Mechanochemical synthesis of multivariate UPO-3 (Cu-ZIF-9-ica) MOF for inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and irrigation-quality water production via heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalysis.

Water scarcity and pollution are critical global challenges, particularly in agriculture, the largest consumer of water. The development of sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly disinfection methods is essential to address the risks posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to ensure safe reuse of water for irrigation. In this study, we report the synthesis of the metal-organic framework (MOF) Universidad Pablo de Olavide-3 (UPO-3) via a mechanochemical approach, a scalable and sustainable method compared to traditional solvothermal synthesis.

Insights into Mechanochemical Solid-State Ball-Milling Reaction: Monitoring Transition from Heterogeneous to Homogeneous Conditions.

As mechanochemical synthesis has advanced significantly, there has been intense interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms of these reactions. Given that many mechanochemical processes are conducted in the solid-state without solvation yet sometimes yield faster reactions than those in solution, we sought to address the following question: Are mechanochemical reactions homo- or heterogeneous? To investigate, we employed a model system involving the mixing and copolymerization of l-lactide (LLA) and d-lactide (DLA), monitored through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry. and PXRD analyses of the mixture of LLA and DLA showed that vibratory ball milling rapidly transformed the initially heterogeneous lactide mixture into a homogeneous phase within one min due to collisions between the balls and the jar.

Engineering a multivariate cobalt metal-organic framework for high photocatalytic activity: the impact of mixed ligands and metal incorporation in a visible light-driven heterogeneous photo-Fenton reaction for water treatment.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention for the removal of organic pollutants in wastewater photocatalysis. Here, we design a multivariate modification of ZIF-9 to tune its electronic properties for use in visible light photocatalysis. A controllable synthesis of ZIF-9 and its multivariate forms with the incorporation of copper and the 2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde (ica) ligand was carried out.

Trade-offs in virulence evolution: a Hierarchy-of-Hypotheses approach.

Understanding the evolution of virulence, that is, the harm pathogens cause their hosts, has major and wide-spread repercussions. A central concept of virulence evolution is the so-called 'trade-off hypothesis', a seemingly straightforward relationship between virulence and transmission. However, substantial ambiguity in terminology related to this hypothesis threatens progress in the field.

Comparing PFAS analysis in batch leaching and column leaching tests.

Laboratory leaching tests are tools to assess the mobility of environmental contaminants released from granular materials. Comparative leaching tests were performed using four PFAS-contaminated soils whose concentration patterns of 10 selected perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) differed due to the two types of contamination sources. This study aimed to evaluate the equivalence of two usual laboratory-scale leaching test procedures, batch and column percolation tests, at liquid-to-solid ratios (L/S) of 2 l/kg, which is the current practice within the German assessment framework, and 10 l/kg (relevant for some EU regulations such as the landfill directive).

Meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals with Mechanochemistry.

Chemistry traditionally relies on reactions in solution, but this method is increasingly problematic due to the scale of chemical processes and their economic and environmental impact. Handling residual chemical waste, including solvents, incurs significant costs and environmental pressure. Conversely, novel chemical approaches are needed to address pressing societal issues such as climate change, energy scarcity, food insecurity, and waste pollution.

Chemical and transcriptomic diversity do not correlate with ascending levels of social complexity in the insect order Blattodea.

Eusocial insects, such as ants and termites, are characterized by high levels of coordinated social organization. This is contrasted by solitary insects that display more limited forms of collective behavior. It has been hypothesized that this gradient in sociobehavioral sophistication is positively correlated with chemical profile complexity, due to a potentially increased demand for diversity in chemical communication mechanisms in insects with higher levels of social complexity.

Heteropolyaromatic Covalent Organic Frameworks via One-Pot Multicomponent Reactions.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) offer a platform to create different chemical structures and linkages for highly stable covalent organic frameworks (COFs). As an illustrative example, the multicomponent Povarov reaction generates 2,4-phenylquinoline from aldehydes and amines in the presence of electron-rich alkenes. In this study, we introduce a new domino reaction to generate unprecedented 2,3-phenylquinoline COFs in the presence of epoxystyrene.

Re-assessment of monoclonal antibodies against diclofenac for their application in the analysis of environmental waters.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac (DCF) is an important environmental contaminant occurring in surface waters all over the world, because, after excretion, it is not adequately removed from wastewater in sewage treatment plants. To be able to monitor this pollutant, highly efficient analytical methods are needed, including immunoassays. In a medical research project, monoclonal antibodies against diclofenac and its metabolites had been produced.

Inhibition of Human Colorectal Cancer by a Natural Product 7-Acetylhorminone and Interactions with BSA/HSA: Multispectral Analysis and In Silico and In Vitro Studies.

We have semi-synthesized a natural product 7-acetylhorminone from crude extract of (Indian headache tree), which is active against colorectal cancer after probation through computational screening methods as it passed through the set parameters of pharmacokinetics (most important nonblood-brain barrier permeant) and drug likeliness (e.g., Lipinski's, Ghose's, Veber's rule) which most other phytoconstituents failed to pass combined with docking with EGFR protein which is highly upregulated in the colorectal carcinoma cell.

Unravelling highly oxidized nickel centers in the anodic black film formed during the Simons process by X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy.

The Simons process is an electrochemical fluorination method to prepare organofluorine compounds. Despite the wide application, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. We report the investigation of the black film formed on the surface of the anodes in aHF by an Ni K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) investigation.

Microcarrier-based fluorescent yeast estrogen screen assay for fast determination of endocrine disrupting compounds.

The presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in water poses a significant threat to human and animal health, as recognized by regulatory agencies throughout the world. The Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay is an excellent method to evaluate the presence of these compounds in water due to its simplicity and capacity to assess the bioaccessible forms/fractions of these compounds. In the presence of a compound with estrogenic activity, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, containing a lacZ reporter gene encoding the enzyme β-galactosidase, are induced, the enzyme is synthesised, and released to the extracellular medium.

Liquid reagents are not enough for liquid assisted grinding in the synthesis of [(AgBr)(-pica)].

This study investigates the mechanochemical reactions between AgBr 3-picolylamine and 4-picolylamine. The use of different stoichiometry ratios of the reagents allows [(AgBr)(-pica)] and [(AgBr)(-pica)] to be obtained, and we report the new structures of [(AgBr)(3-pica)] and [(AgBr)(4-pica)] which are characterized by the presence of the following: (a) infinite inorganic chains, (b) silver atom coordinated only by bromide atoms and (c) argentophilic interactions. Furthermore, we studied the interconversion of [(AgBr)(-pica)]/[(AgBr)(-pica)] by mechanochemical and thermal properties.

Defensive behavior is linked to altered surface chemistry following infection in a termite society.

The care-kill response determines whether a sick individual will be treated or eliminated from an insect society, but little is known about the physiological underpinnings of this process. We exploited the stepwise infection dynamics of an entomopathogenic fungus in a termite to explore how care-kill transitions occur, and identify the chemical cues behind these shifts. We found collective responses towards pathogen-injected individuals to vary according to severity and timing of pathogen challenge, with elimination, via cannibalism, occurring sooner in response to a severe active infection.

Comparative analysis of adipokinetic hormones and their receptors in Blattodea reveals novel patterns of gene evolution.

Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) is a neuropeptide produced in the insect corpora cardiaca that plays an essential role in mobilising carbohydrates and lipids from the fat body to the haemolymph. AKH acts by binding to a rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the adipokinetic hormone receptor (AKHR). In this study, we tackle AKH ligand and receptor gene evolution as well as the evolutionary origins of AKH gene paralogues from the order Blattodea (termites and cockroaches).

BPA Endocrine Disruptor Detection at the Cutting Edge: FPIA and ELISA Immunoassays.

BPA is a chemical commonly used in the production of polymer-based materials that can have detrimental effects on the thyroid gland and impact human reproductive health. Various expensive methods, such as liquid and gas chromatography, have been suggested for detecting BPA. The fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) is an inexpensive and efficient homogeneous mix-and-read method that allows for high-throughput screening.

Synthesis and Monitoring of Mechanochemical Preparation of Highly Proton Conductive Hydrogen-Bonded Metal Phosphonates.

Crystalline porous materials are recognized as promising proton conductors for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) in fuel cell technology owing to their tunable framework structure. However, it is still a challenging bulk synthesis for real-world applications of these materials. Herein, we report the mechanochemical gram-scale synthesis of two isostructural metal hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (MHOFs) of Co(II) and Ni(II) based on 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid (HEDPH) with 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bipy): Co(HEDPH)(2,2'-bipy)·HO () and Ni(HEDPH)(2,2'-bipy)·HO ().

Draft Genome of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium robertsii DSM 1490.

Metarhizium robertsii DSM 1490 is a generalist entomopathogenic fungus. The mechanisms of pathogenesis of such fungi in insects like termites are not completely understood. Here, we report the draft genome sequence, as sequenced on the Oxford Nanopore platform.

The ultrastructure of the rostral gland in soldiers of Verrucositermes tuberosus (Blattodea: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae).

The soil-feeding habit is an evolutionary novelty found in some advanced groups of termites. The study of such groups is important to revealing interesting adaptations to this way-of-life. The genus Verrucositermes is one such example, characterized by peculiar outgrowths on the head capsule, antennae and maxillary palps, which are not found in any other termite.

Integrating Bifunctionality and Chemical Stability in Covalent Organic Frameworks via One-Pot Multicomponent Reactions for Solar-Driven HO Production.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) can be used to introduce different functionalities into highly stable covalent organic frameworks (COFs). In this work, the irreversible three-component Doebner reaction is utilized to synthesize four chemically stable quinoline-4-carboxylic acid DMCR-COFs ( and ) equipped with an acid-base bifunctionality. These DMCR-COFs show superior photocatalytic HO evolution (one of the most important industrial oxidants) compared to the imine COF analogue ().

Spectroscopy of Laser-Induced Dielectric Breakdown Plasma in Mixtures of Air with Inert Gases Ar, He, Kr, and Xe.

The generation of ozone and nitrogen oxides by laser-induced dielectric breakdown (LIDB) in mixtures of air with noble gases Ar, He, Kr, and Xe is investigated using OES and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and absorption spectrophotometry. It is shown that the formation of NO and NO noticeably depends on the type of inert gas; the more complex electronic configuration and the lower ionization potential of the inert gas led to increased production of NO and NO. The formation of ozone occurs mainly due to the photolytic reaction outside the gas discharge zone.

Bioinformatics and Network Pharmacology of the First Crystal Structured Clerodin: Anticancer and Antioxidant Potential against Human Breast Carcinoma Cell.

Clerodin was isolated from the medicinal plant , and CSD search showed the first crystal structure of clerodin by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. We checked its binding potential with target proteins by docking and conducted network pharmacology analysis, ADMET analysis, in silico pathway analysis, normal mode analysis (NMA), and cytotoxic activity studies to evaluate clerodin as a potential anticancer agent. The cell viability studies of clerodin on the human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) showed toxicity on MCF-7 cells but no toxicity toward normal human lymphocyte cells (HLCs).