Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Foliar Broths: Roles of Biocompounds and Other Attributes of the Extracts

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles has arisen as a promising alternative to conventional synthetic methodologies owing to its eco-friendly advantages, and the involved bioprotocol still needs further clarification. This research, for the first time from the standpoint of statistics, confirmed an electrostatic force or ionic bond-based interaction between the chloroauric ions and the involved bioconstituents and manifested that reducing sugars and flavonoids were both important reductants responsible for conversion of Au(III) to Au(0). The result also demonstrated that the proteins were not the reducing agents, yet they might be protection agents in biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Besides, a significant linear relationship was found between the anti-oxidant ability of the foliar broths and their capability to reduce Au(III) into Au(0). Furthermore, the preliminary investigation based on the boxplot on the size/shape distribution of the biosynthesized GNPs revealed that gold nanospheres with higher degree of homogeneity in size tended to be promoted by foliar broths containing higher content of reducing sugars/flavonoids and proteins. Otherwise, i.e., for those broths with lower content of the above biocompounds, sphere GNPs of wider size distribution or even gold nanotriangles tended to be fabricated

The Vajramahābhairavatantra: Its origins, intertextuality, and transmission

This thesis focuses on the Vajramahābhairavatantra, a seminal Buddhist tantra dedicated to the fear-inducing buffalo-headed Buddhist tantric deity Vajrabhairava (rdo rje ’jigs byed). The tantra has survived to us through Sanskrit manuscripts, which have not previously been investigated. My project intends to fulfill this desideratum by providing the first-ever edition of the Sanskrit text of the Vajramahābhairavatantra and by reconstructing its missing parts from the Sampuṭatantra. Apart from the establishment of a critically edited version of the text and the production of an English translation, my thesis studies the contents in the light of relevant sources outside the corpus, such as early Śaiva and Buddhist tantras like the Niśvāsatattvasaṃhitā, the Mañjuśriyamūlakalpa, but also of sources within the corpus, such as the six canonical commentaries on the difficult points of the root-text. My focus on the intertextual relations between the Vajramahābhairavatantra and other early tantras, as well as the close analysis of the tantra’s Indian exegetical tradition that has survived uniquely through the Tibetan canon, the Bstan ’gyur is important for our understanding of the origin and development of the Vajrabhairava cult. While sufficient scholarly attention has been paid to comparatively late milieus, such as the Chinese, Tibetan, and Mongolian instantiations, the early Indian cradle has been neglected. The aim of my thesis is to demonstrate that the Vajrabhairava cult can be located within the cultural framework of early tantric magic, and thus contains elements that point back to an earlier period than what had been assumed so far. Besides uncovering the intertextual and intellectual relationships between Śaiva and Buddhist tantric traditions, my thesis investigates the appropriation and consolidation of the tantra in Tibet, especially through a reconstruction of the lineages that took part in its transmission from India to Tibet in the light of existing Tibetan historiographies. It thus contributes to our understanding of the appropriation of Indic Buddhist traditions on the Tibetan plateau.</p

Emotions in Indian Thought-Systems

A stimulating account of the wide range of approaches towards conceptualising emotions in classical Indian philosophical–religious traditions, such as those of the Upanishads, Vaishnava Tantrism, Bhakti movement, Jainism, Buddhism, Yoga, ..

Loss of α6β4 integrin-mediated hemidesmosomes promotes prostate epithelial cell migration by stimulating focal adhesion dynamics

Abstract Epithelial cell adhesion is mediated by actin cytoskeleton-linked focal adhesions (FAs) and intermediate filament-associated hemidesmosomes (HDs). HDs are formed by α6β4-integrins and mediate stable anchoring to the extracellular matrix (ECM) while FAs containing β1-integrins regulate cell migration. Loss of HDs has been reported in various cancers such as prostate cancer where it correlates with increased invasive migration. Here we have studied cell migration properties and FA dynamics in genetically engineered prostate epithelial cell lines with intact or disrupted HDs. Disruption of HDs by depleting α6- or β4-integrin expression promoted collective cell migration and modulated migratory activity. Dynamic analysis of fluorescent protein-tagged FA marker proteins revealed faster FA assembly and disassembly kinetics in HD-depleted cells. FRAP analysis showed that loss of HDs correlated with faster diffusion rates of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and vinculin in and out of FAs. These data suggest that loss of α6β4-mediated HDs promote cell migration and FA assembly dynamics by influencing the molecular diffusion rates of FAK

Regulation of kinase signaling pathways by α6β4-integrins and plectin in prostate cancer

Abstract Hemidesmosomes (HDs) are adhesive structures that ensure stable anchorage of cells to the basement membrane. They are formed by α6β4-integrin heterodimers and linked to intermediate filaments via plectin. It has been reported that one of the most common events during the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa) is the loss of HD organization. While the expression levels of β4-integrins are strongly reduced, the expression levels of α6-integrins and plectin are maintained or even elevated, and seem to promote tumorigenic properties of PCa cells, such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis- and drug-resistance. In this review, we discuss the potential mechanisms of how HD components might contribute to various cellular signaling pathways to promote prostate carcinogenesis. Moreover, we summarize the current knowledge on the involvement of α6β4-integrins and plectin in PCa initiation and progression

Mercury in three species of Suillus mushroom from some sites in Poland

Oznaczono zawartość rtęci ogółem w owocnikach maślaka pstrego (Suillus variegatus), sitarza (S. bovinus) i zwyczajnego (S. luteus) oraz w wierzchniej warstwie podłoża glebowego z kilku przestrzennie odległych od siebie miejsc w Polsce. Wszystkie trzy gatunki maślaków cechowała mała zawartość rtęci w owocnikach. Wartości średniej arytmetycznej stężenia rtęci w kapeluszach i trzonach maślaków w zależności od miejsca ich pochodzenia mieściła się w granicach, odpowiednio, od 0,17±0,07 do 0,22±0,12 i od 0,047±0,015 do 0,071±0,035 µg/g masy suchej dla maślaka pstrego; od 0,28±0,11 do 0,79±0,40 i od 0,17±0,07 do 0,51±0,22 µg/g ms dla maślaka sitarza oraz od 0,095±0,082 do 0,17±0,05 i od 0,045±0,026 do 0,070±0,026 µg/g ms dla maślaka zwyczajnego. Wszystkie trzy gatunki maślaka bionagromadzały rtęć (BCF >1). Maślak sitarz względnie wydajniej nagromadzał rtęć niż pozostałe dwa gatunki, a wartość współczynnika BCF rtęci ogółem wyniosła od 18±10 do 45±20 w kapeluszach i od 9,4±7,5 do 29±11 w trzonach tego grzyba. Poziom zanieczyszczenia rtęcią wierzchniej warstwy gleby był niewielki, średnio od 0,017±0,003 do 0,029±0,020 µg/g ms.Total mercury content have been determined in fruiting bodies of Variegated Bolete (Suillus variegates), European Cow Bolete (S. bovinus) and Slippery Jack (S. luteus) and in underlying to mushroom's surface layer of soil substrate collected from several spatially distant one from another sites in Poland. All three Suillus mushroom species independent of the site characterized were by small mercury content. The arithmetic mean values of mercury concentration in caps and stipes, respectively, were: 0.17±0.07-0.22±0.12 and 0.047±0.015-0.071 ±0.035 µg/g dry weight for Variegated Bolete; 0.28±0.11- 0.79±0.40 and 0.17±0.07- 0.51±0.22 µg/g dw for European Cow Bolete, and 0.095±0.082-0.17±0,05 and 0.045±0.026- 0.070±0.026 µg/g dw for Slippery Jack. All three species of Suillus mushrooms bio- concentrated mercury (BCF > 1). European Cow Bolete bioconcentrated mercury relatively more efficiently when compared to two other species, and means of BCF value of this element in its caps ranged from 18± 10 to 45±20, and in stipes from 9.4±7.5 to 29± 11. A level of surface soil pollution with mercury was low and averaged from 0.017±0.003 do 0.029±0.020 µg/g dw

Das Soziale und die Differenz. Zur (De-)Thematisierung von Differenz in der Sozialpädagogik

Die Autorin geht der Frage der Thematisierung von Differenz in der Sozialpädagogik nach, wobei sie sich insbesondere auf die Momente konzentriert, „in denen Differenz (insbesondere deren Konfliktdimension) aus der gesellschaftlichen Wahrnehmung verschwindet bzw. zum Verschwinden gebracht wird – womöglich unter Zutun der Sozialpädagogik“. So zeigt sie zunächst an einer historischen Skizze (1. „Das Soziale und die Differenz“ in historischer und systematischer Betrachtung“), „wie die sich um 1900 herausbildende moderne Sozialarbeit bzw. Sozialpädagogik ihre Aufgabenstellungen an unterschiedlichen Dimensionen von „Differenzen“ entwickelte“. Dass eine „Ent-Stigmatisierung von Differenz durch Normalisierung (so in der Heimerziehung)“ aber auch „zur Verdeckung von Differenz und ihrer potentiellen Konfliktdimension führen“ kann, ist eine vor allem aus der geschlechterpolitischen Analyse gewonnene Beobachtung (3. „Politisierung der Differenz am Beispiel feministischer Sozialpädagogik“), die schließlich als „Ausgangspunkt für die Kennzeichnung der paradoxen Dynamik von Differenz als Spannungsfeld von Hierarchisierung, Skandalisierung, Normalisierung, Relativierung und De-Thematisierung“ (4. „Die Dynamik von Thematisierung und De-Thematisierung“) dient. „Der allgemeine Gedankengang“ bezieht sich dabei auf die „Machtanalytik Michel Foucaults“, dessen Denken „auch für eine geschlechtertheoretische Perspektive“ „produktiv zu nutzen“ ist. Im Ausblick (5.) fragt die Autorin schließlich „nach möglichem „Werkzeug zur Demontage“, zur Kritik und Reflexion von Machtverhältnissen, gerade im Feld – und im Medium - der Sozialpädagogik.“ (DIPF/ ssch

Disassembly of α6β4-mediated hemidesmosomal adhesions promotes tumorigenesis in PTEN-negative prostate cancer by targeting plectin to focal adhesions

Abstract Loss of α6β4-dependent hemidesmosomal adhesions has been observed during prostate cancer progression. However, the significance and underlying mechanisms by which aberrant hemidesmosome assembly may modulate tumorigenesis remain elusive. Using an extensive CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering approaches in different prostate cancer cell lines combined with in vivo tumorigenesis studies in mice, bone marrow-on-chip assays and bioinformatics, as well as histological analysis of prostate cancer patient cohorts, we demonstrated that simultaneous loss of PTEN and hemidesmosomal adhesions induced several tumorigenic properties including proliferation, migration, resistance to anoikis, apoptosis, and drug treatment in vitro, and increased metastatic capacity in vivo. These effects were plectin-depended and plectin was associated with actin-rich adhesions upon hemidesmosome disruption in PTEN-negative prostate cancer cells leading to activation of EGFR/PI3K/Akt- and FAK/Src-pathways. These results suggest that analysis of PTEN and hemidesmosomal proteins may have diagnostic value helping to stratify prostate cancer patients with high risk for development of aggressive disease and highlight actin-associated plectin as a potential therapeutic target specifically in PTEN/hemidesmosome dual-negative prostate cancer

Selective feeding in Southern Ocean key grazers—diet composition of krill and salps

Over the past decades, two key grazers in the Southern Ocean (SO), krill and salps, have experienced drastic changes in their distribution and abundance, leading to increasing overlap of their habitats. Both species occupy different ecological niches and long-term shifts in their distributions are expected to have cascading effects on the SO ecosystem. However, studies directly comparing krill and salps are lacking. Here, we provide a direct comparison of the diet and fecal pellet composition of krill and salps using 18S metabarcoding and fatty acid markers. Neither species’ diet reflected the composition of the plankton community, suggesting that in contrast to the accepted paradigm, not only krill but also salps are selective feeders. Moreover, we found that krill and salps had broadly similar diets, potentially enhancing the competition between both species. This could be augmented by salps’ ability to rapidly reproduce in favorable conditions, posing further risks to krill populations