New strategy to optimize in-situ fenton oxidation for TPH contaminated soil remediation via artificial neural network approach.

In-situ remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminated soils via Fenton oxidation is a promising approach. However, determining the proper injection amount of H2O2 and Fe source over the Fenton reaction in the complex geological conditions for in-situ TPH soil remediation remains a daunting challenge. Herein, we introduced a practical and novel approach using soft computational models, a multilayer perception artificial neural network (MPLNN), for predicting the TPH removal performance. In this study, we conducted 48 sets of TPH removal experiments using Fenton oxidation to determine the TPH removal performance of a wide range of different ground conditions and generated 336 data points. As a result, a negative Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained in the Fe injection mass and the natural presence of Fe mineral in the soil, indicating that the excess of Fe could significantly retarded the TPH removal performance in the Fenton reaction. In addition, the MPLNN model with 6-6-1 training using Scaled conjugate gradient backpropagation (SCG) with tangent sigmoid as the transfer function demonstrated a high accuracy for TPH removal prediction with the correlation determination of 0.974 and mean square error value of 0.0259. The optimized MPLNN model achieved less than 20% error for predicting TPH removal performance in actual TPH-contaminated soil via Fenton oxidation. Hence, the proposed MPLNN can be useful in improving the Fenton oxidation of TPH removal performance in-situ soil remediation.

Enhanced dye degradation using plasma bubbles for the sustainable environmental remediation.

This study proposes a novel and eco-friendly approach for wastewater treatment using plasma jet technology under bubble condition. This method allows for the controlled production of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH•) while minimizing unwanted interactions with nitrogen in the air. The presence of bubbles in liquid significantly boosts the diffusion of OH• within the wastewater, leading to a two-fold increase in degradation rate compared to normal condition. The effectiveness of the treatment was confirmed through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, which showed a significant decrease in rhodamine B and methyl orange absorbance peaks. Raman spectroscopy further revealed structural changes in both pollutants, indicating successful degradation. Additionally, plasma characteristics like power, electron temperature, and density were monitored to gain deeper insights into the underlying mechanism. Importantly, the process minimizes the formation of harmful secondary pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants were found under concentration of 0.14 mg m-3 which is below established safety thresholds, adhering to World Health Organization guidelines. This research demonstrates that plasma jet treatment in bubble condition not only enhances the degradation efficiency of pollutants in wastewater but also minimizes the formation of harmful byproducts. This represents a significant breakthrough in developing sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.

Pulsed high power microwave seeds priming modulates germination, growth, redox homeostasis, and hormonal shifts in barley for improved seedling growth: Unleashing the molecular dynamics.

Increasing the seed germination potential and seedling growth rates play a pivotal role in increasing overall crop productivity. Seed germination and early vegetative (seedling) growth are critical developmental stages in plants. High-power microwave (HPM) technology has facilitated both the emergence of novel applications and improvements to existing in agriculture. The implications of pulsed HPM on agriculture remain unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the effects of pulsed HPM exposure on barley germination and seedling growth, elucidating the plausible underlying mechanisms. Barley seeds underwent direct HPM irradiation, with 60 pulses by 2.04 mJ/pulse, across three distinct irradiation settings: dry, submerged in deionized (DI) water, and submerged in DI water one day before exposure. Seed germination significantly increased in all HPM-treated groups, where the HPM-dry group exhibited a notable increase, with a 2.48-fold rise at day 2 and a 1.9-fold increment at day 3. Similarly, all HPM-treated groups displayed significant enhancements in water uptake, and seedling growth (weight and length), as well as elevated levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total soluble protein content. The obtained results indicate that when comparing three irradiation setting, HPM-dry showed the most promising effects. Condition HPM seed treatment increases the level of reactive species within the barley seedlings, thereby modulating plant biochemistry, physiology, and different cellular signaling cascades via induced enzymatic activities. Notably, the markers associated with plant growth are upregulated and growth inhibitory markers are downregulated post-HPM exposure. Under optimal HPM-dry treatment, auxin (IAA) levels increased threefold, while ABA levels decreased by up to 65 %. These molecular findings illuminate the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing phenotypic changes in barley seedlings subjected to HPM treatment. The results of this study might play a key role to understand molecular mechanisms after pulsed-HPM irradiation of seeds, contributing significantly to address the global need of sustainable crop yield.

Nonthermal plasma processing catalyzed by CuFe2O4 for organic pollutants remediation and bacterial inactivation with density functional theory.

The suggested nonthermal plasma has been employed for organic pollutants remediation and bacterial inactivation with catalyst (CuFe2O4) via reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, along with catalytic density functional theory processing. The plasma generated species O2- (g.), OH• (g.), H2O2 (aq.), and NOx (aq.) are used for the remediation of organic pollutants, such as reactive black5 and bromocresol green with catalytic oxidative and reductive transformation, like as from Fe2+ (aq.) to Fe3+ (aq.) and from Cu2+ (aq.) to Cu1+ (aq.), respectively. In the presence of plasma with CuFe2O4, the pollutants remediation enhanced more, which is 95 ± 0.78%, rather than only plasma. After removal of pollutants, the plasma processing catalyzed by CuFe2O4 was highly inactivated the E. coli. bacterial growth, which inhibition rate is 100 ± 0.87% and 100 ± 0.69% for reactive black5 and bromocresol green, rather than only plasma, such as 86.41 ± 0.91% and 73.91 ± 0.56%, respectively. The CuFe2O4 generated super oxides (O2- (aq.)) and hydroxides (H+(aq.), OH⦁(aq.), and OOH⦁(aq.)) are rapidly react with bacteria to damage the bacterial cell membrane via catalytic redox process. However, the plasma generated species were react with catalyst to produce the e- charge densities under the redox transformation of spin orientation (±) 0.58 e-, which is 0.007, 0.009, and 0.005 electrons per cubic Angstrom, for CuFe2O4, H2O2(aq.), and NOx(aq.). The plasma generated species concentrations were quantified in the deionized water, which are H2O2(aq.) (145 ± 0.91 µM) and NOx(aq.) (112 ± 0.56 µM), respectively. After eradication of pollutants, the water pH was observed, which is near to the neutral at 6.57 ± 0.27 under the catalytic binary redox process. Moreover, the catalytic stability examined via reusability test, which were four cycles for reactive black5 and three cycles for bromocresol green. Furthermore, the CuFe2O4 nanoparticles conducted several characterizations to analyze the various properties, such as crystal, surface, functional, and elemental.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Solutions for Sustainable Food Packaging.

Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and can be transferred through hospital equipment. Various attempts have been made to treat these bacteria in recent years, such as using different drugs and new sterilization methods. However, some bacteria resist drugs, and other traditional methods cannot destroy them. In the meantime, various studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma can kill these bacteria through different mechanisms, making cold plasma a promising tool to deactivate bacteria. This new technology can be effectively used in the food industry because it has the potential to inactivate microorganisms such as spores and microbial toxins and increase the wettability and printability of polymers to pack fresh and dried food. It can also increase the shelf life of food without leaving any residue or chemical effluent. This paper investigates cold plasma's potential, advantages, and disadvantages in the food industry and sterilization.

Nonthermal biocompatible plasma in stimulating osteogenic differentiation by targeting p38/ FOXO1 and PI3K/AKT pathways in hBMSCs.

Osteoporosis is manifested by decreased bone density and deterioration of bone architecture, increasing the risk of bone fractures Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs)-based tissue engineering serves as a crucial technique for regenerating lost bone and preventing osteoporosis. Non-thermal biocompatible plasma (NBP) is a potential new therapeutic approach employed in several biomedical applications, including regenerative medicine. NBP affects bone remodeling; however, its role in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to explore the efficiency of NBP in promoting osteogenic differentiation, and the molecular pathways through which these responses occurred in hBMSCs. We found that NBP facilitated osteogenic differentiation through the upregulation of the bone morphogenic protein signal (BMPs) cascade, which in turn induced the expression of p38 and inhibited the forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1). To further gain insight into the mechanism through which NBP extensively triggers the initiation of osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs, PI3K/AKT pathway was also analyzed. Overall, these results highlight that NBP enhances osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs by the stimulation of the p38/FOXO1 through PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Therefore, the application of NBP in hBMSCs may offer tremendous therapeutic prospects in the treatment of bone regeneration and osteoporosis prevention.

Biocompatible plasma-treated liquids: A sustainable approach for decontaminating gastrointestinal-infection causing pathogens.

Nosocomial infections are a serious threat and difficult to cure due to rising antibiotic resistance in pathogens and biofilms. Direct exposure to cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been widely employed in numerous biological research endeavors. Nonetheless, plasma-treated liquids (PTLs) formulated with physiological solutions may offer additional benefits such as enhanced portability, and biocompatibility. Additionally, CAP-infused long-lived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) such as nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can synergistically induce their antibacterial activity. Herein, we investigated those argon-plasma jet-treated liquids, including Ringer's lactate (RL), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and physiological saline, have significant antibacterial activity against nosocomial/gastrointestinal-causing pathogens, which might be due to ROS-mediated lipid peroxidation. Combining the conventional culture-based method with propidium iodide monoazide quantitative PCR (PMAxx™-qPCR) indicated that PTLs induce a minimal viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state and moderately affect culturable counts. Specifically, the PTL exposure resulted in pathogenicity dysfunction via controlling T3SS-related effector genes of S. enterica. Overall, this study provides insights into the effectiveness of PTLs for inducing ROS-mediated damage, controlling the virulence of diarrheagenic bacteria, and modulating homeostatic genes.

Antimicrobial efficacy of direct air gas soft jet plasma for the in vitro reduction of oral bacterial biofilms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of an air gas soft jet CAP for its potential use in removing oral biofilms, given that plasma-based technologies have emerged as promising methods in periodontology. Two types of biofilms were developed, one by Streptococcus mutans UA 159 bacterial strain and the other by a complex mixture of saliva microorganisms isolated from a patient with periodontitis. This latter biofilm was characterized via Next Generation Sequencing to determine the main bacterial phyla. The CAP source was applied at a distance of 6 mm for different time points. A statistically significant reduction of both CFU count and XTT was already detected after 60 s of CAP treatment. CLSM analysis supported CAP effectiveness in killing the microorganisms inside the biofilm and in reducing the thickness of the biofilm matrix. Cytotoxicity tests demonstrated the possible use of CAP without important side effects towards human gingival fibroblasts cell line. The current study showed that CAP treatment was able to significantly reduce preformed biofilms developed by both S. mutans and microorganisms isolated by a saliva sample. Further studies should be conducted on biofilms developed by additional saliva donors to support the potential of this innovative strategy to counteract oral pathogens responsible for periodontal diseases.

Nitric oxide water-driven immunogenic cell death: Unfolding mitochondrial dysfunction's role in sensitizing lung adenocarcinoma to ferroptosis and autophagic cell death.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), significantly influences cancer-related mortality and is frequently considered by poor therapeutic responses due to genetic alterations. Cancer cells possess an inclination to develop resistance to individual treatment modalities, thus it is necessary to investigate several pathways simultaneously to obtain insights that will aid in the establishment of improved therapeutic approaches. Exploring regulated cell death (RCD) mechanisms offers promising avenues to augment immunotherapy by reshaping the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we investigated the prospective of microwave plasma-infused nitric oxide water (NOW) to initiate immunogenic cell death (ICD) while concurrently modulating autophagy and ferroptosis signaling in LUAD-associated A549 cells. Plasma treatment results in stable NO species nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-) in the water, altering its physicochemical properties. Analysis of ICD markers reveals increased expression of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) at both protein and mRNA levels post-NOW exposure. Intracellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) accumulation suggests NO-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, triggering autophagy induction. Flow cytometry and western blotting confirm alterations in autophagy regulators Beclin 1 and SQSTM1. Furthermore, NOW treatment induces lipid peroxidation and upregulates ferroptosis-associated genes, as determined by qRT-PCR. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging reveals autophagosome formation and loss of cristae structures, corroborating the occurrence of autophagy and ferroptosis. Our findings propose that NOW may considered as inducer of ICD and the stimulation of other RCD-related proteins may enhance the anti-tumor immunogenicity.

Human coronavirus 229E inactivation on porous and nonporous materials using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma.

Viruses can spread through contaminated aerosols and contaminated surface materials, and effective disinfection techniques are essential for virus inactivation. Nonthermal plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species can effectively inactivate the coronavirus. We aim to interpret the coronavirus inactivation level and mechanism of surface interaction with materials with and without dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment. Nonthermal plasma, particularly surface-type DBD plasma, can inactivate human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) on porous (paper, wood, mask) and nonporous (plastic, stainless steel, glass, Cu) materials. Virus inactivation was analyzed using a 50% tissue culture infectivity dose (TCID50) using cell line, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence. Surfaces contaminated with HCoV-229E were treated at different time intervals (0-5 h) with and without plasma exposure (natural decay in ambient air conditions). HCoV-229E persistence conformed to the following order: plastic > cover glass > stainless steel > mask > wood > paper > Cu with and without plasma exposure. HCoV-229E was more stable in plastic, cover glass, and stainless steel in 5 h, and the viable virus titer gradually decreased from its initial log10 order of 6.892 to 1.72, 1.53, and 1.32 TCID50/mL, respectively, under plasma exposure. No virus was observed in Cu after treatment for 5 h. The use of airflow, ambient nitrogen, and argon did not promote virus inactivation. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated a low expression level of spike protein (fluorescence intensity) during plasma treatment and in E and M genes expression compared with the virus control.

Evaluation of degradation efficacy and toxicity mitigation for 4-nitrophenol using argon and air-mixed argon plasma jets.

This paper investigates the effects of argon (Ar) and that of Ar mixed with ambient air (Ar-Air) cold plasma jets (CPJs) on 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) degradation using low input power. The introduction of ambient air into the Ar-Air plasma jet enhances ionization-driven processes during high-voltage discharge by utilizing nitrogen and oxygen molecules from ambient air, resulting in increased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) production, which synergistically interacts with argon. This substantial generation of RONS establishes Ar-Air plasma jet as an effective method for treating 4-NP contamination in deionized water (DW). Notably, the Ar-Air plasma jet treatment outperforms that of the Ar jet. It achieves a higher degradation rate of 97.2% and a maximum energy efficiency of 57.3 gkW-1h-1, following a 6-min (min) treatment with 100 mgL-1 4-NP in DW. In contrast, Ar jet treatment yielded a lower degradation rate and an energy efficiency of 75.6% and 47.8 gkW-1h-1, respectively, under identical conditions. Furthermore, the first-order rate coefficient for 4-NP degradation was measured at 0.23 min-1 for the Ar plasma jet and significantly higher at 0.56 min-1 for the Ar-Air plasma jet. Reactive oxygen species, such as hydroxyl radical and ozone, along with energy from excited species and plasma-generated electron transfers, are responsible for CPJ-assisted 4-NP breakdown. In summary, this study examines RONS production from Ar and Ar-Air plasma jets, evaluates their 4-NP removal efficacy, and investigates the biocompatibility of 4-NP that has been degraded after plasma treatment.

Comparative evaluation of antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial potential of Euphorbia-derived functional products.

This study assessed the medicinal properties of Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg (E. resinifera) and Euphorbia officinarum subsp echinus (Hook.f. and Coss.) Vindt (Euphorbia echinus, known for their pharmaceutical benefits. Extracts from their flowers, stems, propolis, and honey were examined for phenolic content, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total condensed tannin (TCC) were determined using specific methods. Antioxidant potential was assessed through various tests including DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and Total antioxidant capacity. Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using phenol-induced ear edema in rats, while antibacterial activity was measured against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) and Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 10536) bacteria. Among the extracts, the aqueous propolis extract of E. resinifera demonstrated exceptional antioxidant capabilities, with low IC50 values for DPPH (0.07 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and ABTS (0.13 ± 0.00 mg/mL), as well as high TAC (176.72 ± 0.18 mg AA/mg extract) and FRAP (86.45 ± 1.45 mg AA/mg extract) values. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of E. resinifera propolis extracts surpassed that of indomethacin, yielding edema percentages of 3.92% and 11.33% for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Microbiological results indicated that the aqueous extract of E. resinifera flower exhibited the most potent inhibitory action against S. aureus, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 21.0 ± 0.00 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.125 mg/mL. Additionally, only E. resinifera honey displayed the ability to inhibit E. coli growth, with an inhibition zone diameter of 09.30 ± 0.03 mm and a MIC of 0.0433 mg/mL.

TFCP2 as a therapeutic nexus: unveiling molecular signatures in cancer.

Tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes comprise most of the complex genomic landscape associated with cancer, with a minimal number of genes exhibiting dual-context-dependent functions. The transcription factor cellular promoter 2 (TFCP2), a pivotal transcription factor encoded by the alpha globin transcription factor CP2 gene, is a constituent of the TFCP2/grainyhead family of transcription factors. While grainyhead members have been extensively studied for their crucial roles in developmental processes, embryogenesis, and multiple cancers, the TFCP2 subfamily has been relatively less explored. The molecular mechanisms underlying TFCP2's involvement in carcinogenesis are still unclear even though it is a desirable target for cancer treatment and a therapeutic marker. This comprehensive literature review summarizes the molecular functions of TFCP2, emphasizing its involvement in cancer pathophysiology, particularly in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. It highlights TFCP2's critical function as a regulatory target and explores its potential as a prognostic marker for survival and inflammation in carcinomas. Its ambiguous association with carcinomas underlines the urgent need for an in-depth understanding to facilitate the development of more efficacious targeted therapeutic modality and diagnostic tools. This study aims to elucidate the multifaceted effects of TFCP2 regulation, through a comprehensive integration of the existing knowledge in cancer therapeutics. Furthermore, the clinical relevance and the inherent challenges encountered in investigating its intricate role in cancer pathogenesis have been discussed in this review.

Surface air gas discharge plasma: An ecofriendly virus inactivation approach to enhance CPRRs mediated antiviral genes expression against airborne bio-contaminant (human Coronavirus-229E).

Emerging bio-contaminants (airborne viruses) exploits and manipulate host (human) metabolism to produce new viral particles, evading the host's immune defences and leading to infections. Non-thermal plasma, operating at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, is explored for virus inactivation, generating RONS that interact and denatures viral proteins. However, various factors affecting virus survival influence the efficacy of non-thermal plasma. Glucose analogue 2-DG, a metabolic modifier used in this study, disrupts the glycolysis pathway viruses rely on, creating an unfavourable environment for replication. Here, airborne HCoV-229E bio-contaminant was treated with plasma for inactivation, and the presence of RONS was analysed. Metabolically altered lung cells were subsequently exposed to the treated airborne viruses. Cytopathic effect, spike protein, and cell death were evaluated via flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and CPRRs mediated antiviral gene expression was evaluated using PCR. Gas plasma-treated viruses led to reduced virus proliferation in unaltered lung cells, although few virus particles survived the exposure, as confirmed by biological assessment (cytopathic effects and live/dead staining). A combination approach of gas plasma-treated viruses and altered lung cells displayed drastic virus reduction compared to the control group, established through confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Furthermore, altered lung cell enhances gene transcription responsible for innate immunity when exposed to the gas plasma-treated virus, thereby impeding airborne virus propagation. This study demonstrates the significance of a surface air gas plasma and metabolic alteration approach in enhancing genes targeted towards antiviral innate immunity and tackling outbreaks of emerging bio-contaminants of concerns (airborne viruses).

Antimicrobial potential of phytocompounds of Acorus calamus: in silico approach.

Medicinal plants are used from prehistoric time to cure various life-threatening bacterial diseases. Acorus calamus is an important medicinal plant widely used to cure gastrointestinal, respiratory, kidney and liver disorders. The objective of the current research was to investigate the interaction of major phytoconstituents of Acorus calamus with bacterial (6VJE) and fungal (1EA1) protein targets. Protein-ligand interactions were estimated using the AutoDock software, drug likeness was predicted by using the molinspiration server and toxicity was predicted with the swissADME and protox II servers. MD simulation of phytocompounds with the best profiles was done on the GROMACS software for 100 ns. Molecular docking results showed among all the selected major phytoconstituents, that ß-cadinene showed best binding interaction in complex with bacterial (6VJE) and fungal (1EA1) protein targets with binding energy -7.66 ± 0.1 and -7.73 ± 0.15 kcal mol-1, respectively. Drug likeness and toxicity predictions showed that ß-cadinene follows all rules of drug likeness and toxicity. MD simulation study revealed that ß-cadinene fit in binding pocket of bacterial and fungal targets and found to be stable throughout the duration of the simulation. Based on the observations from this in-silico study it is being proposed that ß-cadinene, a major phytocompound of Acorus calamus, can be considered for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections since the study shows that it might be one of the compounds that contributes majorly to the plant's biological activity. This study needs in vitro and in vivo validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Improvement of transdermal absorption rate by nonthermal biocompatible atmospheric pressure plasma.

Nonthermal biocompatible plasma (NBP) is a promising option for improving medication absorption into the human skin. Currently, most plasma devices for cosmetics employ a floating-electrode plasma source for treating the skin. Human skin serves as the ground electrode in the floating-electrode plasma discharge, and discharge occurs between the skin and electrodes of the device. In this in vitro study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of NBP on the skin permeation of niacinamide. We have quantified the transdermal absorption rates of niacinamide in both untreated skin and skin treated with NBP for a duration of 10 s. The absorption of niacinamide for both without and with NBP treatment was observed until 12 h incubation time. Without plasma treatment, the human skin exhibited stable and low transdermal absorption of niacinamide up to 12 h. However, the NBP treatment significantly increased the transdermal absorption of niacinamide from 0.5 h to 6 h and continuously increased skin penetration over a duration of more than 12 h incubation period. The obtained results suggest that NBP-treated human skin showed a 60-fold higher penetration rate than non-treated skin. The increased penetration rate of niacinamide can be mainly attributed to plasmaporation subsequent to NBP treatment. The findings of this study demonstrate that NBP treatment results in remarkable skin permeability, making it a promising candidate for both cosmetic and pharmaceutical delivery applications.

Mitigation of T3SS-mediated virulence in waterborne pathogenic bacteria by multi-electrode cylindrical-DBD plasma-generated nitric oxide water.

S. enterica, S. flexneri, and V. parahaemolyticus bacteria are globally recognized to cause severe diarrheal diseases, consisting of Type III Secretion System (T3SS) effectors that help in bacterial infection and virulence in host cells. This study investigates the properties of multi-electrode cylindrical DBD plasma-generated nitric oxide water (MCDBD-PG-NOW) treatment on the survival and virulence of S. enterica, S. flexneri, and V. parahaemolyticus bacteria. The Colony Forming Unit (CFU) assay, live/dead cell staining, lipid peroxidation assay, and bacteria morphological analysis showed substantial growth inhibition of bacteria. Moreover, to confirm the interaction of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) with bacterial membrane biotin switch assay, DAF-FM, and FTIR analysis were carried out, which established the formation of S-nitrosothiols in the cell membrane, intracellular accumulation of RNS, and changes in the cell composition post-PG-NOW treatment. Furthermore, the conventional culture-based method and a quantitative PCR using propidium monoazide showed minimal VBNC induction under similar condition. The efficiency of bacteria to adhere to mammalian colon cells was significantly reduced. In addition, the infection rate was also controlled by disrupting the virulent genes, leading to the collapse of the infection mechanism. This study provides insights into whether RNS generated from PG-NOW might be beneficial for preventing diarrheal infections.

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma: A Growing Paradigm in Diabetic Wound Healing-Mechanism and Clinical Significance.

Diabetes is one of the most significant causes of death all over the world. This illness, due to abnormal blood glucose levels, leads to impaired wound healing and, as a result, foot ulcers. These ulcers cannot heal quickly in diabetic patients and may finally result in amputation. In recent years, different research has been conducted to heal diabetic foot ulcers: one of them is using cold atmospheric pressure plasma. Nowadays, cold atmospheric pressure plasma is highly regarded in medicine because of its positive effects and lack of side effects. These conditions have caused plasma to be considered a promising technology in medicine and especially diabetic wound healing because studies show that it can heal chronic wounds that are resistant to standard treatments. The positive effects of plasma are due to different reactive species, UV radiation, and electromagnetic fields. This work reviews ongoing cold atmospheric pressure plasma improvements in diabetic wound healing. It shows that plasma can be a promising tool in treating chronic wounds, including ones resulting from diabetes.

Biological production of epicoccamide-aglycone and its cytotoxicity.

Epicoccamide (EPC) is an O-d-mannosylated acyltetramic acid of Epicoccum origin and is a bolaamphiphilic fungal polyketide. EPC displays weak toxicity against Staphylococcus aureus and HeLa cell lines. The EPC biosynthetic gene cluster was previously identified in Epicoccum nigrum and knockout of the glycosyltransferase gene (epcB) abolished EPC production. EPC-aglycone was expected in the epcB knockout but was not found. This study demonstrates that extractive culture using the hydrophobic resin Diaion HP-20 resulted in the production of EPC-aglycone, which was isolated using chromatographic separation techniques, and its structural identity was substantiated by chemical analyses. EPC-aglycone displayed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with the minimal inhibitory concentration of 1 µg/mL (64 µg/mL for EPC). EPC-aglycone displayed higher levels of growth inhibition against HeLa cell line (the half inhibitory concentration, 19 µM) and WI-38 (15 µM) cell line than EPC (76 µM and 38 µM vs. HeLa and WI-38, respectively). The dose-response curve fit of growth inhibition indicated that EPC-aglycone adopted a shallow curve (low slope factor), which was different from that of EPC, suggesting that their cellular targets are distinct from each other. This study substantiates that the d-mannose attachment is the final step in EPC biosynthesis, showcasing a glycosylation-mediated modulation of the biological activity of simple acyltetramic acid. This study also highlights the usefulness of extractive cultures in mining cryptic microbial natural products.

Optimization of vertically aligned carbon nanotube beam trajectory with the help of focusing electrode in the microchannel plate.

The focusing electrode plays an important role to reduce the electron beam trajectory with low dispersion and high brightness. This article summarizes the importance of the vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube effect with the focusing electrode. First of all, the effect of electron beam trajectory is studied with the different heights, hole sizes, and applied voltage of the focusing electrode by the opera 3D simulation. The field emission electron beam spot is captured in the microchannel plate which helps to reduce the signal noise effect and damage of CNT tips by the joule heating effect. The high-dense bright spot is optimized at the focusing electrode hole size of 2 mm, and the height of 1 mm from the gate mesh electrode at the low bias voltage of - 200 V without the loss of current. The FWHM of the electron beam is calculated 0.9 mm with its opening angle of 0.9° which could be applicable in high-resolution multi-electron beam microscopy and nano-focused X-ray system technology.