Ordered Mesoporous Silica Prepared with Biodegradable Gemini Surfactants as Templates for Environmental Applications.

Mesoporous silica sieves have been prepared through sol-gel synthesis using diester gemini surfactants as pore templates, aiming to obtain new materials with potential use for water remediation. A series of mesoporous spherical silica particles of submicron size have been prepared in an alkali-catalyzed reaction, using a tetraethyl orthosilicate precursor and bis-quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants with diester spacers of varied lengths as pore-forming agents. The effect of the spacer length on the particle morphology was studied using nitrogen porosimetry, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), ultra-small-angle neutron scattering, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM).

Investigation of the Interaction of Ionic Surfactants with Epoxy-Based Hydrogels by SANS.

We investigated the effect of two ionic surfactants on the composition and structure of hydrogels obtained by swelling an epoxy amphiphilic polymer network (APN) using a combination of gravimetry and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Stoichiometric epoxy APN was synthesized by the reaction of diamino and diepoxy-terminated polypropylene (POP) and polyoxyethylene (POE). Sub- and supercritical solutions of surfactants with either cationic (myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) or anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)) headgroups in heavy water were used in the preparation of the hydrogels.

Insights into the electroactive impact of magnetic nanostructures in PVDF composites small-angle neutron scattering.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is technologically relevant due to its thermal stability; chemical, mechanical and radiation resistance; transparency; biocompatibility; and ease of processing. Several of those applications are related to its high electroactivity, for which the β-phase of the polymer is its most renowned protagonist. In this context, extensive research has been conducted on the crystallization of PVDF in the β-phase, when processed from melt and from solution.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB notifications in Ukraine in 2020.

Background: We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB notifications in Ukraine, stratified by multiple subgroups.

Design/methods: We analyzed data from Ukraine's National TB Program from January 2015 to December 2020 using interrupted time series models. We compared observed cases to counterfactual estimated cases had the pandemic not occurred and estimated trends through December 2020 nationally and by various demographics.

The surface charge of electroactive materials governs cell behaviour through its effect on protein deposition.

The precise mechanisms underlying the cellular response to static electric cues remain unclear, limiting the design and development of biomaterials that utilize this parameter to enhance specific biological behaviours. To gather information on this matter we have explored the interaction of collagen type-I, the most abundant mammalian extracellular protein, with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), an electroactive polymer with great potential for tissue engineering applications. Our results reveal significant differences in collagen affinity, conformation, and interaction strength depending on the electric charge of the PVDF surface, which subsequently affects the behaviour of mesenchymal stem cells seeded on them.

Phage Display in Cancer Research: Special Issue Editorial.

Soon after its birth in 1985, following a short lag period [...

Simulation to become a better neurosurgeon. An international prospective controlled trial: The Passion study.

Introduction: Surgical training traditionally adheres to the apprenticeship paradigm, potentially exposing trainees to an increased risk of complications stemming from their limited experience. To mitigate this risk, augmented and virtual reality have been considered, though their effectiveness is difficult to assess.

Research Question: The PASSION study seeks to investigate the improvement of manual dexterity following intensive training with neurosurgical simulators and to discern how surgeons' psychometric characteristics may influence their learning process and surgical performance.

Circadian tumor infiltration and function of CD8 T cells dictate immunotherapy efficacy.

The quality and quantity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, particularly CD8 T cells, are important parameters for the control of tumor growth and response to immunotherapy. Here, we show in murine and human cancers that these parameters exhibit circadian oscillations, driven by both the endogenous circadian clock of leukocytes and rhythmic leukocyte infiltration, which depends on the circadian clock of endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment. To harness these rhythms therapeutically, we demonstrate that efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and immune checkpoint blockade can be improved by adjusting the time of treatment during the day.

Phage Display's Prospects for Early Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most diagnosed cancer among men. It was observed that early diagnosis of disease is highly beneficial for the survival of cancer patients. Therefore, the extension and increasing quality of life of PC patients can be achieved by broadening the cancer screening programs that are aimed at the identification of cancer manifestation in patients at earlier stages, before they demonstrate well-understood signs of the disease.

Class 3 PI3K coactivates the circadian clock to promote rhythmic de novo purine synthesis.

Metabolic demands fluctuate rhythmically and rely on coordination between the circadian clock and nutrient-sensing signalling pathways, yet mechanisms of their interaction remain not fully understood. Surprisingly, we find that class 3 phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), known best for its essential role as a lipid kinase in endocytosis and lysosomal degradation by autophagy, has an overlooked nuclear function in gene transcription as a coactivator of the heterodimeric transcription factor and circadian driver Bmal1-Clock. Canonical pro-catabolic functions of class 3 PI3K in trafficking rely on the indispensable complex between the lipid kinase Vps34 and regulatory subunit Vps15.

Proliferation, migration, and resistance to oxidative and thermal stresses of HT1080 cells with knocked out genes encoding Hsp90α and Hsp90β.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) fulfils essential housekeeping functions in the cell associated with the folding, stabilization, and turnover of various proteins. In mammals, there exist two Hsp90 isoforms, stress-inducible Hsp90α and constitutively expressed Hsp90β. In an attempt to identify cellular processes dependent on Hsp90α and Hsp90β, we generated a panel of clones of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells with the knocked out HSP90AA1 or HSP90AB1 genes encoding, respectively, Hsp90α and Hsp90β.

Lipid metabolism around the body clocks.

Lipids play important roles in energy metabolism along with diverse aspects of biological membrane structure, signaling and other functions. Perturbations of lipid metabolism are responsible for the development of various pathologies comprising metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Accumulating evidence suggests that circadian oscillators, operative in most cells of our body, coordinate temporal aspects of lipid homeostasis.

Multiple carbon cycle mechanisms associated with the glaciation of Marine Isotope Stage 4.

Here we use high-precision carbon isotope data (δC-CO) to show atmospheric CO during Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4, ~70.5-59 ka) was controlled by a succession of millennial-scale processes. Enriched δC-CO during peak glaciation suggests increased ocean carbon storage.

The intriguing dose-dependent effect of selected amphiphilic compounds on insulin amyloid aggregation: Focus on a cholesterol-based detergent, Chobimalt.

The amyloidogenic self-assembly of many peptides and proteins largely depends on external conditions. Among amyloid-prone proteins, insulin attracts attention because of its physiological and therapeutic importance. In the present work, the amyloid aggregation of insulin is studied in the presence of cholesterol-based detergent, Chobimalt.

Application of Artificial Intelligence to Assess the Risks of Simultaneous Operations for Patients with Concomitant Atherosclerotic Damage of Coronary and Carotid Arteries.

Unlabelled: is to assess the possibility of using artificial intelligence to determine the most significant predictors of the operative correction outcomes for patients with damaged coronary and carotid arteries.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective study of the simultaneous (or single-stage) surgical intervention results has been carried out in patients with combined atherosclerotic damage of the coronary bed and cerebral arteries (n=42), which was severe and extensive. The parameters which may be predictors of the cardiovascular risk were analyzed using the TADA program.

Molecular origin of structural defects in the zinc phthalocyanine film.

Controlling the growth of thin phthalocyanine films is a long-term challenge for the science of applied nanomaterials. So, this contribution deals with films of unsubstituted zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and seeks to acquire structural information that is unavailable physical experiments, thus, finding out how the film morphology can be seriously improved. A model of the vapor-deposited film has been created using the molecular dynamics method.

Type 2 diabetes disrupts circadian orchestration of lipid metabolism and membrane fluidity in human pancreatic islets.

Recent evidence suggests that circadian clocks ensure temporal orchestration of lipid homeostasis and play a role in pathophysiology of metabolic diseases in humans, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nevertheless, circadian regulation of lipid metabolism in human pancreatic islets has not been explored. Employing lipidomic analyses, we conducted temporal profiling in human pancreatic islets derived from 10 nondiabetic (ND) and 6 T2D donors.

Structure and Intermolecular Interactions in Aqueous Solutions of Polyethylene Glycol.

Aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol are studied by small-angle neutron scattering over a broad range of polymer molecular masses and concentrations. The scattering data were modeled by a Gaussian chain form factor combined with random phase approximation, which provided good fits over the whole studied concentration range. The results showed that polyethylene glycol in the molecular mass range 0.

Missed Tuberculosis Diagnoses: Analysis of Pediatric Autopsy Data From General Hospitals in Lviv, Ukraine.

We reviewed autopsy data from general hospitals in Lviv, Ukraine to understand pediatric mortality due to tuberculosis (TB). We identified 14 (0.6%) of 2345 autopsied children with unrecognized or untreated TB.

Phage-Displayed Mimotopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Targeted to Authentic and Alternative Cellular Receptors.

The evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by the emergence of new heavily mutated viral variants with increased infectivity and/or resistance to detection by the human immune system. To respond to the urgent need for advanced methods and materials to empower a better understanding of the mechanisms of virus's adaptation to human host cells and to the immuno-resistant human population, we suggested using recombinant filamentous bacteriophages, displaying on their surface foreign peptides termed "mimotopes", which mimic the structure of viral receptor-binding sites on the viral spike protein and can serve as molecular probes in the evaluation of molecular mechanisms of virus infectivity. In opposition to spike-binding antibodies that are commonly used in studying the interaction of the ACE2 receptor with SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro, phage spike mimotopes targeted to other cellular receptors would allow discovery of their role in viral infection in vivo using cell culture, tissue, organs, or the whole organism.

Incidence and Mortality of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Ukraine: Analysis of National Surveillance Data.

Background: Improved understanding of the epidemiology and mortality risk factors of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) may facilitate successful diagnosis and management.

Methods: We analyzed national surveillance data from Ukraine to characterize EPTB subtypes (ie, localized in different anatomic sites). We calculated annual reported incidence, stratified by age, sex, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status.

The Impact of Redox, Hydrolysis and Dehydration Chemistry on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Magnetoferritin Prepared in Variable Thermal Conditions.

Ferritin, a spherically shaped protein complex, is responsible for iron storage in bacteria, plants, animals, and humans. Various ferritin iron core compositions in organisms are associated with specific living requirements, health state, and different biochemical roles of ferritin isomers. Magnetoferritin, a synthetic ferritin derivative, serves as an artificial model system of unusual iron phase structures found in humans.

Cotton Textile/Iron Oxide Nanozyme Composites with Peroxidase-like Activity: Preparation, Characterization, and Application.

At present, both native and immobilized nanoparticles are of great importance in many areas of science and technology. In this paper, we have studied magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their aggregates bound on woven cotton textiles employing two simple modification procedures. One modification was based on the treatment of textiles with perchloric-acid-stabilized magnetic fluid diluted with methanol followed by drying.

MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY APPROACH TO TACKLE TREATMENT FAILURE IN DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS (DR-TB).

Objective: The aim: To analyze molecular epidemiology features of M. tuberculosis in Kyiv oblast; and to identify the safest mode of TB treatment, which will allow clinicians to minimize the risk of drug-resistant strains nosocomial transmission.

Patients And Methods: Materials and methods: 55 isolates of M.