E Actitrode: The new selective stimulation interface for functional movements in hemiplegics patients

We describe the new multi-contact electrode-array for surface electrical stimulation, and the corresponding interface device that allows on-line selection of the conductive fields during the application of the system. This new device has a specific value for therapeutic applications of electrical stimulation since it allows effective generation of desired functional movements. The user-friendly interface also allows patients at home to select the optimal electrode array; thereby, to receive therapies out of the clinical environment. The electrode was tested in three post-stroke hemiplegics patients. The pilot experiments showed that system works sufficiently good for control of fingers during grasp and release functions without the interference of the wrist movement. The use of electrode is also envisioned for many other applications (foot-drop fitness, shoulder subluxation, etc)

The Role of Ovalbumin in Manganese Homeostasis during Chick Embryogenesis: An EPR Spectroscopic Study

Ovalbumin (OVA), a protein vital for chick embryo nutrition, hydration, and antimicrobial protection, together with other egg-white proteins, migrates to the amniotic fluid and is orally absorbed by the embryo during embryogenesis. Recently, it has been shown that for optimal eggshell quality, the hen diet can be supplemented with manganese. Although essential for embryonic development, manganese in excess causes neurotoxicity. This study investigates whether OVA may be involved in the regulation of manganese levels. The binding of Mn(II) to OVA was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The results show that OVA binds a maximum of two Mn(II) ions, one with slightly weaker affinity, even in a 10-fold excess, suggesting it may have a protective role from Mn(II) overload. It seems that the binding of Mn(II), or the presence of excess Mn(II), does not affect OVA’s tertiary structure, as evidenced from fluorescence and UV/vis measurements. Comparative analysis with bovine and human serum albumins revealed that they exhibit higher affinities for Mn(II) than OVA, most likely due to their essentially different physiological roles. These findings suggest that OVA does not play a role in the transport and storage of manganese; however, it may be involved in embryo protection from manganese-induced toxicity

Trichothecene Genotypes of Fusarium graminearum Populations Isolated from Winter Wheat Crops in Serbia

Fusarium graminearum as the main causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and its ability to produce trichothecenes was investigated by molecular techniques. A total of 37 strains isolated from the wheat, harvested in Serbia in 2005, 2008 and 2015, and previously designated by morphological observation as F. graminearum, were used for trichothecene genotypes characterization. The strains were identified using the species-specific primer set FG16R/FG16F while genotypic characterization was done using specific TRI13 and TRI3 sequences of the trichothecene gene clusters. The PCR assays identified all strains as species of F. graminearum sensu stricto with the DON/15-ADON genotype. The quantification of the mycotoxin (DON) was performed using the biochemical assay. The high levels of DON (>20,000 mu g kg(-1)) were recorded in all of the strains from 2005, four strains from 2008 and two strains from 2015. Weather data of the investigated seasons, showed that the optimal temperature, frequent rains and high relative humidity (RH) was very favourable for the development of F. graminearum, affecting the DON biosynthesis

Influence of sowing time on Fusarium and fumonisin contamination of maize grains and yield component traits

The main aim of this research was to study the effect of two sowing times (early and late) on Fusarium and fumonisin contamination and some yield component traits of two maize hybrids from the FAO maturity groups 500 (ZP 560) and 600 (ZP 666) within a two-year growing season (2016–2017). F. verticillioides and F. subglutinans have been identified as Fusarium ear rot (FER) pathogens and potential producers of B-type fumonisins (FBs), with F. verticillioides as the predominant Fusarium species in both years. The incidence of F. verticillioides and FB levels were affected by sowing time and maize hybridity. With early sowing and the mid-maturity hybrid ZP 560, F. verticillioides and FB contamination were lower than with late sowing and the late-maturity hybrid ZP 666. Yield parameters also differed significantly between sowing time and maize hybrid treatments. Early sowing increased ear length (EL), number of grains per ear (NGE), grain weight per ear (GWE), and grain yield per hectare (GY). The late-maturity hybrid ZP 666 had higher yield component traits and GY than the mid-maturity hybrid ZP 560. EL, GWE, thousand-grain weight (TGW), and GY were affected by year. Interactions between sowing times and maize hybrids were highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) for FB level, GWE, and GY. The obtained results indicate the importance of applying early sowing to achieve high maize grain yields with lower contamination by F. verticillioides and FBs. Although mid-maturity hybrid ZP 560 and late-maturity hybrid ZP 666 showed significant differences in terms of levels of F. verticillioides and FB contamination, both were susceptible to F. verticillioides, with high FB levels. These results should be useful to breeders of maize hybrids to create genotypes more resistant to these fungal contaminants

Glucosomes: Magnetically induced controlled release of glucose modified liposomes

Novel methods of cancer therapy are constantly being investigated since the current approach heavily relies on the use of non-specific and toxic chemotherapy agents. Ideally, a drug used for cancer therapy would specifically target tumor sites or rather bind specifically with cancer cells. The way to achieve this is by targeting cancer cell specific receptors or receptors present in abnormally high counts at the surface. Rapid proliferation of cancer cells is fueled by large amounts of energy that is in turn produced by abnormal glucose uptake. Because of this high energy/glucose demand, cancer cells exhibit an abnormally high glucose receptor (GLUTs) count on their surface, compared to normal, healthy cells. We have utilized this glucose dependency to create glucose modified liposomes (Glucosomes) that are specifically bound by cancer cells. Glucosomes can be used to transport different substances, either hydrophilic or hydrophobic, and can therefore deliver any type of drug to cancer cells, increasing its efficiency. Another important aspect to consider is the controlled release of the drug being transported in order to maximize therapeutic efficiency. Controlled release can be achieved by utilizing different internal or external influences. In our study, we have used standard Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles to load glucosomes and induce their controlled opening via an external magnetic field. By applying an external magnetic field, the magnetic nanoparticles start heating up and transferring this thermal energy to the surrounding lipid bilayer, causing its perturbation and opening of the glucosome. Our study has found that controlled release can be achieved with high efficiency while the chemical stability of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles stays practically intact. Using EPR spectroscopy, we have shown that Fe3O4 nanoparticles remain trapped within the lipid bilayer and are essentially protected from oxidation that would diminish their magnetic properties. Since magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles are lodged well within the lipid bilayer no thermal damage can be caused to the drug being transported within the glucosome bilayer, making this a viable controlled release cancer targeting drug delivery system.Twentieth Young Researchers’ Conference - Materials Science and Engineering: Program and the Book of Abstracts; November 30 – December 2, 2022, Belgrade, Serbi

Electrochemical Performance of Niobium MXenes with Lanthanum

MXenes are the newest class of two-dimensional nanomaterials characterized by large surface area, high conductivity, and hydrophilicity. To further improve their performance for use in energy storage devices, heteroatoms or functional groups can be inserted into the Mxenes’ structure increasing their stability. This work proposes insertion of lanthanum atoms into niobium-MXene (Nb-MX/La) that was characterized in terms of morphogy, structure, and electrochemical behavior. The addition of La to the Nb-MXene structure was essential to increase the spacing between the layers, improving the interaction with the electrolyte and enabling charge/discharge cycling in a higher potential window and at higher current densities. Nb-MX/La achieved a specific capacitance of up to 157 mF cm-2, a specific capacity of 42 mAh cm-2 at 250 mV s-1, a specific power of 37.5 mW cm-2, and a specific energy of 14.1 mWh cm-2 after 1000 charge/discharge cycles at 50 mA cm-

Supplementary data for article: Božić, B.; Korać, J.; Stanković, D. M.; Stanić, M.; Popović-Bijelić, A.; Bogdanović Pristov, J.; Spasojević, I.; Bajčetić, M. Mechanisms of Redox Interactions of Bilirubin with Copper and the Effects of Penicillamine. Chemico-Biological Interactions 2017, 278, 129–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2017.10.022

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2017.10.022]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2570]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3105