Topologically Close-Packed Frank-Kasper C15 Phase Intermetallic Ir Alloy Electrocatalysts Enables High-Performance Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer.

Chemical synthesis of unconventional topologically close-packed intermetallic nanocrystals (NCs) remains a considerable challenge due to the limitation of large volume asymmetry between the components. Here, a series of unconventional intermetallic Frank-Kasper C15 phase IrM (M = rare earth metals La, Ce, Gd, Tb, Tm) NCs is successfully prepared via a molten-salt assisted reduction method as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Compared to the disordered counterpart (A1-IrCe), C15-IrCe features higher Ir-Ce coordination number that leads to an electron-rich environment for Ir sites.

Direct comparison of colorimetric signal amplification techniques in lateral flow immunoassays.

The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is widely adopted for point-of-care testing, but its limit of detection (LoD) falls short of that of laboratory-based immunoassays. Several techniques have been proposed to enhance the LoD of LFIAs using visual colorimetric readouts, yet a direct comparison of the LoDs achieved by these techniques has not been performed. In this work, we measure the LoDs of LFIAs designed for the detection of a malaria protein, PfHRP2, using four different colorimetric signal generation techniques: (i) AuNP(40 nm)-tagged detection antibodies (base case), (ii) AuNP-based enhancement of AuNP(40 nm) signal, (iii) oxidation of chloronaphthol/diaminobenzidine (CN/DAB) using HRP-tagged detection antibodies, and (iv) oxidation of CN/DAB using polyHRP(400)-tagged detection antibodies.

Experimental investigations of dual functional substrate integrated waveguide antenna with enhanced directivity for 5G mobile communications.

Antennas with higher gain and efficiency deliver superior performance across a wide frequency range. Achieving these characteristics at high frequencies while keeping a compact size necessitates sophisticated design approaches. This research presents a substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity-backed slotted patch antenna (SPA) tailored for the 28 GHz and 34 GHz frequency bands.

Design of dual mode antenna using CMA and broadband dual-polarized antenna for 5G networks.

This article proposes a dual mode dual-polarized antenna configuration for IRNSS and fifth generation (5G) applications, operating at a frequency of 3.5 GHz based on characteristic mode analysis (CMA), and aims to provide broadband dual-polarized functionality. The original design of the antenna is a traditional patch antenna, and its dual-polarized features are determined using characteristic mode analysis.

Experimental investigation of a dual mode antenna using characteristic mode analysis with enhanced directivity for GSM/5G applications.

In this article, a dual-mode, dual-polarized antenna designed using characteristic mode analysis (CMA) is described. An elliptical-shaped patch radiator is chosen with double slits on its minor axis. This design is based on mode separation from the circular patch into the elliptical patch.

Tailoring Zirconia Supported Intermetallic Platinum Alloy via Reactive Metal-Support Interactions for High-Performing Fuel Cells.

Developing efficient and anti-corrosive oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is of great importance for the applications of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, we report a novel approach to prepare metal oxides supported intermetallic Pt alloy nanoparticles (NPs) via the reactive metal-support interaction (RMSI) as ORR catalysts, using Ni-doped cubic ZrO (Ni/ZrO) supported L1-PtNi NPs as a proof of concept. Benefiting from the Ni migration during RMSI, the oxygen vacancy concentrations in the support are increased, leading to an electron enrichment of Pt.

Digital microfluidics with distance-based detection - a new approach for nucleic acid diagnostics.

There is great enthusiasm for using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in point-of-care nucleic acid amplification tests (POC NAATs), as an alternative to PCR. While isothermal amplification techniques like LAMP eliminate the need for rapid temperature cycling in a portable format, these systems are still plagued by requirements for dedicated optical detection apparatus for analysis and manual off-chip sample processing. Here, we developed a new microfluidic system for LAMP-based POC NAATs to address these limitations.

Defining putative tertiary sulci in lateral prefrontal cortex in chimpanzees using human predictions.

Similarities and differences in brain structure and function across species are of major interest in systems neuroscience, comparative biology, and brain mapping. Recently, increased emphasis has been placed on tertiary sulci, which are shallow indentations of the cerebral cortex that appear last in gestation, continue to develop after birth, and are largely either human or hominoid specific. While tertiary sulcal morphology in lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) has been linked to functional representations and cognition in humans, it is presently unknown if small and shallow LPFC sulci also exist in non-human hominoids.

Regulating the Coordination Environment of Single-Atom Catalysts Anchored on Thiophene Linked Porphyrin for an Efficient Nitrogen Reduction Reaction.

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a promising strategy to resolve high energy consumption in the nitrogen industry. Recently, the regulation of the electronic structure of single-atom catalysts (SACs) by adjusting their coordination environment has emerged as a rather promising strategy to further enhance their electrocatalytic activity. Herein, we design novel SACs supported by thiophene-linked porphyrin (TM-N/TP and TM-NB/TP, where TM = Sc to Au) as potential NRR catalysts using density functional theory calculations.

Pharmacoinformatics-based screening of active compounds from Vitex negundo against lymphatic filariasis by targeting asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase.

Context: Lymphatic filariasis, generally called as elephantiasis, is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by the filarial nematodes, mainly Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, which are transmitted through mosquitoes. The infection affects the normal flow of lymph leading to abnormal enlargement of body parts, severe pain, permanent disability, and social stigma. Due to the development of resistance as well as toxic effects, existing medicines for lymphatic filariasis are becoming ineffective in killing the adult worms.

Hydrogen-Bond-Donor-Directed Switching of Enantioselectivity in the Vinylogous Aldol-Cyclization Cascade Reaction of Prostereogenic 3-Alkylidene Oxindoles with Isatins and -Quinones.

In this study, we reported a hydrogen-bond-donor-directed enantiodivergent vinylogous aldol-cyclization cascade reaction of 3-alkylidene oxindoles with isatins and -quinones. Both enantiomers can be prepared by thiourea or squaramide cinchona alkaloid bifunctional organocatalysts with the same quinine scaffold. Kinetic study data provided the possible reaction mechanism for the vinylogous aldol-cyclization cascade reaction.

Paper-microfluidic signal-enhanced immunoassays.

Over the past decade, paper-based microfluidic devices have become popular for their simplicity and ability to conduct diagnostic tests at a low cost. An important class of diagnostic assays that paper-based analytical devices have been used for is immunoassays. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), of which the home pregnancy test is the most prominent example, has been one of the most commercially successful membrane-based diagnostic tests.

Cytomorphometric Study of Changes in Buccal Mucosal Cells in Alcoholics.

Background: Chronic alcohol consumption carries a high risk for oral and pharyngeal cancers among persons who have never smoked. Excessive alcohol consumption displays cytogenetic changes in oral mucosa cells. Cytomorphometric analysis of oral mucosal cells helps in the early detection of cytomorphological transformations in alcoholics before and after the onset of carcinoma.

Synthesis, density functional theory (DFT) studies and urease inhibition activity of chiral benzimidazoles.

A variety of benzimidazole by the heterocyclization of orthophenylenediamine were synthesized in 69-86% yields. The synthesized compounds and were characterized and further investigated as jack bean urease inhibitors. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were performed utilizing the basis set B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) to acquire perception into their structural properties.

Experimental Measurement of Parameters Governing Flow Rates and Partial Saturation in Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices.

Paper-based microfluidic devices are rapidly becoming popular as a platform for developing point-of-care medical diagnostic tests. However, the design of these devices largely relies on trial and error, owing to a lack of proper understanding of fluid flow through porous membranes. Any porous material having pores of multiple sizes contains partially saturated regions, i.

Inhibition of Osteoclast Differentiation by Ginsenoside Rg3 in RAW264.7 Cells via RANKL, JNK and p38 MAPK Pathways Through a Modulation of Cathepsin K: An In Silico and In Vitro Study.

Various studies have demonstrated that overexpression of cathepsin K (Cat-K) causes excessive bone loss, which ultimately leads to a variety of bone diseases including osteoporosis. Therefore, inhibition of Cat-K signifies a potential therapeutic target in osteoporosis treatment. Ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the most promising compound of Panax ginseng Meyer (P.

Ginsenoside F2 possesses anti-obesity activity via binding with PPARγ and inhibiting adipocyte differentiation in the 3T3-L1 cell line.

Abstract Panax ginseng Meyer has been shown to be effective in mitigating various diseases. Protopanaxadiols (PPD) and protopanaxatriols (PPT), which are the main constituents of ginseng, have been shown to impact obesity. Therefore, we selected several important ginsenosides to perform our docking study and determine if they had binding affinity with the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), which is a major transcription factor in adipocytes.

Ginseng saponins and the treatment of osteoporosis: mini literature review.

The ginseng plant (Panax ginseng Meyer) has a large number of active ingredients including steroidal saponins with a dammarane skeleton as well as protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol, commonly known as ginsenosides, which have antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-adipocyte, and sexual enhancing effects. Though several discoveries have demonstrated that ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) as the most important therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis, yet the molecular mechanism of its active metabolites is unknown. In this review, we summarize the evidence supporting the therapeutic properties of ginsenosides both in vivo and in vitro, with an emphasis on the different molecular agents comprising receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, as well as the bone morphogenetic protein-2 and Smad signaling pathways.

Identification of BACE1 inhibitors from Panax ginseng saponins-An Insilco approach.

BACE1, a β secretase candidate enzyme, initiates the Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis via amyloid β (Aβ) peptide production serving as a potential therapeutic target. Previous experimental evidence suggested that ginsenosides, a key component of Panax ginseng, are effective against AD. In this study, we implemented a molecular modeling method to reveal the inhibitory action of ginsenosides on BACE1 activity.

Computer-aided identification of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors using ginsenosides from Panax ginseng.

Natural products have served as structural resources in the history of drug discovery for cancer therapy. Among these natural products, Korean Panax ginseng serves as a potential anti-cancer medicinal plant. To determine the anti-cancer activities of Korean P.

Molecular docking studies of anti-apoptotic BCL-2, BCL-XL, and MCL-1 proteins with ginsenosides from Panax ginseng.

Anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2, BCL-XL and MCL-1 bind with pro-apoptotic proteins to induce apoptosis mechanism. BCL-2 family proteins are key regulators of apoptosis process. Over expression of these anti-apoptotic proteins lead to several cancers by preventing apoptosis.

TNAURice: Database on rice varieties released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

WE DEVELOPED, TNAURICE: a database comprising of the rice varieties released from a public institution, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, India. Backed by MS-SQL, and ASP-Net at the front end, this database provide information on both quantitative and qualitative descriptors of the rice varities inclusive of their parental details. Enabled by an user friendly search utility, the database can be effectively searched by the varietal descriptors, and the entire contents are navigable as well.