Investigation of quality of life in athletes from an anti-aging perspective

U radu je proučavan utjecaj tankih filmova cinkovog oksida narastanih na poroznim strukturama na fotokatalitičku razgradnju metilenskog modrila kao modelnog zagađivača u otpadnim vodama. S obzirom na to da se kemijske reakcije između fotokatalizatora i vodenih otopina odvijaju upravo na njihovoj međupovršini, fotokatalizatori velikih aktivnih površina pripremani su postupcima elektrokemijske oksidacije aluminija u trajanju od 2 h, 4 h, i 6 h u 0,1 M fosfornoj kiselini (H3PO4) i jetkanja u trajanju od 1 h i 2 h u 85 %-tnoj H3PO4. Na dobivene porozne strukture različitih dubina sintetiziran je tanki film (25 nm) cinkovog oksida tehnikom depozicije atomskih slojeva (ALD). Elementna analiza i detaljna karakterizacija morfologije i poprečnog presjeka uzoraka na mikro i nano-skalama provedene su pretražnim elektronskim mikroskopom (SEM), dok su njihova fotokataliticka svojstva, u cilju određivanja optimalnog fotokatalizatora, promatrana mjerenjem optičke apsorpcije UV-Vis spektrofotometrom u periodu od 200 minuta. Rezultati fotokataliticke razgradnje ukazali su na učinkovito uklanjanje bojila metilenskog modrila pod utjecajem sintetiziranih fotokatalizatora. Pojačana fotokatalitička aktivnost primijećena je kod tankog filma cinkovog oksida sintetiziranog na uzorcima aluminija elektrokemijski oksidiranih 4 sata koji su u 200 minuta razgradili nešto više od 50 % modelnog organskog zagađivača. To možemo pripisati njihovoj pogodnoj morfologiji koja se odlikuje povećanom hidrofilnošću u odnosu na ostala 4 uzorka. Također, analizama je pokazano da uzorci jetkani jedan sat pokazuju bolja fotokatalitička svojstva nego oni jetkani dva sata, što se može objasniti degradacijom poroznosti struktura pri dužem nagrizanju uzorka kiselinom.Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, as a model pollutant in wastewaters, was studied using zinc oxide thin films synthesized on porous structures. Given that chemical reactions between photocatalyst and aqueous solutions take place by contact between their surface and fluid, photocatalysts of large specific surfaces were prepared by the processes of electrochemical oxidation of aluminium for 2, 4 and 6 hours in 0,1 M H3PO4 and etching during the period of 1 and 2 hours in 85 % H3PO4. On the obtained porous structures of different depths, a thin film (25 nm) of zinc oxide was synthesized using the atomic layer deposition technique (ALD). Elemental analysis and detailed characterization of morphology and cross-section on the microand nanoscale were performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), while the photocatalytic properties of the sample were studied by measuring optical absorption by UV-Vis spectrophotometer over a 200 minute time period to determine the optimum photocatalyst. The results of photocatalytic degradation indicated the efficient removal of methylene blue dye under the influence of synthesized photocatalysts. However, remarkable results were achieved with samples of zinc oxide thin films synthesized on aluminium samples electrochemically oxidized of 4 hours. These samples dissipated slightly more than 50 % of the model organic pollutant in 200 minutes, which can be ascribed to their specific morphology with increased hydrophilicity compared to the other 4 samples. Also, analyzes showed that samples of 1 hour of etching showed better photocatalytic properties than those of two hours, which can be explained by the degradation of the porosity of the structures during prolonged etching

Role of Abscisic Acid in Flood-Induced Secondary Aerenchyma Formation in Soybean (Glycine max) Hypocotyls

Phellogen (cork cambium) usually produces cork tissue, but when flooded it produces secondary aerenchyma, comprising living cells with non-suberized walls in the stems, roots, and root nodules of some Fabaceae. In the cell walls of cork tissues, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), promotes suberin deposition. Thus, ABA may decrease in flooded tissues, where secondary aerenchyma cells are developing. Here, we investigated whether ABA is involved in the formation of aerenchyma in soybean (Glycine max) hypocotyls when flooded. Hypocotyls flooded with water produced a large amount of secondary aerenchyma, and were highly porous. On the other hand, application of 1.0 μM ABA suppressed the enlargement of phellogen-derived cells, thereby suppressing subsequent gas space formation, and then almost completely inhibited aerenchyma development. Berberine-aniline blue staining indicated that not only elongated cells in the secondary aerenchyma but also packed cells, which were formed under flooding with ABA, contained no suberized cell walls. Compared to non-flooded plants, the endogenous ABA concentration in the flooded hypocotyls was decreased to 50% within 24 hr, and the low level was maintained for at least 72 hr. In addition, phellogen developed at 48 hr after flooding and secondary aerenchyma was observed at 72 hr. These results indicate that secondary aerenchyma formation requires a decrease in negative regulator ABA in soybean plants, that is, ABA inhibits elongation of cells derived from phellogen in secondary aerenchyma formation such as internodal cell elongation of floating rice stems

Significantly differentially expressed miRNA according to liver fibrotic stage.

<p>Pairwise heatmap showing the miRNAs and p-value of two arbitrary stages.</p

Pairwise heatmap of the miRNAs used for classifying two arbitrary groups.

<p>Pairwise heatmap showed the miRNAs and their p-value of two arbitrary groups.</p

Significantly differentially expressed miRNAs according to liver inflammation grade.

<p>Pairwise heatmap showing the miRNAs and p-value of two arbitrary grades.</p

The method used to obtain reproducible data for microarray analysis conducted on serum-extracted samples.

<p>A. NL patients’ serum were sampled twice. In the first, RNA was extracted first from untreated serum, and then extracted again from serum treated with exoquick. In the second serum sample, RNA was also extracted from both untreated serum and serum treated with exoquick. Microarray analysis was conducted for RNA in a total of four samples. B. Reproducibility test of microarray data. Scatter plots comparing non- normalized signal intensities of miRNAs in two independent experiments from human total serum and exosome rich fraction. Red and black denotes high and low miRNA expressions respectively. Total serum extracted first, versus exosome rich fraction first (left), total serum extracted first versus second (middle), and exosome rich fraction extracted first versus second (right). C. Pearson’s pairwise correlations of signal intensities of miRNAs from human total serum and exosome rich fraction. D. Western blot was performed for untreated serum, serum extracted by exoquick and exosome fraction from PNT-2, using anti-CD63.</p