Active Components Research Articles

Research Progress in the Composition and Performance of Mn-Based Low-Temperature Selective Catalytic Reduction Catalysts

NH3 selective catalytic reduction (NH3-SCR) is the most prevalent and effective method for removing nitrogen oxides. Over the past few decades, manganese (Mn)-based catalysts have demonstrated strong catalytic activity and have been extensively studied for low-temperature NH3-SCR reactions. This paper provides an in-depth introduction to four forms of Mn-based catalysts: single manganese oxide-based catalysts, binary Mn-based metal oxide catalysts, ternary and multivariate Mn-based metal oxide catalysts, and nano-Mn-based catalysts. Advances have been made in enhancing Mn-based catalysts’ redox performance and acidity, increasing the active component’s dispersion, lowering binding energy, enlarging specific surface area, raising the Mn4+/Mn3+ ratio, and enriching surface adsorbed oxygen by optimizing preparation methods, altering the oxidation state of active components, modifying crystal phases, and adjusting morphology and dispersion, along with various metal modifications. The mechanism of low-temperature NH3-SCR reactions has been elucidated using various characterization techniques. Finally, the research directions and future prospects of Mn-based catalysts for low-temperature NH3-SCR reactions are discussed, aiming to accelerate the commercial application of new Mn-based catalysts.

Flavonoids of Euphorbia hirta inhibit inflammatory mechanisms via Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways.

Euphorbia hirta has anti-inflammatory effects in traditional medicine, but its anti-inflammatory mechanism has not been explored at the cellular and molecular levels. To unravel these mechanisms, the main active components in the 65 and 95% ethanol extracts of Euphorbia hirta were first identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Subsequently, potential anti-inflammatory targets and signaling pathways were predicted using network pharmacology and experimentally validated using RT-PCR and flow cytometry in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model of RAW264.7 cells. The results revealed flavonoids as the key active components. Network pharmacology uncovered 71 potential anti-inflammation targets, with a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network highlighting 8 cores targets, including IL-6, TNF, NFκB and Nrf2 et al. Furthermore, Euphorbia hirta exerts anti-inflammation effects through modulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Specifically, the 65% ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta (EE65) and quercitrin (HPG) exerted anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory genes associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway, whereas baicalein (HCS) suppressed cellular inflammation by promoting Nrf2-mediated antioxidant gene expression and enhancing apoptosis of inflammatory cells. The results of the study suggest that Euphorbia hirta has potential for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Insight into the Corrosion Inhibition Performance of Pistia stratiotes Leaf Extract as a Novel Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in 1 M HCl Solution

In this research, the Pistia stratiotes leaf (PSL) extract was evaluated as a green corrosion inhibitor for the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl using electrochemical measurements and surface characterization. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) spectra showed that the inhibitory activity of the phytochemical compounds enhanced with increasing concentration up to 400 ppm, which was reflected in the increase in the charge transfer resistance and double-layer capacitance. Regarding the effect of immersion time, EIS results indicated that the persistence of the PSL extract was between 4 h and 8 h of exposure time. From polarization curve (PCC) results, the best performance of the corrosion inhibitor was achieved at 400 ppm with an inhibition efficiency of 93.7%. The PSL extract acted as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor. The adsorption of the phytomolecules on the metal surface obeyed the Langmuir isotherm through a mixed mechanism (physical and chemical interactions) dominated by physisorption. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elemental analysis of the corroded samples confirmed the anticorrosive protection of the PSL extract. Chemical characterization of the PSL extract by GC-MS revealed the presence of phytol, steroids, and aromatic and long-chain unsaturated fatty acid esters, in order of abundance. Chemical quantum calculations by DFT allowed for determining that the phthalic acid, di(2-propylpentyl) ester compound has the most significant potential to act as the main active component in corrosion inhibition activity.

Awareness And Current Knowledge Of Medicinal Plants

Abstract Objectives This research attempts to investigate the historical applications of plants for therapeutic reasons, follow the development of these applications, and comprehend the influence of artificial methods on the use of medicinal plants. Methods The study involves the examination of antique writings from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and the Islamic world, as well as a 5,000-year-old Sumerian clay tablet discovered in Nagpur. The study examined historical reports of a number of therapeutic plants, including Glycyrrhiza glabra, Cupressus sempervirens, Commiphora myrrha, Cedrus duham, and Papaver somniferum. It also looked at how improved methods of separating active plant components were developed in the early 19th century, as opposed to more crude treatments like tinctures and powders. Key Findings Historical evidence reveals that ancient cultures used a wide variety of plants for medicinal reasons, preparing them in different ways. The development of synthetic methods in the 19th century completely changed the manufacture of pharmaceuticals by making it possible to replicate active ingredients precisely and in large quantities. With more than 250,000 plant species recognized, nature's wide diversity of plant metabolites highlights the importance of plants in both traditional and contemporary medicine. Conclusions The development of contemporary synthetic approaches from traditional plant-based medicines serves as an example of how far medicine has come. While modern techniques have increased the effectiveness and scalability of medicinal manufacturing, the historical usage of plants demonstrates a profound grasp of their curative potential. The vast diversity of plant metabolites continues to be important for health and medicine despite advancements in synthetic approaches, highlighting the ongoing importance of natural resources in pharmaceutical research.

Enabling Efficient Oxygen Evolution via Anchoring Carbon-Layer-Confined RuOx on a Well-Matched Substrate.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a multistep proton-coupled four-electron process with sluggish kinetics, which seriously limits the hydrogen production efficiency, thus it is of great importance to develop an efficient and stable OER catalyst. In this study, a two-step differential pyrolysis strategy is employed to design a three-dimensional porous microstructured material consisting of RuOx nanoparticles coated by a thin-layer carbon, where the active particles were isolated in separate chambers and the RuOx nanoparticles mainly existed in the form of a heterogeneous interface between RuO2 and partial metallic Ru. The preparation parameters of the catalysts are optimized via combining transient and steady-state polarization properties, and the target catalyst Cat-500-1.5t shows the best OER catalytic performance after ca. 60 h of a chronopotentiometry test in an acidic medium with a much smaller performance change than other samples. The unique design of adopting a carbon layer to form separate reaction chambers largely mitigates the excessive oxidation loss of the active components under strong oxidation potential. The suitability of the catalyst with the loaded substrate and test media is explored, and in an acidic medium, the carbon paper is much better than the titanium fiber, while in an alkaline medium, the titanium fiber is obviously superior to the carbon paper. On both carbon paper and titanium fiber, the performance in an alkaline medium outperforms that in an acidic medium, and the possible reasons for the performance difference are analyzed. Herein, to obtain the actual electrocatalytic performance, the optimal design of the catalyst structure and matching suitable conductive substrate in a specific medium are quite necessary, which provides a feasible strategy for the acquisition of efficient and stable electrocatalysts and the desirable presentation of performance.

Utilizing Waste Biomass from Agricultural and Forestry Sustainable Resources: Biomass Conversion to Functional Adsorbent Material for Efficient Removal of Total Phosphate in Practical Water.

The promotion of the utilization of waste agricultural and forestry resources (AFRs) as a means of combating environmental pollution represents an advanced and necessary development approach with the potential to achieve sustainable development. In this work, an advanced adsorbent with a functional Mg-Al bimetallic layer was prepared using waste sawdust biomass (WSD) as a raw material. The layer serves as the primary active component for adsorbing total phosphate from both simulated and real wastewater. The hierarchical structure of the Mg-Al bimetallic hydroxide-modified waste sawdust biomass (MA@WSD) has an abundance of nanosheets on its surface, providing ample binding sites and an enhanced specific surface area of 175.99 m2/g. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum removal efficiency toward phosphate can reach 99.99%. The adsorption of phosphate by MA@WSD follows the pseudo-second order kinetic (PSOK) model, indicating that chemisorption is the rate-determining step. Moreover, the thermodynamic data demonstrate the spontaneous nature of the adsorption process, indicating the favorable characteristics of the developed material. The adsorption mechanism can be summarized as the collaboration of physical adsorption, electrostatic interaction, and chemical adsorption. The results of the regeneration process indicate that MA@WSD exhibits a retention of 50.3% of its initial adsorption performance following the fifth testing cycle, thereby suggesting its potential for comparable reusability. The MA@WSD performs well in adsorbing total phosphate in real river water, and the removal efficiency of MA@WSD is evidently superior to commercial activated carbon, which is at least 70% higher than that of the commercial activated carbon. Besides, the 5-time average removal efficiency toward total phosphate by MA@WSD is 62.9%, evidently higher than the 29.1% of commercially available activated carbon, indicating its potential as an alternative for treating phosphorus-containing wastewater. The research provides theoretical support for harmless treatment, resource utilization, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction of waste biomass.

Learning-associated astrocyte ensembles regulate memory recall.

The physical manifestations of memory formation and recall are fundamental questions that remain unresolved1. At the cellular level, ensembles of neurons called engrams are activated by learning events and control memory recall1-5. Astrocytes are found in close proximity to neurons and engage in a range of activities that support neurotransmission and circuit plasticity6-10. Moreover, astrocytes exhibit experience-dependent plasticity11-13, although whether specific ensembles of astrocytes participate in memory recall remains obscure. Here we show that learning events induce c-Fos expression in a subset of hippocampal astrocytes, and that this subsequently regulates the function of the hippocampal circuitin mice. Intersectional labelling of astrocyte ensembles with c-Fos after learning events shows that they are closely affiliated with engram neurons, and reactivation of these astrocyte ensembles stimulates memory recall. At the molecular level, learning-associated astrocyte (LAA) ensembles exhibit elevated expression of nuclear factor I-A, and its selective deletion from this population suppresses memory recall. Taken together, our data identify LAA ensembles as a form of plasticity that is sufficient to provoke memory recall and indicate that astrocytes are an active component of the engram.

Pyrolysis-Free Synthesis of Synergistic Single-Atom/Nanocluster Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution.

Constructing catalysts that simultaneously containing single atom/metal nanocluster active sites is a promising strategy to enhance the original catalytic behavior and accelerate the catalysis involving multi-electron reactions or multi-intermediates. Herein, the pyrolysis-free synthetic method is developed to integrate single atoms and nanoclusters towards highly satisfactory catalytic performances for both acidic and alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis. The controllable pyrolysis-free strategy allows the precise modulation of the active centers, realizing the optimization of the adsorption energy and the regulation of the synergistic active components. Specially, the as-prepared catalysts with hybrid single-atom/nanocluster sites exhibited superior catalytic activities for hydrogen evolution in both acidic and alkaline media with low over-potentials at -10 mA cm-2 of 25 mV and 8.6 mV, respectively, combining with outstanding durability towards high current density and methanol poisoning. This work developed a universal synthetic strategy for the single atom/nanocluster synergy systems and further demonstrated the superiority of heterogeneous components.

Clinical, pharmacology and in vivo studies of QingDai (indigo naturalis) promotes mucosal healing and symptom improvement in ulcerative colitis by regulating the AHR-Th17/Treg pathway.

Qingdai (QD), derived from various plant sources, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment. However, the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of orally administered QD remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate QD's efficacy in UC treatment and uncover its active components and mechanisms. A randomized controlled trial compared QD to Adisa, followed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and network pharmacology analyses to identify QD's core components and targets. In vivo experiments on a UC mouse model explored QD's impact on the AHR-Th17/Treg pathway using PCR, WB, ELISA, and flow cytometry. Results showed QD's efficacy in UC treatment, with mucosal healing and remission comparable to Adisa. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified 16 core components in mouse colon tissue, with network pharmacology revealing 67 targets, potentially involving the IL-17 signaling pathway and Th17 cell differentiation. QD and its components up-regulated AHR, CYP1A1, and Foxp3, while down-regulating RORγt. Additionally, QD modulated pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-17A) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10, TGF-β1) factors, and Treg/Th17 cell ratios in LPMC. Oral QD administration effectively promoted mucosal healing and improved UC symptoms, potentially through AHR-Th17/Treg pathway regulation.

Frequency Selective Surfaces: Design, Analysis, and Applications

This paper aims to provide a general review of the fundamental ideas, varieties, methods, and experimental research of the most advanced frequency selective surfaces available today. Frequency-selective surfaces are periodic structures engineered to work as spatial filters in interaction with electromagnetic (EM) waves with different frequencies, polarization, and incident angles in a desired and controlled way. They are usually made of periodic elements with dimensions less than the operational wavelength. The primary issue examined is the need for more efficient, compact, and adaptable electromagnetic filtering solutions. The research method involved a comprehensive review of recent advancements in FSS design, focusing on structural diversity, miniaturization, multiband operations, and the integration of active components for tunability and reconfigurability. Key findings include the development of highly selective miniaturized FSSs, innovative applications on flexible and textile substrates, and the exploration of FSSs for liquid and strain sensing. The conclusions emphasize the significant potential of FSS technology to enhance wireless communication, environmental monitoring, and defense applications. This study provides valuable insights into the design and application of FSSs, aiming to guide future research and development in this dynamic field.

Therapeutic potential of hyaluronic acid hydrogel combined with bone marrow stem cells-conditioned medium on arthritic rats’ TMJs

Conditioned media (CM) is derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) culture and contains biologically active components. CM is easy to handle and reduces inflammation while repairing injured joints. Combination therapy of the CM with cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) could ameliorate the beneficial effect of HA in treating degenerative changes of articulating surfaces associated with arthritic rats’ temporomandibular joints (TMJs). This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of HA hydrogel combined with bone marrow stem cells-conditioned medium (BMSCs-CM) on the articulating surfaces of TMJs associated with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into five equal groups. Rats of group I served as the negative controls and received intra-articular (IA) injections of 50 µl saline solution, whereas rats of group II were subjected to twice IA injections of 50 µg CFA in 50 µl; on day 1 of the experiment to induce persistent inflammation and on day 14 to induce arthritis. Rats of group III and IV were handled as group II and instead, they received an IA injection of 50 µl HA hydrogel and 50 µl of BMSCs-CM, respectively. Rats of group V were given combined IA injections of 50 µl HA hydrogel and BMSCs-CM. All rats were euthanized after the 4th week of inducing arthritis. The joints were processed for sectioning and histological staining using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome and toluidine blue special staining, and immunohistochemical staining for nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). SPSS software was used to analyze the data and one-way analysis of variance followed by post-hoc Tukey statistical tests were used to test the statistical significance at 0.05 for alpha and 0.2 for beta. In the pooled BMSC-CM, 197.14 pg/ml of platelet-derived growth factor and 112.22 pg/ml of interleukin-10 were detected. Compared to TMJs of groups III and IV, TMJs of group V showed significant improvements (P = 0.001) in all parameters tested as the disc thickness was decreased (331.79 ± 0.73), the fibrocartilaginous layer was broadened (0.96 ± 0.04), and the amount of the trabecular bone was distinctive (19.35 ± 1.07). The mean values for the collagen amount were increased (12.29 ± 1.38) whereas the mean values for the NF-κB expression were decreased (0.62 ± 0.15). Combination therapy of HA hydrogel and BMSCs-CM is better than using HA hydrogel or BMSCs-CM, separately to repair degenerative changes in rats’ TMJs associated with CFA-induced arthritis.

Twisted Metasurfaces for On‐Demand Focusing Localization

AbstractDynamic focusing of electromagnetic (EM) waves is a cornerstone in various applications, encompassing aerospace communication, sensing, and high‐resolution imaging. Recently, the advent of intelligent metasurfaces, hailed as the next evolutionary step, has revolutionized self‐adaptive functionalities. However, their extensive embeddings of active components pose a great challenge associated with escalated costs, heightened power consumption, and increased complexity, thus hindering large‐scale implementation. Here, a cost‐effective approach for dynamic EM focusing utilizing a twisted metasurface is introduced, which integrates a transmissive layer with a reflective layer in a cascade fashion. This innovative design leverages the mutual rotation between two layers to enable the precise manipulation of beam propagation and scanning area, allowing for the flexible localization of the focal point across a wide range, spanning −44.17° to 44.17° in elevation and 0° to 360° in azimuth. This capability is underpinned by the strategic fusion of multiple phase profiles, including gradient and Gaussian phase. In the experiment, a goal‐oriented system is built up whose outcomes demonstrate a striking alignment with the simulated results, achieving a correlation coefficient of 96.7%. This work presents a streamlined pathway toward dynamic EM focusing and the related applications constrained by space and power limitations.

Rapid Screening of Active Components with Thrombin Inhibitory Activity from Peach Kernel Based on Affinity Ultrafiltration coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

Peach kernel (PK), one of the medicinal and edible plants, has been widely used in the treatment of clinical thrombotic diseases and exhibited great therapeutic effects. However, the effective substances and targets are still obscure. A method consisting of affinity ultrafiltration (AUF) coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was established to rapidly screen active components that inhibit thrombin, a key mediator in coagulation cascade. The binding energy and sites were analyzed by molecular docking to evaluate the binding capacity of thrombin-ligand complexes, and the thrombin inhibitory activity of screened ligands was further validated via in vitro and in vivo tests. two potential thrombin ligands (L-arginine and cytidine) were screened by AUF-HPLC and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The ligands with anti-thrombin structure exhibited great affinity with thrombin. The anticoagulant bioactivity of ligands was validated by a significant reduction in thrombosis in zebrafish tails and the potential mechanism could be related to direct inhibition of thrombin. The systematic screening of anti-thrombin active components in PK based on AUF-UPLC-Q-TOF-MS is a feasible and effective method, providing valuable information for the future development of direct thrombin inhibitors.

A Spray-Dried Self-Stabilizing Nanocrystal Emulsion of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Preparation, Characterization and ex vivo Intestinal Absorption

AbstractSalvia miltiorrhizae (Danshen, the rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.) and Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong, the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) are two traditional Chinese medicines that have been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, formulation development is difficult due to the complexity of the active ingredients, particularly the water-insoluble tanshinones and volatile oil of Chuanxiong rhizome, which cannot be absorbed via oral administration in conventional dosage forms. This study aimed to develop a self-stabilized nanocrystal emulsion co-loading the water-soluble, insoluble, and volatile active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhizae and Chuanxiong rhizome to improve the bioavailability of the drugs. In this work, a high-pressure homogenization method was used to prepare a self-stabilizing nanocrystal emulsion. The emulsion was then spray-dried using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. The dispersibility and storage stability of the spray-dried emulsion, the particle size and morphology of the emulsion droplets, and the drug content and phase distribution of the reconstituted emulsion were evaluated. An everted intestinal sac model was established, and high-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the concentration of six active components (ferulic acid, salvianolic acid B, senkyunolide A, ligustilide, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA) and to assess the cumulative uptake amount of the drug and the apparent permeability coefficient. A mixture of the crude materials of tanshinones extract, total salvianolic acid, ferulic acid, and volatile oil of Ligusticum Chuanxiong was used as a control. The results showed that the spray-dried emulsion can be easily reconstituted into a uniform submicron emulsion with no significant changes in particle size, morphology, and microstructure of the emulsion droplets compared with the original emulsion before drying. The self-stabilizing nanocrystal emulsion significantly improved the intestinal absorption of water-insoluble components (tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, and ferulic acid), and volatile oil components (senkyunolide A and ligustilide). Overall, the spray-dried self-stabilizing nanocrystal emulsion represents a potential oral formulation for Salvia miltiorrhiza and Chuanxiong rhizoma.

Study on the Mechanism of Raspberry (Rubi fructus)in Treating Type 2 Diabetes Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation.

The aim of this study is to analyze the chemical composition of raspberry using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, predict the potential effects of raspberry in treating type 2 diabetes through network pharmacology, and conduct preliminary validation through invitro experiments. A Waters CORTECS C18 column (3.0 mm × 100 mm, 2.7 μm) was used; mobile phase A consisted of 0.1% formic acid in water and mobile phase B consisted of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Gradient elution was performed with full-scan mode in both positive and negative ion modes, covering a mass range of m/z 100-1500. The chemical components of raspberry were analyzed and identified based on secondary spectra from databases and relevant literature. The disease targets related to type 2 diabetes were searched, and protein-protein interaction network analysis as well as gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on the intersecting targets of the active components of raspberry and the disease. HepG2 cells were used for experimental validation, with high glucose-induced insulin resistance models established. The CCK-8 method was employed to assess the effects of raspberry on cell proliferation, while Western blotting was used to measure the expression of proteins related to the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway. A total of 47 components were identified, including 10 organic acids, 15 flavonoids, 12 phenols, 2 alkaloids, 4 terpenoids, 1 miscellaneous compound, 1 stilbene, 1 steroid and its derivatives, and 1 diterpenoid. Through database screening, seven active components were identified: kaempferol, epicatechin, ellagic acid, crocetin, stigmasterol, fisetin, and isorhamnetin. KEGG and GO results indicated that the therapeutic effects of raspberry on type 2 diabetes may be related to the advanced glycation end product (AGE)- receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) signaling pathway. Establishment of an insulin resistance model in HepG2 cells demonstrated that, compared to the control group, the raspberry treatment group upregulated p53 protein expression while downregulating the expression of RAGE, Akt1, and Caspase-3 proteins. This study preliminarily elucidates that the therapeutic effects of raspberry in treating type 2 diabetes may be mediated through the inhibition of the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, providing important references for the study of the pharmacological basis and clinical application of raspberry.

Development of Pupils', Students' and Cadets Value Attitude to Health-Preserving Activities by Means of Combat Horting

The co-authors of the scientific publication carried out the research and described the results by means of a survey of 9th grade athletes from 34 sports clubs in Ukraine (n=807), research students of the State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University (n=92), and practicing students of the State Tax University (n=32), who were involved in the development of mini-projects on health promotion activities, conducting training in combat horting in natural conditions, experimental extracurricular health activities, writing qualification papers on the topic of research and participating in conferences of various levels, including international ones, monitoring activities during combat horting classes and extracurricular activities). The aim of the study is to practically test the efficiency of educating pupils', students' and cadets value attitude to health-preserving activities by means of combat horting. The basis of the study was the development of research skills through the method of analyzing student researchers; improvement of practical skills of pupils and students who participated as combat sport athletes and student practitioners, assistant coaches from 2020 to 2024. Results of the research. The co-authors of the research group developed and implemented a set of goals for educating pupils', students' and cadets to cultivate a value-based attitude to health promotion; developed questionnaires and conducted a survey among pupils and students; identified components, criteria and indicators for developing a value-based attitude of pupils', students' and cadets to health promotion; and presented practical recommendations. Moreover, the respondents acted as coaches, which promoted the development of soft skills and the ability of teamwork. Conclusions: This study contributed to the coordination of teamwork between pupils, students, teachers/coaches; aimed at improving the quality of professional and practical training of higher education students and their career development. Consequently, it is necessary to focus on the practical component of educational and research activities in higher education institutions, improvement of the educational and training process in sports clubs of Ukraine, based on the domestic and foreign experience of prominent experts.

Cryobiological aspects of upscaling cryopreservation for encapsulated liver cell therapies

For the efficient delivery of a cell therapy a treatment must be provided rapidly, at clinical scale, contain a sufficient active cellular component (biomass), and adhere to a multitude of regulatory requirements. Cryopreservation permits many of these demands to be met more readily. Here we present the cryopreservation and recovery of large volume (2.5L) alginate encapsulated liver cell spheroids (AELS), suitable for use with a novel bioartificial liver device (HepatiCan™) for the treatment of those suffering from acute liver failure (ALF), in regulatory approved cryobags and a cryopreservation process optimised for large volumes. By first assessing the thermal profiles of large scale cryobags with a thermal mimic, the feasibility of cryopreserving a full patient dose simultaneously (3x cryobags containing 833 ml biomass each) was investigated, allowing for small and subsequently large-scale testing of cellular functional recoveries. Work presented here demonstrates that optimised reproducible cooling and warming profiles could be achieved with these large volumes, leading to high biomass recoveries at full clinical scale. The recovered AELS also had high regeneration potential, achieving full pre-freeze viable cell densities within 3 days, indicating that the cell therapy could be delivered rapidly to patients with ALF. This study has presented the feasibility for rapid delivery of large volume cell therapies, whilst further research into improved speed of post-thaw recovery is warranted.

Spatial and temporal variation of water reflectance in an Amazonian estuary: a case study around Tatuoca Island

Abstract. Studies of water color are related to its optically active components, including suspended sediments. The correlation of this parameter with reflectance data is well documented in the literature, to understand its concentrations and transport in the water body. The spatio-temporal variations of water color in an estuary are affected by various physical and hydrological components, which makes it complex to understand. In this study, we sought to understand the spatio-temporal variation of water color, for sampling purposes, in an estuary on the Amazon coast. To achieve our objectives, we applied geostatistical and statistical tools to test the spatio-temporal variability of water color, based on multisensor reflectance data, Landsat-8/9 and Sentinel-2 in the red band. The spatial variation showed distances of more than 48 m ±4.26 at high tide and 44 m ±7.62 at low tide. For the temporal variation, we found that the monthly variations are significant according to seasonality and have the same variation at different stages of the tide. Therefore, the color of the water in the Tatuoca Island region shows geostatistically and statistically significant spatio-temporal variation. The distances and temporal frequency of sampling should be adjusted according to the tides and seasonality to ensure that data is sampled in accordance with the variations in the environment.

The exploration of active components of 701 Dieda Zhentong patch and analgesic properties on chronic constriction injury rats.

An increasing number of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) have been confirmed to possess analgesic bioactivity. 701 Dieda Zhentong patch(701-DZP) which includes 14 kinds of TCMs exhibited excellent efficacy in alleviating back or leg pain after a soft-tissue injury. In this study, UPLC/MS was used to construct the fingerprint of 701-DZP and excavate the potential bioactive ingredients of it. 21 compounds were detected and identified in the fingerprint including 12 compounds that pass through the skin and 6 compounds observed in the plasma. Then, the role of 701-DZP in neuropathic pain(NPP) was assessed by network pharmacology and CCI rats. 701-DZP inhibited pain sensitization(MWT and TWL) and the release of inflammation mediators(IL-1β and IL-6) in CCI rats which were in keeping with the core targets of the PPI network. The results of IHC and Western blot showed that the expression of the P2X3 receptor in the DRG and SC of CCI rats was significantly reduced after the treatment with 701-DZP. Moreover, the 701-DZP down-regulated the level of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 MAPK instead of P38 MAPK in the DRG of CCI rats. In conclusion, this study has clarified 6 potential analgesic active compounds of 701-DZP and explored the analgesic properties, which may inhibit the expression of the P2X3 receptor to reduce the release of inflammatory mediators based on the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway to alleviate the NPP.

An Integrated Approach to Identify the Q-Markers of Banxia-Houpo Decoction Based on Nontargeted Multicomponent Profiling, Network Pharmacology, and Chemometrics.

The inherent complexity of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) poses significant challenges in directly correlating quality evaluation with clinical efficacy. Banxia-Houpo Decoction (BHD), a classical TCM formula, has demonstrated efficacy in treating globus hystericus. However, the intricate composition of BHD, which contains both volatile and non-volatile active components, complicates efforts to ensure its consistent quality and clinical effectiveness. The aim of this study was to introduce an integrated approach that combines non-targeted multicomponent analysis, network pharmacology, and multivariate chemometrics to identify quality markers for the effective quality control of BHD. First, a nontargeted high-definition MSE method based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) was developed for the comprehensive multi-component characterization of BHD. Next, the quality markers of nonvolatile compounds in BHD were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Subsequently, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in BHD samples were analyzed via headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS). Finally, the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model was applied to screen for potential markers. Based on in-house library-driven automated peak annotation and comparison with 25 reference compounds, 128 components were identified for the first time. Additionally, honokiol, magnolol, magnoflorine, 6-gingerol, rosmarinic acid, and adenosine were preliminarily identified as potential quality markers for BHD through network pharmacology analysis. By employing two complementary techniques, HS-SPME-GC-MS and HS-GC-IMS, a total of 145 volatile compounds was identified in the BHD samples. Four potential differential VOCs in the BHD samples were further identified based on the variable importance in projection (VIP ≥ 1.5) using HS-GC-IMS combined with chemometric analysis. In conclusion, this study not only contributes to establishing quality standards for BHD but also offers new insights into quality assessment and identification in the development of classical formulations enriched with volatile components.