Velocity Map Imaging Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Silver Iodide Aerosol Particles

The valence band electronic structure of isolated silveriodide nanoparticles (AgI NP) was investigated by vacuum-ultravioletaerosol photoelectron spectroscopy using the velocity map imagingtechnique (VUV VMI-PES). The VUV VMI-PES results were obtainedfor polydisperse aerosol produced by aggregation of hydrocolloid ofsilver iodide particles 8 - 15 nm in size. The ionization energy of theAgI particles was found to be 6.0 ± 0.1 eV with respect to the vacuumlevel. The DFT calculations showed that the main contribution to thedensity of AgI electronic states in the valence region originates from I5p orbitals. The dependence of the asymmetry parameter on theelectron energy showed that the value of the characteristic energyloss of excited photoelectrons was 2.7 eV, which coincided with theband gap of the nanomaterial.Peer-reviewed manuscript: [https://vinar.vin.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/13365

Cobalt-ferrite nano-cubes for magnetic hyperthermia applications

Highly crystalline superparamagnetic nano-cubes of CoFe2O4 with size of about 15 nm were prepared by the thermal decomposition method. The structure, morphology, magnetic properties, magnetothermal response, and cytotoxicity study were used to investigate the CoFe2O4 nano-cubes for magnetic hyperthermia. Diffraction methods (employing X-ray and transition electron microscope) confirm the presence of an inverted spinel structure of cobalt ferrite. The presence of a spin-disordered magnetically dead layer that has been confirmed both by X-ray diffraction and magnetometry data. The average crystallite size DXRD ∼ 12 nm has been found smaller than the average physical edge of the nano-cube observed by transition electron microscope DTEM ∼ 15 nm. The analysis of the isothermal magnetization data by assuming a cubic instead of spherical shape of the prepared nanoparticles yielded conclusive values of relevant parameters. The effective magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant K = 2.3×105 J/m3 determined by the Law of approach and by the fitting of coercivity data is in excellent correspondence with collected zero-field cooled magnetization data for nano-cube system of crystallite size ∼ 12 nm. In-vitro cytotoxicity tests on U87MG (cancer model) and HDF (non-cancer models) confirm the good biocompatibility and very low cytotoxicity. One of the our mail contributions is, that we provide exact analysis of relaxation processes responsible for heat generation in our nano-cube system and we obtained higher SAR and IPL coefficients than 30 commercial iron-oxide nanoparticle systems designed for magnetic hyperthermia. This, along with the promising results of the magneto-thermal response, indicates the suitability of using the prepared nano-cubes for applications in magnetic particle hyperthermia

Sequence variability of HCV core region and host genetic and epigenetic factors can predict the response to combined PEG-IFN/RBV therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis c infection genotype 1B

Variations in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core gene are related to the progression of liver fibrosis and therapy response. However, the influence of individual amino acid (aa) substitutions at different positions of HCV Core protein on the response to combined pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) therapy and disease progression is not yet fully understood. The HCV Core protein can inactivate various genes in the host genome by affecting the methylation of their promoters, leading to liver damage and carcinogenesis. Two genes whose methylation status is affected by the HCV Core protein are the tumor suppressor genes RASSF1A and p16. We have previously shown that the methylation status of these two genes, together with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 near the interleukin-28 beta subunit (IL-28B) gene, influences the response to combined therapy. Herein, we investigated a possible association between detected aa substitutions in HCV Core protein and response to combined therapy, liver disease progression, IL28B genotype, and the methylation status of the RASSF1A and p16 genes. In 29 examined patients we found no association between individual aa substitutions and therapy response. However, we observed that patients with HCV Core aa substitutions at position 75 and CT/TT IL28B genotypes were non-responders (NR) (p=0.023), which was associated with the presence of unmethylated RASSF1A gene. In contrast, even 75% of patients with aa substitutions at position 91 and CC IL28B genotype achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) (p=0.030), and 70% of them had methylated RASSF1A gene. There was no significant association between the methylation status of the p16 gene and aa variations in the HCV core region. Our results suggest that combined analysis of aa substitutions in HCV Core protein, IL28B genotype, and methylation status of the RASSF1A gene may help predict response to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b.xx2nd B&H Symposium of Laboratory Geneticists and Molecular Biologists (with International Participation) : Book of abstracts : 10-11 May, 2024

Complete removal of organophosphate pesticides from wastewaters with sustainable ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase strategy

Due to extensive food production, organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are widely utilized for crop protection, leading to their presence in the environment. The focus of this study was the design of an efficient aqueous biphasic system (ABS) strategy for OP removal, namely, malathion (MAL), azinphos-methyl (AZM), and chlorpyrifos (CHP) from water. Different ionic liquids (ILs) with symmetrical cations were selected as ABS phase- formers (tetrabutylphosphonium salicylate, tetrabutylammonium salicylate, 1,3-dibutylimidazolium dicyanamide, 1,3-dibutylimidazolium salicylate and 1,3-dibutylimidazolium bromide) with citrate salt as a salting-out agent. Initially, phase diagrams were determined, followed by partition studies revealing that the partition of MAL and CHP aligns with the IL- ABS formation trend, while the AZM partition is governed by specific interactions with ILs. For optimization studies, tetrabutylphosphonium-salicylate i.e. [TBP][Sal]-based ABS was chosen, due to obtained high extraction efficiencies of over 99.3 %. After establishing the effects of pH, temperature, tie-line length, and phase ratio on extraction performance, extraction of OPs from a real wastewater sample further confirmed the effectiveness of the designed method achieving complete removal of each pesticide. Furthermore, recovery of IL was achieved using an antisolvent method to precipitate CHP followed by IL-reuse in three consecutive cycles without efficiency decreased. Finally, it was demonstrated that [TBP][Sal] exhibits low cytotoxic potential, indicating that the presence of low amounts of this IL in aqueous media could be acceptable from ecotoxicological standpoint. This study showcased the exceptional potential of the proposed technology for the efficient and sustainable treatment of wastewater contaminated with OPs, affirming its capability to treat significant wastewater volumes

ERΒ is a possible biomarker of breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The diagnosis and treatment decisions depend on the three biomarkers: oestrogen receptor alfa, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2. The foremost treatment line is Nolvadex (tamoxifen). Yet approximately 30% of patients do not respond to tamoxifen treatment. The discovery of oestrogen receptor beta (ERβ) opened the door for another BC biomarker’s introduction. The studies show that the ERβ usually behaves like a tumour suppressor and that its expression is a favourable parameter of the patient survival and treatment response. Our study aimed to assess the prognostic and predictive role of ERβ in BC. It encompassed 118 BC samples from patients operated at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia from 2002 to 2004. Overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) data were collected between 2002 and 2022. We used the Western blot method for ERβ1 protein detection. The ERβ1 mRNA and ERβ delta5 mRNA isoforms were detected by quantitative PCR method with TaqMan Assays. The extracted DNA was subjected to a two-step MSP MethEvaGreen procedure, using primers we designed to detect specific ERβ gene promoter ON methylation. Patient groups were divided into low and high-expression groups based on median values. Our results showed that in the high methylation index group, OS and DFS of patients who received adjuvant Nolvadex treatment were significantly longer than those who did not (p=0.001, p=0.033, respectively). In the low methylation index group, the DFS of patients who received radiotherapy was significantly shorter than those who did not (p=0.037). However, in the low ERβ mRNA expression group, the DFS of patients who received radiotherapy was significantly shorter than those who did not (p=0.028). Our results show that ERβ could be a significant additional parameter in the BC prognosis and treatment decisions. Further analyses are needed.2nd B&H Symposium of Laboratory Geneticists and Molecular Biologists (with International Participation) : Book of abstracts : 10-11 May, 2024

Electrochemical sensing platform for anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine detection based on graphitic carbon nitride and tetrabutylammonium chloride ionic liquid

The development of a rapid and straightforward electrochemical approach for the quantification of the anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine (CBZ) is herein presented. Carbon paste electrode (CPE) was bulk modified with a type of two-dimensional conjugated polymer, i.e., graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and additionally with an ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) to obtain advanced electrochemical sensor for CBZ. Synthesized g-C3N4 material was structurally and morphologically characterized by Raman spectroscopic, FTIR, and SEM/EDX methods. CV experiments showed that the resulting electrode (TBACl-g-C3N4-CPE) has an improved electrochemical response compared to unmodified CPE and g-C3N4-CPE due to the synergistic effect of electrode modifiers, as well as that the CBZ oxidation process is irreversible and diffusion-controlled. After optimization steps concerning the amount of electrode modifiers and the selection of pH of the supporting electrolyte, the analytical performance of TBACl-g-C3N4-CPE was investigated by direct anodic square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The most intensive peak of the target analyte was obtained in Britton-Robinson buffer solution at pH 7.0, whereby the developed SWV method was characterized by a linear concentration range of CBZ from 0.42 to 9.31 µmoL L− 1 , limit of detection (LOD) of 0.13 µmoL L− 1 , and relative standard deviation lower than 3 %. The interference study showed that TBACl-g-C3N4-CPE exhibits adequate selectivity for CBZ in the presence of ions/ compounds commonly present in the urine matrix. The developed sensor was utilized to determine CBZ in pharmaceuticals and spiked human urine sample with excellent recovery and reproducibility, indicating a good application capability of TBACl-g-C3N4-CPE for monitoring CBZ in different matrices

Intelligence And Public Health Threats

The acquisition, processing, and analysis of data about threats against public health have long been recognized as significant areas of work of intelligence operations aimed at protecting national security. Across modern states, public health has been securitized, with health facilities designated as critical infrastructure vital to national security. The organization of medical intelligence activities, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, has attracted the interest of experts representing a wide array of scientific disciplines. This paper attempts to highlight certain challenges inherent in establishing an intelligence community tasked with providing timely and relevant information regarding health threats, while also countering the dissemination of misinformation and alarming reports within the realm of public health

Recycling electronic waste CPUs for enhanced hydrogen and oxygen evolution: an eco-friendly leaching approach

This study delves into the recycling potential of electronic waste, specifically focusing on CPUs, for the facilitation of hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Through the implementation of ecofriendly leaching methodologies, valuable metals were extracted from discarded electronic components, paving the way for their utilization in sustainable energy applications. A multi-step leaching protocol was employed to obtain a solution directly applicable as an electrolyte for electrochemical analysis. Results from cyclic voltammetry and Tafel analysis unveiled a notable enhancement in electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution compared to oxygen production, indicating the intricate behavior of the electrolyte. While the electrolyte demonstrates promise in promoting hydrogen evolution, further optimization may be necessary to maximize its efficiency for oxygen evolution reactions. Overall, this research contributes to advancing eco-friendly recycling strategies and underscores the potential of electronic waste recycling for renewable energy generation.31st International Conference Ecological Truth and Environmental Research : Sokobanja, Serbia, 18-21 June 2024

Enhancing oxygen evolution: the electrocatalytic power of Ag-doped bismuth ferrite

This study explores the electrochemical performance of Ag-doped bismuth ferrite (BFO+Ag) as a novel electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Utilizing a cost-effective hydrothermal method, BFO+Ag nanopowders were synthesized and characterized for their electrocatalytic properties. The incorporation of silver was found to significantly enhance the activity and reduce the overpotential in OER applications. Electrochemical evaluations demonstrated that BFO+Ag electrodes achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at a reduced overpotential of 1.52 V and display improved Tafel slopes, particularly at elevated temperatures. This work positions BFO+Ag as a promising and economically viable alternative to traditional precious metal-based catalysts for energy conversion and storage solutions, emphasizing the potential for future research to optimize performance and explore practical applications31st International Conference Ecological Truth and Environmental Research : Sokobanja, Serbia, 18-21 June 2024

Expression levels of GSDMB and ORMDL3 are associated with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and IKZF3 rs12946510 variant

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a noncurable autoimmune neurodegenerative disease, requires constant research that could improve understanding of both environmental and genetic factors that lead to its occurrence and/or progression. Recognition of the genetic basis of MS further leads to an investigation of the regulatory role of genetic variants on gene expression. Among risk variants for MS, Ikaros zinc finger 3 (IKZF3) gene variant rs12946510 was identified as one of the top-ranked and the expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) for genes residing in chromosomal locus 17q12- 21. The study aimed to investigate the association of gene expression of the immunologically relevant genes, which map to indicated locus, ORMDL3, GSDMB, and IKZF3, with MS and rs12946510 genotype, taking into account disease phase, clinical parameters of disease progression, and severity and immunomodulatory therapy. We used TaqMan® technology for both allelic discrimination and gene expression determination in 67 relapsing MS patients and 50 healthy controls. Decreased ORMDL3 and GSDMB mRNA levels had significant associations with MS and rs12946510 TT rare homozygote among patients. Significant positive correlations between ORMDL3 and GSDMB mRNA expression were observed in both patients and controls. We detected the significant between-effect of sex and rs12946510 on the expression of ORMDL3 in the patient group and interferon β therapy and rs12946510 on GSDMB expression. Our results show the association of ORMDL3 and GSDMB mRNA expression with the clinical manifestation of MS and confirm that IKZF3 rs12946510 exerts the eQTL effect on both genes in multiple sclerosis. Besides providing novel insight related to MS phases and interferon β therapy, the study results confirm previous studies on regulatory genetic variants, autoimmunity, and MS