s_N parameters of the mNHOs according to the correlation lg k₂(20 °C)=s_N(N+E). With 21<N<32, the mNHOs are much stronger nucleophiles than conventional NHOs. Some mNHOs even excel the reactivity of mono- and diacceptor-substituted carbanions. It is exemplarily shown that the reactivity parameters thus obtained allow to calculate the rate constants for mNHO reactions with further Michael acceptors and predict the scope of reactions with other electrophilic reaction partners including carbon dioxide, which gives zwitterionic mNHO-carboxylates. The nucleophilicity parameters N correlate linearly with a linear combination of the quantum-chemically calculated methyl cation affinities and buried volumes of mNHOs, which offers a valuable tool to tailor the reactivities of strong carbon nucleophiles.     

Interface formation of Al2O3 on n‐GaN(0001): Photoelectron spectroscopy studies

Al₂O₃ insulator layers were deposited step by step by the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method onto gallium nitride in the wurtzite form, n‐type and (0001)‐oriented. The substrate surface and the early stages of Al₂O₃/n‐GaN(0001) interface formation were characterized in situ under ultra‐high vacuum conditions by X‐ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, UPS). The electron affinity (EA) of the substrate cleaned by annealing was 3.6 eV. Binding energies of the Al 2p (76.0 eV) and the O 1s (532.9 eV) confirmed the creation of the Al₂O₃ compound in the deposited film for which the EA was 1.6 eV. The Al₂O₃ film was found to be amorphous with a bandgap of 6.9 eV determined from the O 1s loss feature. As a result, the calculated Al₂O₃/n‐GaN(0001) valence band offset (VBO) is ?1.3 eV and the corresponding conduction band offset (CBO) 2.2 eV.     

Effect of Botanical Extracts on the Growth and Nutritional Quality of Field-Grown White Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are gaining more attention amongst consumers interested in nutritious food. The consumption of foodstuffs with a high content of phytochemicals has been proven to provide various health benefits. The application of biostimulants is a potential strategy to fortify cultivated plants with beneficial bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, it has not yet been established whether the proposed higher plants (St. John’s wort, giant goldenrod, common dandelion, red clover, nettle, and valerian) are appropriate for the production of potential bio-products enhancing the nutritional value of white cabbage. Therefore, this research examines the impact of botanical extracts on the growth and nutritional quality of cabbage grown under field conditions. Two extraction methods were used for the production of water-based bio-products, namely: ultrasound-assisted extraction and mechanical homogenisation. Bio-products were applied as foliar sprays to evaluate their impact on total yield, dry weight, photosynthetic pigments, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, nitrates, micro- and macroelements, volatile compounds, fatty acids, sterols, and sugars. Botanical extracts showed different effects on the examined parameters. The best results in terms of physiological and biochemical properties of cabbage were obtained for extracts from common dandelion, valerian, nettle, and giant goldenrod. When enriched with nutrients, vegetables can constitute a valuable component of functional food.     

Sensory and Chemical Characteristic of Two Insect Species: Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio Larvae Affected by Roasting Processes

The volatile compounds from insects (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio larvae) roasted at 160, 180, or 200 °C and fed with potato starch or blue corn flour were isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the tested material, 48 volatile compounds were determined. Among them, eight are pyrazines, aroma compounds that are formed in food products during thermal processing due to the Maillard reaction. Eleven of the identified compounds influenced the roast, bread, fat, and burnt aromas that are characteristic for traditional baked dishes (meat, potatoes, bread). Most of them are carbonyl compounds and pyrazines. To confirm the contribution of the most important odorants identified, their odor potential activity values (OAVs) and %OAV were calculated. The highest value was noted for isobuthylpyrazine, responsible for roast aroma (%OAV > 90% for samples roasted at lower temperatures), and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, responsible for burnt aroma (%OAV > 20% for samples roasted at the highest temperature). According to the study, the type of feed did not significantly affect the results of the sensory analysis of roasted insects. The decisive influence was the roasting temperature. The highest scores were achieved for Tenebrio molitor larvae heat-treated at 160 °C.     

Bayesian force reconstruction with an uncertain model

This paper presents a Bayesian approach for force reconstruction which can deal with both measurement noise and model uncertainty. In particular, an uncertain model is considered for inversion in the form of a matrix of frequency response functions whose modal parameters originate from either measurements or a finite element model. The model uncertainty and the regularization parameter are jointly determined with the unknown force through Monte Carlo Markov chain methods. Bayesian credible intervals of the force are built from its posterior probability density function by taking into account the quantified model uncertainty and measurement noise. The proposed approach is illustrated and validated on numerical and experimental examples.     

On the role of kinesthetic thinking in computational geometry

Computational geometry is a new (about 30 years) and rapidly growing branch of knowledge in computer science that deals with the analysis and design of algorithms for solving geometric problems. These problems typically arise in computer graphics, image processing, computer vision, robotics, manufacturing, knot theory, polymer physics and molecular biology. Since its inception many of the algorithms proposed for solving geometric problems, published in the literature, have been found to be incorrect. These incorrect algorithms rather than being ‘purely mathematical’ often contain a strong kinesthetic component. This paper explores the relationship between computational geometric thinking and kinesthetic thinking, the effect of the latter on the correctness and efficiency of the resulting algorithms, and their implications for education.     

Phase diagram and dielectric relaxation studies of n-octyl-isothiocyanato-biphenyl (8BT) in the crystalline E phase under high pressure

The pressure-temperature phase diagram of n-octyl-isothiocyanato-biphenyl (8BT) in the pressure range up to 250 MPa (2.5 kbar) and the temperature range 250-400 K was established with the aid of DTA. At 1 atm the substance exhibits exclusively CrE polymorphism. At pressures above 190 MPa, the clearing line splits showing an additional phase which is not yet identified. Dielectric relaxation measurements on the CrE phase of 8BT were performed in the pressure range 0.1-120 MPa and the temperature range 304-345 K. A Debye-type relaxation process was observed in the frequency range 100 Hz-1 MHz. The longitudinal relaxation time τ, characterizing the molecular reorientations around the short axis, was analysed with respect to the pressure and temperature, yielding the activation volume, Δ^# V = RT(? ln τ/?p)_T, and activation enthalpy, Δ^# H = R(? ln τ/? T^-1)_p, respectively. The results are compared with analogous data obtained recently for similar compounds having other liquid crystalline phases (N, SmA).