Co-application of thifensulfuron with glyphosate accentuates soybean injury

Three trials (two in 2019 and one in 2020) were completed at the University of Guelph, Huron Research Station near Exeter, ON, to determine if the co-application of thifensulfuron with glyphosate accentuates soybean injury in glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean. At 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment (WAT), thifensulfuron (6 and 12 g a.i.·ha−1 representing the 1× and 2× rate, respectively) applied POST with no adjuvants caused up to 5% soybean injury. The addition of a non-ionic surfactant + UAN to thifensulfuron increased soybean injury to up to 24%. There was no decrease in soybean density, dry biomass, height, and yield, except soybean dry biomass was reduced up to 22% with the addition of adjuvants to thifensulfuron at the 2× rate. Glyphosate (1800 and 3600 g·ha−1 representing the 1× and 2× rate, respectively) applied POST caused no adverse effect on soybean injury parameters evaluated. The co-application of glyphosate + thifensulfuron at the 1× and 2× rates, without additional adjuvants, caused a synergistic increase in soybean injury at 1, 2, 4, and 8 WAT, and a synergistic decrease in dry biomass and height. All other interactions were additive. The co-application of glyphosate + thifensulfuron at the 1× and 2× rates, with additional adjuvants, produced a synergistic increase in injury at 1 (1× and 2× rate), 4 (1× rate), and 8 (1× rate) WAT in soybean. All other interactions were additive.

Synergy between Phenoxy and CSR Tougheners on the Fracture Toughness of Highly Cross-Linked Epoxy-Based Composites

A remarkable synergistic increase in fracture toughness by 130% is demonstrated for a CFRP high performance epoxy composite when adding an equal weight combination of phenoxy thermoplastic and core-shell rubber (CSR) toughening agents, as compared to a single toughener at a comparable total concentration of around 10 wt%. The dual-toughened matrix exhibits an unusual morphological arrangement of the two toughener agents. The interlaminar shear strength of the composites is also synergistically improved by about 75% as compared to the reference while the compression modulus reduction and viscosity increase are significantly smaller than for the single phenoxy toughened system. A partial filtering of the CSR particles by the dense CF fabric during pre-pregging leads to a less than optimum CSR dispersion in the composites, showing that the synergy can be further optimized, possibly to the same level as the unreinforced systems.

Enhanced Chemotherapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme Mediated by Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal brain cancer. Current treatments involve surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the life expectancy of patients with this disease remains short and chemotherapy leads to severe adverse effects. Furthermore, the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) makes it difficult for drugs to effectively reach the brain. A promising strategy lies in the use of graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are light-responsive graphene nanoparticles that have shown the capability of crossing the BBB. Here we investigate the effect of GQDs on U87 human glioblastoma cells and primary cortical neurons. Non-functionalized GQDs (NF-GQDs) demonstrated high biocompatibility, while dimethylformamide-functionalized GQDs (DMF-GQDs) showed a toxic effect on both cell lines. The combination of GQDs and the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (Dox) was tested. GQDs exerted a synergistic increase in the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment, specifically on U87 cells. The mechanism underlying this synergy was investigated, and it was found that GQDs can alter membrane permeability in a manner dependent on the surface chemistry, facilitating the uptake of Dox inside U87 cells, but not on cortical neurons. Therefore, experimental evidence indicates that GQDs could be used in a combined therapy against brain cancer, strongly increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy and, at the same time, reducing its dose requirement along with its side effects, thereby improving the life quality of patients.

Saliva-Derived Host Defense Peptides Histatin1 and LL-37 Increase Secretion of Antimicrobial Skin and Oral Mucosa Chemokine CCL20 in an IL-1α-Independent Manner

Even though skin and oral mucosae are continuously in contact with commensal and opportunistic microorganisms, they generally remain healthy and uninflamed. Host defense peptides (HDPs) make up the body’s first line of defense against many invading pathogens and are involved in the orchestration of innate immunity and the inflammatory response. In this study, we investigated the effect of two salivary HDPs, LL-37 and Hst1, on the inflammatory and antimicrobial response by skin and oral mucosa (gingiva) keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The potent antimicrobial chemokine CCL20 was investigated and compared with chemokines CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8, and CCL27 and proinflammatory cytokines IL-1αand IL-6. Keratinocyte-fibroblast cocultures showed a synergistic increase in CCL20 secretion upon Hst1 and LL-37 exposure compared to monocultures. These cocultures also showed increased IL-6, CXCL1, CXCL8, and CCL2 secretion, which was IL-1αdependent. Secretion of the antimicrobial chemokine CCL20 was clearly IL-1αindependent. These results indicate that salivary peptides can stimulate skin as well as gingiva cells to secrete antimicrobial chemokines as part of the hosts’ defense to counteract infection.