Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) have very recently been identified as attractive materials for application in nonlinear optical (NLO) due to their exceptional structural stability and variable electronic properties. In the current work, the impact of alkali metal decorations (Li, Na, and K) on the electronic and nonlinear optical properties of CTF-0 has been explored utilizing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). From our study, it is evident that the introduction of the alkali metals improves the first hyperpolarizability of CTF-0 through effective intramolecular charge transfer and reduction in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Our theoretical studies suggest that among the studied systems, the enhancement in the NLO performance of CTF-0 is more significant for the Na and K decorated CTF-0 structures due to their effective electronic polarization. Moreover, it is also observed that the complexation of the alkali metals with CTF is a key factor for controlling the optical properties of the complexes. From the TD-DFT analysis, we can confirm that there are some noticeable red shifts in the absorption spectrum of the decorated complexes due to increased charge transfer effect.
Cobalt is an essential trace element in biochemistry that plays a crucial role in the structure and function of several important biomolecules. In this review, vitamin B12 is discussed as one of the best-known examples in this area. Various forms of this vitamin, including methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin, play a crucial role in metabolic reactions in mammals and prokaryotes. It also discusses cobalt-containing enzymes that are essential for various biological processes. These enzymes are B12-dependent enzymes, which are well studied, and cobalt-containing enzymes, which are less well known, such as methionine aminopeptidase, nitrile hydratase, glucose isomerase, and prolidase. In addition to the significant role of cobalt complexes in biochemistry, these complexes are considered potent anticancer agents that can exert their antiproliferative effects through the production of ROS, cell cycle arrest, MMP breakdown, and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Cobalt complexes are also being explained here for their antimicrobial properties against a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Furthermore, examples of these complexes are presented as promising agents for the suppression of AD, which could be effective by binding to Aβ-peptides and preventing their aggregation, which is a central feature of the pathogenesis of AD, or by combating the oxidative damage associated with the disease, or even by interfering with the enzyme activities associated with this disease. Finally, the challenges related to the toxicity of cobalt and its compounds in medicine are discussed, and chelation therapy is considered an effective treatment for cobalt poisoning.
This study presents a dataset derived from a survey examining the effects of family social capital and family governance Practices on the sense of belonging at work among members of family firms in China. Data were collected through a web-based questionnaire administered between July and September 2024, resulting in a valid sample of 454 respondents actively involved in family firms. A snowball sampling approach was employed, with participants encouraged to disseminate the survey link through widely used social media platforms to reach other eligible respondents. The questionnaire was initially developed in English and then translated into Chinese following a rigorous back-translation procedure to ensure conceptual and linguistic accuracy. Harman's single-factor test was conducted to assess and mitigate the risk of common method bias. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. In addition to participants' demographic characteristics, the article reports results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), providing a valuable empirical foundation for future research on organizational behavior and social capital in the context of family-owned firms in China.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents significant clinical challenges due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. This study investigates the anticancer potential of β-sitosterol (SIT) compared to doxorubicin (DOX), focusing on miR-21-3p suppression and apoptosis pathway modulation in MDA-MB-231 cells.MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with SIT (6.25–100 µM) or DOX (0.1µM). Assessments included MTT viability assay, Annexin V/PI apoptosis detection, cell cycle analysis, qRT-PCR, Western blot, and oxidative stress markers. Computational analyses involved molecular docking and 200-ns molecular dynamics simulations. SIT dose-dependently reduced cell viability (IC50 = 39.56 µM), comparable to DOX. SIT preferentially induced early apoptosis (30.7 β-sitosterol demonstrates dose-dependent cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells with IC₅₀ of 39.56 μM. β-sitosterol preferentially induces early apoptosis while doxorubicin triggers late apoptosis. Both compounds cause G₁ phase arrest through p21 upregulation and AMPK pathway activation. β-sitosterol suppresses oncogenic miR-21-3p expression to 0.6-fold of control levels. β-sitosterol reduces malondialdehyde by 64.7
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder necessitating therapeutic interventions that simultaneously target cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress. This study evaluated the dual cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant properties of Cousinia cylindracea Boiss., as a potential multi-target therapeutic candidate. Flower and stem specimens were subjected to hydroalcoholic extraction followed by ethyl acetate fractionation. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities were assessed using modified Ellman’s spectrophotometric method. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated via DPPH radical scavenging assay, while total phenolic content was quantified using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Statistical analyses included IC₅₀ determination and correlation assessment between phytochemical composition and bioactivities. The ethyl acetate flower fraction demonstrated superior cholinesterase inhibition (67.97 ± 8.82
