New allyl derivative of curcumin containing three allyl groups (1E,6E)-4-allyl-1,7-bis(4’-allyloxy-3’-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione was synthesized by the reaction of curcumin with the excess of allyl bromide in the presence of K2CO3 in acetone under reflux. The triple allylated curcumin was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction study.

The bimetallic (Ta/(Ti, V, Co, Nb) mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles were obtained by direct synthesis and hydrothermal treatment. The obtained mesoporous materials were characterized by XRD, XRF, N2 adsorption/desorption, SEM, TEM, XPS, Raman, UV-Vis, PL spectroscopy. A more significant effect was observed on mesoporous structure, typi-cally for MCM-41, and optic properties if the second metal (Ti, Co) does not belong to the same Vb group with Ta as V, Nb. The obtained new nanoparticles were used as catalysts for oxidation with H2O2 of olefinic compounds (1,4 cyclohexadiene, cyclohexene, styrene) and photodegradation of organic pollutants (phenol, methyl orange) from water. The re-sults showed improving of activity and selectivity in oxidation reactions by addition of the second metal to Ta-MCM-41 catalyst. The slow addition of H2O2 was also be benefit for the selectivity in epoxide products and stability of the catalysts. The band gap energy values decrease in the presence of the second metal and the band edge diagram evidenced posi-tive potential for all the conduction band of the bimetallic samples except TaTi-MCM-41. The higher photocatalytic degradation was obtained for samples with TaTi and TaV.

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition is a common issue among cancer patients, leading to adverse outcomes and reduced survival rates; therefore, nutritional screening and assessment are essential. Our study aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the GLIM criteria to assess malnutrition and to compare the performance of various nutritional screening tests in evaluating nutritional risk. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on outpatient oncologic patients. Malnutrition was assessed using PG-SGA and GLIM criteria. Nutritional screening was performed using NRS-2002, MUST, MST, and NUTRISCORE. Anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength, cancer medical records and descriptive data were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 396 patients were involved. Malnutrition was diagnosed in 37.4% according to GLIM criteria and in 25.8% according to PG-SGA (p<0.001). The agreement between GLIM criteria and PG-SGA was substantial (ƙ= 0.63). The diagnostic performance of PG-SGA showed a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 96.3%, whereas the GLIM criteria demonstrated a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 91.2%. Both tools had a significant association with low dynamometry and low BMI (p<0.001). Nutritional risk was identified in 22.7% of the patients using NRS-2002, 25.8% with MUST, 26.5% with MST, and 12.9% with NUTRISCORE. The highest agreement among the nutritional screening tests was observed between MUST and PG-SGA (ƙ =0.64). Conclusions: GLIM criteria detected a higher prevalence of malnutrition compared to PG-SGA; however, PG-SGA demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity. Both significantly agree with low dynamometry and low BMI. Among the nutritional screening tests, MUST and PG-SGA showed the highest agreement.

Nocardia cyriacigeorgica causes bovine mastitis, reduces milk quantity and quality, and is often re-sistant to antimicrobials. Selenomethionine (SeMet) is a form of selenium, an essential trace el-ement. Although SeMet reduced ROS-mediated apoptosis and intramammary infections. How-ever, protective effects of SeMet on N. cyriacigeorgica-infected bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) are unclear. The objective was to evaluate whether SeMet mitigated N. cyriacigeorgi-ca-induced inflammatory injury, oxidative damage and apoptosis in bMECs. Cells were cultured with or without being pretreated 40 µM of SeMet for 12 h, then challenged N. cyriacigeorgica (MOI=5:1) for 6 h. Although N. cyriacigeorgica was resistant to lincomycin, erythromycin, en-rofloxacin, penicillin, amoxicillin, cephalonium, cephalexin, and ceftriaxone, 40 μM SeMet in-creased cell viability and inhibited LDH release in infected bMECs. Furthermore, N. cyriacigeor-gica significantly induced mRNA production and protein expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 at 6 h. Cell membrane rupture, cristae degeneration and mitochondria swelling were evi-dent with transmission electron microscopy. SOD and GSH-px activities were down regulated after 3, 6 or 12 h, whereas MDA and ROS contents were significantly upregulated, with cell damage and apoptosis rapidly evident (the latter increased significantly in a time-dependent manner). In contrast, bMECs pretreated with 40 μM SeMet before infection, SOD and GSH-px ac-tivities were upregulated (P < 0.05), MDA and ROS concentrations were downregulated (P < 0.05), and apoptosis was reduced (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 40 μM SeMet alleviated inflammation, oxi-dative stress and apoptosis induced by N. cyriacigeorgica in bMECs cultured in vitro.

Clinical trials are essential in the development of new medical treatments, offering crucial data on their safety and effectiveness. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, examining trends, challenges, and innovations that have shaped the field over the past century. Data were extracted on July 15, 2024, and analyzed to identify patterns in trial design, sponsorship, participant demographics, and geographical distribution. The analysis reveals a significant increase in clinical trial registrations, peaking in 2021, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most trials focus on cancer, reflecting its global burden, and are predominantly interventional, with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) being the most common study design. However, challenges persist, including underrepresentation of certain demographics, limited global distribution, and insufficient reporting of trial results. Additionally, the underrepresentation of pediatric, elderly, and minority populations in trials limits the generalizability of findings. The analysis underscores the need for more inclusive and globally distributed research to address disparities in health outcomes.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a significant public health concern in many trop-ical and subtropical regions, where early and rapid detection is crucial for effective patient man-agement and controlling the spread of the disease. Particularly in resource-limited, rural healthcare settings where dengue is endemic, there is a need for diagnostic methods that are both easy to perform and highly sensitive. Objective: This study focuses on the development and validation of a single-tube reverse tran-scription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the detection of DENV. Methodology: The RT-LAMP assay designed in this work combines two sets of primers targeting the 5' and 3'-UTR regions of the dengue virus, aiming to increase the sensitivity of detection. Results: The clinical validation of this COMB-RT-LAMP in samples from febrile individuals with a serological or antigenic diagnosis showed a sensitivity of over 95%. The assay's perfor-mance was statistically compared to standard diagnostic method quantitative reverse transcrip-tion-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Conclusions: The findings support the potential of RT-LAMP as a rapid, sensitive, and specific tool for dengue diagnosis and surveillance, particularly suitable for field use in low-resource set-tings.

Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) comprises a complex association of autoimmune pathological conditions. APS Type 1 originates from loss-of-function mutations in the autoimmune regulatory (AIRE) gene. APS2, APS3, and APS4 are linked to specific HLA alleles within the major histocompatibility complex, with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in non-HLA genes also contributing to disease. In general, variability in the AIRE locus and the presence of heterozygous loss-of-function mutations can impact self-antigen presentation in the thymus. In this study, Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was performed on a sixteen-year-old female APS3A/B patient to investigate the genetic basis of her complex phenotype. The analysis identified two variants (p.Arg111Trp and p.Thr101Ile) of the hepatitis A virus cell receptor 2 gene (HAVCR2) encoding for the TIM-3 (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3) protein. These variants were predicted, through in silico analysis, to impact protein structure and stability, potentially influencing the patient’s autoimmune phenotype. While Confocal Microscopy analysis revealed no alteration in TIM-3 distribution between PBMCs isolated from the patient and those of a healthy donor, RT-qPCR showed reduced TIM-3 expression in the patient’s cells. A screening conducted on a cohort of thirty APS patients indicated that the p.Thr101Ile and p.Arg111Trp mutations were unique for the proband. This study opens the pathway for the search of TIM-3 variants possibly linked to complex autoimmune phenotypes, highlighting the potential of novel variant discovery in contributing to APS classification and diagnosis.

We conclude that Hbr not only favored growth, but also colonization with R. intraradices and consequently biomass production, and N and P content in plant tissue. The growth response and nutrient exchange suggest interdependence between brassinosteroids and the endomycorrhizal fungus.

Understanding the factors affecting semen quality is important for optimizing male reproductive efficiency. The present study aimed to evaluate the seminal quality associated with breed, age, season, and sperm counting chamber in boar ejaculates. A total of 22 sexually mature and healthy boars from maternal and sire commercial breeds were utilized as semen donors, with an average age (mean ± standard deviation) of 21.0 ± 7.2 months. Boars were housed individually in well-ventilated pens and fed a standard breeder mix. Semen samples were collected from each boar in dry and rainy season. The boars were grouped according to age into three categories: &lt;12 months, 12-24 months, and &gt;24 months. Only ejaculates with at least 75 % morphologically normal sperm and more than 8.5 x 109 total sperm per ejaculate were used. The samples were analyzed using the Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) ISAS®v1 system. Results showed that younger boars (&lt;12 months) exhibited higher total and progressive sperm motility and faster swimming patterns compared to older boars. The percentages of total motility and fast spermatozoa were increased by rainy season. The kinematics variables showed significant differences (P&lt;0.05) between sperm counting chambers. Duroc and Landrace breeds presented spermatozoa with greater total motility, while terminal sire line breeds showed accelerated linear progressiveness (P&lt;0.05). Overall, the impact of various factors on seminal and kinematic variables in boar ejaculates, including age, season, genetic breed composition, and sperm counting chamber enables to better understand the semen quality of boar ejaculates. This highlights the importance of optimizing swine reproductive management practices in sexually active boars.

Infections due to Candida spp., they are a threat to global health, with high rates of morbidity and mortality due to their drug resistance, especially in immunocompromised people. Thus, the search for new alternatives is urgent today. In recent years, combined therapy with compounds of natural origin has been proposed as an alternative. Considering the biological potential of isoespintanol (ISO) and continuing with its study, the objective of this research was to assess the effect of ISO in combination with the antifungals, fluconazole (FLZ), amphotericin B (AFB) and caspofungin (CASP), against clinical isolates of C. tropicalis and evaluate the cytotoxic effect of this compound in the acute phase (days 0 and 14) and chronic phase (days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84), in female mice (Mus musculus) of the Balb/c lineage. The results show that ISO can potentiate the effect of FLZ, AFB and CASP, showing synergism with these antifungals. Evaluation of the mice by direct vision showed no behavioral changes or variation in weight during treatment; furthermore, the analysis of the cytokines IFN-γ and TNF in plasma, peritoneal cavity lavage (PCL) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) indicated that there was no inflammation process and histopathological studies of lung, liver and kidney showed no signs of toxicity caused by ISO; this was consistent with the analysis of oxaloacetic transaminases (GOT) and pyruvic transaminases (GPT), which remained in the standard range. These findings indicate that ISO does not have a cytotoxic effect at the doses evaluated. Our results place ISO as a monoterpene of interest in the search for compounds with pharmacological potential.

Background/Objectives: This literature review, on occasion of the reported case report, explores the complex interplay between gabapentin (GBP), a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. It specifically investigates the potential impact of GBP on cortisol levels, stress responses, and infection risk, illustrated by a detailed clinical case. Methods: This review combines a comprehensive literature search with a case report of a 17-year-old male with osteosarcoma who experienced transient adrenal insufficiency and infections while receiving GBP. The case is analyzed in the context of existing literature on GBP and the HPA axis. Results: The findings highlight the intricate relationship between GBP use, adrenal insufficiency, and infection susceptibility. It underscores the need for further research and clinical vigilance when prescribing GBP to patients with underlying medical conditions, particularly in the context of major surgical procedures. The review underscores the need for further research and clinical vigilance when prescribing GBP, particularly in perioperative settings. Conclusions: GBP’s effects on the HPA axis and immune responses are complex and multifaceted. Clinicians should exercise caution when prescribing GBP, especially for patients with underlying conditions undergoing major surgery. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of GBP's influence on cortisol levels and stress responses.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) involve chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, where effector CD4+ T-cells play a central role. Thereby, the recruitment of T-cells into the colonic mucosa represents a key process in IBD. We recently found that CCR9 and DRD5 might form a heteromeric complex on the T-cell surface. The increase of CCL25 production and the reduction in dopamine levels associated with colonic inflammation represent a dual signal stimulating the CCR9:DRD5 heteromer, which promotes the recruitment of CD4+ T-cells into the colonic lamina propria. Here, we aimed to analysing the molecular requirements involved in the heteromer assembly as well as to determining the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in the colonic tropism given by the stimulation of the CCR9:DRD5 complex. The results show that dual stimulation of the CCR9:DRD5 heteromer potentiates the phosphorylation of the myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) and the migration speed in confined microchannels. Accordingly, disrupting the CCR9:DRD5 assembly induced a sharp reduction in the pMLC2 in vitro, decreased the migratory speed in confined microchannels and dampened the recruitment of CD4+ T-cells into the inflamed colonic mucosa. Furthermore, in silico analysis confirmed that the interface of interaction of CCR9:DRD5 is formed by the transmembrane segments 5 and 6 from each protomer. Our findings demonstrated that the CCR9:DRD5 heteromeric complex plays a fundamental role in the migration of CD4+ T-cells into the colonic mucosa upon inflammation. Thereby, disassembling the formation of the CCR9:DRD5 represents an important therapeutic opportunity to treat IBD.

The hemodynamic consequences of the aortic stenosis (AS) on supraortic trunks may have a po-tential role in the diagnosis of concomitant internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis by dampening blood flow velocity. To investigate the effect of AS on ICA blood flow we evaluated carotid and vertebral blood flow velocity indexes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implanta-tion (TAVI). Eighty-five patients admitted for endovascular treatment of a severe AS underwent supra-aortic Duplex ultrasound (DUS) examination prior and after TAVI to be enrolled in the study. Patients with other cardiac impairments that could configure a confounding factor were excluded. Pa-tients with symptomatic or severe ICA stenosis defined according to NASCET criteria were ex-cluded. Forty-five patients of a median age of 80 years met the study inclusion criteria. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the assessed supraortic arteries increased after TAVI: respectively common ca-rotid artery (CCA) 64 ± 17 cm/s vs 78 ± 23 cm/s, p= 0,01; ICA 68 ± 23 cm/s vs 96 ± 35 cm/s, p= 0,01; vertebral artery (VA) 45 ± 14 cm/s vs 52 ± 15 cm/s, p=0,03. Similarly, the end diastolic velocity (EDV) increased after TAVI: respectively CCA 13 ± 6 cm/s vs 15 ± 7 cm/s, p=ns; ICA 20 ± 9 cm/s vs 24 ± 9 cm/s, p= 0,01; VA 9 ± 4 cm/s vs 11 ± 4 cm/s, p=0,01. Consistently, the mean acceleration time (AC) decreased after TAVI: respectively CCA 0,17 ± 0,05 s vs 0,12 ± 0,05 s, p= 0.01; ICA 0,1 8 ± 0,05 s vs 0,12 ± 0,04 s, p= 0,01; VA 0,16 ± 0,05 s vs 0,11 ± 0,05 s, p=0,02. Severe AS significantly affects supra-aortic arteries blood flow as assessed by duplex, by de-creasing both PSV and EDV and increasing AC. This study suggests that carotid ultrasound cri-teria to assess ICA stenosis severity should be re-evaluated in larger multicenter studies to vali-date their predictive values in patients with concomitant AS.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic and fatal condition with no effective cure, is a challenging disease within the group of interstitial lung diseases. The pathogenic mechanisms of this disease are still not fully understood. In this context, the research on miRNAs, which are small non-coding RNAs that regulate messenger RNAs, is of utmost importance. These miRNAs, released into the circulation outside the cell through exosomes, play a crucial role in the pathogenic pathways and mechanisms involved in IPF development. The analysis of miRNAs in the serum/plasma of IPF patients has opened up new possibilities in the search for biomarkers. This review focuses on circulating miRNAs validated by real-time PCR in IPF and the evidence reported about the pulmonary fibrotic process.

Novel freeform optical design methods can be classified in two categories, relevant to the generation of a starting point or to the development of new optimization tools. In this paper, we design a freeform TMA optimized with different surface representations using either a differential ray-tracer as a new optimization tool, or commercial ray tracer (ANSYS-ZEMAX OpticStudio) for comparison. For differential ray tracing, we use FORMIDABLE (Freeform Optics Raytracer with Manufacturable Imaging Design cApaBiLitiEs): an optical design library with differential ray tracing and NURBS optimization capabilities under European Software Community License (ESCL). NURBS allow to represent a freeform surface without needing any prior knowledge on the surface, such as the polynomial degree in polynomial descriptions. However, commercial optical design software are designed to optimize polynomial surfaces, but are not well-suited to optimize NURBS surfaces. This requires to use a custom optical design library. To demonstrate the interest of using NURBS representation, freeform telescopes are independently optimized with NURBS using FORMIDABLE, or XY polynomials with OpticStudio over different iteration cycles. We then compare the resulting systems using their RMS Field Maps to assess the optimization quality of each surface representation. We also provide a full-system comparison, including mirror freeform departures. This study shows that NURBS can be a relevant alternative to XY polynomials for freeform optimization of reflective 3-mirror telescopes.

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between the emotional impact of COVID-19 and emotional eating and the risk of alcohol use disorder among Peruvian health science students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study in which an online questionnaire was administered to 456 health science interns from four cities in Peru. We used the COVID-19 Emotional Impact Profile questionnaire, Mindful Eating Questionnaire, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Spearman’s correlations were calculated and two multiple linear regression models were developed. Results: 68.4% of the participants were emotional eaters and 8.6% reported low-risk levels of alcohol use disorder. Based on the results of the first model, the overall emotional impact of COVID-19, being overweight or obese, depression and anxiety levels, and living with only one parent were factors associated with emotional eating. The results of the second model showed that the level of depression, living with just one parent, living alone, sex, and number of months as an intern were factors associated with the risk of alcohol use disorder. Conclusion: To reduce emotional eating and the risk of alcohol use disorder among interns, universities should implement interventions aimed at reducing the emotional impact of COVID-19 and provide nutritional counseling.

Fluoropyrimidines (FPs) are commonly prescribed in many cancer streams. The DPYD*2A (rs3918290), *13 (rs55886062), *HapB3 (rs56038477), alleles, and DPYD rs67376798, had shown the highest level of evidence about their association with FPs response. The EMA and FDA-approved drug labels for FPs, recommend genotyping these variants before treatment starts. We implemented the DPYD genotyping in our daily clinical routine, but we still find patients showing severe adverse drug events (ADEs) to FPs. We studied among these patients the association with the response to FPs of DPYD rs1801265, rs17376848, rs1801159, rs1801160, rs1801158, and rs2297595; as explanatory candidates of the interindividual differences for the FP-related toxicities. We also studied the impact of DPYD*2A, *13, *HapB3, and rs67376798 genotype for FP dose tailoring in our clinical practice and characterized the DPYD gene in our population. We found that FP dose lowering based on DPYD genotype does not affect the treatment efficacy. Also, the DPYD*4 (defined by rs1801158) allele was associated with a higher risk of ADEs (severity grade ≥ 3) in both the univariate (O.R.= 5.66; 95% C.I.= 1.35 – 23.67; p= 0.014) and multivariate analyses (O.R.= 5.73; 95% C.I.= 1.41 – 28.77; p= 0.019). This makes it a candidate variant for implementation in clinical practice.

Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) is a prevalent issue in intensive livestock farming, particularly associated with high-concentrate diets. This study investigates the prevalence and impact of SARA in Greek dairy sheep farming and explores the use of computerized rumen colorimetry as a management and diagnostic tool for SARA in dairy sheep farms. Forty-two dairy sheep flocks were monitored regularly for rumen pH, milk composition, and milk yield over an approximately 9-month milking period. Computerized Rumen Mucosal Colorimetry was applied to 280 culled, aged ewes from these farms, with rumen wall samples taken for histological examination. SARA cases were identified in 19 farms (45%, n=48). Farms with SARA cases had lower milk fat levels, although milk yield was higher in these farms, while milk protein levels did not differ based on the SARA status of the farms. In culled ewes, rumen color was significantly associated with the farm's SARA status. Additionally, ewes from farms with more SARA cases exhibited increased thickness in the ruminal epithelium layers, particularly in the non-keratinized and total epithelium layers. In conclusion, SARA is a common disorder in the Greek dairy sheep industry, lowering the fat content of milk. The study suggests that computerized rumen epithelium colorimetry in aged culled ewes shows promise as a diagnostic tool for SARA in dairy sheep farms.

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is one of the important grain legume crops cultivated in the semi-arid tropics, playing a crucial role in the economic well-being of subsistence farmers. India is the major producer of pigeonpea, accounting for over 75 per cent of the world's production. Sterility mosaic disease (SMD), caused by Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV) and transmitted by the eriophyid mite (Aceria cajani), is a major constraint to pigeonpea cultivation in the Indian subcontinent, leading to potential yield losses of up to 100 per cent. The recent characterization of another Emaravirus associated with SMD has further complicated the etiology of this challenging viral disease. This review focuses on critical areas, including the current status of the disease, transmission and host-range, rapid phenotyping techniques, as well as available disease management strategies. The review concludes with insights into the future prospects, offering an overview and direction for further research and management strategies.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality worldwide, and innovative drugs for the treatment of colorectal cancer are continually being revealed. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common clinical chemotherapeutic drug. Acquired resistance to 5-FU is a clinical challenge in colorectal cancer. Parecoxib is a selective COX-2-specific inhibitor, which has been demonstrated to inhibit metastasis in colorectal cancers in our previous study. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antimetastatic activities of parecoxib to 5-FU in human colorectal cancer cells and determine the underlying mechanism. parecoxib and 5-FU synergistically suppressed metastasis in colorectal cancer cells. Treatment with the parecoxib /5-FU combination induced an increase in E-cadherin and decrease in β-catenin. The parecoxib/5-FU combination could inhibit MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression and MMP-9 activity, and the NF-κB pathway might be suppressed as well. Mechanistic analysis denoted that the parecoxib/5-FU combination hindered the essential molecules of the PI3K/Akt route to obstruct metastatic colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the parecoxib/5-FU combination could inhibit reactive oxygen species. Our work showed the antimetastatic capacity of the parecoxib/5-FU combination for colorectal cancers via targeting the PI3K/Akt /NF-κB pathway.

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of the Mediterranean diet (MD) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in Caucasian subjects between 35 and 74 years. The secondary aim is to analyze sex differences. Methods: A cross‑sectional trial. This study utilized data from the EVA, MARK, and EVIDENT studies, a total of 3417 subjects with a mean age of 60.14±9.14 years (57% men). MetS was defined based on the Joint Scientific Statement National Cholesterol Education Program III. Waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid profile were measured. Adherence to the MD was assessed with the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire used in the PREDIMED study. Good adherence was considered when the MD value was higher than the median value. Results: The mean value of the MEDAS questionnaire was 5.83±2.04; (Men 5.66±2.06 and women 6.04±1.99; p&lt;0.001). Adherence to the MD was observed by 38.6% (34.3% men and 40.3% women; p&lt;0.001). MetS was observed in 41.6% (39.0% men and 45.2%women p&lt;0.001). In the multiple regression analysis after adjusting for possible confounders, the mean MD value showed a negative association with the number of MetS components per subject (β=-0.336), and with the different components of MetS: Systolic blood pressure (β=-0.011), Diastolic blood pressure (β=-0.029), glycemia (β=-0.009), Triglycerides (β=-0.004), Waist circumference (β=-0.026), except with the HDL-cholesterol value which showed a positive association (β=0.021); (p&lt;0.001 in all cases). The adjusted logistic regression models showed that an increase in MDA decreases the probability of MetS (OR =0.56) and its components: blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg (OR = 0.63), fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dL (OR = 0.62); triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL (OR = 0.65); waist circumference ≥88 cm in women and ≥102 cm in men (OR = 0.74), and increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol &lt;40 mg/dL in men or &lt;50 mg/dL in women (OR = 1.70); (p&lt;0.001 in all cases). The results by sex were similar, both in multiple regression and logistic regression. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreases the probability of presenting Mets globally and by sex.

We produced a recombinant eel luteinizing hormone (rec-eel LH) analog with high potency in Chinese hamster ovary DG44 (CHO DG44) cells. The eel LH mutant (LH-M), which had a linker comprising the equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) β-subunit carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) region (amino acids 115 to149), was inserted between the β-subunit and α-subunit of wild-type tethered eel LH (LH-wt). Monoclonal cells transfected with the eel LH-wt and eel LH-M plasmids were isolated from five and nine clones of CHO DG44 cells, respectively. The secreted quantities abruptly increased on day 3, with peak levels of 5,000–7,500 ng/mL on day 9. The molecular weight of eel LH-wt was 32–36 kDa while that of eel LH-M increased to approximately 38–44 kDa, indicating the detection of two bands. Treatment with peptide N-glycanase F decreased the molecular weight by approximately 8 kDa. The oligosaccharides at the eCG β-subunit O-linked glycosylation sites were appropriately modified post-translation. The EC50 value and maximal responsiveness of eel LH-M increased by approximately 2.90- and 1.29-fold, respectively, indicating that the mutant exhibited more potent biological activity than eel LH-wt. Phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinase (pERK1/2) activation resulted in a sharp peak 5 min after agonist treatment, with a rapid decrease thereafter. These results indicate that the new rec-eel LH analog which contains the eCG β-subunit CTP linker comprising O-linked glycosylation sites, had more potent activity than the wild-type in vitro. Taken together, this new eel LH analog can be produced in large quantities using a stable CHO DG44 cell system.

Two methods for Pd nanoparticle synthesis were explored with three different carbide-derived carbon (CDC) support materials of which one was nitrogen-doped. These materials were studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.1 M KOH solution. The prepared CDC/Pd catalysts were characterized using TEM, XRD and XPS. Using these methods, we can observe the influence of support materials for one-pot synthesis methods as we use the standard citrate method and polyol method with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent. Comparing the two methods N-doping of carbon material resulted in smaller nanoparticles only in the case of citrate synthesis, suggesting that the influence of support is weaker using polyol method. Citrate method on CDC1, which was predominantly microporous led to a higher degree of agglomeration and larger particle formation in comparison to CDC2 and CDC3 supports, which possessed higher degree of mesoporosity. Smaller Pd particle sizes were achieved using citrate and NaBH4 in comparison to the ethylene glycol-PVP method. CDC2 and CDC3 did not show significant difference suggesting that the N-doping did not have much of an influence on the ORR. Highest SA value was observed on CDC1/Pd_Cit, which could be attributed to formation of larger particles and agglomerates.

Keywords: grape pomace extracts, encapsulation, freeze-drying, bioaccessibility, phenolic compounds

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a pervasive condition that limits quality of life and burdens economies. Traditional pharmacological treatments aimed at slowing degeneration are ineffective in the long-term. Orthobiologics, regenerative agents derived from the patient’s own tissue, are a promising emerging therapy for degenerative disc disease. This review first outlines the pathophysiology of degenerative disc disease, highlighting the limitations of existing treatments and explores the orthobiologic tools for treating degenerative disc disease (platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells). Their history in regenerative medicine is outlined, demonstrating how in vitro evidence informed preclinical animal studies on their efficacy in treating degenerative disc disease. Finally, clinical trials utilizing these treatment options are reviewed and directions for future research are outlined. Although the current clinical evidence available is limited to propagate their routine clinical usage the field holds immense potential in the management of DDD. There is room for these treatments to be optimized for effective consistent clinical outcomes in DDD.

The ingestion of ethanol presents a significant global public health challenge. Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with the development of conditions such as cancer, cirrhosis, hepatic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, as well as neurological impairments that may predispose individuals to dementia, schizophrenia, and behavioral disorders such as violence and suicide. Alcohol-related fatalities constitute 5.3% of worldwide deaths annually, totaling approximately 3 million. Notably, alcohol consumption is implicated in 25% of cirrhosis-related deaths and 4.1% of cancer-related deaths. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a non-protein β-amino acid essential for cellular homeostasis, possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties crucial for life maintenance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine administration on hippocampal neurogenesis, neuronal preservation or reverse damage in rats exposed to forced ethanol consumption. Results demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of taurine on ethanol-treated rats, promoting tissue regeneration and suggesting its pivotal role in this process. However, this aminoacid failed to induce neurogenesis in the tissues of healthy rats, implying that its activity may be contingent upon post-injury stimuli.

It has been widely established that the characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly small EVs (sEVs), shed by different cell types into biofluids, helps identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies are also exploring the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles naturally enriched with therapeutic microRNAs and proteins for treating various diseases. Besides, EVs released by various neural cells play a crucial function in the modulation of signal transmission in the brain in physiological conditions. However, in pathological conditions, such EVs can facilitate the spread of pathological proteins from one brain region to the other. On the other hand, analysis of EVs in biofluids can identify sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and disease progression. This review discusses the potential therapeutic use of stem cell-derived EVs in several central nervous system diseases. It lists their differences and similarities and confers various studies exploring EVs as biomarkers. Further advances in EV research in the coming years will likely lead to the routine use of EVs in therapeutic settings.

The use of antibiotics in neonatal units worldwide varies significantly. We included data from 2015-2022 from the EpicLatino database, which comprises a network of 32 units in Latin America and the Caribbean with gestational age at birth (GA) of ≤ 32 weeks. A questionnaire was sent to the EpicLatino units, to correlate practice with outcomes. Negative binomial regression with standard errors and confidence intervals computed for incidence-rate ratios (IRRs) was used for comparative statistics on antibiotic days per 1000 patient-days between units. All units that responded had 1-6 differences with the reference unit (Unit 2) with the best results, but there was no clear association with the IRR. Each EpicLatino unit should review its statistics to explore possibilities for reducing antibiotic usage.

This study analyses the changes in land use in the Sado estuary (West-Central Portugal) based on a multitemporal analysis of cartographic data from the 19th century and remote sensing land use maps from the 21st century, updated by field work. A GIS plotting of land-use evolution is summarized in a quantitative table. The comparison shows the changes in land use, with increasing occupation by human economic activities, including extensive agriculture and forestry, as well as localized urbanization and industrialization. The main elements of the landscape impacted by anthropogenic uses were: i) hydrography - river dams affected the flow dynamics and sedimentary processes in the estuary; ii) vegetation – increasing agriculture and forestry reduced the areas of native vegetation, nowadays mostly occupied by vineyards, pine forests and cork oaks. iii) wetlands - tidal and alluvial plains are being occupied by rice cultivation, aquaculture, industries, and ports; iv) coastal dunes – new developments are occupying large areas of Holocene coastal dunes; v) natural environment – mining and dredging affected some habitats and biodiversity. This analysis is intended to help the territorial organization of present and future economic activities, as well as to reduce environmental and social problems, promoting long-term sustainability of this rapidly evolving region.

This study explores the multifaceted influence of litter size, maternal care, exercise, and aging on rats' neurobehavioral plasticity and dentate gyrus microglia dynamics. Body weight evolution revealed a progressive increase until maturity, followed by a decline during aging, with larger litters exhibiting lower weights initially. Notably, exercised rats from smaller litters displayed higher body weights during mature and aged stages. Dentate gyrus volumes showed no significant differences among groups, except for aged sedentary rats from smaller litters, which exhibited a reduction. Maternal care varied significantly based on litter size, with large litter dams showing lower frequencies of caregiving behaviors. Behavioral assays highlighted the detrimental impact of a sedentary lifestyle and reduced maternal care/large litters on spatial memory, mitigated by exercise in aged rats from smaller litters. Microglial dynamics in the layers of dentate gyrus revealed age-related changes modulated by litter size and exercise. Exercise interventions mitigated microgliosis associated with aging, particularly in aged rats. These findings underscore the complex interplay between early-life experiences, exercise, microglial dynamics, and neurobehavioral outcomes during aging.

Management of sarcomas in specialist centers delivers significant benefits. In much of the world specialists are not available and development of expertise is identified as a major need. However the terms ‘specialist’ or ‘expert’ center are rarely defined. Our objective is to offer a definition for patient advocates and a tool for healthcare providers to underpin improving the care of people with sarcoma. SPAGN developed a discussion paper for a workshop at the SPAGN 2023 Conference, attended by 75 delegates. A presentation to the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) and further discussion led to this paper. Core Principles were identified that underlie specialist sarcoma care. The primary principle is the multi-disciplinary team discussing every patient, at first diagnosis and during treatment. Principles for optimal sarcoma management include accurate diagnosis followed by safe, high-quality treatment, with curative intent. These Principles are supplemented by Features describing areas of healthcare, professional involvement, and service provision and identifying further research and development needs. These allow for variations because of national or local policies and budgets. We propose the term ‘Sarcoma Intelligent Specialist Network’ to recognize expertise wherever it is found in the world. This provides a base for further discussion and local refinement.

Aquaculture is an important source of food for the growing global population. To meet the increasing demand for fish, intensive aquaculture methods are commonly used. However, these methods can lead to stress and disease in fish, which can result in significant economic losses. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid that is found in the brain and central nervous system of animals as inhibitory neurotransmitter. It has been shown to have a variety of physiological functions, including stress reduction and immune enhancement. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of GABA on growth, serum biochemistry, innate immunity and disease resistance in juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) challenged with Edwardsiella tarda under high stocking density. A control diet and three experimental diets were prepared, with 150 mg/kg (GABA150), 200 mg/kg (GABA200), and 250 mg/kg (GABA250) of GABA added to each diet, respectively. The actual GABA content of the experimental diets was analyzed and found to be 63.9 mg/kg (CON), 231.3 mg/kg (GABA150), 291.6 mg/kg (GABA200), and 323.9 mg/kg (GABA250). Each experimental diet was fed to olive flounder with an initial weight of 12.75 g ± 0.3 g in 40 L tanks at two stocking densities: normal density (20 fish/tank) and high density (40 fish/tank). The experiment was conducted in triplicate for each diet and stocking density. The water temperature was maintained at 17.5 ± 1℃ and the salinity at 33 ± 1 ppt. After 8 weeks of feeding trial, growth, feed utilization, whole-body proximate composition, blood analysis, non-specific immune response, and challenge test were performed. There were no significant difference in weight gain and specific growth rate among the GABA concentrations and density × GABA concentration interaction groups. However, the low-density groups showed significantly higher values than the high-density groups (P &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio among all groups. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the whole-body general composition analysis (P &gt; 0.05). In the hematological analysis, there was no significant difference in cortisol in terms of diet and density × GABA concentration interaction, but the high-density experimental group showed a significantly higher value. Blood GABA significantly increased in proportion to the addition amount regardless of the density group (P&lt;0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity in the non-specific immune response showed that the GABA-added experimental group had a significantly higher value than the control group, but there was no significant effect of the density densities or density × GABA concentration interaction (P&lt;0.05). Myeloperoxidase activities in fish fed the GABA200 and GABA250 diets showed significantly higher values, and a density × GABA concentration interaction effect was observed (P&lt;0.05). Lysozyme activity was significantly higher in the GABA150 group than in the CON, GABA200, and GABA250 groups (P &lt; 0.05). After 15 days of challenge test by intraperitoneal injection of Edwardsiella tarda, the cumulative survival rates of the GABA150, GABA200, and GABA250 groups were significantly higher than that of the CON group (P &lt; 0.05). The results suggested that the optimal dietary GABA level for juvenile olive flounder culture is 150 mg/kg, regardless of rearing density, to enhance growth, immune function and disease resistance.

Introduction: Parameters used for neonatal mortality calculation vary among publications. Mortality in < 33 weeks gestational age at birth display global variations across different healthcare units. Objective: This study aims to explore trends in neonatal mortality among infants born preterm in the different units in Latin America and the Caribbean utilizing the EpicLatino Network Database in comparison to Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) 2022. Materials and Methods: This study focused on an eight-year period, with a particular attention to mortality rates during the pre-pandemic (2015-2019) and pandemic/post pandemic (2020-2022) periods. Survival rates from CNN 2022 were included in the comparison analysis. Logistic regression analysis was confined to the 2020-2022 period. Adjustments were made for factors including gestational age, small for gestational age (SGA), Snape II score, inborn/outborn status, and center. As major malformations could account for mortality differences among units. The incidence of major congenital malformations, as defined by CNN, was compared among deceased patients. Results: A total of 15,454 records from 2015-2019 and 10,711 records from 2020-2022 were scrutinized. Overall, there were no significant differences in mortality rates between the two time periods (p=0.22). Moreover, the originating unit during the 2020-2022 period significantly influenced all statistical computations. Conclusions: Survival rates among infants < 26 weeks of gestation in Latin America and the Caribbean are on an upward trajectory, with the healthcare unit playing a pivotal role in this outcome within the EpicLatino database. Major malformations do not seem to be a significant contributing factor. These findings underscore the imperative of implementing quality improvement initiatives to elevate neonatal care standards in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Nepal, primarily an agricultural country, heavily relies on agricultural residue and fuelwood for daily energy requirements. In 2022, total energy consumption was 640 PJ, with traditional sources accounting for 64.17%, and fuelwood comprising 58.53% of total fuel consumption. The estimated potential supply of agricultural residue is 26 million tonnes, yielding about 442 million GJ of energy in 2021. Biomass trading often emphasizes volume or weight, necessitating a rapid and non-destructive assessment of energy properties for mutual benefit, aiding in the identification, management, and utilization of biomass sources. In this study, 200 biomass samples were collected in two batches (126 and 74 samples) from various locations in Nepal. Using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), a model was developed correlating higher heating value (HHV) from a bomb calorimeter and spectral data from Fourier Transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) (3595 – 12,489 cm-1) sensor. PLSR models incorporated raw spectra, eight preprocessing techniques, the multi-preprocessing five-range method, and a genetic algorithm. Outliers in the first batch were identified, and the first batch divided into an 80% calibration set and a 20% validation set, while the second batch was designated as an unknown sample set. The optimum PLSR model, utilizing first derivative preprocessing, improved accuracy by 6.77%, with coefficients of determination in the calibration set, validation set, and unknown set as 0.9694, 0.9578, and 0.8089, respectively. Root mean square errors were 132.4790 J/g, 189.4800 J/g, and 360.8845 J/g for the calibration set (RMSEC), validation set (RMSEP), and unknown set (RMSEUN), respectively. The prediction to deviation ratio (RPD) for the validation set and unknown set was 4.9 and 2.4, respectively. The cross validation model of combined sample data of every sets showed the R2CV of 0.95 and RPDCV of 4.6 indicating the model could serve as a reliable and swift non-destructive alternative for evaluating biomass HHV using NIRS and ready for updating for industrial use. However, incorporating a larger number of representative samples is crucial to enhance accuracy and develop a more comprehensive global model for predicting biomass HHV.

The microscopic pore structure of tight sandstone reservoir significantly influences the characteris-tics of CO2 flooding after water flooding. The research was conducted using various techniques such as casting thin sections, high pressure mercury injection, scanning electron microscopy, Nu-clear magnetic resonance (NMR) testing, and a self-designed high-temperatures and high-pressures microscopic visualization displacement system. Three type cores with different pore structures were selected for the flooding experiments and the microscopic visualization displace-ment experiments, including CO2 immiscible flooding, near-miscible flooding, and miscible flood-ing after the conventional water flooding. The characteristics of CO2 flooding and the residual oil distribution after water flooding were quantitatively analyzed and evaluated. The results show that: (1) During the water flooding process, the oil produced from type I and type III samples mainly comes from large and some medium pores. Oil utilization of all pores is significant for type II samples. The physical properties and pore types have a greater impact on water flooding. Type I and II samples are more suitable for near-miscible flooding after water flooding. Type III samples are more suitable for miscible flooding after water flooding. (2) In the CO2 flooding, oil recovery increases gradually with increasing pressure for all three types of samples. Type II core samples have the highest recovery. Before miscibility, the oil recovered from type I and type II samples was primarily from large pores, however, the oil recovery mainly comes from medium pores when reaching miscibility. As for the type III samples, the oil produced in the immiscible state mainly comes from large and medium pores, and the enhanced oil recovery mainly comes from medium and small pores after reaching the near-miscible phase. (3) It can be seen from the microscopic re-sidual oil distribution that oil recovery will increase as the petrophysical properties of the rock model improve. The oil recovery of near-miscible flooding after water flooding regarding the type II model is up to 68.11%. The oil recovery of miscible flooding after water flooding about type III model is the highest at 74.57%. With increasing pressure, the proportion of flake residual oil grad-ually decreases, while the proportion of droplet-like and film-like residual oil gradually increases. Type II samples have a relatively large percentage of reticulated residual oil in the near-miscible stage.

The metabolome is the composition of all molecules present in an organism, metabolomics science allows us to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze metabolites and understand the biochemical state in response to genetic and environmental changes. The purpose of the study was to identify the metabolomic profile of biofluids (saliva and urine) of patients living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV/AIDS), and establish a possible association of metabolites with periodontal disease (PD). It was an analytical and descriptive study composed of 65 patients seen at the Center for Studies and Care for Special Patients (CEAPE-UNIP), who were divided into 4 predetermined groups (G), G1-PLHIV/AIDS and without PD, G2- PLHIV/Aids and with PD, G3-people without HIV/Aids and without PD, G4-people without HIV/Aids and with PD. The results showed that in relation to urine, G2 has the highest mean area of concentration of metabolites. There are statistically significant differences between G1 and G2. The area of G2 is greater than G3, and greater than G4. There are no differences between G3 and G4, neither between G1 and G3, nor between G1 and G4. Regarding saliva, there are no statistically significant differences when comparing the groups for the mean areas of concentration of metabolites. We conclude that it was possible to distinguish the metabolic profile of PLHIV/Aids with periodontal disease and without periodontal disease, some metabolites are over expressed in PLHIV/Aids and with PD. Most of the metabolites of the carbohydrate group are under expressed in PLHIV/AIDS, even in systemic compensation situations these patients presented a different metabolic profile.

Studies of Phytophthora impacts in forests generally focus on individual species without recogni-tion that Phytophthora occur in multispecies communities. We investigated community structure of Phytophthora species in the rhizosphere of Agathis australis (kauri) in Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa / Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand, in the context of kauri dieback disease expression. Soil sampling and tree health monitoring was conducted on 767 randomly selected mature kauri trees. Phy-tophthora species were detected using both soil baiting and DNA metabarcoding of eDNA. Four species were detected with soil baiting (P. agathidicida, P. cinnamomi, P. multivora, and P. pseudo-cryptogea) and an additional three species with metabarcoding (P. kernoviae, P. cactorum/P. aleatoria and an unknown clade 7 species). Phytophthora cinnamomi was the most abundant species and was distributed throughout the forest. Both P. multivora and P. agathidicida were limited to forest edges, suggesting more recent arrivals. P. agathidicida presence was strongly correlated with declining canopy health, confirming its role as the main river of kauri dieback. The limited distribution of P. agathidicida and infrequent detections (11.0% samples) suggests that that this species is spreading as an introduced invasive pathogen and provide hope that with strategic management uninfected areas of the forest can be protected. The frequent detections of P.cinnamomi and P. multivora, from symptomatic trees in the absence of P. agathidicida suggest more research is needed to understand their roles in kauri forest health.

In this study, the separation conditions of UHPLC-QTOF-MS and the extraction conditions of QuEChERS were optimized. The analytical process for determining Broflanilide residues in different soil types was successfully established and applied to its adsorption, desorption and leaching in soil. Broflanilide was extracted from soil with acetonitrile as extraction solvent, and purified with 50 mg PSA + 150 mg MgSO4. The modified UHPLC-QTOF-MS method was used for determination. In different types of soil, the average recovery of Broflanilide was 87.7% -94.38%, and the RSD was lower than 7.6%. In the analysis and determination of the adsorption, desorption and leaching properties in four soils, the RSD was less than 9.2%, showing good stability and can be applied to the analysis and determination of the residue of Broflanilide in different soils.

The main goal of the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission over land surfaces is the production of global maps of soil moisture (SM) and vegetation optical depth (τ) based on multi-angular brightness temperature (TB) measurements at L-band. The operational SMOS Level 2 and Level 3 soil moisture algorithms account for different surface effects, such as vegetation opacity and soil roughness at 4 km resolution, in order to produce global retrievals of SM and τ. In this study, we present an alternative SMOS product which was developed by INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) and CESBIO (Centre d’Etudes Spatiales de la BIOsphère). This SMOS-INRA-CESBIO (SMOS-IC) product provides daily SM and τ at the global scale and differs from the operational SMOS Level 3 (SMOSL3) product in the treatment of retrievals over heterogeneous pixels. Specifically, SMOS-IC is much simpler and does not account for corrections associated to the antenna pattern and the complex SMOS viewing angle geometry. It considers pixels as homogeneous to avoid uncertainties and errors linked to inconsistent auxiliary data sets which are used to characterize the pixel heterogeneity in the SMOS L3 algorithm. SMOS-IC also differs from the current SMOSL3 product (Version 300, V300) in the values of the effective vegetation scattering albedo (ω) and soil roughness parameters. An inter-comparison is presented in this study based on the use of ECMWF (European Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting) SM outputs and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) from MODIS (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). A 6 year (2010-2015) inter-comparison of the SMOS products SMOS-IC and SMOSL3 SM (V300) with ECMWF SM yielded higher correlations and lower ubRMSD (unbiased root mean square difference) for SMOS-IC over most of the pixels. In terms of τ, SMOS-IC τ was found to be better correlated to MODIS NDVI in most regions of the globe, with the exception of the Amazonian basin and of the northern mid-latitudes.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide (HP) use in the hospital water network disinfection to control Legionella spp. colonization. Methods: Following the detection of high levels of Legionella contamination in a 136-bed general hospital water network, an HP treatment of the hot water (25 mg/L) was adopted. During a period of 34 months, the effectiveness of HP on Legionella colonization was assessed. Legionella was isolated in accordance with ISO-11731 and identification was carried out by sequencing of the mip gene. Results: Before HP treatment L.pneumophila sg 2-15 was isolated in all sites with a mean count of 9950±8279 CFU/L. After one month of HP-treatment, we observed the disappearance of L. pneumophila 2-15, however other Legionella species never cultured before appeared; Legionella pneumophila 1 was isolated in 1 out of 4 sampling sites (2,000 CFU/L) and other non-pneumophila species in all sites (mean load 3,000 ±2887 CFU/L). Starting from September 2013, HP-treatment was modified adding food-grade polyphosphates and in the following months we observed a progressive reduction of the mean load of all species (p<0.05), until to a substantial disappearing of Legionella colonization. Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide demonstrated a good efficacy in controlling Legionella. Although in the initial phases of treatment it seemed unable to eliminate all the species, by keeping HP levels to 25 mg/L and adding food-grade polyphosphates, a progressive and complete control of colonisation was obtained.

(1) Background: There is insufficient empirical evidence on the correlates of health care utilization of irregular migrants currently living in Turkey. The aim of this study was to identify individual level determinants associated with health service and medication use. (2) Methods: 155 Afghans completed surveys assessing service utilization including encounters with primary care physicians and outpatient specialists in addition to the use of prescription and nonprescription medicines. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between service use and a range of predisposing, enabling, and perceived need factors. (3) Results: Health services utilization was lowest for outpatient specialists (20%) and highest for nonprescription medications (37%). Female gender and higher income predicted encounters with primary care physicians. Income, and other enabling factors such as family presence in Turkey predicted encounters with outpatient specialists. Perceived illness-related need factors had little to no influence on use of services; however, asylum difficulties increased the likelihood for encounters with primary care physicians, outpatient services, and the use of prescription medications. 4) Conclusion: This study suggests that health services use among Afghan migrants in Turkey is low considering the extent of their perceived illness-related needs, which may be further exacerbated by the precarious conditions in which they live.

In this study we discuss critical issues in modelling the structure and function of lymph nodes (LNs), with emphasis on how LN physiology is related to its multi-scale structural organization. In addition to macroscopic domains such as B-cell follicles and the T cell zone, there are vascular networks which play a key role in the delivery of information to the inner parts of the LN, i.e., the conduit and blood microvascular networks. We propose object-oriented computational algorithms to model the 3D geometry of the fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) network and the microvasculature. Assuming that a conduit cylinder is densely packed with collagen fibers, the computational flow study predicted that the diffusion should be a dominating process in mass transport than convective flow. The geometry models are used to analyze the lymph flow properties through the conduit network in unperturbed- and damaged states of the LN. The analysis predicts that elimination of up to 60–90 % of edges is required to stop the lymph flux. This result suggests a high degree of functional robustness of the network.

We present a series of computer-assisted high resolution transmission electron (HRTEM) simulations to determine Moiré patters by induced twisting effects between slabs at rotational angles of 3°, 5°, 8°, and 16°, for molybdenum disulfide, graphene, tungsten disulfide, and tungsten selenide layered materials. In order to investigate the electronic structure, a series of numerical simulations using DFT methods was completed using CASTEP with a generalized gradient approximation to determine both band structure and density of states on honeycomb like new superlattices. Our results indicate metallic transitions when rotation approaches 8° with respect to each other for most of the two-dimensional systems that were analyzed.

The population’s mobility in urban areas is a necessary variable in the modeling of risk scenarios caused by atmospheric contamination. The inclusion of this concept makes static models more dynamic while considering people within a city to be an entity with complex mobility processes. We propose a conceptual and methodological tool to make the representation of the social, economic and territorial components, as well as the patterns in the population´s mobility to delimitate risk areas for human health by exposure of contaminants. In the volatile organic compounds (VOC), benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene (BTEX) are amongst the most dominant substances in fugitive vapor emissions in gas stations (GS). In urban areas, the exposure to BTEX by residential proximity and proximity to other facilities, which cause intra-urban agglomeration, can impact and affect human health. This model seeks to facilitate the focalization, identification and prioritization of risk areas by BTEX environmental contamination. This article goes beyond de conceptual framework. It suggests methodological and instrumental aspects to be applied in other cities. The government agencies must consider these results when establishing rules, permissions and procedures to reduce environmental pollution for managing the risk in a complex urban environment.

Obesity is a global public health problem and the environment as its major determinant. To identify interventions an evidence base is warranted. To this aim we investigate the relationship between the consumption of foods and eating locations (like home, school/work and others) in British adolescents, using data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Program (2008–2012 and 2013-2016). Cross-sectional analysis of 62,523 food diary entries from this nationally representative sample then focused on foods contributing up to 80% total energy to the daily adolescent´s diet. Correspondence Analysis (CA) was first used to generate food-location relationship hypotheses and Logistic Regression (LR) to quantify the evidence in terms of odds ratios and formally test those hypotheses. The less-healthy foods that emerged from CA were chips, soft drinks, chocolate and meat pies. Adjusted Odds Ratios (99% CI) for consuming specific foods at a location “Other” than home (H) or school/work (S) in the 2008-12 survey sample were: for soft drinks 2.8 (2.1 to 3.8) vs. H and 2.0 (1.4 to 2.8) vs. S; for chips 2.8 (2.2 to 3.7) vs. H and 3.4 (2.1 to 5.5) vs. S; for chocolates 2.6 (1.9 to 3.5) vs. H and 1.9 (1.2 to 2.9) vs. S; and for meat pies 2.7 (1.5 to 5.1) vs. H and 1.3 (0.5 to 3.1) vs. S. These trends were confirmed in the 2013-16 survey sample. Interactions between location and BMI were not significant in either sample. In conclusion, our study showed that adolescents are more likely to consume specific less-healthy foods at locations away from home and school/work, irrespective of BMI. Such locations include leisure places, food outlets and “on the go”, hence public health policies to discourage less-healthy food choices in these locations is warranted for all adolescents.

The mining industry is a fundamental pillar of economic development in Peru, but mine tailings can generate contamination by toxic heavy metals such as Hg, As, Pb, Cd, and Zn, affecting health, flora, and fauna. This research aimed to characterize the physical, chemical, mineralogical, and toxicological properties of active and passive tailings in the Arequipa region of Peru to identify and quantify the presence of these heavy metals. Analytical techniques, such as granulometry, ICP, TCLP, SEM, and EDS were used to obtain detailed information about the characteristics of the tailings. The results showed significant variability in particle size distribution, as well as differences in mineralogical composition, including the presence of valuable and potentially toxic minerals. This study will allow corrective actions to be taken to prevent, minimize, or remediate potential negative impacts in the region.

When we grow old, we experience loss of muscle strength and power, a condition commonly referred to as sarcopenia (ICD-10-CM code (M62.84)). Sarcopenia leads to disability in 5-10% of the population. In this review we emphasise that it is not a sudden event, but a deterioration that occurs over time but is only recognised as a disease when it becomes clinically manifest in the 6th-7th decade of life. Evidence from animal studies, elite athletes and longitudinal population studies all confers that once sarcopenia is manifested, the underlying process has been ongoing for decades. We present various hypotheses about the underlying cause(s) of this process and their supporting evidence, i.e. does this disease have a neurogenic, a myogenic or a scaffold-related origin? We briefly review various proposals to alleviate sarcopenia, including stem cell rejuvenation, combating scaffold degeneration, reducing senescent cell burden, skeletal muscle secretomes and muscle innervation. We conclude that although there are potential target candidates and ongoing preclinical and clinical trials with drug treatments, the only evidence-based intervention today is exercise. We present different execrcise programmes and discuss to what extent the inter-individual susceptibility to developing sarcopenia is due to our genetic predisposition or lifestyle factors.

Introduction: Diagnosing and managing Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) is challenging due to its symptom overlap with Lyme disease (LD) and the lack of reliable laboratory diagnostics for BMD. This case study demonstrates the use of phage-based PCR (phb-PCR) to identify B. miyamotoi in a patient who had been bitten by ticks. Case presentation: A female patient aged 46 presented with joint and muscle pain, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and cognitive impairment after multiple tick bites in Europe. The patient was assessed for LD at the National Reference Centre in Strasbourg using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot. Additional diagnostics involved screening for Bartonella and Anaplasma antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence, and tests for antinuclear antibodies to check for autoimmune conditions. All serological and immunological tests yielded negative results. However, the phb-PCR identified B. miyamotoi. Consequently, the patient received treatment for BMD with a regimen of intravenous ceftriaxone, oral azithromycin, and additional intravenous vitamin and mineral therapy. Post-treatment evaluations showed significant improvements in pain levels, cognitive abilities, and fatigue. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of direct diagnostic methods like phb-PCR for identifying BMD when serological tests fail. Clinicians should consider B. miyamotoi testing for accurate and timely management of complex TBDs.

Background: COVID-19 has a major impact on businesses, with employee absenteeism resulting in lost productivity and medical costs to employers as well as lost wages and medical costs to employees. The aim of this analysis was to assess the economic impact of workplace COVID-19 vaccination in the United States (US).Methods: A decision tree economic model, populated with US data for the working-age population, estimated the burden of COVID-19 in the workplace (symptomatic infections, long COVID cases, inpatient/outpatient care, absent days) with and without vaccination. Disease burden and impact of seasonal influenza vaccination was studied for context. Results: Without workplace vaccination, an average US business (with 10,000 employees), had an estimated 18,175 absent days from COVID-19, resulting in employer lost productivity costs of $ 5.08 million. Implementing COVID-19 workplace vaccination (at 70% US Healthy People target vaccination rate) prevented an estimated 3,132 absent days, saving employers $ 876,453 in lost productivity costs and $240,633 in medical costs. It also saved employees $ 182,196 in medical costs and $198,250 in lost wages . Seasonal influenza caused around 5,333 absent days, and seasonal influenza vaccination (at 70% coverage) prevented 1,675 absent days, saving employers $ 468,394 in lost productivity and saving employees $ 27,757 in medical costs. Conclusions: COVID-19 remains a burden to US businesses. Implementing COVID-19 workplace vaccination and increasing vaccination coverage rates for COVID-19 and seasonal influenza has the potential to prevent a significant number of absent days, while providing employers and employees with cost savings from averted disease and its consequences.

To investigate switching from brimonidine and ripasudil, and brimonidine or ripasudil to a fixed combination of brimonidine and ripasudil and evaluate the associated efficacy and safety in glaucoma patients. Glaucoma patients undergoing treatment with at least brimonidine and ripasudil (n = 25) or treatment with at least brimonidine or ripasudil (n = 45) were evaluated in this retrospective study. After switching patients taking brimonidine and ripasudil, or brimonidine or ripasudil to a ripasudil/brimonidine fixed-combination ophthalmic suspension (RBFC), intraocular pressure (IOP), superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK) and conjunctival hyperemia were evaluated at baseline and at 4, 12 and 24 weeks. No significant differences in the IOPs were observed at any of the time points after switching from brimonidine and ripasudil to RBFC. However, at 4, 12 and 24 weeks, a significant decrease was observed in the mean baseline IOP from 17.0 ± 4.4 mmHg to 15.7 ± 3.2 mmHg (P < 0.01), 14.3 ± 3.4 mmHg (P < 0.01) and 14.4 ± 4.1 mmHg (P < 0.01), respectively, after switching from brimonidine or ripasudil to RBFC. No significant changes were noted for the SPK score or conjunctival hyperemia at any time points after switching to RBFC. Throughout the 24-week evaluation period, the IOP was maintained after switching from brimonidine and ripasudil to RBFC. However, there was a significant IOP decrease after switching from brimonidine or ripasudil to RBFC. These results demonstrate that RBFC is safe for use in the treatment of glaucoma patients.

Recent studies releaved that the high production of reactive oxidative species due to exposure of fine or ultrafine particles are implicated in many chronical respiratory disorders. However, the poor standard of clinical data in sub-Saharan countries makes very difficult the assessment of knowledge of air pollution health impact in urban cities. Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate distribution of respiratory disorders associated to exposure of air fine and ultrafine particles through changes of some oxidative stress biomarkers among motorbike drivers from two cities of Cameroon Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a standardized questionnaire was conducted in 2019 on 191 motorcycle drivers (MD) working in Douala and Dschang. Then, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by colorimetric methods. The data of participants after clustered in Excel Microsoft were analysed and statistically compared using Spss 2.0 software. Results: The motorbike drivers recruited to both cities were aged from 21 to 40, with mean age of 29.93 (± 0.82). The distribution of respiratory disorders as running nose, cold, dry cough, chest discomfort, and breathlessness, was significantly increased among MD in Douala. According to results of biological assays, SOD and MDA, were significantly more increased among MD recruited in Douala, compared to those of Dschang. The change of these oxidative stress markers was significantly correlated with mobilization of neutrophils and Monocytes showing initiation and evolution of subjacent inflammatory reactions, and seemed to be significantly influenced by place of habitation of MD. Conclusion: Through this study it is confirmed the evidence of initiation and evolution of oxidative stress with long-term exposure to air fine or ultrafine particles among active people in Urban cities. Further studies should be conducted with more analysis to provide evidence cellular damage and dysfunction related to chronically exposure to fine air PM among active people in metropolitan of sub-Saharan Africa context.

Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are the two most widespread and important species of mosquito-borne nematodes, posing a significant threat to veterinary health, particularly affecting canines and felines. While D. immitis causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis, D. repens causes subcutaneous infections in dogs and other carnivores. Despite extensive knowledge about the aforementioned parasites, little is known about their natural vectors in Serbia. Thus, the aim of this study was to: i) further map out Dirofilaria sp. hotspots in the Vojvodina Province, ii) detect positive mosquito species which can provide insights in how the nematodes spread and adapt to the environmental conditions, and iii) analyze the blood fed mosquitoes females of species found infected to identify the potential source of parasite infection. A total of 2,902 female mosquitoes were collected across 73 locations during 2021 and 2022. Molecular biology methods, based on conventional PCR, were used to analyze non-blood fed (2,521 specimens) and blood fed (381 specimens) mosquito females, in order to detect filarial nematode presence and identify blood meal sources respectively. When the parasite genome was detected, the amplicon (COI gene, 650 bp fragment) was sent for Sanger sequencing, further confirming the presence of nematodes and species assignation. D. immitis was detected in three Culex pipiens mosquitoes collected in XXXX (location and date), while Setaria tundra was detected in Aedes vexans and Aedes caspius. This work adds two new locations where D. immitis occurs in Vojvodina, and is the first report of S. tundra on the territory of Serbia. Blood meal analysis provided insights into the preferences of mosquitoes that were positive for Dirofilaria sp. and S. tundra.

Silver eel were sampled in 1981 and 1983 in River Brede, Denmark, with outlet to the North Sea. Yellow eel in River Køge-Lellinge, Denmark, with outlet to the Baltic Sea were sampled 1965-1968. Silver eel were aged by burning the otoliths. Silver male ages varied from 4 to 25 years, lengths 30.8 to 45.3 cm, and female silver eel varied from 7 to 25 years, lengths 42.3 to 77.3 cm. von Bertalanffy trajectories of length-at-age of male and female yellow eel were calculated in both rivers. Younger yellow eel had significantly higher annual growth rate compared to older age groups, and females grew significantly faster than males. Two models for natural mortality M were used to estimate number of glass eel needed to produce number of silver eel for each sex and silver age group. Annual silver eel production from River Brede Å was 49.2 kg ha-1, demanding 2,894 glass eel ha-1 and in River Køge-Lellinge, the silver eel production was 48.5 kg ha-1, demanding 5,570 glass eel ha-1. It was calculated that one (0.29 g) thousand glass eel contribute to 8.8 kg silver eel in River Køge-Lellinge, and 17.0 kg silver eel in River Brede. To fulfill the Danish EMP in rivers requires annual stocking of 33 tons or 9.4 million reared on-grown eel (3.5 g) to compensate for 183 tons lost silver eel.

The objective of this research was to study the dynamics of moisture and nutrition at the root zone and to quantify the variables linked to efficient water management in avocado orchards of mid and high-lands of Michoacán, México, in typical Andisols of low fertility with (A)C(w2) and C(w2) climates, respectively. Using the FDR (Frequency Domain Reflectometry) technology, the dynamics of soil moisture and salinity were recorded daily at four depths: 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, and 45-60 cm. The soil moisture balance model was used to determine actual evapotranspiration (ETr), crop coefficient (Kc), and water use efficiency (WUE). Results indicated that ETr is 66-73% of the total water at 0-30 cm depth; the fertilizer absorption is limited to 0-30 cm, being negligible at deeper layers. The water use efficiency is 4.4 to 5.6 kg of fruit m-3 of applied water, and the ratio of the water use index (ETr/irrigation sheet applied, ISA) is 0.65-0.70; while the annual avocado Kc is 0.72 in Cutzato and 0.78 in Tiamba. We concluded that avocado has a low water requirement, it does not cause leaching of nutrients and/or water, the absorption of water and nutrients mostly occurs at 30 cm depth, and from a hydrological point of view, the crop is environmentally friendly.

Regulatory T cells are key immune cells to initiate tolerable immune responses. TGFβ is the key cytokine of regulatory T cells. TGFβ is also the master cytokine to stimulate tissue fibrosis. Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease related to overt organ fibrosis. Thus, systemic sclerosis is a disease related to regulatory T cell over-representation. Besides, many end stage organ failures including heart failure, liver cirrhosis, uremia, and pulmonary fibrosis also related to tissue fibrosis. Thus, TGFβ producing regulatory T cells are also involved in the pathogenesis of these end stage organ failure. Once we know the significance of TGFβ and it induced tolerable immune reactions in the pathophysiology of end organ failure, we can develop better prevention or therapeutic strategies to combat these detrimental disorders.

The experiment assessed the impact of the interaction of two care treatments on the growth and flowering of two varieties of Panicle Hydrangea bushes. The first treatment considered was plant pruning. The second simultaneous treatment was one of the three mentioned, root application of Trichoderma atroviride and BlackJak biostimulator and foliar application of a multi-component fertilizer. The strongest impact on improving the length of hydrangea shoots compared to the control (18%) had their simultaneous pruning and inoculation of the plants with Trichoderma atroviride mycelium. These two treatments used together also increased the number of flowers (16-47% depending on the variety) and the fresh weight of plants (10-28%) compared to the control. The application of T. atroviride alone improved the number of flowers in both varieties (19-24%) and the diameter of inflorescences in the 'Silver Dollar' one (17%). Foliar nutrition in particular increased the mass of plants, depending on the variety and pruning, from 7 to 57%, as well as the diameter and number of inflorescences, but only in one of the varieties considered. Combined with pruning, it intensified the growth of shoots of both varieties (5-10%). The use of the BlackJak biostimulator gave ambiguous results. When pruning plants, the length of shoots improved (15%) for one of the tested varieties and the fresh weight for the other (18%). Without pruning, it increased the number of flowers (16%) and the diameter of inflorescences (9%) in one of the varieties considered, as well as the fresh weight of plants in both varieties (19-21%). Pruning the plants, regardless of the other treatments used, increased the length of the shoots and the fresh mass of the plants. On the other hand, it reduced the number of flowers and their diameter. In most cases, positive effects of the use of biostimulants and foliar fertilization on improving the growth and flowering of plants were obtained. After their use in combination with plant pruning, an improvement in the growth of hydrangea bushes was observed, while the number and diameter of flowers were reduced. The most beneficial care treatments for the growth and flowering of panicle hydrangea were the simultaneous application of T. atroviride and pruning of plants during container cultivation in a nursery.

The protection of grapevine from the diseases is now particularly focused on the development of environmentally friendly strategies. Although sulphur is not in itself a toxic substance, a large use towards powdery mildew, in organic vineyards especially, may cause problems to environment, health and safety of viticultural workers and plant phytotoxicity. The activity on powdery mildew of sulphur applied at doses reduced up to 50% in tank mixtures with silicates and Equisetum arvense based products, never tested on grapevine, was assessed. Two-year trials were carried out applying the products every 7-9 days in the period of greatest risk for spring ascosporic infections, in two organic vineyards in the Abruzzo region, Italy. The effectiveness towards the disease of the mixtures was demonstrated, often to a greater extent than that of full-dose sulphur, normally used in the vineyards. Furthermore, in vines treated with the mixtures, increases in yield quantity and quality, such as higher contents of soluble solids and lower levels of total acidity, have been shown. Due to the strong efficacy demonstrated on the leaves, silicon-based products + sulphur mixtures can also be recommended in eradicative applications, aimed at reducing the inoculum of the disease. The great activity of the mixtures demonstrated in this study suggests confirmation through further investigations on different cultivars and vine-growing areas at different levels of infection, also testing the effectiveness of individual silicon products against the disease.

The 2022-2023 Mpox multi-country outbreak, identified in over 110 WHO Member States, revealed a predominant impact on cisgender men, particularly those engaging in sex with men, while less frequently affecting women. This disparity prompted a focused investigation into the gender-specific characteristics of Mpox infections, particularly among women, to address a notable knowledge gap. This review systematically gathers and analyzes scientific literature and case reports concerning Mpox infections in women, covering a broad geographical spectrum including regions such as Buenos Aires, Brazil, Northern California, Colombia, Nigeria, Europe, Vietnam, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. The analysis delves into various aspects of Mpox in women, including clinical features, epidemiology, psychological impacts, preparedness strategies, and case studies, with particular attention to pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions. Empirical data from multiple studies underscore the unique epidemiological and clinical patterns of Mpox in women. In the United States, a small percentage of Mpox cases were reported among cisgender women, with a notable portion involving non-Hispanic Black or African American, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicities. The primary transmission route was identified as sexual or close intimate contact, with the virus predominantly manifesting on the legs, arms, and genital areas. Further, a study in Spain highlighted significant disparities in diagnosis delays, transmission modes, and clinical manifestations between genders, indicating a different risk profile and disease progression in women. Additionally, a case from Vietnam linked to a new Mpox sublineage in women emphasizes the role of women in the transmission dynamics and the importance of genomic monitoring. This review emphasizes the necessity for inclusive surveillance and research to fully understand Mpox dynamics across diverse population groups, including women. Highlighting gender and sexual orientation in public health responses is crucial for an effective approach to managing the spread and impact of the disease. The findings advocate for a gender-diverse assessment in health services and further research to explore the nuances of Mpox transmission, behavior, and progression among different groups, thereby enhancing the global response to Mpox and similar public health challenges.

This study examined the efficiency of a combined diagnostic approach in which bioamplification of Arizona 861 S1 citron was integrated with RT‒PCR to detect Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) and Hop Stunt Viroid (HSVd) in Citrus plants. The capacity of the combined method to diagnose mixed infections of CTV and HSVd, along with early single infections of both pathogens, was assessed by evaluating the incubation periods and differential detection capabilities between the combined and direct methods. The bioamplification method exhibited high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%) for CTV, enabling early detection even in patients with low-titer infections compared to direct RT‒PCR. However, for HSVd, the combined method achieved 50% sensitivity in early infections, highlighting the need for additional replicates to enhance diagnostic reliability. The relative concentrations of pathogens in mixed and simple infections were evaluated; the analysis revealed no significant differences, suggesting minimal interference between CTV and HSVd. This approach allows early detection of CTV but requires further refinement for HSVd diagnosis. These findings underscore the complementary roles of the cost-effectiveness of direct RT‒PCR and the sensitivity of the combined method in implementing effective disease control strategies in citrus crops.

Thailand has formulated her climate change policy and updated relevant plans and policies to align with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality and net zero GHG emissions. This study investigates the optimal level of GHG mitigation in Thailand, taking into account the marginal abatement cost (MAC) and social cost of carbon (SCC). It evaluates how energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies influence GHG reduction in the power and industrial sector and illustrates policy recommendations that align with the 2020 to 2050 policy and plan period. The findings indicate that there may be instances where GHG mitigation potential is insufficient to reach the national mile-stone. In such cases, it becomes imperative to leverage all technologies within the marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) and also utilization of the social cost of carbon for policy decision making and meeting the desired goals. In certain scenarios, the adoption of additional technologies or measures may be necessary, such as flexible power generation and deploying carbon capture and storage or hydrogen which are high-cost technologies. Furthermore, preparations should be made for multiple levels of climate change policies and plans beyond 2030.

Chalcones are a class of flavonoids possessing a variety of biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Therefore, chalcones and their derivatives have potential use in the control of postharvest diseases. In this work, the effects of 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone on the in vitro growth and in vivo pathogenicity of F. tricinctum and T. roseum were investigated. The results showed that 100 µM of 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone strongly inhibited mycelial growth and conidial production of F. tricinctum (32.3%) and T. roseum (65.2%) in vitro. This treatment also significantly inhibited the expansion of potato dry rot from F. tricinctum (48.6%) and apple rot spot from T. roseum (36.2%). The incubation of F. tricinctum and T. roseum conidia with this agent for 2 h increased their cell membrane permeability by 25% and 22.5%, respectively and conidial membrane permeability by 41.7 and 65.4%, respectively. This treatment also significantly inhibited the total respiration rate and activated the cyanide-resistant respiratory pathway in both pathogens. Protein immunoblotting showed that the treatment increased alternative oxidase (AOX) levels after 4 h in F. tricinctum and T. roseum by 52.76% and 39.13%, respectively. Conclusion: 100 µM 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore production in F. tricinctum and T. roseum in vitro and reduced their pathogenicity in postharvest potato and apple crops. Further analysis indicated that 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone disrupted the integrity of cell membranes and the mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain which leaded to ROS burst and oxidative stress, AOXs were induced directly or indirectly, and the cyanide resistant respiratory pathway was activated. The in vitro growth and pathogenicity of F. tricinctum and T. roseum were inhibited.

We evaluated epidemiological evolution and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the European Union (EU) and worldwide, and the effects of control strategies on them. We collected incidence, mortality, and gross domestic product (GDP) data between the first quarter of 2020 and of 2023. Then, we reviewed the effectiveness of the mitigation and zero-COVID control strategies. The statistical analysis was done calculating the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of two rates and its 95% confidence interval (CI). In the EU, COVID-19 presented six epidemic waves. The sixth one at the beginning of 2022 was the biggest. Globally, the biggest wave occurred at the beginning of 2023. Highest mortality rates were observed in the EU during 2020-2021 and globally at the beginning of 2021. In mitigation countries, mortality was much higher than in zero-COVID countries (IRR= 6.82; CI:6.14-7.60; p<0.001). A GDP reduction was observed worldwide, except in Asia. None of the eight zero-COVID countries presented a GDP growth percentage lower than the EU percentage in 2020, and 3/8 in 2022 (p=0.054). COVID-19 pandemic caused epidemic waves with high mortality rates and a negative impact on GDP. The zero-COVID strategy was more effective in avoiding mortality and potentially had less impact on GDP.

Background: Radiotherapy is an important part of the medical therapy concept treating tumors in the head and neck region; however, the impact on the field of dentistry could be im-mense. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of uni-versal adhesives and to compare the results of different application modes (etch-and-rinse and self-etch) on irradiated and sound human dentin. Methods: Dentin specimen of 180 extracted human wisdom teeth were divided in two superordinate groups. Ninety teeth received either no irradiation (control group) or the high-level therapeutic dose of 60 Gy (test group) applied frac-tionally (2 Gy/day, 5 days/week, 6 weeks). Samples from each group were randomly divided in-to six subgroups assigned to three established universal adhesives (Futurabond® U, VOCO; AdheSE® Universal, Ivoclar Vivadent; Xeno® Select, Dentsply) in both conceivable application modes: etch-and-rinse and self-etch (n = 15). Bond strength was assessed with a universal testing machine immediately after application and light curing of the adhesive materials. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA (p<0.01) and Tukey's test (p<0.05). Results: The effect of dentin irradiation and application mode for the adhesive restoration was found to be significant (p<0.01, ANOVA). In all groups, a decrease of µTBS could be observed when used on irradiated dentin. However, no significant influence of high level radiation on the bond strength of Futurabond® U and AdheSE® Universal in both modes could be evaluated (p>0.05, Tukey´s test). Solely in the case of the adhesive system Xeno® Select, significantly reduced bond strength could be determined in self-etch mode after irradiation (group 60 Xse) compared to the control group (0 Xse) (p<0.05, Tukey´s test). Conclusions: Within the limitations of an in vitro study, some effects of high-level tumor irradiation on the bond strength of universal adhesives can be detected. However, these effects were strongly depending on the used material and application mode.

Molecules sourced from marine environments hold immense promise for the development of novel therapeutic drugs, owing to their distinctive chemical compositions and valuable medicinal attributes. Notably, Talarolide A and Talaropeptides A-D have gained recent attention as potential candidates for pharmaceutical applications. This study aims to explore the chemical reactivity of Talarolide A and Talaropeptides A-D through the application of molecular modeling and computational chemistry techniques, specifically employing Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT). By investigating their chemical behaviors, the study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the potential pharmacological uses of these marine-derived compounds. The investigation involves the utilization of molecular modeling and computational chemistry tools, with a specific focus on Conceptual DFT. These techniques are applied to examine the chemical reactivity of Talarolide A and Talaropeptides A-D, shedding light on their potential for interacting with various biological targets. The research reveals insights into the chemical reactivity of Talarolide A and Talaropeptides A-D, uncovering active reaction sites and potential biological targets. Talarolide A demonstrates robust anti-inflammatory properties and antitumor activity against diverse cancer cell lines, while Talaropeptide A displays antimicrobial efficacy against both bacteria and fungi. The study underscores the significance of comprehending the chemical reactivity of natural marine products for advancing pharmaceutical development. By employing computational tools such as Conceptual DFT, this research uncovers crucial information about the active sites and potential targets of Talarolide A and Talaropeptides A-D. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of marine-derived peptides and their prospects as pharmaceutical agents, though further investigations are necessary to fully elucidate their pharmacological attributes.

Health issues of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) have gained significant attention as a key focus of China health goals. This study aimed to compare the differences in displacement skills and problem behaviors among children with varying degrees and types of ID, while also exploring their relationship. The study included 90 participants who were children with ID and had completed TGMD-2 displacement skills and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assessments. Covariance, partial correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the differences and correlations between these factors. The findings revealed that higher severity of intellectual disability was associated with lower scores in locomotor skills and increased manifestation of problem behaviors. Notably, there were significant variations in locomotor skills and problem behaviors among children with different types of intellectual disabilities. There is a positive correlation between locomotor skills and problem behaviors in children with intellectual disabilities, where locomotor skills can predict the occurrence of problem behaviors. In Conclusion, the research confirms that the development of locomotor skills can have a positive impact on the accompanying problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities.

Historical and Endowment Properties are different from Heritage and cultural Properties, as Historical and Endowment properties are governed by a unique set of laws that Waqf recipients must abide by. Property that is entrusted is usually in the form of buildings, land or valuables which in preservation is not limited to time as long as the property can be utilized. Reliable information technology is needed to ensure data security both digitally and physically, while the rapid development of information technology demands information openness and this will be a challenge in itself. The objectives of this study include examining the collection of historical databases and endowments, the relationship between digital data and physical data and management organizations. The method of how to design a query model to display data is then analyzed whether the data conforms to the rules in waqf management. The results are expected to bring up accurate data between digital data and physical data and if there are differences into findings for the next analysis.

Contamination of soil and crops with heavy metals (HMs) poses a significant environmental challenge in the United States. Hence, this study aimed to assess HM contamination levels from sampled Ohio and West Virginia soils using various pollution indicators analyses, including Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation index (lgeo), Contamination Factor (CF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) and identify the Translocation Factor (TF) of HMs in the edible part of the vegetables and further evaluate health risks associated with dietary exposure through estimations of Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Hazard Index (HI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Cancer Risk (CR) and Target Cancer Risk (TCR) on adults and children. In this study, Fe was the most predominant contaminant, ranging from 28.41 to 67.36 g/kg in the soil. Cancer risk assessment revealed that Ni poses significant risks. Therefore, regular monitoring of metal concentrations in soil and vegetables grown in these regions might mitigate potential health hazards in the future.

Low-sodium salt substitute (LSSS) has the potential in regulating sodium and potassium intake and has been available in China market for years. However, its real-world use and impact to sodium\potassium intake is unclear. Baseline data of 4000 adult participants who participated in three similar-designed randomized controlled trails were pooled together for this study. Self-reported awareness and use of LSSS were collected using the uniform questionnaire, and the 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion was used to estimate their dietary intake. Mixed-effects models were developed to assess the relationship between LSSS and 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion. 32.0% of the participants reported awareness of LSSS and 11.7% reported its current use. After adjusting location, sex, age, and education, compared with the group of participants unaware of LSSS, participants who were aware but not using LSSS and those who were using LSSS had a lower 24-h urinary sodium excretion by –356.1(95% CI: –503.9, –205.9) mg/d and –490.6(95% CI: –679.2, –293.7), respectively (p&lt;0.001). No significant difference was found for 24-h urinary potassium excretion and sodium-to-potassium ratio among the three groups (p&gt;0.05). In conclusion, although associated with lower sodium intake, the awareness and real-world use of LSSS are still very low in China.

The representation of aerosols in climate-chemistry models is important for air quality and climate change research, but it can require significant computational resources. To overcome this, simpler modules such as modal aerosol modules with three lognormal modes (MAM3) can be used. In this study, the coupling of the Carbon Bond Mechanism, version Z (CBMZ), and MAM3 chemistry modules in WRF-CAM5 was improved by adding biomass-burning emissions to both gas- and particle-phase chemistry and incorporating a conversion mechanism between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and secondary organic carbons (SOCs). The study conducted six simulations over the western U.S. and northeastern Pacific region and compared the model’s performance with observational benchmarks such as reanalysis, ground-based, and satellite data. The results showed that the model with enhanced chemistry capabilities had a 31% and 58% reduction in root-mean-square errors (RMSE) for black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) surface concentrations, respectively. The earlier release of the WRF-CAM5 version had two deficiencies that were addressed in this study. This research highlights the importance of accurate aerosol representation in climate-chemistry models for improving accuracy and reducing errors in simulations.

Older adults in low-and middle-income countries experience a disproportionate burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Unintentional injuries are among the major NCDs, and falls are the second leading cause of these injuries and deaths worldwide, including in Thailand. We aimed to culturally adapt the CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) for Thai older adults and explore the feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of using STEADI in primary care via trained community health workers (CHWs) and care managers (CMs). STEADI takes a coordinated care approach that consists of three steps: screening, assessing, and intervening. In Step a, CHWs screened fall risk in 20 community-dwelling older adults using three key questions and found that all of them had fall risk, then CHWs screened with a Stay Independent questionnaire (range 0-14) and found that 100% have high fall risk (total scores 9.7± 2.4). In Step b, CMs assessed balance, vision, footwear, postural hypotension, medications, and CHWs assessed home hazards. They found that 50% had poor balance, 70% took 4+ medications,75% fell on the walkway, and 70% had no bathroom modifications. In Step c, individual participants received fall prevention interventions to mitigate their specific fall risk factors. CHWs and CMs indicated high acceptability (19.20±.1.31 of 20 total), appropriateness (18.80± 1.79 of 20 total), and feasibility (18.60±1.67 of 20 total) of the Thai-STEADI intervention. Our study showed that the community-based multifactorial Thai-STEADI delivered by CHWs and CMs is feasible and acceptable to prevent falls in older adults with limited access to health care.

Samples of mortar mixtures were prepared substituting the cement Portland (CPC-30R) by 0 (standard), 10 and 15% of fly ash and the structural evolution and compressive strength at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days were determined. The results for standard mortar samples showed the mineralogi-cal species portlandite, calcite, ettringite, iron oxide, silicon oxide and sillimanite. Magnetite was identified in the mixtures of mortars with portland cement substitution by 10% and 15% fly ash. The peaks corresponding to the portlandite, and ettringite showed an increase in their intensities with increasing curing time attributed to the consolidation of mineral species. The SEM tech-nique results showed that the mortar samples without fly ash addition contained mainly port-landite and ettringite while the samples with cement substitution by 10 and 15% of fly ash at 28 days further contained particles of fly ash coated with portlandite and ettringite, particles with a smooth surface and particles of fly ash with signs of attack on its surface. An increase inc was observed when the age of the mortar and the substitution of Portland cement by fly ash were increased from 3 to 28 days and from 0 to 15% respectively. The maximum value of c was reg-istered for the mortar sample with Portland cement substitution by 15% fly ash at 28 days of curing with 17.38 Mpa.

Purpose: This research, compared the dissociated phoria state at near and distance fixation in free space, using three different techniques; the Howell test, alternate Cover test and Thorington test. Methods: A total of 220 healthy Mexican children from Querétaro, 5.06 to 17.11 years of age, participated in this study. The magnitude of phorias at both distances was quantified using each of the tests, starting from the least to the most disruptive one. The degree of stereopsis, break, and recovery value of the near point of convergence were also analyzed to understand the interaction among them and their impact on the sensorimotor balance of the visual system. Results: Despite their different ways of dissociation, for patients with exophoria or esophoria at near, the alternate Cover test and Thorington provide similar values. If examining the exophoria state at distance, the alternate Cover and Howell test are similar, whereas for the esophoria, the alternate Cover and Thorington give similar results. The break value and the magnitude of exophoria at near can predict the stereopsis degree. The break value and the magnitude of exophoria are related to each other. Gender doesn´t relate to any variable, whereas age, is associated with the degree of stereopsis and the break of NPC. Conclusions: The statistical analysis showed that the alternate Cover and Thorington test, despite their different ways of dissociation, can substitute one another, whereas the Howell test, cannot be interchangeable with the other two. The different way of dissociation this test uses, can be related to the obtained results. By analyzing the crucial elements of the binocular visual system, can help professionals determine the interaction among them and their impact on its sensorimotor balance.

Olfactory dysfunction affects often has severe consequences on patients’ quality of life. The most common complaint in these patients is their reduced enjoyment of food in both patients with olfactory loss and parosmia. How the different types of olfactory dysfunction differ in relation to food and cooking habits, sensory awareness, and food-related quality of life has not yet received much attention. By applying questionnaires on cooking, food, olfactory function, weight changes, sensory awareness, and food-related quality of life, we investigate how various aspects of eating differ between participants with olfactory loss (n=271), parosmia(n=251), and normosmic controls(n=166). Cooking habits in olfactory dysfunction revealed pronounced differences as compared with normosmic controls. Cooking with olfactory dysfunction was associated with e.g., a lack of comfort and inspiration for cooking and an inability to make new foods successfully. Significant differences in cooking were also found between olfactory loss and parosmia. Food items were less familiar in participants with olfactory loss and parosmia, while the ratings of liking food items differed between olfactory loss and parosmia, indicating the importance of adapting ingredients in meals separately for olfactory loss and parosmia. Parosmia was associated with a higher incidence of weight loss, but we found no difference in the food-related quality of life between participants with olfactory loss and parosmia. While olfactory loss and parosmia have wide-ranging consequences on patients’ cooking and food habits, adapting meals to include ‘safer food items’ and integrating multisensory stimulation may be a possible avenue for improving the enjoyment of food.

High purity TiO2 and CuO powders were synthesized by the Pechini method, an inexpensive and easy-to-implement procedure to synthetize metal oxides. The variables of synthesis were the ethylene glycol:citric acid molar ratio and the pH. High reproducibility of the anatase and tenorite phase was obtained for all synthesis routes. The degree of purity of the powders was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, UV-vis absorption and XPS spectra. SEM and TEM images revealed the powders are composed by micrometer grains that can have a spherical shape (only in the TiO2) or formed by a non-compacted nanocrystalline conglomerate. FTIR spectra only vibrational modes associated to the TiO2 or CuO with a nanoparticle behavior. UV-vis absorption spectra revealed the values of maximum absorbance percentage of both systems are reached in the ultraviolet region, with percentages above 83 % throughout the entire visible light spectrum for the CuO system, a relevant result for solar cell applications. Finally, XPS experiments allow the observation of the valence bands and the calculation of the energy bands of all oxides.

Cyanobacteria are extensively studied and cultured because they can produce many value-added substances among which are pigments, mainly the phycobiliproteins phycocyanin (PC), phycoerythrin (PE), allophycocyanin (APC) and chlorophyll-a and carotenoids as well. As numerous cyanobacterial species await optimization for maximizing pigment production, we examined here two local marine species, Phormidium sp. and Cyanothece sp. batch cultured under 18-19.5 oC, at 40 ppt salinity with Walne’s nutrient medium, using white LED light of low (2000 lux) and high (8000 lux) intensity and additionally blue, green and red LED light. Significant differences were found among the intensities and colors of light used. Maximum growth was induced by high white light in both species (2.15 g dw/L in Phormidium and 1.47 g/L in Cyanothece). Next to them was green light (1.25 g/L) in Cyanothece and low white and green (1.26 – 1.33 g/L) in Phormidium. Green light maximized phycocyanin content in Phormidium (0.45 mg/mL), while phycoerythrin was maximized (0.17 mg/mL) by blue light and allophycocyanin by all colors (~0.80 mg/mL). All colors maximized phycocyanin in Cyanothece (~0.32 mg/mL) while phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin were maximized under green light (~0.138 and 0.38 mg/mL respectively). In Phormidium maximization of chlorophyll-a (9.3 μg/mL) was induced by green light while total carotenoids and b-carotene (3.05 and 0.89 μg/mL respectively) by high white light. In Cyanothece both white light intensities along with green light maximized chlorophyll-a content (~9 μg/mL) while high white light and green maximized total carotenoids (2.6-3.0 μg/mL).

The rise in prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive age in both developed and developing countries might propagate intergenerational cycles of detrimental effects on metabolic health, contributing to substantial economic burden on society. Placental lipid metabolism might be disrupted by maternal obesity, which possibly affects the life-long health of the offspring. Here, we investigated placental lipid metabolism and handling from women with pre-gestational obesity as a sole pregnancy complication and compared to placental responses of lean women. Open profile and targeted lipidomics were used to assess placental lipids and oxidized products of docosahexahenoic acid (DHA), neuroprostanes, and arachidonic acid (AA), isoprostanes. Placental fatty acid transporters FABP1, FABP3 and endothelial lipase protein were measured. Despite no signs of overall alterations in lipid content, increased contents of DHA, AA, DHA-derived neuroprostanes and AA-derived isoprostanes and decreased content of FABP1 protein were found in placentas from obese women. Multivariate analyses suggested that these oxidised fatty acids are associated with maternal and placental inflammation and also with birth weight. These results might shed light on the molecular mechanisms associated with altered fatty acid metabolism and lipid handling in maternal pre-gestational obesity, placing these oxidized fatty acids as novel mediators of placental function.

We attempted to establish an objective method to accurately evaluate the motility of bull sperm and examined the effects of media for sperm suspensions and frame rates on data of computer-assisted sperm motility analysis (CASA). Sperm incubated in Brackett and Oliphant medium (BO) more clearly showed hyperactivation-like motility than those in synthetic oviductal fluid. Sperm images captured at 150 frames per second (fps) showed a trajectory that was closer to the real pathway than those at other frame rates (30, 50, and 75 fps). We then examined the characteristics of sex-sorted and non-sorted semen using a cluster analysis followed by a discriminant analysis of sperm motility in BO at 150 fps. The results indicated that sex-sorted semen contained sperm with hyperactivation-like motility as the main subpopulation immediately after thawing and this subpopulation decreased after 2-h incubation. The main subpopulation in non-sorted semen had progressive motility that was maintained during incubation. In conclusion, usage of BO for sperm suspensions and capturing sperm motility at 150 fps by CASA were appropriate for evaluating bovine sperm motility. A discriminant analysis using data from a cluster analysis of motile sperm has the ability to accurately describe differences in the structures of sperm motility subpopulations.

Recent evidence suggests that among behavioral-lifestyle factors, adherence to a healthy dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is linked not only to better psychological health and mental positive status but also to increased subjective well-being (SWB). Nevertheless, this association has been unexplored among individuals with excessive weight. This study explored whether adherence to the MedDiet and the intake of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables (FV) are associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction among Spanish adults with overweight or obesity when weight, body image, and body satisfaction are also considered. A convenience sample of adult individuals with excessive weight completed self-reports on the study variables, and weight and BMI were measured by bioimpedance. No evidence of a relationship with SWB indicators was obtained for MedDiet global indicators, probably due to the low adherence to a healthy diet by these individuals. In contrast, FV intake, as a powerful indicator of healthy eating, was associated with life satisfaction when BMI and body image dimensions were considered, among which body satisfaction also had a key role. Moreover, life satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between FV consumption and happiness. Our findings are expected to make a relevant contribution to knowledge on the positive correlates or protective factors for overall well-being in obesity, including dietary habits and body appreciation. Our results may inform obesity management actions focused on inclusive, positive aesthetic models and promoting a healthy lifestyle for happiness in obesity.

Abstract: Increasing physical activity (PA) and personal and social values are two of the greatest demands in the current educational system. This study examined the effect of a hybrid pro-gramme based on the Personal and Social Responsibility Model and Gamification. A total of 58 students (13.89 years old, SD = 1.14) in two groups (Experimental and Control) participated dur-ing a complete academic year. Motivation, physical activity and sedentary behaviour were as-sessed though questionnaires. Physical fitness was evaluated using previously validated field tests. The results showed significant differences over time between EG and CG in afterschool physical activity (APA) at the weekend (p = 0.003), sedentary time (p = 0.04) and speed-agility (p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in motivation. Regarding the intervention, speed-agility (p = 0.000), strength (p = 0.000), agility (p = 0.000), cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.001), APA-weekend (p = 0.000), APA-week (p= 0.000) and sedentary time (p = 0.000) increased signifi-cantly in the EG. Speed-agility (p = 0.000), APA-weekend (p = 0.03) and sedentary time (p = 0.008) increased in the CG. The use of this hybrid program can be useful to produced improvements in physical fitness, physical activity and sedentary hevaviours. The use of a hybrid program based on teaching personal and social responsibility and gamification strategies, produced improvements in physical fitness, physical activity and sedentary behavior, but not in motivation variables. Further research is demanded in order to contrast this relevant findings due to the potential drawbacks and diversity found in the scientific literature among model-based practice.

Pancreatic β-cell-specific clock knock-out mice develop β cell oxidative-stress and failure, as well as glucose-intolerance. How inflammatory stress affects the cellular clock is under-investigated. Real-time recording of Per2:luciferase reporter activity in murine and human pancreatic islets demonstrated that the proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) lengthened the circadian period. qPCR-profiling of core clock gene expression in insulin-producing cells suggested that the combination of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) caused pronounced but uncoordinated increases in mRNA levels of multiple core clock genes, in particular of Reverse-erythroblastosis virus α (Rev-erbα), in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The REV-ERBα/β agonist SR9009, used to mimic cytokine-mediated Rev-erbα induction, reduced constitutive and cytokine-induced Brain and muscle arnt-like 1 (Bmal1) mRNA levels in INS-1 cells as expected. SR9009 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced insulin-1/2 (Ins-1/2) mRNA and accumulated- and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, reduced cell-viability, and increased apoptosis levels, reminiscent of cytokine toxicity. In contrast low (<5,0 μM) concentrations of SR9009 increased Ins-1 mRNA and accumulated insulin-secretion without affecting INS-1 cell viability, mirroring low-concentration IL-1β mediated β-cell stimulation. Inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, the lysine deacetylase HDAC3 and the immunoproteasome reduced cytokine-mediated increases in clock gene expression. In conclusion, the cytokine-combination perturbed the intrinsic clocks operative in mouse and human pancreatic islets and induced uncoordinated clock gene expression in INS-1 cells, the latter effect associated with NO, HDAC3 and immunoproteasome activity.

Computational methods are essential to support and advance nuclear technologies due to the hazards of handling and analysing highly radioactive materials such as spent nuclear fuel (SNF). However, many such methods, including those thatcan predict SNF compositions and decay heat parameters, require expensive, proprietary software, alongside significant programming experience and computational power for utilisation, severely limiting availability of data and hampering research throughput. Although some datasets are available, many are incomplete or only cover certain fuel systems for older reactor types. Research investigating new methods for SNF recycling, for example, requires compositional and decay heat data for fuel systems not covered by extant data, though analogous source data may be available. With this in mind, we have developed a simple, accessible, and flexible method for extrapolation of isotopic, elemental, and decayheat compositions for SNF at discharge and following decay storage before recycling, based on an extant dataset. This semi-empirical method uses physical and mathematical first principles and can be performed using software accessible to all researchers. This provides outputs accurate to within 1% of reference values interpolated within the range of available data for isotopic compositions, with sensible extrapolations at higher burnups beyond those reported, withoverall elemental outputs accurate to within 0.1%of expected totals. In this publication, we present the developmental methodology, some sample data, the present limitations, and options for future development and expansion of functionality.

Two conundrums have puzzled COVID-19 investigators: 1) morbidity and mortality is rare among Infants and young children and 2) rates of morbidity and mortality exhibit very large variances across nations, locals and even within cities. These differences correlate with rates of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and pneumococcal vaccination, which are almost universal among infants and vary widely by geography among adults and the elderly. The higher the rate of vaccination, the lower the COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Vaccination rates with other vaccines, including BCG and poliovirus, do not correlate with COVID-19 risks. Notably, both Hib and pneumoccoci are common co-infections with influenza and coronaviruses and are associated with more severe disease and risk of death. Whether the vaccines simply protect against COVID-19 complications, directly protect against COVID-19 infection by inducing cross-reactive immunity, or are markers for some other types of protection such as availability of better healthcare, is not yet known. What is known is that improving coverage rates of Hib and pneumococcal vaccination has significantly lowered severe morbidity and mortality in influenza epidemics and might have similar efficacy for mitigating coronavirus outbreaks. If infants and children are valid indicators, the beneficial effects might be very significant. The possibility that anti-viral proteins in milk (e.g., lactoferrin) protect against COVID-19 is also explored.

The use of Hyperspectral (HS) and LiDAR acquisitions has a great potential to enhance mapping and monitoring practices of endangered grasslands habitats, beyond conventional botanical field surveys. In this study we assess the potentiality of Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) in combination with Random Forest (RF) classification in extracting the main HS and LiDAR features needed to map selected Natura 2000 grasslands along Polish lowland river valleys, in particular alluvial meadows 6440, lowland hay meadows 6510 and xeric and calcareous grasslands 6120. We developed an automated RFE-RF system capable to combine the potentials of both techniques and applied it to multiple acquisitions. Several LiDAR-based products and different Spectral Indexes (SI) were computed and used as input in the system, with the aim of shedding light on the best-to-use features. Results showed a remarkable increase in classification accuracy when LiDAR and SI products are added to the HS dataset, strengthening in particular the importance of employing LiDAR in combination with HS. Using only the 24 optimal features selection generalized over the three study areas, strongly linked to the highly heterogeneous characteristics of the habitats and landscapes investigated, it was possible to achieve rather high classification results (K around 0.7-0.77 and habitats F1 accuracy around 0.8-0.85), indicating that the selected Natura 2000 meadows and dry grasslands habitats can be automatically mapped by airborne HS and LiDAR data. Similar approaches might be considered for future monitoring activities in the context of habitats protection and conservation

This study compared the mineral content and bioactive properties of flowers and fruit coming from wild elderberry plants with those of flowers and fruit harvested from elderberry cultivars grown in an orchard. Elderberry fruit and flowers were analysed for the content of selected minerals, phenolic compounds and anthocyanins and for antioxidant activity. Mineral content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry method, while antioxidant activity and the content of polyphenols and anthocyanins were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Flowers were found to contain more total ash and to have much higher content of most of minerals, except magnesium, which was present in high concentrations in fruit. Fruit showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than flowers, whereas the total phenolic content varied depending on the growing location / cultivar. The material obtained from selected cultivars growing in an orchard had higher antioxidant activity and polyphenol and anthocyanin content than the material obtained from wild plants. Fruit of the ‘Haschberg’ cultivar and flowers of the ‘Sampo’ cultivar had the best bioactive properties of the studied samples.

Accumulating evidence suggests that TNF-α-mediated immune-neurotoxicity contributes to cognitive impairments and the overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS). There are no data whether peripheral IL-6 and IL-4 may affect the phenome of schizophrenia above and beyond the effects of TNF-α and whether those cytokines are regulated by lowered natural IgM to malondialdehyde (MDA) and paraoxonase 1 enzyme activity. We assessed the aforementioned biomarkers in schizophrenia patients with (n=40) and without (n=40) deficit schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls. Deficit schizophrenia was best predicted by a combination of increased IL-6 and PON1 status (QQ genotype and lowered CMPAase activity) and lowered IgM to MDA. Partial Least Squares bootstrapping shows that 41.0% of the variance in negative symptoms, psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism, psychomotor retardation, and formal thought disorders was explained by increased TNF-α and PON1 status (QQ genotype and lowered CMPAase activity), lowered IL-4 and IgM to MDA as well as male sex and lowered education. We found that 47.9% of the variance in verbal fluency, word list memory, true recall, Mini-Mental State Examination, and executive functions was predicted by increased TNF-α and lowered IL-4, IgM to MDA and education. In addition, both TNF-α and IL-4 levels were significantly associated with lowered IgM to MDA, while TNF-α was correlated with PON1 status. These data provide evidence that the symptomatic (both the deficit subtype and OSOS) and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia are to a large extent mediated by the effects of immune-mediated neurotoxicity as well as lowered regulation by the innate immune system.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementing L-isoleucine (L-Ile) on milk protein synthesis, using an immortalized bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cell line. In this case, the cells were treated with 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5 mM of supplemental Isoleucine (Ile), and the most efficient time for protein synthesis for each amino acid was determined by measuring the cell, medium and total protein at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Confirmatory tests showed that 48h incubation time and 0.6 mM dosage of L-Ile are considered as the optimal time and dosage. The mechanism of milk protein synthesis was elucidated through proteomics analysis to clarify the metabolic pathway. When the L-Ile was supplemented, extracellular protein (medium protein) reached a peak at 48h, whereas in the case of the intracellular cell protein, it was shown to have reached to its peak at 24h in all L-Ile dosage treatments. In total, it is noted that there were 63 upregulated and 52 downregulated proteins. The results of the protein pathway analysis showed that the L-Ile group stimulated insulin/IGF pathway-mitogen activated protein kinase kinase/MAP kinase cascade, insulin/IGF pathway-protein kinase B signaling cascade, p53 pathway, de novo purine biosynthesis, Wnt signaling pathway, glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, and ATP synthesis which are pathways involved and related to protein and energy metabolism. Together, these results demonstrate that L-Ile supplementation was effective in stimulating β-casein synthesis by stimulating genes and pathways which are significantly related to protein and energy metabolism.

The essential oils (EOs) obtained from aromatic plants are rich in natural compounds with interesting biological effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of EOs of Mentha pulegium (MP-EO) and Mentha suaveolens (MS-EO) collected from Morocco, and their antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity against Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. The EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation, while the chemical compositions were determined by GC-MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assay. Antibacterial activity was tested with disc diffusion assay; determination of minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and the evaluation of sub-lethally injured cell were also performed. The results of chemical composition showed the presence of compounds not still reported in EOs obtained from these plants. MS-EO was characterized by the best antioxidant and antibacterial activity vs S. enterica and L. monocytogenes respect to MP-EO. The EOs tested in this study were rich in compounds with interesting activities and they could be applied in the medical fields, as well as in food industries as natural preservatives against tested food borne pathogens.

Deficit schizophrenia is characterized by leaky tight and adherens junctions and bacterial translocation. Here we examine whether (deficit) schizophrenia is accompanied by leaky paracellular, transcellular and vascular barriers in the gut and blood brain barriers. We measured IgA responses to occludin, claudin-5, E-cadherin and β-catenin (paracellular pathway, PARA), talin, actin, vinculin and epithelial intermediate filament (transcellular pathway, TRANS) and plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP, vascular pathway) in 78 schizophrenia patients and 40 controls. IgA responses to claudin-5, E-cadherin and β-catenin, the sum of the four PARA proteins and the ratio PARA/TRANS were significantly higher in deficit schizophrenia than in non-deficit schizophrenia and controls. A large part of the variance in PHEMN (psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism and negative) symptoms, psychomotor retardation, formal thought disorders, verbal fluency, word list memory, word list recall and executive functions was explained by the PARA/TRANS ratio coupled with plasma IgA responses to Gram-negative bacteria, IgM to malondialdehyde, CCL-11 (eotaxin), IgA levels of the ratio of noxious to more protective tryptophan catabolites (NOX/PRO TRYCATs) and a plasma immune activation index. Moreover, IgA levels to Gram-negative bacteria were significantly associated with IgA to E-cadherin, β-catenin and PLVAP, while IgA levels to claudin-5 were significantly predicted by IgA to E-cadherin, NOX/PRO TRYCAT ratio, Gram-negative bacteria and CCL11. The phenomenology of the deficit syndrome is to a large extent explained by the cumulative effects of lowered natural IgM, breakdown of the paracellular and vascular pathways, increased bacterial translocation, peripheral immune-inflammatory responses and indices of BBB breakdown.

The study was done to determine the effect of supplementing different forms of L-methionine (L-Met) and acetate on protein synthesis in immortalized bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T Cell): Control, L-Met, conjugated L-Met and acetate (CMA), and non-conjugated L-Met and Acetate (NMA). Protein synthesis mechanism was determined by omics method. NMA group had the highest protein content in the media and β-casein mRNA expression levels (P < 0.05). The number of upregulated and downregulated proteins observed were 77 and 62 in CMA group and 50 and 81 in NMA group from 448 proteins, respectively (P < 0.05). NMA and CMA treatments stimulated pathways related to protein and energy metabolism (P < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis also revealed CMA and NMA treatments resulted in increases of several metabolites (P < 0.05). In conclusion, NMA treatment increased protein concentration and expression level of β-casein mRNA in MAC-T cells compared to CMA.

Populations with essential hypertension have a high risk of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, we investigated the mechanism that underlies the progression of hypertension-associated NASH by comparing differences in the development of high fat and cholesterol (HFC) diet-induced NASH among three strains of rats, i.e., two hypertensive strains comprising spontaneously hypertensive rats and the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive 5/Dmcr, and the original Wistar Kyoto rats as the normotensive control. We investigated histopathological changes and molecular signals related to inflammation in the liver after feeding with the HFC diet for 8 weeks. The diet induced severe lobular inflammation and fibrosis in the livers of the hypertensive rats, whereas it only caused mild steatohepatitis in the normotensive rats. Increased activation of proinflammatory signaling (transforming growth factor-β1/mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway) was observed in the hypertensive strains fed with the HFC diet. In addition, the HFC diet suppressed the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway in the hypertensive rats and led to lower increases in the hepatic expression of heme oxygenase-1, which has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In conclusion, these signaling pathways might play crucial roles in the development of hypertension-associated NASH.

Generally playing group management performance and financial management performance of sports clubs are assessed separately. We adopt a non-parametric methodology to assess overall performance first conceptualising overall management as a production process comprising of two serially-linked subprocesses; playing group management and financial management. Thereafter, we decompose overall performance to obtain estimates of performance at the subprocess level. Through this procedure it is possible to determine whether it is a sports club’s on-field performance or off-field performance or both may contribute towards its inefficiency, if any, in overall management. Further, a model is developed to determine targets for inefficient clubs to become overall efficient. The method is applied to 18 clubs in Australian rules football league. In 2021 season, the results reveal that on-field performance, on average, is better than off-field performance and variability in off-field performance is higher than that of on-field performance. Observed overall management inefficiency is mainly due to inefficiency in financial management. Results are robust to weighting scheme adopted in overall efficiency configuration.

Child malnutrition is a critical public health concern that significantly hampers children's physical and mental development and has serious economic repercussions. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes half of all deaths among children under five to malnutrition, with long-term consequences such as lower educational achievement, decreased productivity, and deepened poverty. The economic impact of child malnutrition extends beyond public health, imposing substantial costs on health systems, households, and the broader economy. This study estimated the burden of child malnutrition in Colombia among children up to four years old using a Markov chain model from a societal perspective. The model simulated six health states, integrating direct and indirect costs, with epidemiological data and international literature guiding the transition probabilities. Surveys were conducted with caregivers to assess indirect costs. Results indicated that malnutrition accounted for 419.84 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 1,000 inhabitants. The total cost of malnutrition over four years was approximately USD 243.58 million, with an annual average cost of USD 60.89 million, with 65% of the burden falling on households. The findings emphasize the significant economic and health burden of child malnutrition, underscoring the importance of early and comprehensive interventions. Investing in child nutrition can improve health outcomes, reduce economic strain, and enhance productivity, making it a crucial priority in health and economic development agendas.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system due to an abnormal immune response. Hormonal and enzyme changes in these patients can influence the progression and prognosis of the disease. In this research, the levels of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), melatonin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood of MS patients were studied.Methods: This study involved 50 MS patients and 50 healthy individuals. The levels of ACTH, melatonin, and cortisol in the blood were measured using specific ELISA kits. The data obtained were then analyzed statistically using SPSS software.Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in the levels of cortisol and LDH in MS patients (P<0.05), while the levels of melatonin and ACTH showed a significant decrease (P<0.05). The elevated cortisol levels may be attributed to chronic stress and inflammation associated with MS. An increase in LDH levels can indicate tissue damage caused by myelin destruction. On the other hand, decreased melatonin levels may lead to sleep disturbances and increased stress in these patients, while decreased ACTH levels may be linked to disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Conclusion: The hormonal and enzyme changes observed in MS patients illustrate the wide-ranging impact of the disease on various body systems. The increase in cortisol and LDH as well as the decrease in melatonin and ACTH could serve as useful biomarkers for predicting disease progression and managing the condition. These findings align with previous studies and contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathological mechanisms of MS.

This paper uses a Vector Autoregression (VAR) model and linear regression to analyze the effects of aggressive monetary policies (such as RRR cuts and interest rate reductions) and fiscal measures (like government bond issuance) on household wealth in China, with a focus on housing assets. A comparative analysis with Japan is conducted to explore the transmission mechanisms and the policies’ impacts on housing prices, wealth distribution, and economic growth. The findings highlight the significant role of monetary and fiscal interventions in shaping the housing market dynamics across different economic contexts.

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health issue, largely driven by the misuse of these medications. This study aimed to compare the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antibiotic use among students in Ecuador and Nigeria through a cross-sectional survey. The results indicated a strong understanding in both countries of the risks associated with inappropriate antibiotic use and the importance of completing prescribed treatments. However, significant differences were noted in the practice of self-medication, which was more prevalent in Ecuador. Additionally, behaviors such as insistence on obtaining antibiotics and the storing of leftover medications were common, underscoring the need for targeted educational interventions. The implications of these findings for promoting responsible antibiotic use are further discussed.

This paper analyzes Chipotle Mexican Grill’s public relations strategy in response to the 2015 E. coli outbreak that severely impacted its reputation and financial standing. The company’s delayed initial response exacerbated the crisis, leading to a significant decline in stock prices and consumer trust. However, through leadership changes, enhanced safety protocols, strategic marketing campaigns, and customer loyalty programs, Chipotle gradually rebuilt its image and began to recover financially. The paper explores the short- and long-term effects of the crisis on Chipotle and outlines key lessons for companies facing similar PR challenges, emphasizing the importance of swift crisis management, transparency, and proactive communication in restoring public confidence.

Mexican yuca (Yucca decipiens Trel.) is native to the semidesert region across north-central Mexico. Based on its empirical medicinal uses, the flour produced from leaves and stems of yuca was evaluated to determine its agro-industrial and medicinal uses (food, beer, and mezcal). The flour was characterized based on the granulometry, rheology, texture, and functional properties, which were analyzed with the RStudio software. The results indicate that the water absorption capacity of yuca flour (data here) is similar to wheat flour; however, it absorbs half the volume of oil than wheat flour. Therefore, it has a hydrophilic behavior similar to that of wheat and a lower oil requirement for formulas. The expansion capacity of yuca flour is like that of wheat flour, showing an ideal gluten content for agro-industrial purposes (food) that require this structural component. The flour had a remarkable foam formation, high stability, and low-fat content. These results are particularly important for foods that require foaming properties. Fermentation matched the parameters of the 56-60 Physicochemical Test Methods of the Cereal &amp; Grains Association; consequently, their flours are classified as equal to flours produced from soft and weak wheat, supporting their use for fermentation processes. The internal friction values (0.85-0.92) suggest a limited flow; however, its high density shows a fine granulometry that facilitates the sacking, handling, and storing of the flour, complying with the Mexican standards, and allowing it to be added to combinations aimed to enrich food.

The natural compounds PSK and PSP have antitumor and immunostimulant properties. These pharmacological benefits have been documented in vitro and in vivo, although there is not information in silico which describes the action mechanisms at molecular level. In this study, the inverse docking method was used to identify the interactions of PSK and PSP with two local databases: BPAT with 66 antitumor proteins, and BPSIC with 138 surfaces and intracellular proteins. This led to the identification interactions and coincidences of PSK and AB680 inhibitor in the active site of CD73. It was also found that PSK bonds to CD59 interacting with amino acids APS22 and PHE23, which coincide with the rlLYd4 internalization inhibitor. With the isoform of K-RAS protein, PSK bonded to the TYR32 amino acid at switch 1, while with BAK it bonded to the region of the α1 helix, while PSP bonded to the activation site and the C-terminal and N-terminal ends of that helix. In Bcl-2, PSK interacted at the binding site of the Venetoclax inhibitor, showing coincidences with amino acids ASP111, VAL133, LEU137, MET115, PHE112, and TYR108; while PSP had coincidences with THR132, VAL133, LEU137, GLN118, MET115, APS111, PHE112, and PHE104.

Background/Objectives: The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is particularly sub-stantial in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, a comprehensive understanding of their prevalence in these regions is lacking. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HAIs in LMICs. Methods: Major databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were thoroughly searched for published studies between January 1, 2000, and July 15, 2024. The PRISMA guidelines were followed for a comprehensive and systematic approach. The pooled prevalence of HAIs was estimated using a random-effects model and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The literature search identified 87 studies reporting HAI prevalence in LMICs. The overall prevalence of HAIs across LMICs was 22% (95% CI: 17-28), with notable regional variations. The South-East Asian Region (SEAR) presented the highest prevalence at 37% (95% CI: 13-62), followed by the African Region at 25% (95% CI: 16-33). The European Region (EUR) had the lowest preva-lence, at 14% (95% CI: 5-23). In terms of income level, low-income countries had the highest prevalence at 37% (95% CI: 23-52), followed by lower-middle income at 22% (15-30) and up-per-middle income at 13% (95% CI: 6-20). Surgical site infections (SSIs) had the highest prevalence among infection types at 27% (95% CI: 23-31), followed by pneumonia at 23% (95% CI: 18-28) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) at 22% (95% CI: 19-26). Gastrointestinal infections (GIs) were less prevalent at 6% (95% CI: 3-9). Conclusions: This systematic review underscores the high prevalence of HAIs in most LMICs, with variations based on region and income level, emphasizing the need to facilitate the development of targeted prevention and control strategies to mitigate the impact of this critical public health issue, especially in resource-limited settings.

Serpentine (Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄), like quartz, dolomite and magnesite minerals, is a versatile mineral group characterized by silica and magnesium silicate contents with multiple polymorphic phases. Among the phases composed of antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile, lizardite and chrysotile are the most prevalent phases in the serpentinites studied here. The ΣLREE/ΣHREE ratios of the samples are between 0.16 and 4 ppm. While Ce shows a strong negative anomaly (0.1–12), Eu shows a weak positive anomaly (0.1–0.3). This indicates that fluid interacts significantly with rock during serpentinization, and Highly Incompatible Elements (HIEs) gradually become involved in the serpentinization process. The large differential thermal analysis (DTA) peak at 810–830 °C is an important sign of dehydration, transformation reactions and thermal decomposition, and is com-patible with H₂O phyllosilicates in the mineral structure losing water at this temperature. In SEM images, chrysotile, which has a fibrous structure, and lizardite, which has a flat appearance, trans-form into talc as a result of dehydration with increasing temperature. Therefore, the sudden tem-perature drop observed in DTA graphs is an indicator of crystal form transformation and CO₂ loss. In this study, the mineralogical and structural properties and the formation of serpentinites were examined for the first time using thermo-gravimetric analysis methods. In addition, the mineralogical and physical properties of serpentinites can be recommended for industrial use as additives in polymers or in the adsorption of organic pollutants. As a result, the high refractory nature of examined serpentine suggests that it is well-suited for applications involving high temperatures. This includes industries such as metallurgy and steel production, glass manufacturing, ceramic production, and the chemical industry.