Encyclopedia
Nested set of subgenomic mRNAs in a nidovirus. The ORFs expressed from the respective mRNAs are shown in gray, and the 5′ leader sequence is depicted in dark red. The orange boxes indicate the positions of transcription-regulating sequences (TRS) [1].
Wikimedia Commons, Danny D. Nedialkova, Alexander E. Gorbalenya, Eric J. Snijder
01 Feb 2024
In prostate cancer treatment, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is being explored in combination with various modalities [1]. PDT coupled with surgery, particularly salvage radical prostatectomy after vascular-targeted PDT (VTP), shows promise for treating recurrent or persistent cancer. While PDT alongside Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT) is a developing area, preclinical studies suggest its potential in damaging cancer cell membranes through sensitizers. PDT with Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) induces antitumor immune responses and selectively destroys cancer cells, especially when targeting specific markers like prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). Innovative Photochemotherapy, merging PDT and chemotherapy, offers selective drug delivery to tumor cells, supported by in vivo studies [2][3][4]. Photothermal Therapy (PTT), a heat-based phototherapy, complements PDT by improving local blood flow and oxygen levels in tumor tissues, albeit with challenges in material efficiency. These diverse PDT combinations signify evolving prospects in prostate cancer treatment.
07 Sep 2023
Metal nanoparticles have a number of useful physical properties (e.g., surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence, superparamagnetism, ultra high/low refractive index). Owing to the very small size (diameter of only few nanometer tents), nanoparticles dispersed in optical media do not scatter the visible light. Consequently, nanoparticles embedding in optical plastics (e.g., amorphous polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, etc.) leads to transparent polymeric nanocomposites with very useful functional properties, that can be used in different technological applications like for example optical limiters (e.g., color filters based on SPR [1]), magneto-optical plastics, ultra high/low refractive index plastic materials, etc.
06 Feb 2024
Classical strain improvement (CSI) program for increasing the production of a target secondary metabolite (SM) in filamentous fungi [1]. The wild-type (WT) strain in the first round is subjected to random mutagenesis at a sublethal level. The clones obtained as a result of such exposure are screened according to the level of production of the target SM. Typically, most clones will show less or equal activity compared to the initial strain; however, clones with higher activity than the original strain are also detected. The clone with the highest activity is used for new random mutagenic exposure (second round) followed by screening and selection of the most active strain. This procedure is repeated, as a rule, several tens of times, until the next mutagenic effect makes it possible to obtain more active clones. This stage corresponds to the technological limit of the method. The high-yielding (HY) strain obtained at the final (or one of the last) stage of mutagenesis is used for industrial production of the target SM. As an example, production is shown in the wild-type strain A. chrysogenum WT (ATCC 11550, CPC production—50–75 mL/L) and in the strain A. chrysogenum HY (RNCM F-4081D, CPC production—9000–12,000 mL/L) derived from A. chrysogenum WT as a result of the CSI program.
19 Jul 2023
The photo shows a plantation of Miscanthus giganteus, located in the Moscow region, in the summer. The plantation is 4 years old. Since this crop is a perennial crop, the harvest takes place annually.
19 Oct 2023
When a nano-sized metallic phase is generated in a molten polymer matrix by thermal decomposition of a metalorganic precursor dissolved (i.e., molecularly dispersed) in the polymer, a large number of uniformly dispersed particles with an extremely small size appear in the system. Successively, those nano-particles that are located very close to each other tend to coalesce together, thus initially producing some larger raspberry particles. A raspberry particle has a very special morphology, indeed it is a spherical particle made of many unities partially soldered together. However, the raspberry particle lifetime is quite short because, in order to reduce surface free energy, the coalescence phenomenon progresses until to determine the formation of a single perfectly spherical particle. Raspberry particles can be isolated in the polymer matrix by cooling down the metal-polymer nanocomposite just after the begin of the metallic phase precipitation stage [1].
31 Jan 2024
Symptom of pepper yellow leaf curl virus ("penyakit kuning"). Klaten, Indonesia.
Kembangraps, Wikimedia Commons
01 Mar 2024
The Figure shows the typical components of a planar solid oxide fuel cells [1], including:
Interconnector
Cathode Collector Layer (CL)
Cathode Functional Layer (FL)
Buffer (Protective) Layer
Dense Electrolyte
Anode Functional Layer (FL)
Anode Collector Layer (CL)
Interconnector
10 Aug 2023
Blueberries and their bioactives (anthocyanins, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, hippuric acid, and catechol) have exerted therapeutic effects against breast cancer cells, demonstrated by the inhibition and/or activation of the molecular genes involved in mammosphere formation, proliferation, and anti-apoptosis. [1]
23 Jan 2024
Colorized scanning electron micrograph of filamentous Ebola virus particles (red) attached and budding from a chronically infected VERO E6 cell (blue) (25,000x magnification).
NIAID, Wikimedia Commons
24 Jan 2024
Surface recombination of NGC 3034 anti-matter plasma with neutron signature in the black hole portal and the white hole [1].
07 Oct 2023
Sealing components (e.g., gaskets, o-rings), resistant to the high temperatures, chemically inert and thermally conductive, are mostly made of pure-graphite. Frequently, these mechanical components have complex shapes (e.g., engine gasket units) and consequently their manufacturing is difficult to be performed. The method typically used to fabricate these pure-graphite components with complex geometries is based on compacting by cold pressing a special type of highly porous and disordered graphite filament, known as ‘expanded graphite’, that has been prepared starting from the graphite bisulfate compound (i.e., C48H206O28S7). Graphite bisulfate represents the most important of the available graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). It was prepared for the first time by Brodie in the 1855 by oxidizing graphite flakes with concentrated nitric acid solution (HNO3, 65% in water) in presence of sulphuric acid (H2SO4). The chemical process developed by Brodie included both an oxidation reaction of the graphite crystal by HNO3 and the uniformly insertion of sulphuric acid molecules (H2SO4) between adjacent graphite crystal sheets. However, since nitric acid oxidizes graphite to a sort of graphite cation, also HSO4- ions insert in the crystal to balance the generated positive charges. Therefore, graphite bisulfate has both an ionic and covalent nature, that are the two possible types of intercalation compounds. The presence of a strong oxidizer (HNO3) has a key-role in this chemical process, because the oxidized edges of the graphite crystals, rich of large oxygen-containing groups like carboxyl (-COOH), formyl (-CHO), and hydroxyl (-OH), allows the molecular/ionic species (H2SO4 and HSO4-) permeation in the crystal, with formation of graphite/H2SO4/HSO4- solid solution. The nitric acid can be replaced by other types of strong oxidizers like KMnO4, KCr2O7, H2O2, NaClO3, NaIO4, etc.; however, the expanding capability and the stability of the achieved graphite bisulfate products is generally much lower than the product obtained by HNO3 oxidation [1]. Expanded graphite, processable by compacting press, is obtained by thermal treatment (thermal shock) of the graphite bisulfate, that is also known as expandable graphite. During this thermal treatment, H2SO4 molecules present in the graphite crystal react with the nearest carbon atoms of graphite sheets, producing a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and moisture that, coming out violently from the graphite crystal layered structure, causes its significant expansion. In particular, intercalating agent and graphite react according to the following scheme: C + 2 H2SO4 = CO2 + 2 SO2 + 2 H2O. Also a low percentage of defects (holes) randomly distributed in the graphite sheets are simultaneously generated by this reaction. Expanded graphite is a very useful substance, indeed it is a great precursor of many other industrial products derivating from graphite like, for example, the graphite nanoplatelets, graphene oxide , few-layer graphene (semi-graphene), single-layer graphene, graphene aerogels, etc. Most of these materials are prepared by exfoliation of the expanded graphite filaments by using sono-acustic energy (ultrasounds). In particular, a high-intensity sonication treatment is applied to expanded graphite dispersed in a liquid medium, like acetone to produce graphite nanoplatelets (GNP) or few-layer graphene [2].
04 Feb 2024
Bacteriophage phi29 structural model at atomic resolution. This structural model has been constructed in UCSF Chimera software putting together all the structures that compose bacteriophage phi29 using cryoEM reconstructions and pdb structures. [1]
Victor Padilla-Sanchez, Wikimedia Commons
07 Feb 2024
Hyperoside (HP) is a flavonol compound found in the leaves of several medicinal plants such as Polygonum aviculare, Crataegus pinnatifida, and Hypericum monogynum. The therapeutic effects of HP against nicotine-induced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be related to its aglycone Q, which has a great binding affinity for human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChRs). HP may have a significant role in anti-proliferative, anti-migration, anti-invasion, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic/autophagic activities in NSCLC cells, as demonstrated by a few in vivo and in vitro studies [1].
02 Feb 2024
Iron(II) sulfide (FeS) can be generated with nanoscopic size and acicular shape by thermal decomposition of iron(II) dodecyl thiolate (i.e., Fe(SC12H25)2) dissolved in an amorphous polystyrene matrix [1] (hematite phase is also produced during thermal treatments in air). This inorganic compound is a magnetic solid and the obtained acicular shape represents the most convenient geometry for exploiting magnetic particles in technological applications. Indeed, a needle-like shape allows well-separated magnetic poles and therefore the highest value of magnetic dipole moment.
18 Feb 2024
Under the microscope, a butterfly wing reveals a mesmerizing tapestry of scales, each overlapping like shingles on a roof. These scales, which are the source of a butterfly's vibrant colors and patterns, come in various shapes and sizes—some are elongated and narrow, while others are broader and more rounded. The scales are arranged in neat rows and can exhibit iridescent colors due to the microscopic structure that reflects and refracts light, a phenomenon known as structural coloration.
Each scale is intricately textured, with ridges and grooves running along its length, which contribute to the diffraction of light and the creation of shimmering, multi-colored effects. The scales themselves may be translucent or opaque, and their coloration can range from vivid blues and greens to deep reds and blacks, often with intricate patterns that are not visible to the naked eye.
Between the scales, the wing's underlying membrane can sometimes be seen, a delicate structure that supports the entire wing. The fine detail and vibrant colors of a butterfly wing under the microscope provide a glimpse into the complex beauty and adaptability of these delicate insects.
09 Aug 2024
Two misshapen zucchini fruits and leaves from a plant infected with Zucchini yellow mosaic virus. The fruits are stunted as well as misshapen. Grown in Los Angeles, California.
Wikimedia Commons
18 Feb 2024
Replication cycle of viruses of family Filoviridae.
Jennifer Matthews, Wikimedia Commons
22 Feb 2024
Electron micrograph of two rotavirus particles that have been negatively-stained with potassium phosphotungstate.
Graham Beards, Wikimedia Commons
23 Feb 2024
Genomic RNA is wrapped by nucleocapsid core proteins (brown), which are connected to the viral envelope (red) by the matrix protein (blue). The attachment (green), small hydrophobic (present only in certain paramyxoviruses, orange), and fusion proteins (cyan) are depicted at the virus surface. [1]
Wikimedia Commons
25 Jan 2024
