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Biogenic sol-gel synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using prodigiosin from Serratia rubidaea: dual roles in reduction, capping, and biomedical cytotoxicity
No full textThis study presents a sustainable synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles via a sol-gel approach utilizing prodigiosin pigment extracted from Serratia rubidaea as a green biogenic agent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of employing prodigiosin from Serratia rubidaea in the sol-gel synthesis of CuO nanoparticles. Copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) served as the precursor, reacting with the bio-pigment under controlled conditions to yield CuO nanomaterials. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed nanoparticle formation and composition: scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed morphology, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified characteristic Cu-O vibrational modes, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) established the presence and proportions of copper, oxygen, and carbon, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the monoclinic phase (JCPDS Card No. 00-001-1117). Ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy exhibited absorption peaks at 329.5, 365.0, and 388.5 nm, corresponding to an estimated optical band gap of 2.95 eV. The dual role of prodigiosin as a natural reducing and capping agent highlights the eco-friendly and innovative nature of this synthesis. The resultant CuO nanoparticles exhibit properties comparable or superior to those synthesised with other biological agents reported recently. Preliminary cytotoxicity assessment using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay against MCF-7 breast cancer cells demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, achieving a maximum mortality of 32.9% at 80 μg/mL. Although the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was not reached within the tested range, these findings suggest promising anticancer potential and warrant further biomedical investigations of the synthesised biofunctionalized CuO nanoparticles
A tale of two approaches: photosynthetic augmentation via nanobionics and solid-state fluorescence
Full text linkGlobal food demand is projected to rise by nearly 50% by 2050, placing unprecedented pressure on agricultural productivity. Photosynthesis, the biological foundation of crop growth, is intrinsically constrained by its limited utilization of the solar spectrum, as only 43% of incoming solar energy falls within the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) range. This review evaluates two strategies that can be used to overcome these spectral limitations: external light modulation via solid-state fluorescence and internal augmentation through plant nanobionics. Solid-state fluorescence employs luminescent films and greenhouse coatings that convert harmful or underutilized ultraviolet radiation into PAR, enhancing canopy-level light quality. Nanobionics integrates engineered nanomaterials into plant tissues, where they function as artificial antennae that expand absorption spectra and may transfer energy directly to chlorophyll via Fö rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) or direct electron transfer. However, challenges remain in validating FRET in vivo (requiring fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy), understanding nanomaterial environmental fate, and scaling these technologies economically. This review synthesizes current findings, highlights mechanistic uncertainties, and outlines future pathways toward integrating photonic technologies into sustainable agriculture
A systematic review of dialectical behaviour therapy, mentalisation-based treatment and internal family systems therapy for borderline personality disorder with comorbid depression and/or anxiety
No full textBorderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is highly comorbid with depression and anxiety, creating additional difficulty in treating the conditions and poorer prognosis than BPD alone. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) are specialised psychotherapies for BPD that have demonstrated positive effects for reducing BPD symptoms and scores on depression and anxiety measures. Although developed for treating PTSD, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is effective for addressing past trauma that is also common in BPD. This systematic review investigated the effectiveness of DBT, MBT and IFS for treating BPD with comorbid depression and/or anxiety (BPD + D/A). Using the PRISMA protocol, five academic databases were searched for relevant studies and relevant treatment outcomes. Findings were extracted from 12 included studies. Only studies with a confirmed diagnosis of comorbid depression and/or anxiety disorders were included. This review found that DBT and MBT demonstrated significant reductions in BPD and depressive/anxious symptomatology, emotional and interpersonal difficulties, and impulsive behaviours. These therapeutic approaches also demonstrated reduced numbers of visits to emergency departments, reduced numbers of contacts with mental health services and reduced duration of contacts. None of the studies investigated IFS therapy outcomes for BPD + D/A. These findings are concordant with past research and have implications for increasing the use of DBT and MBT for BPD + D/A. Findings also demonstrate the effectiveness of brief DBT interventions as a more practical option for service users with BPD who experience frequent crisis periods and may struggle to commit to a traditional 12-month program. However, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to small and majority-female samples, mixed study designs and a lack of follow-up data
Exploring how weight stigma relates to psychological distress, physical activity, and eating behaviors over time: a longitudinal study among young adults in Hong Kong
Full text linkBackground: Many researchers have expressed concerns that weight stigma may cause adverse health effects and worsen weight issues in a vicious cycle. However, empirical evidence evaluating this cycle is scarce, especially among Eastern Asians. The present study investigated the temporal associations among perceived weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, psychological distress, perceived behavioral control, physical activity, eating behaviors, and body mass index (BMI) changes.
Methods: A one-year longitudinal survey was carried out to explore if the weight cycle exists among young adults in Hong Kong. The study comprised 345 participants at Time 1 (T1), 253 participants at T2, 233 participants at T3, and 235 participants at T4. Participants completed self-reported psychometric instruments in an online survey. The analysis employed parallel process latent growth curve modeling and a random intercept cross-lagged panel model.
Results: Temporal relationships existed in the connections between perceived stigma and self-stigma, and self-stigma and perceived behavioral control. A negative relationship between self-stigma and future BMI was found, whereas future self-stigma showed no significant association with previous BMI.
Conclusion: The growth trajectories of the studied variables did not correlate with changes in BMI. However, self-stigma showed a negative association with subsequent BMI in a different model. Further research is needed to clarify whether weight stigma is impacted by changes in BMI
Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS-UK) increases reading attainment, oral fluency and comprehension: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Full text linkPurpose
This study evaluates the impact of Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS-UK) in developing pupils’ reading attainment, reading skills (comprehension and fluency) and affective factors (reading self-efficacy and motivation).
Method
All Year 5 pupils (9–10 years old, N = 4840, 49% female and 51% male) in 114 schools in England, took part in a two-armed, randomized controlled efficacy trial randomizing schools. The final analyzed sample included 53 treatment schools (N = 1907, 51% female and 49% male) and 50 business-as-usual control schools (N = 1721, 49% female and 51% male). In treatment schools, class-teachers were asked to deliver PALS-UK three times per week for 20 weeks.
Results
Pupils in treatment schools demonstrated higher curriculum-aligned reading attainment than pupils in business-as-usual control schools. A moderate effect size was found for this primary outcome. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested that no groups were disadvantaged by treatment. In addition, analyses of secondary outcomes showed significant positive treatment effects for reading comprehension and reading fluency/rate – a measure based on speed/accuracy of reading connected text. The treatment effect was not significant for multidimensional fluency (measuring qualitative differences in expressive reading), reading self-efficacy or motivation to read.
Conclusion
This study is the most rigorous evidence to date that PALS-UK is effective in improving reading outcomes. It provides strong evidence in support of the use of this structured approach to paired reading. We conclude that the approach works, when implemented with fidelity, because it supports pupils to practice reading aloud and scaffolds use of reading comprehension strategies, which improve reading outcomes
From adaptive marketing to marketing agility: what we know, what we don’t, and what’s next
No full textOptimised amine density via plasma treatment for covalent immobilisation of AMPs to promote osteoblasts and enhance antimicrobial activity
No full textTheoretical investigation of the reaction mechanism for formation of pyridinyl formimidamide ancillary ligand in the synthesis of a new class of iridium(III) complexes
No full textIn this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to explore the reaction mechanism for the formation of a silver-formimidamide intermediate complex in the synthesis pathway of a novel cyclometallated iridium(III) complex bearing a pyridine-formimidamide ancillary ligand. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed explanation of how the cyclic carbene ancillary ligand of (2-(4-methylbenzyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridine, MBpyta converted into acyclic (E)-N-cyano-N-(4-methylbenzyl)-N'-(pyridin-2-yl) formimidamide, CNMBpyfa when undergoing complexation with chloro-bridged iridium(III) dimer [{Ir(F2ppy)2(µ-Cl)}2]. The calculated results showed that the role of silver(I) oxide and the electron-withdrawing effect of the starting ligand in reactants triggered the two stages of deprotonation of two carbons in the starting triazolium salt precursor. Geometrical optimization reveals that the crystal structure of complex Ir(F2ppy)2(CNMBpyfa) has the lowest electronic energy compared to other designated ancillary ligand positions, confirming that the experimental data represent the most stable state of the synthesized complex
