High Activity Research Articles

In vitro evaluation of novel SN-38 prodrug activated by α-rhamnosidase of exogenous enzyme.

This study introduces the α-rhamnose (Rham)-conjugated prodrug of SN-38 (Rham-SN-38) as a promising alternative to irinotecan. α-rhamnosidase, responsible for SN-38 release from Rham-SN-38, does not express in human cells, minimizing individual variability and side effects. The injection of the α-rhamnosidase into the tumor tissues makes it possible, for the first time, to activate the Rham-SN-38. Furthermore, α-rhamnosidase demonstrates significantly higher activity than carboxylesterase, the specific enzyme activating irinotecan. SN-38 release mediated by α-rhamnosidase completes within 2h, with a kcat/Km value approximately 5.0 × 104-fold higher than that of irinotecan. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of Rham-SN-38 against three types of cancer cells and one normal cell exceeds 4.5 × 103nM. The addition of α-rhamnosidase significantly increases cytotoxicity, with IC50 comparable to free SN-38. The QIC50, an index reflecting the difference in cytotoxicity with and without α-rhamnosidase, exceeds approximately 1.0 × 102-fold. Rham-SN-38, synthesized in this study, demonstrates significant potential as a prodrug for cancer therapy.

Heterologous expression and characterization of mutant cellulase from indigenous strain of Aspergillus niger.

The purpose of current research work was to investigate the effect of mutagenesis on endoglucanase B activity of indigenous strain of Aspergillus niger and its heterologous expression studies in the pET28a+ vector. The physical and chemical mutagens were employed to incorporate mutations in A. niger. For determination of mutations, mRNA was isolated followed by cDNA synthesis and cellulase gene was amplified, purified and sequenced both from native and mutant A. niger. On comparison of gene sequences, it was observed that 5 nucleotide base pairs have been replaced in the mutant cellulase. The mutant recombinant enzyme showed 4.5 times higher activity (428.5 µmol/mL/min) as compared to activity of native enzyme (94 µmol/mL/min). The mutant gene was further investigated using Phyre2 and I-Tesser tools which exhibited 71% structural homology with Endoglucanase B of Thermoascus aurantiacus. The root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), solvent accessible surface area (SASA), radius of gyration (Rg) and hydrogen bonds analysis were carried at 35°C and 50°C to explore the integrity of structure of recombinant mutant endoglucanase B which corresponded to its optimal temperature. Hydrogen bonds analysis showed more stability of recombinant mutant endoglucanase B as compared to native enzyme. Both native and mutant endoglucanase B genes were expressed in pET 28a+ and purified with nickel affinity chromatography. Theoretical masses determined through ExPaSy Protparam were found 38.7 and 38.5 kDa for native and mutant enzymes, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature values for the mutant were 5.0 and 50°C while for native these were found 4.0 and 35°C, respectively. On reacting with carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate, the mutant enzyme exhibited less Km (0.452 mg/mL) and more Vmax (50.25 µmol/ml/min) as compared to native having 0.534 mg/mL as Km and 38.76 µmol/ml/min as Vmax. Among metal ions, Mg2+ showed maximum inducing effect (200%) on cellulase activity at 50 mM concentration followed by Ca2+ (140%) at 100 mM concentration. Hence, expression of a recombinant mutant cellulase from A. niger significantly enhanced its cellulytic potential which could be employed for further industrial applications at pilot scale.

Obesity alters POMC and kisspeptin neuron crosstalk leading to reduced luteinizing hormone in male mice.

Obesity is associated with hypogonadism in males, characterized by low testosterone and sperm number. Previous studies determined that these stem from dysregulation of hypothalamic circuitry that regulates reproduction, by unknown mechanisms. Herein, we used mice fed chronic high-fat diet, that mimics human obesity, to determine mechanisms of impairment at the level of the hypothalamus, in particular gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons that regulate luteinizing hormone (LH), which then regulates testosterone. Consistent with obese humans, we demonstrated lower LH, and lower pulse frequency of LH secretion, but unchanged pituitary responsiveness to GnRH. LH pulse frequency is regulated by pulsatile GnRH secretion, which is controlled by kisspeptin. Peripheral and central kisspeptin injections, and DREADD-mediated activation of kisspeptin neurons, demonstrated that kisspeptin neurons were suppressed in obese mice. Thus, we investigated regulators of kisspeptin secretion. We determined that the LH response to NMDA was lower in obese mice, corresponding to fewer glutamate receptors in kisspeptin neurons, which may be critical for kisspeptin synchronization. Given that kisspeptin neurons also interact with POMC neurons, which regulate satiety and are affected by obesity, we examined their crosstalk, and determined that the LH response to either DREADD-mediated activation of POMC neurons or central injection of αMSH, a product of POMC, is abolished in obese mice. This was accompanied by diminished levels of αMSH receptor, MC4R, in kisspeptin neurons. Together, our studies determined that obesity leads to the downregulation of receptors that regulate kisspeptin neurons, which is associated with lower LH pulse frequency, leading to lower LH and hypogonadism.Significance Statement Obesity presents a significant health concern, with multiple comorbidities, including impaired reproduction. However, mechanisms are not clear, and studies are confounded by the chronic nature of this condition that leads to synaptic changes and alterations in neuron responsiveness to stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between feeding circuitry and reproductive circuitry is altered by chronic obesity. The reason may be that chronically higher activity of POMC neurons in response to higher leptin in obesity, downregulates αMSH receptors on target neurons, including kisspeptin. This may lead to the suppression of kisspeptin neurons, and their inability to regulate pulsatile secretion of GnRH, which then lowers LH pulse frequency, leading to lower LH in the circulation, lower testosterone, and lower sperm count.

Temporalis Muscle Changes Following Botulinum Toxin A Injections in Masseter Hypertrophy Patients: A Randomized Triple-Blinded Trial.

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) treatment for patients diagnosed with masseter hypertrophy on the temporalis muscle, with a particular focus on assessing alterations in muscle thickness, electromyographic (EMG) activity, and the development of muscle pain. The present randomized triple-blinded clinical trial enrolled 26 female participants aged between 25 and 50 years complaining about masseter hypertrophy. Participants received 75U of BoNT-A (abobotulinumtoxinA) in both masseter muscles and after three months were randomized to receive a second treatment session of saline solution (S-BoNT-A) or BoNT-A (M-BoNT-A). Longitudinal assessments included temporalis muscle thickness through ultrasound, EMG activity, subjective pain, and masseter prominence severity after one, three, and six months of the first injection session. Muscle thickness, EMG, and subjective pain were analysed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and post hoc Sidak test, and for masseter prominence severity, Friedman and Mann-Whitney tests were used. Regarding inter-group comparisons, a higher muscle thickness (p < 0.02) and a higher EMG activity (p < 0.01) were found in the M-BoNT-A group at the 6-month follow-up. For subjective pain assessments, inter-group comparisons showed a higher prevalence of painful regions in M-BoNT-A group at the 6-month follow-up (p < 0.02). No significant differences were found in masseter prominence severity at the 6 months assessment between groups. BoNT-A treatment for masseter hypertrophy lead to structural and functional changes in the temporalis muscle, presenting higher changes after multiple injections of this treatment. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The bright side of the moon: vocal activity of the Black-banded owl (Strix huhula huhula) in the Yungas Andean forests of Argentina

ABSTRACT In recent years, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has become one of the main tools for natural history and behavior studies in nocturnal birds. In this study, we explored the Black-banded owl (Strix huhula huhula) vocal activity in the Yungas Andean forests from northwestern Argentina, using one autonomous recording unit from September 2017 to February 2018. We found higher vocal activity on nights with high lunar illumination (76–100%), mainly concentrated during the early night: between 22:00–23:00 h; approximately 1–2 hours after sunset. This study shows the first acoustic phenology pattern of the black-banded owl during a year-round survey with the use of PAM in the Yungas. We highlight the importance of this type of research to gain knowledge on the vocal behavior of Neotropical nocturnal birds. Additionally we highlight the necessity of incorporating PAM, combined with occupation models, to evaluate the population status of threatened nocturnal bird species.

Changing Your Tune: Lessons for Using Music to Encourage Physical Activity

Our research investigated whether music can communicate physical activity levels in daily life. Past studies have shown that simple musical tunes can provide wellness information, but no study has examined whether musical feedback can affect daily behavior or lead to healthier habits. We conducted a within-subject study with 62 participants over a period of 76 days, providing either musical or text-based feedback on their daily physical activity. The music was built and personalized based on participants' step counts and baseline wellness perceptions. Results showed that participants were marginally more active during the music feedback compared to their baseline period, and significantly more active compared to the text-based feedback (p = 0.000). We also find that the participant's average activity may influence the musical features they find most inspiration within a song. Finally, context influenced how musical feedback was interpreted, and specific musical features correlated with higher activity levels regardless of baseline perceptions. We discuss lessons learned for designing music-based feedback systems for health communication.

Lenvatinib‐resistant hepatocellular carcinoma promotes malignant potential of tumor‐associated macrophages via exosomal miR‐301a‐3p

AbstractBackgroundThe interactions between cancer cells and tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) via microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in malignant potential and drug resistance. However, it remains unclear how lenvatinib‐resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (LR HCC) promotes TAM tumor biology. Here we investigated the crosstalk between LR HCC cells and TAMs for cancer progression and lenvatinib resistance, focusing on an exosomal miRNA.MethodsWe used two bioinformatics software programs to identify miRNAs that target PTEN in gastrointestinal cancers, then investigated exosomal miRNA expression in LR HCC conditioned medium (CM). After modifying TAMs with LR HCC CM (LR TAM), macrophage phenotype and PTEN‐Nrf2 signaling pathway component expression were analyzed in LR TAMs. The malignant potential and drug resistance were investigated in naïve HCC cells cultured with LR TAM CM.ResultsLR HCC cells highly induced M2‐like properties in macrophages compared with naïve HCC cells. Exosomal miR‐301a‐3p expression was increased in LR HCC CM, with higher activation of the PTEN/PI3K/GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway in LR TAMs. Naïve HCC cells were educated with LR TAM CM to promote malignant potential and lenvatinib resistance. Inhibition of exosomal miR‐301a‐3p prevented the malignant potential of LR TAMs. Activation of Nrf2 signaling by LR HCC cell‐derived exosomal miR‐301a‐3p skewed the transformation of macrophages to the M2 phenotype.ConclusionOur study provides new findings on the role of miR‐301a‐3p, suggesting it is a promising therapeutic target to improve HCC lenvatinib resistance.

Impact of Obesity on Cardiac Autonomic System Functioning in Military Police Officers.

Cardiac autonomic system functioning may be altered by obesity leading to cardiovascular diseases and associated complications. Military police officers are exposed to traditional and occupational risk factors for the development of CVD, however data on the cardiovascular health in this population is still scarce. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the impact of obesity on cardiac autonomic modulation and the hemodynamic profile in male active-duty military police officers. The body composition of the volunteers was assessed by octapolar electrical bioimpedance. Participants were classified as non-obese or obese in accordance with their body fat, with further subgroups as physically active obese or insufficiently active obese using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed by heart rate variability and the automatic oscillometric method allowed us to assess hemodynamic features. 102 military police officers from the state of São Paulo participated in the study. Cardiac autonomic modulation revealed significant impairment in time and frequency domains and non-linear methods in the obese group compared to the non-obese (p < 0.05). A higher physical activity level did not alter these results in the obese group. However, no significant differences in the hemodynamic profile were observed between groups (p > 0.05). These findings suggest a negative association between obesity and cardiac autonomic modulation in military police officers, unaffected by increased physical activity.

Metallo-Glycodendrimeric Materials against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Conjugation of carbohydrates to nanomaterials has been extensively studied and recognized as an alternative in the biomedical field. Dendrimers synthesized with mannose at the end group and with entrapped zero-valent copper/silver could be a potential candidate against bacterial proliferation. This study is aimed at investigating the bactericidal activity of metal-glycodendrimers. The Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction was used to synthesize a new mannosylated dendrimer containing 12 mannopyranoside residues in the periphery. The enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli fimbriae 4 (ETEC:F4) viability, measured at 600 nm, showed the half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of metal-free glycodendrimers (D), copper-loaded glycodendrimers (D:Cu) and silver-loaded glycodendrimers (D:Ag) closed to 4.5 × 101, 3.5 × 101 and to 1.0 × 10−2 µg/mL, respectively, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of D, D:Cu and D:Ag of 2.0, 1.5 and 1.0 × 10−4 µg/mL, respectively. The release of bacteria contents onto broth and the inhibition of ETEC:F4 biofilm formation increased with the number of metallo-glycodendrimer materials, with a special interest in silver-containing nanomaterial, which had the highest activity, suggesting that glycodendrimer-based materials interfered with bacteria-bacteria or bacteria–polystyrene interactions, with bacteria metabolism and can disrupt bacteria cell walls. Our findings identify metal–mannose-dendrimers as potent bactericidal agents and emphasize the effect of entrapped zero-valent metal against ETEC:F4.

Pikeperch muscle tissues: a comparative study of structure, enzymes, genes, and proteins in wild and farmed fish.

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is a freshwater species and an internationally highly demanded fish in aquaculture. Despite intensive research efforts on this species, fundamental knowledge of skeletal muscle biology and structural characteristics is missing. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of skeletal muscle parameters in adult pikeperch from two different origins, wild-caught specimens from a lake and those reared in a recirculating aquaculture system. The analyses comprised the biochemical characteristics (nucleic acid, protein content), enzyme activities (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase), muscle-specific gene and protein expression (related to myofibre formation, regeneration and permanent growth, muscle structure), and muscle fibre structure. The findings reveal distinct differences between the skeletal muscle of wild and farmed pikeperch. Specifically, nucleic acid content, enzyme activity, and protein expression varied significantly. The higher enzyme activity observed in wild pikeperch suggests greater metabolically activity in their muscles. Conversely, farmed pikeperch indicated a potential for pronounced muscle growth. As the data on pikeperch skeletal muscle characteristics is sparse, the purpose of our study is to gain fundamental insights into the characteristics of adult pikeperch muscle. The presented data serve as a foundation for further research on percids' muscle biology and have the potential to contribute to advancements and adaptations in aquaculture practices.

Pd/TiO2 decorated carbon fibers as an efficient anode catalyst for methanol electro‐oxidation

AbstractIn this study, Pd/TiO2 decorated carbon nanofibers (Pd/TiO2@CNFs) and Pd@CNFs were prepared by the impregnation method for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Pd and TiO2 particles were supported on the surface of carbon fibers. Noticeably, When the mass fraction of PdCl2 added is 4%, the Pd@CNFs catalyst (Pd‐4@CNFs) showed higher electrocatalytic activity and stability, which were about 28.4 and 13.2 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C catalyst, respectively. On the basis of Pd‐4@CNFs catalyst, TiO2 with a mass fraction of 10% was added to produce Pd/TiO2@CNFs catalyst (Pd‐4/TiO2‐10@CNFs). The electrocatalytic activity of Pd‐4/TiO2‐10@CNFs increased to 3,850.4 A·g−1, which was 31.9 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C catalysts. These results demonstrated that the novel Pd/TiO2@CNFs catalyst is expected to be an efficient and durable catalyst for DMFC.

Enhanced generation of aromatic-enriched bio-oil from sewage sludge pyrolysis using zeolite-based catalysts under H2-rich conditions

Sewage sludge is solid waste resulting from wastewater treatment processes, and its improper management adversely affects the environment and human health. This study aims to convert sewage sludge into valuable aromatics, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, or BTEX, via the catalytic pyrolysis using mono- and bimetal-modified protonated Zeolite Socony Mobil–5, or HZSM-5, catalysts under nitrogen, methane and methane decomposition conditions. In the methane medium, HZSM-5 yielded more BTEX (20.91 wt%) compared to those obtained using protonated Y zeolite (HY) (17.24 wt%) and protonated beta zeolite (Hβ) (11.70 wt%) owing to its proper acidity, higher shape selectivity, and higher methane activation. When HZSM-5 is used, the BTEX yield increased considerably in the methane decomposition environment (27 wt%), 1.29 and 1.46 times higher than those produced under methane and nitrogen, respectively. This increase is attributed to the dual effects of the surplus in situ hydrogen (H2) and direct involvement of methane, which resulted in accelerated hydrocracking, hydrodeoxygenation, and co-aromatization reactions. Under methane decomposition conditions, the use of the Ni/HZSM-5, Mo/HZSM-5, and Ni-Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts led to 1.23-, 1.30-, and 1.66-fold increases in BTEX production, respectively, than that of the parent HZSM-5, owing to the dual effects of acidity enhanced by the newly formed Lewis acid sites, increased oxygen vacancies, and improved physical properties of the catalysts. Hence, the catalytic pyrolysis of sewage sludge using mono- and bimetal-modified HZSM-5 catalysts in a H2-rich environment proposed in this study is expected to be an efficient and sustainable method for converting undesirable materials into valuable biofuels.

A Low-Noble-Metal Ru@CoMn2O4 Spinel Catalyst for the Efficient Oxidation of Propane

Noble metals have become a research hotspot for the oxidation of light alkanes due to their low ignition temperature and easy activation of C-H; however, sintering and a high price limit their industrial applications. The preparation of effective and low-noble-metal catalysts still presents profound challenges. Herein, we describe how a Ru@CoMn2O4 spinel catalyst was synthesized via Ru in situ doping to promote the activity of propane oxidation. Ru@CoMn2O4 exhibited much higher catalytic activity than CoMn2O4, achieving 90% propane conversion at 217 °C. H2-TPR, O2-TPD, and XPS were used to evaluate the catalyst adsorption/lattice oxygen activity and the adsorption and catalytic oxidation capacity of propane. It could be concluded that Ru promoted synergistic interactions between cobalt and manganese, leading to electron transfer from the highly electronegative Ru to Co2+ and Mn3+. Compared with CoMn2O4, 0.1% Ru@CoMn2O4, with a higher quantity of lattice oxygen and oxygen mobility, possessed a stronger capability of reducibility, which was the main reason for the significant increase in the activity of Ru@CoMn2O4. In addition, intermediates of the reaction between adsorbed propane and lattice oxygen on the catalyst were monitored by in situ DRIFTS. This work highlights a new strategy for the design of a low-noble-metal catalyst for the efficient oxidation of propane.

Study of the Synthesis of Multi-Cationic Sm-Co-O, Sm-Ni-O, Al-Co-O, Al-Ni-O, and Al-Co-Ni-O Aerogels and Their Catalytic Activity in the Dry Reforming of Methane

Dense multi-cationic Sm-Co-O, Sm-Ni-O, Al-Co-O, Al-Ni-O, and Al-Ni-Co-O oxide aerogels were prepared by epoxide-driven sol–gel synthesis. Catalysts for dry reformation of methane, Sm2O3/Co, Sm2O3/Ni, Al2O3/Co, Al2O3/Ni, Al2O3/Co, and Ni were prepared by reduction of aerogels with hydrogen and their catalytic activities and C-deposition during dry reformation of methane were tested. Catalytic tests showed high methane conversion (93–98%) and C-deposition (0.01–4.35 mg C/gcat.h). The highest content of C-deposits after catalytic tests was determined for Al2O3/Co and Al2O3/Ni catalysts, which was related to the formation of Al alloys with Co and Ni. A uniform distribution of Co0 and Ni0 nanoparticles (in the form of a CoNi alloy) was found only for the Al2O3/Co and Ni catalysts, which showed the highest activity as well as low C deposition.

Effects of Three Sources of Astaxanthin on the Growth, Coloration, and Antioxidant Capacity of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during Long-Term Feeding

Astaxanthin is an important pigment for the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different sources of dietary astaxanthin on the growth, coloration, and antioxidant capacity of the commercial-sized O. mykiss during long-term feeding. Haematococcus pluvialis (HP), yeast Phaffia rhodozyma (PR), and synthetic astaxanthin (SA) were added to the basic feed (no astaxanthin, NA) to prepare the isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets; the actual astaxanthin content values in the diets were 31.25, 32.96, and 31.50 mg/kg, respectively. Eighteen hundred O. mykiss, averaging 670 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into four groups and then fed with the experimental diet for four months. Dietary supplementation of P. rhodozyma and synthetic astaxanthin had no significant effects on the growth and tissue indexes of O. mykiss. In contrast, dietary supplementation with astaxanthin from H. pluvialis significantly increased the weight gain rate after four months of feeding. The fillet lightness of O. mykiss in the PR and SA was statistically lower than that in the NA and HP; the redness and astaxanthin content of fillet in the HP, PR, and SA groups were statistically higher than those in the NA. The total antioxidant capacity of the liver and serum in the HP was statistically higher than that in other diet groups, and a higher liver total superoxide dismutase activity was detected in the HP compared with the PR. Dietary supplementation of astaxanthin significantly increased the glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver and serum, and the highest serum glutathione peroxidase activity was detected in the HP, while dietary astaxanthin significantly decreased the malondialdehyde content in the liver and serum. Dietary supplementation of PR significantly increased the fillet ash content, while the highest fillet total lipid content was detected in the HP. Dietary astaxanthin significantly improved fillet redness and antioxidant capacity, among which H. pluvialis astaxanthin has greater effects on improving weight gain, antioxidant capacity, and fillet total lipid content.

Separation and characterization of the antioxidant active component from Maillard reaction products in xylose-lysine system

ABSTRACT Maillard reaction products (MRPs) play a crucial role in preserving food quality due to their antioxidant capacity. In this study, we isolated and characterized the antioxidant components from MRPs using a xylose-lysine system under optimal conditions. Methylene chloride and ethyl acetate were employed for sequential extractions, and the ethyl acetate phase underwent thin-layer chromatography and silica column separation. The identified compound, 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5 H)-furanone (3H4MFN), was analyzed using FT-IR, GC-MS, and NMR, revealing its volatile nature with a chemical formula of C5H6O3. Further activity analysis demonstrated that 3H4MFN exhibited higher or comparable antioxidant activity to vitamin C (VC) and vitamin B6 (VB6). This newly discovered compound shows potential as a natural antioxidant in cosmetics, food, and nutraceutical applications.

Synthesis, structure and photocatalytic performance of {[Bi6(tza)5(NO3)2(OH)5O3]·H2O}n and its derivatives

A polynuclear metal-organic framework, {[Bi6(tza)5(NO3)2(OH)5O3]·H2O}n (Htza=1H-tetrazole-1-acetic acid), was successfully synthesized and characterized, and its photocatalytic properties, along with those of its derivatives, were investigated. The crystal structure of the compound was determined to belong to the orthorhombic space group Pn ma, featuring a 3D framework comprising cage-like [Bi6(µ3-O)3(µ3-OH)5]7+ clusters. {[Bi6(tza)5(NO3)2(OH)5O3]·H2O}n demonstrated significant photocatalytic activity with UV light response within the pH range of 6.0–8.0 and a band gap energy of 3.32 eV. Under optimal conditions, a reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) (from 126.90 mg/L to 4.57 mg/L) clearly validated the efficient methyl orange degradation. The main active groups in the degradation process were h+, ·O2− and ·OH, and the catalyst demonstrated reusability for up to six cycles. Moreover, it was hydrolyzed to Bi2O2CO3 and BiOCl under alkaline (pH=9.0–11.0) and acidic (pH=1.0–5.0) conditions, respectively, thus serving as a valuable precursor. Notably, the Bi2O2CO3 and BiOCl derivatives exhibited higher catalytic activities than catalysts synthesized using alternative methods under the same experimental conditions. Therefore, within the pH range of 1.0–11.0, {[Bi6(tza)5(NO3)2(OH)5O3]·H2O}n, along with its in situ derivatives BiOCl and Bi2O2CO3, were highly efficient UV light-driven photocatalysts.

3D-QSAR and molecular docking studies of peptide-hybrids as dengue virus NS2B/NS3 protease inhibitors

Global warming and climate change have made dengue disease a global health issue. More than 50 % of the world's population is at danger of dengue virus (DENV) infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, a clinically approved dengue fever vaccination and effective treatment are needed. Peptide medication development is new pharmaceutical research. Here we intend to recognize the structural features inhibiting the DENV NS2B/NS3 serine protease for a series of peptide-hybrid inhibitors (R1–R2-Lys-R3-NH2) by the 3D-QSAR technique. Comparative molecular field analysis (q2 = 0.613, r2 = 0.938, r2pred = 0.820) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (q2 = 0.640, r2 = 0.928, r2pred = 0.693) were established, revealing minor, electropositive, H-bond acceptor groups at the R1 position, minor, electropositive, H-bond donor groups at the R2 position, and bulky, hydrophobic groups at the R3 position for higher inhibitory activity. Docking studies revealed extensive H-bond and hydrophobic interactions in the binding of tripeptide analogues to the NS2B/NS3 protease. This study provides an insight into the key structural features for the design of peptide-based inhibitors of DENV NS2B/NS3 protease.

Can toll prices changes affect the housing market? The case of the Severn crossing toll removal

PurposeSince 1966, the Severn crossing has been connecting England and Wales. In January 2018, its ownership returned to the UK Government, and this marked the start of a toll-free journey across the two countries and made commuting between the regions more affordable. In this paper, we examine the impact of the toll removal on the property market.Design/methodology/approachWe employ property-level data from the Land Registry and a difference-in-differences (DiD) empirical model for the periods 2016–2018 and 2019–2021 to capture the pre- and post-toll removal dynamics. The DiD estimation allows us to examine the causal relationship between policy changes and property prices.FindingsOur findings suggest that property prices in Newport and Monmouthshire (South East Wales) are positively affected by the policy, which results in a statistically significant increase of 5.8% more than those located in the South West England (Bristol and South Gloucestershire) region in the period 2019–2021. The impact can reach up to 13.1% for properties located in a 10 km radius of the bridge. The results indicate that the toll removal enables the ripple effect across the two markets by reducing commuting costs.Originality/valueThis is the first paper that examines the Severn Crossing case study. Its contribution is significant since we provide empirical evidence on how reduced transportation costs increase property prices in the lowest income region and have the opposite effect on the area with higher incomes and economic activity levels.

Seed osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) enhances seed germination and seedling physiological traits of Coronilla varia L. under water stress.

Water stress can adversely affect seed germination and plant growth. Seed osmopriming is a pre-sowing treatment in which seeds are soaked in osmotic solutions to undergo the first stage of germination prior to radicle protrusion. Seed osmopriming enhances germination performance under stressful environmental conditions, making it an effective method to improve plant resistance and yield. This study analyzed the effect of seed osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on seed germination and physiological parameters of Coronilla varia L. Priming treatments using 10% to 30% PEG enhanced germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, vitality index, and seedling mass and reduced the time to reach 50% germination (T50). The PEG concentration that led to better results was 10%. The content of soluble proteins (SP), proline (Pro), soluble sugars (SS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in Coronilla varia L. seedlings increased with the severity of water stress. In addition, under water stress, electrolyte leakage rose, and peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities intensified, while catalase (CAT) activity increased at mild-to-moderate water stress but declined with more severe deficiency. The 10% PEG priming significantly improved germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, vitality index, and time to 50% germination (T50) under water stress. Across the water stress gradient here tested (8 to 12% PEG), seed priming enhanced SP content, Pro content, and SOD activity in Coronilla varia L. seedlings compared to the unprimed treatments. Under 10% PEG-induced water stress, primed seedlings displayed a significantly lower MDA content and electrolyte leakage than their unprimed counterparts and exhibited significantly higher CAT and POD activities. However, under 12% PEG-induced water stress, differences in electrolyte leakage, CAT activity, and POD activity between primed and unprimed treatments were not significant. These findings suggest that PEG priming enhances the osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity of Coronilla varia seedlings, facilitating seed germination and seedling growth and alleviating drought stress damage, albeit with reduced efficacy under severe water deficiency.