Electrospinning of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Fibers Loaded with Chlorophyll for Antibacterial Purposes.

This work is devoted to the creation of biocompatible fibrous materials with a high antimicrobial effect based on poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and chlorophyll (Chl). The data obtained show the possibility of obtaining fibrous materials from PHB and Chl by electrospinning methods. The obtained electrospun matrices were investigated by the SEM, DSC and FTIR methods.

Crystallinity as a factor of SERS stability of silver nanoparticles formed by Ar irradiation.

The plasmonic sensors based on silver nanoparticles are limited in application due to their relatively fast degradation in the ambient atmosphere. The technology of ion-beam modification for the creation of monocrystalline silver nanoparticles (NPs) with stable plasmonic properties will expand the application of silver nanostructures. In the present study, highly-stable monocrystalline NPs were formed on the basis of a thin silver film by low-energy ion irradiation.

Life Cycle of Functional All-Green Biocompatible Fibrous Materials Based on Biodegradable Polyhydroxybutyrate and Hemin: Synthesis, Service Life, and the End-of-Life via Biodegradation.

This article addresses the entire life cycle of the all-green fibrous materials based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) containing a natural biocompatible additive Hemin (Hmi): from preparation, service life, and the end of life upon in-soil biodegradation. Fibrous PHB/Hmi materials with a highly developed surface and interconnected porosity were prepared by electrospinning (ES) from Hmi-containing feed solutions. Structural organization of the PHB/Hmi materials (porosity, uniform structure, diameter of fibers, surface area, distribution of Hmi within the PHB matrix, phase composition, etc.

Molecularly stratified hypothalamic astrocytes are cellular foci for obesity.

Astrocytes safeguard the homeostasis of the central nervous system. Despite their prominent morphological plasticity under conditions that challenge the brain's adaptive capacity, the classification of astrocytes, and relating their molecular make-up to spatially devolved neuronal operations that specify behavior or metabolism, remained mostly futile. Although it seems unexpected in the era of single-cell biology, the lack of a major advance in stratifying astrocytes under physiological conditions rests on the incompatibility of 'neurocentric' algorithms that rely on stable developmental endpoints, lifelong transcriptional, neurotransmitter, and neuropeptide signatures for classification with the dynamic functional states, anatomic allocation, and allostatic plasticity of astrocytes.

Knockdown of Hyaluronan synthase 2 suppresses liver fibrosis in mice via induction of transcriptomic changes similar to 4MU treatment.

Hepatic fibrosis remains a significant clinical challenge due to ineffective treatments. 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU), a hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis inhibitor, has proven safe in phase one clinical trials. In this study, we aimed to ameliorate liver fibrosis by inhibiting HA synthesis.

Biomimetic Materials Based on Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and Chlorophyll Derivatives.

Electrospinning of biomimetic materials is of particular interest due to the possibility of producing flexible layers with highly developed surfaces from a wide range of polymers. Additionally, electrospinning is characterized by a high simplicity of implementation and the ability to modify the produced fibrous materials, which resemble structures found in living organisms. This study explores new electrospun materials based on polyhydroxyalkanoates, specifically poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, modified with chlorophyll derivatives.

Grabbing neuropeptide signals in the brain.

Bioengineered sensors resolve the dynamics of neuropeptide action.

Temperature-Dependent Structural and Electrical Properties of Metal-Organic CVD MoS Films.

Metal-Organic CVD method (MOCVD) allows for deposition of ultrathin 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) films of electronic quality onto wafer-scale substrates. In this work, the effect of temperature on structure, chemical states, and electronic qualities of the MOCVD MoS films were investigated. The results demonstrate that the temperature increase in the range of 650 °C to 950 °C results in non-monotonic average crystallite size variation.

Neuronal diversity of neuropeptide signaling, including galanin, in the mouse locus coeruleus.

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a small nucleus in the pons from which ascending and descending projections innervate major parts of the central nervous system. Its major transmitter is norepinephrine (NE). This system is evolutionarily conserved, including in humans, and its functions are associated with wakefulness and related to disorders, such as depression.

Stabilization of the Nano-Sized 1T Phase through Rhenium Doping in the Metal-Organic CVD MoS Films.

Heterogeneous nanostructures composed of metastable tetragonal 1T-MoS and stable hexagonal 2H-MoS phases are highly promising for a wide range of applications, including catalysis and ion batteries, due to the high electrical conductivity and catalytic activity of the 1T phase. However, a controllable synthesis of stabilized 1T-MoS films over the wafer-scale area is challenging. In this work, a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process allowing us to obtain ultrathin MoS films containing both 1T and 2H phases and control their ratio through rhenium doping was suggested.

Enhanced Tribological Performance of Low-Friction Nanocomposite WSeS/NP-W Coatings Prepared by Reactive PLD.

A novel laser-based method for producing nanocomposite coatings consisting of a tungsten sulfoselenide (WSeS) matrix and W nanoparticles (NP-W) was developed. Pulsed laser ablation of WSe was carried out in HS gas under appropriate laser fluence and reactive gas pressure. It was found that moderate sulfur doping (S/Se ~0.

4-Methylumbelliferone Targets Revealed by Public Data Analysis and Liver Transcriptome Sequencing.

4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) is a well-known hyaluronic acid synthesis inhibitor and an approved drug for the treatment of cholestasis. In animal models, 4MU decreases inflammation, reduces fibrosis, and lowers body weight, serum cholesterol, and insulin resistance. It also inhibits tumor progression and metastasis.

Charophytes (Charophyceae, Charales) of South Kazakhstan: Diversity, Distribution, and Tentative Red List.

The presented research was conducted during 2019-2022 in south and southeast Kazakhstan to document the species richness, distribution, and ecology of charophytes (Characeae) as a first step towards to estimate the need for species protection. Across the 54 sites, we found ten species and one variety. Linnaeus and A.

Tribological Properties of WS Thin Films Containing Graphite-like Carbon and Ni Interlayers.

The development and production of thin-film coatings having very low friction is an urgent problem of materials science. One of the most promising solutions is the fabrication of special nanocomposites containing transition-metal dichalcogenides and various carbon-based nanophases. This study aims to explore the influence of graphite-like carbon (g-C) and Ni interface layers on the tribological properties of thin WS films.

[Surgical treatment of a patient with stage v multinodular toxic goiter, severe thyrotoxicosis, strangulation syndrome and severe comorbidities].

The authors describe thyroidectomy in a patient with multinodular toxic goiter stage V, severe thyrotoxicosis complicated by thyro-cardiac disease, strangulation syndrome and severe comorbidities. Nodular euthyroid goiter was first diagnosed in 1992, and resection of the right thyroid lobe was performed. Progressive enlargement of thyroid gland and thyrotoxicosis occurred after coronavirus infection in February, 2020.

Neglected problem: Influence of school bag on lumbar segment in children.

Background And Objectives: School bag (SB) load causes significant changes in the height and symmetry of the intervertebral discs at each level of the spine from T12-L1 to L5-S1. This study aims to determine the change in the size of the lumbar segment angle at a particularly critical point L3-L4 of the spine in relation to the load of the average weight of SB in healthy male children (students) at standing and after 2-minute gait.

Methods: 47 boys, aged 12.

Trends in Morphological Characteristics among 7- and 11-Year-Old Serbian Children: A Comparison between 1990 and 2020.

Since knowledge possession about the morphological characteristics trend is important to understand, it is necessary to monitor the physical growth and children's development. We have aimed to examine the current state, dynamics, and direction of changes in morphological characteristics, over a 30-year period in Serbian children and adolescents. Morphological characteristics measured in 2020 ( = 304; age 7 ± 6 and 11 ± 6) were compared with the results of same-age children and adolescents from 1990 ( = 1789).

A hypothalamic dopamine locus for psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion in mice.

The lateral septum (LS) has been implicated in the regulation of locomotion. Nevertheless, the neurons synchronizing LS activity with the brain's clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) remain unknown. By interrogating the molecular, anatomical and physiological heterogeneity of dopamine neurons of the periventricular nucleus (PeVN; A14 catecholaminergic group), we find that Th/Dat1 cells from its anterior subdivision innervate the LS in mice.

Pulsed Laser Phosphorus Doping and Nanocomposite Catalysts Deposition in Forming a-MoS/NP-Mo//np-Si Photocathodes for Efficient Solar Hydrogen Production.

Pulsed laser deposition of nanostructured molybdenum sulfide films creates specific nonequilibrium growth conditions, which improve the electrocatalytic properties of the films in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The enhanced catalytic performance of the amorphous a-MoS (2 ≤ ≤ 3) matrix is due to the synergistic effect of the Mo nanoparticles (Mo-NP) formed during the laser ablation of a MoS target. This work looks at the possibility of employing a-MoS/NP-Mo films (4 and 20 nm thickness) to produce hydrogen by photo-stimulated HER using a p-Si cathode.

Synthesis of Titanium Nitride Nanoparticles by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Different Aqueous and Organic Solutions.

Owing to a strong photothermal response in the near-IR spectral range and very low toxicity, titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL) present a novel appealing object for photo-induced therapy of cancer, but the properties of these NPs still require detailed investigation. Here, we have elaborated methods of femtosecond laser ablation from the TiN target in a variety of liquid solutions, including acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, acetone, water, and HO, to synthesize TiN NPs and clarify the effect of liquid type on the composition and properties of the formed NPs. The ablation in all solvents led to the formation of spherical NPs with a mean size depending on the liquid type, while the composition of the NPs ranged from partly oxidized TiN to almost pure TiO, which conditioned variations of plasmonic peak in the region of relative tissue transparency (670-700 nm).

Gestational immune activation disrupts hypothalamic neurocircuits of maternal care behavior.

Immune activation is one of the most common complications during pregnancy, predominantly evoked by viral infections. Nevertheless, how immune activation affects mother-offspring relationships postpartum remains unknown. Here, by using the polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) model of gestational infection we show that viral-like immune activation at mid-gestation persistently changes hypothalamic neurocircuit parameters in mouse dams and, consequently, is adverse to parenting behavior.

Topological phase singularities in atomically thin high-refractive-index materials.

Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) present a promising platform for numerous photonic applications due to excitonic spectral features, possibility to tune their constants by external gating, doping, or light, and mechanical stability. Utilization of such materials for sensing or optical modulation purposes would require a clever optical design, as by itself the 2D materials can offer only a small optical phase delay - consequence of the atomic thickness. To address this issue, we combine films of 2D semiconductors which exhibit excitonic lines with the Fabry-Perot resonators of the standard commercial SiO/Si substrate, in order to realize topological phase singularities in reflection.