The influence of bismuth participation on the morphological and electrochemical characteristics of gallium oxide for the detection of adrenaline.

In this work, we investigated the morphological and electrochemical properties of gallium/bismuth mixed oxide. The bismuth concentration was varied from 0 to 100%. The correct ratio was determined with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), while surface characteristics were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. Electrochemical characteristics were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the Fe2+/3+ couple. The obtained materials were tested for adrenaline detection. After square wave voltammetry (SWV) optimization, the best electrode showed a wide linear working range from 7 to 100 µM at pH 6 of the Britton-Robinson buffer solution (BRBS) supporting electrolyte. The limit of detection (LOD) for the proposed method was calculated as 1.9 µM, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 5.8 µM. The excellent selectivity of the proposed method, with good repeatability and reproducibility, strongly suggests the possible application of the procedure for the determination of adrenaline in artificially prepared real samples. The practical applicability with good recovery values indicates that the morphology of the materials is closely connected with other parameters, which further suggests that the developed approach can offer a low-cost, rapid, selective, and sensitive method for adrenaline monitoring.

Microspherical Titanium-Phosphorus Double Oxide: Hierarchical Structure Development for Sensing Applications.

Stable, water-soluble titanium complexed with mandelic acid was used as a precursor for titanium phosphorus double oxide obtained in hydrothermal conditions in the presence of phosphoric acid. Surprisingly, hydrolysis of organic complexes provided a microstructured sphere with narrow size distribution, low aggregation and a small fraction of morphological irregularities. Obtained microspheres had a complex structure comprised of flakes, whose size could be manipulated with temperature conditions. Samples were found to be electrochemically active against sulcotrione, a well-recognized herbicide. Electrochemical sensors based on the synthesized microspheres were successfully adapted for natural water reservoir analysis and exhibited low levels of detection of 0.61 µM, limit of quantification of 1.86 µM, wide dynamic linear range from 2 to 200 µM, good selectivity, excellent reproducibility and in-time stability.

The structural characteristics of photoaging in mice caused by the effects of ultraviolet A radiation.

BACKGROUND: Due to its deep penetration into the dermis, ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is considered a primary factor in skin photoaging. The aim of this study is to use a qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine the structural parameters of skin photoaging in mice exposed to UVA radiation, with or without the application of a photoprotective cream. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiment consisted of the radiation of female BALBc mice in a solarium by UVA rays, up to total dosages of 7800 J/cm² and 12500J/cm². A total of 78 animals were divided into 4 experimental and 2 control groups. All animals were shaved and the animals in 2 experimental groups were treated with a photoprotective cream half an hour before exposure. The samples of the treated skin were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and Van-Gieson staining methods. All measurements, except for the presence of dyskeratosis, were taken using ImageJ 150i software. RESULTS: In the study, the signs of skin photoaging were more evident in untreated groups of animals. Dysceratosis was more frequent in both of the untreated groups of animals (p=0.004) and (p=0.003). The lowest values of epidermal thickness (13.8± 2.6µm and 12.7±2.3µm) were present in both of the untreated groups of animals (p<0.001) and (p<0.001). The highest values of stratum corneum thickness (34.3±8.5µm) were observed in the untreated, shorter radiated group of animals (p<0.001) which was irradiated for the shortest period of time. Beside the control groups, the highest length of dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) was recorded in the group of treated, longer radiated animals (1467.6±94.6µm) (p=0.373). The lowest values of dermal thickness (115.9±10.5µm and 134.8±21.8µm) and volumetric density of the collagen fibers (31.92±3.19% and 29.40±4.54%) were present in both untreated groups of animals (p<0.001), (p<0.001), (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Skin photoaging was most pronounced in the groups of animals irradiated without the application of photoprotective cream.

Prevalence and characteristics of orofacial pain in university students.

This cross-sectional study investigated the characteristics and prevalence of orofacial pain, and its associations with sociodemographic characteristics, in 319 university students: 188 second-year students in the Medical Faculty and 131 students in the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University of Kosovska Mitrovica. A specially designed questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence and characteristics of pain. Among the 319 students, 101 (32%) reported previous orofacial pain, and pain was more frequent among women (P < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that gender was an important predictor of pain and that the risk for pain development among women was 1.8 times that among men. Place of residence and relationship status were not associated with frequency of orofacial pain. The regions with the highest pain prevalences were the temporal region (7%; 95% confidence interval, 4-10%) and the region around the eye (6%; 95% confidence interval, 4-9%). The first episode of orofacial pain was less than 3 months previously in 59% of the participants, and 39% of students had sought professional medical help. (J Oral Sci 58, 7-13, 2016).

Growth and proteomic analysis of tomato fruit under partial root-zone drying.

The effects of partial root-zone drying (PRD) on tomato fruit growth and proteome in the pericarp of cultivar Ailsa Craig were investigated. The PRD treatment was 70% of water applied to fully irrigated (FI) plants. PRD reduced the fruit number and slightly increased the fruit diameter, whereas the total fruit fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) per plant did not change. Although the growth rate was higher in FI than in PRD fruits, the longer period of cell expansion resulted in bigger PRD fruits. Proteins were extracted from pericarp tissue at two fruit growth stages (15 and 30 days post-anthesis [dpa]), and submitted to proteomic analysis including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry for identification. Proteins related to carbon and amino acid metabolism indicated that slower metabolic flux in PRD fruits may be the cause of a slower growth rate compared to FI fruits. The increase in expression of the proteins related to cell wall, energy, and stress defense could allow PRD fruits to increase the duration of fruit growth compared to FI fruits. Upregulation of some of the antioxidative enzymes during the cell expansion phase of PRD fruits appears to be related to their role in protecting fruits against the mild stress induced by PRD.

[Influence of metabolism modifiers of cyclic nucleotides on contractility of right ventricle of rat heart with intact and removed endocardial endothelium].

INTRODUCTION: Endocardial endothelium, a natural biological barrier between circulating blood in heart ventricle and cells, creates a complex yet finely tuned balance of interactions with the immediate environment. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the roles of theophylline, nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and imidazole, an activator of phosphodiesterase on contractility of the right ventricle of rat heart, with intact and removed endocardial endothelium. METHODS: Adult rats, of both sexes, type Wistar albino, were used in this experiment. All experiments were conducted on the preparations of the right ventricle using two experimental models. In the first experimental model, an endocardial endothelium (EE) was preserved, and in the second model, an endocardial endothelium (-EE) was removed using 1% solution Triton X-100. RESULTS: Theophylline (1 x 10(-2) mol/l) expressed the positive inotropic effect on the heart, regardless of the presence of the endocardial endothelium. Inotropic response as multiple process can be induced by inhibition of phosphodiesterase, accumulation of cyclic nucleotides and activation of Ca2+ channels. Imidazole (2 x 10(-3) mol/l) increased the contractility of the right ventricle of the heart with EE. The modulator effect of endocardial endothelium on contractility of imidazole proved to be significant. As imidazole influenced the contractility of the right ventricle only in the presence of the endocardial endothelium, it is assumed that its effect is mediated via deliverance of endothelial mediators with positive inotropic effect. CONCLUSION: An intact endocardial endothelium is necessary for completion of contractile performance of the heart.