Low Activity Research Articles

Z-scheme FeOOH/g-C3N4 nanosheets promoted PDS activation for efficient tetracycline degradation under visible light

Recently, photocatalysis combined peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation as a novel advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) was applied to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in waterbody. Under visible light irradiation, photocatalysts, such as graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN), could generated holes and electrons for both organic oxidation and PDS activation. However, it exhibits the drawbacks of low organics removal rate, high electron-hole recombination rate and low activation efficiency of PDS. In this study, amorphous iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) was intercalated into the surface of the g-C3N4 nanosheets (CNNS) to form a Z-scheme heterojunction to solve these problems. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence spectrum (PL) tests proved the enhancement of the charge separation and migration capability of FeOOH/CNNS. The density functional theory (DFT) supported the constructive role of the Z-type heterojunction between FeOOH and CNNS in promoting photocarrier transfer and facilitating more effective PDS activation reactions. The removal rate of tetracycline (TC) achieved 98.8 % within 80 min by FeOOH/CNNS coupled PDS under visible light (FeOOH/CNNS-PDS/Vis) system. Finally, electron spin resonance (ESR) approved the pivotal role of •OH, SO4•-, and •O2- during the process.

How can the pain sensitivity to be affected by maximal progressive exercise test during pregnancy?

The multidimensional etiology of pain may explain the beneficial effects of regular physical activity, as evidenced by increased pain tolerance. Physically active people find it easier to exert themselves, which enables them to increase their physical activity, which in turn leads to a reduction in pain. However, no study investigated the physical activity and exercise tests as modulators of pain sensitivity in pregnant women. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the changes in pain perception in pregnant women during pregnancy, with a particular interest in the effects of maximal progressive exercise test (CPET) and self-performed physical activity (PA). Thirty-one women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy (aged 23-41 years; M = 31.29, SD = 4.18) were invited to participate in pain sensitivity measurements before and after CPET twice during pregnancy (with an 8-week break). We found that pregnant women had a significantly lower pain threshold after a maximal exercise test than before, regardless of whether the test was performed in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. This effect was most pronounced in women with low levels of physical activity. Second, women with high physical activity had higher pain tolerance than women with moderate and low physical activity. In addition, physical activity levels predicted changes in pain tolerance over the course of pregnancy, with negative changes in women with low physical activity and positive changes in women with moderate physical activity. Finally, these associations were not reflected in differences in the subjective pain experience.

Male autism spectrum disorder is linked to brain aromatase disruption by prenatal BPA in multimodal investigations and 10HDA ameliorates the related mouse phenotype

Male sex, early life chemical exposure and the brain aromatase enzyme have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the Barwon Infant Study birth cohort (n = 1074), higher prenatal maternal bisphenol A (BPA) levels are associated with higher ASD symptoms at age 2 and diagnosis at age 9 only in males with low aromatase genetic pathway activity scores. Higher prenatal BPA levels are predictive of higher cord blood methylation across the CYP19A1 brain promoter I.f region (P = 0.009) and aromatase gene methylation mediates (P = 0.01) the link between higher prenatal BPA and brain-derived neurotrophic factor methylation, with independent cohort replication. BPA suppressed aromatase expression in vitro and in vivo. Male mice exposed to mid-gestation BPA or with aromatase knockout have ASD-like behaviors with structural and functional brain changes. 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), an estrogenic fatty acid alleviated these features and reversed detrimental neurodevelopmental gene expression. Here we demonstrate that prenatal BPA exposure is associated with impaired brain aromatase function and ASD-related behaviors and brain abnormalities in males that may be reversible through postnatal 10HDA intervention.

Highly Selective Production of C2+ Oxygenates from CO2 in Strongly Acidic Condition by Rough Ag-Cu Electrocatalyst.

The acidic electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to multi-carbon (C2+) oxygenates is of great importance in view of enhancing carbon utilization efficiency and generating products with high energy densities, but suffering from low selectivity and activity. Herein, we synthesized Ag-Cu alloy catalyst with highly rough surface, by which the selectivity to C2+ oxygenates can be greatly improved. In a strongly acidic condition (pH=0.75), the maximum C2+ products Faradaic efficiency (FE) and C2+ oxygenates FE reach 80.4% and 56.5% at -1.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively, with a ratio of FEC2+ oxygenates to FEethylene up to 2.36. At this condition, the C2+ oxygenates partial current density is as high as 480 mA cm-2. The in situ Raman measurements and control experiments indicate that the high generation of C2+ oxygenates over the catalyst originates from its large surface roughness and Ag alloying.

Serum Leucine Aminopeptidase Activity Patterns Across Various Disease States: Potential Implications for Bleeding and Thrombosis Risk.

Disruptions in the pathways for activating and deactivating proteases in the bloodstream can lead to thrombosis and bleeding issues. Leucine aminopeptidases (LAPs), which are exopeptidases essential for regulating protein and peptide activities, are recognized as clinical biomarkers for liver diseases. However, the relationship between serum LAP activity and the risks of bleeding or thrombosis, as well as the identification of the specific tissues or organs that control LAP levels, is not well understood. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate serum LAP activities in 149,360 patients with 47 different diseases and 9,449 healthy individuals. The analysis was conducted using SPSS V2.6, RStudio V.1.3.1073, and libraries in Python 3.8. Our research revealed that 21 of the 47 diseases studied showed increased median serum LAP activities, while 26 diseases were associated with significantly lower activities, especially those related to thrombosis. Furthermore, most diseases were found to have an increased risk of bleeding and thrombosis, indicated by higher Q25 and lower Q75 LAP activities compared to the control group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the effectiveness of LAP activities as biomarkers for specific conditions like hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Diseases were categorized into clusters with similar bleeding or thrombotic tendencies through principal component analysis. This study highlighted regulatory influence of the liver and pancreas on LAP levels. The established link between serum LAP concentrations and the risk of bleeding or thrombosis paved the way for the development of diagnostic and preventative approaches for various medical conditions.

Thionation‐Induced Enhancement of Optical and Electronic Properties in NDI Molecule for Molecular Electronic Applications: A Computational Study Using DFT/TD‐DFT and QTAIM Theory

AbstractThe study investigates the impact of thionation on N,N'‐di(dodecyl)‐4,5,8,9‐naphthalene diimide (NDI) through computational methods such as density functional theory (DFT/TD‐DFT), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), and Landauer theory (LT). Thionation, involving the replacement of diamide oxygens with sulfurs in NDI, significantly enhances quantum‐electronic/thermoelectric properties. Computational analyzes of energy of frontier orbitals HOMO/LUMO, dipole moment, polarizability, first superpolarizability, UV spectrum, and cohesive energy show the superior performance of the thione structure (M2) compared to the pristine structure (M1). Thionation decreased the energy gap from 01.3 eV (in M1 structure) to 1.87 eV (in M2 structure). The absorption wavelength in the pristine structure (M1) is calculated to be 507 nm, which increased to 1067 nm after thionation (M2). Cohesive energy values for each of M1 and M2 structures are calculated as 12.76 and 12.89 Kcal mol−1, respectively, which indicates the improvement of stability after thionation. After connecting M1 and M2 to gold electrodes (Au‐M1‐Au and Au‐M2‐Au) and applying electric fields, the Au‐M2‐Au structure shows a lower energy gap, lower thermoelectric activity and higher conductivity at field intensities with higher than 140 × 10−4 (a.u.), indicating its use as a field‐effect molecular device (such as molecular wire or molecular switch).

Production of C2−C4 Olefins with Fischer‐Tropsch‐Synthesis: The Effect of Cu Promoter Loading on an Fe−Cu−K/SiO2 Catalyst

AbstractIn this study we focus on the iron‐based catalyst to produce C2−C4 olefin hydrocarbons via the high‐temperature Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis. Promoters have a significant impact on catalyst stability, activity, and product selectivity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of the Cu promoter in an Fe−Cu−K/SiO2 catalyst. We compared the catalyst without Cu and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 wt % Cu loadings. The overall catalyst activity increased from 0 to 3 wt % Cu loading and started to decrease at 4 and 5 wt % Cu loadings. Although overall catalyst activity had an optimum with 3 and 4 wt % Cu loading, the Cu loading had a negligible effect on product selectivity. However, when compared to a non‐Cu promoted catalyst, the Cu addition increased the selectivity towards olefinic C2−C4 hydrocarbons. The Fischer‐Tropsch experiments were performed in a tubular reactor system at 300 °C, 21 bar and H2 : CO=2 at different feed volume flows, with hydrogen activation. According to the performed temperature‐programmed dynamic chemisorption analysis, the Cu promoter assisted the iron reduction, and the lower overall activity to 0–2 wt % Cu loading might relate to insufficient dissociated H surface species, rather than the availability of C from dissociated CO.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential, Enzyme Inhibition, and Chemical Profiling Through Mass Spectrometry on Bark Extract of Berberis aristata

Berberis aristata, a plant from the Berberidaceae family, is renowned for its medicinal properties. The presence of bioactive metabolites in its bark underscores its importance in traditional medicine and pharmacology. This study primarily focuses on the biological activities of the plant bark extract, specifically its antioxidant properties and alpha-glucosidase inhibition. In addition to these activities, mass spectrometry-based compound annotation was conducted to explore the metabolites present in the plant bark extract. In this study, the bark samples were collected and extracted using the cold percolation method with methanol. Subsequently, an ethyl acetate fraction was obtained from the methanol extract using a separating funnel. The methanol extract of the bark showed a total phenolic content (TPC) of 70.056 ± 2.52 mg GAE/g and a total flavonoid content (TFC) of 11.89 ± 0.16 mg QE/g. To determine the antioxidant activity of the samples, a DPPH assay was used. The ethyl acetate fraction of the bark showed potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 188.93 ± 8.35 μg/mL, while the methanol extract of the bark showed radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 242.89 ± 4.62 μg/mL. In terms of alpha-glucosidase inhibition, the methanol extract of the bark had low enzyme inhibition activity, but the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited potential inhibition with an IC50 value of 112.99 ± 10.28 µg/mL. These results indicate that the plant bark extract is rich in phenolic content compared to flavonoid content. Additionally, the ethyl acetate fraction of the plant bark exhibits potent radical scavenging activity and inhibition of the digestive enzyme alpha-glucosidase. Mass spectrometric-based identification of metabolites revealed that the methanol extract of the bark contains compounds such as Palmatin, columbamine, and berberal. The presence of these metabolites further supports the medicinal use of this plant bark. These findings enhance the plant's potential in the drug discovery process in the future.

Facet-Dependent Evolution of Active Components on Spinel Co3O4 for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis.

Spinel cobalt oxides (Co3O4) have emerged as a promising class of catalysts for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR) to ammonia, offering advantages such as low cost, high activity, and selectivity. However, the specific role of crystallographic facets in determining the catalysts' performance remains elusive, impeding the development of efficient catalysts. In this study, we have synthesized various Co3O4 nanostructures with exposed facets of {100}, {111}, {110}, and {112}, aiming to investigate the dependence of the eNO3RR activity on the crystallographic facets. Among the catalysts tested, Co3O4 {111} shows the best performance, achieving an ammonia Faradaic efficiency of 99.1 ± 1.8% with a yield rate of 35.2 ± 0.6 mg h-1 cm-2 at -0.6 V vs RHE. Experimental and theoretical results reveal a transformation process in which the active phases evolve from Co3O4 to Co3O4-x with oxygen vacancy (Ov), followed by a Co3O4-x-Ov/Co(OH)2 hybrid, and finally Co(OH)2. This process is observed for all facets, but the formation of Ov and Co(OH)2 is the most rapid on the (111) surface. The presence of Ov significantly reduces the free energy of the *NH2 intermediate formation from 1.81 to -0.53 eV, and plentiful active sites on the densely reconstructed Co(OH)2 make Co3O4 {111} an ideal catalyst for ammonia synthesis via eNO3RR. This work provides insights into the understanding of the realistic active components, offers a strategy for developing highly efficient Co-based spinel catalysts for ammonia synthesis through tuning the exposed facets, and helps further advance the design and optimization of catalysts in the field of eNO3RR.

MENTORING IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

ANNOTATION Rationale. During the period of rapid development of science and medical technologies, the professional and working environment is faced with the urgent task of finding mechanisms and tools for increasing the level of professional competencies and practical skills of medical specialists in the process of professional socialization. The sociological study conducted by the authors was focused on identifying factors of successful/unsuccessful professional socialization of young medical specialists, one of which is mentoring. Purpose of the study. Determining the role of the mentoring institution as a factor influencing the success/failure of professional socialization of medical specialists. Materials and methods. A survey was conducted among clinical residents of the Far Eastern State Medical University. A total of 184 respondents were interviewed using a questionnaire using a Google form. To solve the research problems, methods of analysis, comparison and generalization of the obtained data, analysis of regulatory documents, survey results and secondary data from sociological research were used. At the level of data processing and work with source material, descriptive statistics methods provided by SPSS and EXCEL software were used. Results. In the course of a sociological study conducted by the authors, the most pressing problems of introducing and implementing mentoring practices in the healthcare system were identified. The role of the mentoring institution as a socializing factor influencing the success/failure of professional socialization of medical specialists is also determined. The study formulates tasks for further research into the process of professional socialization of medical specialists from the point of view of identifying factors of a positive and destructive nature, and the role of socialization institutions in this process. Conclusion. Problems in the implementation of mentoring practices in healthcare related to the low mentoring activity of practicing medical specialists have been identified. A special need for the implementation of mentoring practices was identified at the stage of postgraduate training (clinical residency) by 83% of respondents and at the stage of starting independent professional work by 61% of respondents. Respondents expressed a positive attitude towards the introduction of mentoring in healthcare: 90% of respondents indicated that having a mentor when obtaining a medical specialty is mandatory.

Surface Ammonium Ions Assisted Decoration of Monodisperse Cobalt Nanoparticles on Molybdenum Oxide Films as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The high expense associated with electrocatalysts poses a challenge to the advancement of a hydrogen-based energy economy. The utilization of nonprecious metal-based electrocatalysts that are easily prepared and cost-effective is imperative for the future sustainability of a hydrogen society. The semiconductive MoO3-x has been identified as a promising nonprecious electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Nevertheless, enhancing its relatively low electrocatalytic activity toward HER remains a top priority. This study illustrates the manipulation of surface ammonium ions (NH4+) to produce uniform and distinct cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) on active MoO3-x supports, resulting in a more effective heterostructured composite electrocatalyst for HER. The presence of NH4+ ions in the MoO3-x film was extensively examined using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-visible colorimetric techniques. Additionally, the firmly attached NH4+ ions were employed as binding sites to precipitate Co-containing complex ions. Due to the monolayer-like adsorption of NH4+ ions, only a small quantity of Co precipitate was formed, which was subsequently electrochemically transformed into Co atoms that diffused and created well-separated uniform metallic Co nanoparticles (with an average size of less than 10 nm) on the MoO3-x film. The resulting heterostructure displays a 4.5-fold increase in current density for HER compared to the MoO3-x electrocatalyst through electrochemical assessments. The enhanced catalytic activity was ascribed to the optimized adsorption/desorption of the species involved in water reduction at the heterointerfaces and improved charge transfer rates. These nanoheterostructures hold great promise for a variety of applications in heterogeneous electrocatalysis, while the novel approach could potentially direct the creation of more heterostructures.

Rationally Engineered Novel Glycosyltransferase UGT74DD1 from Siraitia grosvenorii Catalyzes the Generation of the Sweetener Mogroside III.

Mogrosides are natural compounds highly valued in the food sector for their exceptional sweetness. Here, we report a novel O-glycosyltransferase (UGT74DD1) from Siraitia grosvenorii that catalyzes the conversion of mogrol to mogroside IIE. Site-directed mutagenesis yielded the UGT74DD1-W351A mutant, which exhibited the new capability to transform mogroside IIE into the valuable sweetener mogroside III, but with low catalytic activity. Subsequently, using structure-guided directed evolution with combinatorial active-site saturation testing, the superior mutant M6 (W351A/Q373 K/E49H/Q335W/S278C/D17F) were obtained, which showed a 46.1-fold increase in catalytic activity compared to UGT74DD1-W351A. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the enhanced activity and extended substrate profiles of M6 are due to its enlarged substrate-binding pocket and strengthened enzyme-substrate hydrogen bonding interactions. Overall, we redesigned UGT74DD1, yielding mutants that catalyze the conversion of mogrol into mogroside III. This study thus broadens the toolbox of UGTs capable of catalyzing the formation of valuable polyglycoside compounds.

Clinical characteristics and detection of MYB-QKI fusions in patients with angiocentric glioma.

Angiocentric glioma (AG), a benign tumor identified within the last two decades, was officially included in the 2007 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System, WHO grade I. The tumor is relatively rare, with only approximately 100 cases reported. We aim to complement the characteristics and long-term prognosis of AG, as well as to detect MYB-QKI fusions. The characteristics of all cases collected between 1 March 2009 and 1 March 2023 at the Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, were summarized and analyzed. Additionally, all fourteen patients were tested for MYB-QKI fusions. AG more predominantly occurs in adolescents (median age 16.5-year-old), and commonly presents with drug-resistant epilepsy. AG is frequently localized in the supratentorial regions and only one patient is in the brainstem. Brain parenchyma atrophy, and stalk-like signs can observe in imaging. Pathologically, tumor cells are perivascular pseudorosettes, presenting immunoreactivity for GFAP, S-100, Vimentin, "dot-like" staining for EMA, and low proliferative activity. Focal cortex dysplasia was observed in four patients. Twelve of fourteen (85.7%) patients were found with MYB-QKI fusions. Completely surgical resection typically has a satisfactory prognosis with long-term follow-up. AG is a rare benign tumor with a favorable prognosis after complete resection, characterized by refractory epilepsy, frequently occurring in adolescents. MYB-QKI fusions were detected in most AG patients, as a good defining genetic alteration pathologically. The potential presence of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) may affect the prognosis of epilepsy.

Strong electronic coupling between Ni-based MOF and Ni2P enables high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction for various application scenarios

The high overpotential and sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) severely hinder the widespread application of electrochemical water splitting, especially at industrial-level current densities. Herein, we report a novel heterostructural Ni-based metal organic framework (MOF)-Ni2P in-situ grown on iron foam (NiMOF-Ni2P/IF), which shows remarkable OER activity and stability. We demonstrate that the work function difference between NiMOF and Ni2P leads to the strong electron coupling effect by promoting electron transfer at the interface and results in a discernible upward shift of the d-band center of Ni sites for favorable OH− adsorption. The as-fabricated NiMOF-Ni2P/IF exhibits an ultralow overpotential of 330 mV and a small cell voltage of 1.796 V to drive NiMOF-Ni2P/IF‖Pt/C system at 1000 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH, outperforming the majority of state-of-the-art non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts. Furthermore, the catalyst shows remarkable performance even under harsh industrial conditions of 40, 60, and 80 °C in 6 M KOH. In addition, NiMOF-Ni2P/IF holds great promise with remarkable stability of 200 h and 600 cycles in simulated seawater and secondary zinc-air batteries (ZABs), respectively. This work offers a rational design strategy for low cost, high activity, and long durability OER electrocatalyst based on in-depth comprehension of the electronic coupling effect.

4+2]‐Cycloaddition Reactions to Corannulene Accelerated by η6‐Coordination of Ruthenium Complexes

The influence of different (LRu)nII (L = Cp– (n = 1, 2); C6H6) moieties η6‐coordinated to corannulene (CpRu+, (Benzene)Ru2+, and (CpRu)22+ has been explored by using the Activation Strain Model (ASM) of reactivity together with the Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA) scheme. The results obtained have been compared with those obtained for the non‐coordinated corannulene counterpart. It has been observed that the presence of the ruthenium moiety favors, both kinetically and thermodynamically, the [4+2]‐cycloaddition reaction with cyclopentadiene. The factors governing these differences depend on the nature of the [Ru] complex. Whereas the interaction energy is solely responsible for the lower activation energy for the monocationic system (CpRu+), not only the higher interaction but also the lower strain energy explain the much higher reactivity observed for the dicationic systems ((C6H6)Ru2+ and (CpRu)22+). In this latter case, the Pauli repulsion energy term is the factor controlling the differences in the interaction energies, following the so‐called Pauli repulsion‐lowering concept. Finally, when η6‐coordinating mono‐ or dicationic ruthenium complexes, although although the [4+2]‐cycloaddition reaction in the external rim bonds remains thermodynamically and kinetically more favourable, the cycloaddition becomes also thermodynamically feasible in some internal bonds.

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant capacity of the endemic species Bellevalia sasonii Fidan.

The study investigated total phenolic-flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical compounds across various parts (bulb, stem, leaf, and flower) of the endemic Bellevalia sasonii, commonly known as hyacinth, belonging to the Asparagaceae family. Phenolic content was highest in bulb extracts (117.28 μg GAE) and lowest in stems(45.11 μg GAE). Conversely, leaf extracts exhibited the highest flavonoid content (79.44 μg QEs), while stems showed thelowest (22.77 μg QEs). When the antioxidant activities were compared, by DPPH method leaf=flower>bulb>stem; in ABTS and CUPRAC methods bulb>flower>leaf>stem, respectively. Considering the results in general, it was revealed that bulbs and flowers displayed higher activity, while stem exhibited lower activity compared to other parts. The phytochemical analysis identified 53 active substances, with 27 absent in any extract and 15 detected across all extracts. The distribution of phytochemicals varied among parts, with bulbs, stems, flowers, and leaves also different numbers. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed prominent metabolites including fumaric acid in leaves, caffeic acid in bulbs, and cosmosiin and quinic acid inflowers. This study provides foundational insights into B.sasonii, an important endemic plant in Türkiye, laying the groundwork for future research on its medicinal and ecological roles.

Catalytic activity of chitinase encapsulated with alginate and its application in a biosensor for postharvest fungal detection

This research aimed to preserve the chitinase catalytic activity using alginate and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), to evaluate its thermal stability at 37 ºC, 50 ºC, and 70 ºC and its ability to detect Rhizopus stolonifer, Colletotrichum fragariae, and Alternaria alternata in a capacitive transducer-based biosensor. The ZnO-NPs measured less than 100 nm. The phosphate buffer-citric acid was a better solvent than water. Al+ZnONPs Ch showed the highest thermal stability at 37 ºC and 50 ºC (2 IU) for 45 d. Conversely, the free enzyme lost its activity from day 1–28 at 37 ºC (3.3 IU-2.8 IU), and alginate-encapsulated chitinase (AlCh) had the lowest activity at 50 ºC during 45 d (1.3 IU). Chitinase, alginate, and the ZnO-NPs were confirmed for FTIR spectra. The Al+ZnONPs Ch had the best response in the biosensor, observing a decrease in electrical frequency when the concentration of the tested fungi increased (106 spores mL−1 =100–250 kHz and 104 spores mL−1 = 400 kHz). In conclusion, at 37 ºC and 50 ºC, the chitinase had a stable catalytic activity compared to the remaining treatments, and it could be used to detect fungi in a biosensor at concentrations from 103 to 106 spores mL−1.

Neural correlates of distress and comfort in individuals with avoidant, anxious and secure attachment style: an fMRI study

ABSTRACT Despite a growing literature, experiments directly related to attachment are still needed. We explored brain processes involved in two aspects of attachment, distress and comfort. Seventy-eight healthy adult males with different attachment styles (secure, avoidant, and anxious) viewed distress, comfort, complicity-joy and neutral images (picture database BAPS-Adult) in an fMRI block design. ROIs from the modules described in the functional Neuro-Anatomical Model of Attachment (Long et al. 2020) were studied. Secure participants used more co- and self-regulation strategies and exhibited a higher activation of the reward network in distress and comfort viewing, than insecure participants. Avoidant participants showed the lower brain activations. Their approach and reward modules were the least activated in distress and comfort. Anxious participants presented both higher activations of the approach and aversion modules during complicity-joy. In addition, comfort and complicity-joy were processed differently according to attachment styles and should be differentiated among positive stimuli to disentangle attachment processes.

Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity of Antioxidant Octyl Gallate and Its Impact on Gut Microbiome

In this study, we investigated the antibacterial activity of octyl gallate (OG), an antioxidant food additive, against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. OG demonstrated robust bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacterial pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 4 to 8 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of 8 to 16 µg/mL in vitro. However, OG exhibited limited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli, although it could inhibit bacterial growth in vitro. Importantly, OG administration in mice altered the fecal microbiome, significantly reducing microbial diversity, modifying community structure, and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Additionally, OG displayed low cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity. These findings suggest that OG could be developed as a novel antibacterial agent, particularly against multi-drug-resistant MRSA. Our results provide new insights into the therapeutic potential of OG in modulating the gut microbiome, especially in conditions associated with microbial imbalance, while ensuring food safety.

Pattern of variation of TEC, hmF2 and foF2, and their correlation during the geomagnetic storm time conditions

This paper mainly examines the diurnal variation of the Total Electron Content (TEC) and critical frequency of the F2-layer (foF2) and their correlation with the height of the peak electron density (hmF2). This is carried out employing the observations (co-located Global Positioning System (GPS) and digisonde) and empirical models (International Reference Ionosphere, IRI, 2016 and IRI-extended to the Plasmasphere, IRI-Plas, 2017) in the low-to-high latitudes during relatively similar intense level geomagnetic storms that occurred during the high solar activity (February 19, 2014) and low solar activity (September 08, 2017). The GPS-derived TEC and digisonde-derived TEC, hmF2 and foF2 variabilities show large fluctuations on most of the stations when compared to the IRI 2016 and IRI-Plas 2017 variations. Moreover, the highest GPS-derived TEC values are observed when the hmF2 values reach in the ranges of about 270–309 km (low latitude), 203–266 km (mid latitude) and 259–311 km (high latitude) regions. The highest digisonde-derived TEC values are also depicted at the height ranges of about 256–451 km (low latitude), 250–326 km (mid latitude) and 309–388 km (high latitude) regions. In addition, the highest digisonde-derived foF2 values are observed when the hmF2 values reach about 253–384, 217–311 and 259–281 km in the low, mid and high latitudes, respectively. The model-derived TEC and foF2 variations also reveal that the highest values are generally observed at relatively similar height ranges with the observations. Moreover, the highest TEC and foF2 values are observed relatively at lower altitudes in the mid latitudes when compared to the low and high latitudes. The highest values also tend to move to the lower altitudes in shifting from the high to the low solar activity during similar intense level geomagnetic storms.