Nanoarchitectonics-based electrochemical aptasensors for highly efficient exosome detection.

Exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicles, have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to provide valuable insights into the pathophysiological microenvironment of the cells from which they originate. This characteristic implicates their potential use as diagnostic disease biomarkers clinically, including cancer, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Aptasensors, which are electrochemical aptamers based biosensing devices, have emerged as a new class of powerful detection technology to conventional methods like ELISA and Western analysis, primarily because of their capability for high-performance bioanalysis. This review covers the current research landscape on the detection of exosomes utilizing nanoarchitectonics strategy for the development of electrochemical aptasensors. Strategies involving signal amplification and biofouling prevention are discussed, with an emphasis on nanoarchitectonics-based bio-interfaces, showcasing their potential to enhance sensitivity and selectivity through optimal conduction and mass transport properties. The ongoing challenges to broaden the clinical applications of these biosensors are also highlighted.

This review emphasizes the significant impact of integrating nanoarchitectonics into aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors for exosome detection, thereby enhancing early disease detection and monitoring disease progression in clinical settings.

Partition dimension of COVID antiviral drug structures.

In November 2019, there was the first case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) recorded, and up to 3$ ^{rd }$ of April 2020, 1,116,643 confirmed positive cases, and around 59,158 dying were recorded. Novel antiviral structures of the SARS-COV-2 virus is discussed in terms of the metric basis of their molecular graph. These structures are named arbidol, chloroquine, hydroxy-chloroquine, thalidomide, and theaflavin. Partition dimension or partition metric basis is a concept in which the whole vertex set of a structure is uniquely identified by developing proper subsets of the entire vertex set and named as partition resolving set. By this concept of vertex-metric resolvability of COVID-19 antiviral drug structures are uniquely identified and helps to study the structural properties of structure.

Extremal (n,m)-Graphs w.r.t General Multiplicative Zagreb Indices.

BACKGROUND: A topological index of a molecular graph is the numeric quantity which can predict certain physical and chemical properties of the corresponding molecule. Xu et al. introduced some graph transformations which increase or decrease the first and second multiplicative Zagreb indices and proposed a unified approach to characterize extremal (n, m)- graphs. METHOD: Graph transformations are used to find the extremal graphs, these transformations either increase or decrease the general multiplicative Zagreb indices. By applying the transformations which increase the general multiplicative Zagreb indices we find the graphs with maximal general multiplicative Zagreb indices and for minimal general Zagreb indices we use the transformations which decrease the index. RESULT: In this paper, we extend the Xu's results and show that the same graph transformations increase or decrease the first and second general multiplicative Zagreb indices for . As an application, the extremal acyclic, unicyclic and bicyclic graphs are presented for general multiplicative Zagreb indices. CONCLUSION: By applying the transformation we investigated that in the class of acyclic, unicyclic and bicyclic graphs, which graph gives the minimum and the maximum general multiplicative Zagreb indices.

Graphene Oxide Based Electrochemical Genosensor for Label Free Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Raw Clinical Samples.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis' rapid detection is still a formidable challenge to have control over the lethal disease. New diagnostic methods such as LED fluorescence microscopy, Genexpert, Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) are limited on efficacy spectrum owing to their high cost, time-intensive and laborious nature, in addition their low sensitivity hinders their robustness and portability. Electroanalytical methods are now being considered as an excellent alternative, being currently employed for efficient detection of the analytes with the potential of being portable. This report suggests label-free electrochemical detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) via its marker, insertion sequence (IS6110). METHODS: In this pursuit, graphene oxide-chitosan nanocomposite (GO-CHI), a biocompatible matrix, having a large electroactive area with an overall positively charged surface, is fabricated and characterized. The obtained GO-CHI nanocomposite is then immobilized on the ITO surface to form a positively functionalized electrochemical sensor for the detection of Mtb. DNA probe, specific for the IS6110, was electrostatically anchored on a positively charged electrode surface and the resistance of charge transfer was investigated for the sensitive and specific (complementary vs non-complementary) detection of Mtb by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques. RESULTS: The cyclic voltammetry was found to be diffusion controlled facilitating the absorption of analyte on the electrode surface. The label-free "genosensor" was found to detect a hybridization efficiency with a limit of detection of 3.4 pM, and correlation coefficient R2=0.99 when analysed over a range of concentrations of DNA from 7.86 pM to 94.3pM. The genosensor was also able to detect target DNA from raw sputum samples of clinical isolates without DNA purification. CONCLUSION: This electrochemical genosensor provides high sensitivity and specificity; thus offering a promising platform for clinical diagnosis of TB and other infectious diseases in general.

An ensemble modeling framework to study the effects of climate change on the trophic state of shallow reservoirs.

Our understanding of the potential impact of climatic change on catchment hydrology and aquatic system dynamics has been advanced over the past decade, but there are still considerable knowledge gaps with respect to its effects on water quality vis-à-vis the increasing demands for drinking water. In this study, we developed an integrated hydrological-water quality (SWAT-YRWQM) model to elucidate the effects of a changing climate on the trophic state of the shallow Yuqiao Reservoir. Using a two-step downscaling process, we reproduced the prevailing meteorological conditions, as well as the streamflows in three major tributaries of the study area. A sensitivity analysis exercise showed that the nature of the calibration dataset used, namely the range of flows (i.e., dry versus wet years) included, can profoundly influence the predictive power of our modeling framework. Our climatic scenarios projected a minor change of the streamflow rates, but a variant degree of increase of the riverine total phosphorus (TP) concentrations and associated loading rates into the reservoir. Consequently, a significant rise of in-lake TP concentrations is projected for the near (2016-2030) and distant (2031-2050) future compared to the reference (2006-2015) conditions. Interestingly, the ambient TP levels appear to be lower in the distant relative to the near future, owing to changes in the magnitude and relative contribution of both external and internal nutrient loading sources. Our analysis also highlights the importance of reservoir operation practices to regulate water levels as a means for mitigating the climate change impact on the trophic status of the Yuqiao Reservoir, given that the diversion of low-nutrient water from the upstream basin can significantly reduce (30-40%) the TP concentrations. Our findings are highly relevant to the on-going debate about the potential implications of climate change for water availability, highlighting the importance of adaptation strategies to optimize the water resources management.

When can we declare a success? A Bayesian framework to assess the recovery rate of impaired freshwater ecosystems.

Evaluating the degree of improvement of an impaired freshwater ecosystem resembles the statistical null-hypothesis testing through which the prevailing conditions are compared against a reference state. The pillars of this process involve the robust delineation of what constitutes an achievable reference state; the establishment of threshold values for key environmental variables that act as proxies of the degree of system impairment; and the development of an iterative decision-making process that takes advantage of monitoring data to assess the system-restoration progress and revisit management actions accordingly. Drawing the dichotomy between impaired and non-impaired conditions is a challenging exercise that is surrounded by considerable uncertainty stemming from the variability that natural systems display over time and space, the presence of ecosystem feedback loops (e.g., internal loading) that actively influence the degree of recovery, and our knowledge gaps about biogeochemical processes directly connected to the environmental problem at hand. In this context, we reappraise the idea of probabilistic water quality criteria, whereby the compliance rule stipulates that no more than a stated number of pre-specified water quality extremes should occur within a given number of samples collected over a compliance assessment domain. Our case study is the Bay of Quinte, Ontario, Canada; an embayment lying on the northeastern end of Lake Ontario with a long history of eutrophication problems. Our study explicitly accounts for the covariance among multiple water quality variables and illustrates how we can assess the degree of improvement for a given number of violations of environmental goals and samples collected from the system. The present framework offers a robust way to impartially characterize the degree of restoration success and minimize the influence of the conflicting perspectives among decision makers/stakeholders and conscious (or unconscious) biases pertaining to water quality management.

A Bayesian risk assessment framework for microcystin violations of drinking water and recreational standards in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Canada.

Freshwater ecosystems can experience harmful algal blooms, which negatively impact recreational uses, aesthetics, taste, and odor in drinking water. Cyanobacterial toxins can have dire repercussions on aquatic wildlife and human health, and the most ubiquitous worldwide are the hepatotoxic compounds known as microcystins. The factors that influence the occurrence and magnitude of cyanobacteria blooms and toxin production vary in space and time and remain poorly understood. It is within this context that we present a suite of statistical models, parameterized with Bayesian inference techniques, to link the retrospective analysis of important environmental factors with the probability of exceedance of threshold microcystin levels. Our modelling framework is applied to the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Canada; a system with a long history of eutrophication problems. Collectively, 16.1% of the samples of the system collected during the study period (2003-2016) exceeded the drinking water guideline of 1.5 µgL-1, while approximately 3% of recorded values exceeded the recommended recreational threshold of 20 µgL-1. Using a segmented regression model with a stochastic breakpoint of microcystin concentrations estimated at 0.54 µg L-1, we demonstrate that the environmental conditions associated with increased probability of exceedance of the drinking water standard are chlorophyll a concentration ≥7 µg L-1, water temperature ≥20 °C, ammonium concentration ≤40 µgL-1, total phosphorus concentration ≥25 µg L-1, and wind speed ≤37 km h-1. Considering the multitude of factors that can influence the ambient levels of toxins, our study argues that the adoption of probabilistic water quality criteria offers a pragmatic approach to accommodate the associated uncertainty by permitting a realistic frequency of violations. In this context, we present a framework to evaluate the confidence of compliance with probabilistic standards that stipulate less than 10% violations of microcystin threshold ambient levels.

An in vitro comparative study of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and activin A effects on the maturation of preantral follicle-enclosed oocytes from immature Syrian mice.

OBJECTIVES: It was aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and activin A on the growth and maturation of preantral mouse follicles during the in vitro culture. METHODS: Preantral follicles (90-100 microm in diameter) were harvested from 6-8 week-old Syrian mice and cultured in TCM199 culture medium for 6 days to see the effect of FSH and Activin A. Activin A concentrations in the range of 10-200 ng/ml were used, while 10, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mIU/ml FSH were used in the experiment. RESULTS: Activin A concentration of 100 ng/ml resulted in a significant increase in follicle diameter (170 microm) with the survival rate of 73% as compared to the control (100 microm and 25%, P<0.05). The number of oocytes matured and the percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was 61 and 70%, respectively as compared to the control (20 and 29%, P<0.05). Follicle diameter (190 microm) and survival rate (85%) increased significantly in the presence of 100 mIU/ml of FSH as compared to the control (P<0.05). But, the administration of activin A+FSH increased the effect of both factors on follicular diameter (205 microm as compared to 100 microm in control, P<0.01). Follicle survival, oocyte maturation and GVBD rates were 91, 81 and 89%, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results have suggested that exposure to FSH and activin A before the formation of antral cavity had positive effect on follicle survival and oocyte robustness.

A new method for the determination of haemoglobin concentration using a bromide-modified silver electrode.

A bromide-mediated silver electrode was applied to the measurement of haemoglobin. Bromide ions showed very good redox behaviour with the silver electrode. The cathodic and anodic peak potentials were related to the concentration of bromide ions involved in making the bromide-modified silver electrode. The electrode reaction in the bromine solution was a diffusion-controlled process. In the presence of pure haemoglobin, the modified electrode showed positive shift in cathodic and anodic peaks: -170 to -140 mV for cathodic peak and +30 to +65 mV for anodic peak with a new pair of cathodic and anodic peaks appearing at -58 and 218 mV, which were related to haemoglobin. Redox peak currents increased linearly as haemoglobin concentrations increased from 5 to 70 microM. The correlation coefficient and detection limit were 0.997 and 2 microM respectively. For a real test sample, the correlation coefficient and detection limit of the experiment were 0.993 and 4 microM respectively. The relative S.D. of results was 2.8% for five successive determinations of 20 microM haemoglobin. The modified silver electrode showed very good repeatability and stability for the determination of haemoglobin.