Graphene oxide has recently been considered to be a potential replacement for cadmium-based quantum dots due to its expected high fluorescence. Although previously reported, the origin of the luminescence in graphene oxide is still controversial. Here, we report the presence of core/valence excitons in graphene-based materials, a basic ingredient for optical devices, induced by quantum confinem...

BACKGROUND The inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) may be involved in the mucosal injury associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In contrast with iNOS, the inducible heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is considered to act as a protective antioxidant system. AIMS To evaluate the effects of the known HO-1 inducers, cadmium and bismuth salts, heme, and nitric oxide (NO) donors, on i...

Highly crystalline Bi3+-doped cadmium oxide (CdO) sub-micron structures were synthesized by calcination the obtained precursor from a sol-gel reaction. The reaction was carried out with cadmium nitrate (Cd(NO3)2.4H2O), bismuth nitrate (Bi(NO3)3.5H2O) and ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) reactan...

Cadmium is a non-essential element that induces various toxic responses in plants when accumulated above the threshold level. The aim of the present research was to study the effect of cadmium on growth factors, concentration of cadmium in the rhizomes and leaves, and quality and quantity of essential oils in the leaves of Mentha piperita L. The experiment was carried out in a completely random...

This study aimed to underline the interaction between hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in vivo and their contribution to the delayed myocardial preconditioning induced by acute intermittent hypoxia (IH) in the rat using chromatin immunoprecipitation and pharmacological inhibition by low-dose cadmium. Langendorff-perfused hearts of Wistar rat...

In plants, nitric oxide (NO) has multiple roles in defence reactions under abiotic stresses, including heavy metal load. Literature data suggest that there is a causal relationship between NO and iron metabolism but the effects of essential micronutrients/toxic heavy metals on NO production have not been investigated. In this study our aim is to demonstrate the possible role of NO in the plant ...

Characterization of molecular scale electronic devices generally involves deposition of a metal top electrode onto an organic film. During the evaporation process, high-energy granules of metals may lead to unwanted reactions between the organic molecules and deposited top electrodes. This can cause, as commonly reported, lasting damage which leaves most junctions either shorted or an open circ...

In early-nineteenth-century Prussia, quality control of pharmaceuticals was entrusted to government-appointed physicians. In 1817, one such physician, Johann Roloff, became suspicious of a batch of zinc oxide that could be traced back to the factory of Karl Hermann. Roloff’s preliminary tests suggested that the samples contained arsenic, and so Hermann — worried about the reputation of his busi...

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and iron oxide nanoparticles doped silica nanospheres were prepared by a multistep method. Iron oxide nanoparticles were first coated with silica and then modified with amino group. Thereafter, CdTe nanoparticles were assembled on the particle surfaces by their strong interaction with amino group. Finally, an outer silica shell was deposited. The final products were cha...