Enhancing Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Blue Light Using FAD Photoreceptor AppA.

The Blue Light Using FAD (BLUF) photoreceptor utilizes a noncovalently bound FAD to absorb light and trigger the initial ultrafast events in receptor activation. FAD undergoes 1 and 2 electron reduction as an enzyme redox cofactor, and studies on the BLUF photoreceptor PixD revealed the formation of flavin radicals (FAD and FADH) during the photocycle, supporting a general mechanism for BLUF operation that involves PCET from a conserved Tyr to the oxidized FAD. However, no radical intermediates are observed in the closely related BLUF proteins AppA and BlsA, and replacing the conserved Tyr with fluoro-Tyr analogs that increase the acidity of the phenol OH has a minor effect on AppA photoactivation in contrast to PixD where the photocycle is halted at FAD.

Substituent effects on the photophysics of the kaede chromophore.

Kaede is the prototype of the optical highlighter proteins, which are an important subclass of the fluorescent proteins that can be permanently switched from green to red emitting forms by UV irradiation. This transformation has important applications in bioimaging. Optimising brightness, enhancing fluorescence characteristics, in these proteins is an important objective.

Assessing Awareness, Attitude, and Practices of Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Among General Public and Physicians in Pakistan: A Nation With the Highest Breast Cancer Incidence in Asia.

Breast cancer is a global health challenge with significant mortality, affecting millions worldwide. The current study is aimed at evaluating awareness and practices related to breast cancer screening, prevention, and treatment among the general public and physicians in Lahore, Pakistan, which has a significant incidence of breast cancer. The current study adopted a cross-sectional study design conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, between March and August 2023, among 404 participants from the general public and 240 physicians.

Clicked BODIPY-Fullerene-Peptide Assemblies: Studies of Electron Transfer Processes in Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Surfaces.

Two BODIPY-C-peptide assemblies were synthesized by CuAAC reactions of BODIPY-C dyads and a helical peptide functionalized with a terminal alkyne group and an azide group, respectively. The helical peptide within these assemblies was functionalized at its other end by a disulfide group, allowing formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces. Characterizations of these SAMs, as well as those of reference molecules (BODIPY-C-alkyl, C-peptide and BODIPY-peptide), were carried out by PM-IRRAS and cyclic voltammetry.

Toxicity of targeted anticancer treatments on the liver in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The liver has a central role in metabolism, therefore, it is susceptible to harmful effects of ingested medications (drugs, herbs, and nutritional supplements). Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) comprises a range of unexpected reactions that occur after exposure to various classes of medication. Even though most cases consist of mild, temporary elevations in liver enzyme markers, DILI can also manifest as acute liver failure in some patients and can be associated with mortality.

Comparative analysis of the severity and progression of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in untreated and glucantime-treated patients.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a disease that has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Understanding the immune responses responsible for tissue damage or the process of lesion healing plays a pivotal role in shaping optimal treatment strategies. In this study, we investigated immunological phenotypes for three groups: glucantime treated (n = 30) and untreated (n = 30) CL patients infected with Leishmania tropica (L.

Photoinduced electron transfer between a noble-metal-free [MoICl] cluster and polyoxometalates.

Evidence for photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer from the excited state of the [MoICl] electron-rich cluster to polyoxometalates (POMs) is reported. We demonstrate that the global charge density of POMs affects the efficiency of electron transfer. This work paves the way for the rational design of photocatalytic systems using cluster-based complexes as robust noble-metal-free photosensitizers.

Generation of dysbiotic microbiota in cutaneous leishmaniasis and enhancement of skin inflammation.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) affects millions of people globally and has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Innate immune mediators are likely to influence the clinical phenotype of CL through primary responses that restrict or facilitate parasite spread. The aim of this preliminary study was to bring to attention the significance of microbiota in the development of CL and emphasized the necessity of including the role of microbiota in CL while promoting a One Health approach for managing diseases.

Immediate and Long-Term Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Static Stretching on Joint Range of Motion, Flexibility, and Electromyographic Activity of Knee Muscles in Older Adults.

Previously, various stretching techniques were compared to study their effects on the different physiological parameters of hamstring muscles in the elderly population. There is no research that compares the immediate and long-term effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation-contract-relax (PNF-CR) and static stretching (SS) techniques on knee range of motion (ROM), hamstring flexibility, and knee flexor muscle EMG activity in the elderly. This study intends to compare the same.

Mannosylated imiquimod-terbinafine co-loaded transethosomes for cutaneous leishmaniasis; assessment of its anti-leishmanial potential, in vivo safety and immune response modulation.

Current treatment options for cutaneous leishmaniasis are associated with myriad limiting factors including low penetration, poor efficacy, and drug toxicities. Herein, we reported imiquimod and terbinafine co-loaded mannosylated transethosomes (IMQ-TER-MTES) with enhanced cutaneous retention, macrophage targeting, anti-leishmanial potential, and dermal immunomodulation. IMQ-TER-MTES were optimized using Design Expert® followed by their loading into chitosan gel.

Microscopic (LM and SEM) visualization of pollen ultrastructure among honeybee flora from lower Margalla Hills and allied areas.

Microscopic visualization of micro-morphological characters were analyzed using a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) tool, which has proven to be very successful to analyze the pollen surface peculiarities. The significant goal of this research was to perform microscopic examination of pollen of some of the most frequently visited honeybee floral species around apiaries. Micro-morphological characterization of frequented honeybees foraged plants were discussed.

Selective population of triplet excited states in heavy-atom-free BODIPY-C based molecular assemblies.

Photophysical studies on a BODIPY-fullerene-distyryl BODIPY triad (BDP-C-DSBDP) and its reference dyads (BODIPY-fullerene; BDP-C and distyryl BODIPY-fullerene; DSBDP-C) are presented herein. In the triad, the association of the two chromophore units linked by a fullerene moiety leads to strong near UV-Visible light absorption from 300 to 700 nm. The triplet-excited state was observed upon visible excitation in all these assemblies, and shown to be localized on the C or BODIPY moieties.

Effects of scapular stabilization and upper limb proprioception as an adjunct to cervical stabilization in chronic neck pain patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chronic neck pain is a prevalent health condition and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Prompt therapeutic measures are required to overcome this condition.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of incorporation of scapular stabilization and upper limb proprioceptive exercises to cervical stabilization exercises in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP).

Automated 2D Slice-Based Skull Stripping Multi-View Ensemble Model on NFBS and IBSR Datasets.

This study proposed and evaluated a two-dimensional (2D) slice-based multi-view U-Net (MVU-Net) architecture for skull stripping. The proposed model fused all three TI-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) views, i.e.

Time-Resolved Spectroscopy and High-Efficiency Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution of a {Mo S }-Containing Polyoxometalate-Based System.

Polyoxothiometalate ions (ThioPOM) are active hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) catalysts based on modular assembly built from electrophilic clusters {MoS } and vacant polyoxotungstates. Herein, the dumbbell-like anion [{(PW O )Mo S (H O) (OH)} ] exhibits very high light-driven HER activity, while the active cores {Mo S } do not contain any exposed disulfido ligands, which were suspected to be the origin of the HER activity. Moreover, in the catalyst architecture, the two central {Mo S } cores are sandwiched by two {PW O } subunits that act as oxidant-resistant protecting groups and behave as electron-collecting units.

Implication of scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy for oil content determination and seed morphology of Verbenaceae.

Due to increase in energy catastrophe and accompanying environmental issues, the search for renewable and alternative energy resources is a fiercely disputed problem in the scientific world. Biodiesel has proven to be the finest sustainable alternative to gasoline. Because of their environment-friendly character and cost-effectiveness, nonedible oil-bearing seeds could be the possible resource for biodiesel production.

Microscopic characterization of petiole anatomy of Asteraceous taxa of Western Himalaya-Pakistan.

Petiole anatomy of 15 species of family Asteraceae was examined which aimed to investigate petiolar anatomical structures for species level identification. Shandon Microtome was used for petiole histological preparations. Both qualitative and quantitative features were studied under microscope which showed significant variation in petiole, collenchyma, parenchyma shape/size, vascular bundles arrangement/size, and vessel elements quantity.

Anatomical characterization of 18 commercially important varieties of Phoenix dactylifera L. by using microscopy.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important traditional crop having socioeconomic values. To best of literature review and our knowledge, there is a gap of taxonomic study on the role of morpho-anatomical features of date palm for correct identification of its varieties.

Genetic characterization of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Pakistan using circumsporozoite protein (pvcsp) and merozoite surface protein-1 (pvmsp-1) genes as genetic markers.

Background: Plasmodium vivax contributes to over 70% malaria burden in Pakistan, but limited data exists on various aspects including genetic diversity of the parasite as compared to other parts of the world. Since the information about the genetic diversity of P. vivax assists to understand the population dynamics of the parasite, the current study was designed to understand population divergence of P.