Zirconia based nucleic acid sensor for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection

Nanostructured zirconium oxide (ZrO2) film (particle size ∼ 35 nm), electrochemically deposited onto gold(Au) surface, has been used to immobilize 21-mer oligonucleotide probe (ssDNA) specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis by utilizing affinity between oxygen atom of phosphoric group and zirconium to fabricate DNA biosensor. This DNA-ZrO2/Au bioelectrode, characterized using x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy techniques, can be used for early and rapid diagnosis of M. tuberculosis with detection limit of 0.065 ng/μL within 60s

Proteomic-biostatistic integrated approach for finding the underlying molecular determinants of hypertension in human plasma

Despite advancements in lowering blood pressure, the best approach to lower it remains controversial because of the lack of information on the molecular basis of hypertension. We, therefore, performed plasma proteomics of plasma from patients with hypertension to identify molecular determinants detectable in these subjects but not in controls and vice versa. Plasma samples from hypertensive subjects (cases; n=118) and controls (n=85) from the InGenious HyperCare cohort were used for this study and performed mass spectrometric analysis. Using biostatistical methods, plasma peptides specific for hypertension were identified, and a model was developed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression. The underlying peptides were identified and sequenced off-line using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization orbitrap mass spectrometry. By comparison of the molecular composition of the plasma samples, 27 molecular determinants were identified differently expressed in cases from controls. Seventy percent of the molecular determinants selected were found to occur less likely in hypertensive patients. In cross-validation, the overall R(2) was 0.434, and the area under the curve was 0.891 with 95% confidence interval 0.8482 to 0.9349, P<0.0001. The mean values of the cross-validated proteomic score of normotensive and hypertensive patients were found to be -2.007±0.3568 and 3.383±0.2643, respectively, P<0.0001. The molecular determinants were successfully identified, and the proteomic model developed shows an excellent discriminatory ability between hypertensives and normotensives. The identified molecular determinants may be the starting point for further studies to clarify the molecular causes of hypertension

Enhanced performance of solid polymer electrolytes combining poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), metal-organic framework and ionic liquid for advanced solid state lithium-ion batteries

The search for sustainable and high-performance materials for lithium-ion batteries is leading to significant advances in solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) technology. However, the current drawbacks of this approach prove the need for further research and development in the field. Herein, novel ternary solid polymer electrolytes have been developed using varying loads of MOF-808 metal-organic framework and [BMIM][SCN] ionic liquid (IL) incorporated in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) matrix. The solid polymer electrolytes were evaluated at morphological, structural, thermal, mechanical and electrochemical levels, and their performance in cycling battery testing was assessed. The results showed a homogeneous structure throughout all the samples and a good dispersion of the distinct components. The polymer polar phase and degree of crystallinity of the samples are increased with increasing IL content, and the thermal and mechanical properties are appropriate for battery application. The ionic conductivity of the samples reaches maximum values of 4.68 × 10−5 S‧cm−1 at room temperature, lithium transference numbers up to 0.65, and high electrochemical stability, making them well-suited for battery applications. The assembled stability after 50 cycles at C/10 with a discharge capacity value of 150 mAh‧g−1 at room temperature was tested/derived. The obtained results show the potential of this system for high performance room temperature solid polymer electrolytes.The authors thank the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for financial support under the framework of Strategic Funding UIDB/ 04650/2020, UID/FIS/04650/2020, UID/EEA/04436/2020, and UID/ QUI/00686/2020 and under projects, POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046985 and 10.54499/2022.03931.PTDC funded by national funds through FCT and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizaçao ˜ (POCI). NGS-New Generation Storage, C644936001-00000045, supported by IAPMEI (Portugal) with funding from the European Union NextGenerationEU (PRR). The au thors also thank the FCT for financial support under FCT investigator contracts CEECIND/00833/2017 (DOI: 10.54499/CEECIND/00833/20 17/CP1458/CT0017) (RG) and 2020.04028.CEECIND(DOI:10 .54499/2020.04028.CEECIND/CP1600/CT0018) (C.M.C.). This study forms part of the Advanced Materials program and was supported by MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR C17.I1) and by the Basque Government under the IKUR program. The authors thank for technical and human support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU/ERDF, EU)

Tracing controversies in hacker communities: ethical considerations for internet research

This paper reflects on the ethics of internet research on community controversies. Specifically, it focuses on controversies concerning gendered, social interaction in hacking communities. It addresses the question how internet researchers should treat and represent content that individuals controversially discussed online. While many internet sources are likewise technically public, they may yet suggest distinct privacy expectations on the part of involved individuals. In internet research, ethical decision-making regarding which online primary sources may be, e.g., referenced and quoted or require anonymisation is still ambiguous and contested. Instead of generalisable rules, the context dependence of internet research ethics has been frequently stressed. Given this ambiguity, the paper elaborates on ethical decisions and their implications by exploring the case of a controversial hackerspaces.org mailing list debate. In tracing data across different platforms, it analyses the emerging ethico-methodological challenges

Synthesis and Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Activity Studies of Novel 3-Amino-2-hydroxybenzofused 2-Phospha-γ-lactones

A series of 3-amino-2-hydroxybenzofused 2-phosphalactones (4a-l) has been synthesized from the Kabachnik-Fields reaction via a facile route from a one-pot three-component reaction of diphenylphosphite with various 2-hydroxybenzaldehyes and heterocyclic amines in a new way of expansion. The in vitro anti-cell proliferation studies by MTT assay have revealed them as potential Panc-1, Miapaca-2, and BxPC-3 pancreatic cell growth inhibitors, and the same is supported by molecular docking, QSAR, and ADMET studies. The MTT assay of their SAHA derivatives against the same cell lines evidenced them as potential HDAC inhibitors and identified 4a, 4b, and 4k substituted with 1,3-thiazol, 1,3,4-thiadiazol, and 5-sulfanyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol moieties on phenyl and diethylamino phenyl rings as potential ones. Additionally, the flow cytometric analyses of 4a, 4b, and 4k against BxPC-3 cells revealed compound 4k as a lead compound that arrests the S phase cell cycle growth at low micromolar concentrations. The ADMET properties have ascertained their inherent pharmacokinetic potentiality, and the wholesome results prompted us to report it as the first study on anti-pancreatic cancer activity of cyclic α-aminophosphonates. Ultimately, this study serves as a good contribution to update the existing knowledge on the anticancer organophosphorus heterocyclic compounds and elevates the scope for generation of new anticancer drugs. Further, the studies like QSAR, drug properties, toxicity risks, and bioactivity scores predicted for them have ascertained the synthesized compounds as newer and potential drug candidates. Hence, this study had augmented the array of α-aminophosphonates by adding a new collection of 3-amino-2-hydroxybenzofused 2-phosphalactones, a class of cyclic α-aminophosphonates, to it, which proved them as potential anti-pancreatic cancer agents. ©Mr. R.R.G. and Prof. S.R.C. thank Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India for providing financial assistance through a research project grant f.no.: SB/S1/OC-96/2013, Dt: 05-11-2014. Author S.K.B. thanks University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India for RFSMS (Research Fellowship in Sciences for Meritorious Students) Fellowship (F.4-1/2011, BSR-RFSMS-BSK) under Basic Scientific Research (BSR) Scheme. Authors V.K.R.A. and G.V.Z. are thankful to Ural Federal University for support and acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation (grant no.: 075-15-2020-777)

Career guidance and the changing world of work: Contesting responsibilising notions of the future.

Career guidance is an educational activity which helps individuals to manage their participation in learning and work and plan for their futures. Unsurprisingly career guidance practitioners are interested in how the world of work is changing and concerned about threats of technological unemployment. This chapter argues that the career guidance field is strongly influenced by a “changing world of work” narrative which is drawn from a wide body of grey literature produced by think tanks, supra-national bodies and other policy influencers. This body of literature is political in nature and describes the future of work narrowly and within the frame of neoliberalism. The ‘changing world of work’ narrative is explored through a thematic analysis of grey literature and promotional materials for career guidance conferences. The chapter concludes by arguing that career guidance needs to adopt a more critical stance on the ‘changing world of work’ and to offer more emancipatory alternatives.N/

Parties, advocacy and activism: interrogating community and Class in digital queer India

Parties, advocacy and activism: Interrogating community and class in digital queer Indi