Critical analysis and mapping of research trends and impact assessment of polyaromatic hydrocarbon accumulation in leaves: let history tell the future

Abstract

The article is basically an attempt to provide a consolidated report on impact assessment and trends in research pertaining to accumulation and curbing the menace of polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) accumulation in leaves. Emphasis is given to understand the consequences of the fact that edible/medicinal plants cultivated in PAH contaminated soil or close to such places which are potential liberators of PAHs can virtually act as transporters for direct PAH entry into biological systems. An attempt has been made to predict the future by digging out golden facts from history. Extensive Scopus-based data mining has been done to dig out research data since last 10 years (2006–2016) pertaining to the said area. Critical analysis of statistical data on research trends highlighting the different aspects of evaluation of PAH accumulation in leaves has been described. The concentrate of all researches for the said period have been presented as few golden principles which shall serve as important facts for researchers and policy makers for curbing the menace of PAH-induced oxidative stress in plants and shall also provide start-up ideas for researchers new to the area. Critical analysis of trends in phytoremediation aspect has also been duly highlighted to measure the intensity of restoration steps taken by researchers and government to safeguard the future generations.

Mitigation of NOx and smoke emissions in a diesel engine using novel emulsified lemon peel oil biofuel

Abstract

Lemon peel oil (LPO) is considered to be a viable alternative fuel for diesel engine applications due to its wider availability, renewable nature, easy extraction process, almost equivalent calorific value as neat diesel, and low viscosity. The present work aims to investigate the effect of novel emulsified LPO in a diesel engine in order to reduce the NOx emission without compromising the engine performance. A new ionic surfactant is introduced in the present study, namely methyl-dihydroxy propyl imidazolium chloride due to its higher hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value which helps to prepare stable water in oil emulsion. Also, Span 80 has been selected as another suitable surfactant for water in oil emulsion. Four emulsified fuel samples have been prepared using LPO, water, and different concentrations of surfactants. All the fuel samples are tested for their stability through gravitational technique for 7 days. Among the emulsified samples, 92% LPO + 5% water + 2% Span 80 + 1% methyl-dihydroxy propyl imidazolium chloride by volume (LPOE2) and 93.5% LPO + 5% water + 1.5% surfactant Span 80 by volume (LPOE4) have showed better stability when compared to other emulsion fuel samples. It is also revealed that the stability of LPO emulsion is improved by the addition of two emulsions. The experimental results showed that the brake thermal efficiency of LPO emulsion is reduced to 29.87 from 34.58% of pure LPO at full load condition. Oxides of nitrogen emission and smoke emission are reduced by 21–32 and 6–15% for the LPO emulsion samples compared to pure LPO. Moreover, the diesel engine operation with emulsified form of LPO increases the HC emission about 0.1 g/kWh for LPOE4 and 0.15 g/kWh for LPOE2 fuels from 0.053 g/kW for pure LPO at maximum power output condition. The reformulation of LPO into emulsified form increases the CO emission by 25–53% compared to pure LPO. Moreover, the reformulation of LPO into emulsions has resulted in lower cylinder pressure and heat release rate compared to pure LPO and diesel fuels.

Incidence of vulval squamous cell carcinoma in women with vulval lichen sclerosus in an Australian tertiary referral centre

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Leishmania tropica successfully treated with photodynamic therapy

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Treating melanoma in situ and lentigo maligna with Mohs micrographic surgery in Australia

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Where are all the women scientists in pigment cell and melanoma research?

Pigment Cell &Melanoma Research, Volume 31, Issue 4, Page 456-456, July 2018.

Issue Information

Pigment Cell &Melanoma Research, Volume 31, Issue 4, Page 451-455, July 2018.

Dermatitis due to Mesostigmatic mites (Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus [O.] bacoti, O. bursa, O. sylviarum) in residential settings

JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, EarlyView.

Laser hair removal alters the disease course in mild hidradenitis suppurativa

JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, EarlyView.

Ixekizumab for acrodermatitis continua

JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, EarlyView.

Cowpox virus infection in two brothers with possible human‐to‐human transmission

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, EarlyView.

Transposition cutaneous flap and split skin mesh graft as combined optimal treatment approach for giant neglected multicentric BCC of the shoulder

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, EarlyView.

Expanding the differential diagnosis of raccoon eyes: sweet syndrome

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, EarlyView.

Microepidemic of fibreglass dermatitis after a thermoelectric power plant fire explosion

Contact Dermatitis, EarlyView.

Atypical maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis showing a nevus spilus‐like lesion

Pediatric Dermatology, EarlyView.

Childhood atopic dermatitis—An Indian perspective

Pediatric Dermatology, EarlyView.

Divided or kissing nevus of the penis: A new case with dermoscopic findings

Pediatric Dermatology, EarlyView.

Impact of naevus association on survival for nodular and superficial spreading melanomas

British Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Issue Information

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, Volume 43, Issue 5, Page i,511-512, July 2018.

Exploring Bioluminescence Function of the Ca2+‐regulated Photoproteins with Site‐directed Mutagenesis

Photochemistry and Photobiology, EarlyView.

NDRG1 and FOXO1 regulate endothelial cell proliferation in infantile haemangioma

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 690-693, June 2018.

Corrigendum

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 697-697, June 2018.

No evidence for follicular keratinocyte hyperproliferation in acne lesions as compared to autologous healthy hair follicles

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 668-671, June 2018.

A guide to studying human dermal adipocytes in situ

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 589-602, June 2018.

Clinical Snippets

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page i-i, June 2018.

Issue Information

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 587-588, June 2018.

Methadone—Not a magic bullet in melanoma therapy

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 694-696, June 2018.

Digital analysis yields more reliable and accurate measures of dermal and epidermal thickness in histologically processed specimens compared to traditional methods

Experimental Dermatology, Volume 27, Issue 6, Page 687-690, June 2018.

Generalized morphea in the setting of pembrolizumab

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Trigeminal trophic syndrome: an updated review

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

A giant mass on the scalp: an unusual presentation of lupus vulgaris

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Synthesis and characterization of carboxymethyl chitosan/Fe3O4 and MnFe2O4 nanocomposites hydrogels for loading and release of curcumin

Publication date: Available online 23 June 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Zahra Naderi, Javad Azizian
This paper presents the preparation of hydrogel with magnetic properties derived from carboxymethyl chitosan for controlled drug release performance. The magnetic Fe3O4 and MnFe2O4 nanoparticles with crosslinked Carboxymethyl Chitosan hydrogel were prepared by using epichlorohydrin as the cross-linker. The structure characterization performed by FT-IR. The XRD analysis was applied for evaluation of crystalline phase of MnFe2O4 and Fe3O4 in the hydrogels. The crystallite size of Fe3O4/CMCS and MnFe2O4/CMCS was calculated to be 30.12, and 44.51 nm, respectively. The presence of MnFe2O4 and Fe3O4 in the hydrogels can reason a rough surface morphology which that confirmed by SEM images. The Max. Saturation magnetization value as obtained from hysteresis loop is 105 and 75 Am²/kg for Fe3O4/CMCS and MnFe2O4/CMCS hydrogel, respectively. The Fe3O4 and MnFe2O4 on Carboxymethyl Chitosan hydrogels indicated a pH-sensitive for swelling behavior process. The equal amount of Fe3O4 and MnFe2O4 on hydrogels have high swelling at pH 6.4. The swelling capacity decreased from 214 to 172% and 144–114% at pH 6.4 with attendance of high amount of MnFe2O4 and Fe3O4 on hydrogels compared to other samples, respectively. Drug loading and release performances were investigated by curcumin as a model drug. The maximum curcumin release was obtained 25.1–51.52% at pH = 6.4. The drug releases system demonstrates the high ratio of Fe3O4 and MnFe2O4 containing Carboxymethyl Chitosan sample has a great efficiency in curcumin release. The effect of applied magnetic field on drug release for Fe3O4/CMCS was highest compared to MnFe2O4/CMCS. The results demonstrated that the Fe3O4 and MnFe2O4 nanocomposites hydrogel can be applied for novel drug delivery systems.

Topical Application of Photofrin® for Photodynamic Diagnosis of Malignant Cutaneous Neoplasms

Publication date: Available online 23 June 2018
Source:Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Author(s): Yu-Te Lin, Yen-Chang Hsiao, Yu-Fan Chiang, Cheng-Jen Chang
ObjectivesThe prognosis of patients suffering from malignant cutaneous neoplasms can be improved by early diagnosis. Exact demarcation of tumor margins could contribute to optimum results in surgical excision and reconstruction. The purpose of our study is to evaluate Photofrin^® with a new diagnostic procedure, photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), for the detection of Bowen's disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).Materials and methodsSixty patients with cutaneous neoplasms received 2.5mg/mL Photofrin^® solution topically. After a period of three hours, the patients underwent fluorescence illumination (λex = 370-450 nm). Guided by their visible fluorescence, lesions were biopsied at four suspicious sites on each patient. All specimens were analyzed and measured by a pathologist. A quantitative analysis of the fluorescence contrast between the neoplasms and healthy tissue was performed using the RGB Mode (Red, Blue, Green) and GS (Gray Scale). Statistical analysis was performed by means of the ANOVA test for multiple comparisons.ResultsOf the 60 patients (20 Bowen's disease, 20 squamous cell carcinoma, and 20 basal cell carcinoma), malignant neoplasms could be clearly distinguished from adjacent healthy tissue under fluorescence illumination (P<0.0001). The sensitivity of the malignant neoplasms could be evaluated using the RGB and GS modes combined and shown in image results of 92.74%. The specificity of the malignant neoplasms evaluated using the RGB and GS modes combined showed 95.77%.ConclusionLight-induced fluorescence detection using topical Photofrin^® provides a sensitive, non-invasive technique for the early identification of malignant cutaneous neoplasms.

Potentially toxic elements in fly ash dependently of applied technology of hard coal combustion

Abstract

Coal combustion is one of the most significant anthropogenic sources of thallium in the environment. This study presents the results of determination of thallium and some toxic elements (Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Zn, and Cu) concentration in fly ash produced in the coal combustion in conventional furnaces (pulverized coal furnace and grate furnace), in a fluidized-bed furnace with circulation bed, and in a home furnace. The high content of thallium was determined in ash produced in the grate furnace (on average 10.7 mg/kg) and fluidized-bed furnace with circulation bed (6.6 mg/kg). The average content of Tl in the fly ash of the pulverized coal furnace and in the home furnace is 1.7 and 2.4 mg/kg, respectively. There was a strong relationship between the occurrence of Tl and As, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in ash from grate and pulverized coal furnace.