Crystal structure analysis of Nd-doped ceria solid solutions

This paper deals with Nd-doped ceria solid solutions: Ce1-xNdxO2-d with "x" ranging from 0 to 0.25. Six different powders were synthesized by applying the method based on selfpropagating room temperature reaction (SPRT) between metallic nitrates and sodium hydroxide. The method is known to assure very precise stoichiometry of the final product in comparison with a tailored composition. Rietveld refinement was employed to get structural information on the synthesized powder. An increase of Nd ion concentration increases the unit cell parameters and average bond distances. We have shown that all obtained powders were solid solutions with a fluorite-type crystal structure and all powder particles were of nanometric size (about 3 nm)

Structural Investigations of Polyvinyliden Fluoride Thin and Thick Films

Polyvinyliden fluoride (PVDF) is a low-density fluoropolymer that exhibits piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. It can be used in the chemical, semiconductor, medical and defense industries, as well as in aviation and aerospace applications. Crucial factors that lead to the PVDF ferroelectric properties and determine its piezoelectric, mechanical, optical, electrical and thermal properties are its polar conformations, crystal structure, and crystallinity. These characteristics of the material significantly depend on the conditions used in the processing of polymer films. Therefore, we investigated structure and morphology of thin and thick PVDF films obtained by spin coating and solution casting methods, respectively. Structural investigations of PVDF thin and thick films were performed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) methods, while microstructure morphology has been analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Present results will enable optimization of PVDF processing techniques for the production of pressure and IR sensors

Effects of high intraoperative inspired oxygen on postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery

Study objective: To assess the efficacy of intraoperative different inspired oxygen fractions (FIO2) of 0.8 and 0.5 when compared with standard FIO2 0.3 in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Design: A prospective, controlled, randomized, double-blind study. Setting: General hospital, postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and gynecologic floor room. Patients: 120 ASA physical status I and II women, aged 21 to 76 y, undergoing elective gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive gas mixture of 30% oxygen in air (FI O2=0.3, group G30), 50% oxygen in air (FIO2=0.5, group G50) or 80% oxygen in air (FIO2=0.8, group G80), n=36 in each group. A standardized sevoflurane general anesthesia, postoperative pain management and antiemetic regimen were used. Measurements: The incidence of nausea, vomiting or both was assessed for early (0-2h) and late PONV (2-24h) along with the use of rescue antiemetic, degree of nausea and severity of pain. Main results: There was no overall difference in the incidence of PONV at early and late assessment periods among the three groups. Patients in G80 had significantly less vomiting than G30 at 2 hours, 3% (1/36) vs. 22% (8/36), respectively, P=0.028. Nausea scores, rescue antiemetic use, pain scores and opioid consumption were not different among the groups. Conclusion: High intraoperative FIO2 of 0.8 and FIO2 of 0.5 does not prevent PONV in patients without antiemetic prophylaxis. Intraoperative FIO2 of 0.8 has beneficial effect on early vomiting only

Synthesis, computational and pharmacological evaluation of novel N-{4-[2-(4-aryl-piperazin-1-yl)ethyl]phenyl}-arylamides

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a biogenic amine most noted as a neurotransmitter, an activator of the utmost subtype family of G-protein- coupled receptors (GPCR). Drugs targeting 5-HT1A and other 5-HT receptors treat central nervous system diseases such as schizophrenia and depression. Recent advances in serotonin receptor structure research gave us several crystal 5-HT1A receptor structures, most notably 5-HT1A bound to the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole (Abilify®). This discovery prompted us to evaluate a series of newly synthesized ligands for serotonergic activity since those arylpiperazine derivatives share minimal general structure with aripiprazole. The results of molecular docking analysis of unsubstituted starting substances encouraged us to propound further modifications of the tail and head parts of the parent molecules to maximize receptor binding affinity. Intrigued by the results of molecular analysis, all foreseen derivatives were synthesized. The pharmacological activity of all nine (5a and 6a are synthesized previously) compounds was assessed by the in vitro tests and in silico pharmacokinetics predictions for the most promising candidates. All tested ligands have improved affinity compering to parent compounds (10a and 11a), 8b and 9b expressed the best pharmacological profile with an improved binding affinity toward serotonin 5-HT1A receptors (Ki 12.1 and 4.8 nM, respectively)

Kemijski sastav, antioksidativno djelovanje, inhibicija elastaze i protuupalno djelovanje eteričnog ulja biljke Illicium anisatum

The essential oil of air-dried Illicium anisatum obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Fifty-two components were identified in the essential oil and the main component was eucalyptol (21.8 %). The antioxidant and anti-elastase activities of the essential oil were also investigated; the essential oil exhibited moderate DPPH scavenging and anti-elastase activities. To clarify the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activities of I. anisatum essential oil (IAE), we evaluated whether it could modulate the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by activated macrophages. The results indicate that IAE is an effective inhibitor of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells. These inhibitory activities were accompanied by dose-dependent decreases in the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins and iNOS and COX-2 mRNA. In order to determine whether IAE can be safely applied to human skin, the cytotoxic effects of IAE were determined by colorimetric MTT assays in human dermal fibroblast and keratinocyte HaCaT cells. IAE exhibited low cytotoxicity at 100 μg mL1. Based on these results, we suggest that IAE may be considered an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory candidate for cosmetic materials, but additional in vitro and in vivo tests have to be performed to prove its safety and efficacy.Eterično ulje biljke Illicium anisatum dobiveno destilacijom vodenom parom analizirano je plinskom kromatografijom-spektrometrijom masa (GC-MS). Identificirane su pedeset i dvije komponente eteričnog ulja, a glavna komponenta je eukaliptol (21,8 %). Ispitivanje antioksidativnog djelovanja te djelovanja na elastazu ukazuju na umjerenu sposobnost hvatanja DPPH radikala i inhibicije elastaze. Kako bi se objasnio mehanizam protuupalnog djelovanja eteričnog ulja I. anisatum (IAE), ispitan je učinak na moduliranje produkcije dušikovog(II) oksida (NO) i prostaglandina E2 (PGE2) iz aktiviranih makrofaga. Rezultati ukazuju da je IAE učinkovit inhibitor LPS-inducirane produkcije NO i PGE2 u RAW 264.7 stanicama. Inhibitorno djelovanje popraćeno je smanjenjem ekspresije iNOS i COX-2 proteina i iNOS i COX-2 mRNA. Kako bi se odredilo može li se IAE sigurno primijeniti na ljudsku kožu, citotoksični učinci IAE određeni su kolorimetrijskim MTT testom u humanim dermalnim fibroblastima i keratinocitima HaCaT. IAE je pokazao nisku citotoksičnost pri koncentraciji 100 μg mL-1. Temeljem ovih rezultata IAE se može smatrati potencijalnim sredstvom protiv starenja i protuupalnim sredstvom u kozmetičkim pripravcima. Međutim, dodatni in vitro i in vivo testovi nužni su za potvrdu njegove sigurnosti i učinkovitosti

Structural Investigations of Polyvinyliden Fluoride Thin and Thick Films

Polyvinyliden fluoride (PVDF) is a low-density fluoropolymer that exhibits piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. It can be used in the chemical, semiconductor, medical and defense industries, as well as in aviation and aerospace applications. Crucial factors that lead to the PVDF ferroelectric properties and determine its piezoelectric, mechanical, optical, electrical and thermal properties are its polar conformations, crystal structure, and crystallinity. These characteristics of the material significantly depend on the conditions used in the processing of polymer films. Therefore, we investigated structure and morphology of thin and thick PVDF films obtained by spin coating and solution casting methods, respectively. Structural investigations of PVDF thin and thick films were performed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) methods, while microstructure morphology has been analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Present results will enable optimization of PVDF processing techniques for the production of pressure and IR sensors

Reduction of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis and growth of food-borne fungi by lactic acid

© 2020 BMFH Press. Food contamination by fungi and mycotoxins presents a problem for food safety even today. Since lactic acid (LA) has Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status, the aim of this research was to determine its potential in protection of food against mycological and mycotoxicological contamination. In this study, LA showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of food-borne fungi (Penicillium aurantiogriseum K51, Aspergillus parasiticus KB31, Aspergillus versicolor S72, and Aspergillus niger K95) and on biosynthesis of sterigmatocystin (STE). For the antifungal effect of LA on the growth of food-borne fungi, the disc diffusion and microdilution methods were performed. The effect of LA on the STE biosynthesis by A. versicolor was determined using an LC-MS/MS technique. The largest inhibition zone was observed for A. versicolor (inhibition zone of 24 ± 0.35 mm), while there were no inhibition zones for A. niger and A. parasiticus at all tested LA concentrations. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of LA on fungi ranged from 25.0 mg/mL to 50.0 mg/mL, while the minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) ranged from 50.0 mg/mL to 100.0 mg/mL. Complete inhibition of STE biosynthesis by A. versicolor was observed at an LA concentration of 50.0 mg/mL. The obtained results showed that LA could be efficient for protection of food against mycological and STE contamination

Comparison of antioxidant capacities of two Ganoderma lucidum strains of different geographical origins

Ganoderma lucidum, used in a traditional Chinese medicine, represents one of the most important medicinal mushrooms in the world, whose fruiting bodies and spores have been traditionally used because of a wide spectrum of biological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiproliferative, cardioprotective, etc. Its ethnomedicinal importance in some parts of the Balkan region (Serbia and Croatia) is almost totally unknown and there should be more scientific investigations carried out. The aim of this work was to make a comparative study of antioxidative activities and total phenolic content of ethanol and hot water extracts of G. lucidum, collected from forests in Serbia (Morovićke šume, Fruška Gora) and Croatia (Donji Lapac, Plješevica). The present study was carried out to evaluate antioxidant potential of examined extracts via scavenging potential on ABTS, DPPH, OH∙ and NO∙ radicals, as well as of chelating effects via FRAP assay, together with determination of their total phenolic content. Results showed that both GLS extracts possessed better antiradical activities (IC50=0.23±0.01 for H2O and 2.75±0.01 μg/mL for EtOH for OH∙ and DPPH assay, respectively) than in the ABTS assay (151.40±1.07 mg TE/g d.w. for EtOH), while the phenolic content was generally equal in extracts of Serbian and Croatian samples (60.74±0.57 mg GAE/g d.w. for EtOH and 77.10±0.27 mg GAE/g d.w. for H2O, respectively). Therefore, these extracts could be considered as a good source of natural antioxidants. These results showed that examined G. lucidum extracts (especially Н2О) contain high amount of phenolic content which could significantly enhance the antiradical potential and reduce potential on iron ions. This is the first study reporting the comparison of antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of two different extracts between two G. lucidum strains from two different geographical origins from the Balkan region. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 43002