Banana Peel Extract-Derived ZnO Nanopowder: Transforming Solar Water Purification for Safer Agri-Food Production.

Pure water scarcity is the most significant emerging challenge of the modern society. Various organics such as pesticides (clomazone, quinmerac), pharmaceuticals (ciprofloxacin, 17α-ethynilestradiol), and mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol) can be found in the aquatic environment. The aim of this study was to fabricate ZnO nanomaterial on the basis of banana peel extract (ZnO/BPE) and investigate its efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of selected organics under various experimental conditions.

Psychological intervention improves quality of life in patients with early-stage cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The effectiveness of psychological interventions (PI) for malignant diseases is controversial. We aimed to investigate the effect of PI on survival and quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases to identify randomized controlled trials comparing PI to standard care (PROSPERO registration number CRD42021282327).

LC3-associated phagocytosis promotes glial degradation of axon debris after injury in Drosophila models.

Glial engulfment of neuron-derived debris after trauma, during development, and in neurodegenerative diseases supports nervous system functions. However, mechanisms governing the efficiency of debris degradation in glia have remained largely unexplored. Here we show that LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), an engulfment pathway assisted by certain autophagy factors, promotes glial phagosome maturation in the Drosophila wing nerve.

Reusable FeO/TiO/PVC Photocatalysts for the Removal of Methylene Blue in the Presence of Simulated Solar Radiation.

Currently, environmental pollution by various organic pollutants (e.g., organic dyes) is a serious, emerging global issue.

Sustainable Removal of Tolperisone from Waters by Application of Photocatalysis, Nanotechnology, and Chemometrics: Quantification, Environmental Toxicity, and Degradation Optimization.

Environmental pollution is an emerging global issue. Heterogenous photocatalytic degradation, which belongs to the advanced oxidation processes, is a promising sustainable technique for the removal of harmful pollutants (e.g.

A Modular Olefination of Aldehydes with Thiols as Coupling Partners.

Olefins range amongst the most important motifs in organic chemistry. Hence, the development of novel olefin syntheses has remained a constant field of research in synthetic chemistry to date. Herein, we report the development of a modular olefination that converts aldehydes into olefins with thiols as reaction partners.

Rapid Removal of Organic Pollutants from Aqueous Systems under Solar Irradiation Using ZrO/FeO Nanoparticles.

Pure water scarcity is an emerging, all-around problem that globally affects both the life quality and the world's economy. Heterogeneous photocatalysis under solar irradiation is a promising technique for the organic pollutants (e.g.

Sustainable Green Nanotechnologies for Innovative Purifications of Water: Synthesis of the Nanoparticles from Renewable Sources.

Polluting the natural water resources is a serious global issue, which is confirmed by the fact that today at least 2 billion people consume water from contaminated sources. The conventional wastewater treatment methods cannot effectively remove the persistent pollutants (e.g.

Direct Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Dithioacetals.

Sabine Bognar and Manuel van Gemmeren from the WWU Münster have been invited to contribute the cover of this issue. The image depicts a volcano to symbolize the general theme of sulfur chemistry, whereas the piles of rubble reflect the selectivity of the reaction. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Direct Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Dithioacetals.

Dithioacetals are a frequently used motif in synthetic organic chemistry and have recently seen increasing attention as structural motif in promising antiviral agents against plant pathogens. Most existing reports, however, only discuss symmetrical dithioacetals. Examples of mixed dithioacetals are scarce and no general method for the selective synthesis of these compounds exists.

Potential of TiO with Various Au Nanoparticles for Catalyzing Mesotrione Removal from Wastewaters under Sunlight.

Nowadays, great focus is given to the contamination of surface and groundwater because of the extensive usage of pesticides in agriculture. The improvements of commercial catalyst TiO activity using different Au nanoparticles were investigated for mesotrione photocatalytic degradation under simulated sunlight. The selected system was 2.

The Direct Conversion of α-Hydroxyketones to Alkynes.

Alkynes are highly important functional groups in organic chemistry, both as part of target structures and as versatile synthetic intermediates. In this study, a protocol for the direct conversion of α-hydroxyketones to alkynes is reported. In combination with the variety of synthetic methods that generate the required starting materials by forming the central C-C bond, it enables a highly versatile fragment coupling approach toward alkynes.

Multiplexed antibody detection from blood sera by immobilization of in vitro expressed antigens and label-free readout via imaging reflectometric interferometry (iRIf).

The detection of antibodies from blood sera is crucial for diagnostic purposes. Miniaturized protein assays in combination with microfluidic setups hold great potential by enabling automated handling and multiplexed analyses. Yet, the separate expression, purification, and storage of many individual proteins are time consuming and limit applicability.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Cyanoindoles from 2-gem-Dihalovinylanilines.

An efficient Pd(0)-catalyzed synthesis of 2-cyanoindoles from 2-gem-dihalovinylanilines is reported. Few methods have aimed to synthesize these scaffolds, which are found in many natural products and have high bioactivity. This protocol features a robust catalyst system utilizing Zn(TFA) to prolong the catalytic activity.

Neuroplastin deletion in glutamatergic neurons impairs selective brain functions and calcium regulation: implication for cognitive deterioration.

The cell adhesion molecule neuroplastin (Np) is a novel candidate to influence human intelligence. Np-deficient mice display complex cognitive deficits and reduced levels of Plasma Membrane Ca ATPases (PMCAs), an essential regulator of the intracellular Ca concentration ([iCa]) and neuronal activity. We show abundant expression and conserved cellular and molecular features of Np in glutamatergic neurons in human hippocampal-cortical pathways as characterized for the rodent brain.

More than just dancing: experiences of people with Parkinson's disease in a therapeutic dance program.

Purpose: To understand why individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) participate in a community-based therapeutic dance program and to explore its influence on perceived physical, social and emotional well-being of participants.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed using one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Individuals with PD who participated in the Dancing with Parkinson's program were recruited from two locations.

Structural analysis of brain ganglioside acetylation patterns in mice with altered ganglioside biosynthesis.

Gangliosides are sialylated membrane glycosphingolipids especially abundant in mammalian brain tissue. Sialic acid O-acetylation is one of the most common structural modifications of gangliosides which considerably influences their chemical properties. In this study, gangliosides extracted from brain tissue of mice with altered ganglioside biosynthesis (St8sia1 null and B4galnt1 null mice) were structurally characterized and their acetylation pattern was analyzed.

Cholesterogenic genes expression in brain and liver of ganglioside-deficient mice.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of changed ganglioside profile on transcription of selected genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis. For that purpose, the expression of 11 genes related to cholesterol synthesis, regulation, and cholesterol transport was investigated in selected brain regions (frontal cortex, hippocampus, brain stem, cerebellum) and liver of St8sia1 knockout (KO) mice characterized by deficient synthesis of b- and c-series gangliosides and accumulation of a-series gangliosides. The expression of majority of the analyzed genes, as determined using quantitative real time PCR, was slightly higher in St8sia1 KO compared to wild-type (wt) controls.

Arylsulfatase a gene polymorphisms in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: genotype-phenotype correlation and estimation of disease progression.

Arylsulfatase A (ASA) is a lysosomal enzyme involved in catabolism of cerebroside-sulfate, major lipid constituent of oligodendrocyte membranes. Various polymorphisms in ASA gene have been described, leading to different levels of enzyme deficiency. Progressive demyelination occurs in metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), while the condition of ASA-pseudodeficiency (ASA-PD) is suggested to contribute to complex pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

New educational modules offer tough case studies around humanistic issues.

A new set of teaching modules taken from the Emmy Award-winning documentary about children with cancer, A LION IN THE HOUSE, raises tough questions around humanistic aspects of medical education and seeks to improve the quality of teaching and learning to enhance patient care.

Serum gangliosides in patients with brain tumors.

In order to determine possible differences in serum gangliosides content and composition before and after surgical removal of tumor, gangliosides isolated from preoperative and postoperative sera of patients with brain tumors were analyzed. Serum samples were collected from patients with glioblastoma, meningioma, acoustic neurinoma, haemangioma, oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma, one week before and one week after surgical removal of the tumor. Serum gangliosides were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography and laser densitometry.

Kinetics and activity of arylsulfatase A in leukocytes derived from patients with cerebral palsy.

Activity and kinetics of arylsulfatase A (ASA, EC 3.1.6.

Croatian population data for arylsulfatase a pseudodeficiency-associated mutations in healthy subjects, and in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia and Down syndrome.

Background: Arylsulfatase A (ASA) is a lysosomal enzyme involved in catabolism of cerebroside sulfate, whose deficiency causes metachromatic leukodystrophy, a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by storage of cerebroside sulfate, mainly in the nervous system. Low ASA activities have also been reported in healthy individuals and several neuropsychiatric disorders due to the condition termed ASA pseudodeficiency. The aim of this study was to establish frequency of two mutations associated with ASA pseudodeficiency in healthy individuals in the Croatian population as well as in persons with Alzheimer-type dementia and Down syndrome.

[Antibiotic resistance of gram-negative bacteria isolated at a hospital intensive care unit].

The antibiotic sensitivity of Gram-negative facultatively pathogenic bacteria isolated between 1982-1986 in the respiratory intensive care unit of the 3rd department of pediatry of the "László" Hospital (Budapest) has been studied. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Acinetobacter lwoffii were most frequently isolated both from the clinical samples (total 56.9%) and in samples obtained from hospital-hygienic check-examinations.