Great Interest Thanks Research Articles

An rGO/CoFe2O4 composite produced by the hydrothermal meth-od

Graphene and its derivatives, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), are 2D materials of great interest thanks to excellent electromagnetic properties and high specific surface area, while spinel ferrites are ferrimagnetic ceramics extensively used in the electronics industry. A composite based on these two materials, cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) anchored in rGO sheets, is promising for electromagnetic shielding, since it combines the energy dissipation effects of magnetic and electric materials. The purpose of this work was to characterize, using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), an rGO/CoFe2O4 composite produced by the hydrothermal method. The results showed that the composite was successfully manufactured and can be used for electromagnetic shielding.

Innovative Energy Storage Smart Windows Relying on Mild Aqueous Zn/MnO2 Battery Chemistry.

Rechargeable mild aqueous Zn/MnO2 batteries are currently attracting great interest thanks to their appealing performance/cost ratio. Their operating principle relies on two complementary reversible electrodeposition reactions at the anode and cathode. Transposing this operating principle to transparent conductive windows remains an unexplored facet of this battery chemistry, which is proposed here to address with the development of an innovative bifunctional smart window, combining electrochromic and charge storage properties. The proof-of-concept of such bifunctional Zn/MnO2 smart window is provided using a mild buffered aqueous electrolyte and different architectures. To maximize the device's performance, transparent nanostructured ITO cathodes are used to reversibly electrodeposit a high load of MnO2 (up to 555 mAhm-2 with a CE of 99.5% over 200 cycles, allowing to retrieve an energy density as high as 860 mAhm-2 when coupled with a zinc metal frame), while flat transparent FTO anodes are used to reversibly electrodeposit an homogenous coating of zinc metal (up to ≈280 mAhm-2 with a CE > 95% over 50 cycles). The implementation of these two reversible electrodeposition processes in a single smart window has been successfully achieved, leading for the first time to a dual-tinting energy storage smart window with an optimized face-to-face architecture.

3-Dimensional Modelling with Visual-SLAM in Indoor Environment

Robots can now locate themselves in unfamiliar environments and concurrently create maps of their surroundings thanks to simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), which is utilized in various fields, including robotics and mapping. The most common SLAM methods are the LiDAR-SLAM, which uses the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor, and the Visual SLAM (VSLAM), which uses the camera sensor is used. VSLAM is now receiving great interest and research thanks to its advantages, such as its low cost compared to LiDAR, low energy consumption, durability, and rich environmental information. This study aims to produce a three-dimensional (3D) model of an indoor area using image data captured by the stereo camera located on the Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). Easily measured objects from the field of operation were chosen to assess the generated model’s accuracy. The actual dimensions of the objects were measured, and these values were compared to those derived from the VSLAM-based 3D model. When the data were evaluated, it was found that the size of the object produced from the model could be varied by ±2cm. The surface accuracy of the 3D model produced has also been analyzed. For this investigation, areas where the walls and floor surfaces were flat in the field were selected, and the plane accuracy of these areas was analyzed. The plain accuracy values of the specified surfaces were determined to be below ±1cm.

Microfluidic-Based Non-Invasive Wearable Biosensors for Real-Time Monitoring of Sweat Biomarkers.

Wearable biosensors are attracting great interest thanks to their high potential for providing clinical-diagnostic information in real time, exploiting non-invasive sampling of biofluids. In this context, sweat has been demonstrated to contain physiologically relevant biomarkers, even if it has not been exhaustively exploited till now. This biofluid has started to gain attention thanks to the applications offered by wearable biosensors, as it is easily collectable and can be used for continuous monitoring of some parameters. Several studies have reported electrochemical and optical biosensing strategies integrated with flexible, biocompatible, and innovative materials as platforms for biospecific recognition reactions. Furthermore, sampling systems as well as the transport of fluids by microfluidics have been implemented into portable and compact biosensors to improve the wearability of the overall analytical device. In this review, we report and discuss recent pioneering works about the development of sweat sensing technologies, focusing on opportunities and open issues that can be decisive for their applications in routine-personalized healthcare practices.

Phytochemical Screening, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Ocimum basilicum L. Cultivated in Biskra, Algeria

Algerian flora contains a wide range of aromatic plants of great therapeutic interest thanks to their biologically active secondary metabolites which makes them a subject of scientific interest. In this work, we were interested in Ocimum basilicum L. of Lamiaceae family cultivated and harvested in Biskra city located at South-East of Algeria. Phytochemical screening has been per-formed to reveal the presence of flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, essential oil, and other phytochemicals. The contents of total polyphenols, total flavonoids and total tannins have been determined. The obtained essential oil and extracts have been the subject of antibacterial and antioxidant assays. Our outcomes confirmed that Ocimum basilicum L. has a multiplicity of potential phytochemicals with a considerable amount and can be used as an alternative natural source of antioxidant and antibacterial components.

Fractionation of Marigold Waxy Extract Using Supercritical CO2

Marigold oil is a product of great industrial interest thanks to its wide range of medicinal and wound-healing properties. In this work, supercritical carbon dioxide was used to recover marigold essential oil from the hexane solvent extract of marigold flowers, the floral “concrete”. This starting material was mixed with synthetic paraffinic waxes to heighten its melting point and viscosity, thus, improving material processability. Supercritical fluid extraction and fractionation of the modified marigold “concrete” was carried out, and the effect of pressure and CO2 mass flow rate was studied. The pressure was varied from 80 to 180 bar, keeping the temperature constant at 40 °C: the higher the pressure, the larger the CO2 solvent power and extraction yield (up to 9.40% w/w). Nevertheless, the optimum between productivity and process selectivity was found at 100 bar. By changing the CO2 mass flow rate (from 1.20 to 1.50 kg/h), we noted that mass transfer resistance was located externally. GC-MS analysis showed that the most abundant compounds in the oil were δ-cadinene (25%), γ-cadinene (16%), τ-muurolol (6.5%), and α-muurolene (6%). Moreover, the traces of oil and waxes showed no mutual contamination between lighter species and waxes, meaning that the fractionation step was successful.

A micropatterned thermoplasmonic substrate for neuromodulation of in vitro neuronal networks.

Understanding how the spatial organization of a neural network affects its activity represents a leading issue in neuroscience. Thanks to their accessibility and easy handling, in vitro studies remain an essential tool to investigate the relationship between the structure and function of a neuronal network. Among all the patterning techniques, ink-jet printing acquired great interest thanks to its direct-write approach, which allows the patterned substrate realization without mold, leading to a considerable saving of both cost and time. However, the inks commonly used give the possibility to control only the structure of a neuronal network, leaving aside the functional aspect. In this work, we synthesize a photosensitive ink combining the rheological and bioadhesive properties of chitosan with the plasmonic properties of gold nanorods, obtaining an ink able to control both the spatial organization of a two-dimensional neuronal network and its activity through photothermal effect. After the ink characterization, we demonstrate that it is possible to print, with high precision, different geometries on a microelectrode array. In this way, it is possible obtaining a patterned device to control the structure of a neuronal network, to record its activity and to modulate it via photothermal effect. Finally, to our knowledge, we report the first evidence of photothermal inhibition of human neurons activity. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Patterned cell cultures remain the most efficient and simple tool for linking structural and functional studies, especially in the neuronal field. Ink-jet printing is the technique with which it is possible to realize patterned structures in the fastest, simple, versatile and low-cost way. However, the inks currently used permit the control only of the neuronal network structure but do not allow the control-modulation of the network activity. In this study, we realize and characterize a photosensitive bioink with which it is possible to drive both the structure and the activity of a neuronal network. Moreover, we report the first evidence of activity inhibition by the photothermal effect on human neurons as far as we know.

Design and Device Numerical Analysis of Lead-Free Cs2AgBiBr6 Double Perovskite Solar Cell

The advancement of lead-free double perovskite materials has drawn great interest thanks to their reduced toxicity, and superior stability. In this regard, Cs2AgBiBr6 perovskites have appeared as prospective materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications. In this work, we present design and numerical simulations, using SCAPS-1D device simulator, of Cs2AgBiBr6-based double perovskite solar cell (PSC). The initial calibrated cell is based on an experimental study in which the Cs2AgBiBr6 layer has the lowest bandgap (Eg = 1.64 eV) using hydrogenation treatment reported to date. The initial cell (whose structure is ITO/SnO2/Cs2AgBiBr6/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au) achieved a record efficiency of 6.58%. The various parameters that significantly affect cell performance are determined and thoroughly analyzed. It was found that the conduction band offset between the electron transport layer (ETL) and the Cs2AgBiBr6 layer is the most critical factor that affects the power conversion efficiency (PCE), in addition to the thickness of the absorber film. Upon engineering these important technological parameters, by proposing a double ETL SnO2/ZnO1-xSx structure with tuned absorber thickness, the PCE can be boosted to 14.23%.

Effect of amphiphilic environment on the solution structure of mouse TSPO translocator protein

The translocator protein (TSPO) is a ubiquitous transmembrane protein of great pharmacological interest thanks to its high affinity to many drug ligands. The only high-resolution 3D-structure known for mammalian TSPO was obtained by NMR for the mouse mTSPO in DPC detergent only in presence of the high-affinity PK 11195 ligand. An atomic structure of free-ligand mTSPO is still missing to better understand the interaction of ligands with mTSPO and their effects on the protein conformation.Here, we decipher the solution structures of the recombinant mTSPO without ligand both in (i) SDS, the detergent used to extract and purify the protein from E. coli inclusion bodies, and (ii) DPC, the detergent used to solve the PK 11195-binding mTSPO NMR structure.We report partially refolded and less flexible mTSPO helices in DPC compared to SDS. Besides, DPC stabilizes the tertiary structure of mTSPO, as shown by a higher intrinsic Trp fluorescence and changes in indole environment.We evaluate by SEC-MALLS that ∼135 SDS and ∼100 DPC molecules are bound to mTSPO. SEC-small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and neutron (SANS) scattering confirm a larger mTSPO-detergent complex in SDS than in DPC. Using the contrast-matching technique in SEC-SANS, we demonstrate that mTSPO conformation is more compact and less flexible in DPC than in SDS. Combining ab initio modeling with SANS, we confirm that mTSPO conformation is less elongated in DPC than in SDS. However, the free-ligand mTSPO envelope in DPC is not as compact as the PK 11195-binding protein NMR structure, the ligand stiffening the protein.

Cupressus arizonica fruit essential oil: A novel green inhibitor for acid corrosion of carbon steel

Natural-based corrosion inhibitors have gained great research interest thanks to their low cost and higher performance. The Cupressus arizonica fruit essential oil (CAFEO) has a higher extraction yield than leaves; however, it has less antibacterial and antifungal activities. The three main components in the CAFEO were α-pinene (51.07%), myrcene (17.92%), and limonene (9.66%). Essential oils with a higher percentage of α-pinene were found to have outstanding corrosion inhibition properties. Therefore, herein, the CAFEO was investigated as a green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel (CS) in 1.0 mol/L HCl using electrochemical, i.e., potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The experimental results revealed that CAFEO successfully inhibited the carbon steel corrosion in 1.0 mol/L HCl solution. Results from PDP indicated that the inhibitor had a mixed-type effect with a predominance cathodic character. EIS data showed that the charge transfer resistance of the CS electrode increased from 20.9 Ω cm2 in blank solution to 294.5 Ω cm2 in HCl solution inhibited with 0.5 g/L of CAFEO at 298 K, leading to a significant decrease in the double layer capacitance values and an inhibition efficiency (η%) of 93%. The high temperatures showed a negative effect on the corrosion inhibition efficiency of the tested inhibitor. At 323 K, the η% of CAFEO decreased to 77%. Besides, SEM images showed that the inhibitor formed a protective barrier against acid attack, preventing carbon steel from corrosion. Theoretical calculations by Density Functional Theory (DFT) were performed to investigate the reactivity of the three main components of CAFEO.

A combined computational & electrochemical exploration of the Ammi visnaga L. extract as a green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in HCl solution

Natural-based corrosion inhibitors have gained great research interest thanks to their low cost and higher performance. In this work, the chemical composition of the methanolic extract of Ammi visnaga umbels (AVU) was evaluated by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and applied for corrosion inhibition of carbon steel (CS) in 1.0 mol/L HCl using chemical and electrochemical techniques along with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and theoretical calculations. A total of 46 compounds were identified, representing 89.89% of the overall chemical composition of AVU extract, including Edulisin III (72.88%), Binapacryl (4.32%), Khellin (1.97%), and Visnagin (1.65%). Chemical (Weight loss) and electrochemical (potentiodynamic polarization curves (PPC), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) techniques revealed that investigated extract can be used as an effective corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1.0 mol/L HCl solution. At a low dose of 700 ppm, the inhibitory action of AVU extract reached an inhibition efficiency of 84 percent. According to polarization tests, the investigated extract worked as a mixed inhibitor, protecting cathodic and anodic corrosion reactions. The EIS test showed that upon the addition of AVU extract to HCl solution, the polarization resistance increased while the double layer decreased. SEM images showed a protected CS surface in the inhibited solution. Quantum chemical calculations by Density Functional Theory (DFT) for the main components confirmed the major role of heteroatoms and aromatic rings as adsorption sites. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to study the adsorption configuration of the main components on the Fe(1 1 0) surface. Outcomes from this study further confirmed the significant advantage of using plant-based corrosion inhibitors for protecting metals and alloys.

Heusler alloy-based heat engine using pyroelectric conversion for small-scale thermal energy harvesting

As an alternative to thermoelectric generators, heat engines show great interest thanks to their ability to convert temperature spatial gradient into time-domain temperature variations or vibrations. To this end, MultiPhysic Memory Alloys (MPMAs), combining shape memory characteristics with ferromagnetic properties, provide significant attractive characteristics such as sharp transition with reduced hysteresis as well as magnetic properties enabled by heating, thus allowing easier device development and implementation. In this study, we report the development of a heat engine for small-scale energy harvesting where the MPMA transfers its heat to a pyroelectric element that provides thermal to electrical energy conversion, yielding a more direct energy conversion path compared to conventional electromechanical heat engines. Furthermore, thermally decoupling the pyroelectric element from the MPMA allows a faster cooling of the latter, accounting for higher variation frequency. Compared to the use of electromagnetic transduction through a coil attached to the moving MPMA, this approach is shown to provide 3 to 9 times more power density (according to considered volume), with theoretical potential gains from 8 to 25 with the use of nonlinear electrical interfaces.

Effective medium theory for thermal scattering off rotating structures.

Controlling heat transfer with artificial functional materials has been a promising route towards the efficient and smart utilization of thermal energy in modern society. At the macroscopic scale, thermal metamaterials have demonstrated versatile functionalities in manipulating thermal conduction. One major method is the effective medium theory, which provides a reliable approximation for the material parameters of the composite. Although most of thermal metamaterials use static components, recent devices with integrated moving parts are attracting great interest thanks to their high efficiency and flexibility. However, the effective medium theory for thermal scattering off such devices has not been well established, due to the fundamental difference between thermal convection and conduction. Here, we provide a thorough study on heat transfer through mechanically rotating structures. It is shown that the effective thermal conductivity of a rotating structure can be rigorously described in a complex plane. The analytical expressions of the effective thermal conductivity for structures with rotating multiple layers are formulated, which explicitly capture their influences on the surrounding temperature field. We validate the theory and numerically demonstrate the rotated and unrotated temperature distributions generated around a single structure. Our theory is expected to become a design recipe for novel thermal metamaterials and meta-devices.

Increased Lipophilicity of Halogenated Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes Leads to Decreased Phototoxicity in vitro when Used as Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy.

In the fight against cancer, photodynamic therapy is generating great interest thanks to its ability to selectively kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissues. In this field, ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes, and more specifically, complexes with dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) as a ligand are of particular interest due to their DNA-binding and photocleaving properties. However, ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes can sometimes suffer from low lipophilicity, which hampers cellular internalisation through passive diffusion. In this study, four new [Ru(dppz-X2 )3 ]2+ complexes (X=H, F, Cl, Br, I) were synthesized and their lipophilicity (logP), cytotoxicity and phototoxicity on cancerous and noncancerous cell lines were assessed. This study shows that, counterintuitively, the phototoxicity of these complexes decreases as their lipophilicity increases; this could be due solely to the atomic radius of the halogen substituents.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Application of MxFe3-XO4 (M=Cu,Co) for the Detection and Removal of Metal Pollutants

Over the last two decades, nanomaterials (metallic nanoparticles, carbonaceous nanostructures) have triggered great interest thanks to their specific physic-chemical properties. The improvements they have made in the field of electro-analysis are numerous. Thus, a wide range of physic-chemical technologies based on the use of inorganic materials for the detection and removal of water pollutants has become a promising voice. In this context, we were interested in the design of electrodes modified by nanomaterials of the spinel type CxFe3-xO4 for the detection and quantification of metallic micro pollutants in water. The phases of the spinel system were synthesized by the sol-gel method, and physic-chemical characterization was performed by ATD-TG, DRX and MEB. The methods used for the electrochemical test are cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and impedance spectroscopy (EIS).The results of the physic-chemical analysis of the oxides showed that the phase is obtained at a calcination temperature of 600°C, and the electrochemical tests of the elaborate electrode revealed a very high sensitivity to ions (Mn2+, cd2+, pb2+, Hg2+). Keywords: nanoparticles, spinals, metal pollutants, modified electrode, electrochemical tests.

PS976 METABOLIC REPROGRAMMING OF ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA STEM‐ PROGENITOR CELLS AT RELAPSE

Background:Primary chemo‐refractory disease and relapse are the most important causes of mortality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (Döhner et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 2015). Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are likely responsible for disease relapse (Guzman et al., Blood 2007). Several genomic studies of newly‐diagnosed and relapsed AML have revealed different patterns of clonal evolution, but little is known about metabolic dysregulations among these two groups. Metabolomics can identify endogenous cell metabolite biomarkers to be applied for monitoring disease progression, in order to develop new targeted therapies (D. Wang et al., Journal of Pharm and Biom Analysis 2019).Aims:We aimed to identify relapse‐specific metabolic alterations of CD34+ AML stem‐progenitor cells.Methods:We analyzed metabolites using mass spectrometry (Metabolon) of CD34+ bone‐marrow stem progenitor cells of 22 newly‐diagnosed and 13 relapsed AML patients. To better address the relevance of the results, we also compared our samples with CD34+ cells from umbilical cord blood (21 donors). Statistically‐significant differences in metabolite concentrations between the groups were evaluated by Welch's t‐test. KEGG and SMPDB annotation helped us in identifying the most relevant differences in terms of metabolic pathways.Results:Mass spectrometry analysis identified differences in the concentration of 16 metabolites between newly‐diagnosed and relapsed AML. In particular, we discovered different intermediates of lipid metabolism, as decreased 1‐(1‐enyl‐palmitoyl)‐2‐palmitoyl‐GPC (p = 0,0049), or involved in Kreb's Cycle, like reduced fumarate (p = 0,0393) in relapsed AML. Conversely, we observed a higher concentration of UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine/galactosamine (p = 0,0044), which is part of carbohydrate metabolism. Moreover, by comparing CD34+ cells from relapsed or newly‐diagnosed AML with cord blood, we defined a set of metabolic features which may suggest metabolic adaptation of the post‐chemotherapy AML clone. It is worth noting the decrease in uridine concentration (p = 0,03), a metabolite of pyrimidine metabolism. Pyrimidine pathway is of great interest thanks to the development of new drugs as dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor, that reduces leukemic cell burden, decreases levels of leukemia‐initiating cells (Sykes DB et al., Cell 2016). Of note, relapsed cells show reduced orotidine levels compared with cells from newly‐diagnosed patients. Finally, KEGG and SMPDB annotation revealed enrichment for changes in compounds involved in Ketone Body Metabolism, Citric Acid Cycle and Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain.Summary/Conclusion:Our data are in line with a metabolic reprogramming of AML cells at relapse, including a shift from pyruvate oxidation to fatty acid β‐oxidation, with altered mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in leukemia stem progenitor cells. The results suggest potential metabolic vulnerabilities of relapsed patients which could be exploited for novel targeted therapeutic strategies. Supported by EHA research fellowship award.

Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Efficacy and Security in Clinical Trials.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the cannabinoids with non-psychotropic action, extracted from Cannabis sativa. CBD is a terpenophenol and it has received a great scientific interest thanks to its medical applications. This compound showed efficacy as anti-seizure, antipsychotic, neuroprotective, antidepressant and anxiolytic. The neuroprotective activity appears linked to its excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of CBD, in addition to common anti-epileptic drugs, in the severe treatment-resistant epilepsy through an overview of recent literature and clinical trials aimed to study the effects of the CBD treatment in different forms of epilepsy. The results of scientific studies obtained so far the use of CBD in clinical applications could represent hope for patients who are resistant to all conventional anti-epileptic drugs.

Modulation of NK cells with checkpoint inhibitors in the context of cancer immunotherapy.

The incidence of some types of tumours has increased progressively in recent years and is expected to continue growing in the coming years due in part to the aging of the population. The design of new therapies based on natural killer (NK) cells opens new possibilities especially for the treatment of elderly patients who are particularly susceptible to the toxicity of conventional chemotherapy treatments. In recent years, the potential use of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy has been of great interest thanks to advances in the study of NK cell biology. The identification of key points (checkpoints) in the activation of NK cells that can be regulated by monoclonal antibodies has allowed the design of new therapeutic strategies based on NK cells. However, there are still limitations for its use and the first clinical trials blocking KIR inhibitory receptors have shown little efficacy by inhibiting the maturation of NK cells. Blockade of other inhibitory receptors such as TIGIT, TIM3, LAG3 and PD1 may represent novel strategies to increase NK function in cancer patients. Altogether, the identification of NK cell and tumour cell markers of resistance or susceptibility to the action of NK cells will contribute to identifying those patients that will most likely benefit from NK cell-based immunotherapy.

Improved model of ionic transport in 2-D MoS2 membranes with sub-5 nm pores

Solid-state nanopores made of two-dimensional materials such as molybdenum disulfide are of great interest thanks in part to promising applications such as ion filtration and biomolecule translocation. Controlled fabrication and tunability of nanoporous membranes require a better understanding of their ionic conductivity capabilities at the nanoscale. Here, we developed a model of ionic conductivity for a KCl electrolyte through sub 5-nm single-layer MoS2 nanopores using equilibrium all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We investigate the dynamics of K+ and Cl− ions inside the pores in terms of concentration and mobility. We report that, for pore dimensions below 2.0 nm, which are of particular interest for biomolecule translocation applications, the behaviors of the concentration and mobility of ions strongly deviate from bulk properties. Specifically, we show that the free-energy difference for insertion of an ion within the pore is proportional to the inverse surface area of the pore and that the inverse mobility scales linearly as the inverse diameter. Finally, we provide an improved analytical model taking into account the deviation of ion dynamics from bulk properties, suitable for direct comparison with experiments.

Impulsive noise reduction techniques in power line communication: a survey

Power line communication (PLC) is a technology that permits data transmission using the electrical networks. In the last few years, research in the area of efficient wired home-networking services and smart grid has received a great interest thanks to the already-existing electrical networks and the ubiquitous sockets (outlets). However, the power line channel presents a challenging task and provides drastic medium for multimedia (audio, image and video) transmission. In fact, over the last decades, there has been an intense research in the area of impulsive noise reduction in PLC environments and numerous error-mitigation strategies have been proposed, thus the need for such a broad survey. To this end, this paper presents a comprehensive overview, with major emphasis on identifying strengthens and weaknesses of the state-of-the-art techniques, and discusses some challenges and future research directions thorough consolidation of related works on PLC signal protection strategies against impulsive noise effects.