Short Review Research Articles

Conceivable Mechanisms of Clozapine Propagated Dyslipidemia- A Short Review

Abstract: Clozapine is the most effective drug for the treatment of refractory schizophrenia, showing a good response in the treatment of patients with resistant schizophrenia, especially in reducing violent, aggressive, and suicidal tendencies. However, treatment with clozapine has been associated with hyperlipidemia especially high triglycerides, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. An elevated level of lipids has a direct impact on the improvement of symptoms in schizophrenics treated with clozapine. Although the mechanism is not clear, there is a possibility of serum lipids play a major part in enhancing clozapine's therapeutic activity. The effect of clozapine on phospholipids might indicate that this rise is related to its therapeutic benefit as well. Moreover, increased fatty acids accompanied by a sharp rise in triglycerides, point towards the possible involvement of lipases, which are involved in the storage and release of fatty acids and triglycerides in the adipose tissue. An increase in hepatic lipid synthesis can be another cause of hyperlipidemia and lead to weight gain over a certain period. Lipogenesis and myelin synthesis can also become targets in schizophrenia since myelination and synaptogenesis are essential in the central nervous system. Hence, the upregulation of several genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis focused, which are proven to be controlled by Sterol regulating element-binding protein transcription factors (SREBP). The antipsychotic drug Clozapine activates this SREBP system. This activation increases lipogenesis which can be one of the mechanisms of action, which in turn could explain the metabolic side effects produced by clozapine.

Liquid Metallurgy Synthesis of Gr or MoS2-Reinforced Aluminum Composites: A Short Review

Liquid Metallurgy Synthesis of Gr or MoS2-Reinforced Aluminum Composites: A Short Review

Fabrication of Two-Dimensional Material Membranes

Membrane separation is an energy-efficient separation process. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have shown potential as a new generation of membrane materials due to their unique structures and physicochemical properties. The separation performance of 2D material membranes crucially depends on how 2D nanosheets are assembled in membranes, such as interlayer spacing between stacked nanosheets, chemical properties of nanosheet surfaces, alignment of nanosheets and thickness of membranes, which are closely related to their fabrication methods. This short review concisely overviews commonly used membrane fabrication methods for different types of 2D materials, including graphene-based materials, 2D covalent organic frameworks, 2D metal-organic frameworks, MXenes and other 2D materials. The representative 2D material membranes resulting from their essential fabrication methods are discussed. The advantages and shortcomings of different fabrication methods are compared. The critical challenges to realising large-scale production of 2D material membranes for practical applications are highlighted.

Surface Engineering on Zinc Anode for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are considered as a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, the Zn anodes in AZMBs face severe challenges, such as dendrite growth, metal corrosion, and hydrogen evolution, all of which are closely related to the Zn/electrolyte interface. This article offers a short review on surface passivation to alleviate the issues on the Zn anodes. The composition and structure of the surface layers significantly influence their functions and then the performance of the Zn anodes. The recent progresses are introduced, according to the chemical components of the passivation layers on the Zn anodes. Moreover, the challenges and prospects of surface passivation in stabilizing Zn anodes are discussed, providing valuable guidance for the development of AZMBs.

Southern Ocean food-webs and climate change: A short review and future directions

Food-webs are a critical feature of ecosystems and help us understand how communities will respond to climate change. The Southern Ocean is facing rapid and accelerating changes due to climate change. Though having evolved in an isolated and somewhat extreme environment, Southern Ocean biodiversity and food-webs are among the most vulnerable. Here, we review 1) current knowledge on Southern Ocean food-webs; 2) methods to study food-webs; 3) assessment of current and future impacts of climate change on Southern Ocean food-webs; 4) knowledge gaps; and 5) the role of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in future studies. Most knowledge on Southern Ocean food-webs come from the pelagic environment, both at macro- and microbial levels. Modelling and diet studies of individual species are major contributors to the food-web knowledge. These studies revealed a short food-web, predominantly sustained by Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba). Additionally, alternative pathways exist, involving other krill species, fish, and squid, which play equally important roles in connecting primary producers with top predators. Advantages and disadvantages of several techniques used to study Southern Ocean food-webs were identified, from the classical analyses of stomach contents, scats, or boluses to the most recent approaches such as metabarcoding and trophic-biomarkers. Observations show that climate change can impact the food-web in different ways. As an example, changes to smaller phytoplankton species can lengthen the food-web, increasing assimilation losses and/or changing nutrient cycles. Future studies need to focus on the benthic-dominated food-webs and the benthopelagic coupling. Furthermore, research during the winter season and below the ice-shelves is needed as these areas may play a crucial role in the functioning of this ecosystem. ECRs can play a significant role in advancing the study of Southern Ocean food-webs due to their willingness for interdisciplinary collaboration and proficiency in employing various methodologies, contributing to the construction of high-resolution food-webs.

Separation and Purification of Vanillin and Syringaldehyde from an Oxidized Kraft Liquor – A Mini Review

AbstractLignin is one of the most abundant bio‐aromatic molecular resources, but it is currently underutilized for energy production in the pulp and paper industry. Unlocking the full potential of lignin could have a significant impact on reducing environmental pollution, increasing the use of renewable resources, and achieving environmentally beneficial economic growth. However, effective lignin valorization requires viable and integrated reaction and separation processes to produce high value monomeric phenolics, such as vanillin and syringaldehyde. The aim of this short review is to summarize the studies on different separation methods of lignin derivatives obtained from black liquor, including extraction, membrane filtration, chromatographic separation, and the combination technologies.

Recent advances of high-entropy electrocatalysts for water electrolysis by electrodeposition technology: a short review

Recent advances of high-entropy electrocatalysts for water electrolysis by electrodeposition technology: a short review

The geography of eco-innovations and sustainability transitions: a systematic comparison

Abstract The need to address environmental challenges through innovation-based transformative change has become more urgent than ever and the spatial dimension of pathways towards sustainability has attracted increasing scholarly interest. Over the last decade, research on environmentally oriented innovation has entered the geographical discourse from different directions. This paper starts with the premise that, among other contributions, two main directions of research can be identified within the current geographical discourse that do not yet interface much – a broad, yet conceptually more traditional debate on eco-innovation and a newer discourse around socio-technical transitions that adds a further perspective. Having justified this assumption by a short literature review, we perform a keyword-based literature search, which confirms that there are indeed two distinct bodies of literature and few studies to date that integrate features from both fields. Following this, an in-depth review of the sources clarifies the differences in perspective and the common object of analysis of the basic systemic elements of actors, institutions and technologies. While this juxtaposition illustrates why the two fields of research have hardly cross-fertilised each other so far, it also shows that they are in substance far from irreconcilable. On the contrary, the nuanced synthesis of research findings reveals numerous complementarities that constitute promising avenues for future geographical research. These are considered necessary to improve the understanding of the geography of innovation-based transitions towards sustainability.

The Forcible Transfer of Children from Ukraine as Genocide

Abstract On 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber ii of the International Criminal Court (icc) issued secret warrants of arrest for President Putin and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, Ms. Lvova-Belova, for the commission of the war crime of forcible transfer of children. This article argues that there are “reasonable grounds to believe”, as the icc Statute requires for the arrest warrant stage, that both Putin and Lvova-Belova bear individual criminal responsibility for the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children as a crime of genocide; however, two types of considerations – general and particular – prevented the issuing of arrest warrants for genocide crimes. In Section 2, after a short historical-legal review of the formulation of Article 2(e) of the Genocide Convention (gc), the article notes that despite the significant number of cases of children being transferred and removed from their families that have taken place since the gc was adopted, the provision has been dormant and considered anachronistic and was rarely applied by an international or a local court. Section 3 proceeds with a legal analysis of the elements of the crime of the forced transfer of children and the genocidal special intent. Section 4 parses the case study of the forcible transfer of children from Ukraine as a crime of genocide. Section 5 analyses the litigation of the crime of genocide in the icc through the only case of genocide the court has addressed so far: the arrest warrant for Sudan’s former president, Omar al-Bashir. Section 6 concludes with a forecast that despite the sufficient legal basis for issuing arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova, practical and political considerations would impede the icc from doing so.

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Mono and α,α-Disubstituted 5- and 6-Membered α-Aza-lactams

AbstractFive- and six-membered cyclic amide structures with an embedded endocyclic α-aza group (α-aza-lactams) not only represent masked or protected forms of α-amino acids, but also form the core of other medicinally relevant compound families such as (thio)hydantoins and di(tri)ketopiperazines. In recent years, catalytic methods have been discovered to synthesize these molecular scaffolds, particularly those bearing an α-stereogenic tri- or tetrasubstituted carbon center, enantioselectively. The wide variety of methods and catalytic activation strategies that have been successfully applied to this end in a short period of years is notable. This short review covers the most significant, highlighting their differences and complementarities. The methods are organized according to the disconnection approach to the target α-aza-lactam structure, which in most cases is deeply bound to the type of catalysis applied.1 Introduction2 Catalyst-Controlled Cα–H Functionalization (Approach a)3 Decarboxylative α-AAA Reactions (Approach b)4 Cα–X Substitution Reactions (Approach c)5 De Novo Synthesis from Acyclic Precursors (Approach d)6 Hydrogenation of (Addition to) α-Alkyliden-α-aza-lactams (Approach e)7 Kinetic Resolution and Deracemization (Approach f)8 Conclusions

A short review on CRP synthesis inhibition in cardiovascular disease

C-reactive Protein (CRP) is synthesized in the liver. Synthesis is stimulated via the IL-1ß/IL6 pathway. CRP activates the complement system via C1q and macrophages via Fcγ receptors. Since elevated CRP plasma levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, CRP may play a causal role in cardiovascular disease. One approach to transfer these observations into standard medical care would be to generate hepatic CRP synthesis inhibitors and use them in controlled clinical trials. Despite huge pharmacological efforts, the search for CRP synthesis inhibitors proved to be difficult. First, the antisense oligonucleotide RNA technology, although a promising idea, has not yet led to results feasible for clinical practice. Secondly, high throughput screening assays in search for hepatic CRP inhibitors were limited by the fact that primary human hepatocytes do not adequately grow in vitro. Use of genetically engineered hepatoma cells led to the observation that cardiac glycosides are capable of inhibiting CRP synthesis. Because of patent law considerations, however, pharmaceutical companies had limited interest in further pursuing this possible path. Upstream inhibition of IL-1ß and IL-6 by antibodies has shown positive results in cardiovascular clinical trials, but because of side effects none of these antibodies has yet received FDA approval. In contrast, long-term colchicine treatment, though not being a CRP-specific approach, has recently been approved by the FDA. Taken together, there is no compelling evidence until today that hepatic CRP synthesis can specifically, effectively and safely be inhibited in vivo in human medicine. Currently, other avenues appear more promising. Here, we summarize contemporary approaches to inhibit CRP synthesis and potential goals for future clinical trials.

An Update on the Formation in Tobacco, Toxicity, and Carcinogenicity of N'-Nitrosonornicotine and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

The tobacco-specific nitrosamines N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) are considered "carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and are believed to be important in the carcinogenic effects of both smokeless tobacco and combusted tobacco products. This short review focuses on the results of recent studies on the formation of NNN and NNK in tobacco, and their carcinogenicity and toxicity in laboratory animals. New mechanistic insights are presented regarding the role of dissimilatory nitrate reductases in certain microorganisms involved in the conversion of nitrate to nitrite that leads to the formation of NNN and NNK during curing and processing of tobacco. Carcinogenicity studies of the enantiomers of the major NNK metabolite 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and the enantiomers of NNN are reviewed. Recent toxicity studies of inhaled NNK and co-administration studies of NNK with formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and CO2, all of which occur in high concentrations in cigarette smoke, are discussed.

TOPLESS Corepressors as an Emerging Hub of Plant Pathogen Effectors.

Transcriptional corepressors form an ancient and essential layer of gene expression control in eukaryotes. TOPLESS and TOPLESS-RELATED (TPL/TPR) proteins constitute a conserved family of Groucho (Gro)/thymidine uptake 1 (Tup1)-type transcriptional corepressors and control diverse growth, developmental, and stress signaling responses in plants. Because of their central and versatile regulatory roles, they act as a signaling hub to integrate various input signaling pathways in the transcriptional responses. Recently, increasing pieces of evidence indicate the roles of TPL/TPR family proteins in the modulation of plant immunity. This is supported by studies on effectors of distantly related pathogens that target TPL/TPR proteins in planta. In this short review, we will summarize the latest findings concerning pathogens targeting plant TPL/TPR proteins to manipulate plant signaling responses for the successful invasion of their hosts. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Manufacture of amorphous boron – A technical review

Boron is an important element which increases the hardenability of materials. It has potential uses in futuristic applications like solar cells. Research has been done on crystalline Boron and a lot of data are available on crystalline boron. However, Boron in its amorphous form is a material which is being researched upon in recent times. This paper is a short review on the manufacturing methods, both traditional and current, and characterization of amorphous boron.

Hybrid Nano-platforms, and Silica Nano-hole Particles Intended for Enhanced Energy Modes: Light Scattering Studies Towards Lasers Developments

In this short review, it was communicated about the design and synthesis of optical active nanoplatforms for Light Scattering studies highlighting holed nanoarchitectures as main sources of potential additional resonances and enhanced phenomena. In this context, the nanoplatforms were based on varied materials such as silicon compounds, silica, modified organosilanes, Nobel metals, and organic materials as well; such molecular and polymeric spacers, chromophores, etc. By this manner it was discussed how it could be recorded Enhanced Light Scattering signalling from hybrid nanoplatforms and nano-Hole particles; from where it was produced constructive wavelengths with a consequent amplification. In this context it was afforded to the discussion of examples of Laser Light Scattering properties and optical approaches already developed. In addition it was showed new developments within nano-optics to be considered for further studies and applications. And, in this direction it was considered the study from single nanoplatforms towards higher sized modified surfaces and 3D substrates. In this manner, it was leaded to the design of nano-optical resonators as well as nano-arrays resonators. Thus, it was evaluated varied materials to incorporate and evaluate for the next generation of nano-optical platforms by controlling Nano-chemistry and beyond for targeted photo-physics. The variable materials showed differences between varied modes of resonances and expected performances.

Molecular and nutritional markers in head and neck cancer.

There is still a need of biomarkers in the induction and neoadjuvant settings for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The objective of this concise review article is to give an overview on both predictive and prognostic biomarkers potentially useful for the management of SCCHN. Human papilloma virus (HPV) positivity translated by the presence of the protein indicator p16 is synonymous of favorable prognosis SCCHN. However, there is some disparity for disease evolution among p16 positive SCCHN. A lack of correlation between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and precise quantification of active epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) may explain the absence of link between EGFR expression performed by IHC and response to EGFR targeting therapies reported in SCCHN. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the property to share the main somatic mutations and genetic rearrangements with the primary tumors. A particular potential interest lies on the possibility to predict patient outcome based on a single-CTC analysis. This short review indicates that key biological marker reflecting disease outcome is not yet emerging for a clinical use in SCCHN. Hopes can be put into the so-called liquid biopsies incorporating circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA.

The Heyns Rearrangement: Synthetic Routes Beyond Carbohydrate Chemistry.

This concept review describes the recent achievements on the Heyns rearrangement appeared in literature over the last decade and aims to provide the reader with a general overview of the fundamental synthetic advances in this research area.

Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Gastrointestinal Health: A Mini Review Article

Introduction:: Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular topic in the medical and fitness fields because it helps reduce weight, improve metabolic health, and protect against diseases. In this short review, we summarized some of the current aspects of IF in relation to the gastrointestinal tract and highlighted the knowledge gap that may outline possible future research in this field. Methods:: The PubMed database was used to conduct narrative research of studies related to humans and mice regarding IF and its effect on five different aspects. Results:: First, the studies reported conflicting results; some supported the role of IF in promoting weight loss, while others concluded that the intervention, rather than IF itself, leads to weight reduction. Second, IF was shown to positively affect secretory immunoglobulin A, cell regeneration, and the gut microbiome. Third, IF was shown to improve the immune response. Fourth, IF was shown to promote stem cell-based regeneration; fifth, studies showed that IF has no effect on gastric or stool pH levels. We also mentioned normal gut motility and the migrating motor complex. Conclusion:: In conclusion, these results suggest that IF has a positive effect on these different aspects, even though there is a lack of human trials, which would be a fruitful area for further studies.

Redundancy and absurd names in immunology.

In this short review, examples of unnecessary multiple names of cell membrane molecules, for example, immune checkpoints and cytokines, are presented. Moreover, ridiculous or inaccurate names, such as 'Regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted' and 'tissue factor', are discussed.

Adsorbent Materials Used for the Treatment of Per‐ and Poly‐fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Short Review

AbstractPFAS, or per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have received considerable attention due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. To address this problem, adsorption has emerged as an effective method for removing PFAS compounds from water. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of various adsorbents used for PFAS removal, including activated carbon, ion exchange resins, clay, and emerging materials such as covalent and metal‐organic framework adsorbents. The effectiveness of these adsorbents in removing PFAS compounds is discussed, along with the factors influencing their adsorption, such as pH, competitive matters, and temperature.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved