Formation Of Small Aggregates Research Articles

Application insights of environmental catalysts: Synergistic effects of cellulose-based porogens and catalytic metal sites in toluene catalytic oxidation

Utilizing environmentally-friendly bacterial cellulose as a scaffold, a highly porous, layered OA-BC catalyst was synthesized through an enhanced sol-gel process. This catalyst demonstrated exceptional performance in the oxidation of toluene, outperforming conventional alternatives that utilize chemical porogens. The OA-BC catalyst efficiently degrades toluene at 220℃ with high stability and hydrophobicity, indicating resistance to deactivation. Its superior activity is due to increased oxygen vacancies, enhanced metal oxide cooperation, and a layered porous structure, which together enhance active oxygen species and oxygen diffusion. Calcination of the OA-BC catalyst results in molecular cleavage and formation of small aggregates, increasing hydroxyl groups that stabilize Cu and Ce centers, enhancing toluene-oxygen reactions. In-situ infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm stable monodentate Cu+ ligands, contributing to its high catalytic activity. This study introduces a novel approach by employing bacterial cellulose as a template for synthesizing a porous stratified OA-BC catalyst, demonstrating superior performance in toluene oxidation. The efficacy of catalyst results from a tripartite synergy involving the stratified porous architecture, the stabilizing effect of Cu+-coordinating ligands and hydroxyl groups, and the interplay of hydroxyl electron donors and acceptors, shedding light on environmentally benign catalyst development.

Therapeutic potential of Coumarin-polyphenolic acid hybrids in PD: Inhibition of α-Syn aggregation and disaggregation of preformed fibrils, leading to reduced neuronal inclusion formation

This study focuses on the discovery of new potential drugs for treating PD by targeting the aggregation of α-Syn. A series of hybrids combining Coumarin and phenolic acid were designed and synthesized. Four particularly promising compounds were identified, showing strong inhibitory effects with IC50 values ranging from low micromolar to submicromolar concentrations, as low as 0.63 μM. These compounds exhibited a higher binding affinity to α-Syn residues and effectively hindered the entire aggregation process, maintaining the proteostasis conformation of α-Syn and preventing the formation of β-sheet aggregates. This approach holds significant promise for PD prevention. Additionally, these candidate compounds demonstrated the ability to break down preformed α-Syn oligomers and fibrils, resulting in the formation of smaller aggregates and monomers. Moreover, the candidate compounds showed impressive effectiveness in inhibiting α-Syn aggregation within nerve cells, thereby reducing the likelihood of α-Syn inclusion formation resembling Lewy bodies, which highlights their potential for treating PD.

Study on the interaction and gel properties of pork myofibrillar protein with konjac polysaccharides.

Natural myofibrillar protein (MP) is sensitive to changes in the microenvironment, such as pH and ionic strength, and therefore can adversely affect the final quality of meat products. The aim of this study was to modify natural MP as well as to improve its functional properties. Therefore, the quality improvement effect of konjac polysaccharides with different concentrations (0, 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 g kg-1 protein) on MP gels was investigated. With a concentration of konjac polysaccharides of 6 g kg-1 protein, the composite gel obtained exhibited a significant improvement of water binding (water holding capacity increased by 7.71%) and textural performance (strength increased from 29.12 to 37.55 N mm, an increase of 8.43 N mm). Meanwhile, konjac polysaccharides could help to form more disulfide bonds and non-disulfide covalent bonds, which enhanced the crosslinking of MP and maintained the MP gel network structure. Then, with the preservation of α-helix structure (a significant increase of 8.11%), slower protein aggregation and formation of small aggregates, this supported the formation of a fine and homogeneous network structure and allowed a reduction in water mobility. During the heating process, konjac polysaccharides could absorb the surrounding water and fill the gel system, which resulted in an increase in the water content of the gel network and enhanced the gel-forming ability of the gel. Meanwhile, konjac polysaccharides might inhibit irregular aggregation of proteins and promote the formation of small aggregates, which in turn form a homogeneous and continuous gel matrix by orderly arrangement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The potential of Rhein's aromatic amines for Parkinson's disease prevention and treatment: α-Synuclein aggregation inhibition and disaggregation of preformed fibers

The aggregation of α-Syn is a pivotal mechanism in Parkinson's disease (PD). Effectively maintaining α-Syn proteostasis involves both inhibiting its aggregation and promoting disaggregation. In this study, we developed a series of aromatic amide derivatives based on Rhein. Two of these compounds, 4,5-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-2-carboxamide (a5) and 4,5-dihydroxy-N-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-2-carboxamide (a8), exhibited good binding affinities to α-Syn residues, demonstrating promising inhibitory activity against α-Syn aggregation in vitro, with low IC50 values (1.35 and 1.08 μM, respectivly). These inhibitors acted throughout the entire aggregation process by stabilizing α-Syn's conformation and preventing the formation of β-sheet aggregates. They also effectively disassembled preformed α-Syn oligomers and fibrils. Preliminary mechanistic insights indicated that they bound to the specific domain within fibrils, inducing fibril instability, collapse, and the formation of smaller aggregates and monomeric α-Syn units. This research underscores the therapeutic potential of Rhein's aromatic amides in targeting α-Syn aggregation for PD treatment and suggests broader applications in managing and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Role of interfacial flexibility in emulsifying ability of coconut protein isolate remodeled by pulsed light coupled with weak alkali cycling treatment

The interfacial flexibility of proteins is a crucial factor that affects their functional properties. In this study, we investigated the role of interfacial flexibility in the emulsifying ability of coconut protein isolate (CPI) treated by pulsed light coupled with weak alkali cycling (pH 7 → 9 → 7). After treatment, the structure of CPI was unfolded and re-folded, which resulted in the exposure of hydrophobic groups and the formation of smaller aggregates, with the change of secondary structure. Additionally, the S–S bond content increased while the free –SH content decreased. The interfacial flexibility of CPI-based samples at the oil-water interface was evaluated by dissipative quartz crystal microbalance and interfacial dilatational rheology. Compared to CPI, PCPI-9 (CPI treated by pulsed light coupled with pH 9 cycling) possessed a greater viscoelastic modulus and a smaller relaxation time. Meanwhile, the anti-perturbation ability was better than CPI. Then, microstructure, centrifugal stability and emulsifying properties of the O/W emulsions stabilized by CPI-based samples were measured. The results showed that emulsion stabilized by PCPI-9 had significant advantages in long-term stability. The emulsification stability (ESI) increased by 25.45 times compared to CPI. In conclusion, moderate pulsed light coupled with weak alkali cycling treatment could improve the emulsifying ability of CPI by remodeling its structure to change the interfacial flexibility. These results could provide an in-depth insight into the relationship between interfacial flexibility and emulsifying properties of coconut protein isolate.

Evaluation of tumor growth remission in a murine model for subcutaneous solid tumors – Benefits of associating the antitumor agent crotamine with mesoporous nanosilica particles to achieve improved dosing frequency and efficacy

Crotamine is a highly cationic polypeptide first isolated from South American rattlesnake venom, which exhibits affinity for acidic lysosomal vesicles and proliferating cells. This cationic nature is pivotal for its in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anticancer actions. This study aimed to enhance the antitumor efficacy of crotamine by associating it with the mesoporous SBA-15 silica, known for its controlled release of various chemical agents, including large proteins. This association aimed to mitigate the toxic effects while amplifying the pharmacological potency of several compounds. Comprehensive characterization, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis, confirmed the successful association of crotamine with the non-toxic SBA-15 nanoparticles. The TEM imaging revealed nanoparticles with a nearly spherical shape and variations in uniformity upon crotamine association. Furthermore, DLS showed a narrow unimodal size distribution, emphasizing the formation of small aggregates. Zeta potential measurements indicated a distinct shift from negative to positive values upon crotamine association, underscoring its effective adsorption onto SBA-15. Intraperitoneal or oral administration of crotamine:SBA-15 in a murine melanoma model suggested the potential to reduce the frequency of crotamine doses without compromising efficacy. Interestingly, while the oral route enhanced the antitumor efficacy of crotamine, pH-dependent release from SBA-15 was observed. Thus, associating crotamine with SBA-15 could reduce the overall required dose to inhibit solid tumor growth, bolstering the prospect of crotamine as a potent anticancer agent.

Triplet Formation in a 9,10-Bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene Dimer and Trimer Occurs by Charge Recombination Rather than Singlet Fission.

We present an experimental study investigating the solvent-dependent dynamics of a 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene monomer, dimer, and trimer. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we have discovered that triplet excited state formation in the dimer and trimer molecules in polar solvents is a consequence of charge recombination subsequent to symmetry-breaking charge separation rather than singlet fission. Total internal reflection emission measurements of the monomer demonstrate that excimer formation serves as the primary decay pathway at a high concentration. In the case of highly concentrated solutions of the trimer, we observe evidence of triplet formation without the prior formation of a charge-separated state. We postulate that this is attributed to the formation of small aggregates, suggesting that oligomers mimicking the larger chromophore counts in crystals could potentially facilitate singlet fission. Our experimental study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of the 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene system, elucidating the role of solvent- and concentration-dependent factors for triplet formation and charge separation.

Influence of pulse–wheat crop rotations on aggregate size distribution dynamics in the brown soil zone in southern Alberta, Canada

Diversification of conventional cereal-based cropping systems with pulse crops may aid producers to grow crops in an appropriate sequence and frequency with environmental, social, and economic benefits. This study examined the effects of including three pulse crops with different rooting depths (shallow- and deep-rooted) in wheat-based crop rotations on soil aggregate size distribution under semi-arid and rain-fed conditions. A 4 year cycle rotational study was established in Brooks, AB, using five selected treatments: continuous wheat, wheat alternately grown with lentil, field pea, or chickpea, or lentil and chickpea alternately grown with wheat. Soils were collected from 0–5 cm depth and dry-sieved to produce eight aggregate size classes, <0.053, 0.053–0.125, 0.125–0.149, 0.149–0.05, 0.05–1.0, 1.0–2.0, 2.0–6.35, and >6.35 mm. The continuous wheat treatment improved the macro-aggregates (>6.35 mm) development, whereas the rotations with pulse–wheat crops increased the micro- and meso-aggregates (0.50–1.0 and 0.15–0.5 mm) development. Soils sampled at 0–15 cm depth were used for soil organic matter and microbial analysis. The pulse–wheat rotations collectively had more light fraction organic matter (LFOM) than the continuous wheat, and chickpea alternated with wheat had the highest amount of LFOM in both years. All treatments had similar soil microbial biomass and microbial community composition. Our study underscores the contribution of pulse crops in cereal-based cropping systems in the formation of small aggregates.

Fiber support prevents colloid-facilitated contamination induced by dissolution-precipitation of a calcium phosphate adsorbent

During the adsorptive removal of hazardous metal contaminants, dissolution–precipitation of sparingly soluble adsorbents may result in the formation of toxic colloidal suspensions, triggering secondary pollution. Therefore, we studied the prevention of colloid-facilitated contamination in a model adsorption system of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD, CaHPO4·2H2O) and Cd2+ as an adsorbent and adsorbate. Upon adding pure DCPD powder into a 500 mg L−1 Cd2+ solution of pH ≌ 7.0, aggregates of spheroidal Cd-bearing primary particles, within 0.040–0.95 μm size range, were generated via dissolution–precipitation. The accumulated volume of these submicron particles (10.8%) was greater than that of the submicron particles from the exposure of DCPD to deionized water (4.48%). While the Cd-carrying submicron particles, which are responsible for colloidal recontamination, appeared to form via homogeneous nucleation, their formation was suppressed using polyacrylonitrile fibers (PANFs) as supporting substrates. Thus, heterogeneous nucleation on PANFs formed hexagonal columnar microparticles of a new phase, pentacadmium dihydrogen tetrakis (phosphate) tetrahydrate (Cd5H2(PO4)4·4H2O). Together with dissolution–precipitation on the native DCPD, nucleation and growth on the PANFs accelerated the depletion of the dissolved species, reducing the degree of supersaturation along the DCPD-water interface. Although the PANFs decreased the Cd adsorption capacity to 56.7% of that of DCPD, they prevented the formation of small aggregates of Cd-bearing particles. Other sparingly soluble adsorbents can be compounded with PANF to prevent the generation of toxic colloids.

Biosurfactants as Multifunctional Remediation Agents of Environmental Pollutants Generated by the Petroleum Industry

Fuel and oil spills during the exploration, refining, and distribution of oil and petrochemicals are primarily responsible for the accumulation of organic pollutants in the environment. The reduction in contamination caused by hydrocarbons, heavy metals, oily effluents, and particulate matter generated by industrial activities and the efficient recovery of oil at great depths in an environmentally friendly way pose a challenge, as recovery and cleaning processes require the direct application of surface-active agents, detergents, degreasers, or solvents, often generating other environmental problems due to the toxicity and accumulation of these substances. Thus, the application of natural surface-active agents is an attractive solution. Due to their amphipathic structures, microbial surfactants solubilize oil through the formation of small aggregates (micelles) that disperse in water, with numerous applications in the petroleum industry. Biosurfactants have proven their usefulness in solubilizing oil trapped in rock, which is a prerequisite for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Biosurfactants are also important biotechnological agents in anti-corrosion processes, preventing incrustations and the formation of biofilms on metallic surfaces, and are used in formulations of emulsifiers/demulsifiers, facilitate the transport of heavy oil through pipelines, and have other innovative applications in the oil industry. The use of natural surfactants can reduce the generation of pollutants from the use of synthetic detergents or chemical solvents without sacrificing economic gains for the oil industry. Therefore, investments in biotechnological processes are essential. It is predicted that, in the not-too-distant future, natural surfactants will become viable from an economic standpoint and dominate the world market. The application of biosurfactants in these settings would lead to industrial growth and environmental sustainability. The main goal of this paper is to provide an overview of diverse applications of biosurfactants on environmental remediation, petroleum biotechnology, and the oil industry through a scientific literature review.

Combination of pulsed electric field and pH shifting improves the solubility, emulsifying, foaming of commercial soy protein isolate

In this study, the effects of a new dual modification method, pulsed electric field (PEF) and pH shifting treatment, on the solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of commercial soy protein isolate (SPI) were investigated. Results showed that the combination of PEF and pH shifting treatment, particularly at moderate PEF strength (10 kV/cm) and alkaline conditions (pH 11), facilitated protein structure unfolding and formation of smaller aggregates, substantially enhancing the solubility of SPI from 26.06% to 70.34%. Higher flexibility, surface hydrophobicity, and free sulfhydryl content were also found in the modified SPI, which boosted interfacial activity and significantly enhanced emulsifying and foaming properties. In alkaline environments, the enhanced functional properties of SPI at moderate PEF strength may be attributed to the appropriate oxidation of proteins by free radicals produced by electrochemical processes and the additional unfolding of protein conformations by polarization. The functional characteristics of SPI were decreased by an increase in PEF strength (20 kV/cm), which may be due to the tendency of the protein to aggregate and undergo excessive oxidation. This work may provide an effective methodological and theoretical basis for the modification of SPI by combining PEF and pH shifting treatment. • PEF combined with pH shifting treatment efficiently improved the solubility of SPI. • The treated SPI showed dramatic enhancement in emulsifying and foaming properties. • Enhanced unfolding in pH shifted SPI were observed after PEF introduction. • PEF-induced polarization and proper oxidation enhanced the functional property of SPI.

Non-disruptive mixing of cyclodextrins and wormlike micelles in the non-dilute regime

The encapsulation of hydrophobic molecules for different applications is of great importance, especially for pharmaceutical science, as such molecules can be used as carriers of other molecules. Among other possible molecules than can be used for encapsulation, cyclodextrins (CDs) are of particular interest as they have the ability of hosting hydrophobic molecules due to their structure which consist of a hydrophobic inner cavity and a hydrophilic outside surface. This property allows them to form inclusion complexes with amphiphilic molecules like surfactants. In this work we investigated the interaction of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium salicylate mixtures (CTAB-NaSal) in aqueous solution with α-cyclodextrin (αCD), β-cyclodextrin (βCD) or 2-hydroxypropyl-α-cyclodextrin (HPαCD), in a regime of concentration where the CTAB-NaSal system self-assembles in wormlike micelles. Depending on CD concentration, the new system features a color change from clear to white. The rheological behavior of the new systems was measured, obtaining viscoelastic spectra and flow curves in function of CD concentration. Structural micellar changes produced by the CD incorporation were obtained and analyzed via MD simulations. The addition of CD slightly changes the typical viscoelastic behavior of the CTAB-NaSal system and maintains the Maxwellian behavior typical of wormlike micelles, although the viscosity of the solution decreases. These experimental and numerical findings show that the addition of CDs instead of disrupting the micellar structure, roughly preserve it, and produce important changes in the optical properties above a critical CD concentration due to the formation of small aggregates on the surface of the micelle. Our results are evidence of a non-disruptive interaction between self-assembled structures and CDs, giving a new type of material not only with possible encapsulation properties but also with a non-trivial rheology.

In-flame soot structure of a jet fuel with 24% aromatics in a small-bore optical compression-ignition engine

This study applies a multi-location soot sampling method in a small-bore optical compression ignition engine to show in-flame particle evolution of a surrogate jet fuel with 24% aromatics (AR24) and a conventional diesel fuel. Four soot sampling probes are installed on the piston-bowl wall with 60° spacing angles for simultaneous sampling from the same firing cycle. These sampling locations represent a jet-wall impingement point (JW), an up-swirl point (US), a down-swirl point 1 (DS1) and a down-swirl point 2 (DS2) along the sooting flame path identified by high-speed soot luminosity images and planar laser induced incandescence (PLII) images. The sampled soot particles are examined with transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the images are post processed for the analysis of morphology. The results showed both fuels produce a large amount of small soot aggregates at JW point due to fuel-rich mixtures while AR24 soot aggregate number count is much less than diesel, indicating less soot formation for AR24. They grow as the flame travels along the bowl wall through aggregation, which is more significant at DS1 point than that of US point. Simultaneously, some small soot aggregates disappear due to oxidation, which is more significant at US point. As the sooting flame reaches DS2 point, only large aggregates with compact structures survived intense oxidation. The soot sampling performed for high resolution TEM and internal structure analysis of AR24 showed that the core-shell particle structure becomes clearer and the carbon-layer fringe-to-fringe gap decreases during the flame penetration, indicating the soot oxidation continued. From the results, the in-flame soot evolution is characterised by high formation of small aggregates at JW point, simultaneous aggregation and oxidation at US and DS1 point with the latter more prone to aggregation, and significant oxidation at DS2 point.

Characterization of tuna dark muscle protein isolate

Fish protein isolate (FPI) was extracted from tuna dark muscle (TDM) using the pH-shift method that improves significantly its sensory quality and nutritional value. The amino-acid composition of the FPI was close to that of TDM, but the total protein content was higher. The solubility of FPI in water was higher than 85% at pH ≥ 6 and pH ≤ 3, but it dropped to about 10% at pH values close to the isoelectric point pI ≈ 5.0. The soluble FPI was present in the form of aggregates that were characterized by light-scattering. The microstructure of FPI solutions on larger length scales was probed by confocal microscopy, large protein flocs formed at pH close to pI. SDS-PAGE indicated that a significant fraction of myosin heavy chains was broken down into smaller chains. The viscosity decreased with decreasing of pH, which correlated with the decreasing size of the aggregates. Novelty Impact Statement Tuna dark muscle (TDM) represents a significant fraction of industrially processed tuna and it is currently considered a low value by-product because of its poor sensory qualities, but TDM has a high protein content that does not suffer from sensory defects if it is extracted by dispersing TDM at pH 12 and precipitating the dissolved protein at pH 5.5. The protein isolate is highly soluble (> 85%) in water at pH > 6 and pH < 3, where it is present in the form of small aggregates with average radii between 90 and 250 nm, depending on the pH. The characterization of the composition of TDM protein isolate and its properties in water show that it is a viable product for use in industrial applications.

The Antiepileptic Valproic Acid Ameliorates Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2W (CMT2W) Disease-Associated HARS1 Mutation-Induced Inhibition of Neuronal Cell Morphological Differentiation Through c-Jun N-terminal Kinase.

Hereditary peripheral neuropathies called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease affect the sensory nerves as well as motor neurons. CMT diseases are composed of a heterogeneous group of diseases. They are characterized by symptoms such as muscle weakness and wasting. Type 2 CMT (CMT2) disease is a neuropathy with blunted or disrupted neuronal morphological differentiation phenotypes including process formation of peripheral neuronal axons. In the early stages of CMT2, demyelination that occurs in Schwann cells (glial cells) is rarely observed. CMT2W is an autosomal-dominant disease and is responsible for the gene encoding histidyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (HARS1), which is a family molecule of cytoplasmic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and functions by ligating histidine to its cognate tRNA. Despite increasing knowledge of the relationship of mutations on responsible genes with diseases, it still remains unclear how each mutation affects neuronal differentiation. Here we show that in neuronal N1E-115 cells, a severe Asp364-to-Tyr (D364Y) mutation of HARS1 leads to formation of small aggregates of HARS1 proteins; in contrast, wild type proteins are distributed throughout cell bodies. Expression of D364Y mutant proteins inhibited process formation whereas expression of wild type proteins possessed the normal differentiation ability to grow processes. Pretreatment with the antiepileptic valproic acid recovered inhibition of process formation by D364Y mutant proteins through the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, these results indicate that the D364Y mutation of HARS1 causes HARS1 proteins to form small aggregates, inhibiting process growth, and that these effects are recovered by valproic acid. This could be a potential therapeutic drug for CMT2W at the cellular levels.

Effect of moderate electric fields on the structural and gelation properties of pea protein isolate

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of moderate electric fields (MEF) inherent in ohmic heating (OH) on the structural and gelling properties of pea protein isolate (PPI). Results showed that OH treatment, especially at high electric field strengths and low frequencies, contributed to the unfolding of protein structures and the formation of smaller aggregates. The OH treatment also increased the surface hydrophobicity (H0) of PPI and reduced the content of free sulfhydryl groups (SH) due to the formation of SS bonds, resulting in the better mechanical properties of PPI gels. The OH-treated gels had the highest water holding capacity and uniform three-dimensional network structure. The OH-treated gels were less hardness, gumminess and chewiness. The OH treatment reduced the storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") of the gels. The OH might be an effective technology for fine-tuning legume protein structure and producing protein gels.

Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Performance of Poly-3-Thenoic Acid/Cu-TiO2 Nanohybrid for Efficient Visible Light Assisted Degradation of Bismarck Brown R

The present work reported on the synthesis and characterization of Poly-3-Thenoic acid/Cu-TiO2 nanohybrid (PCuT) for the photocatalytic degradation of organic azo dye pollutant from wastewater. The as-synthesized nanohybrid by an in-situ modified sol-gel method including chemical oxidative polymerization was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis.DRS), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The characterization results revealed the formation of small aggregates of polymer contained high crystalline anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (XRD) with narrowed bandgap energy (UV-vis.DRS), decreased particle size (TEM) with smooth surface morphology (SEM) and large surface area (BET). All the constituent elements of the polymer and Cu-TiO2 were found in the PCuT nanohybrid material (EDX) and their chemical interaction studied by FT-IR confirmed the stability of the nanohybrid. The photocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid was tested by the degradation of Bismarck Brown R dye under visible light irradiation. To enhance the photocatalytic efficiency, effects of various catalyst/dye reaction parameters such as polymer content, solution pH, catalyst dosage, and initial dye concentration were studied and optimized.&#x0D; HIGHLIGHTS&#x0D; &#x0D; Poly-3-Thenoic acid/Cu-TiO2 nanohybrid material was successfully synthesized by in situ modified sol-gel process&#x0D; Poly-3-Thenoic acid has enhanced the visible light absorption capacity of anatase TiO2 in nanohybrids&#x0D; Electron-hole recombination in TiO2 was effectively inhibited by Cu doping&#x0D; Bismark Brown R, an organic pollutant was successfully degraded in 75 min of visible light irradiation&#x0D; &#x0D; GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

The formation of small aggregates contributes to the neurotoxic effects of tau45-230

Intracellular deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau are commonly detected in tauopathies. Furthermore, these aggregates seem to play an important role in the pathobiology of these diseases. In the present study, we determined whether the recently identified neurotoxic tau45-230 fragment also formed aggregates in neurodegenerative disorders. The presence of such aggregates was examined in brain samples obtained from Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects by means of Western blot analysis performed under non-denaturing conditions. Our results showed that a mixture of tau45-230 oligomers of different sizes was easily detectable in brain samples obtained from AD subjects. Our data also suggested that tau45-230 oligomers could be internalized by cultured hippocampal neurons, mainly through a clathrin-mediated mechanism, triggering their degeneration. In addition, in vitro aggregation studies showed that tau45-230 modulated full-length tau aggregation thereby inducing the formation of smaller, and potentially more toxic, aggregates of this microtubule-associated protein. Together, these data identified alternative mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of tau45-230.

Extensional Magnetorheology of Viscoelastic Human Blood Analogues Loaded with Magnetic Particles.

This study represents a pioneering work on the extensional magnetorheological properties of human blood analogue fluids loaded with magnetic microparticles. Dynabeads M-270 particles were dispersed in Newtonian and viscoelastic blood analogue fluids at 5% wt. Capillary breakup experiments were performed, with and without the influence of an external magnetic field aligned with the flow direction. The presence of the particles increased the viscosity of the fluid, and that increment was larger when embedded within a polymeric matrix. The application of an external magnetic field led to an even larger increment of the viscosity of the working fluids, as the formation of small aggregates induced an increment in the effective volume fraction of particles. Regarding the liquid bridge stability, the Newtonian blood analogue fluid remained as a Newtonian liquid exhibiting a pinch-off at the breakup time in any circumstance. However, in the case of the viscoelastic blood analogue fluid, the presence of the particles and the simultaneous application of the magnetic field enhanced the formation of the beads-on-a-string structure, as the Ohnesorge number remained basically unaltered, whereas the time of the experiment increased due to its larger viscosity, which resulted in a decrease in the Deborah Number. This result was confirmed with fluids containing larger concentrations of xanthan gum.

Crystallisation in a two-dimensional granular system at constant temperature

We study the crystallisation processes occurring in a nonvibrating two-dimensional magnetic granular system at various fixed values of the effective temperature. In this system, the energy loss due to dissipative effects is compensated by the continuous energy input coming into the system from a sinusoidal magnetic field. When this balance leads to high values of the effective temperature, no aggregates are formed, because particles’ kinetic energy prevents them from aggregating. For lower effective temperatures, formation of small aggregates is observed. The smaller the values of the applied field’s amplitude, the larger the number of these disordered aggregates. One also observes that when clusters form at a given effective temperature, the average effective diffusion coefficient decreases as time increases. For medium values of the effective temperature, formation of small crystals is observed. We find that the sixth bond-orientational order parameter and the number of bonds, when considering more than two, are very sensitive for exhibiting the order in the system, even when crystals are still very small.