Short Peptides as Powerful Arsenal for Smart Fighting Cancer.

Short peptides have been coming around as a strong weapon in the fight against cancer on all fronts-in immuno-, chemo-, and radiotherapy, and also in combinatorial approaches. Moreover, short peptides have relevance in cancer imaging or 3D culture. Thanks to the natural 'smart' nature of short peptides, their unique structural features, as well as recent progress in biotechnological and bioinformatics development, short peptides are playing an enormous role in evolving cutting-edge strategies.

Improving Performance of Cluster Heads Selection in DEC Protocol Using K-Means Algorithm for WSN.

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have found more and more applications in remote control and monitoring systems. Energy management in the network is crucial because all nodes in the WSN are energy constrained. Therefore, the design and implementation of WSN protocols that reduce energy depletion in the network is still an open scientific problem.

Composition and Activities of Franch. & Sav. Essential Oils.

, a species native to China, Korea, Japan, and Russia, has been used medicinally in the countries of its origin. Though mono- and sesquiterpenoids are known constituents of , the complete analysis of essential oils produced by the roots and aerial parts of the plant has not been published until now. The present study discloses considerable differences in the composition and cytotoxic activity of essential oils distilled from roots and shoots of .

An experimental and computational investigation of the cyclopentene-containing peptide-derived compounds: focus on pseudo-cyclic motifs via intramolecular interactions.

Conformational flexibility is one of the main disadvantages of peptide-based compounds. We focus on their molecular 'chameleonicity' related to forming pseudo-cyclic motifs via modulation of weak intramolecular interactions. It is an appealing strategy for controlling equilibrium between the polar open and the nonpolar closed conformations.

Arabidopsis thaliana argininosuccinate lyase structure uncovers the role of serine as the catalytic base.

Arginine is an important amino acid in plants, as it not only plays a structural role and serves as nitrogen storage but is also a precursor for various molecules, including polyamines and proline. Arginine is produced by argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) which catalyzes the cleavage of argininosuccinate to arginine and fumarate. ASL belongs to the fumarate lyase family and while many members of this family were well-characterized, little is known about plant ASLs.

Effect of sodium L-lactate on bioactive properties of chitosan-hydroxyapatite/polycaprolactone conduits for peripheral nerve tissue engineering.

Biomaterials and synthetic polymers have been widely used to replicate the regenerative microenvironment of the peripheral nervous system. Chitosan-based conduits have shown promise in the regeneration of nerve injuries. However, to mimic the regenerative microenvironment, the scaffold structure should possess bioactive properties.

Assessment of the Interaction of Acetylcholinesterase Binding with Bioactive Compounds from Coffee and Coffee Fractions Digested in the Gastrointestinal Tract.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition by green and light- and dark-roasted coffee extracts and their fractions after digestion in a simulated gastrointestinal tract. The analysis was carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations. The results showed that 3--caffeoylquinic acid binds strongly to AChE through hydrogen interactions with the amino acids ARG289A, HIS440A, and PHE288A and hydrophobic interactions with TYR121A in the active site of the enzyme.

N-acyl glycines produced by commensal bacteria potentiate GLP-1 secretion as GPCR ligands.

Commensal microbiota is crucial for nutrient digestion and production of biologically active molecules, many of which mimic endogenous ligands of human GPCRs. Bacteroides spp. are among the most abundant bacteria residing in the human gut and their absence has been positively correlated with metabolic disorders.

Stapled peptides as potential therapeutics for diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

The field of peptide drug research has experienced notable progress, with stapled peptides featuring stabilized α-helical conformation, emerging as a promising field. These peptides offer enhanced stability, cellular permeability, and binding affinity and exhibit potential in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic disorders. Stapled peptides, through the disruption of protein-protein interactions, present varied functionalities encompassing agonism, antagonism, and dual-agonism.

A practical post-Hartree-Fock approach describing open-shell metal cluster-support interactions. Application to Cu adsorption on benzene/coronene.

Current advances in synthesizing and characterizing atomically precise monodisperse metal clusters (AMCs) at the subnanometer scale have opened up fascinating possibilities in designing new heterogeneous (photo)catalysts as well as functional interfaces between AMCs and biologically relevant molecules. Understanding the nature of AMC-support interactions at molecular-level is essential for optimizing (photo)catalysts performance and designing novel ones with improved properties. Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) is one of the most cost-efficient single-reference post-Hartree-Fock wave-function-based theories that can be applied to AMC-support interactions considering adequate molecular models of the support, and thus complementing state-of-the-art dispersion-corrected density functional theory.

The role of TiO and gCN bimetallic catalysts in boosting antibiotic resistance gene removal through photocatalyst assisted peroxone process.

Antibiotics are extensively used in human medicine, aquaculture, and animal husbandry, leading to the release of antimicrobial resistance into the environment. This contributes to the rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), posing a significant threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often fail to eliminate ARGs, prompting the adoption of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to address this growing risk.

Anisole-Water and Anisole-Ammonia Complexes in Ground and Excited (S) States: A Multiconfigurational Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) Study.

Binary complexes of anisole have long been considered paradigm systems for studying microsolvation in both the ground and electronically excited states. We report a symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) analysis of intermolecular interactions in anisole-water and anisole-ammonia complexes within the framework of the multireference SAPT(CAS) method. Upon the S ← S electronic transition, the hydrogen bond in the anisole-water dimer is weakened, which SAPT(CAS) shows to be determined by changes in the electrostatic energy.

The eco-evolutionary dynamics of two strategic species: From the predator-prey to the innocent-spreader rumor model.

Species frequently engage in both competitive and cooperative interactions, delicately balancing these dynamics to optimize their chances of survival and reproduction. While competition drives individuals to compete for limited resources, cooperation can emerge as a strategic response, mitigating risk and enhancing collective payoff. To bridge theoretical game approaches such as payoff, cooperation, and defections in ecological systems, we propose a two-species predator-prey model inspired by the principles and variations of the prisoner's dilemma game.

Bioactive Compounds Produced by Endophytic Bacteria and Their Plant Hosts-An Insight into the World of Chosen Herbaceous Ruderal Plants in Central Europe.

The natural environment has been significantly impacted by human activity, urbanization, and industrialization, leading to changes in living organisms and their adaptation to harsh conditions. Species, including plants, adapt to these changes by creating mechanisms and modifications that allow them to survive in harsh environments. Also, endophytes, microorganisms that live inside plants, can support plant growth and defense mechanisms in these conditions by synthesizing antimicrobial secondary metabolites.

Medical Applications and Cellular Mechanisms of Action of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels have been investigated in biomedical research because of their versatile properties that make them suitable for various medical applications. Key properties that are especially valuable for biomedical use include biocompatibility, tailored solid-like mechanical characteristics, biodegradability, antibacterial activity, moisture retention, and pH stimuli-sensitive swelling. These features offer advantages such as enhanced healing, promotion of granulation tissue formation, and facilitation of neutrophil migration.

Gelatin-Sodium Alginate Hydrogels Cross-Linked by Squaric Acid and Dialdehyde Starch as a Potential Bio-Ink.

Hydrogels as biomaterials possess appropriate physicochemical and mechanical properties that enable the formation of a three-dimensional, stable structure used in tissue engineering and 3D printing. The integrity of the hydrogel composition is due to the presence of covalent or noncovalent cross-linking bonds. Using various cross-linking methods and agents is crucial for adjusting the properties of the hydrogel to specific biomedical applications, e.

Sensors and Fault Diagnostics in Power System.

The adequate technical condition assessment of key apparatuses is a crucial assumption in the delivery of reliable and continuous electric power to customers [...

Sweet Flower Supercritical CO Extracts: Terpenes Composition, Pro-Inflammatory Enzymes Inhibition and Antioxidant Activity.

Terpenes are plant secondary metabolites known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. According to ethnobotanical knowledge, Sweet was used in traditional medicine against inflammation. The present study was conducted to determine the triterpene profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of supercritical CO (SC-CO) extracts of Sweet flower (RLF).

Flame Retardancy and Thermal Stability of Rigid Polyurethane Foams Filled with Walnut Shells and Mineral Fillers.

Recently, the influence of the concept of environmental sustainability has increased, which includes environmentally friendly measures related to reducing the consumption of petrochemical fuels and converting post-production feedstocks into raw materials for the synthesis of polymeric materials, the addition of which would improve the performance of the final product. In this regard, the development of bio-based polyurethane foams can be carried out by, among other things, modifying polyurethane foams with vegetable or waste fillers. This paper investigates the possibility of using walnut shells (WS) and the mineral fillers vermiculite (V) and perlite (P) as a flame retardant to increase fire safety and thermal stability at higher temperatures.

The Influence of Diatomite on the Sound Absorption Ability of Composites.

Diatomites are well-known mineral materials formed thousands of years ago from the skeletons of diatoms. They are found in many places around the world and have a wide range of applications. This article presents innovative research related to the possibility of using diatomite as a filler in composites to improve their sound absorption properties.

Isotopic Composition of C, N, and S as an Indicator of Endometrial Cancer.

Objectives: The metabolic pathway of cancerous tissue differs from healthy tissue, leading to the unique isotopic composition of stable isotopes at their natural abundance. We have studied if these changes can be developed into diagnostic or prognostic tools in the case of endometrial cancer.

Methods: Measurements of stable isotope ratios were performed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry for nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur isotopic assessment.

Identifying defects and varieties of Malting Barley Kernels.

This study introduces a comprehensive approach for classifying individual malting barley kernels, involving dual-sided kernel imaging, a specifically designed image processing algorithm, an optimized deep neural network architecture, and a mechanical sorting system. The proposed method achieves precise classification into multiple classes, aligning with quality standards for malting material assessment. Throughout the study, various image analysis techniques were assessed, including traditional feature engineering, established transfer learning deep neural network architectures, and our custom-designed convolutional neural network tailored for barley kernel image analysis.