Moderne Nederlandse poëzie en de oorlogen in voormalig Joegoslavië

Recent Dutch and Flemish poetry shows many reactions and reflections on the bloody Yugoslav drama of the late twentieth century. The wars in former Yugoslavia were close to home. Also, the Dutch and Belgian military were involved in the events. Furthermore, the media played a crucial role by involving entire populations in the conflict as virtual eyewitnesses. Some poets rely on the poetics of fascination and disgust for violence as set out by the renowned Dutch poet Armando. Others prefer the almost silent mourning for the condition humaine. Some prefer implicit pacifist engagement, others express explicit political judgements. The dominant impression is the need of so many poets to react, reaffirming thus the belief in the strength of words as the only weapon of dignity

Picea sylvestris essential oil as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1M HCl solution

With its superior mechanical and physical qualities, carbon steel finds extensive usage in several fields. Its primary flaw is that it easily corrodes, especially in acidic environments. Globally, scientists are researching green corrosion inhibitors, which are primarily defined as plant extracts and essential oils that are cheap, safe, non-toxic, and have a high corrosion inhibition efficiency. The study of Pinus Sylvestris essential oil as a green corrosion inhibitor of steel in 1M HCl serves as the foundation for our investigation. Through hydrodistillation with a Clevenger-style device, the essential oil of fresh, dried Pinus Sylvestris needles was recovered. Different inhibitor doses and immersion periods in HCl were used to calculate the internal efficiency (IE). Utilizing Polarization Measurements and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), the oil's inhibitory effects were estimated. Using electrochemical methods, it was determined that the optimal inhibitor concentration is 100 ppm. The effectiveness of the inhibition increases during the time of 1 to 4 hours of immersion. Also, this essential oil is a mixed corrosion inhibitor with dominant control of cathodic reaction

Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of artemisia judaica, a. Herba-alba and a. Arborescens from Libya

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Artemisia judaica L., Artemisia herbaalba Asso. and Artemisia arborescens L. (cultivated) from Libya, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antimicrobial properties were determined using the broth microdilution method against eight bacterial species: Bacillus cereus (clinical isolate), Micrococcus flavus (ATCC10240), Listeria monocytogenes (NCTC7973), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538), Escherichia coli (ATCC35210), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC13311), Enterobacter cloacae (human isolates) and eight fungal species: Aspergillus niger (ATCC6275), A. ochraceus (ATCC12066), A. versicolor (ATCC11730), A. fumigatus (ATCC1022), Penicillium ochrochloron (ATCC9112), P. funiculosum (ATCC10509), Trichoderma viride (IAM5061) and Candida albicans (human isolate). The major constituents of A. arborescens oil were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (47.4%). Oxygenated monoterpenes were the dominant constituents in the A. judaica and A. herba-alba oils (54.2% and 77.3%, respectively). Camphor (24.7%) and chamazulene (20.9%) were the major components in the essential oil of A. arborescens, chrysanthenone (20.8%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (17.6%) and cis-thujone (13.6%) dominated in the A. herba-alba oil, and the major constituents in the A. judaica oil were piperitone (30.21%) and cis-chrysanthenol (9.1%). The best antimicrobial activity was obtained for A. judaica oil and the lowest effect was noticed in A. arborescens oil. The effect of the tested oils was higher against Gram (+) than Gram (-) bacteria. All three oils showed the best antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and the lowest against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, compared to streptomycin and ampicillin. All three oils showed better antifungal activities than ketoconazole, except A. arborescens oil against Aspergillus niger

Black Pine (Pinus nigra) Essential Oil as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel

In this work, the essential oil of black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) was used for the first time as a natural, ecological, and sustainable corrosion inhibitor for the acid cleaning of carbon steel. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography–flame–ionization detection (GC–FID) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The most abundant components in the essential oil were a-pinene, germacrene D, (E)-cariophyllene, and b-pinene. The inhibition efficiency was determined by electrochemical methods (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements). The results showed that the inhibitory efficiency of the black pine essential oil increases with time, reaching the highest values after 4 h of immersion for all inhibitor concentrations. It was also shown that black pine essential oil is a mixed-type inhibitor. The contact angle measurements confirmed that the black pine essential oil, as a new natural, environmentally safe inhibitor, is able to protect carbon steel from corrosion in a 1 M HCl solution

Picea omorika essential oil as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1M HCl solution

Etarska ulja i ekstrakti biljaka spadaju u zelene inhibitore korozije jer su ekološki prihvatljivi, jeftini, netoksicni po ljude i poseduju veliku efikasnost inhibicije korozije. U našem istraživanju proucavali smo etarsko ulje Picea omorika (Pancic) Purk., kao zelenog inhibitora korozije na celiku u 1M HCl. Etarko ulje je dobijeno hidrodestilacijom svežih iglica korišcenjem aparature po Klevendžeru. Inhibitorska efikasnost je odre ena za razlicite koncentracije inhibitora, tokom razlicitog vremena delovanja agensa korozije. Koroziona stabilnost inhibitora je odre ena elektrohemijskim metodama, spektroskopijom elektrohemijske impedancije (EIS) i polarizacionim merenjima. Pokazano je da se optimalna efikasnost inhibicije korozije od 92% postiže sa 200 ppm ulja Panciceve omorike nakon cetiri sata.Essential oils and extracts of plants are green corrosion inhibitors because there are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, inexpensive, not harmful to human health, and they possessing high corrosion inhibition efficiency. In our research, we studied the essential oil of Picea omorika (Pancic) Purk. as a green corrosion inhibitor on steel in 1M HCl. Essential oil of fresh dried needles was obtained by hydrodistillation using the Clevengertype apparatus. IE was determined for different concentrations of inhibitors, as well as for different times of immersion in HCl. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Polarization Measurements were utilised to estimate the IE of the oil. Our results showed that the optimal concentration of 200 ppm P. omorika essential oil providing 92% inhibition efficiency after four hours

The potential roles of gossypol as anticancer agent: advances and future directions

Gossypol, a polyphenolic aldehyde derived from cottonseed plants, has seen a transformation in its pharmaceutical application from a male contraceptive to a candidate for cancer therapy. This shift is supported by its recognized antitumor properties, which have prompted its investigation in the treatment of various cancers and related inflammatory conditions. This review synthesizes the current understanding of gossypol as an anticancer agent, focusing on its pharmacological mechanisms, strategies to enhance its clinical efficacy, and the status of ongoing clinical evaluations. The methodological approach to this review involved a systematic search across several scientific databases including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PubMed/MedLine, Google Scholar, Scopus, and TRIP. Studies were meticulously chosen to cover various aspects of gossypol, from its chemical structure and natural sources to its pharmacokinetics and confirmed anticancer efficacy. Specific MeSH terms and keywords related to gossypol’s antineoplastic applications guided the search strategy. Results from selected pharmacological studies indicate that gossypol inhibits the Bcl-2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins, promoting apoptosis in tumor cells. Clinical trials, particularly phase I and II, reveal gossypol’s promise as an anticancer agent, demonstrating efficacy and manageable toxicity profiles. The review identifies the development of gossypol derivatives and novel carriers as avenues to enhance therapeutic outcomes and mitigate adverse effects. Conclusively, gossypol represents a promising anticancer agent with considerable therapeutic potential. However, further research is needed to refine gossypol-based therapies, explore combination treatments, and verify their effectiveness across cancer types. The ongoing clinical trials continue to support its potential, suggesting a future where gossypol could play a significant role in cancer treatment protocols

Inhibicija korozije ugljeničnog čelika u 1 M HCl pomoću ekološki prihvatljivog inhibitora (Pančićeva omorika): kombinovanje eksperimentalnih i teorijskih metoda

Etarsko ulje Pančićeve omorike analizirano je gasnom hromatografijom u kombinaciji sa masenom spektrometrijom (GC/MS). Eektrohemijska merenja su pokazala da u koncentaciji od 200 ppm ovaj zeleni inhibitor smanjuje brzinu korozije čelika sa značajnom efikasnošću od 93 % nakon 4 h. Polarizaciona mjerenja su pokazala da je etarsko ulje inhibitor mešovitog tipa. Inhibirana i neinhibirana površina čelika je analizirana skenirajućom elektronskom mikroskopijom (SEM), i merenjem kontaktnog ugla. Adsorpcija organskih aktivnih supstanci na površini čelika prati Lengmirovu adsorpcionu izotermu i rendgenska fotoelektronska spektroskopija (XPS) je pružila dublji uvid u mehanizam inhibicije korozije. Eksperimentalne studije su upotpunjene teorijskim proračunima.Picea omorika essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Electrochemical measurements showed that this green inhibitor reduces the corrosion rate of steel with a significant efficiency of 93% after 4 h at a concentration of 200 ppm. Polarization measurements showed that the essential oil is a mixed type inhibitor. The inhibited and non-inhibited surface of the steel was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle measurements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provided a deeper insight into the mechanism of corrosion inhibition. The adsorption of organic active substances on the steel surface follows the Langmire adsorption isotherm. Experimental studies were completed with the theoretical studies

Natural Substances vs. Approved Drugs in the Treatment of Main Cardiovascular Disorders—Is There a Breakthrough?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of diseases with a very high rate of morbidity and mortality. The clinical presentation of CVDs can vary from asymptomatic to classic symptoms such as chest pain in patients with myocardial infarction. Current therapeutics for CVDs mainly target disease symptoms. The most common CVDs are coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension, and valvular heart disease. In their treatment, conventional therapies and pharmacological therapies are used. However, the use of herbal medicines in the therapy of these diseases has also been reported in the literature, resulting in a need for critical evaluation of advances related to their use. Therefore, we carried out a narrative review of pharmacological and herbal therapeutic effects reported for these diseases. Data for this comprehensive review were obtained from electronic databases such as MedLine, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Conventional therapy requires an individual approach to the patients, as when patients do not respond well, this often causes allergic effects or various other unwanted effects. Nowadays, medicinal plants as therapeutics are frequently used in different parts of the world. Preclinical/clinical pharmacology studies have confirmed that some bioactive compounds may have beneficial therapeutic effects in some common CVDs. The natural products analyzed in this review are promising phytochemicals for adjuvant and complementary drug candidates in CVDs pharmacotherapy, and some of them have already been approved by the FDA. There are insufficient clinical studies to compare the effectiveness of natural products compared to approved therapeutics for the treatment of CVDs. Further long-term studies are needed to accelerate the potential of using natural products for these diseases. Despite this undoubted beneficence on CVDs, there are no strong breakthroughs supporting the implementation of natural products in clinical practice. Nevertheless, they are promising agents in the supplementation and co-therapy of CVDs

Clinopodium L. Taxa from the Balkans - Are There Unique Leaf Micromorphological and Phytochemical Patterns?

The concept of the genus Clinopodium L. has changed considerably since its first description. Most of the currently accepted species of the genus have traditionally been treated as separate genera in the group Satureja sensu lato: Clinopodium L., Calamintha sensu Miller or Moench, and Acinos sensu Miller or Moench. This study aimed to gain a better insight into the species diversity of Clinopodium L. from the Balkans by analyzing the taxa that have traditionally been placed in separate genera. The alkane profile and the micromorphological characteristics of the leaves are analyzed. The leaves are visualized using scanning electron microscopy, and alkanes are isolated using n-hexane as a solvent and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The alkane profile showed the differentiation of the Acinos-group from the other taxa based on the dominant n-C31, while most of the other taxa contained n-C33 as the dominant alkane. The micromorphological features also showed clear differences between the previously recognized genera, especially in the capitate trichomes. The results showed that micromorphological patterns are highly variable in certain groups of the genus Clinopodium