Synergic Association Research Articles

Synergic association of the consortium Arthrospira maxima with the microalga growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum cultured under the stressful biogas composition.

The present study evaluates the association of the blue-green microalga Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina), which is known for its CO2 fixation, biomass, and high-value metabolite production, with the microalga growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense under the stressful composition of biogas. The results demonstrated that A. maxima co-cultured with A. brasilense under the high CO2 (25%) and methane (CH4; 75%) concentrations of biogas recorded a CO2 fixation rate of 0.24 ± 0.03g L-1 days-1, thereby attaining a biomass production of 1.8 ± 0.03g L-1. Similarly, the biochemical composition quality of this microalga enhanced the attainment of higher contents of carbohydrates, proteins, and phycocyanin than cultured alone. However, metabolites other than tryptophan (Trp) and indole-3-acetic acid could have supported this beneficial interaction. Overall, the results demonstrate that this prokaryotic consortium of A. maxima-A. brasilense established a synergic association under biogas, which represents a sustainable strategy to improve the bio-refinery capacity of this microalga and increase the usefulness of A. brasilense in multiple economic sectors.

Heat Shock Protein 70 Is Involved in the Efficiency of Preconditioning with Cyclosporine A in Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Modulating Mitochondrial Functions.

Cyclosporine A (CsA) preconditioning is known to target mitochondrial permeability transition pore and protect renal function after ischemia reperfusion (IR). The upregulation of heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression after CsA injection is thought to be associated with renal protection. The aim of this study was to test the effect of Hsp70 expression on kidney and mitochondria functions after IR. Mice underwent a right unilateral nephrectomy and 30 min of left renal artery clamping, performed after CsA injection and/or administration of the Hsp70 inhibitor. Histological score, plasma creatinine, mitochondrial calcium retention capacity, and oxidative phosphorylation were assessed after 24 h of reperfusion. In parallel, we used a model of hypoxia reoxygenation on HK2 cells to modulate Hsp70 expression using an SiRNA or a plasmid. We assessed cell death after 18 h of hypoxia and 4 h of reoxygenation. CsA significantly improved renal function, histological score, and mitochondrial functions compared to the ischemic group but the inhibition of Hsp70 repealed the protection afforded by CsA injection. In vitro, Hsp70 inhibition by SiRNA increased cell death. Conversely, Hsp70 overexpression protected cells from the hypoxic condition, as well as the CsA injection. We did not find a synergic association between Hsp70 expression and CsA use. We demonstrated Hsp70 could modulate mitochondrial functions to protect kidneys from IR. This pathway may be targeted by drugs to provide new therapeutics to improve renal function after IR.

Enhanced Nutrients Removal from Eutrophic Water by Aerobic Denitrifiers Assisting Floating Plants

Accelerated eutrophication is one of the most serious problems confronting freshwater systems worldwide. More effective methods to reduce nutrients from eutrophic water with high nitrogen but low carbon source are now urgently needed. In this study, the methods of floating plant remediation and aerobic denitrification were combined for seeking an effective strategy. Four aerobic denitrifying bacteria were adopted. Each strain was co-cultured with Eichhornia crassipes, and then the effects of different combinations on the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus were compared. Meanwhile, their impacts on the growth and physiological characteristics of plants were also measured. The results showed that the association of aerobic denitrifying bacteria with E. crassipes was effective in enhancing the simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. E. crassipes helped bacteria to eliminate the accumulation of nitrites under the condition of limited carbon sources. Cooperation between Rhizobium rosettiformans and E. crassipes exhibited the best remediation performance. The four aerobic denitrifying bacteria increased the plant growth and phosphorus content, and had different effects on the plant root activity, leaf chlorophyll, leaf soluble sugar and leaf soluble protein concentration. Although the overall nutrients removal efficiency was greatly improved by the synergic association, the percentage contribution of plant uptake remained constant.

Co-Application of Silver Nanoparticles and Symbiotic Fungus Piriformospora indica Improves Secondary Metabolite Production in Black Rice

In the current research, unique Nano-Embedded Fungus (NEF), made by the synergic association of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and endophytic fungus (Piriformospora indica), is studied, and the impact of NEF on black rice secondary metabolites is reported. AgNPs were synthesized by chemical reduction process using the temperature-dependent method and characterized for morphological and structural features through UV visible absorption spectroscopy, zeta potential, XRD, SEM-EDX, and FTIR spectroscopy. The NEF, prepared by optimizing the AgNPs concentration (300 ppm) in agar and broth media, showed better fungal biomass, colony diameter, spore count, and spore size than the control P. indica. Treatment with AgNPs, P. indica, and NEF resulted in growth enhancement in black rice. NEF and AgNPs stimulated the production of secondary metabolites in its leaves. The concentrations of chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids were increased in plants inoculated with P. indica and AgNPs. The findings of the study highlight the synergistic effect of AgNPs and the fungal symbionts in augmenting the secondary metabolites in leaves of black rice.

The Pharmacological Class Alpha 2 Agonists for Stress Control in Patients with Respiratory Failure: The Main Actor in the Different Acts

The role of sedation in patients with acute respiratory failure in the intensive care unit is crucial for improving the adaptation to mechanical ventilation, avoiding lung injury, and reducing stress related to the over-stimulated sympathetic tone. The drug class alpha 2 agonists, alone or in synergic association, can help the clinician achieve these goals. Understanding the principles of pharmacology and applying them to the alpha 2 agonists, clonidine and dexmedetomidine, can lead to different pharmaceutical choices to adapt various sedative approaches to the different stages of acute respiratory failure. A scheme is proposed using these two drugs as a pharmacological continuation for an early weaning and recovery from the intensive care unit.

Indoor Radon Exposure and COPD, Synergic Association? A Multicentric, Hospital-Based Case–Control Study in a Radon-Prone Area

BackgroundCOPD is a multifactorial disease which causes considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Previous studies assessing the possible relationship between indoor radon exposure and COPD have shown inconclusive results. MethodsA multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted in a Spanish radon-prone area. COPD cases were confirmed by spirometry and controls were selected due to trivial surgery or procedures not related to tobacco consumption. All participants had to have lived for at least 15 years in the same dwelling. Radon measurements were conducted individually in dwellings using alpha-track detectors. Results were obtained using multivariate logistic regression. Results189 cases and 747 controls took part. There was no significant association between residential radon concentrations and COPD onset with a OR of 1.12 (95%CI 0.41–3.06) for individuals exposed to more than 200Bq/m3 compared to those exposed to less than 50Bq/m3. Heavy smokers seem to increase their COPD risk if exposed to higher radon concentrations vs those exposed to lower concentrations. There was a statistically significant synergy index between radon exposure and tobacco consumption, S-index 11.60 (95%CI 3.71–36.26). Indoor radon concentration was higher in never/light smokers with COPD compared to controls. ConclusionsNo association between indoor radon and COPD has been observed. However, there might be some effect modification on the COPD risk in heavy smokers when high radon exposure is present. This is supported by the additive synergy observed. Also, a possible association between indoor radon and COPD onset in never and light smokers needs to be further studied.

Synergic association of diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease with muscle loss and cachexia: results of a 16-year longitudinal follow-up of a community-based prospective cohort study.

Muscle loss is a serious complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, studies on a long-term change in muscle mass presence or absence of DM and CKD are scarce. We included 6247 middle-aged adults from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) between 2001 and 2016. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was performed biennially. Patients were classified into four groups according to the presence or absence of DM and CKD. The primary outcome was muscle depletion, which was defined as a decline in fat-free mass index (FFMI) below the 10th percentile of all subjects. The secondary outcomes included the occurrence of cachexia, all-cause mortality, and the slopes of changes in fat-free mass and weight. During 73,059 person-years of follow-up, muscle depletion and cachexia occurred in 460 (7.4%) and 210 (3.4%), respectively. In the multivariable cause-specific hazards model, the risk of muscle depletion was significantly higher in subjects with DM alone than in those without DM and CKD (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04–1.80) and was strongly pronounced in subjects with both conditions (HR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.30–8.75). The secondary outcome analysis showed consistent results. The annual decline rates in FFMI, fat mass, and body mass index (BMI) were the steepest in subjects with DM and CKD among the four groups. DM and CKD are synergically associated with muscle loss over time. In addition, the mortality risk is higher in individuals with muscle loss.

Genetic and Epigenetic Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a clinical condition that deserves special attention because it puts the individual at high cardiovascular risk, especially heart attack and stroke. Considering precision medicine, it would be advisable to evaluate the individual cardio-metabolic risk by estimating the coexistence of risk factors (abdominal obesity, low level of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, High Triglycerides, and small dense Low-Density Lipoproteins sub-classes, hypertension, and elevated fasting glycemia), which could engrave on metabolism increasing cardiovascular mortality. To identify genetic and epigenetic biomarkers may assist in the possibility of helping follow-up strategies and other measures of prevention and in metabolic risk. We searched for studies that valued the combination between epigenetic biomarkers and all factors of cardio-metabolic risk. Numerous researches have investigated the molecular start of metabolic alterations, focusing on the epigenetic mark, as methylation of DNA, histone modifications and non.coding RNAs. It has been found that DNA methylation is the most searched epigenetic sign in the human genome concerning the control of gene expression. For the screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of metabolic syndrome and the prescription of personalized medicine, the DNA methylation biomarkers specify for subjects have been recognized as an ensuring tool. While these results are promising, further investigations are needed to unravel the complicated synergic association of the genome, epigenome and the situations related to metabolic pathology.

Indoor Radon Exposure and COPD, Synergic Association? A Multicentric, Hospital-Based Case–Control Study in a Radon-Prone Area

BackgroundCOPD is a multifactorial disease which causes considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Previous studies assessing the possible relationship between indoor radon exposure and COPD have shown inconclusive results. MethodsA multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted in a Spanish radon-prone area. COPD cases were confirmed by spirometry and controls were selected due to trivial surgery or procedures not related to tobacco consumption. All participants had to have lived for at least 15 years in the same dwelling. Radon measurements were conducted individually in dwellings using alpha-track detectors. Results were obtained using multivariate logistic regression. Results189 cases and 747 controls took part. There was no significant association between residential radon concentrations and COPD onset with a OR of 1.12 (95%CI 0.41–3.06) for individuals exposed to more than 200Bq/m3 compared to those exposed to less than 50Bq/m3. Heavy smokers seem to increase their COPD risk if exposed to higher radon concentrations vs those exposed to lower concentrations. There was a statistically significant synergy index between radon exposure and tobacco consumption, S-index 11.60 (95%CI 3.71–36.26). Indoor radon concentration was higher in never/light smokers with COPD compared to controls. ConclusionsNo association between indoor radon and COPD has been observed. However, there might be some effect modification on the COPD risk in heavy smokers when high radon exposure is present. This is supported by the additive synergy observed. Also, a possible association between indoor radon and COPD onset in never and light smokers needs to be further studied.

Combined effect of fasting glucose and body mass index on mortality by age and sex in over 15 million adults: a cohort study

Abstract Background We aimed to elucidate whether synergic combined association of body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) on mortality exist and to identify FBS-BMI subgroups with higher mortality according to sex and age. Methods A total of 15,149,275 Korean adults participated in health examinations during 2003–2006 and were followed up until December 2018. Hazard ratios (HRs) of 40 BMI-FBG combined groups for mortality were assessed by Cox proportional hazards models. Results During mean 13.7 years of follow-up, 1,213,401 individuals died. The association between hyperglycemia and mortality was stronger in leaner than more obese individuals and these effects were more prominent in younger than older adults. Compared with overweight (BMI 25–27.4kg/m2) normoglycemic (FBG 80–94mg/dL), age, sex-adjusted HRs of leanest (BMI <20kg/m2) normoglycemic, overweight diabetes (FBG ≥180mg/dL), and leanest diabetes were 1.66, 2.17, and 4.77, respectively. Corresponding HRs in those aged 18–44 years were 1.29, 2.59, and 11.18, respectively, while corresponding HRs in those aged 75–99 years were 1.56, 1.72, and 2.87, respectively (Figure 1). The interpretation of BMI-FBG subgroups associated with higher mortality was not straightforward. For example, prediabetes (FBG 110–125 mg/dL) with BMI 20–22.4 kg/m2 had similar or higher mortality than low diabetes (FBG 126–179 mg/dL) with BMI ≥22.5 kg/m2. In non-diabetic women aged <45 years, BMI ≥27.5 kg/m2 was associated with the highest mortality, whereas the leanest had the worst mortality in each given FBG level in other age-sex groups. Conclusions Leanness and hyperglycemia interact together to increase mortality supra-multiplicatively, especially in younger adults, while complex interaction of BMI, FBG, sex and age on mortality exist. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Fe–Ni/MMT nanocomposites as efficient H2 generation catalyst: Tandem approach towards one-pot synthesis of secondary amines

A non-noble metal-based bifunctional Fe–Ni/MMT nanocomposites exhibit excellent H2 generation capability from the methanolysis of NaBH4 at a rate of 16,200 mL min−1 g−1Fe–Ni with 10%Fe–Ni loading on MMT support. Moreover, the evolved H2 from this catalytic process is efficiently utilized for the one-pot step-wise synthesis of secondary amines from nitrobenzene and aldehydes using NaBH4 as a source of hydrogen at room temperature. Circumventing the reduction of aldehyde and triggering the formation of imine intermediate through sequential addition of reactants in a time dependent manner has resulted in the excellent yields for aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic amines (91–98%). The catalytic activity of Fe–Ni/MMT nanocomposite is ascribed to synergic association of Fe–Ni NPs, Lewis and Brønsted acidity as well as adsorptive nature of MMT. Thus, a simple, facile and greener route is developed for the synthesis of secondary amines with an efficient H2 generation non-noble metal catalyst and easily accessible H-donor at room temperature.

Synergic recombinant enzyme association to optimize xylo-oligosaccharides production from agricultural waste

Abstract Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) are one of the classes of prebiotics obtained from lignocellulosic biomass, by hydrolysis of hemicellulose, abundant in agroindustrial residues. Several endoxylanases were studied in order to provide better conversion of the biomass to XOS. The resulting product presents multi-benefits, favoring the intestinal microbiota and maintaining the viability of probiotics in food. XOS production from sugarcane straw by action of thermostable recombinant endoxylanase of Cryptococcus flavescens, expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 using vector pGAPZαA, in synergic association with α- l -arabinofuranosidase (GH 51) (Megazyme®) was optimized using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), enabling 72.56% of xylan conversion. The main products xylobiose and xylotriose are short chain oligosaccharides preferred by probiotics. Hydrolysis of xylan from sugarcane straw using endoxylanase and α- l -arabinofuranosidase has great potential for XOS production with high prebiotic activity, representing a possible sustainable way to reduce enzymatic and raw material costs.

Advance spectral approach for condition evaluation of rolling element bearings

The Performance of rolling element bearings has a significant influence on reliability and safety in the various engineering fields. While heading toward the condition evaluation of rolling element bearings, the higher dimensionality of feature space became a crucial concern. Thus, to have a check on the hurdles, this paper proposes a novel approach of bearing condition assessment utilizing Local mean decomposition (LMD) and spectral clustering (SC). Spectral Clustering (SC) is an influential tool, which heals the curse of dimensionality and facilitates the model by imparting a systematized structure. SC focuses more on connectivity rather than geometrical vicinity; moreover, the provision of a similarity matrix makes SC more reliable and increases its performance. To enrich the efficiency of SC, a novel decision criterion, PI (Parting Index) aiming the optimal number of clusters based on a new similarity indicator and disorder indicator coined as Synergic Association Index (SAI) and Separation Index (SI) respectively, has been proposed. The work aims to achieve better performance degradation assessment (PDA) by the application of the new SC-PI approach with the following steps; the first step is the decomposition of vibration signal into product functions (PFs) utilizing LMD; the second step involves the extraction of proper fault features; third, the extracted features are classified with the SC-PI method; finally the feature or attribute vectors are endowed to trained model and confidence value (CV) is calculated. The proposed method is validated on two datasets of different fault types. The results so obtained indicates that the SC-PI method easily differentiates the various stages when compared to different assessment techniques i.e. time-domain features, self-organizing map (SOM), k-medoids and Gaussian mixture model (GMM).

The Synergic Association of hs-CRP and Serum Amyloid P Component in Predicting All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by increased death rate. In order to tackle this dramatic event, it becomes essential to discover novel biomarkers capable of identifying high-risk patients to be exposed to more aggressive preventive and treatment strategies. hs-CRP and serum amyloid P component (SAP) are two acute-phase inflammation proteins, which interact physically and share structural and functional features. We investigated their combined role in associating with and improving prediction of mortality in type 2 diabetes. Four cohorts comprising 2,499 patients with diabetes (643 all-cause deaths) were analyzed. The improvement of mortality prediction was addressed using two well-established prediction models, namely, EstimatioN oF mORtality risk in type 2 diabetiC patiEnts (ENFORCE) and Risk Equations for Complications of Type 2 Diabetes (RECODe). Both hs-CRP and SAP were independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratios [HRs] [95% CIs]: 1.46 [1.34-1.58] [P < 0.001] and 0.82 [0.76-0.89] [P < 0.001], respectively). Patients with SAP ≤33 mg/L were at increased risk of death versus those with SAP >33 mg/L only if hs-CRP was relatively high (>2 mg/L) (HR 1.96 [95% CI 1.52-2.54] [P < 0.001] and 1.20 [0.91-1.57] [P = 0.20] in hs-CRP >2 and ≤2 mg/L subgroups, respectively; hs-CRP-by-SAP strata interaction P < 0.001). The addition of hs-CRP and SAP significantly (all P < 0.05) improved several discrimination and reclassification measures of both ENFORCE and RECODe all-cause mortality prediction models. In type 2 diabetes, hs-CRP and SAP show opposite and synergic associations with all-cause mortality. The use of both markers, possibly in combination with others yet to be unraveled, might improve the ability to predict the risk of death in the real-life setting.

Red-Emitting Fluorescence Sensors for Metal Cations: The Role of Counteranions and Sensing of SCN- in Biological Materials.

The spatiotemporal sensing of specific cationic and anionic species is crucial for understanding the processes occurring in living systems. Herein, we developed new fluorescence sensors derived from tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines (TPyzPzs) with a recognition moiety that consists of an aza-crown and supporting substituents. Their sensitivity and selectivity were compared by fluorescence titration experiments with the properties of known TPyzPzs (with either one aza-crown moiety or two of these moieties in a tweezer arrangement). Method of standard addition was employed for analyte quantification in saliva. For K+ recognition, the new derivatives had comparable or larger association constants with larger fluorescence enhancement factors compared to that with one aza-crown. Their fluorescence quantum yields in the ON state were 18× higher than that of TPyzPzs with a tweezer arrangement. Importantly, the sensitivity toward cations was strongly dependent on counteranions and increased as follows: NO3- < Br- < CF3SO3- < ClO4- ≪ SCN-. This trend resembles the chaotropic ability expressed by the Hofmeister series. The high selectivity toward KSCN was explained by synergic association of both K+ and SCN- with TPyzPz sensors. The sensing of SCN- was further exploited in a proof of concept study to quantify SCN- levels in the saliva of a smoker and to demonstrate the sensing ability of TPyzPzs under in vitro conditions.

One-pot synthesis of bimetallic catalyst loaded on alumina aerogel as green heterogeneous catalyst: Efficiency, stability, and mechanism

Abstract By XRD/FTIR/TEM/UV–vis analysis, the existence form of bimetallic nanocomposites in alumina aerogel matrixes using the novel synthesis method were investigated. The results confirmed that the bimetallic catalyst was more active than any monometallic catalysts. The higher performance was explained in terms of a synergic association between bimetallic ions, which was further confirmed by XPS, H2-TPR. The possible reaction mechanism of bimetallic catalyst in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system was also given. The analysis of the oxide surface by confocal Raman and Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and radical competitive reactions during the catalytic process suggested that sulfate radical and hydroxyl radical were the main radical species responsible for the organic pollutant elimination. As a green catalyst, bimetallic catalyst we prepared showed excellent recovery and stability in the repeated batch experiment.

The synergic relationship of social anxiety, depressive symptoms and waist circumference in adolescents: Mediation analysis

BackgroundIt is not well established whether depression leads to weight loss or weight gain, or whether a relationship exists among depression, social anxiety, and weight status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the synergic association among social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and waist circumference (WC) during adolescence and examine whether depression mediated the relationship between social anxiety and WC. MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed with 1296 adolescents from a northeastern district in Brazil. It was used the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) to evaluate symptoms of social anxiety and the Depression Scale of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CES-D) for symptoms of depression. Structural equation modeling was used to determine whether depression, social anxiety, and WC were synergically associated. Analysis was adjusted for sex, age, height, and mother's educational level. ResultsSymptoms of social anxiety were directly associated with symptoms of depression and WC, whereas symptoms of depression were not associated with WC. LimitationsThis is a cross-sectional study, and so we cannot infer causality in the interpretation of results. ConclusionSocial anxiety was found to be associated with depressive symptoms and WC. General medical doctors and health practitioners who observe overweight adolescents with any symptoms of anxiety might consider a thorough evaluation of the patient's mental health.

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and aerobic exercise for Parkinson's disease: therapeutic assets beyond the motor domain.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a very common neurodegenerative condition in which both motor and nonmotor deficits evolve throughout the course of the disease. Normally characterized as a movement disorder, PD has been broadly studied from a motor perspective. However, mild to moderate cognitive deficits began to appear in the early phases of the disease, even before motor disturbances actually manifest, and continue to progress relentlessly. These nonmotor manifestations are also a source of detriment to the patients' already strained functionality and quality of life, and pose a therapeutic challenge seeing that replacing therapies have had conflicting results. Considering that the currently approved therapies can hardly be considered curative, efforts to find therapeutic approaches with an actual disease-modifying quality and capable of addressing not only motor but also cognitive dysfunctions are clearly needed. Among possible alternatives with such attribute, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and exercise are worth highlighting given their common neuroprotective, neuroplastic, and immunomodulatory properties. In this paper, we will summarize the existent literature on the topic, focusing on the mechanisms of action through which these two approaches might beget therapeutic benefits for PD beyond the commonly assessed motor dysfunctions, alluding, at the same time, toward a potential synergic association of both therapies as an optimized approach for PD.

A case-control study on the association of abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia with the risk of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND:Obesity has frequently been associated with the dyslipidemic state and with the risk of various chronic diseases.OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between obesity and blood lipids with a risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).METHODOLOGY:Histologically confirmed CRC patients from five local hospitals were matched with cancer-free controls for age, gender, and ethnicity (n = 140: 280). The study participants underwent physical assessment for the presence of obesity and 10 mL of fasting blood was drawn for blood lipid analysis.RESULTS:In this study, abdominal obesity significantly doubled the risk of CRC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1–2.83). Hypercholesterolemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) increased the risk of CRC more than twofolds (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.7–3.9 and AOR = 3.8, 95% CI = 2.3–6.3, respectively). Abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia synergically doubled the risk of CRC (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1–4). Low-HDL has shown no synergic association with other dyslipidemic states with an increased CRC risk.CONCLUSION:Improving abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and low HDL may be a clinically relevant strategy to reduce the risk of CRC among Malaysians.

The role of cobalt in bimetallic iron-cobalt magnetic carbon xerogels developed for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation

Three magnetic carbon xerogels were developed by inclusion of iron and/or cobalt precursors during the synthesis procedure. The synthesized materials were tested in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of aqueous solutions containing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) − a refractory organic model pollutant, under a water treatment process intensification approach. For that purpose, the experimental runs were performed with high pollutant load (5gL−1), low catalyst dosage (2.5gL−1, corresponding to a fixed pollutant/catalyst mass ratio of 2), atmospheric pressure, 50°C, pH=3 and stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).The bimetallic magnetic carbon xerogel catalyst (CX/CoFe) was more active than each of the monometallic catalysts (CX/Fe or CX/Co). The better performance was explained in terms of a synergic association of factors: (i) the enhanced accessibility to the active iron species at the surface of CX/CoFe promoted by the simultaneous incorporation of cobalt, (ii) the ability of metallic Co to catalyse H2O2 decomposition via hydroxyl radicals (HO) formation, and (iii) the efficient reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ promoted by metallic Co on the surface of CX/CoFe. A 4-NP conversion of 98.5% was determined after 30min of CWPO reaction. Leaching of the iron species in the bimetallic CX/CoFe was considerably reduced with relation to the monometallic iron catalyst. However, partial catalyst deactivation occurred due to lower stability of oxidized cobalt species.A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed for the surface catalytic reactions occurring over the CX/CoFe catalyst.