Protective Effect of Portulaca oleracea on Streptozotocin-Induced Type I Diabetes-Associated Reproductive System Dysfunction and Inflammation

Background: Type-one diabetes (T1D), a chronic autoimmune disease with marked inflammatory responses, is associated with infertility complications and implications. Based on the anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of Portulaca oleracea (PO), this study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of this plant extract on streptozotocin-induced type-I-diabetes-associated reproductive system dysfunction and inflammation. Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control, diabetic, and treatment/s (PO extract at 100 or 300 mg/kg/daily). Then food and water consumption, body, testis and epididymis weights, histopathological evaluation, seminiferous tubules diameter, sperm count and motility, glucose levels, sex hormones, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. Results: Our results showed that streptozotocin-induced diabetes significantly increased food and water consumption; increased glucose, MDA, TGF-β1, and TNF-α levels; and decreased the seminiferous tubules diameter, sperm count and motility, levels of LH, testosterone, total thiol, VEGF, and SOD activity. Interestingly, PO extract (phytochemically characterized by using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to detect bioactive molecules) significantly ameliorated these parameters and histopathological indexes’ damage in rats. Conclusion. Even if more preclinical assessments are needed to better characterize the mechanism/s of action, the results of this study will pave the way for the rational use of PO on diabetic-associated clinical complications and implications.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new magnetic bromochromate hybrid nanomaterial with triethylamine surface modified iron oxide nanoparticles

We describe a novel method for the synthesis a new magnetic bromochromate hybrid nanomaterial, Fe3O4@SiO2@TEA@[CrO3Br], as a catalyst. The physical properties, morphology and magnetic investigations of magnetic bromochromate hybrid nanomaterials are identified by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and vibrating sample magnetometer （VSM） techniques. Fourier transform infrared （FT-IR）, elemental analysis, X-ray fluorescence （XRF）, X-ray diffraction （XRD） were also used for structural identification. The quantity of chromium is approximately 0.38%, which confirms to the immobilization amount of [CrO3Br]- and is equal to 0.007 mol/100 g.     

An upper limit to the cross section for the reaction νμe−→νμe− at SPS energies

Candidates for the purely leptonic process $\text{ν}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{e}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{→}\text{ν}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{e}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ have been searched for in the bubble chamber Gargamelle exposed to the CERN-SPS antineutrino wide-band beam. No single e^?, of energy greater than 1 GeV, was found in a total of 230 000 pictures, corresponding to 7400 charged current events. This leads to an upper limit for the observed cross section of $\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>obs</mtext>}}\text{< 1.6 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?42}}\text{(}\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{\nu }}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{GeV}\text{)}$ cm² (90% C.L.). Interpretation of this value in terms of the standard W Weinberg-Salam model yields an upper limit to the mixing parameter sin²θ_W < 0.39 at 90% C.L.     

Metal Affinity-Based Purification of a Red Fluorescent Protein

A red fluorescent protein, DsRed, which emits fluorescence in the red region of the spectrum has become a popular alternative to green fluorescent protein as a label in biochemical and bioanalytical applications. In this study, we have developed a simple purification method for DsRed variants utilizing their inherent copper binding property. A purification procedure was developed and optimized using immobilized copper ions yielding a single strong band corresponding to purified DsRed proteins on the SDS-PAGE gel. A purification efficiency of higher than 95% was achieved. A spectral analysis and copper binding study was performed to verify activity of the purified proteins. The development of this method allows DsRed to play a dual role as a fluorescent reporter protein and as a purification affinity tag for a target protein. This simpler approach of purification should expand the utility of DsRed.     

Multimachine power system stabilizer based on optimal multistage fuzzy PID attendant honey bee mating optimization

This article presents a new strategy based on multistage fuzzy PID controller for damping power system stabilizer in multimachine environment using Honey Bee Mating Optimization (HBMO). The proposed technique is a new metaheuristic algorithm which is inspired by mating procedure of the honey bee. Actually, the mentioned algorithm is used recently in power systems which demonstrate the good reflex of this algorithm. Also, finding the parameters of PID controller in power system has direct effect for damping oscillation. Hence, to reduce the design effort and find a better fuzzy system control, the parameters of proposed controller is obtained by HBMO that leads to design controller with simple structure that is easy to implement. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is applied to single machine connected to infinite bus and IEEE 3–9 bus power system. The proposed technique is compared with other techniques through integral of the time multiplied absolute value of the error and figure of demerit. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 234–245, 2016     

Fabrication of the polyethersulfone/functionalized mesoporous carbon nanocomposite nanofiltration membrane for dyes and heavy metal ions removal: Experimental and quantum mechanical simulation method

The presence of industrial pollutants, especially salts, heavy metals ions, and dyes in water and wastewater is considered a serious environmental issue. To eliminate these pollutants, a high-performing nanofiltration (NF) membrane was prepared by blending the functionalized mesoporous carbon CMK-5 (F-CMK-5) nanofiller. This membrane was synthesized by introducing the active groups of sulfonyl and amide to the surface of mesoporous carbon CMK-5 through covalent functionalization. Characterizations were conducted to study the membranes' physical properties and separation performance in terms of antifouling properties and rejection of salts, heavy metal ions, and dyes. The interactions between the active sites of the nanocomposite membrane and the studied solutes, including dyes and heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions, were studied by the density functional based tight binding method and structural optimization was carried out. Insertion of the F-CMK-5 nanofiller was eventuated in a remarkable increase in surface hydrophilicity, pure water flux, and antifouling properties. For all membranes, the lowest and the highest salt rejection was obtained for NaCl and Na₂SO₄, respectively, exhibiting the characteristics of NF membranes. Moreover, M_0.3 with 0.3 wt% nanofiller showed the highest rejection for heavy metal ions (Fe²⁺ = 99.9%, Zn²⁺ = 99.9%, Cu²⁺ = 99.7%, and Pb²⁺ = 99.2%) and dyes (RB5 = 99.21, DR16 = 98.87, and MB = 98.12%), as well as high separation performance for filtration of multipollutant solutions. The reusability and 144 h uninterrupted filtration experiments for M_0.3 confirmed the stability of the membrane. The findings suggest that the PES/F-CMK-5 nanocomposite NF membrane is a promising candidate for water and wastewater treatment.     

Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of new functionalized indolo[2,3-b]indole-pyrimidine based on C–N bond formation via a four-component reaction

A facile and diastereoselective synthetic procedure has been designed for the preparation of new substituted indolo[2,3-b]indole (IDID) moiety at position-5 of the pyrimidine ring by a one-pot four-component reaction of dimedone, aniline and substituted derivatives, barbituric acid/thiobarbituric acid and isatin under mild conditions. This method proceeds rely on a CsbndN bond formation under catalyst-free conditions affording a range of skeletally diversity 5-indolo[3,2-b]indole-pyrimidine-based heterocycles. 5-Indolo[2,3-b]indol-pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione and 5-indolo[2,3-b]indol-2-thioxo-pyrimidine-4,6-dione were obtained in EtOH solvent in high yield, short reaction time and diastereoselectivity. The structural diversities of the synthesized compounds have been confirmed spectroscopically, by IR ¹H- and ¹³C NMR, EI-MS spectra and elemental analyses which agree with the proposed structures.     

Photocatalytic application of BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> synthesized via a facile microwave-assisted solution combustion method

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) nanopowder have been successfully synthesized for the first time via a microwave-assisted sol-gel combustion method by using citric acid as fuel. The resulting nanopowder was characterized using FT-IR, TG-DTA, XRD, EDX, VSM, SEM, and UV-Vis DRS. A ferromagnetic hysteresis loop with a saturation magnetization (M_S) of 0.66?emu?g^?1 has been observed at room temperature in the sample. The optical properties of the nanosized BiFeO₃ showed its small band gap (=2.08?eV) indicates a possibility of utilizing much visible light for photocatalysis.

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Development of effervescence-assisted switchable polarity solvent homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples prior to gas chromatography–flame ionization detection

An effervescent tablet-assisted switchable polarity solvent–based homogeneous liquid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography with flame ionization detection has been conducted for the separation, preconcentration, and detection of permethrin and deltamethrin in the river water specimens. Triethylamine (TEA) was utilized as the switchable polarity solvent in this method. The switching process was carried out by the dissolution of an effervescent tablet including an effervescency agent (sodium carbonate) and a proton donor agent (citric acid). Changing the pH of the specimen solution enhanced the conversion of TEA into protonated triethylamine carbonate through the tablet that generated carbon dioxide bubbles in situ. Finally, the addition of sodium hydroxide changed the ionization state of TEA and separated the two phases. Influential factors in the extraction were investigated. According to optimal situations, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 0.16 and 0.5 μg L⁻¹ for permethrin and 0.03 and 0.1 μg L⁻¹ for deltamethrin, respectively. The preconcentration factor was 194 in river water samples and inter- and intra-day precision (relative standard deviation %; n = 5) was <5%. The extraction recovery was obtained in the range of 93.0%–97% for permethrin and deltamethrin in water samples.