Explore the vast range of titles available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the neurorehabilitation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirty-four AD patients were randomly assigned to three groups: anodal, cathodal, and sham tDCS. Stimulation was applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 25 min at 2 mA, daily for 10 days. Each patient was submitted to the following psychometric assessments: mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Wechsler adult intelligence scale-third edition at base line, at the end of the 10th sessions and then at 1 and 2 months after the end of the sessions. Motor cortical excitability and the P300 event-related potential were assessed at baseline and after the last tDCS session. Significant treatment group × time interactions were observed for the MMSE and performance IQ of the WAIS. Post hoc comparisons showed that both anodal and cathodal tDCS (ctDCS) improved MMSE in contrast to sham tDCS. Whereas, this was only true for ctDCS in the performance IQ. Remarkably, tDCS also reduced the P300 latency, but had no effect on motor cortex excitability. Our findings reveal that repeated sessions of tDCS could not only improve cognitive function but also reduce the P300 latency, which is known to be pathologically increased in AD.

This review article covers the synthesis and design of conjugated polymers for carefully adjusting energy levels and energy band gap (EBG) to achieve the desired photovoltaic performance. The formation of bonds and the delocalization of electrons over conjugated chains are both explained by the molecular orbital theory (MOT). The intrinsic characteristics that classify conjugated polymers as semiconducting materials come from the EBG of organic molecules. A quinoid mesomeric structure (D-A ↔ D+ = A−) forms across the major backbones of the polymer as a result of alternating donor–acceptor segments contributing to the pull–push driving force between neighboring units, resulting in a smaller optical EBG. Furthermore, one of the most crucial factors in achieving excellent performance of the polymer is improving the morphology of the active layer. In order to improve exciton diffusion, dissociation, and charge transport, the nanoscale morphology ensures nanometer phase separation between donor and acceptor components in the active layer. It was demonstrated that because of the exciton’s short lifetime, only small diffusion distances (10–20 nm) are needed for all photo-generated excitons to reach the interfacial region where they can separate into free charge carriers. There is a comprehensive explanation of the architecture of organic solar cells using single layer, bilayer, and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices. The short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) all have a significant impact on the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Since the BHJ concept was first proposed, significant advancement and quick configuration development of these devices have been accomplished. Due to their ability to combine great optical and electronic properties with strong thermal and chemical stability, conjugated polymers are unique semiconducting materials that are used in a wide range of applications. According to the fundamental operating theories of OSCs, unlike inorganic semiconductors such as silicon solar cells, organic photovoltaic devices are unable to produce free carrier charges (holes and electrons). To overcome the Coulombic attraction and separate the excitons into free charges in the interfacial region, organic semiconductors require an additional thermodynamic driving force. From the molecular engineering of conjugated polymers, it was discovered that the most crucial obstacles to achieving the most desirable properties are the design and synthesis of conjugated polymers toward optimal p-type materials. Along with plastic solar cells (PSCs), these materials have extended to a number of different applications such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and field-effect transistors (FETs). Additionally, the topics of fluorene and carbazole as donor units in conjugated polymers are covered. The Stille, Suzuki, and Sonogashira coupling reactions widely used to synthesize alternating D–A copolymers are also presented. Moreover, conjugated polymers based on anthracene that can be used in solar cells are covered.

Water scarcity hampered rice production and jeopardized worldwide food security. Under conditions of water scarcity, this research investigates the effect of four different Allium peels on soil water holding capacity (WHC) and rice seedlings development. Physicochemical analysis of red, yellow onions, and garlic peels was performed, and their application for growing rice in soil irrigated with 50% field capacity compared to the well-irrigated control group was achieved. Garlic peels contained the least sulphur (0.007 g/g), while red onion peels contained the most (0.147 g/g). The contents of crude fiber, ash, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic, and flavonoids varied between species. The application of garlic peel to soil resulted in a 60% increase in the soil WHC, which was directly proportional to the fiber content of each peel. Rice seedlings cultivated in pots supplemented with different peels, especially the garlic peel, exhibited substantial growth when subjected to restricted water regimes. Rice plant pigment fractions and hydration status were drastically reduced due to water constraints; however, the addition of garlic and onion peels supplements mitigated this effect. Most especially, supplementing soil with garlic peels caused an enhancement of 66.7% and 80.22% in length and fresh weight of shoot, 59.9% and 87.3% in chlorophyll a and b. The carotenoids, water content, proline, protein, enzymatic antioxidants, and non-protein thiols were all increased by these peels, while rice leaf oxidative impairment (lipooxygenase, lipid peroxidation, and H 2 O 2 ) was decreased. ISSR analysis detects a positive correlation between genomic profiles of plants cultivated in different peel-amended soils. Agro-waste may support soil management, promote rice growth in conditions of limited irrigation water, and provide solutions for water scarcity and waste management. Water conservation and sustainable agriculture are made possible by this novel method.

Naringin is one of the most interesting phytopharmaceuticals that has been widely investigated for various biological actions. Yet, its low water solubility, limited permeability, and suboptimal bioavailability limited its use. Therefore, in this study, polymeric micelles of naringin based on pluronic F68 (PF68) were developed, fully characterized, and optimized. The optimized formula was investigated regarding in vitro release, storage stability, and in vitro cytotoxicity vs different cell lines. Also, cytoprotection against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats and antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice were investigated. Nanoscopic and nearly spherical 1:50 micelles with the mean diameter of 74.80±6.56 nm and narrow size distribution were obtained. These micelles showed the highest entrapment efficiency (EE%; 96.14±2.29). The micelles exhibited prolonged release up to 48 vs 10 h for free naringin. The stability of micelles was confirmed by insignificant changes in drug entrapment, particle size, and retention (%) (91.99±3.24). At lower dose than free naringin, effective cytoprotection of 1:50 micelles against ethanol-induced ulcer in rat model has been indicated by significant reduction in mucosal damage, gastric level of malondialdehyde, gastric expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, caspase-3, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and interleukin-6 with the elevation of gastric reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase when compared with the positive control group. As well, these micelles provoked pronounced antitumor activity assessed by potentiated in vitro cytotoxicity particularly against colorectal carcinoma cells and tumor growth inhibition when compared with free naringin. In conclusion, 1:50 naringin-PF68 micelles can be represented as a potential stable nanodrug delivery system with prolonged release and enhanced antiulcer as well as antitumor activities.

Removing organic pollutants, textile dyes, and pharmaceutical wastes from the water bodies has become an essential requirement for a safe environment. Therefore, the present study aimed to prepare semiconductor zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and plasmonic Ag-supported ZnO nanocomposite (ZnO–Ag) using an environmentally friendly bio-approach as an alternative to hazardous synthesis approaches. ZnO NPs and ZnO–Ag nanocomposite were characterized by using UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–DRS) (the Ag-supported ZnO nanocomposite exhibited an absorption band between 450–550 nm, attributed to the Ag NPs surface plasmon resonance (SPR)), Photoluminescence (PL) spectral investigation, which revealed the PL emission intensity of ZnO–Ag NPs was lower than pure ZnO NPs, describing an extended electron-hole pair (e--h+) lifespan of photogenerated charge carriers, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), FT-Raman, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were deduced. In addition, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed and further ascertained the successful biosynthesis and thermally stable ZnO Nps and ZnO–Ag nanocomposite. The as-prepared ZnO–Ag nanocomposite displayed increased photocatalytic characteristics due to the decline in the bandgap energy from 3.02 eV (ZnO NPs) to 2.90 eV (ZnO–Ag nanocomposite). The photocatalytic activity of the developed nanocomposite for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye, a primary textile industry released water-pollutant, was conducted under UV light irradiation. Meanwhile, the maximum % degradation of MB dye molecules was attained by 98.0 % after 60 min exposure of UV-light irradiation. Increased photocatalytic activity of ZnO–Ag nanocomposites and a faster rate of MB degradation were achieved by the deposition of plasmonic Ag NPs and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect possessed by Ag NPs. The primary oxidative route that resulted in MB degradation was the production of hydroxyl radicals (OH•). The SPR effect of the photocatalyst induced the synergistic enhancement of the optical response and separation of the photo-induced charge carriers. The combined study gives comprehensive information and directions for future research on noble metal-modified nanocatalysts for direct applications in the photocatalytic degradation of textile and organic wastes in water.

This review focuses on some interesting and recent applications of transition metals towards the complexation of thiosemicarbazides, thiocarbohydrazides, and their corresponding carbazones. We started the review with a description of the chosen five metals, including Cu[Cu(I), Cu(II], Co(II), Ni(II), Pd(II), and Ag(I) and their electronic configurations. The stability of the assigned complexes was also discussed. We shed light on different routes describing the synthesis of these ligands. We also reported on different examples of the synthesis of Cu(I), Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Ag(I), and Pd(II) of thiosemicarbazide and thiocarbohydrazide complexes (until 2022). This review also deals with a summary of the fruitful use of metal complexes of thiosemicarbazones and thiocarbazones ligands in the field of catalysis. Finally, this recent review focuses on the applications of these complexes related to their biological importance.

A very practical method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical carbamide derivatives in good to excellent yield was presented, without the need for any catalyst and at room temperature. Using a facile and robust protocol, fifteen unsymmetrical carbamide derivatives ( 9–23 ) bearing different aliphatic amine moieties were designed and synthesized by the reaction of secondary aliphatic amines with isocyanate derivatives in the presence of acetonitrile as an appropriate solvent in good to excellent yields. Trusted instruments like IR, mass spectrometry, NMR spectra, and elemental analyses were employed to validate the purity and chemical structures of the synthesized compounds. All the synthesized compounds were tested as antimicrobial agents against some clinically bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium , Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans . Compounds 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 and 22 showed potent antimicrobial activity with promising MIC values compared to the positive controls. Moreover, compounds 15 and 22 provide a potent lipid peroxidation (LPO) of the bacterial cell wall. On the other hand, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of compounds 9–23 against selected human cancerous cell lines of breast (MCF-7), colon (HCT-116), and lung (A549) relative to healthy noncancerous control skin fibroblast cells (BJ-1). The mechanism of their cytotoxic activity has been also examined by immunoassaying the levels of key anti- and pro-apoptotic protein markers. The results of MTT assay revealed that compounds 10 , 13 , 21 , 22 and 23 possessed highly cytotoxic effects. Out of these, three synthesized compounds 13 , 21 and 22 showed cytotoxicity with IC 50 values ( 13 , IC 50  = 62.4 ± 0.128 and 22 , IC 50  = 91.6 ± 0.112 µM, respectively, on MCF-7), ( 13 , IC 50  = 43.5 ± 0.15 and 21 , IC 50  = 38.5 ± 0.17 µM, respectively, on HCT-116). Cell cycle and apoptosis/necrosis assays demonstrated that compounds 13 and 22 induced S and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells, while only compound 13 had this effect on HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, compound 13 exhibited the greatest potency in inducing apoptosis in both cell lines compared to compounds 21 and 22 . Docking studies indicated that compounds 10 , 13 , 21 and 23 could potentially inhibit enzymes and exert promising antimicrobial effects, as evidenced by their lower binding energies and various types of interactions observed at the active sites of key enzymes such as Sterol 14-demethylase of C. albicans , Dihydropteroate synthase of S. aureus , LasR of P. aeruginosa , Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase of K . pneumenia and Gyrase B of B. subtilis . Moreover, 13 , 21 , and 22 demonstrated minimal binding energy and favorable affinity towards the active pocket of anticancer receptor proteins, including CDK2, EGFR, Erα, Topoisomerase II and VEGFFR. Physicochemical properties, drug-likeness, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) parameters of the selected compounds were also computed.

The highly extreme conditions of the lower convective layer in the Atlantis II (ATII) Deep brine pool of the Red Sea make it an ideal environment for the search for novel enzymes that can function under extreme conditions. In the current study, we isolated a novel sequence of a thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) enzyme from the metagenomic dataset established from the microbial community that resides in the lower convective layer of Atlantis II. The gene was cloned, expressed and characterized for redox activity, halophilicity, and thermal stability. The isolated thioredoxin reductase (ATII-TrxR) was found to belong to the high-molecular-weight class of thioredoxin reductases. A search for conserved domains revealed the presence of an extra domain (Crp) in the enzyme sequence. Characterization studies of ATII-TrxR revealed that the enzyme was halophilic (maintained activity at 4 M NaCl), thermophilic (optimum temperature was 65°C) and thermostable (60% of its activity was retained at 70°C). Additionally, the enzyme utilized NADH in addition to NADPH as an electron donor. In conclusion, a novel thermostable and halophilic thioredoxin reductase has been isolated with a unique sequence that adapts to the harsh conditions of the brine pools making this protein a good candidate for biological research and industrial applications.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by alterations in monoamines, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunctions. We aim to assess the therapeutic impacts of roots or leaf extract from Urtica dioica (UD; stinging nettle) against scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory dysfunction, amnesia, and oxidative stress in rats. Spatial memory was assessed by Y maze test. Tissue analyses of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH, GSSG), AMP, ADP, and ATP were assessed by HPLC. mRNA levels of Tau and Hsp70 were estimated by PCR. UD extracts particularly nettle root (NR) significantly normalized the SCOP-induced memory deficits even more potent than sermion (SR) and donepezil (DON). Similarly, NR had potent therapeutic impacts on the levels of cortical and hippocampal monoamines e.g. DA, NE, and 5-HT. SCOP induced a dramatic oxidative stress as measured by MDA, NO, and GSSG levels; however, UD extracts showed significant anti-oxidative stress impacts. Additionally, UD extracts restored ATP levels and reduced the levels of AMP and ADP compared to SCOP-treated rats. Furthermore, cortical Tau and hippocampal Hsp70 were modulated by UD extracts particularly NR compared to the SCOP group. In conclusion, UD extracts particularly roots have potential therapeutic impacts against SCOP-induced neuroinflammatory and/or Alzheimer-like phenotype in rats.