Using the Radial Distribution Function to Analyze Atomic Force Microscopy Images of Colloidal Systems.

Biomacromolecules generally exist and function in aqueous media. Is it possible to estimate the state and properties of molecules in an initial three-dimensional colloidal solution based on the structure properties of biomolecules adsorbed on the two-dimensional surface? Using atomic force microscopy to study nanosized objects requires their immobilization on a surface. Particles undergoing Brownian motion in a solution significantly reduce their velocity near the surface and become completely immobilized upon drying.

Antimicrobial and Oxidative Activities of Different Levels of Silver-Exchanged Zeolites X and ZSM-5 and Their Ecotoxicity.

Objectives: The antimicrobial, oxidative activities, and ecotoxicity of synthesized silver-loaded zeolites (X and ZSM-5(MFI), Si-to-Al ratios 12 and 25) were studied, linking antimicrobial properties to material structure and released active silver species.

Methods: The materials were characterized by SEM, EDX, TEM, and XRPD. All materials, with a silver content of 1-3%wt for the Ss and about 35%wt for the X-zeolites, were tested against and .

Automatic and strategic components of bilingual lexical alignment.

Second-language speakers are more likely to strategically reuse the words of their conversation partners (Zhang & Nicol, 2022). This study investigates if this is also the case for lower-proficiency bilinguals from a bilingual community, who use language more implicitly, and if there is more alignment with lower than with higher proficiency, provided the words to be aligned to are all highly familiar. In two experiments, Spanish-English bilinguals took turns with a confederate to name and match pictures in Spanish.

Passive acoustic monitoring for seabed bubble flows: Case of shallow methane seeps at Laspi Bay (Black Sea).

This research quantifies the gas release rate from a natural shallow methane seep site in the Laspi Bay (Black Sea), whose origin is thermocatalytic. An adaptive single bubble identification technique was applied to analyze gas volume and release rates from passive acoustic data. Gas from the seafloor was emitted by single bubbles that occurred in clusters.

Update vulval dermatology - diagnostics and therapy.

The vulva is a periorificial skin area and as such represents a transitional zone with unique functional and physiological characteristics. Knowledge of its anatomy is limited among both the general population and healthcare professionals, and unrealistic expectations of normal proportions are common. Ignorance of anatomical variations can cause unnecessary anxiety.

Beneficial and Safety Properties of a Bacteriocinogenic and Putative Probiotic subsp. 2a Strain.

This work aimed to evaluate some of the probiotic features and safety of the bacteriocin-producing subsp. 2a. The effect of selected commercial drugs from different generic groups and antibiotics on the growth of subsp.

Optical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Si/PVP Hybrid Material Combined with Antibiotics.

Silica-poly (vinylpyrrolidone) hybrid material was prepared using the sol-gel method. Tetramethyl ortosilane (TMOS) was used as a silica precursor. XRD analysis established that the as-prepared material is amorphous.

Association Between Zinc Status and Insulin Resistance/Sensitivity Check Indexes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered the most common metabolic disorder of the pregnancy period. It is characterized by pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction in the setting of chronic insulin resistance. Zinc is a nutrient involved in numerous metabolic processes and shows a relationship with glycometabolic disorders and GDM.

[Onychopapilloma : Diagnosis and surgical treatment of a rare nail tumor].

We report on two cases of nail tumors associated with onychorrhexis, distal V‑shaped onycholysis, and subungual keratosis. Surgical exposure was performed in each case to confirm the diagnosis. Histopathological examination revealed skin changes consistent with onychopapilloma.

Effect of the stability of 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)-2-oxapropane complexes on the separation of lanthanide ions and their detection.

Phosphoryl podands of neutral type with a flexible ethylene glycol chain and diphenylphosphorylmethyl end groups are known for their complexation properties towards various cations. In this work, the complexation process between 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)-2-oxapropane (L) and lanthanide ions was studied. Namely, the stability constants of lanthanide complexes with L in acetonitrile were estimated by the method of spectrophotometric titration.

Registration of activity of a single molecule of horseradish peroxidase using a detector based on a solid-state nanopore.

This work demonstrates the use of a solid-state nanopore detector to monitor the activity of a single molecule of a model enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP). This detector includes a measuring cell, which is divided into cis- and trans- chambers by a silicon nitride chip (SiN structure) with a nanopore of 5 nm in diameter. To entrap a single HRP molecule into the nanopore, an electrode had been placed into the cis-chamber; HRP solution was added into this chamber after application of a negative voltage.

AFM-fishing technology for protein detection in solutions.

The review considers the possibility of using atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a basic method for protein detection in solutions with low protein concentrations. The demand for new bioanalytical approaches is determined by the problem of insufficient sensitivity of systems used in routine practice for protein detection. Special attention is paid to demonstration of the use in bioanalysis of a combination of AFM and fishing methods as an approach of concentrating biomolecules from a large volume of the analyzed solution on a small surface area.

Lexically-specific syntactic restrictions in second-language speakers.

In two structural priming experiments, we investigated the representations of lexically-specific syntactic restrictions of English verbs for highly proficient and immersed second language (L2) speakers of English. We considered the interplay of two possible mechanisms: generalization from the first language (L1) and statistical learning within the L2 (both of abstract structure and of lexically-specific information). In both experiments, L2 speakers with either Germanic or Romance languages as L1 were primed to produce dispreferred double-object structures involving non-alternating dative verbs.

Citrulline activates adenosine receptors: New insight into metabolic pathways interaction.

Citrulline is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that forms as by-product in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis from arginine and may act in concert with NO as an independent signaling molecule that involves in the mechanism of vascular smooth muscle vasodilation. In this study we examined the effects of citrulline on pulmonary artery smooth muscles. Experimental design comprised outward potassium currents measurements in enzymatically isolated rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASMc) cells using whole-cell patch clamp technique, isometric contractile force recordings on rat pulmonary artery rings and method of molecular docking simulation.

Structures and Functions of the Human GATOR1 Complex.

Eukaryotic cells coordinate available nutrients with their growth through the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway, in which numerous evolutionarily conserved protein complexes survey and transmit nutrient inputs toward mTORC1. mTORC1 integrates these inputs and activates downstream anabolic or catabolic programs that are in tune with cellular needs, effectively maintaining metabolic homeostasis. The GAP activity toward Rags-1 (GATOR1) protein complex is a critical negative regulator of the mTORC1 pathway and, in the absence of amino acid inputs, is activated to turn off mTORC1 signaling.

Bee-Associated Beneficial Microbes-Importance for Bees and for Humans.

Bees are one of the best-known and, at the same time, perhaps the most enigmatic insects on our planet, known for their organization and social structure, being essential for the pollination of agricultural crops and several other plants, playing an essential role in food production and the balance of ecosystems, being associated with the production of high-value-added inputs, and a unique universe in relation to bees' microbiota. In this review, we summarize information regarding on different varieties of bees, with emphasis on their specificity related to microbial variations. Noteworthy are fructophilic bacteria, a lesser-known bacterial group, which use fructose fermentation as their main source of energy, with some strains being closely related to bees' health status.

Sol-Gel Synthesis of Silica-Poly (Vinylpyrrolidone) Hybrids with Prooxidant Activity and Antibacterial Properties.

The present work deals with the sol-gel synthesis of silica-poly (vinylpyrrolidone) hybrid materials. The nanohybrids (Si-PVP) have been prepared using an acidic catalyst at ambient temperature. Tetramethyl ortosilane (TMOS) was used as a silica precursor.

Age-specific and compartment-dependent changes in mitochondrial homeostasis and cytoplasmic viscosity in mouse peripheral neurons.

Mitochondria are dynamic bioenergetic hubs that become compromised with age. In neurons, declining mitochondrial axonal transport has been associated with reduced cellular health. However, it is still unclear to what extent the decline of mitochondrial transport and function observed during ageing are coupled, and if somal and axonal mitochondria display compartment-specific features that make them more susceptible to the ageing process.

Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Long-Term Effect of the Glycerol Flow, Stopped in a Coiled Heat Exchanger, on Horseradish Peroxidase.

Glycerol is employed as a functional component of heat-transfer fluids, which are of use in both bioreactors and various biosensor devices. At the same time, flowing glycerol was reported to cause considerable triboelectric effects. Herein, by using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we have revealed the long-term effect of glycerol flow, stopped in a ground-shielded coiled heat exchanger, on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) adsorption on mica.

A time-correlated single photon counting SPAD array camera with a bespoke data-processing algorithm for lightsheet fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and FLIM videos.

A wide-field microscope with epi-fluorescence and selective plane illumination was combined with a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array camera to enable live-cell fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) using time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). The camera sensor comprised of pixels, each integrating a single SPAD and a time-to-digital converter. Jointly, they produced a stream of single-photon images of photon arrival times with accuracy.

Agar Graft Modification with Acrylic and Methacrylic Acid for the Preparation of pH-Sensitive Nanogels for 5-Fluorouracil Delivery.

Agar, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, has been modified by grafting it with acrylic (AcA) and methacrylic (McA) acid monomers, resulting in acrylic or methacrylic acid grafted polymer (AA-g-AcA or AA-g-McA) with pH-sensitive swelling behavior. Different ratios between agar, monomers, and initiator were applied. The synthesized grades of both new polymer series were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, NMR, TGA, DSC, and XRD to ascertain the intended grafting.

Sialic acids in infection and their potential use in detection and protection against pathogens.

In structural terms, the sialic acids are a large family of nine carbon sugars based around an alpha-keto acid core. They are widely spread in nature, where they are often found to be involved in molecular recognition processes, including in development, immunology, health and disease. The prominence of sialic acids in infection is a result of their exposure at the non-reducing terminus of glycans in diverse glycolipids and glycoproteins.