Cervical cancer is caused by a persistent and high-grade infection, caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which, when entering cervical cells, alters their physiology and generates serious lesions. HPV 18 - is among those most involved in carcinogenesis in this region, but there are still no drug treatments that cause cure or total remission of lesions caused by HPV. Knowing that L-Asparaginase is an amidohydrolase, which plays a significant role in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the treatment of specific cancers, due to its antitumor properties, some studies have demonstrated its cytotoxic effect against cervical cancer cells. However, the commercial version of this enzyme has side effects, such as hypersensitivity, allergic reactions and silent inactivation due to the formation of antibodies. To mitigate these adverse effects, several alternatives have been explored, including the use of L-asparaginase from other microbiological sources, which is the case with the use of the fungus Aspergillus niger, a high producer of L-asparaginase. The study investigated the influence of the type of fermentation, precipitant, purification, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of L-asparaginase. The results revealed that semisolid fermentation produced higher enzymatic activity and protein concentration of A. niger. The characterized enzyme showed excellent stability at pH 9.0, temperature of 50ºC, resistance to surfactants and metallic ions, and an increase in enzymatic activity was also noted with the organic solvent ethanol. Furthermore, it exhibited low cytotoxicity in GM and RAW cells, and significant cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. These findings indicate that L-asparaginase derived from Aspergillus niger may be a promising alternative for pharmaceutical production. Its attributes, including stability, activity and low toxicity in healthy cells, suggest that this modified enzyme could overcome challenges associated with antitumor therapy.

The present work was aimed at the chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of some extracts of aerial parts (essential oils from leaves and inflorescences, and resins from inflorescences) of two legal hemp (Cannabis sativa) varieties, Tisza and Kompolti, grown in Sardinia. Chemical characterization was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts against a panel of microorganisms was also determined via minimum inhibitory concentration (M.I.C.) determination. While the results showed a minor or negligible antimicrobial activity of the extracts against Gram+ and Candida strains, a good antibacterial activity (especially of resins) was recorded against S. aureus; no substantial differences were detected between of the chemical compositions of the two Cannabis varieties.

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in chemical composition of the fresh red raspberry ‘Willamette’ fruits, caused by the presence of raspberry leaf blotch emaravirus (RLBV). In three experimental orchards of ‘Willamette’ raspberry, fruits were harvested from RLBV‒free and RLBV-infected plants in 2019 and 2020. Fruits were collected at appropriate maturity stages and further analyzed on total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and selected individual phenolics. In all three experimental orchards, the phenolic profiles of infected and uninfected fruit samples were considerably different during both studied years. Nonetheless, the intensity of the modifications varied greatly depending on location and harvest year. Statistical analysis revealed that the influence of RLBV infection on the studied features is undeniable, although the influences of weather conditions and soil composition outweigh the influence of RLBV. Taking into consideration all experimental and statistical data, it can be concluded that raspberry 'Willamette' fruits may be RLBV-tolerant, while sensitivity to environmental conditions and soil composition is emphasized.

Fifteen transgenic shoot clones (TS A-TS O) regenerated from Hypericum perforatum hairy roots were evaluated for growth characteristics, phenylpropanoid, and naphthodianthrone production, as well as non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant status. Transgenic shoots displayed higher biomass production and non-altered phenotype compared to control shoots. Phenylpropanoid production in TS was not related to phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity indicating that alternative enzymes could be involved in the regulation of phenylpropanoid/flavonoid biosynthesis. The positive correlation between phenylpropanoids (phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, tannins) and non-enzymatic antioxidant assays suggested that these compounds are the main contributors to the redox state and radical scavenging properties of TS clones. More importantly, enhanced naphthodianthrone production (hypericin, pseudohypericin and protopseudohypericin) in TS was associated with the number of leaf dark glands. Concerning the enzymatic antioxidant status of TS, guaiacol peroxidase was shown as the main enzyme that turn down H2O2 levels, while the up-regulation of superoxide dismutase coincided with decreased O2•− production. The efficiency of antioxidant enzymes for O2•− and H2O2 neutralization declined the MDA level and consequently delayed lipid peroxidation in TS clones. Altogether, H. perforatum transgenic shoots could be proposed as a prospective biotechnological system for scale-up production of naphthodianthrones and phenylpropanoids with antioxidant properties.

Ipomoea batatas L. (IBL) has gained significant popularity as a complementary therapy or herbal medicine in the treatment of anti-diabetes. The objective of this review is to examine the mechanism of action of flavonoid compounds found in IBL that can activate GLP-1 as an anti-diabetic agent. The review article refers to PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as Crossref, Pubmed, Scopus, and Science Direct. The search query was based on specific keywords, including Ipomoea batatas OR sweet potato AND anti-diabetic OR hypoglycemic. A total of 1055 articles were found, but only 32 articles were selected for further review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. IBL contains various compounds, including phenolic acid, flavonols, flavanols, flavones, and anthocyanins, which exhibit activity against anti-diabetes. Flavonols, flavonols, and flavones belong to a group of flavonoids that possess the ability to form complexes with AlCl3 and Ca2+. Retention of Ca2+ within intracellular L cells, resulting in the release of GLP-1. Flavonols, flavones, and flavone groups have been found to strongly interact with DPP-IV, which inhibits the degradation of GLP-1. This mechanism effectively prolongs the half-life of GLP-1 in the systemic system, thereby contributing to the anti-diabetic activity of IBL

The therapeutic effectiveness of current neurodegenerative diseases treatments is still under debate because of problems with bioavailability and a range of side effects. Fungi, which are increasingly recognized as sources of natural antioxidants and AChE enzyme inhibitors, may thus serve as potent neuroprotective agents. Previous studies have associated the anti-AChE and antioxidant activities of fungi mostly with polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, while other secondary metabolites such as polyamines (PAs) have been neglected. This study aimed to investigate eight edible and medicinal fungi from Serbia, marking the initial investigation into the neuroprotective capabilities of Postia caesia, Clitocybe odora, Clitopilus prunulus, and Morchella elata. Neuroprotective activity was examined using Ellman assay, while antioxidant capacity was tested by conducting DPPH, NO, ABTS and FRAP tests. PAs levels were determined by HPLC coupled with fluorescent detection. Ganoderma applanatum and Lepista nuda exhibited the most robust anti-AChE (98.05 ± 0.83% and 99.94 ± 3.10%, respectively) and antioxidant activities attributed to the synergistic effects of total protein, total phenolic and PAs levels. Furthermore, P. caesia displayed significant AChE inhibition (88.21 ± 4.76%), primarily linked to elevated SPD (62.98 ± 3.19%) and PUT levels (55.87 ± 3.16%). Our results highlight the need of thorough research to comprehend the intricate relationships between distinct fungus species and AChE inhibition. However, it's important to recognize that more research is required to identify the precise substances causing the reported inhibitory effects.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance remains one of the greatest public health concerns. Biofilm formation has been postulated as a mechanism of microbial pathogens to resist antimicrobial agents. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and their metabolites have been proposed to combat bacterial biofilms, due to their antimicrobial activity. In this vein, the aim of the present study was to investigate the biofilm removal potential of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of five wild-type Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LAB strains, isolated from Greek natural products, in comparison to the commercial available L. rhamnosus GG strain, formed by common foodborne pathogens (Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus). Biofilm removal activity of LAB was assessed on two-days mature biofilm using a microtiter plate-based procedure. Both non-neutralized and neutralized CFSs removed biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner. Biofilm removal activity of the non-neutralized CFSs was significantly higher compared to the neutralized CFSs, as expected, ranging 40 – 90% and 10 – 78%, respectively. Biofilm removal efficiency of L. rhamnosus OLXAL-3 was signifanctly higher among the wild-type L. rhamnosus strains tested (20 – 100% v/v). In conclusion, our results suggested the great potential of application of wild-type Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains CFSs as effective natural agents against pathogenic bacterial biofilms.

An undescribed diterpene, stellerterpenoid A (1) and two undescribed sesquiterpenoids, stellerterpenoids B and C (2-3), together with six known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Stellera chamaejasme L. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR, IR, UV and HR-ESI-MS). The absolute configuration of 1-3 were elucidated based on ECD calculation. Among of them, stellerterpenoid A was a rare 13, 14 - seco nortigliane diterpenoid and stellerterpenoid B was a guaiacane type sesquiterpenoid with an unusual 1, 2-diketone moiety. The known stelleraguaianone B (5) exhibited moderate activity to suppress NO production in LPS - simulated macrophages with an IC50 value of 24.76 ± 0.4 μM. None of the compounds showed inhibitory influenza virus and tumor activity.

The broad bean plant contains L-DOPA, a compound that is essential for patients with Parkin-son’s disease. However, little has been reported on other broad bean compounds that have bene-ficial effects on health. The objective was to evaluate plants of four Mexican broad bean varieties to determine the content and yield of total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and L-DOPA, as well as to analyze the flavonoid profile and antioxidant (AA) and anti-inflammatory (AANTI) activity in vitro. Broad bean seeds were sown in the field and plants were harvested 20 days after emergence. The analyses were performed with visible UV spectrophotometry and HPLC. The variety José María produced the highest yield of TPC (9.30 g m-2), TF (8.08 g m-2) and L-DOPA (5.64 g m-2) per unit of area. The highest yields per plant were obtained with the Rojita variety: TPC (0.25 g plant-1), TF (0.21 g plant-1) and L-DOPA (0.17 g plant-1). This variety also had the highest antioxidant (CI50= 87.68 µg mL-¹) and anti-inflammatory (CI50= 74.40 mg mL-1) activi-ty, which was attributed to the L-DOPA compounds and to rutin and isoorientins, respectively. The flavonoid profile revealed the presence of rutin and isoorientins, which had not been previ-ously detected in the broad bean plant.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint limiting sustainable rice cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa—partly due to the deeply weathered soils that have low pH and contain high P-fixing Fe and Al oxides. Soil texture also affects P availability and use efficiency. In this study, we evaluated the combined effect of soil texture (sand, clay loam, and clay) and P treatments (P-dipping and two other P fertilizer levels) on growth of NERICA 4 rice in the initial growth stages. In a factorial experiment, we measured the interaction effects of soil texture and P treatments on shoot parameters and root morphology. Both treatments had significant interaction effects on all measured parameters, except shoot biomass, and affected the photosynthetic rate, with the highest mean values obtained under clay loam soil texture and P-dipping treatment, respectively. The treatments also affected rice root morphology. In a striking contrast, whereas mean root length under clay was significantly higher than that under clay loam texture, mean shoot P uptake under clay loam soil was significantly higher than that under clay soil texture. The interactive effect of soil texture and P-dipping influenced NERICA 4 shoot and root physiological and morphological characteristics under clay loam soil texture.

We present synthetic experiments of lactic acid (LA) polycondensation to produce poly(lactic acid) (PLA), as well as kinetic modeling calculations that capture the polymer molecular weight increase with time, given the initial concentrations. Tin-octoate-catalyzed polycondensation of (D,L)- or L-lactic acid, was carried out in pre-dried toluene after azeotropic dehydration for 48-120 hours at 130-137 °C. The polymerization was optimized by varying lactic acid and catalyst concentrations as well as the temperature. Gel Permeation Chromatography was used to experimentally follow the evolution of molecular weights and the products were characterized by NMR, TGA, DSC and IR. Under optimal conditions, PLLA with weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 161 kDa could be obtained. The rate equations that describe polycondensation kinetics were recast in a condensed form that allowed very fast numerical solution and calculation of the number-average molecular weight with time. Deviations with respect to the experiment were minimized in a least-squares fashion, to determine rate constants. The optimized kinetics parameters are shown to reproduce the experimental data accurately

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) has almost 190 million tonnes produced in 2023. Tomato fruit suffer losses of up to 50% during harvest and transport, which causes financial hardship, reduces the amount of food available and causes environmental harm. Calcium plays an important role in cell wall strength. This work assessed the use of a calcium transport stimulants (MCAS) to increase the firmness of tomato fruit in the laboratory and the foliar application to tomato plants. Then handling damage was simulated. In the laboratory, the calcium with MCAS significantly increased the fruit firmness compared to the untreated and calcium without MCAS, which were not significantly different. When calcium with MCAS was applied to tomato plants foliarly before harvest, the calcium with MCAS treated fruit were significantly firmer than the untreated or calcium without MCAS treated fruit for up to 10 weeks after harvest, and this was achieved by applying only 0.91 kg ha-1 calcium. Finally, when fruit were exposed to a simulated drop, the calcium with MCAS treated fruit remained firmer than the undamaged fruit or dropped fruit with calcium without MCAS. Calcium with MCAS could significantly increase the fruit firmness and increase the shelf-life of tomatoes while applying less calcium.

Drought and salinity are among the most important abiotic stress factors that limit the productivity in economically important plants. Although genes from wild relatives or unadapted germplasm have often been used for stress tolerance breeding, only few studies have examined wild relatives to understand the genetic and molecular basis of stress tolerance. In this study, we monitored the changes in gene expression profiles of leaf and root tissues of two wild barleys (Hordeum spontaneum L.) accessions from Israel after treatment with salt (NaCl) and drought (PEG) stress. We identified a total of 641 differentially expressed genes across 24 conditions (2 accessions, 2 stress conditions, 2 tissues and 3 time points). Our gene expression analyses revealed large numbers of differentially expressed genes in different accessions by different stress treatments. In addition, the number of genes altered in the leaves of stress-exposed plants of both genotypes was higher than those altered in the roots. Interestingly, there was a relatively little overlap between the leaf and the root stress-responsive gene expression patterns, suggesting that different stress-associated processes might be operating in these tissues during stress adaptation. Overall, our results revealed a number of candidate genes and plant processes associated with stress tolerance in wild barley. Wild barley would be a useful source of new genetic variation for drought and salt stress tolerance. Our results could provide new insights into the mechanisms of drought and salt stress tolerance in wild barley and should be useful for genetic improvement of salt-drought tolerance in cultivated barley.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family is the second-largest transcription factor in plants. Members of this family are involved in the process of growth and development, secondary metabolic biosynthesis, signal transduction, and plant resistance. Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is a critical woody plant with higher ornamental and economic values, which used as ornamental architecture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine plant. However, the bHLH transcription factor in the L. chinense var. rubrum (Loropetalum chinense var. Rubrum) have yet to be systematically demonstrated, and their role in anthocyanin biosynthesis remains secret. Here, we identified 165 potential LcbHLHs genes by two methods, and they were unequally distributed on chromosomes 1 to 12 of the L. chinense genome. Based on a phylogenetic comparison with proteins from Arabidopsis, these bHLH proteins were categorized into 21 subfamilies. Most LcbHLHs in a given subfamily had similar gene structures and conserved motifs. The gene ontology annotation and cis-elements predicted that the LcbHLHs had many molecular functions and were involved in plant growth processes, including flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthetic processes, etc. Transcriptomic analysis revealed different expression patterns among different tissues and cultivars in L. chinense. Many LcbHLHs were expressed in leaves, and only a few genes were highly expressed in flowers. Six LcbHLH genes differentially expressed between species and periods in color variation, which may play a key role in anthocyanin synthesis. These further functional predictions of LcbHLHs were established by quantitative real-time PCR analysis and protein-protein interaction network. This study identified the six potential bHLH genes related to anthocyanin in L. chinense and created a solid framework for future research on the function and evolution of bHLHs.

Tomato is considered the most important vegetable crop worldwide. Improving the nutritional value of fruits must be based on sustainable production in terms of varieties and fertilization management. This study aimed to improve the nutritional value (total soluble solids, acidity, lycopene, β-carotene, polyphenols, macro and microelements) of two tomato varieties (‘Cristal’ and ‘Siriana’) under three fertilization types (NPK chemical fertilizer, chicken manure and biological fertilizer with microorganisms) for the greenhouse. Primary metabolism compounds do not vary significantly according to the type of fertilizer used. The results for the antioxidant compounds showed a better effect of biological fertilization compared to chemical fertilizer and control unfertilized. The tomato fruits from the local cultivar (‘Siriana’) are richer in nutritional compounds such as rutin, regardless of the type of fertilization, which denotes a good ability to adapt to crop conditions. Tomato cultivars reacted positively to microbiological fertilization compare to chemical, thus producing nutritious fruits under sustainable management. Tomato fruits were richer in the quality of microelement contents.

Plantago major L. is a worldwide available plant that has been used traditionally for several medical application due to its properties such as wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial etc. This work aimed to develop and evaluate nanostructured PCL electrospun dressing with P. major extract encapsulated in nanofibers for application in wound healing. The extract from leaves was obtained by extraction in a mixture of water:ethanol= 1:1 of the freeze-dried extract presented a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Staphylococcus Aureus susceptible and resistant to methicillin of 5.3 mg/mL, a high antioxidant capacity, but a low content of total flavonoids. Electrospun mats without defects were successfully produced using two P. major extract concentrations based on MIC value. The extract incorporation in PCL nanofibers was confirmed by FTIR and contact angle measurements. The PCL/P. major extract was evaluated by DSC and TGA demonstrating that incorporation of the extract decreases the thermal stability of the mats as well as the degree of crystallinity of PCL-based fibers. The P. major extract incorporation on electrospun mats produced a significant swelling degree (more than 400%) and increased the capacity of adsorbing wound exudates and moisture, important characteristics for skin healing. The extract-controlled release evaluated by in vitro study in PBS (pH, 7.4) shows that P. major extract delivery from the mats occurs in the first 24 h, demonstrating their potential capacity to be used in wound healing.

Background: Combinatorial therapy- “nano antibiotics” is an emerging field in nanoscience. In this present investigation, we attempted to combine the green synthesized noble metal nanoparticle and the antibiotic Streptomycin to form bio-conjugated nanoparticles. The newly synthesized Nano antibiotics acted as the antibiotic carrier, functioned as cargo, and delivered the antibiotic. Methods: Comparative studies between the noble metal nanoparticles were attempted for the first time on the grounds of their antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity of the three noble metal nanoparticles was assessed against Streptomycin-resistant Bacillus sp.; the results obtained proved that silver nanoparticles were a potent antibacterial agent. Still, no antibacterial activity was exerted by gold, and platinum nanoparticles were for the Streptomycin-resistant strain Bacillus sp. To our surprise, the gold and platinum fabricated/bio-conjugated nanoparticle with the antibiotic showed 100% antibacterial activity, whose antibacterial activity was zero when functioning as a nanoparticle alone. Results: The combinatorial therapy of two different clauses of drugs majorly increased antibacterial activity. It enhanced the antibiotic to overcome the resistance exhibited by the bacterial pathogen, and the possible mechanism is elucidated in the present study. Also, an attempt has been made to assess the nanotoxicity of the nano-bioconjugates on RBC and compare their hemocompatibility. The results obtained in the current investigation demonstrate the enhanced antibacterial activity of the green synthesized nanoparticles conjugated with the streptomycin; their efficacy for combinational therapy against resistance in pathogenic organisms highlights the novelty of the work and the comparative study of three different noble metals nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pt) from single agro-waste for the first time.

The estrogen hormone receptor (ER) mediated gene expression mainly regulate the development and physiology of primary and secondary reproductive system alongside bone-forming, metabolism and behaviour. Over-expressed ER is associated with several pathological conditions and play a key role in breast cancer occurrence, progression and metastasis. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. or roselle is a rich source of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds including anthocyanins and reportedly have strong estrogenic activity. To validate these findings, we have investigated the estrogen receptor binding affinity and safety of some previously recorded polyphenols using a suite of computational methods. Our investigation showed the estrogen-receptor binding potential of Pelargonidin, Delphinidin, Cyanidin, and Hibiscetin are more efficient than popular breast cancer drugs, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, with favourable toxicological parameters and low half maximal inhibitory concentration. This is the first report to investigate the phytochemical basis of estrogenic activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

There are not many exhaustive works emphasizing the amount of genetic diversity among the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) genotypes in Morocco. This work aims to assess the biochemical composition of strawberry tree fruits, as well as to establish the variation of this composition among them. In this study, total phenols, total flavonoids, condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, total anthocyanins and free radical scavenging activity through ABTS were investigated in strawberry tree fruits. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative analyses of individual phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were carried out. Color parameters such as lightness (L*), Chroma (c*) and hue angle (h°) were also investigated. All studied variables showed highly significant differences among all samples with the exception of hydrolyzable tannins and chromatic coordinates. Total phenolics varied from 22.63 ± 1.74 to 39.06 ± 2.44 mg GAE/g dry wt, total flavonoids varied from 3.30 ± 0.60 to 8.62 ± 1.10 mg RE/g dry wt and total anthocyanins ranged between 0.12 ± 0.06 and 0.66 ± 0.15 mg cya-3-glu/100g dry wt. In addition, condensed and hydrolyzable tannins amounts were in the range of 10.41 ± 1.07 - 16.08 ± 1.50 mg TAE/g dry wt and 4.08 ± 2.43 - 6.34 ± 3.47 respectively. Moreover, the IC50 value (ABTS) ranged between 1.75 and 19.58 mg AAE/g dry wt. 17 phenolic compounds were detected in strawberry tree fruits. Gallocatechol and catechin were the most abundant phenolic compound. Matrix of correlations revealed significant positive and negative correlations among variables particularly c*, a* and b*. Principal component analysis showed that the first three components formed than 68% of the total inertia. The following variables gallic acid, protocatechuic, gallocatechin, gallic acid derivative, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, ellagic acid derivative II, L* and h* were the most involved in the total variance explained. Hierarchical clustering classified samples into one main cluster, with a single branch. The results highlight a high biochemical diversity within studied strawberry genotypes, which is probably more genetically related

Windup, a progressive increase in spinal response to repetitive stimulations of nociceptive peripheral fibres, is a useful model to study central sensitization to pain. Windup is expressed by neurons in of both dorsal and ventral horn of the spinal cord. In juvenile rats, it has been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro that windup depends on calcium-dependent intrinsic properties and their modulation by synaptic components. However, the involvement of these two components in the adult remain controversial. In the present study, by means of electromyographic and extracellular recordings, we show that windup in adult, in vivo, depends on a synaptic balance between excitatory NMDA receptors and inhibitory glycinergic receptors. We also demonstrate the involvement of L-type calcium channels in both the dorsal and ventral horn of the spinal cord. These results indicate that windup in adults is similar to juveniles rats and that windup properties are the same regardless spinal network, i.e. sensory or motor.

We assessed the growth performance, physiological traits, and gene expressions in steers fed with dietary rumen-protected L-tryptophan (RPT) under cold environment. Eight Korean native steers were assigned to two dietary groups, no RPT (Control) and RPT (0.1% RPT supplementation on a dry matter basis), 6 wks. Maximum and minimum temperatures throughout the experiment were 6.7°C and -7.0°C, respectively. Supplementation of 0.1% RPT to a total mixed ration did not increase body weight but had positive effects of elevating average daily gain (ADG) and reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) at day 27 and 48. Metabolic parameter showed higher glucose level (at day 27) in the 0.1% RPT group compared to the control group. Real-time PCR analysis showed no significant differences in the expression of muscle (MYF6, MyoD, and Desmin) metabolism genes between the two groups, whereas the expression of fat (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FABP4) metabolism genes was lower in the 0.1% RPT group than in the control group. Thus, we demonstrate that long-term (6 wks) dietary supplementation of 0.1% RPT was beneficial owing to enhanced growth performance by increasing ADG and glucose level, decreasing FCR, and maintaining homeostasis in immune responses in beef steers during cold environment.

The potential of sodium alginate (ALG) and gum arabic (GA) as wall polymers for L-ascorbic acid (AA) encapsulation as a tool for their preservation against the thermo-oxidative degradation was investigated. The influence of such polymers used as wall material on the AA-content, size, encapsulation efficiency, encapsulation yield and thermo-oxidative stability were evaluated. The AA-microparticles were obtained using the spray-drying technique. An experimental Taguchi design was employed to assess the influence of the variables in the encapsulation process. The microparticles morphology and size distribution were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction. The thermal stability of AA microparticles was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis. This work points out the viability to encapsulate AA using GA and ALG through a spray-drying process. In general, a product yield ranging from 35.1% to 83.2% and an encapsulation efficiency above 90% was reached. Spherical microparticles with a smooth surface were obtained with a mean diameter around 6 μm and 9 μm for the those prepared with GA and ALG, respectively. The thermo-oxidative analysis showed that both polymers allow maintaining AA stable up to 188 °C, which is higher than the traditional processing temperature used in the fish feed industry.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection of L-arginine (L-Arg) into Ross broiler eggs at different embryonic developmental stages on their survival, hatchability, and body weight (BW). Additionally, we have analyzed the levels of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), protein expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), also we have the determined micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormality (NA). Results showed that survival and hatching rates as well as body weight were increased on the 14th day incubation compared to 8th and 18th day incubation at lower concentration of L-Arg. Moreover, the levels of SGOT and SGPT were also significantly (P < 0.05) increased at 14th day incubation at the same concentration (100μg/μl/egg) of injection. In addition, IgM levels were increased on the 14th day incubation compared to other days. The protein expressions of HSP-47, HSP-60, and HSP-70 in the liver were significantly down-regulated whereas the expression of myogenin and MyoD were significantly up-regulated on the 14th day after incubation in treated with all different doses such as 100μg, 1000μg and 2500μg/μl/egg namely 3T1, 3T2 and 3T3 respectively. However, the treatment with low dose of L-Arg down-regulated expression levels of those proteins on the 14th day incubation. Histopathology of liver by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) straining showed that the majority of liver damage, specifically intracytoplasmic vacuoles, were observed in 3T1, 3T2, and 3T3. The minimum dose of 100 μg/ml/egg on the 14th day of incubation significantly prevented intracytoplasmic vacuole damages. These results demonstrate that in ovo administration of L-Arg at (100μg/μl/egg) may be an effective method to increase chick BW, hatch rate, increasing muscle growth related proteins and promote the immune response through increasing IgM on the 14th day of incubation period.

It is well known that the primes and prime powers have a deep relationship with the nontrivial zeros of Riemann’s zeta function. This is a reciprocal relationship. The zeros and the primes are encoded in each other and are reciprocally recoverable. Riemann’s zeta is an extended or continued version of Euler’s zeta function which in turn equates with Euler’s product formula over the primes. This paper shows that the zeros of the converging Dirichlet or Catalan beta function, which requires no continuation to be valid in the critical strip, can be easily determined. The imaginary parts of these zeros have a deep and reciprocal relationship with the odd primes and odd prime powers. This relationship separates the odd primes into those having either 1 or 3 as a remainder after division by 4. The vector pathway of the beta function is such that the real part of its zeros has to be a half.

Many marine animals use chemicals to defend themselves and their eggs from predators. Beyond their ecologically relevant functions, these chemicals may also have properties that make them beneficial for humans, including with biomedical and industrial applications. For example, some chemical defenses are also powerful antimicrobial or anti-tumor agents with relevance to human health and disease. One such chemical defense, Escapin, an L–amino acid oxidase in the defensive ink of the sea hare Aplysia californica, and related proteins have been investigated for their biomedical properties. This review details our current understanding of Escapin’s antimicrobial activity, including the array of chemicals generated by Escapin’s oxidation of its major substrates, L–lysine and L–arginine, and mechanisms underlying these molecules’ bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects on planktonic cells and the prevention of formation and removal of bacterial biofilms. Models of Escapin’s effects are presented, and future directions are proposed.

Glaciation and mountain orogeny have generated new ecologic opportunities for plants, favoring an increase in the speciation rate. Moreover, they also act as corridors or barriers for plant lineages and populations. High genetic diversity ensures that species are able to survive and adapt. Gene flow is one of the most important determinants of the genetic diversity and structure of out-crossed species, and it is easily affected by biotic and abiotic factors. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity and structure of an alpine species, Festuca ovina L., in Xingjiang, China. A total of 100 individuals from 10 populations were analyzed using six amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer pairs. A total of 583 clear bands were generated, of which 392 were polymorphic; thus, the percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 67.24%. The total and average genetic diversities were 0.2722 and 0.2006 (0.1686-0.2225), respectively. The unweighted group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) tree, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and STRUCTURE analyses revealed that these populations or individuals could be clustered into two groups. The analysis of molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) suggested that most of the genetic variance existed within a population, and the genetic differentiation (Fst) among populations was 20.71%. The Shannon differentiation coefficient (G’st) among populations was 0.2350. Limited gene flow (Nm = 0.9571) was detected across all sampling sites. The Fst and Nm presented at different levels under the genetic barriers due to fragmentation. The population genetic diversity was significant relative to environmental factors such as temperature, altitude and precipitation.

Background: Capsaicinoid are a group of compounds and widely used in the food, medical, and pharmaceutical industries. Capsaicinoid are unique synthesized and accumulated in the pepper fruits. MeJA can enhance the capsaicinoid production. Temporal and spatial expression of capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes are helpful to understand the molecular mechnism of capsaicinoid biosynthesis in the fruits of pepper. Although some of the capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes in pepper have been identified, the expression of these genes at different developing stages of fruit has not been systemically investigated, and little is known about the molecular basis of MeJA inducing capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Results: HPLC study revealed that the capsaicinoid accumulation in the developing fruit of pepper initially appeared at 24 DAP (day after pollination), was actively development at 36 DAP and peaked at 48 DAP. 11 genes that encoded enzymes involved in capsaicinoid biosynthesis were isolated and characterized. Gene expression with quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that the CaCS was unique expressed in placenta and the other 10 genes were expressed in all selected tissues and 9 of 11 genes (except CaCa4H and CaCa3H) were strongly expressed in placenta tissue. Spatial expression analysis demostrated that the 11 gene could be collectively grouped into four categories based on the patterns of relative expression of the genes during fruit development. Category I has 2 and they displayed a bell-shaped expression pattern with the peak expression at 24 DAP, Category II contains 5 genes and expression of the 5 genes was constantly increased from 0 to 36 DAP and peaked at 36 DAP. Category III comprises of 2 genes and both genes reached the peak at 48 DAP. Category IV consists of 2 genes and they showed a high expression at 36 and 48 DAF, but unexpressed from 0 to 12 DAP. The gene expressions of the 11 genes were up-regulated by MeJA. 3 genes showed a high expression at 24 h; 4 genes reached the peak at 12 h; the top expression were observed at 18 h; The last one, CaACYase, achieved the highest level at 8 h. Conclusion: The biosynthesis of capsaicinoid in pepper fruit is developmentally regulated. The expression of the majority of capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes is highly consistent with the development accumulation of capsaicinoid in pepper fruit. These results not only provide the initial information on spatial and temporal expression of capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes in pepper developing fruit, but are also valuable to identify the MeJA-induced genes for capsaicinoid biosynthesis and accumulation during pepper fruit development.

Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging pathogen responsible for the serious foodborne disease, listeriosis. The commensal gut microbiota is the first line of defense against pathogen internalization. The gut microbiome can be modified by prebiotic substrates, which are frequently added to food products and dietary supplements. Prebiotics should selectively support the growth of beneficial microbes and thus improve host health. Nevertheless, little is known about their effect on the growth of L. monocytogenes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth ability of four L. monocytogenes strains, representing the most common serotypes, on prebiotic oligosaccharides (beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, lactulose, raffinose, stachyose, and 2´-fucosyllactose and a mixture of human milk oligosaccharides) as a sole carbon source. The results showed that only beta-(1,3)-D-glucan was metabolized by L. monocytogenes. Therefore, the safety of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan with respect to listeriosis development should be further studied.

Objective: In this study, we investigated vitamin D, inflammatory hematologic ratios such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), MHR and plasma atherogenic index (PAI) and possible relationships with insulin resistance in children. Methods: A total of 210 individuals, including 96 children with insulin resistance and 114 children without insulin resistance, aged 6-18 years, who were admitted to the Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic at Medicine Hospital, Istanbul Atlas University were included in our study. Result: NLR, PLR, SII and MHR were significantly higher in patients with insulin resistance compared to those without. Fasting insulin, PAI, HOMA-IR, HOMA- were significantly higher and QUICKI was significantly lower in patients with insulin resistance compared to those without insulin resistance. NLR, SII and MHR were lower in normal vitamin D groups than the others were (p

Mesoscopic modeling of complex system involve thermodynamic nonequilibrium of discrete scaling. Furthers from quantum correlation on a chip retrieved quantum nonlinear optics with single photons enabled by strongly interacting atoms. Accompanied by mesofractals as development of meso & micro size fractal structures is required to mimic various biological systems for various functions. Showed through fluorapatite in gelatin-based nanocomposite, fractal in DNA knots driven by balance of fission & fusion in mtDNA/mitochondrial DNA mechanism, for optical engines for light energy detection described the proportional integral derivative [PI(D)]-controller set in microbial cells to HCCI/Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition.

:. Background and Objectives: Pulmonary embolism, PE, incidence had been increasing in the last ten years. Computed thoracic pulmonary angiography, CTPA, had a major role in confirming PE di-agnosis.The main purpose of the study was to establish the prognostic value of a CTPA parameter: pulmonary artery obstruction index, PAOI, for PE risk assessment . A second objective of the re-search was to investigate the predictive accuracy of biomarkers (D-dimer, and cardiac Troponin T, c-TnT ), and PAOI, in 7-day mortality. The third objective of the study was the relationship between PAOI, and these biomarkers, in different etiologies of PE. Materials and Methods: The study com-prised 109 patients with PE, hospitalized, and treated between February 2021, and August 2022. They had different etiologies: deep vein thrombosis, DVT; persistent atrial fibrillation, AF; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, exacerbation; Covid; and cancers. The investigations were the following: clinical examination; D-dimer testing, as a mandatory method for PE suspicion( values ≥ 500 µg/L were highly suggestive for PE); c-TnT , as a marker of myocardial injury(values ≥ 14 ng/L were abnormal); CTPA, with right ventricle dysfunction, RVD, signs, and PAOI. Treat-ments were according to PE risk: systemic thrombolysis (in high risk , and hemodynamic instability); low weight molecular heparins, LWMH, after systemic thrombolysis, or in high risk PE, with he-modynamic stability; direct oral anticoagulants, DOAC (in low, and intermediate risk). Results: The relationship PAOI- D-dimer, and PAOI- c-TnT, had very strong statistical correlation, for the entire sample, and for DVT, AF, COPD, Covid subgroups ( Rho = 0.815-0.982). PAOI had a high predic-tive accuracy for intermediate , and high risk together (area under curve, AUC=0.948), and high risk PE (AUC= 0.993). For 7-day mortality, D-dimer , and c-TnT had high predictive accura-cy(AUC=0.921, and 0.979). PAOI had statistical significance for 7-day mortality in Covid (p=0.045), and cancer (p=0.038) patients. Conclusions: PAOI was an important tool for PE risk as-sessment. D-dimer , and c-TnT were valuable predictors, for 7-day mortality in PE. PAOI, and D-dimer; PAOI, and c-TnT were strongly correlated, for the entire PE sample, and for DVT, AF, COPD, and Covid patients.

The appropriate concentration of vitamin D in the athlete’s body is essential for its proper functioning, especially in terms of muscular health, by enhancing recovery and oxygen consumption. Soccer players are required to perform frequent sprints and change of directions during training and competition. The aim of the present study was to establish whether the level of vitamin D (measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations- 25(OH)D) in blood serum has any influence on speed (s) and change of direction (COD, s) performance. Material and methods: Twenty male soccer players from the top league in Poland participated in the study. All subjects' were evaluated for the serum concentration of 25(OH)D at the beginning of the preseason. . The linear sprint test was performed at 5m and 30m and COD (time and deficit), was evaluated at 30m at the beginning and after 6 weeks of preparatory period. Results: The results revealed that 50% of soccer players had an insufficient level or a deficit of 25(OH)D (≤ 30 ng/ml), with 20% having a significant deficiency of 30 ng/ml).There were no statistically significant correlations between the training effect for the variables ∆5m (before - after) and ∆30m (before - after). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between the training effect for the variables ∆COD (before - after) (R=0.62/p=0.003) and ∆deficit (before-after) (R=0.47/p=0.039). With a higher concentration of vitamin D in the blood, the training effect for COD and the deficit increased, which was visible in the faster performance of the COD test. No statistically significant differences were found for the mean values of the variables ∆5m (before - after) and ∆30m (before - after) in the group of subjects whose 25(OH)D concentration was 30mg /ml. Significant differences were noticed for the variables ∆COD (m=0.60 [s]) and ∆deficit (m=0.56[s]) in the group of subjects whose 25(OH)D concentration was 30mg /ml. The training effect was significantly higher for the group of subjects whose 25(OH)D concentration was above 30 mg/ml, which was observed by the faster performance of the COD test in this group of subjects. Conclusions: The serum concentration of vitamin D affects training adaptations of muscles. A lower concentration of Vitamin D seems to have a detrimental effect on the change of direction performance. Soccer players whose blood serum 25(OH)D concentrations were >30mg/ml achieved better results in the applied fitness tests.

In the field of 2-D image processing and computer vision, accurately detecting and segmenting objects in scenarios where they overlap or are obscured remains a challenge. This difficulty is worse in the analysis of shoeprints used in forensic investigations because they are embedded in noisy environments such as the ground and can be indistinct. Traditional Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), despite their success in various image analysis tasks, struggle with accurately delineating overlapping objects due to the complexity of segmenting intertwined textures and boundaries against a background of noise. This study introduces employs the YOLO (You Only Look Once) model enhanced by edge detection and image segmentation techniques to improve the detection of overlapping shoeprints. By focusing on the critical boundary information between shoeprint textures and the ground, our method demonstrates improvements in sensitivity and precision, achieving confidence levels above 85% for minimally overlapped images and maintaining above 70% for extensively overlapped instances. Heatmaps of convolution layers were generated to show how the network converges towards successful detection using these enhancements. This research may provide a potential methodology for addressing the broader challenge of detecting multiple overlapping objects against noisy backgrounds.

Background: given the various clinical manifestations that characterize coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the scientific community is constantly searching for biomarkers with prognostic value. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) play a crucial role in ensuring proper alveolar function and an alteration of their serum levels have been reported in several pulmonary diseases characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pulmonary fibrosis. Consid-ering that such clinical manifestations can also occur during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, we wondered if these collectins could act as prognostic markers. Methods: in this regard, serum levels of SP-A and SP-D were measured by enzyme immunoassay in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=51) at admission (T0) and after 7 days (T1) and compared with healthy donors (n=11). Results: SP-D increased in COVID-19 patients com-pared to healthy controls during the early phases of infection, while a significant reduction was observed at T1. Stratifying SARS-CoV-2 patients according to disease severity, increased serum SP-D levels were observed in severe compared to mild patients. Conclusions: In the light of these results SP-D, but not SP-A, seems to be an eligible marker of COVID-19 pneumonia and the early detection of SP-D serum levels could be crucial for a preventive clinical management.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are frequently interconnected and their association leads to an exponential increase in the risk of both fatal and non-fatal events. In addition, the burden of arrhythmias in CKD patients is increased. On the other hand, the presence of CKD is an important factor that influences the decision to pursue cardiac device therapy. Data on CKD patients with device therapy is scarce and mostly derives from observational studies and case reports. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with decreased mortality, reduced heart failure symptoms and improved renal function in early stages of CKD. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are associated with a significant reduction in the mortality of CKD patients only for the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) is preferred in patients that meet the established criteria. The need for cardiac pacing is 3-fold higher in dialysis patients. CKD is an independent risk factor for infections associated with cardiac devices.

The Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) mediates the actions of vitamin D, which has important roles in bone homeostasis, growth/differentiation of cells, immune functions and reduction of inflammation. Emerging evidences suggest that epigenetic modifications of the VDR gene, particularly DNA methylation, may contribute to the onset and progression of many human disorders. This review aims to summarize the available information on the role of VDR methylation signatures in different pathological contexts, including autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cancer and others. The reversible nature of DNA methylation could enable the development of therapeutic strategies, offering new avenues for the management of these worldwide diseases.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibits a significant variation in presentation of symptoms ranging from mild to severe life-threatening symptoms, including death. COVID-19 infection susceptibility has been linked with various covariates, but studies in Qatar are limited. Data from Qatar Biobank (QBB) (n = 10,000; 18- to 79-year-old adults) were analyzed for associations between sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and susceptibility to COVID-19. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between COVID-19 and age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, education level, dietary patterns, supplement use, physical activity, history of bariatric surgery, diabetes, and hypertension. In total, 10.5% (n = 1045) of the participants had COVID-19. Compared to non-smokers, current and ex-smokers had lower odds of having COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR]= 0.55; 95% CI: 0.44-0.68 and OR= 0.70; 95% CI: 0.57-0.86, respectively). Vitamin D supplement use was associated with an 18% reduction of the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.97). Obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), history of bariatric surgery and higher adherence to the modern dietary pattern– characterized by consumption of foods high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates– were positively associated with COVID-19. Our findings indicate that adopting a healthy lifestyle may be helpful in the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Background: BNT162b2 represents the authorized mRNA vaccine against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV–2) causing Covid–19. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single–center observational study with 273 employees of a medical facility to determine the efficacy and safety of the BNT162b2 third dose in relation to sex and BMI, and explore the possible determinants of neutralizing IgG and 25–hydroxy (25–OH) vitamin D levels. Results: At the median follow–up of 4.7 months, 38 of the participants had Covid–19 following vaccination. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was significantly higher in females vs. males (p < 0.0108) and subjects with a high BMI of ≥ 30 kg/m2 vs. low BMI (p < 0.0117). The values of IgG were significantly enhanced in males vs. females (p < 0.0004), participants with high BMI vs. low BMI (p < 0.0003), a high number of ≥3 AEs vs. low number of AEs (p < 0.0003), and following infection with Covid–19 vs. without Covid–19 (p < 0.0005). Multivariate analysis (MVA) showed sex, BMI, number of AEs, and Covid-19 to be of predictive significance. On the contrary, 25–OH vitamin D concentrations in individuals with high vs. low BMI were significantly reduced (p < 0.0144) but this was not evident in MVA. Conclusions: This study confirmed the high efficacy of BNT162b2 in real–world scenario and revealed that its safety was affected by sex and BMI. Higher IgG levels suggesting better protection against infection were present in males, participants with high BMI, a high frequency of AEs, and those who overcame Covid-19 following vaccination.

COVID-19 is a pandemic triggered by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 whose peak occurred in the years 2020 and 2021. The main target of the virus is the lung and infection is associated to an accentuated inflammatory process involving mainly the innate arm of the immune system. Here, we described the induction of a pulmonary inflammatory process triggered by the intranasal (IN) instillation of UV-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in C57BL/6 mice and then the evaluation of vitamin D (VitD) ability to control this process. The assays used to estimate the severity of lung involvement included total and differential number of cells in the BALF, histopathological analysis, quantification of T cell subsets and inflammatory mediators by RT-PCR, cytokine quantification in lung homogenates and flow cytometric analysis of cells recovered from lung parenchyma. IN instillation of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 triggered a pulmonary inflammatory process, consisting of various cell types and mediators, resembling the typical inflammation found in COVID-19 patients. This inflammatory process was significantly decreased by IN delivery of vitD, but not by its IP administration, suggesting that this hormone has therapeutic potential in COVID-19 if locally applied.

Background: Shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is observed in multiple age-related diseases, which are also associated with vitamin D deficiency (i.e., osteosarcopenia, neurocognitive disorders, cancer, osteoarthritis, etc.), which suggests a close association. In this study, we examined the relationship between vitamin D levels and LTL in older participants of the UK Biobank. Methods: Data were collected from the UK Biobank. Participants aged 60 and older (n=148,321) were included. Baseline LTL was measured using a multiplex qPCR technique and expressed as the ratio of the telomere amplification product (T) to that of a single-copy gene (S) (T/S ratio). Se-rum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was stratified by z score and linked to LTL in a linear regression model adjusting for covariates. Results: Compared to the medium level, a low (in the range of 16.6 nmol/L, 29.7 nmol/L) or extremely low (≤ 16.6 nmol/L) level of serum 25OHD was associated with shorter LTL: 0.018 SD (standardized β= -0.018, 95% CI -0.033 to -0.003, P=0.022) and 0.048 SD (standardized β= -0.048, 95% CI -0.083 to -0.014, P=0.006), respectively. Additionally, the high serum 25OHD groups (> 95.9 nmol/L) had 0.038 SD (standardized β= -0.038, 95% CI -0.072 to -0.004, P=0.030) shorter mean LTL than the group with medium 25OHD levels. The associations above were adjusted for multiple variables. Conclusion: In this population-based study, we identified an inverted U-shape relationship between LTL and vitamin D status. Whether high or low vitamin D-associated shorter LTL is mechanistically related to age-related conditions remains to be elucidated.

Profiling technologies, such as proteomics, allow the simultaneous measurement and comparison of thousands of plant components without prior knowledge of their identity. The combination of these non-targeted methods facilitates a more comprehensive approach than targeted methods and thus provides additional opportunities to identify genotypic changes resulting from genetic modification, including new allergens or toxins. The purpose of this study was to investigate unintended changes in GM Bt maize grown in South Africa. In the present study, we used bi-dimensional gel electrophoresis based on fluorescence staining, coupled with mass spectrometry in order to compare the proteome of the field-grown transgenic hybrid (MON810) and its near-isogenic counterpart. Proteomic data showed that energy metabolism and redox homeostasis were unequally modulated in GM Bt and non-GM maize variety samples. In addition, a potential allergenic protein – pathogenesis related protein -1 has been identified in our sample set. These finding highlight the suitability of unbiased profiling approaches to complement current GMO risk assessment practices worldwide.

GbtXyl43A, a β-xylosidase that is isolated from Geobacillus thermoleovorans IT-08 and grouped in GH43 family. The substitution of 121Asp residue with Asn in GbtXyl43A caused decrease the enzyme activity. The aim of this study, determine the kinetic characteristics of wild-type GbtXyl43A and D121N variant using Vmax, KM, kcat, and kcat/KM. These parameters indicated catalytic mechanism of GbtXyl43A and its derivative. All of them were produced in Escherichia coli BL21 star. The purification of wild-type GbtXyl43A using affinity chromatography, but D121N variant also required anion-exchange chromatography. The specific activity of wild-type GbtXyl43A and D121N variant were 0.471 U mg-1 in purity level 55,44 and 0.012 U mg-1 in purity level 2,407, respectively. Both enzymes had same molecular weight, ~58 kDa. The kinetic parameters of wild-type GbtXyl43A were KM: 2.845 mM, kcat: 0.033 s-1, Vmax: 0.0033 mM min-1and kcat/KM: 0.0115 s-1mM-1. Furthermore, the KM, kcat, Vmax, and kcat/KM values of D121N variant were 4.565 mM, 1.01 × 10-4 mM min-1, 0.140 × 10-4 s-1, and 0.0307 s-1mM-1, respectively. The KM value of the D121N variant was higher than its wild type and showed the affinity of D121N variant was lower than GbtXyl43A

We previously reported that corneal fibroblasts within 3D fibrin matrices secrete, bind, and organize fibronectin into tracks that facilitate cell spreading and migration. Other cells use these fibronectin tracks as conduits, which leads to the development of an interconnected cell/fibronectin network. In this study, we investigate how cell induced reorganization of fibrin correlates with fibronectin track formation in response to two growth factors present during wound healing: PDGF BB, which stimulates cell spreading and migration; and TGFβ1, which stimulates cellular contraction and myofibroblast transformation. Both PDGF BB and TGF stimulated global fibrin matrix contraction (P < 0.005), however cell and matrix patterning were different. We found that during PDGF BB induced cell spreading, fibronectin was organized simultaneously with the generation of tractional forces at the leading edge of pseudopodia. Over time this led to the formation of an interconnected network consisting of cells, fibronectin and compacted fibrin tracks. Following culture in TGFβ1, cells were less motile, produced significant local fibrin reorganization, and formed fewer cellular connections as compared to PDGF BB (P < 0.005). Although bands of compacted fibrin tracks developed in between neighboring cells, fibronectin labeling was not generally present along these tracks, and the correlation between fibrin and fibronectin labeling was significantly less than that observed in PDGF BB (P < 0.001). Taken together, our results show that cell-induced ECM reorganization can occur independently from fibronectin patterning. Nonetheless, both events seem to be coordinated, as corneal fibroblasts in PDGF BB secrete and organize fibronectin as they preferentially spread along compacted fibrin tracks between cells, producing an interconnected network in which cells, fibronectin and compacted fibrin tracks are highly correlated. This mechanism of patterning could contribute to the formation of organized cellular networks that have been observed following corneal injury and refractive surgery.

Background: Vitamin D and calcium are important dietary compounds that affect bone mass, even if other minerals (potassium, zinc, etc.) and other vitamins (A, C and K) are also involved. Vitamin D and other minerals, in fact, play an important role in calcium homeostasis and calcium absorption. Hip fractures incidence is higher in western countries, where calcium is frequently included in human diet, while the occurrence of these fractures is lower in developing countries, where diets are often poor in calcium. This situation is known as the “calcium paradox”, and may be partially explained considering phosphate toxicity, that can induce a disorder of mineral metabolism. It is important to maintain adequate dietary calcium-phosphate balance in order to perform a healthy life, reducing the risk of osteoporotic fracture in older people. Vitamin D can also act as a hormone; vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is derived from the UV-B radiation of ergosterol, the vitamin D precursor naturally found in plants, fungi, and invertebrates. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is originated by sunlight exposure from 7-dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of cholesterol that can also act as a provitamin D3. Dietary intake of vitamin D3 is very important when skin is exposed for short times to ultraviolet B light (UV-B) one of the three kinds of invisible light rays together with UV-A and UV-C. This can be considered the usual situation in northern latitudes and in winter season, or the typical condition for older people and/or for people with very white delicate skin. Actually, the recommended daily intake of dietary vitamin D is strictly correlated with age, ranging from 5 μg for infants, children, teen-agers and adults, including women during pregnancy and lactation, to 15 μg for people over 65 years.

This work focuses on expressing the TSP with Time Windows (TSPTW for short) as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problem. The time windows impose time constraints that a feasible solution must satisfy. These take the form of inequality constraints, which are known to be particularly difficult to articulate within the QUBO framework. This is, we believe, the first time this major obstacle is overcome and the TSPTW is cast in the QUBO formulation. We have every reason to anticipate that this development will lead to the actual execution of small scale TSPTW instances on the D-Wave platform.

Obesity in children is associated with vitamin D (VD) deficiency and cardiometabolic abnormalities. To analyze the effects of VD supplementation in adolescents with obesity enrolled in a weight-loss program. Adolescents with obesity (n=26) and with normal weight (n=23; controls) were matched for age, sex, and puberty stage. The obesity group followed a 3-month weight-loss program that combined a reduced caloric intake with interval training physical activity and during which they received or not VD supplementation (4000 IU/d) (n=13/group; random assignation). The anthropometric parameters (BMI z-score, fat mass); serum levels of 25(OH)D, calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH), cardiometabolic factors (triglycerides, HDL, and LDL cholesterol), fasting glucose and insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index; diastolic, systolic and mean blood pressure, and inflammatory status (C-reactive protein, CRP) were measured at baseline and at the end of the 3-month program. At baseline, 25(OH)D concentration was lower and VD insufficiency (25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L) rate was higher (73% vs 22%) in the obesity than in the normal-weight group. All cardiometabolic factors were altered in the obesity compared with the normal-weight group. After the 3-month weight-loss program, 25(OH)D levels was >50 nmol in all adolescents with obesity, but only in 46% of normal-weight adolescents. Moreover, the weight-loss program improved the cardiometabolic factors, inflammatory status (CRP) and physical performance, but VD supplementation did not have any additional effect. Analysis only of the adolescents with obesity and VD deficiency (25(OH)D <50 nmol/L) at baseline showed a significant correlation between the change in PTH and CRP (p=0.02) in the supplemented obesity group, while the increase in 25(OH)D only tended to be correlated with CRP decrease. Vitamin D supplementation could reduce VD insufficiency in adolescent with obesity, but does not have any additional effect on cardiometabolic factors when combined with a weight-loss program.

The recognition of (1→3)-β-D-glucans (BGs) by β-1,3-D-glucan recognition protein (BGRP) found in invertebrates plays a significant role in the activation of toll pathway and pro-phenol oxidase system in insect host defense against fungal invasion. To examine the structural diversity of BGs in BGRP interaction, the binding specificity of BGRPs cloned from four different insectswas characterized using ELISA. Recombinant BGRPs expressed as Fc-fusion proteins of human IgG1 bound to solid phase BGs. Because of the binding specificities, the BGRPs were categorized into two different ultrastructure- binding characters. The BGRPs from Silkworm and Indian meal moth bound to BGs containing triple-helical structure. Other BGRPs from red flour beetle and yellow mealworm beetle showed no binding to triple-helical BGs, but to alkaline-treated BGs, which have partially opened helical conformation. These evidences suggest that the innate immune system distinguishes different BG conformations and it is equipped for the diversity of BG structures.

We obtain two generalizations of a known theorem of A. Alam and M. Imdad (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 17 (2015) 693–702) showing that some standard proofs can be obtained involving only Cauchy sequences of the successive approximations instead of the usual successive approximations sequences. Suitable examples prove the effective generalization of our results in metric spaces not necessarily complete.

Though Moracin D derived from Morus alba was known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, the underlying antitumor mechanism of Moracin D was never unveiled so far. Thus, in the recent study, the apoptotic mechanism of Moracin D was elucidated in breast cancer cells. Herein, Moracin D exerted significant cytotoxicity in MDA-MB231 and MCF7 cells. Also, Moracin D increased sub G1 population, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and attenuated the expression of pro-cysteine aspartyl-specific protease (procaspase 3), c-Myc, cyclin D1, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2),and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in MDA-MB231 cells. Of note, Moracin D reduced expression of Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), β-catenin, Wnt3a, and upregulated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK 3β) on Tyr216 along with disturbed binding of FOXM1 with β-catenin in MDA-MB-231 cells. Conversely, GSK3β inhibitor SB216763 reversed the apoptotic ability of Moracin D to reduce expression of FOXM1, β-catenin, pro-caspase3 and pro-PARP in MDA-MB-231 cells. Overall, these findings provide novel insight that Moracin D inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis via suppression of Wnt3a/FOXM1/β-catenin signaling and activation of caspase and GSK3β

Kinect is a device that has been widely used in many areas since it was released in 2010. Kinect SDK was announced in 2011 and used in many other areas than its original purpose, which was a controller for gaming. In particular, it has been used by a number of artists in digital media art since it is inexpensive and has a fast recognition rate. However, there is a problem. Kinect create 3D coordinates with a single 2D RGB image for x, y value - single depth image for z value. And this creates a significant limitation on the installation for interactivity of media art. Because the Cartesian XY coordinate and the spherical Z coordinate system are used in combination, depth error depending on the distance is generated, which makes real-time rotation recognition and coordinate correction difficult above coordinate system. This paper proposes a real-time calibration method of Kinect recognition range expansion for useful application in the digital media art area. The proposed method can recognize the viewer accurately by calibrating a coordinate in any direction in front of the viewer. 3,400 datasets witch acquire from experiment were measured as five stances: the 1m attention stance, 1m hands-up stance, 2m attention stance, 2m hands-up stance, and 2m hands-half-up stance, which were taken and recorded every 0.5 sec. The experimental results showed that the accuracy rate was improved about 11.5% compared with front measurement data according to Kinect reference installation method.

Under the guidance of our previous achievements, and in order to extend this small molecular library. In current work, other 21 novel structures of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines containing isoxazole-moiety (1a-1u) were firstly synthesized and the cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines was evaluated using the MTT method. The results showed that most target compounds exhibited good to excellent cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines, especially 6-Methyl-4-{[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-isoxazol-5-yl-]-methoxy-}-thieno[2,3-d]-pyrimidine (1e) exhibited a broad-spectrum and the most potent cytotoxicity to A549, HCT116 and MCF-7 cell lines (IC50s: 2.79, 6.69 and 4.21×10^-3 μM, respectively) as compared with the reference drug gefitinib (IC50s: 17.90, 21.55 and 20.68 μM, respectively). 1e can be seen as the best drug candidates for development of anticancer drugs.

Thermal sterilization is generally avoided for 3-D printed components because of the relatively low deformation temperatures for common thermoplastics used for material extrusion-based additive manufacturing. 3-D printing materials required for high-temperature heat sterilizable components for COVID-19 and other applications demands 3-D printers with heated beds, hot ends that can reach higher temperatures than polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hot ends and heated chambers to avoid part warping and delamination. There are several high temperature printers on the market, but their high costs make them inaccessible for full home-based distributed manufacturing required during pandemic lockdowns. To allow for all these requirements to be met for under $1,000, the Cerberus – an open source three-headed self-replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) was designed and tested with the following capabilities: i) 200^oC-capable heated bed, ii) 500^oC-capabel hot end, iii) isolated heated chamber with 1kW space heater core and iv) mains voltage chamber and bed heating for rapid start. The Cereberus successfully prints polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) and polyetherimide (PEI, ULTEM) with tensile strengths of 77.5 and 80.5 MPa, respectively. As a case study, open source face masks were 3-D printed in PEKK and shown not to warp upon widely home-accessible oven-based sterilization.

Multicropping can solve the energy and GHG balance problems, but the emergence, development and productivity of such mixed crops are at risk due to uneven distribution of precipitation. For this reason, investigations were performed at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. Single maize crop was compared with Crimson/red clover, Persian clover, and alfalfa intercropped maize cultivations. Results showed that under arid conditions, the intercrops biomass was about 4 times less than under humid. Humid conditions were less suitable for maize and when growing with intercrops they produced about 3-5 t ha-1 less dried biomass, and when growing sole - about 6 t ha-1 less biomass than in arid conditions. Due to the higher yield of maize biomass in arid season, better energy indicators of the crop were obtained in arid conditions than in humid. The difference between net energy was about 122-123 MJ ha-1 in all treatments, except for the maize crop with intercropped alfalfa, where the difference was 62 MJ ha-1. All tested technologies were environmentally friendly, CO2 equivalent varied between treatments from 804 to 884 kg ha-1. Uneven distribution of precipitation during vegetative season makes us think about the improvement of intercropping technologies. Sowing intercrops at the same time with maize could improve its germination but increase the problem of weed spread.

Multi-cropping can solve the energy and GHG balance problems, but the emergence, development and productivity of such mixed crops are at risk due to increasing drought periods. For this reason, single maize crops with inter-row mellowing and weed-mulching practices were compared with faba bean, crimson and Persian clover, and alfalfa intercropped maize cultivations. Tests were performed at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. Results showed that by the 30% higher energy inputs were calculated in technologies with intercropped crimson, Persian clover, and alfalfa than in monocropped maize. Single maize crops produced by the 23-40% higher biomass yields compare to clover and alfalfa intercropped maize because, due to the drought periods, intercrops weakly sprouted and developed. Lower harvests reduced the energy output by up to 38%, energy efficiency ratio - by up to 2.5 times and net energy - by up to 42%. All tested technologies were environmentally friendly and similar according to the CO2 equivalent. Long-term drought periods during vegetative season due to climate change make us think about the improvement of intercropping technologies. Sowing intercrops at the same time with maize could solve the problem of its germination but highlight the problem of abundant weed spread. Therefore, this takes us to another sphere of agrotechnologies - the effective non-chemical weed control.

The study aims to evaluate the Quorum Sensing (QS) system inhibition against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria detected by molecular modeling of R. cathartica L. plant extract. R. cathartica L. methanol extract was evaluated in vitro. The research was carried out for the possible role and mechanism of R. cathartica L. The antibacterial activity of R. cathartica L. seed extract on some Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains was evaluated using culture-based and computational analysis. Gentamicin (CN; 30 µg/ml, Bioanalyse) was used as an antibacterial control of the extract on the production potential of QS-dependent virulence factors on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was investigated. Phytochemical analysis resulted in the identification of 23 phenolic phytochemicals. R. cathartica L. extract was observed to have antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at different rates (11.3 mm-16 mm). The inhibitory effect of R. cathartica L. extract on P. aeruginosa PAO1 (elastase 61%, pyocyanin 18%, and biofilm 61%) was recorded moderately. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the main component of the extract is kaempferol. Therefore, the binding potential of kaempferol on QS system receptors was investigated via molecular docking. Computational analysis showed that kaempferol can inhibit the QS system by preventing competitive ligands from connecting to LasR. This study explored the activity and mechanism of action for a new green alternative against resistance. might provide a mechanism for R. cathartica L. seed extract components and thus provide a new avenue for using R. cathartica L. seed extract as a green antibacterial agent.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most commercially essential vegetable crops cultivated worldwide. In addition to the nutritional value, tomato is an excellent model for studying climacteric fruits' ripening process. Despite this, the available natural pool of genes that allows expanding phenotypic diversity is limited, and the difficulties of crossing using classical selection methods when stacking traits increase proportionally with each additional feature. Genetic engineering makes it possible to introduce changes in genes of interest without changing the allelic combinations characteristic of successful commercial varieties, to enhance the expression of existing genes, to create and transfer artificial and heterologous genes, and much more. However, this requires understanding the fundamental principles of the molecular interaction. Although the leading candidate genes for these components have been identified, a complete picture of their relationship has yet to be formed. The review summarizes the latest (2017-2023) achievements related to studying the ripening processes of tomato fruits. In this work, an attempt is made to systematize the results of various research and display the interaction pattern of genes regulating the process of tomato fruit ripening.

Three new compounds (1, 11 and 12), together with 32 known ones, were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L. using various chromatographic methods. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated based on 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS data analysis, while the known ones were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human gastric cancer HGC27 cells by CCK-8 assay. Among them, compounds 5, 8, 10 and 30 exhibited cytotoxic activities on HGC27 cells with IC50 values of 10.24 ± 0.89 μM, 28.94 ± 0.72 μM, 6.08 ± 0.34 μM and 33.76 ± 2.64 μM, respectively. Furthermore, compound 10 was confirmed to reduce proliferation ability, increase apoptosis rate and inhibit cell migration pathway by annexin V/PI double staining experiment, transwell experiment and western blot analysis.

The CDPK family genes play crucial roles in signal transduction pathways during plant develop-ment and stress response. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the CDPK family genes in mustard (Brassica juncea L.), resulting in the identification of 101 genes (BjuCDPK1–101) located on chromosomes AA_Chr01 to BB_Chr08. RNA-seq analysis showed that most BjuCDPK genes were predominantly expressed in the root and flower bud, suggesting their organ-specific expression patterns. Furthermore, the expression levels of most BjuCDPK genes were significantly altered by cold stress. The promoter regions of BjuCDPK genes had abundant cis-acting elements related to hormone and stress. The interaction network analysis predicted that BjuCDPK proteins respond to abiotic stress probably via interaction with ABF1, ABF4, and/or DI19. Our findings provide valu-able information for further investigation of the cold stress adaption of mustard via the CDPK signaling pathway.

Self-compacting concrete is essential for vertical structures due to high reinforcement and usage of pumps for transporting the concrete at the working site. SCC is mainly influenced by self-curing for arid areas. To explore the SCC (Self-Compacting Concrete) mixture and condition influencing the self-curing condition were determined using the experimental procedure. Determination of various parameters was done using T50 slump flow, V-funnel, L-box-box, J ring test, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength test. After the experimental investigation, it shows that if the dose if the dosage of superplasticizer (SNF%) increases, it will improve the concrete mixture's different properties, such as flowability and ability to pass. Higher water-to-cement ratios (w/c) generally result in enhanced flowability and stability. Mixture 9 (SNF 0.35, w/c 0.5) demonstrates favourable results across all parameters, indicating excellent flowability and stability. Mixture 9 (SNF 0.35, w/c 0.5) also shows favourable flowability and stability characteristics. Lower concentrations, such as 0.5%, may have a positive effect up to a certain point but might not provide sustained improvement over the curing period. On the other hand, concentrations of 1% and 2% demonstrated consistent and significant enhancement in strength throughout the 28 days. It is found that the higher concentrations of PEG 4000 may be more effective in improving the material strength.

As research into the relationship between the gut microbiome and health continues to evolve, probiotics are garnering increasing interest among consumers. Fermentation is rec-ognized as an efficacious biotechnology for augmenting the nutritional and functional at-tributes of foods. In this study, the ameliorative effects of Lycium barbarum L. lyophilized powder fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum NXU0011 (LP+Ly) on dextran sodium sul-fate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice were investigated employing immuno-histochemistry, qRT-PCR, macrogenomics, and metabolomics. The results revealed that LP+Ly intervention significantly ameliorated histopathological inflammation in the ulcer-ated colon, diminished the expression of inflammatory markers such as IL-6, P-STAT3, and miR-214, and enhanced the diversity of intestinal flora in the mouse model group. Moreover, there was an increase in abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Akkermansia. Metabolomic analysis indicated that 15 metabolites, including citrulline, D-xylose, and α-ketoisovaleric acid, exhibited significant variations following LP+Ly inter-vention. The metabolic pathways that displayed substantial differences included tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. By modulating arginine biosynthesis, LP+Ly effectively improved the intestinal inflammatory state, thus mitigating the effects of UC.

The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria (6-hydroxy-L-nicotine) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain was examined. A search in the PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, limiting entries to those no later than July 2023, was conducted. The search focused specifically on articles pertaining to nicotine metabolites, memory, oxidative stress, cholinergic system activity, as well as enzymes or pathways related to nicotine degradation in bacteria. The preliminary search resulted in 696 articles, and following the application of exclusion criteria, 185 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion. This review focuses on experimental studies supporting nicotine catabolism in bacteria, and the chemical and pharmacological activities of nicotine and its metabolite 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine.

Abstract: This comprehensive review seeks to deepen our comprehension of the African plant Momordica balsamina L. by elucidating its therapeutically important molecules and micronutrient composition. Commonly referred to as the balsam apple, this plant species is extensively harnessed for its diverse therapeutic potentials across its various organs including leaves, fruits, roots, and stems. Numerous bioactive molecules have been isolated or identified within this plant, notably encompassing polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, and carotenoids. These compounds exhibit a wide array of biological activities, ranging from antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, to anti-malarial properties, among others. Furthermore, the leaves of Momordica balsamina L. stand out for their abundant micronutrients, proteins, and amino acids. This investigation aims to shed light not only on the botanical characteristics of the Momordica balsamina plant and its potential applications in traditional medicine, but also on its chemical composition, biological functionalities, and physicochemical attributes, thus accentuating its nutritional advantages. Nonetheless, an intriguing avenue presents itself for the exploration of strategies to conserve this species, delve deeper into its potential within the cosmetics industry, and innovate methodologies for the synthesis or biosynthesis of these bioactive molecules.

Drought poses a significant constraint on rice production, and in this study, we have discovered a novel drought-sensitive mutant, designated as dsm3, arising from the progenies of indica rice variety Zhonghui8015 treated with EMS. Under drought stress conditions, dsm3 exhibited characteristic withered leaf tips, accompanied by increased levels of MDA and H2O2, reduced Pn, and decreased activity of POD and SOD. Genetic analysis revealed that the withered leaf tip phenotype was governed by a single recessive gene, designated as Osdsm3.To begin with, Osdsm3 was initially mapped to the short arm of chromosome 1 through a cross involving dsm3 and 02428. Subsequently, utilizing a population of 2591 F2 individuals, we narrowed down the location of Osdsm3 to a 78Kb interval, encompassing 13 open reading frames (ORFs). Sequencing analysis unveiled a mutation (1275G→A) in the exon of the candidate gene (LOC_Os01g10680), leading to premature translation termination. Moreover, a quantitative RT-PCR assay demonstrated high expression of OsDSM3 in the panicle and sheath, with a significant upregulation of drought stress-related genes under drought conditions. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Osdsm3 shares evolutionary homology with UNE1, an intracellular transport protein found in Arabidopsis thaliana. Subcellular studies further confirmed that OsDSM3 resides in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, the forthcoming cloning of Osdsm3 holds promise for delving deeper into the molecular mechanisms governing rice drought resistance.

Abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive monogenic disorder caused by a homozygous mutation in the β-globin gene, which leads to erythrocyte sickling, hemolysis, vaso-occlusion and sterile inflammation. Oral l-glutamine administration has been shown to reduce the frequency of pain crisis in SCD patients, however, the long-term effect of l-glutamine in SCD remains to be determined. To understand the long-term effect of l-glutamine administration in SCD liver we used quantitative liver intravital microscopy and biochemical analysis in humanized SCD mice. We here show that chronic l-glutamine administration reduces hepatic hemoglobin-heme-iron level, but fails to ameliorate ischemic liver injury. Remarkably, we find that this failure in resolution of hepatobiliary injury and persistent liver fibrosis is associated with reduced expression of hepatic Kupffer cells post l-glutamine treatment. These findings establish the importance to investigate the long-term effects of l-glutamine therapy on liver pathophysiology in SCD patients.

The development of technology that combines supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries by externally connecting them in parallel is ongoing. This study examines the correlation between the volume ratio and electrical characteristics of a cell made by internally connecting a battery capacitor with Li4Ti5O12 as the anode active material and a supercapacitor in parallel. It was found that increasing the volume occupied by the battery capacitor in the cell led to increased cell energy and resistance, resulting in decreased output characteristics. Conversely, increasing the volume occupied by the supercapacitor in the cell led to a decrease in the IR drop during discharge and cell temperature when evaluating cycle characteristics with a current of 20C. The study also examined the behavior of the current distributed during the charging and discharging process based on the volume ratio of the supercapacitor and the battery capacitor. Analyzing the correlation between the volume ratio and electrical characteristics of supercapacitors and battery capacitors could potentially lead to the development of a new type of energy storage device.

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics can pose the risks of spreading mutant strains that show antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with negative impact on management of bacterial infections and economic implications on healthcare systems. Research and development of natural antibacterial agents could be a priority in the next years to improve number of effective antibacterial molecules and to reduce AMR phenomenon and its development. The present study identified the most effective concentration and contact time of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil (TEO) to obtain bactericidal effect in vitro against different Gram + and Gram – bacterial strains. Six clinically isolated (wild types) bacterial strains, (Citrobacter freundii, Enterococcus feciorum, Proteus mirabilis, Acinetobacter cioffi, Pasteurella putrefaciens, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and two ATCC (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans) were tested after 1min, 3min and 5min of contact with TEO. Preliminary results on S. aureus after 24h incubation revealed a TEO concentration of 9.28mg/mL (w/v) that completely inhibited bacteria growth keeping cell viability. Total suppression of bacterial growth at all tested contact times was observed for all tested bacterial strains and the results were confirmed after 48h incubation. Bacterial growth suppression was confirmed even with presence of organic component. These preliminary results showed in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of TEO against different Gram+ and Gram- bacterial strains. Future studies are necessary to confirm the reproducibility of these results even on other strains and to define exactly the molecular mechanisms of EOs, in order to consider TEO as a valid alternative of classic antibiotic therapies and subsequently to reduce the occurrence of AMR.

The addition of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums is a kind of biological measure for vegetation restoration of rock mining areas. Its function is to accelerate soil weathering, improve soil fertility, improve the ability of plants to fix soil. Through understanding the response of plant rhizosphere microbial community to the mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums, it is helpful to popularize the use of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums. However, little is known about the changes of plant rhizosphere soil microbial communities after the addition of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to reveal the pasthways through which different mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums positively affect underground part of R. pseudoacacia. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the responses of rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal communities in R. pseudoacacia by taking 32 samples from four different mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums treatments. The results showed that the effect of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums on the structure of fungal community was greater than that of bacterial community. But the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was increased, which had a strong positive correlation with root nodulation. In terms of microbial diversity, mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums had a greater effect on the diversity and evenness of bacterial community. It is worth noting that correlation analysis showed that Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia in bacteria and Ascomycota and Zoopagomycota in fungi were positively correlated with soil enzyme activity and plant growth. RDA analysis showed that the relative abundance of these two phyla in bacteria also had positive effects on plant root nodulation. Our results showed that the addition of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums can optimize the rhizosphere soil microbial community structure, promote R. pseudoacacia root nodulation, and enhance the nitrogen fixation capacity of plants. In addition, this study can provide a theoretical basis for the application of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculums to a wide range of slope ecological restoration.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a globally important oilseed crop with various uses, including consumption of its succulent stems as a seasonal vegetable, but its uniaxial branching habit limits the stem yield. Therefore, developing a multi-stem rapeseed variety has become increasingly crucial. In this study, a nature mutant of wild type from germplasm resources with stable inheritance of the multi-stem trait (MS) was obtained and showed abnormal shoot apical meristem (SAM) development and increased main stem number compared to WT. Histological and scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed multiple SAMs in the MS mutant, while only a single SAM was found in WT. Compared to WT, the mutant exhibited increased accumulation of cytokinins (CKs), transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses showed the expression of genes involved in CK biosynthesis and metabolism pathways were altered in MS mutant. These findings provide insight into the mechanism of multiple main stems formation in Brassica napus L. and lay a theoretical foundation for breeding multi-main stem rapeseed vegetable varieties.

Over the last decade, Psidium guajava L. (guava) leaves have demonstrated their in vitro and in vivo effect against Diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there is a lack of literature concerning the effect of the individual phenolic compounds present in the leaves in DM disease. For this reason, the aim of the present work was the in silico evaluation of each phenolic compound. The identification of an 80% ethanol extract of guava leaves revealed the presence of 73 compounds. The in silico study carried out with the DIA-DB web server revealed that aldose reductase was the target protein with heterogeneous affinity. Naringenin exhibited the highest number of interactions with target proteins, and compounds like catechin, quercetin, naringenin and morin displayed similarities with known antidiabetic drugs. In conclusion, the computational workflow showed that guava leaves contain several compounds that can play a therapeutic role in the treatment of DM.

Background: The use of medicinal plants and their effective compounds as natural sources that have antioxidant properties, has been considered by researchers. Antioxidants are compounds that effectively inhibit the reaction of oxygen and nitrogen-free radicals with biomolecules in a variety of ways, reducing damage or preventing cell death, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Objective: In this study, chemical compounds of Adiantum capillus-veneris essential oil were used to evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity using water distillation and gas chromatography. Methods: The whole plant was dried at room temperature at 25 ° C and the distillation method with water with modifications was used using a Clevenger device for essential oil extraction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify the resulting essential oil compounds and the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated. Results: The most important chemical constituents of Adiantum capillus-veneris essential oil were carvone (33.00%), carvacrol (15.05%), hexadecanoic acid (7.02%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (4.25%) and n-nonanal (4.2%). The antibacterial activity of Adiantum capillus-veneris essential oils (mg/ml) was calculated and the highest antibacterial activity was determined by Staphylococcus aureus (8.23±1.07), Streptococcus pyogenes (12.46±1.62), and Diphtheroid (11.37±1.36) at a concentration of 100 mg/ml of essential oils. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the essential oil of Adiantum capillus-veneris prevented the growth of three pathogenic bacteria. This antibacterial property is due to the presence of flavonoid compounds in Adiantum capillus-veneris has the capacity for therapeutic and medical uses.

L-asparaginase (ASNase) is an aminohydrolase currently used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Enzyme immobilization is an exciting option for both applications, allowing a more straightforward recovery and increased stability. High surface area and customizable porosity make carbon xerogels (CXs) promising materials for ASNase immobilization. This work describes the influence of contact time, pH, and ASNase concentration on the immobilization yield (IY) and relative recovered activity (RRA) using Central Composite Design methodology. The most promising results were obtained using CX with an average pore size of 4 nm (CX-4), reaching IY and RRA of 100%. At the optimal conditions, the ASNase-CXs biocomposite was characterized and evaluated in terms of kinetic properties and operational, thermal and pH stabilities. The immobilized ASNase onto CX-4 retained 71% of its original activity after six continuous reaction cycles, showed a good thermal stability at 37 °C (RRA of 91% after 90 min) and was able to adapt to both acidic and alkaline environments. Finally, the results indicated a 3.9-fold increase in the immobilized ASNase affinity for the substrate, confirming the potential of CXs as a support for ASNase and as a cost-effective tool for subsequent use in the therapeutic and food sectors.

Pteridophytes, represented by ferns and allies, are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms). Ferns have evolved independently of any other species in the plant kingdom being its secondary metabolism a reservoir of phytoconstituents characteristic of this taxon. The study of the possible medicinal uses of Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae), PV, has increased particularly when in 2008 the European Medicines Agency published a monograph about the rhizome of this species. Thus, our objective is to provide scientific knowledge on the methanolic extract from the fronds of P. vulgare L., one of the main ferns described in the Prades Mountains, to contribute to the validation of certain traditional uses. Specifically, we have characterized the methanolic extract of PV fronds (PVM) by HPLC-DAD and investigated its potential cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, ROS production and protective effects against oxidative stress by using in vitro methods. Our results show that PVM is not cytotoxic against the different cell lines assessed, but we found potential cytoprotective and cellular repair activity in 3T3 fibroblast cells. This biological activity could be attributed to the high content of polyphenolic compounds; thus, this extract is positioned as a potential candidate for pharmaceutical uses.

We present a robust, fresh-frozen approach to immunohistochemistry (IHC), without committing the tissue to IHC via fixation and cryopreservation while maintaining long-term storage, using LiCor-based infrared (IR) quantification for sensitive assessment of TH in immunoreacted mid-brain sections for quantitative comparison across studies. In fresh-frozen tissue stored up to 1 year prior to IHC reaction, we found our method to be highly sensitive to rotenone treatment in 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and correlated with a significant decline in rotarod laten-cy-to-fall measurement by approximately 2.5 fold. The measured midbrain region revealed a 31% lower TH signal when compared to control (p<0.01 by t test, n=5). Bivariate analysis of in-tegrated TH counts versus rotarod latency-to-fall indicates a positive slope and modest but sig-nificant correlation of R2=0.68 (p<0.05, n=10). These results indicate this rapid, instrument-based quantification method by IR detection successfully quantifies TH levels in rat brain tissue, while taking only 5 days from euthanasia to data output. This approach also allows for the identifica-tion of multiple targets by IHC with the simultaneous performance of downstream molecular analysis within the same animal tissue, allowing for the use of fewer animals per study.

In the present study, we isolated and screened thirty strains of GABA-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Indonesian traditional fermented foods. Two strains were able to convert monosodium glutamate (MSG) to GABA after 24 h of cultivation at 37oC based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) screening. 16S rDNA sequencing and proteomic identification using MALDI-TOF MS identified these two strains as Lactobacillus plantarum designated as L. plantarum FNCC 260 and L. plantarum FNCC 343. The highest yield of GABA production obtained from the fermentation of L. plantarum FNCC 260 was 809.2 mg/l of culture medium after 60 h of cultivation. Supplementation of 0.6 mM pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) and 0.1 mM pyridoxine led to the increase in GABA production to 945.3 mg/l and 969.5 mg/l, respectively. The highest GABA production of 1226.5 mg/l of culture medium was obtained with 100 mM initial concentration of MSG added in the cultivation medium. The open reading frame (ORF) of 1410 bp of the gadB gene from L. plantarum FNCC 260 encodes 469 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 53.57 kDa. The production of GABA via enzymatic conversion of monosodium glutamate (MSG) using purified recombinant glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) from L. plantarum FNCC 260 expressed in Escherichia coli was found to be more efficient (5-fold higher within 6 h) than the production obtained from fermentation. L. plantarum FNCC 260 could be of interest for the synthesis of GABA.

Solidago virgaurea L. (European goldenrod, Woundwort), Asteraceae, is a familiar medicinal plant in Europe and other parts of the world, widely used and among the most researched species from its genus. The aerial parts of European goldenrod have long been used for urinary tract conditions and as an anti-inflammatory agent in the traditional medicine of different peoples. Its main chemical constituents are flavonoids (mainly derived from quercetin and kaempferol), C6-C1 and C6-C3 compounds, terpenes (mostly from the essential oil), and a large number of saponin molecules (mainly virgaureasaponins and solidagosaponins). Published research on its potential activities is critically reviewed here: antioxidant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, spasmolitic, antihypertensive, diuretic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasite, cytotoxic and antitumor, antimutagenic, antiadipogenic, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, and antisenescence. The evidence concerning its potential benefits is mainly derived from non-clinical studies, some effects are rather modest, whereas others are more promising, but need more confirmation in both non-clinical models and clinical trials.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important crop that serves as a source of edible oil and protein. However, little is known about its molecular mechanism of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. Based on the Arabidopsis thaliana sequence database and Phytozome, a soybean gene that was highly homogenous with the reduced induction of the non-photochemical quenching2 (AtRIQ2) gene, GmRIQ2-like (accession NO.: Glyma.04G174400), was identified in this study. The gene structure analysis revealed that GmRIQ2-like encoded a transmembrane protein. Elements of the promoter analysis indicated that GmRIQ2-like participated in the photosynthesis and abiotic stress pathways. The subcellular localization results revealed that the protein encoded by GmRIQ2-like was located in chloroplasts. The quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR results revealed that GmRIQ2-like-overexpression (OE) and -knock-out (KO) transgenic soybean seedlings were cultivated successfully. The relative chlorophyll (Chl) and zeaxanthin contents and Chl fluorescence kinetic parameters demonstrated that GmRIQ2-like dissipated excess light energy by enhancing the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and reduced plant photoinhibition. These results suggested that GmRIQ2-like was induced in response to strong light and depressed Chl production involved in soybean stress tolerance. These findings indicate that the transgenic seedlings of GmRIQ2-like could be used to enhance strong light stress tolerance and protect soybean plants from photoinhibition damage. This study will serve as a reference for studying crop photoprotection regulation mechanisms and benefits the research and development of new cultivars.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is an ancient medicinal plant producing pharmaceutically important benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. In the present work we focused on the study of enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) from opium poppy cultures. LOX is involved in lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids have a significant role in regulation of growth, development and plant defence responses to biotic or abiotic stress. The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize LOX enzyme from opium poppy callus cultures. LOX was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by hydrophobic chromatography using Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and hydroxyapatite chromatography using HA Ultrogel sorbent. SDS-PAGE analysis and immunoblotting revealed that LOX from opium poppy cultures was a single monomeric protein showing the relative molecular weight of 83 kDa. To investigate the positional specificity of the LOX reaction, purified LOX was incubated with linoleic acid and the products were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. LOX converted linoleic acid primarily to 13-hydroperoxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoic acids (78%) and to a lesser extent to 9-hydroperoxy-(10E,12Z)-octadecadienoic acids (22%). Characterization of LOX from opium poppy cultures provided valuable information in understanding of LOX involvement in regulation of signalling pathways leading to biosynthesis of secondary metabolites with significant biological activity.

The assimilation of Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) data into the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) H-TESSEL (Hydrology revised - Tiled ECMWF Scheme for Surface Exchanges over Land) model is presented. SMOS soil moisture (SM) estimates have been produced specifically by training a neural network with SMOS brightness temperatures as input and H-TESSEL model SM simulations as reference. This can help the assimilation of SMOS information in several ways: (1) the neural network soil moisture (NNSM) data have a similar climatology to the model, (2) no global bias is present with respect to the model even if regional differences can exist. Experiments performing joint data assimilation (DA) of NNSM, 2 metre air temperature and relative humidity or NNSM-only DA are discussed. The resulting SM was evaluated against a large number of in situ measurements of SM obtaining similar results to those of the model with no assimilation, even if significant differences were found from site to site. In addition, atmospheric forecasts initialized with H-TESSEL runs (without DA) or with the analysed SM were compared to measure of the impact of the satellite information. Although, NNSM DA has an overall neutral impact in the forecast in the Tropics, a significant positive impact was found in other areas and periods, especially in regions with limited in situ information. The joint NNSM, T2m and RH2m DA improves the forecast for all the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere. The impact is mostly due to T2m and RH2m, but SMOS NN DA alone also improves the forecast in July- September. In the Northern Hemisphere, the joint NNSM, T2m and RH2m DA improves the forecast in April-September, while NNSM alone has a significant positive effect in July-September. Furthermore, forecasting skill maps show that SMOS NNSM improves the forecast in North America and in Northern Asia for up to 72 hours lead time.

A supramolecular host-guest interaction and sensing between cationic pillar[5]arenes (CP5) and L-carnitine were developed by the competitive host-guest recognition for the first time. The fluorescence sensing platform was constructed by CP5 functionalized Au nanoparticles (PP5@Au-NPs) as receptor and probe (rhodamine 123, R123), which shown a high sensitivity and selectivity to L-carnitine detection. Due to the property of the negative charge and molecular size of L-carnitine, it can be highly captured by the CP5 via electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions. The mechanism of host-guest between PP5 and L-carnitine was studied by ¹H NMR and molecular docking, which indicated more affinity binding force of PP5 with L-carnitine. Therefore, a selective and sensitive fluorescent method was developed. It has a linear response of 0.1–2.0 and 2.0–25.0 μM and a detection limit of 0.067 μM (S/N = 3) for L-carnitine. The fluorescent sensing platform was also used to detect L-carnitine in human serum and milk samples, which provided potential applications of detection drugs of abuse, and had path for guarding a serious food safety issues.

Corn tassel is a by-product from hybrid corn seed production and a new source of phytochemicals including compounds with antioxidant activity. Four tassel development stages were evaluated in eight commercial corn varieties. Corn varieties and tassel developmental stages showed significant variations (P0.01) for all parameters. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were highest in field corn. KGW1, a purple waxy variety, had the highest anthocyanin content and carotenoid content at tassel development stages at 50% and 75% of pollen shed, whereas the tassel developmental stages at the 1st day of pollen shed and 50% of pollen shed had the highest of anthocyanin yield and carotenoid yield. The most suitable time for tassel harvest should be between the 1st day of pollen shed to 50% of pollen shed. Phytochemicals and antioxidants that are extracted from corn tassel can be used as a functional food supplement, natural pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products.

The common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a nutrient dense food produced globally as a major pulse crop for direct human consumption, and is an important source of protein and micronutrients for hundreds of millions of people across Latin America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. Beans require large amounts of heat energy and time to cook, deterring consumers worldwide from purchasing beans. In regions where consumers rely on expensive fuelwood for food preparation, the yellow bean is often marketed as fast cooking. A Yellow Bean Panel (YBP) was assembled to explore the cooking time and health benefits of the five major seed types within the yellow bean market class (Amarillo, Canary, Manteca, Mayocoba, Njano) over two field seasons. This study shows how the Manteca yellow bean possess a fast cooking phenotype, which could serve a genetic resource for introducing fast cooking properties into a new generation of dry beans with cooking times < 20 minutes when pre-soaked and < 80 minutes unsoaked. Nutritional evaluation revealed fast cooking yellow beans have high iron retention (>80%) after boiling. An in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture bioassay revealed a strong negative association between cooking time and iron bioavailability in the YBP (r values > -0.73). When either pre-soaked or left unsoaked the highest iron bioavailability scores were measured in the fast cooking Manteca genotypes providing evidence that this yellow market class is worthy of germplasm enhancement through the added benefit of improved iron quality after cooking.

Secondary forests (SF) are important carbon sinks, removing CO₂ from the atmosphere through the photosynthesis process and storing photosynthates in their aboveground live biomass (AGB). This process occurring at large-scales partially counteracts C emissions from land-use change, playing, hence, an important role in the global carbon cycle. The absorption rates of carbon in these forests depend on forest physiology, controlled by environmental and climatic conditions as well as on the past land use, which is rarely considered for retrieving AGB from remotely sensed data. In this context, the main goal of this study is to evaluate the potential of full polarimetric ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 data for estimating AGB by taking into account the past-land use of SF areas in the Brazilian Amazon. We surveyed a chronosequence of 42 SF plots (20 ha) near the Tapajós National Forest in Pará state to quantifying AGB growth rates. We explored the full polarimetric data testing three regression models including non-linear (NL), multiple linear regressions models (MLR), and the semi-empirical extended water cloud model (EWCM). The results showed that the intensity of previous use has affected the structure of SF by reducing the AGB accumulation and being noticeable by several polarimetric attributes. The combination of multiple prediction variables with MLR improved the AGB estimation by 70% comparing amongst other models (R² adj. = 0.51; RMSE = 13.2 Mg ha^-1) bias = 2.1 ± 37.9 Mg ha^-1. The error propagation of the MLR model was estimated to be 15%.

The main objective of this study is to analyze the impact of investment in Research & Development on the performance and value of companies, that is, to try to explain how R&D investment influences the companies’ performance. For this purpose, a dynamic panel data model was estimated using the Generalized Method of Moments, which made possible to measure the impact of R&D investment on performance through the Return on Operating Assets ratio for the Portuguese companies that invested the most between 2012 to 2019. The results show that the investment in R&D is not statistically significant in explaining the operating return on assets. However, the lagged financial performance in one period, the leverage, the asset turnover ratio and the accounts payable turnover show to have impact on the variable under study.

The study evaluated the impact of supplementing ZH in combination with D3 on growth performance, energy efficiency, carcass traits, and meat quality of feedlot lambs. Thirty-two Dorper x Katahdin cross lambs (37.3±5.72 kg) were utilized in a 29 d experiment in a complete randomized block design with a 2x2 factorial structure consisting of two levels of ZH for 26 d (0 and 0.20 mg /kg PV-1) and two levels of D3 for 7 d (0 and 1.5x106 IU/d-1). ZH improved (P≤0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency by 9.9% and 17.8%, respectively, as well as hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing carcass by 4.3% and 2.6%, respectively. (p≤0.03). However, ZH increased (p<0.01) muscle pH and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) (2.5 and 23.0%, respectively). D3 supplementation negatively affected (P≤0.02) dry matter intake (DMI) (last 7 d) and ADG by 15.7% and 18.1%. On the other hand, D3 improved the pH of the longissimus muscle (LM) by 1.7% (p=0.03) without affecting WBSF. When D3 was supplemented in combination with ZH, it was observed that meat quality was improved by reducing muscle pH compared to lambs treated only with ZH. However, D3 did not improve meat tenderness produced by ZH supplementation.

Côte d’Ivoire has substantially neglected crop residues from farms in rural areas. This study aims to provide strategies for the sustainable conversion of crop residues to hydrogen. Using existing data and theoretical approaches, up to 16,801,306 tons of crop residues of 11 crop types were available in Côte d’Ivoire in 2019. A theoretical hydrogen potential of 1,296,424.84 tons was estimated from the crop residues. Technically, 907,497.39 tons of hydrogen is expected annually. Three scenarios of hydrogen project implementation developed indicated that the Ivorian industries can be supplied with 9,026,635 gigajoules of heat. Moreover, 17,910 cars and 4,732 buses can be supported in the transport sector. It is estimated that 817,293.95 tons of green ammonia for farmers can be supplied. Five million, seven hundred twenty-seven thousand, nine hundred ninety-two (5,727,992) households are expected to have access to 1,718.40 gigawatts of electricity. Due to these changes in transport, energy, industry, and agricultural sectors, a reduction of 1,644,722.08 tons of carbon dioxide per year can be achieved theoretically. With the scenarios, some 263,276.87 tons of hydrogen are exportable to other countries. Conversion of crop residues to hydrogen is a promising opportunity with environmental and socio-economic impact. Therefore, this study requires further extensive research.

Vitamin D is crucial for athletes' health and performance. Although the exact vitamin D requirements for athletes have not been established, maintaining 25(OH)D levels of at least 40 ng/ml is considered beneficial. This study aimed to determine whether an individual loading dose formula for vitamin D supplementation is suitable to meet a target value of 40 ng/ml and is more effective than standardized supplementation. In a 10-week supplementation study during the winter months in Germany, 90 athletes with insufficient vitamin D levels (25(OH)D<30ng/ml) were randomly assigned to receive either a universal dose of 2000 IU/day of vitamin D or a loading dose of 4000 IU/day, followed by a maintenance dose of 1000 IU/day. Total 25(OH)D concentration was measured from dried blood spots at three time points: at baseline, at the computed date of 40ng/ml, and after the 10-week period. Additionally, a vitamin D-specific questionnaire was issued. On the day when 25(OH)D blood concentrations of 40 ng/ml were calculated to prevail, the individualized group had a significantly higher 25(OH)D level than the standardized group (41.1+-10.9 ng/ml vs. 32.5+-6.4 ng/ml, p<0.001). This study demonstrated that the examined formula is suitable for athletes to achieve a 25(OH)D concentration of 40 ng/ml. This indicates that a personalized approach is more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach in restoring adequate vitamin D levels in athletes.

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.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common disease and the second most common cause of death in the world. The drug for second-line treatment depends on the drugs used in first-line treatment and biomarker status. As biomarkers, the RAS gene, BRAF gene, and dMMR/MSI-H, TMB-H, and HER2 statuses have been established in clinical practice, and the corresponding molecularly targeted therapeutic agents are selected based on biomarker status. Given the frequency of biomarkers, it is assumed that when patients move on to second-line treatment, an angiogenesis inhibitor is selected in many cases. For second-line treatment, three angiogenesis inhibitors, bevacizumab (BEV), ramucirumab (RAM), and aflibercept (AFL), are available, and one of them is combined with cytotoxic agents. These three angiogenesis inhibitors are known to inhibit angiogenesis through different mechanisms of action. Although no useful biomarkers are established for selecting angiogenesis inhibitors, previous biomarker studies have suggested that angiogenesis-related factors such as VEGF-A and VEGF-D might be predictors of therapeutic efficacy of angiogenesis inhibitors. These biomarkers are measured as protein levels in plasma and are considered to be hopeful biomarkers. We consider that the rationale for selecting among these three angiogenesis inhibitors should be clarified to benefit patients.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is almost always performed with a sedative because of the longer procedure times involved. The risk of post-ESD deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been reported as relatively high, and D-dimer levels are sometimes elevated after ESD. This retrospective study evaluated factors affecting changes in D-dimer levels from before to after ESD to identify causes of elevated D-dimer levels after ESD. This retrospective analysis included 117 patients with gastrointestinal tumors resected using ESD. After excluding 8 patients with pre-ESD levels of D-dimer >1.5 μg/mL, factors correlating with changes in D-dimer from before to after ESD were analyzed using logistic regression analysis in 109 patients. Sedation was accomplished primarily using midazolam, but because the sedative effect of midazolam shows marked inter-individual variability, a “corrected midazolam dose” was determined by dividing the total midazolam dose by the initial dose to correct for inter-individual differences in the sedative effect of midazolam. This value was used as one potential explanatory variable in subgroup analysis of the 103 patients who received midazolam. In subgroup analysis using the corrected midazolam dose as an explanatory variable, only corrected midazolam dose correlated with a change in D-dimer ≥ 1.0 μg/mL in multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR]=1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.95; P=0.030). Corrected midazolam dose correlated with increases in post-ESD D-dimer levels. This potential relationship indicates that patients undergoing ESD and requiring extended sedation may be at increased risk of DVT.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the only primitive spermatogonial cells in males that can naturally transmit genetic information to their offspring and replicate throughout their lives. Phospholipase D family member 6 (PLD6) has recently been found to be a surface marker for SSCs in mice and boars; however, it has not been validated in cattle. The results of RT-PCR and qRT-PCR found that the relative expression of PLD6 gene in the testicular tissues of 2-year-old Simmental calves was significantly higher than that of 6-month-old calves. Immunofluorescent staining further verified the expression of PLD6 protein in bovine spermatogenic cells like germ cell marker VASA. Based on multiple bioinformatic databases, PLD6 is a conservative protein which has high homology with mouse Q5SWZ9 protein. It is closely involved in the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Molecular dynamics simulation analyzed the binding of PLD6 as a phospholipase to cardiolipin (CL), and PLD6-CL complex showed high stability. The protein interaction network analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between PLD6 and piRNA binding protein. PLD6 acts as an endonuclease and participates in piRNA production. In addition, PLD6 in bovine and mouse testes has a similar expression pattern with the spermatogonium-related genes VASA and PIWIL2. In conclusion, these analyses imply that PLD6 has a relatively high expression in bovine testes and could be used as a biomarker for spermatogenic cells including SSCs.

Missing observation is a common problem in scientific and industrial experiments, particularly in a small-scale experiment. They often present significant challenges when experiment repetition is infeasible. In this research, we propose a multi-objective genetic algorithm as a practical alternative for generating optimal mixture designs that remain robust in the face of missing observation. Our algorithm prioritizes designs that exhibit superior D-efficiency while maintaining a high minimum D-efficiency due to missing observation. The focus on D-efficiency stems from its ability to minimize the impact of missing observations on parameter estimates, ensure reliability across the experimental space, and maximize the utility of available data. We study problems with three mixture components where the experimental region is an irregularly shaped polyhedral within the simplex. Our designs have proven to be D-optimal designs, demonstrating exceptional performance in terms of D-efficiency and robustness against missing observations. We provide a well-distributed set of optimal designs derived from the Pareto front, enabling experimenters to select the most suitable design based on their priorities using the desirability function.

Observational studies have linked vitamin D insufficiency to pediatric type 2 diabetes (T2D) , but evidence from vitamin D supplementation trials is sparse. Given the rising prevalence of pediatric T2D in all ethnicities, determining a protective role of vitamin D has significant public health importance. We tested whether serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels are causally linked to youth-onset T2D risk using Mendelian randomization (MR). We selected 54 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 25OHD in a European genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 443,734 individuals and obtained their effects on pediatric T2D from the multi-ethnic PRODIGY GWAS (3,006 cases/6,061 controls). We applied inverse variance weighted (IVW) MR, and a series of MR methods to control for pleiotropy. We undertook sensitivity analyses in ethnic sub-cohorts of PRODIGY, and using SNPs in core vitamin D genes or ancestry-informed 25OHD SNPs. Multivariable MR accounted for mediating effects of body mass index. We found that a standard deviation increase in 25OHD in the logarithmic scale did not affect youth-onset T2D risk (IVW MR odds ratio (OR) = 1.04, 95% CI=0.96-1.13, P=0.35) in the multi-ethnic analysis, and sensitivity, ancestry-specific and multivariable MR analyses showed consistent results. Our study had limited power to detect small/moderate effects of 25OHD (OR of pediatric T2D < 1.39 to 2.1). In conclusion, 25OHD levels are unlikely to have large effects on risk of youth-onset T2D across different ethnicities.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals. In addition to the typical gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, or chronic abdominal pain, CD may also present a wide spectrum of manifestations, including low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis. This review aims to describe the role of CD in the development of skeletal alterations, underlying important clinical aspects and therapeutic implications. The etiopathology of bone lesions in CD is multifactorial and their management is challenging. Here, we provide gastroenterologists and orthopedics with an up-to-date overview on the link between CD and osteoporosis to improve the management of the CD condition.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very frequent in women and can be caused by a range of pathogens. High recurrence rates and increasing antibiotic resistance of uropathogens make UTIs a severe public health problem. d-mannose is a monosaccharide that can inhibit bacterial adhesion to the urothelium after oral intake. Several clinical studies have shown the efficacy of d-mannose in the prevention of recurrent UTI; these also provided limited evidence for the efficacy of d-mannose in acute therapy. A recent prospective, non-interventional study in female patients with acute cystitis reported good success rates for treatment with d-mannose. Here we present data from a post-hoc analysis of this study to compare the cure rate of d-mannose monotherapy with that of antibiotics. The results show that d-mannose is a promising alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of acute uncomplicated UTIs in women.

The leading cause of illness in aging is a group known as Noncommunicable Diseases. There should be some meeting points that modify the cells homeostasis and impaired the cell physiology developing different diseases. Quantum physics studied the atomic and subatomic particles and revolutionized the reality perception with paradoxical and weird concepts. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle established that it is not possible to determine the two characteristic properties of particles with accuracy. Subatomic particles have a wave-particle duality. Two subatomic particles are entangled, something happening over here can have an instantaneous effect over there, no matter how far away there are. All these concepts have tried to apply to biology and life sciences, quantum biology is behind photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, enzyme activity, the sense of smell, animal migration, heredity's fidelity, and consciousness. We can apply all these concepts to diseases pathogeny. So, we describe quantum phenomena in oxidative stress, calcification, signal transduction, vitamin D production and cancer mutations. Aging diseases also could be explained by applying quantum physics concepts. It is a new, hard to believe, and an incredible path to be built, but we need to open the treatment options to our patients with new perspectives.

The use of vitamin D (VitD) supplements has become widespread in the last decade due not only to the dissociation between the blood levels recommended as "optimal" and those shown by the healthy population, but also to its presumed beneficial effects on multiple disorders. This work evaluated the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in a healthy population of European origin living in a region with high solar irradiation. In serum samples from a population-based study conducted in the Canary Islands, levels of 25(OH)D were analyzed. In 876 individuals who had no history of kidney or malabsorption disorders and who had not been treated with calcium and/or VitD supplementation, the median 25(OH)D level was 26.3 (5th;95th percentile, 14.3;45.8)ng/mL. Notably, 65.4% of the population had 25(OH)D blood levels below 30ng/mL, 23.4% below 20ng/mL and 6.4% below 15ng/mL. Based on the lack of evidence supporting causality between 25(OH)D levels below what is recommended as optimal (≥20ng/mL, or even ≥30ng/mL) and major skeletal and non-skeletal diseases, and in light of the distribution of the concentration of this vitamin in healthy adults living under optimal conditions of solar irradiation, it seems reasonable to consider 25(OH)D levels below 20ng/mL and close to 15ng/mL as adequate for the general population.

Treatment with calcitriol, the hormonal form of vitamin D, has shown beneficial effects in ex-perimental models of acute lung injury. In this study we aimed to analyze the associations be-tween calcitriol supplementation and the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection or COVID-19 mortality. Individuals ≥18 years old living in Catalonia and supplemented with calcitriol from April 2019 to February 2020 were compared with propensity score matched controls. Outcome variables were SARS-CoV2 infection, severe COVID-19 and COVID-19 mortality. Associations between calcitriol supplementation and outcome variables were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional regression. A total of 8076 patients were identified as being on calcitriol treatment. Advanced chronic kidney disease and hypoparathyroidism were the most frequent reasons for calcitriol supplementation in our population. Calcitriol use was associated with reduced risk of SARS-CoV2 infection (HR 0.78 [CI 95% 0.64-0.94], p=0.010), reduced risk of severe COVID-19 and reduced COVID-19 mortality (HR 0.57 (CI 95% 0.41-0.80), p=0.001) in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. In addition, an inverse association between mean daily calcitriol dose and COVID-19 severity or mortality was observed in treated patients, independently of renal function. Our findings point out that patients with advanced chronic kidney disease could benefit from calcitriol supplementation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal0 tract (GIT), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), which differ in the location and lesion extensions. Both diseases are associated with microbiota dysbiosis, with a reduced population of butyrate-producing species, abnormal inflammatory response, and micronutrient deficiency (e. g. vitamin D hypovitaminosis). Vitamin D (VitD) is involved in immune cell differentiation, gut microbiota modulation, gene transcription, and barrier integrity. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) regulates the biological actions of the active VitD (1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), and is involved in the genetic, environmental, immune, and microbial aspects of IBD. VitD deficiency is correlated with disease activity and its administration targeting a concentration of 30 ng/mL may have the potential to reduce disease activity. Moreover, VDR regulates functions of T cells and Paneth cells and modulates release of antimicrobial peptides in gut microbiota-host interactions. Meanwhile, beneficial microbial metabolites, e.g. butyrate, upregulate the VDR signaling. In this review, we summarize the clinical progress and mechanism studies on VitD /VDR related to gut microbiota modulation in IBD. We also discuss epigenetics in IBD and the probiotic regulation of VDR. Furthermore, we discuss the existing challenges and future directions. There is a lack of well-designed clinical trials exploring the appropriate dose and the influence of gender, age, ethnicity, genetics, microbiome, and metabolic disorders in IBD subtypes. To move forward, we need well-designed therapeutic studies to examine whether enhanced vitamin D will restore functions of VDR and microbiome in inhibiting chronic inflammation.

Background and Aim: Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and invasion of tissues. It seems that personality differences and psychological factors are important factors that lead to different reactions to cancer. Therefore, the main purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between type D, stress level of life events, personality traits, and anxiety sensitivity in people with breast cancer attending to Tehran Bu-ali Hospital. Methods: The study was a correlational study in which 100 cancer patients referred to Bu-ali Hospital in Tehran, selected by the available sampling method from April to June 2018. The tools used included the Denollet DS-14 Type D Questionnaire, the Paykel Life events Questionnaire, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the ASI Anxiety Scale, Floyd et al., Data analysis in this study is taken place by using SPSS software, two descriptive levels (percentage, frequency, etc.) and regression. Results: The study results showed that there is a relationship between type D personality with stress of life events, neurosis, extraversion, and psychopath dimensions of personality and anxiety sensitivity in breast cancer patients. Conclusion: Psychological factors play a role in the incidence and exacerbation of breast cancer, and ultimately patients with personality type D and personality traits such as psychosis and high anxiety sensitivity and more stress of life events show more symptoms.

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the main DNA repair mechanism for the repair of double strand breaks (DSBs) throughout the course of the cell cycle. DSBs are generated in developing B and T lymphocytes during V(D)J recombination to increase the repertoire of B and T cell receptors. DSBs are also generated during the class switch recombination (CSR) process in mature B lymphocytes, providing distinct effector functions of antibody heavy chain constant regions. Thus, NHEJ is important for both V(D)J recombination and CSR. NHEJ comprises core Ku70 and Ku80 subunits that form the Ku heterodimer, which binds DSBs and promotes the recruitment of accessory factors (e.g., DNA-PKcs, Artemis, PAXX, Mri) and downstream core factors (XLF, Lig4 and XRCC4). In recent decades, new NHEJ proteins have been reported, increasing complexity of this molecular pathway. Numerous in vivo mouse models have been generated and characterized to identify the interplay of NHEJ factors and their role in development of adaptive immune system. This review summarizes the currently available mouse models lacking one or several NHEJ factors, with a particular focus on early B cell development. We also underline genetic interactions and redundancy in the NHEJ pathway in mice.