Ni-containing l-glutamic acid cross-linked chitosan anchored on FeO/-MWCNT: a sustainable catalyst for the green reduction and one-pot two-step reductive Schotten-Baumann-type acetylation of nitroarenes.

In this research, new and eye-catching catalytic applications of the nickel (Ni) nanoparticles (NPs)-containing l-glutamic acid cross-linked chitosan anchored on magnetic carboxylic acid-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (FeO/-MWCNT-CS-Glu/Ni) system, which was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SEM-based energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and elemental mapping, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), have been introduced for the environmentally benign and efficient reduction and one-pot two-step reductive Schotten-Baumann-type acetylation of nitroarenes in water at 60 °C under an air atmosphere. It is worth noting that the Ni-containing hybrid nanocatalyst, in the mentioned organic reactions, showed short reaction times, high yields of the desired products, acceptable turnover numbers (TONs) and turnover frequencies (TOFs), and also satisfactory magnetic recycling and reusability performance even after ten times of reuse. As another significant point, all the titled organic transformations have been carried out in water as an entirely favorable and green solvent for chemical reactions.

Practical Three-Component Regioselective Synthesis of Drug-Like 3-Aryl(or heteroaryl)-5,6-dihydrobenzo[]cinnolines as Potential Non-Covalent Multi-Targeting Inhibitors To Combat Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are one of the prominent health challenges facing contemporary society, and many efforts have been made to overcome and (or) control it. In this research paper, we described a practical one-pot two-step three-component reaction between 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2)-one (), aryl(or heteroaryl)glyoxal monohydrates (-), and hydrazine monohydrate (NHNH•HO) for the regioselective preparation of some 3-aryl(or heteroaryl)-5,6-dihydrobenzo[]cinnoline derivatives (-). After synthesis and characterization of the mentioned cinnolines (-), the multi-targeting inhibitory properties of these heterocyclic scaffolds have been investigated upon various -type enzymes, including MAO-A, MAO-B, AChE, BChE, BACE-1, BACE-2, NQO-1, NQO-2, nNOS, iNOS, PARP-1, PARP-2, LRRK-2, GSK-3β, p38α MAPK, JNK-3, OGA, NMDA receptor, nSMase-2, IDO-1, COMT, LIMK-1, LIMK-2, RIPK-1, UCH-L1, PARK-7, and DHODH, which have confirmed their functions and roles in the neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), based on molecular docking studies, and the obtained results were compared with a wide range of approved drugs and well-known (with IC, EC, etc.

Dust and climate interactions in the Middle East: Spatio-temporal analysis of aerosol optical depth and climatic variables.

The Middle East (ME) is grappling with an alarming increase in dust levels, measured as aerosol optical depth (AOD), which poses significant threats to air quality, human health, and ecological stability. This study aimed to investigate correlations between climate and non-climate driving factors and AOD in the ME over the last four-decade (1980-2020), based on analysis of three variables: actual evapotranspiration (AET), potential evapotranspiration (PET), and precipitation (P). A comprehensive analysis is conducted to discern patterns and trends, with a particular focus on regions such as Rub al-Khali, Ad-Dahna, An-Nafud Desert, and southern Iraq, where consistently high dust levels were observed.

Facilitators and barriers to using AI-enabled robots with older adults in long-term care from staff perspective: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Assistive and service robots have been increasingly designed and deployed in long-term care (LTC) but little evidence guides their use. This scoping review synthesises existing studies on facilitators and barriers to using artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled robots with older adults in LTC settings.

Methods And Analysis: We will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute's scoping review methodology for the study, to be conducted from November 2023 to April 2024.

A machine-learning approach to human ex vivo lung perfusion predicts transplantation outcomes and promotes organ utilization.

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a data-intensive platform used for the assessment of isolated lungs outside the body for transplantation; however, the integration of artificial intelligence to rapidly interpret the large constellation of clinical data generated during ex vivo assessment remains an unmet need. We developed a machine-learning model, termed InsighTx, to predict post-transplant outcomes using n = 725 EVLP cases. InsighTx model AUROC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) was 79 ± 3%, 75 ± 4%, and 85 ± 3% in training and independent test datasets, respectively.

Green and efficient one-pot three-component synthesis of novel drug-like furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potential active site inhibitors and putative allosteric hotspots modulators of both SARS-CoV-2 M and PL.

In this paper, an environmentally benign, convenient, and efficient one-pot three-component reaction has been developed for the regioselective synthesis of novel 5-aroyl(or heteroaroyl)-6-(alkylamino)-1,3-dimethylfuro[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones (4a‒n) through the sequential condensation of aryl(or heteroaryl)glyoxal monohydrates (1a‒g), 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid (2), and alkyl(viz. cyclohexyl or tert-butyl)isocyanides (3a or 3b) catalyzed by ultra-low loading ZrOCl•8HO (just 2 mol%) in water at 50 ˚C. After synthesis and characterization of the mentioned furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (4a‒n), their multi-targeting inhibitory properties were investigated against the active site and putative allosteric hotspots of both SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M) and papain-like protease (PL) based on molecular docking studies and compare the attained results with various medicinal compounds which approximately in three past years were used, introduced, and or repurposed to fight against COVID-19.

Blood Levels of Angiotensinogen and Hypertension in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background: Angiotensinogen is the proximal precursor of the angiotensin peptide hormones of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Clinical trials are ongoing targeting angiotensinogen for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. The epidemiology of angiotensinogen is not well defined, particularly its relationship to ethnicity, sex, and blood pressure (BP)/hypertension.

A biomarker assay to risk-stratify patients with symptoms of respiratory tract infection.

Background: Patients who present to an emergency department (ED) with respiratory symptoms are often conservatively triaged in favour of hospitalisation. We sought to determine if an inflammatory biomarker panel that identifies the host response better predicts hospitalisation in order to improve the precision of clinical decision making in the ED.

Methods: From April 2020 to March 2021, plasma samples of 641 patients with symptoms of respiratory illness were collected from EDs in an international multicentre study: Canada (n=310), Italy (n=131) and Brazil (n=200).

Ni NPs entrapped within a matrix of l-glutamic acid cross-linked chitosan supported on magnetic carboxylic acid-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube: a new and efficient multi-task catalytic system for the green one-pot synthesis of diverse heterocyclic frameworks.

In the present study, a new l-glutamic acid cross-linked chitosan supported on magnetic carboxylic acid-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (FeO/-MWCNT-CS-Glu) nanocomposite was prepared through a convenient one-pot multi-component sequential strategy. Then, nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) were entrapped within a matrix of the mentioned nanocomposite. Afterward, the structure of the as-prepared FeO/-MWCNT-CS-Glu/Ni nanosystem was elucidated by various techniques, including FT-IR, PXRD, SEM, TEM, SEM-based EDX and elemental mapping, ICP-OES, TGA/DTA, and VSM.

Unifying theory of carotid plaque disruption based on structural phenotypes and forces expressed at the lumen/wall interface.

Objectives: To integrate morphological, haemodynamic and mechanical analysis of carotid atheroma driving plaque disruption.

Materials And Methods: First, we analysed the phenotypes of carotid endarterectomy specimens in a photographic dataset A, and matched them with the likelihood of preoperative stroke. Second, laser angioscopy was used to further define the phenotypes in intact specimens (dataset B) and benchmark with histology.

Diverse and efficient catalytic applications of new cockscomb flower-like FeO@SiO@KCC-1@MPTMS@Cu mesoporous nanocomposite in the environmentally benign reduction and reductive acetylation of nitroarenes and one-pot synthesis of some coumarin compounds.

In this research, FeO@SiO@KCC-1@MPTMS@Cu as a new cockscomb flower-like mesoporous nanocomposite was prepared and characterized by various techniques including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SEM-based energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) analyses. The as-prepared FeO@SiO@KCC-1@MPTMS@Cu mesoporous nanocomposite exhibited satisfactory catalytic activity in the reduction and reductive acetylation of nitroarenes in a water medium and solvent-free one-pot synthesis of some coumarin compounds including 3,3'-(arylmethylene)bis(4-hydroxy-2-chromen-2-ones) (namely, bis-coumarins) (3a-n) and 2-amino-4-aryl-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-chromene-3-carbonitriles (6a-n) along with acceptable turnover numbers (TONs) and turnover frequencies (TOFs). Furthermore, the mentioned Cu-containing mesoporous nanocatalyst was conveniently recovered by a magnet from reaction environments and reused for at least seven cycles without any significant loss in activity, which confirms its good stability.

Prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among nursing students in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic: A web-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency that poses anxiety symptoms to nursing students (P. Li et al., 2020).

A comprehensive survey upon diverse and prolific applications of chitosan-based catalytic systems in one-pot multi-component synthesis of heterocyclic rings.

Heterocyclic compounds are among the most prestigious and valuable chemical molecules with diverse and magnificent applications in various sciences. Due to the remarkable and numerous properties of the heterocyclic frameworks, the development of efficient and convenient synthetic methods for the preparation of such outstanding compounds is of great importance. Undoubtedly, catalysis has a conspicuous role in modern chemical synthesis and green chemistry.

COVID-19 Associated Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Successfully Treated with Nimodipine and Aspirin.

There have been limited cases linking SARS-CoV-2 infection with the development of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). We hereby report a rare case of RCVS in the setting of mild SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection successfully treated with nimodipine and aspirin. SARS-CoV-2 attacks the ACE2-receptors, which are expressed in various body organs including the lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.

Bi-functionalized aminoguanidine-PEGylated periodic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles: a promising nanocarrier for delivery of Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoproteine.

Background: There is a great interest in the efficient intracellular delivery of Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) and its possible applications for in vivo CRISPR-based gene editing. In this study, a nanoporous mediated gene-editing approach has been successfully performed using a bi-functionalized aminoguanidine-PEGylated periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanoparticles (RNP@AGu@PEG-PMO) as a potent and biocompatible nanocarrier for RNP delivery.

Results: The bi-functionalized MSN-based nanomaterials have been fully characterized using electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), nitrogen adsorption measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS).

A multielectrode array microchannel platform reveals both transient and slow changes in axonal conduction velocity.

Due to their small dimensions, electrophysiology on thin and intricate axonal branches in support of understanding their role in normal and diseased brain function poses experimental challenges. To reduce experimental complexity, we coupled microelectrode arrays (MEAs) to bi-level microchannel devices for the long-term in vitro tracking of axonal morphology and activity with high spatiotemporal resolution. Our model allowed the long-term multisite recording from pure axonal branches in a microscopy-compatible environment.

Erratum to: Crowd behavior representation: an attribute-based approach.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-2786-0.].

Crowd behavior representation: an attribute-based approach.

In crowd behavior studies, a model of crowd behavior needs to be trained using the information extracted from video sequences. Most of the previous methods are based on low-level visual features because there are only crowd behavior labels available as ground-truth information in crowd datasets. However, there is a huge semantic gap between low-level motion/appearance features and high-level concept of crowd behaviors.

Extraordinary wavelength reduction in terahertz graphene-cladded photonic crystal slabs.

Photonic crystal slabs have been widely used in nanophotonics for light confinement, dispersion engineering, nonlinearity enhancement, and other unusual effects arising from their structural periodicity. Sub-micron device sizes and mode volumes are routine for silicon-based photonic crystal slabs, however spectrally they are limited to operate in the near infrared. Here, we show that two single-layer graphene sheets allow silicon photonic crystal slabs with submicron periodicity to operate in the terahertz regime, with an extreme 100× wavelength reduction from graphene's large kinetic inductance.

Kinetic inductance driven nanoscale 2D and 3D THz transmission lines.

We examine the unusual dispersion and attenuation of transverse electromagnetic waves in the few-THz regime on nanoscale graphene and copper transmission lines. Conventionally, such propagation has been considered to be highly dispersive, due to the RC time constant-driven voltage diffusion below 1 THz and plasmonic effects at higher optical frequencies. Our numerical modeling across the microwave, THz, and optical frequency ranges reveals that the conductor kinetic inductance creates an ultra-broadband linear-dispersion and constant-attenuation region in the THz regime.

Robust reconfigurable electromagnetic pathways within a photonic topological insulator.

The discovery of topological photonic states has revolutionized our understanding of electromagnetic propagation and scattering. Endowed with topological robustness, photonic edge modes are not reflected from structural imperfections and disordered regions. Here we demonstrate robust propagation along reconfigurable pathways defined by synthetic gauge fields within a topological photonic metacrystal.

Topologically protected elastic waves in phononic metamaterials.

Surface waves in topological states of quantum matter exhibit unique protection from backscattering induced by disorders, making them ideal carriers for both classical and quantum information. Topological matters for electrons and photons are largely limited by the range of bulk properties, and the associated performance trade-offs. In contrast, phononic metamaterials provide access to a much wider range of material properties.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Oceanimonas sp. GK1 Isolated from Gavkhouni Wetland (Iran) Demonstrates Presence of Genes for Virulence and Pathogenicity.

Objective: The bacterium Oceanimonas sp. (O. sp.