This Systematic Review examines studies focusing on tooth bleaching and its effect on healthy enamel or incipient caries and bacterial adhesion. The aim is to explore the impact of different bleaching agents on incipient caries lesions and healthy enamel. Randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, and in vitro studies that compared at least two groups were included. A comprehensive search strategy was used to select studies from Pubmed and Scopus databases. Two evaluators performed data extraction, screening, and quality assessment independently. Only studies written in English were included. From 968 initial records, 28 studies were selected for a full-text evaluation. 7 studies were classified as cluster 1 (bacterial adherence on teeth), 12 studies as cluster 2 (no bacteria involved), 4 studies as cluster 3 (no teeth deployment), and 5 clinical studies were cluster 4. Of the selected studies, 6 (21.43%) supported increased bacterial attachment capacity and cariogenic dynamics, 4 (14.29%) decreased adhesion and cariogenic activity, 7 (25%) no difference, and 11 (39.28%) followed a differentiated methodological approach and could not be categorized. Due to different methodology strategies used in the studies of all clusters, the risk of bias was high. Thus, we cannot reach a confident conclusion.

Four 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives (1-4) have been synthesized as potential telomeric DNA binders, three substituted in their chains with thiosemicarbazones (TSCs), the neutral compound (1) and two ionic derivatives (PF6¯ and BF4¯ salts, 2 and 3, respectively), and a fourth corresponding to a 4-phenylthiazole derivative (4). Quadruplex and dsDNA interactions have been preliminarily studied, especially for the neutral derivative 1, by FRET-based DNA melting assays, equilibrium dialysis (both competitive and non-competitive), circular dichroism and viscosity titrations. The TSC derivatives bind and stabilize the telomeric Tel22 quadruplex more efficiently than dsDNA, with an estimated 24-fold selectivity determined by equilibrium dialysis for compound 1. In addition, cytotoxic activity against different tumor cells (PC-3, DU145, HeLa, MCF-7 and HT29), and two non-tumor cell lines (HFF-1 and RWPE-1) has been evaluated. Except for the 4-phenylthiazole derivative, which was inactive, the compounds show moderate cytotoxic properties, with the salts displaying lower IC50 values, compared to the neutral TSC. However, the neutral derivative was the only compound that exhibited a modest selectivity in the case of prostate cells (tumor PC-3 versus healthy RWPE-1). Cell cycle analysis and Annexin V/PI assays revealed that the compounds can produce cell death by apoptosis, an effect that has proven similar to that demonstrated by other known 1,10-phenanthroline G4 ligands endowed with antitumor properties, such as PhenDC3 or PhenQE8.

Diarrhea-related mortality remains an important public health concern, particularly in developing countries, and has become difficult to treat because of antibacterial resistance. The development of synergistic antimicrobial agents appears to be a promising alternative treatment against diar-rheal infections. In this study, the combined effect of tetracycline together with either nitroxoline, sanguinarine, or zinc pyrithione (representing various classes of alkaloid-related compounds) was evaluated in vitro against selected diarrheagenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Yersinia enterocolitica). The chequerboard method in 96-well microtiter plates was used to determine the sum of the fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs). Three independent experiments were performed per combination, each in triplicate. It was observed that the combinations of tetracycline with either nitroxoline, sanguinarine, or zinc pyrithione produced synergistic effects against most of the pathogenic bacteria tested, with FICI values ranging from 0.086 to 0.5. Tetracycline-nitroxoline combinations produced the greatest synergistic action against S. flexneri at a FICI value of 0.086. Combinations of the agents tested in this study can thus be used for the development of new anti-diarrheal medications. However, studies focusing on their in vivo anti-diarrheal activity and safety are required before any consideration for utilization in human medicine.

Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) is a natural sweetener with diterpenic glycosides, offering 300 times more sweetness than sucrose, and boasting low-calorie content, along with medicinal and therapeutic properties. To address a limited genetic diversity, a germplasm bank comprising 115 segregated lines of stevia was established in Colombia. Notwithstanding, the fungus Athelia rolfsii adversely impacted key stevia lines, leading to wilting and plant mortality. For this reason our study aimed to explore the biocontrol potential of native strains of Trichoderma spp., isolated from productive lots in Colombia's Cordoba department, as a solution to manage A. rolfsii. Soil samples underwent serial dilution technique (103 conidia.mL-1) to obtain Trichoderma spp. isolates, which were thoroughly morphologically and molecularly characterized. A total five native strains were identified through sequencing the PCR products using universal ITS primers, and comparisons with the GENBANK database confirmed their identity (OK310695.1, ON237703.1, ON238106.1, ON237737.1, and ON237923.1). Their biocontrol efficacy against A. rolfsii was evaluated using the dual culture technique. Remarkably, all strains exhibited significant biocontrol capacity against the A. rolfsii isolate INVEPAR-05 (OK271308.1), except for Trichoderma viride INVEPAR-T10 (ON237923.1). These findings suggest that Trichoderma spp. could be a potential option to manage the fungus in stevia.

Phytoalexins are naturally-occurring molecules with antimicrobial activity deriving from the secondary metabolism of plants, which are synthesized in response to physical agents or stresses, phytopathogenic agents (fungi, bacteria and viruses) as well as numerous chemical compounds and biological control agents. Among these, grapevine phytoalexins, which belong to the chem-ical group of stilbenes, exhibit biocidal activity against a large number and a variety of plant pathogens. An important issue in research on these compounds is to be able to stimulate their synthesis in planta and to determine whether the induction of their production can serve as a basis for protecting that plant against its pathogens. Quite a few chemical compounds, derivatives of phytohormones bio-elicitors as well as biocontrol agents have been used to induce the synthesis of stilbene phytoalexins with the aim of conferring protection to grapevine against its main dis-eases (gray mold, downy mildew, powdery mildew and esca). This article reviews the experi-ments that have been carried out in this direction during the last thirty years and shows that the observed protective effects towards pathogens are generally linked to induction and priming of the grapevine phytoalexin response, confirming the interest of using, in a more general way, stimulation of the production of phytoalexins in plants as a basis for crop protection.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, new variants of SARS-CoV-2 continue to emerge. This underscores the need to develop optimized tools to study such variants, as well as new coronaviruses that may arise in the future, and to use them for antiviral drug development. Here we introduce microscale thermophoresis (MST) as a reliable and versatile tool for coronavirus research, which we demonstrate through three different applications described in this report: 1) binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) to peptides as a strategy to prevent virus entry, 2) binding of the RBD to the viral receptor ACE2, and 3) binding of the RBD to ACE2 in complex with the amino acid transporter SLC6A20/SIT1 or its allelic variant rs61731475 (p.Ile529Val). Our results demonstrate that MST is a highly precise approach to study protein-protein and/or protein-ligand interactions in coronavirus research, making it an ideal tool for studying viral variants and developing antiviral agents. The ability to measure interactions with proteins in their near-native plasma membrane environment is a unique advantage of the MST assay over other available binding assays.

Hemorrhage is a detrimental event present in traumatic injury, surgery, and disorders of bleeding, that can become life-threatening if not properly managed. Moreover, uncontrolled bleeding can complicate surgical interventions, altering the outcome of surgical procedures. Therefore, to reduce the risk of complications and decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with hemorrhage, it is necessary to use an effective hemostatic agent that ensures immediate control of bleeding. In recent years, there have been increasingly rapid advances in developing novel generation of biomaterials with hemostatic properties. Nowadays, a wide array of topical hemostatic agents is available, including chitosan-based biomaterials that have shown outstanding properties such as: antibacterial, antifungal, hemostatic, analgesic activity, in addition to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and wound-healing effects. This review provides an analysis of chitosan-based hemostatic and discusses the progress made in their performance, mechanism of action, efficacy, cost, and safety in recent years.

Oligosaccharides derived from λ-carrageenan (λ-COs) are gaining interest in the cancer field. They have been recently reported to regulate heparanase (HPSE) activity, a protumor enzyme involved in cancer cell migration and invasion, making them very promising molecules for new therapeutic applications. However, one of the specific features of commercial λ-carrageenan (λ-CARs) is that they are in fact heterogeneous mixtures of different CARs families, and are named according to the thickening purpose of the product which does not reflect the real com-position. Consequently, this can limit their use in a clinical grade. To address this issue, six commercial λ-CARs were compared for which differences in their physiochemical properties were shown. Then, a H2O2-assissed radical depolymerization was applied to each commercial source and the number and weight averaged molar masses (Mn and Mw) and sulfation degree (DS) of the λ-COs produced over time were determined. By adjusting the depolymerization time for each product, almost comparable λ-CO formulations could be obtained in term of molar masses and DS, that ranged within previously reported values suitable for anti-tumor proper-ties. However, when the anti-HPSE activity of these new λ-COs was screened, small changes that could not be attributed only to their small length or DS changes between them were found, suggesting a role of other features such as differences in the initial mixture composition. Further structural MS and NMR analysis revealed indeed qualitative and semi-quantitative differences between the molecular species, especially in the proportion of the anti-HPSE λ-type, other CARs types and adjuvants, but also showed that H2O2-based hydrolysis induced sugar degradation. Finally, when the effects of λ-COs were assessed in an in vitro migration cell-based model, they seemed more related to the proportion of other CAR types in the formulation than to their λ-type-dependent anti-HPSE activity.

The emergence of drug resistant pathogenic bacteria is increasingly challenging conventional antibiotics. Plant derived flavonoids are considered as potential alternatives to antibiotics due to their antimicrobial properties. However, the mechanisms by which flavonoids modulate pathogenic microorganisms’ growth are not fully understood. In our previous studies we found that Rutin, a kind of flavonoids showed inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. In order to better understand its inhibitory mechanism on strain growth, we used both Rutin and Luteolin as treatments to incubate K. pneumoniae ATCC700603 strain. After incubation for 4 hours, the homogenous and differential effects of two different flavonoids on the growth of K. pneumoniae were evaluated. The integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis was performed. The expression levels of 5,483 genes and the contents of 882 metabolites were measured. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolites (DEMs) were screened and analyzed. The correlation between DEGs and DEMs were also studied. Our results showed that Rutin could inhibit the strain growth by changing metabolic pathways and ABC transporters pathways. Our study also revealed FU841_RS17580 and FU841_RS19145 as functional genes that played vital roles in the strain growth.

Purpose: To assess the utility of measurement of the computed tomography (CT) attenuation value (CTav) in predicting tumor necrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who achieve a complete response (CR), defined using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), after lenvatinib treatment. Method: We compared CTav in arterial phase CT images with postoperative histopathology in four patients who underwent HCC resection after lenvatinib treatment, to determine CTav thresholds indicative of histological necrosis (N-CTav). Next, we confirmed the accuracy of the determined N-CTav in 15 cases with histopathologically proven necrosis in surgical specimens. Furthermore, the percentage of the tumor with N-CTav, i.e. the N-CTav occupancy rate, assessed using Image J software in 30 tumors in 12 patients with CR out of 571 HCC patients treated with lenvatinib, and its correlation with local recurrence following CR were examined. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an optimal cut-off value of CTav of 30.2 HU, with 90.0% specificity and 65.0% sensitivity in discriminating between pathologically identified necrosis and degeneration, with a CTav of less than 30.2 HU indicating necrosis after lenvatinib treatment (N30-CTav). Furthermore, the optimal cut-off value of 30.6% for the N30-CTav occupancy rate by ROC analysis was a significant indicator of local recurrence following CR with 76.9% specificity and sensitivity (area under the ROC curve; 0.939), with the CR group with high N30-CTav occupancy (>30.6%) after lenvatinib treatment showing significantly lower local recurrence (8.3% at 1 year) compared with the low (<30.6%) N30-CTav group (P<0.001, 61.5% at 1 year). Conclusion: The cut-off value of 30.2 HU for CTav (N30-CTav) might be appropriate for identifying post-lenvatinib necrosis in HCC, and an N30-CTav occupancy rate of >30.6% might be a　predictor of maintenance of CR. Use of these indicators have the potential to impact systemic chemotherapy for HCC.

The morbidity and mortality caused by invasive fungal infections is increasing across the globe due to developments in transplant surgery, the use of immunosuppressive agents, and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal strains, which has led to a challenge in terms of treatment due to the limitations of three classes of drugs. Hence, it is imperative to establish effective strategies to identify and design new antifungal drugs. Drug repurposing is an effective way of expanding the application of existing drugs. In the last years, various existing drugs have been shown to be useful in the prevention and treatment of the invasive fungi. In this review, we summarize the currently used antifungal agents. In addition, the most up to date information on the effectiveness of existing drugs with antifungal activity is discussed. Moreover, the antifungal mechanisms of existing drugs are highlighted. These data will provide valuable knowledge to stimulate further investigation and clinical application in this field.

The search for new antibacterial agents that could decrease bacterial resistance is a subject that is continuously developing. The Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria have a metalloproteins group belonging to the M4 family. That is the main virulence factor of these bacteria. In this work, we have used a computational protocol based on the comprehensive analysis of the results of docking, molecular dynamics simulation, MM-PBSA, ligand efficiency, and ADME-Tox properties of ligand designed in silico in the previous manuscript using the Thermolysin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus, a metalloprotein of the M4 family as a target. The principal results obtained were the designed ligands were adequately oriented in the thermolysin active center. The Lig783, Lig2177, and Lig3444 compounds were those with better dynamic behavior, however, when analyzing the results extracted from the ADME-Tox properties, only Lig783 was the best antibacterial agent candidate.

In this study, we examine the relationship of bank level lending and borrowing decisions and the risk preferences on the dynamics of the interbank lending We develop an agent-based model that incorporates individual bank decisions using the temporal difference reinforcement learning algorithm with empirical data of 6600 S. banks. The model can successfully replicate the key characteristics of interbank lending and borrowing relationships documented in the recent literatur A key finding of this study is that risk preferences at individual bank level can lead to unique interbank market structures which are suggestive of the capacity that the market responds to surprising

Ethical considerations regarding our treatment of animals have gained strength, leading to legislation and a societal focus across various disciplines. This is a subject of study within curricula related to agri-food sciences. The aim was to determine the perceptions of agronomy university students concerning animal welfare in livestock production systems. A survey was conducted to encompass various aspects, from participants' sociodemographic attributes to their attitudes and behaviors regarding animal welfare and the consumption of animal products. Statistical analysis, performed using R software, delved into the associations between participants' characteristics and their perspectives on the ethical, bioethical, and legal dimensions of animal welfare. Associations between demographic factors and ethical viewpoints among students were identified. Gender differences emerged in animal treatment perceptions, while rural and urban environments impacted perspectives on various animals. Bioethical considerations revealed distinctive disparities based on gender and education in concerns for animal welfare, value perceptions, evaluations of animal behaviors, and opinions on animal research. It is crucial to distinguish between animal welfare and ethical considerations arising from coexisting with sentient beings capable of experiencing suffering. Ethical theories provide a lens through which we perceive our obligations toward animals. The responsibility to ensure animal welfare is firmly rooted in recognizing that animals, like humans, experience pain and physical suffering. Consequently, actions causing unjustified suffering or mistreatment, particularly for entertainment purposes, are considered morally unacceptable.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by the deficiency of insulin production and is one of the concerning health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries. Considering the systemic toxicity associated with current antidiabetic medications and their limited efficacy, there is an urgent need to discover new plant-based natural antidiabetics. Since time immemorial, medicinal plants have played an important role in the management of health disorders. In recent years, herbal medicine has experienced exponential growth in popularity worldwide, owing to its natural origin and fewer side effects, appealing to both developing and developed nations. Ecuador has a rich cultural history in ethnobotany that plays a crucial role in their people's lives. Several Ecuadorian medicinal plants have hypoglycemic or an-ti-hyperglycemic properties that are rich with bioactive phytochemicals. These medicinal plants were extensively used in traditional medicine preparation in Ecuador for many decades to treat diabetes because of their cost-effectiveness, available traditional knowledge, and low toxicity. Many Ecuadorian medicinal plants are reported to have antidiabetic properties that reduce blood sugar levels, and oxidative stress, regulate intestinal function, improve insulin resistance, inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, lower gluconeogenic enzymes, stimulate glucose uptake mechanisms, and play an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism, yet there is a substantial lack of integrated approach between the existing ethnomedicinal practice and pharmacological research. Therefore, this review aims to discuss and explore the traditional medicinal plants used in Ecuador for treating DM and their bioactive phytochemicals, which are mainly responsible for their anti-diabetic properties.

This article introduces a novel nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called Frilled Lizard Optimization (FLO), which emulates the hunting behavior of frilled lizards in their natural habitat. FLO draws in-spiration from the sit-and-wait strategy observed in frilled lizards during hunting. The underlying theory of FLO is presented and mathematically formulated in two phases: (i) an exploration phase, simulating the frilled lizard's attack towards prey, and (ii) an exploitation phase, simulating the lizard's retreat to the top of the tree after feeding. To assess FLO's efficacy in solving optimization problems, the algorithm's performance is evaluated across fifty-two standard benchmark functions, encompassing unimodal, high-dimensional multimodal, fixed-dimensional multimodal, and the CEC 2017 test suite. Comparative analyses with twelve existing metaheuristic algorithms are conducted. The simulation results reveal that FLO, distinguished by its adeptness in exploration, exploitation, and balancing them during search process, outperforms competing algorithms. Additionally, FLO is implemented on twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing real-world optimization applications.

Naturally-derived synthetic leather is a widely used and high-quality type of faux leather or synthetic leather. Many consumers prefer authentic leather goods due to their exceptional qualities, including high water vapor permeability and superior wearing comfort. Consequently, the exploration of artificial leather made from natural materials with exceptional qualities as an alternative to genuine leather has garnered significant interest and is now a highly studied subject. Synthetic leather, sometimes known as imitation leather, has gained popularity recently as a highly suitable alternative to genuine leather. Continuous advances in this area of research increase the range of uses for synthetic leather using natural fibers. Thus, this research aims to explore synthetic leather materials using orange peel waste, which can be applied to the fashion industry. This research applies several types of orange peel waste, such as Pomelo, Sweet orange, and Sunkist orange, to different compositions and strengthening materials, such as bandages and dacron. The resulting bio-composite materials' morphology, mechanics, and adhesive properties were evaluated following ASTM D 2209-00 and ASTM D 4533-04 standards. The results indicate that specimen 1A (Pomelo using bandage as reinforcement) has the most significant effects, with a tensile test value of approximately 472 N/cm2, an elongation of roughly 67.28 % was the highest value on sweet orange using bandage as reinforcement, and a tear resistance of around 14.28 N/cm2 for Pomelo with bandage as reinforcement. Furthermore, the test results also show that composition 2B still does not meet the standards of SNI 1294:2009 and ISO 3376 for tensile strength and ISO 3377-1 for tear strength. Additionally, statistical analysis showed no appreciable changes in the samples analyzed. Furthermore, statistical evaluations showed no significant alterations in the studied samples. The results of this experimental investigation can be explored further and used as a basic framework for the creation of bio-composites from orange peel waste for future fashion.

Coronary artery disease is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease, claiming millions of lives annually around the world. The current treatment includes surgically inserting a tubular construct called as a stent inside arteries to restore blood flow. However, due to lack of patient-specific design, the commercial products cannot be used with different vessel anatomies. In this review, we have summarized the drawbacks in existing commercial metal stents which face problems of restenosis and inflammatory responses, owing to the development of neointimal hyperplasia. Further, we have highlighted the fabrication of stents using biodegradable polymers, which can circumvent most of the existing limitations. In this regard, we elaborated on utilization of new fabrication methodologies based on additive manufacturing such as three-dimensional printing to design patient-specific stents. Finally, we have discussed on the functionalization of these stent surfaces with suitable bioactive molecules which can prove to enhance their properties in preventing thrombosis and better healing of injured blood vessel lining.

During the last forty years, the use of strontium isotopes in archaeology and biogeochemical research has spread widely. These isotopes, alone or in combination with others, can contribute to trace past and present environmental conditions. However, the interpretation of the isotopic values of strontium is not always simple and requires good knowledge of geochemistry and geology. This short paper on the use of strontium isotopes is aimed at those who use this tool (archaeologists, but not only) but who do not have a thorough knowledge of mineralogy, geology, and geochemistry necessary for a good understanding of natural processes involving these isotopes. We report basic knowledge and suggestions for a correct use of these isotopes. The isotopic characteristics of bio-assimilable strontium depend not so much on the isotopic characteristics of the bulk rock as, rather, on that of its more soluble minerals. Before studying human, animal and plant remains, the state of conservation and any conditions of isotopic pollution should be carefully checked. Samples should be collected according to random sampling rules. The data should be treated by a statistical approach. To make comparisons between different areas, it should be borne in mind that the study of current soils can be misleading since the mineralogical modification of the soil over time can be very rapid.

This study explores the impact of temperature and molarity on the pyrolysis of Açaí seeds (Euterpe Oleraceae, Mart.) activated with KOH on the yield of bio-oil, hydrocarbon content of bio-oil, an-tioxidant activity of bio-oil and chemical composition of aqueous phase. The experiments were carried out at 350, 400, and 450 °C and 1.0 atmosphere, with 2.0 M KOH, and at 450 °C and 1.0 atmosphere, with 0.5 M, 1.0 M and 2.0 M KOH, in laboratory scale. The composition of bio-oils and aqueous phase determined by GC-MS, while the acid value, a physical-chemical property of fundamental importance in biofuels, of bio-oils and aqueous phases by AOCS methods. The an-tioxidant activity of bio-oils determined by the TEAC method. The solid phase (biochar) charac-terized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The diffractograms identified the presence of Kalicinite (KHCO3) in biochar, and those higher temperatures favor the formation peaks of Kalicinite (KHCO3). The pyrolysis of Açaí seeds activated with KOH show bio-oil yields from 3.19 to 6.79 (wt.%), aqueous phase yields between 20.34 and 25.57 (wt.%), solid phase yields (coke) between 33.40 and 43.37 (wt.%), and gas yields from 31.85 to 34.45 (wt.%). The yield of bio-oil shows a smooth exponential increase with temperature. The acidity of bio-oil varied between 12.3 and 257.6 mgKOH/g, decreasing exponentially with temperature, while that of aqueous phase between 17.9 and 118.9 mgKOH/g, showing and exponential decay behavior with temperature, demonstrating that higher temperatures favor not only the yield of bio-oil but also bio-oils with lower acidity. For the experiments with KOH activation, the GC-MS of bio-oil identified the presence of hydro-carbons (alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, cycloalkenes, and aromatics) and oxygenates (carboxylic acids, phenols, ketones, and esters). The concentration of hydrocarbons varied between 10.19 to 25.71 (area.%), increasing with temperature, while that of oxygenates from 52.69 to 72.15 (area.%), decreasing with temperature. For the experiments with constant temperature, the concentrations of hydrocarbons in bio-oil increase exponentially with molarity, while those of oxygenates de-crease exponentially, showing that higher molarities favor the formation of hydrocarbons in bio-oil. The antioxidant activity of bio-oils decreases with increasing temperature, as the content of phenolic compounds decreases, and decreases with increasing KOH molarity, as higher molarities favors the formation of hydrocarbons. Finally, it can be concluded that chemical activation of Açaí seeds with KOH favors the not only the yield of bio-oil but also the content of hydrocarbons. The study of process variables is of utmost importance in order to clearly assess reaction mechanisms, economic viability and design goals that could be derived from chemically activated biomass pyrolysis processes.

The aerospace industry demands high-performance materials that can withstand extreme conditions and maintain efficiency in a variety of applications. Bio-inspired polymer coatings have emerged as a promising approach to meet these demands, by drawing inspiration from natural systems to develop new coatings that exhibit enhanced properties, such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, thermal management, and corrosion resistance. In this review, recent developments in the field of bio-inspired polymer coatings for aerospace applications are presented, covering a range of coatings and their respective properties. We discuss the recent developments and applications of bio-inspired coatings, with a focus on their advantages and challenges in aerospace applications. We also highlight the potential for future research and development in this field, including the integration of advanced technologies such as nanotechnology and additive manufacturing. The review aims to provide insights into the current state-of-the-art of bio-inspired polymer coatings for aerospace applications and to inspire further research in this rapidly growing field.

As the human-body controls depend on the brain neuro current, here assay is related to thinking nerve detection. For this purpose, the brain current was analyzed by electrochemical three-electrode systems using 0.1-mm micro wire in vivo probe, which probe was made by using carbon nanotube paste coated needle type. Here working electrode was inserted in the rat brain’s muscle core with a 0.3-mm-diameter needle type Ag/AgCl Cl-coated Ag wire reference, and counter electrode of 0.1-mm-diameter Pt micro needle was inserted 5 mm deep into the in vivo muscle skin, under anesthesia with 2.0 ~ -2.0 V potential windows, 50 mv/s cyclic scan and 1.0x10-5A chrono amperometric sensitivity on the body systems. Under the optimum conditions, diagnostic application was performed to such as smell signal, muscular strength, five sense assay and thinking neuro current.

The current concerns of both society and materials industries about the environmental impact of thermoset composites, as well as new legislation, have led the scientific sector to search for more sustainable alternatives to reduce the environmental impact of thermoset composites. Until now, to a large extent, sustainable reinforcements have been used to manufacture more sustainable composites and thus contribute to the reduction of pollutants. However, in recent years, new alternatives have been developed such as thermosetting resins with bio-based content and/or systems such as recyclable amines and vitrimers that enable recycling/reuse. Throughout this review, some new bio-based thermoset systems as well as new recyclable systems and sustainable reinforcements are described and a brief overview of the biocomposites market and its impact is shown.

Latterly, the development of green synthesized polymeric nanoparticles with anticancer studies has been an emerging field in academia, and in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Vegetable oils are potential substitutes for petroleum derivatives, as they present themselves as a clean and environmentally friendly alternative and are available in high quantities at relatively low prices. Biomass-derived chemicals can be converted into monomers with unique structures, generating materials with new properties for the synthesis of sustainable monomers and polymers. In this way, the production of bio-based polymeric nanoparticles appears as a great application of green chemistry for biomedical uses. There is an increasing demand for biocompatible and biodegradable materials for specific applications in biomedical as cancer therapy, encouraging scientists in working on research towards designing polymers, with enhanced properties and clean processes, containing oncology active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The nanoencapsulation of these APIs in bio-based polymeric nanoparticles can control the release of the substances, increase bioavailability, reduce problems with volatility and degradation, reduce side effects, and increase treatment efficiency. Thus, this review aims to discuss the use of green chemistry for bio-based nanoparticle production and its application in anticancer medicine. The use of vegetable oils for the production of renewable monomers and polymers will be discussed, bringing castor oil as an ideal candidate for such application, as well as more suitable methods for the production of bio-based nanoparticles and some oncology APIs available for anticancer application.

Pyrolysis has been applied in the human economy for many years, and it has become a significant alternative to the production of chemical compounds, including biofuels. The article focuses mostly on recent achievements in the technical and processing aspects of pyrolysis. This review provides an overview of the recent advanced pyrolysis technology used in gas, bio-oil, and biochar production. The key parameters to maximize the production of specific chemical compounds were discussed and considered during the construction of the reactors. The emphasis is put on optimizing the process parameters, technical requirements, and renewable energy use in the process and conception to improve the efficiency of product production. The application of pyrolysis gas, oil, and biochar as valuable chemical compounds are related to the intensifying effects of climate change, biofuel production, and waste management in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

Fossil-based plastics are significant contributors to global warming through CO₂ emissions. For more sustainable alternatives to be successful, it is important to ensure that consumers become aware of the benefits of innovations such as bio-based plastics, in order to create demand and a willingness to initially pay more. Given that consumer attitudes and (inaccurate) beliefs can influence the uptake such new technologies, we investigated participants’ attitudes towards fossil-based and bio-based plastic, their perceived importance of recycling both types of plastic, their willingness to pay, and their perceptions of bio-based plastic in four studies (total N = 961). The pre-registered fourth study experimentally manipulated information about bio-based plastic and measured willingness to pay for different types of plastic. The results suggest participants hold very favourable attitudes and are willing to pay more for bio-based products. However, they also harbour misconceptions, especially overestimating bio-based plastic’s biodegradability, and they find it less important to recycle bio-based than fossil-based plastic. Study 4 provided evidence that educating consumers about the properties of bio-based plastic can dispel misconceptions, retain a favourable attitude and a high willingness to pay. We found mixed evidence for the effect of attitudes on willingness to pay, suggesting other psychological factors may also play a role. We discuss how attitudes and misconceptions affect the uptake of new sustainable technologies such as bio-based plastics and consumers’ willingness to purchase them.

Bio-surfactants are surface-active molecules which are produced by the wide range of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and yeast. This study was conducted to identify bio-surfactants by Bacillus subtilis combined with use of cheap substrates and industrial wastes (Mustard cake, Whey and Soya cake) which are found locally in Nepal. Bacillus subtilis, one of the most potential bio-surfactants producer; was isolated from soil sample of hydrocarbon contaminated site. Isolates were grown in a Minimal Salt Media (MSM) with 10% (v/v) mustard oil cake, whey and soya cake separately. The presence and potential of surfactant was determined by the oil spreading technique, emulsification index (%E24) and surface tension measurement. It was revealed that the surface tensions of cell free extract were 54.41, 60.02 and 56.64 mN/m for from mustard cake, whey and soya cake respectively as compared to distilled water (72.09) at 25oC. The emulsification index values are was found to be highest in engine oil from the bio-surfactant extracted from mustard cake, soya cake and whey respectively. Similarly, mustard oil showed the lowest value of emulsification index. The highest emulsification activity was shown in mustard oil i.e. 1.13 from the cell free extract from mustard oil and lowest in engine oil i.e., 0.07, by the extract from soya cake medium, when measured in spectrophotometer at 540 nm. In conclusion, strain of Bacillus subtilis was found to be the potential surface active agent producers on the mustard oil cake, which can be useful medium for various environmental, food and industrial processes.

Carboxylic acids such as acetic acid and propionic acid have been investigated as representative components for fast pyrolysis (FP) bio-oil upgrading. Selective catalytic conversion of carboxylic acids can enhance bio-refinery processing economics through catalyst preservation and process intensification. Various metal-doped molybdenum carbide bead catalysts have been synthesized and developed in this work. Our aim is to enable selective conversion of carboxylic acids. In the case of acetic acid conversion, calcium doped Mo₂C beads offer the highest yield of acetone ~96% at 450 °C among undoped and Ca or Ni doped catalysts. By comparing hot gas filter with and without Ca-Mo₂C catalyst tested with real FP vapors, the former showed a 36.7% reduction of acetic acid, a 37.5% reduction of small ketones in aqueous phase, and a ~50% reduction of methoxies (methoxy phenols and methoxy aromatics) in organic phase. The conversion resulted in the formation of more long chain chemicals in the organic phase, which are more amendable for downstream upgrading.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly(lactic) acid (PLA) blends with different ratios of both polymers, namely 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30, were produced. Polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride and a random copolymer of ethylene and glycidyl methacrylate, were also proposed as compatibilizers to modify HDPE-PLA optimal blends and were added in the amounts of 1, 3 and 5 wt.%. Blends properties have been evaluated through different aspects by performing tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy to analyze blend morphology and interfaces, and thermomechanical analysis through differential scanning calorimetry, thermo-gravimetric analyses and infrared spectroscopy. The second blend, the one with equal amounts of HDPE and PLA seems to represent a good balance between high amount of bio-derived charge and acceptable mechanical properties. This suggests a good potential of these blends, which would be a good starting point for the production of composites with lingo-cellulosic fillers.

The species and bio-availability of phosphorus (P) in primary, secondary and digested sludge were fractionated and further analyzed in this study. Results showed that inorganic P (IP) was the primary P fraction in the secondary sludge and digested sludge, in which non-apatite IP (NAIP) amounted to 91.6% and 69.3% of IP, respectively. Organic P (OP), accounting for about 71.7% of total P (TP), was the dominant P composition in primary sludge. The content of bio-available P was about 9.7, 43.4, 29.8 mg-P/g-TS in primary sludge, secondary sludge and digested sludge, respectively, suggesting secondary sludge is the optimal choice when land application of sewage sludge is taken into consideration, followed by digested sludge and primary sludge. Polyphosphate and orthophosphate, comprising approximately 54.3% and 89.2% of TP, was the dominant P species in the secondary sludge and digested sludge, respectively. Monoester-P (54.6% of TP in extract) and diester- P (24.1%) were identified as OP species in primary sludge by Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31PNMR). The present results would be helpful for P recovery and recycle from sewage sludge in wastewater treatment plant.

Adenine nucleotide (AN) 2^nd messengers such as 3’,5’-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) are central elements of intracellular signaling, but many details of underlying processes remain still elusive. Like all nucleotides, cyclic nucleotide monophosphates (cNMPs) are net-negatively charged at physiologic pH which limits their applicability in cell-based settings. Thus, many cellular assays rely on sophisticated techniques like microinjection or electroporation. This setup is not feasible for medium- to high-throughput formats, and the mechanic stress that cells are exposed to raises the probability of interfering artefacts or false-positives. Here, we present a short and flexible chemical route yielding membrane-permeable, bio-reversibly masked cNMPs for which we employed the octanoyloxybenzyl (OB) group. We further show hydrolysis studies on chemical stability and enzymatic activation, and present results of real-time assays, where we used cAMP and Ca²⁺ live cell imaging to demonstrate high permeability and prompt intracellular conversion of some selected masked cNMPs. Consequently, our novel OB-masked cNMPs constitute valuable precursor-tools for non-invasive studies on intracellular signaling.

The impact of nanomaterials on lung fluids or on the plasma membrane of living cells has prompted researchers to examine the interactions between nanoparticles and lipid vesicles. Recent studies have shown that nanoparticle-lipid interaction leads to a broad range of structures including supported lipid bilayers (SLB), particles adsorbed at the surface or internalized inside vesicles, and mixed aggregates. Today, there is a need to have simple protocols that can readily assess the nature of structures obtained from particles and vesicles. Here we apply the method of continuous variation for measuring Job scattering plots and provide analytical expressions for the scattering intensity in various scenarios. The result that emerges from the comparison between modeling and experimental measurements is that electrostatics plays a key role in the association, but it is not sufficient to induce the formation of supported lipid bilayers.

1) Background: The environmental, financial and social questions in Africa remain unanswered up-to-date, with the rapid increase in human population and the demand for fuel energy, trigger the need to generate data on the socio-economic factors influencing the knowledge of use and adoption of family-sized bio-digesters. The increasing prices of fossil fuels and taxes on energy sources require finding the alternative, clean and economical sources of energy for households in developing countries. Moreover, in Africa, the consumption of firewood and charcoal continues to increase, with wood fuel consumption predicted to increase by 2030 to over 140%. The study objectives were 1) to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the people in Ngoma district, 2) to assess socio-economic factors influencing people to use and adopt family-sized bio-digesters. 2) Methods: Quantitative data collected with semi-structured questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 3) Results: The results show that many households had not realized the potential benefits of biogas use and adoption in Rwanda. The study further found that a number of factors such as household income levels, socio-economic, technological, and institutional influence the household use and adoption of biogas energy. 4) Conclusions: At the end, the study suggests the need for all players such as Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) and local communities to work together to provide incentives and favorable environment that can attract individual households to invest in biogas energy production and utilization.

Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, it is required the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2 %wt.) have been added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction of its rigidity probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalise PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing the potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered as photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.

Collaborative robotics is a major topic in current robotics research posing new challenges, especially in Human-Robot Interaction. The crucial aspect in this area of research focuses on understanding the behavior of robots when engaging with humans, where reinforcement learning is a key discipline that allows us to explore sophisticated emerging reactions. This review aims to delve into the relevance of different sensors and techniques, with special attention to EEG (electroencephalography data on brain activity) and its influence on the behavior of robots interacting with humans. In addition, mechanisms available to mitigate potential risks during the experimentation process such as virtual reality will also be addressed. In the final part of the paper, future lines of research combining the areas of collaborative robotics, reinforcement learning, virtual reality and human factors will be explored, as this last aspect is vital to ensure safe and effective Human-Robot Interactions.

A soluble biopolymer (SBP) was obtained by hydrolysis in pH 13 water at 60 °C. The dry product was re-dissolved in plain water at pH 10 and used as control against the same solution added with hydrogen peroxide at 0.1-3 H2O2 moles per SBP carbon mole. The control and test solutions were kept at room temperature, in the dark or in a climatic chamber under irradiation with simulated solar light, until the solutions pH remained constant. Afterwards, the solutions were processed to recover and analyze the crude soluble products. For the control solution, the results indicated significant production of CO2, production of organic carboxyl functional groups and de-polymerization of the pristine SBP organic matter. These findings demonstrate the oxidation of SBP by water, which could only occur through the production of O and OH radicals catalyzed by SBP. The present work reports the results obtained from the control solution and for the test solution treated in the presence and absence of H2O2, with and without pH control, in the dark and under irradiation with simulated solar light. The paper discusses the perspectives of further implementation of the autocatalytic properties of SBP for the realization of a municipal biowaste-based biorefinery producing value added bio-products for consumer’s use.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious disease with serious antibiotic resistance. The benzothiazinone (BTZ) scaffold PBTZ169, an inhibitor of the decaprenylphosphoryl-β-D-ribose 2'-oxidase (DprE1) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), showed anti-TB potential in animal model and piloted clinical tests. Although highly potent, the BTZ type DprE1 inhibitors in general shows extremely low aqueous solubility, which adversely affect the drug like property. To improve the compounds physiochemical properties, we generated a series of BTZ analogues. Several optimized compounds had MIC values against Mtb in single digit nanomolar. The representative compound 37 displayed improved solubility and bioavailability compared to the lead compound. Additionally, compound 37 shows Mtb-killing ability in an acute infection mouse model.

Since the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the virus kept developing and mutating into different variants over time that also gained increased transmissibility and spread in populations at a higher pace, culminating in successive waves of COVID-19 cases. The scientific community has developed vaccines and antiviral agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease. Realizing that growing SARS-CoV-2 variations significantly impact the efficacy of antiviral therapies and vaccines, we have summarized the appearance and attributes of SARS-CoV-2 variants for future perspectives in drug design, bringing up-to-date hints for developing therapeutic agents targeting the variants. The Omicron variant is among the most mutated form; its strong transmissibility and immune resistance capacity have prompted international worry. Most mutation sites currently being studied are located in the BCOV_S1_CTD of the S protein. Despite this, several hurdles remain, such as developing vaccination and pharmacological treatment efficacies for emerging mutants of SARS-CoV-2 strains. In this review, we present an updated viewpoint on the current issues faced by the emergence of various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical studies conducted to assist the development and dissemination of vaccines, small molecule therapeutics, and therapeutic antibodies having broad-spectrum action against SARS-CoV-2 strains.

Among bryophytes, the Plagiochila genus represents a large group of leafy liverworts, with over 500 species. Plagiochilins A-to-X are sesquiterpenoids isolated from Plagiochila species. The lead compound plagiochilin A (Plg-A), endowed with anticancer and anti-parasitic properties, has been characterized as a potent mitosis inhibitor, acting selectively at the late stage of cytokinesis termed abscission. The compound perturbs the dynamic of microtubules, blocking cell cycle progression and triggering the death of malignant cells. Based on the compound mechanism of action and the analogy with other natural products bearing a dihydro-pyrone moiety, we postulated that Plg-A could bind to the pironetin site of α-tubulin. A molecular docking analysis has been performed to compare binding of all 24 plagiochilins to α-tubulin and to establish structure-binding relationships. The identification of Plg-E and Plg-G as the best binders in the series pointed out to the importance of the C13-OH or C=O group for α-tubulin recognition. This observation led to the testing of the natural product ester plagiochilin A-15-yl n-octanoate and the corresponding alcohol (Plg-OH), both identified as robust α-tubulin binders. The study provides a rational to explain potentially the mechanism of action of Plg-A and to guide the design of new derivatives.

Small rodents and insectivores are potential reservoirs of many pathogens transmissible to humans such as bacteria, parasites and viruses responsible for epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in West Africa. Few studies on small mammal species in the Kolikoro and Sikasso regions are available, hence the interest in investigating the different species of small rodents and insectivores, and their role in the transmission of pathogens to humans. The study aims to identify commensal small mammal species circulating in Faladjè and Bougouni areas, and likely to represent major risks of epidemic disease emergence. Sessions of trapping were carried out in December 2016 in Faladjè and Bougouni with wire mesh traps type “Besançon tous services” (BTS) baited with peanut butter and/or onion. All animals captured were identified morphologically. Out of 123 small rodents and insectivores captured in 674 trap nights, 75 (60.97%) were from Faladjè and 48 (39.02%) from Bougouni, Of these, six species of small rodents belong to the family Muridae (Mastomys erythroleucus, Mastomys natalensis, Rattus rattus, Praomys daltoni, Gerbilliscus gambianus, Taterillus gracilis) and two species of insectivores associated with the genus Crocidura spp. belong to the family Soricidae and Erinaceidae (Crocidura cf olivieri and Atelerix cf albiventris) respectively. There is low specific diversity within these two stands, but the variation in relative abundance is significant (binomial test, p = 0.018 ˂ 0.05) between the Faladjè and Bougouni stands of small mammals. Mastomys erythroleucus was the most dominant species (57.33%, 43/75) in the Faladjè settlement and R. rattus dominated (37.5%,18/48) that of Bougouni. These two species of small mammals are potentially involved in the transmission of bacteria, parasites and pathogenic viruses to humans.

In the recent years, biochar has emerged as a remarkable biosourced material for addressing global environmental, agricultural, biomedical, and energy challenges. However, the performances of biochar rest in part on finely tuning its surface chemical properties, intended to obtain specific functionalities. In this review, we tackle surface treatment of biochar with silane and other coupling agents such as diazonium salts, titatantes, ionic/non-ionic surfactants, as well as nitrogen-containing (macro)molecules. We summarize the recent progress achieved mostly in the last five years, and correlate the nature and extent of functionalization to eye catchy end applications of the surface engineered biochar.

Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis or phycomycosis), an aggressive, life-threatening infection is further aggravating the human health-impact of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a great deal of mostly misleading discussion is focused also on the aggravation of the COVID-19 accrued impacts due to the white and yellow fungal diseases. In addition to the knowledge of important risk factors, modes of spread, pathogenesis and host defences, a critical discussion on the botanical insights into the main causative agents of mucormycosis in the current context is very imperative. Given above, in this paper: (i) general background of the mucormycosis and COVID-19 is briefly presented; (ii) overview of fungi is presented, the major beneficial and harmful fungi are highlighted; and also the major ways of fungal infections such as mycosis, mycotoxicosis, and mycetismus are enlightened; (iii) the major causative agents of mucormycosis are critically discussed; (iv) the systematic position, occurrence, structure, and the major modes of reproduction are summarized for Rhizopus sp. and Mucor sp., the major causative agents of mucormycosis; (v) the other causative agents of mucormycosis includes Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Apophysomyces elegans, Lichtheimia (Absidia), Saksenaea, and Rhizomucor pusillus are briefly introduced; (vi) facts related with the infection-misnomers based on fungi colour are also highlighted; and lastly, (vii) the major take-home message and clues for future research on the subject are listed.

Total 219 countries and territories globally suffering from the recent pandemic COVID-19 is now in its second wave with more brutality, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) . It has several symptoms like as persistent fever; respiratory illnesses; cough; fatigue; shortness of breath; loss of appetite; persistent pain or pressure in the chest; dysgeusia; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) etc., and here the things to worry about is the development of pulmonary fibrosis after COVID-19 in both peoples who had died of due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or those who survived. Due to COVID-19, dysregulated immune response and wound repair mainly in elderly patients causes this secondary pulmonary fibrosis. Thus using anti-fibrotic agents could be meaningful in these circumstances although their efficacy in treating COVID-19 is subject to more detailed laboratory research works. In this review article you will get to know about the lung fibrosis generation due to COVID-19 infection, about anti-fibrotic agents and the currents challenges of this field.

Recently, it was proposed that the thiophene ring is capable of promoting mitochondrial accumulation when linked to fluorescent markers. As a noncharged group, thiophene presents several advantages from a synthetic point of view, making it easier to incorporate such a side moiety into different molecules. Herein, we confirm the general applicability of thiophene group as mitochondrial carrier for drugs and fluorescent markers, based on a new concept of nonprotonable, noncharged transporters. We implemented this concept in a medicinal chemistry application by developing an anti-tumoral, metabolic chimeric drug, based on PDHK inhibitor dichloroacetate (DCA). The promising features of the thiophene moiety as a noncharged carrier for targeting mitochondria may represent a starting point for the design of new metabolism-aimed drugs.

Around the world, there is no population clear from urinary tract infection (UTI), particularly among women. UTI is considered the most predominant bacterial infection. This study aimed to detect the incidence of the most common major uropathogens in patients severe from urinary tract infection with antibiotic sensitivity tests that assist urologist doctors for appropriate antimicrobial empirical therapy.Methods: This study was carried in a private laboratory in Babil city, Iraq from May 2019 to May 2020. Totally 70 individuals suffering from clear symptoms of UTI, as well as, 20 healthy persons participated in this study as a control group. Then, the standard microbiological methods carried out to isolate and identify bacterial species. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using different antimicrobial discs by applying the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Totally, 90 specimens were obtained from them 20 control group, 19 with no growth, and 51 patients with bacterial growth distributed as 43 (83%) females and 8 (17%) males. E. coli were the most common predominant organisms. All isolates were showed a high rate of resistance to evaluated cephalosporins 100% and 82% to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone respectively, while very low resistance recorded in Aminoglycosides 20% and 13% to Gentamicin and amikacin respectively. Most age group infected with UTI was 21-40 years old.Conclusion: The current study showed an increasing burden of urinary tract infection caused by various bacteria implicated in UTI that causes changeable sensitivity to various antimicrobial agents. Therefore, in clinical use appropriate medications should be selected based on the data obtained from antimicrobial susceptibility tests.

This research was conducted to manufacture thermally expandable microspheres (TEMs) for vehicles’ underbody coating and to apply them on an industrial scale. TEMs heat resistance was studied depending on the ratios of a cross-linking agent and an initiator. This research focused on the content of a cross-linking agent and how it affected the results. The TEMs’ outer shell was thickened to solve the problem of the foam expansion ratio’s reduction that occurred due to the shrinkage after the maximum expansion (Tmax) was reached. After foaming, the cross-sectional thickness and surface of the sample with thickened outer shell were observed. The TEMs with the thickened shell showed the least shrinkage, which indicated excellent shrinkage stability, even after prolonged exposure to heat.

AI is often looked at as a logical rational way to develop a games agent that methodically looks at options and delivers rational solutions. This paper is based on developing an AI agent that plays a game with a similar emotive content like a human. The purpose of the study was to see if the incorporation of this emotive content would influence the outcomes within the game Love Letter. In order to do this an AI agent with an emotive layer was developed to paly the game over a million times. A lower win/loss ratio demonstrates that to some extent this methodology was vindicated and a 100 per cent win for the AI agent did not happen. Machine learning techniques were modelled purposely so as to match extreme models of behavioural change. The results demonstrated a win/loss ration of 0.67 for the AI agent and in many ways reflectd the frustration that a normal player would exhibit during game play. As was hypothesised the final agent investment value was, on average, lower after matchplay than its initial value.

This paper argues that popular misrepresentation of the nature of AI has important consequences concerning how it should be regulated. Viewing AI as something that exists in itself, rather than as a set of cognitive technologies whose characteristics – physical, cognitive, and systemic – are quite different from ours (and at times from each other) leads to inefficient approaches to regulation. It limits our ability to anticipate the consequences of its foreseeable developments and social diffusion. It undermines attempts to protect ourselves from the social and political dangers it presents. After a short introduction, section 2 retraces rapidly the history of the idea that intelligence is essentially a quality, one that AI shares with human intelligence and that this resemblance trumps the differences that exist between artificial and natural cognitive systems. Section 3 reviews two approaches to the dangers of AI that reflect the illusion that AI exists in itself. Section 4 turns to the proper understanding of regulations and what is their main goal and purpose. Section 5 analyses three central characteristics of artificial cognitive systems which section six compares with corresponding characteristics of natural cognitive systems. Finally, section 7 draws some conclusions regarding how we should regulate artificial intelligence.

Photon-counting Computed Tomography (PCCT) is a promising cardiovascular-imaging technique. Using detectors that count the number and energy of photons in multiple bins, PCCT offers several advantages over conventional CT, including a higher image quality, reduced contrast agent volume, radiation doses, and artifacts. Although PCCT is well established for cardiac imaging in assessing coronary artery disease, its application in vascular imaging remains limited. This review summarizes the available literature and provides an overview of the current use of PCCT for the diagnosis of vascular conditions. Of the 13 records selected in the initial search, 7 articles were included in the present review: 6 cohort studies and 1 case report. This review synthesized the available literature on PCCT in vascular imaging, focusing mainly on endoleaks detection and characterization after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), contrast dose volume, and radiation exposure reduction, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease and in those requiring follow-up CT.

During meat processing, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have to competitively adapt to the hostile en-vironment produced by curing additives (CA). The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of Latilactobacillus curvatus CRL 705, a bioprotective strain of meat origin, to adapt to CA. A physiological and proteomic approach was performed. CRL 705 was grown in a chemically de-fined medium (CDM) containing specific concentrations of CA (NaCl, nitrite, sucrose and ascor-bic acid). The results showed minor differences in growth kinetics in the presence of CA. Glucose consumption, present in CDM, and production of lactic acid and bacteriocins were not signifi-cantly affected. Proteomic analyses indicated that most of the identified proteins (36 out of 39) mainly related to carbohydrate metabolism (18%), posttranslational modifications (15.6%), energy production and conversion (11.1%), translation (11.1%) and nucleotide metabolism (8.9%), were under expressed. In response to the studied CA, CRL 705 slowed down its general metabolism, achieving slight changes in physiological and proteomic parameters. The observed performance is another characteristic that extends the well-known competitive profile of CRL 705 as a meat starter- and -bioprotective culture. This is the first report dealing with the impact of CA on LAB proteomics.

Apoptosis, also known as the programmed death of cells, is responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of tissues and this function is carried out by caspases. The process of apoptosis is carried out via two distinct pathways: the extrinsic pathway, which is governed by death receptors, and the intrinsic pathway, also known as the mitochondrial pathway. The BCL-2 protein family encoded by the BCL-2 gene, located at the 18q21.33 chromosomal location, is in charge of regulating the intrinsic pathway, which is responsible for inducing cell death via the permeabilization of the mitochondrial membrane and the release of apoptosis - inducing components. The BCL-2 homology (BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4) domains of this family proteins are crucial for their functioning and their common BH domains allow interactions between members of the same family and can also serve as indications of pro- or anti-apoptotic activity. A direct correlation may be shown between the overexpression of BCL-2 and the postponement of cell death. It has been determined that a change in the expression of BCL-2 is the root cause of a variety of malignancies, including lung, breast, melanoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic potential of regulating BCL-2 family connections and their relevance to health and disease.

Metformin, the treatment of first choice in type 2 diabetes (T2D), is known to mainly act by decreasing endogenous glucose production (EGP) in the liver. Paradoxically, in the last decade several reports documented increased EGP after metformin treatment. This increase, was often attributed to pronounced rises in glucagon, consistent with counter-regulatory response to the glucose lowering effect of metformin. However, considering that hyperglucagonemia, but not hypoinsulinemia, is a main driver of EGP in T2D, increased EGP should have been a common finding. This observation, together with the finding that metformin antagonizes glucagon effects on energy expenditure and protein synthesis, concurrently to its effects on EGP and the emerging evidences demonstrating increased branched chain and gluconeogenic amino acids in response to metformin treatment may points to a liver alpha-cell skeletal muscle cross talk similar to that observed in the liver-alpha cell axis. Here, we provide a mechanistic perspective to this latter possibility, based on mechanistic studies of metformin’s transcriptional targets; retaining thus its glucagon antagonistic and presumably anti-gluconeogenic effects on liver and attributing the increase in EGP to renal gluconeogenesis. We finally discuss how increased EGP might reflect an adverse response to metformin treatment, providing support from clinical and epidemiological data.

In recent years, new treatments have been studied for relapsed-refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), including two CAR-T products and a variety of non CAR-T agents. Since direct comparisons between these innovative treatments are not available, indirect comparisons can be of interest. Reconstruction of individual patient data from Kaplan-Meier graphs (Shiny method) has been employed in numerous reports that have validated its performance. In the present review, we evaluated six treatments proposed for RRMM including two CAR-T products (ciltacabtagene autoleucel and idecabtagene vicleucel) and four treatments not based on a CAR-T (melflufen plus dexamethasone, isatuximab plus dexamethasone, selinexor, and belantamab). The end-point was overall survival (OS); the Shiny method was used to generate reconstructed survival curves. Our results showed statistically significant differences in OS across these treatments. Compared with pharmacological treatments, CAR-T products significantly prolonged OS with an improvement of remarkable clinical relevance. In particular, ciltacabtagene autoleucel showed better OS than idecabtagene vicleucel. As regards non CAR-T treatments, the ranking in OS was headed by isatuximab plus dexamethasone, followed by belantamab, selinexor, and melflufen plus dexamethasone. In conclusion, while the Shiny method has confirmed its validity in reconstructing individual patient data, our indirect comparisons have offered some original clues to better interpret the information on OS published in these studies.

Modern advances in molecular medicine have led to reframing osteoarthritis as a metabolically active, inflammatory disorder with local and systemic contributing factors. According to the ‘inflammatory theory’ of osteoarthritis, immune response to an initial damage is the key trigger that leads to progressive joint destruction. Several intertwined pathways are known to induce and govern articular inflammation, cartilage matrix degradation, and subchondral bone changes. Effective treatments capable of halting or delaying the progression of osteoarthritis remain elusive. As a result, supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are commonly used despite the lack of scientific consensus. A novel option for adjunctive therapy of osteoarthritis is LithoLexal®, a marine-derived, mineral-rich extract, that exhibited significant efficacy in clinical trials. LithoLexal® has a lattice microstructure containing a combination of bioactive rare minerals. Mechanistic research suggests that this novel treatment possesses various potential disease-modifying properties, such as suppression of nuclear factor kappa-B, interleukin 1β, tumour necrosis factor α, and cyclooxygenase-2. Accordingly, LithoLexal® can be considered a disease-modifying adjunctive therapy (DMAT). LithoLexal® monotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis has significantly improved symptoms and walking ability with higher efficacy than glucosamine. Preliminary evidence also suggests that LithoLexal® may allow clinicians to reduce the dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in osteoarthritic patients by up to 50%. In conclusion, the multi-mineral complex, LithoLexal®, appears to be a promising candidate for DMAT of osteoarthritis, which may narrow the existing gap in clinical practice.

Composite materials are widely used in the dental field in clinics as biomaterials. For example, it has been used as a biomaterial to repair caries and restore masticatory function, and as a cement to adhere the restoration to the tooth substrate. In order to demonstrate its function, dental biomaterials are measured their mechanical strength. From such basic research, we explained the potential of dental biomaterials, especially flexural strength and modulus of elasticity. Mechanical properties of dental biomaterials similar to those of the tooth, thermal stimulation, and aesthetic elements in the oral cavity. In this part, we will introduce the commercialized products of composites suitable for the characteristics and tooth quality, and provide the reader with the characteristics from the flexural characteristics of the composite materials used in clinical dentistry. In clinical performance, it might be advisable to delay polishing when composite biomaterials are used for luting materials, filling materials and core build-up materials since improved the flexural strength and the flexural modulus of elasticity were displayed after 1-day storage. And it is thought that flexural strength or characteristics is a significant important mechanical property of oral biomaterials.

Global teacher shortage is a serious concern with grave implications for the future of education. This calls for novel ways of addressing teacher roles. The economic benefits of tireless labour inspires the need for teachers who are unlimited by natural human demands, highlighting consideration for the affordances of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) as currently obtainable in other areas of human life. This however demands designing robotic personalities that can take on independent teacher roles despite strong opinions that robots will not be able to fully replace humans in the classroom of the future. In this paper, we argue for a future classroom with independent robot teachers, highlighting the minimum capabilities required of such personalities in terms of personality, instructional delivery, social interaction and affect. We describe our project on the design of a robot teacher based on these. Possible directions for future system development and studies are highlighted.

Biomass as a whole offers a more diverse potential for valorisation than any other renew-able energy source. As one of the stages in the separation of bio-oil involves the liquid mixture of acetol and acetic acid, and as both components are particularly well suited for valorisation, a hybrid method has been developed for their separation with a high purity level through an approach combining liquid-liquid extraction and rectification. In order to design and simulate the flowsheet, the ChemCAD 7.0 simulation software has been used. Sensitive analyses have been carried out to investigate the influence of the different pa-rameters in the rectification columns such as the reflux ratio, the feed stage location, and the vapour/bottom molar flow ratio. The effect of different extractants and of their excess on the separation process as well as the possibility of regenerating the extractant has also been studied. Tri-n-octylamine has accordingly been selected as a separating agent which has been fully recycled. The end result for separating an initial 48/52 wt% ace-tol/acetic-acid liquid mixture has been acetol with a purity of 99.4 wt% and acetic acid with a purity of 100 wt%.

The reagents and raw materials used, as well as the products obtained (bio-oil, reaction condensates, polyols and sugar phases) were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. The heating value of the bio-oils is higher than that of the original biomass (higher heating value of Eucalyptus sawdust bio-oil 29 MJ/kg versus 19.5 MJ/kg of the original Eucalyptus sawdust). The analyses of the bio-oils allowed to identify the presence of high added-value compounds, such as levulinic acid and furfural. Finally, a study of the accelerated aging of the liquefied biomass showed that the biofuel density increases with the storage time due to the occurrence of repolymerization reactions.

Amidst the strong demand for wood-based products, and the clamor of environmental consciousness, more functional and green solutions arise to meet both of these goals. Pursuant to this, the study looked into the potential of a bio-waste taken from Cocos nucifera tree known as phellem—the tree’s outermost skin made of dead tissues, to be a main component of a new construction material. This study builds on existing research showing phellem is impermeable, buoyant, elastic, has a slow burn rate, and repels water during precipitation, which supports the hypothesis that phellem may be a potential substitute material for dry wall boards. To test this, three (3) formulations were developed as experimental setups to test the physico-mechanical properties of coconut palm phellem (COPAP): Formulation A (40% COPAP and 60% cement); Formulation B ( 25% COPAP and 75% cement); and lastly, Formulation C that was (10% COPAP and 90% cement). The study tested (1) which among these formulations exhibited the best physico-mechanical properties, then it (2) compared the formulations with common dry wall products available in the market, and subsequently, (3) identified the possible architectural applications of COPAP board as a new building material. Of the three setups, Formulation C exhibited the best physico-mechanical properties in terms of compressive and flexural strength, fire resistivity, and water absorption. It fared better than the particle board in terms of compressive strength, better than wafer and particle board in fire resistivity, performed best in the water absorption test, and was almost equivalent in flexural strength to fiber cement board. With these findings, the study concluded that COPAP board can be used for projects that entail a high number of interior partitions, such as offices, BPO firms and commercial stalls in shopping malls, etc. The findings were conclusive only for interior applications, as the results clearly suggest that the COPAP boards are not load-bearing. Future investigations may explore and assess other properties of COPAP boards like thermal and sound insulation, resistance to rot and other properties that may prove its competitive advantage as a construction material.

In the production of grafted vines, losses are caused by fungal pathogens during callus forming or after planting in the soil. To control or reduce natural fungal infections in nurseries, certain applications were conducted in sapling cultivation stage to analyse the efficacy of cyprodinil + fludioxonil, floupyram + tebuconazole active substances and Trichoderma harzianum biological preparation. 1103 Paulsen rootstock and Vitis viniferea L. Sultana cultivars were stored in fungicide suspensions for 60 minutes before and after grafting in the study. After grafting, the seedlings were divided into i) cutting + sawdust ii) cutting + sawdust + soil application groups and transferred to the callus room. Fungicides were applied 1 to 7 days after the callus development to wet the seedling roots 1 to 7 days after they were planted. After nine months in the nursery, the plants were uprooted, classified as diseased or healthy, and analysed for morphological and molecular diagnosis of fungal species, isolation incidence, and seedling quality and yield. After callus development, Fusarium solani was most frequently isolated pathogen in the roots (21.5%), cyprodinil + fludioxonil reduced the Ilyonectria sp. isolation rate in both shoots and roots. Botryosphaeria obtusa and I. liriodendri pathogens were not detected in sick and healthy cyprodinil + fludioxonil-treated saplings. The highest seedling yield was observed with fludioxonil + cyprodinil, cutting + sawdust + soil (78.75%) and cutting + sawdust (70.68%) applications. According to the results of this study, it was found that fungicide applications before and after grafting prevented soil-borne pathogen infections and improved sapling quality.

This study explores the impact of temperature and molarity on the pyrolysis of Açaí seeds (Euterpe Oleraceae, Mart.) activated with KOH on the yield of bio-oil, hydrocarbon content of bio-oil, antioxidant activity of bio-oil and chemical composition of aqueous phase. The experiments were carried out at 350, 400, and 450 °C and 1.0 atmosphere, with 2.0 M KOH, and at 450 °C and 1.0 at-mosphere, with 0.5 M, 1.0 M and 2.0 M KOH, in laboratory scale. The composition of bio-oils and aqueous phase determined by GC-MS, while the acid value, a physical-chemical property of fundamental importance in biofuels, of bio-oils and aqueous phases by AOCS methods. The antioxidant activity of bio-oils determined by the TEAC method. The solid phase (biochar) characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The diffractograms identified the presence of Kalicinite (KHCO3) in bio-char, and those higher temperatures favor the formation peaks of Kalicinite (KHCO3). The pyrolysis of Açaí seeds activated with KOH show bio-oil yields from 3.19 to 6.79 (wt.%), aqueous phase yields between 20.34 and 25.57 (wt.%), solid phase yields (coke) between 33.40 and 43.37 (wt.%), and gas yields from 31.85 to 34.45 (wt.%). The yield of bio-oil shows a smooth exponential increase with temperature. The acidity of bio-oil varied between 12.3 and 257.6 mgKOH/g, decreasing exponentially with temperature, while that of aqueous phase between 17.9 and 118.9 mgKOH/g, showing and exponential decay behavior with temperature, demonstrating that higher temperatures favor not only the yield of bio-oil but also bio-oils with lower acidity. For the experiments with KOH activation, the GC-MS of bio-oil identified the presence of hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, cycloalkenes, and aromatics) and oxygenates (carboxylic acids, phenols, ketones, and esters). The concentration of hydrocarbons varied between 10.19 to 25.71 (area.%), increasing with temperature, while that of oxygenates from 52.69 to 72.15 (area.%), decreasing with temperature. For the experiments with constant temperature, the concentrations of hydrocarbons in bio-oil in-crease exponentially with molarity, while those of oxygenates decrease exponentially, showing that higher molarities favor the formation of hydrocarbons in bio-oil. The antioxidant activity of bio-oils decreases with increasing temperature, as the content of phenolic compounds decreases, and de-creases with increasing KOH molarity, as higher molarities favors the formation of hydrocarbons. Finally, it can be concluded that chemical activation of Açaí seeds with KOH favors the not only the yield of bio-oil but also the content of hydrocarbons. The study of process variables is of utmost importance in order to clearly assess reaction mechanisms, economic viability and design goals that could be derived from chemically activated biomass pyrolysis processes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of condensed tannin (CTs) with differing molecular weight on their capacity to modify the fatty acid profile in milk. Twenty multiparous crossbred lactating dairy goats were assigned in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), and were subjected to receive the dietary treatments as followings; T1: control (with no CTs supplementation), T2: supplemented with mangosteen peel in a concentrate as a source of low molecular weight CTs at level of 3.0 %DM of CTs equivalent, T3: supplemented with the same diet with T2 but added with polyethylene glycol (PEG, as tannin inactivator) as the control of T2, and T4: supplemented with quebracho CT extract (UNITAN ATO, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 75-77 % tannins) in a concentrate as a source of high molecular weight CTs at level of 3.0 %DM of CTs equivalent, and T5) supplemented with the same diet with T4 but added with PEG as the control of T4. No significant change was detected for feed intake and nutrient digestibility indicate that CTs at level of 3.0 %DM of diet did not showed the detrimental effect to feed intake and nutrient digestibility, however, ruminal fermentation parameters and milk yield and milk compositions did not affected by different source of CT inclusion.

This research seeks to interpret the component analysis of an innovative bio-asphalt binder using guayule resin in addition to crumb rubber modifier (CRM) at high concentrations. Such asphalt modification aims to minimize the dependency on virgin asphalt binder and provide new solutions concerning sustainable, flexible pavement industry. Guayule resin is a promising bioresource for asphalt binder replacement. By now, it could be considered a no value byproduct extracted during the guayule natural rubber production. CRM is a recycled material derived from scrap tires. The provided interpretation could help in understanding the asphalt-rubber-guayule interaction mechanism. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), supported by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), was used to investigate the component analyses of guayule resin composition, asphalt guayule interaction, and asphalt rubber guayule interaction, compared to corresponding asphalt rubber interaction. Additionally, the rheological properties at elevated temperatures were provided to link the microscale properties with the final product performance. The study clarified the distinct carbon and hydrogen compositional elements of guayule resin. Asphalt and guayule resin have similarities in chemical composition and rheological behavior with temperature susceptibility. The asphalt guayule binder had physical interaction. However, when both interacted with rubber, a chemical interaction was attributed, with no difference in rubber dissolution tendency, in asphalt rubber guayule, compared to asphalt rubber. A bio-binder composed of 62.5% asphalt, 25% guayule and 12.5% CRM had the potential to provide rheological properties better than base asphalt. Such behavior was interpreted by a high release of rubber components.

The incorporation of nanomaterials on (bio)sensors based on composite materials has led to important advances in analytical chemistry field due to the extraordinary properties that these materials offer. Nanodiamonds (NDs) are a novel type of material that has raised much attention, as they have the possibility of being produced on large scale by using relatively inexpensive synthetic methodologies. Moreover, NDs present some other interesting features as suitability for fluorescence due to surface functionalization and a proved biocompatibility, which makes them well suited for biomedical applications. In addition, NDs can be modified with metallic nanoparticles (NP), such as silver or gold, in order to combine the special features of both. The aim of this research work is the nanostructuration of novel sensing devices using NDs combined with silver (Ag@NDs) and gold (Au@NDs) nanoparticles. A complete morphological and electrochemical characterization as function of the prepared nanocomposite composition have been performed in order to improve the electroanalytical properties of the developed (bio)sensors.

Phloem-feeding insects strive to offset the disadvantageous effects of stressors to sustain their offspring and survive. Adaptive responses to environmental stress are not well understood under complex influences of companion planting, natural enemies, and host gradient. In this study, under predation by lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), we survey the responses of green peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reared on different densities of cabbage Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) to its shallot companion Allium cepa (L.) var. aggregatum G. Don (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae). Firstly, aphid aggregative abundance was strongly influenced by shallot perturbation, predator presence and changes in cabbage-host biomass, altering aphid phenotypic plasticity. Interestingly, the shallot and predation negative impacts can be of similar magnitudes. Secondly, changes in the cabbage-host availability and biomass, especially under predation, had a strong impact on aphid traits. Our study underscores the benefits of including shallots as crop-companions in augmenting pest control, but also suggests that the outcome of coupling companion planting with natural enemies is context-dependent and thus should be empirically applied. At the confluence of ecology and agronomy, this work provides insights on how manipulated functional biodiversity may function as an alternative strategy for pestilent herbivory management in model and green-house systems.

The procedures for the extraction and separation of lipids and nutraceutics from microalgae using classic solvents have been used many times. However, these production methods usually require expensive and toxic solvents. Based on our studies involving the use of eco-sustainable methodologies and alternative solvents, we select ethanol (EtOH) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) for extracting bio-oil and lipids from algae. Different percentage of EtOH in CPME favors the production of an oil rich of SFA useful to production biofuel or rich of compounds bioactive. The proposed method for obtain a rich extract of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids from dry algal biomass is disclosed is eco-friendly and allows a good extraction yield. The method is compared both in extracted oil percentage yield and in extracted fatty acids selectivity to extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide.

Bacteriophages can provide alternative measures for the control of E. coli O157:H7 that is currently an emerging food-borne pathogen of severe public health concern. This study was aimed at characterising E. coli O157:H7 specific phages as potential biocontrol agents for these pathogens. Fifteen phages were isolated and screened against 69 environmental E. coli O157:H7. Only 3 phages displayed broad lytic spectra against environmental shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 strains. These 3 lytic phages were designated V3, V7 and V8. Subsequent characterization indicated that they displayed very high degree of similarities despite isolation from different locations. Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM) of the phages revealed that they all had isometric heads of about 73 – 77 nm in diameter and short tails ranging from 20 - 25 nm in diameter. Phages V3, V7 and V8 were assigned to the family Podoviridae based on their morphology. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) genome estimation of the 3 phages demonstrated identical genome sizes of ~ 69 nm. The latent periods of these phages were 20 min, 15 min, and 20 min for V3, V7 and V8 respectively while the burst sizes were 374, 349 and 419 PFU/ infected cell respectively. While all the phages were relatively stable over a wide range of salinity, temperatures and pH values, their range of infectivity or lytic profile was rather narrow on environmental E. coli O157:H7 strains isolated from cattle faeces. This study showed that the Podoviridae bacteriophages are the dominant E. coli O57:H7-infecting phages harboured in cattle faeces in the North-West Province of South Africa and due to their favourable characteristics can be exploited in the formulation of phage cocktails for the bio-control of E. coli O157:H7 in meat and other meat products.

Background A body composition monitor (BCM) has a role not only in determining over-hydration (OH) but also as an aid to nutritional assessment. For dialysis patient-specific clinical applications of BCM, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between body composition parameters and OH in healthy Chinese individuals. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 314 healthy individuals with a mean age of 45.7±13.1 years. BCM measurements were performed while the subjects were fasting. Results The mean OH level was 0.379±0.81 L. Lean tissue index (LTI) and Lean tissue mass (LTM) were significantly higher in males (p<0.001), while fat tissue index (FTI) was significantly higher in females (p<0.001). In univariate correlation analysis, FTI, Fat, and ATM had a negative correlation with OH in females and all subjects (p<0.05), while LTM and BCM had a positive correlation in all subjects (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between phase angle (PhA) and OH in males, females, and all subjects (r=-0.634, p<0.001; r=-0.666, p<0.001; r=-0.484, p<0.001, respectively). In multivariate linear regression analysis, PhA (b=-1.266, p<0.001), LTM (b=0.987, p<0.001), age (b=-0.307, p<0.001) were independent predictors of OH. Conclusions This study demonstrated that age, LTM and especially PhA, had important roles in predicting OH in healthy Chinese individuals. In the future, PhA may aid in clinical assessment by helping to titrate dry weight among hemodialysis patients with malnutrition.

In this paper, the far field and near field optical responses of a gold nanoparticle are studied and simulated numerically. The electromagnetic field was excited by an electric dipole located near one end of the nanorod, which is used to model the emission of a quantum dot. Another excitation method was also simulated in which an incident plane wave is used. The excitation of dark plasmon modes of the gold nanorod is presented. The Poynting equation was solved numerically to study the influence of the gold nanorod on the dipole radiative power. In addition, the extinction cross section of the gold nanoparticle illuminated by the incident plane wave was calculated to estimate the amount of the scattered and absorbed light.

This paper presents an overview of the principal structural and dynamics characteristics of reverse micelles (RMs) in order to highlight their structural flexibility and versatility, along with the possibility to modulate their parameters in a controlled-manner. The multifunctionality in a large range of different scientific fields is exemplified in two distinct directions: a theoretical model for mimicry of biological microenvironment and practical application in the field of nanotechnology and nano-based sensors. RMs represents a convenient experimental approach that limits the drawbacks of the conventionally biological studies in vitro, while the particular structure confers them the status of simplified mimics of cells by reproducing a complex supramolecular organization in an artificial system. The biological relevance of RMs is discussed in some particular cases referring to the confinement and crowding environment, molecular dynamics of water and cell membrane structure. The use of RMs in different range of applications seems to be more promising due to their structural and compositional flexibility, a high efficiency and selectivity being achieved. The advance in nanotechnology is based on developing new methods of nanomaterials synthesis and deposition. This review highlighting the advantages of using RMs in synthesis of nanoparticles with specific properties and in nano (bio)sensors design.

In this study we investigated the potential of two non-edible oil extracts from seeds of Colliguaya Integerrima (CIO) and Colliguaja Salicifolia (CSO) to use as a renewable source for polyols and eventually polyurethane foams or biodiesel. For this purpose, two novel polyols from the aforementioned oils were obtained in a one-single step reaction using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. The polyol derivatives obtained from the two studied oils were characterized by spectral (FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR), physico-chemical (e.g. chromatographic analysis, acid value, oxidizability values, iodine value, peroxide value, saponification number, kinematic viscosity, theorical molecular weights, density, hydroxyl number and hydroxyl functionality) and thermal (TGA) analyses according to standard methods. Physico-chemical results revealed that all parameters, with the exception of the iodine value, were higher for bio-polyols (CSP and CIP polyols) compared to the starting oils. The NMR, TGA and FT-IR analyses demonstrated the formation of polyols. Finally, the OH functionality values for CIP and CSP polyols were 4.50 and 5.00, respectively. This result indicated the possible used of CIP and CSP polyols as a raw material for the preparation of polyurethane rigid foams.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a well-known autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects the diarthrodial joints. Inflammation increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may explain why RA is one of the diseases that induce oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate potential differences in biochemical, hematological and oxidative stress markers in early stages of RA and after different treatment regimens. The study involved 111 patients, 28 men and 83 women, aged 34 to 59 years who were divided based on their c-reactive protein (CRP) levels into inactive RA patients (IRA) with CRP &lt; 1.3 (n = 57, 22 men and 35 women) and active RA patients (ARA) with CRP ≥ 1.3 (n = 54, 6 men and 48 women). The study participants were divided into two groups, A and B, based on their treatment regimen. Group A, which comprised 90% IRA, received methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy. Group B, which comprised 90% ARA, received a combination of leflunomide, a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), and a biologic DMARD. Hematological, biochemical, oxidative stress and RA-specific biomarkers were measured twice in groups A and B, in the early stage in the disease, before and 3 months post-treatment, using conventional colorimetric, fluorometric and immunological assays. According to the results of our study, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), ROS, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) ions, vitamin C and D, and lipid profile could serve as potential diagnostic markers in the early stages of the disease. Both treatment options were equally effective in improving the overall health of the patients. However, treatment resulted in a further increase in ROS levels and a decrease in antioxidant markers.

In the context of sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture, current scientific researches are focusing on plant-based bioproducts to remedy the toxicity caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This study was conducted on cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indicato screen the bioactive molecules and to evaluate the activity againstfungal agentsisolated from tomato fruits. Quantitative analysis of the methanolic extractrevealed its richeness in total polyphenols (86.6 mg GAE/100 g FW), flavonoids (13.4 mg QE/100 g FW), condensed tannins (08.9 mg TAE/100 g FW), and carotenoids(0.9 mg β-CE/100 g FW). DPPH test revealed that the cladodes extract had a high antioxidant potential (0.6 mg/ml). On the other hand, 7 fungal agents were isolated from infected tomato fruits and identifyed asbelonging to the following genera: Rhizoctonia (EC2), Fusarium (EC1 and EC3), Alternaria (EC4), Mucor (EC5), Aspergillus (EC6) and Penicillium (EC7). At a concentration 0.02% of cladodehydro-ethanolic extract, results of the antifungal activity showed aninhibition of mycelial growth up to70% for the isolates ofAlternariaspEC4 (70.91%), Rhizoctonia solaniEC2 (58.49%), Fusarium oxysporiumEC3 (57.63%) and Fusarium solaniEC1 (53.13%). While,inhibitory activities lower than 50% were obtained for fungal isolates MucorspEC6 (31.08%), Aspergillus sp EC5 (35.14%) and Penicillium sp EC7 (28.38%).At 0.04%all thecladode hydro-ethanolic extractwere able to inhibit mycelium growth in more than 50%.Similarly, maximum spore inhibition development were obtained with 0.04 cladode hydro-ethanolicreaching more than 60%. Inhibition percentages of 83.02%, 85.96%, 87.76% and 90.20% were obtained for fungal isolates Fusarium oxysporium EC3, Fusarium solani EC1, Rhizoctonia solani EC2 and Alternaria sp EC4, respectively. All together, the results show that Opuntia ficus-indica extract has potential tobe used effectively as a biopesticide against fungal agents of tomato fruits.

Pathogens, especially invasive species, have caused significant global ecological, economic, and social losses in forests. Plant disease research has traditionally focused on direct interactions between plants and pathogens in an appropriate environment. However, recent research indicates that the microbiome can interact with the plant host and pathogens to modulate plant resistance or pathogen pathogenicity, thereby altering the outcome of plant–pathogen interactions. Thus, this presents new opportunities for studying the microbial management of forest diseases. Compared to parallel studies on human and crop microbiomes, research into the forest tree microbiome and its critical role in forest disease progression has lagged. The rapid development of microbiome sequencing and analysis technologies has resulted in the rapid accumulation of a large body of evidence regarding the association between forest microbiomes and diseases. These data will aid the development of innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable methods for the microbial management of forest diseases. Herein, we summarize the most recent findings on the dynamic structure and composition of forest tree microbiomes in belowground and aboveground plant tissues (i.e., rhizosphere, endosphere, and phyllosphere), as well as their pleiotropic impact on plant immunity and pathogen pathogenicity, highlighting representative examples of biological control agents used to modulate relevant tree microbiomes. Lastly, we discuss the potential application of forest tree microbiomes in disease control as well as their future prospects and challenges.

In the food sector, packaging is one of the important steps that ensures the safe, unspoiled, min-imum cost of storing, transporting and delivering the food that goes into production to the con-sumer. Food spoilage caused by foodborne pathogens and microorganisms is a serious problem in the food chain, reducing the shelf life of foods. Therefore, consumers' demands for more natural, disposable, biodegradable and recyclable antibacterial food packaging materials have considera-bly increased. This review covers a comprehensive current literature review of antibacterial food packaging, which includes with titles antibacterial agents, organic acids and other compounds, enzymes, bacteriocins, natural extracts, essential oils, application of encapsulation and antimi-crobial packaging. Research findings on antimicrobial food packaging used to extend the shelf life of foods were collected from online databases such as PubMed/MedLine, Wiley Online Li-brary, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. In this review, the activities of different bio-materials and compounds used to extend the shelf life of foods were compared

Background and Objectives: Treatment of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAP) is always indicated regardless of their diameters, as their risk of rupture is significantly higher than that of visceral artery aneurysms. The invasiveness of surgery and its associated complications have led to a shift in favour of radiological interventions as the initial treatment of choice. However, there are still some unanswered questions on endovascular treatment of VAP regarding the optimal endovascular technique and the efficacy and safety outcomes. The purpose of this multicenter study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment of visceral pseudoaneurysms using Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) Copolymer-Based Non-Adhesive Liquid Embolic Agents (NALEAs). Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent endovascular embolization with EVOH-based NALEAs for visceral artery pseudoaneurysms between January 2018 and June 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: 38 embolizations were performed. Technical success was achieved in all patients. The clinical success rate was high (92.1% overall), with no significant differences between ruptured and unruptured VAPs (p=0.679). 7 patients (18.4%) experienced procedure-related complications, related to a case of non-target embolization, four splenic abscesses due to end-organ infarction and two femoral pseudoaneurysms. The rates of procedure-related complications, end-organ infarction, and vascular access-site complications did not significantly differ between ruptured and unruptured VAPs (p>0.05). Conclusions: Both ruptured and unruptured visceral pseudoaneurysms can be effectively and safely treated with NALEA-based endovascular embolization. We suggest considering the use of NALEAs, particularly in specific clinical cases that highlight their advantages, including patients with coagulopathy, fragile vessels, and embolization targets that are located at a considerable distance from the microcatheter tip and are otherwise difficult to reach.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prototype of systemic autoimmune diseases is characterized by extreme heterogeneity with a variable clinical course. Renal involvement may be observed and affects the outcome. Hydroxychloroquine is the cornerstone of lupus treatment. Conventional immunosuppressive therapy includes corticosteroids, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil may also be used. However, despite conventional immunosuppressive treatment flares occur and broad immunosuppression is accompanied by multiple side effects. Flare occurrence, target organ involvement, side effects of broad immunosuppression, increased knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in SLE pathogenesis as well as the availability of biologic agents has led to the application of biologic agents in SLE management. Biologic agents targeting various pathogenetic paths have been applied. B cell targeting agents have been used successfully. Belimumab, a B cell targeting agent has been approved for the treatment of SLE. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 targeting agent is also used in SLE. Anifrolumab, an interferon I receptor targeting agent has beneficial effects on SLE. In conclusion, biologic treatment is applied in SLE and should be further evaluated with the aim of a good treatment response and a significant improvement in quality of life.

A review of influence of drag-reducing agents on curved pipe flows is presented in this work. In addition, this review outlined proposed mechanism, friction factor and fluid flux models for drag-reducing agents in curved pipe flows. Our finding reveals that drag reduction by additives in curved pipes is quite significant but generally lower than the corresponding drag reduction in straight pipes. It decreases with increase in curvature ratio and more pronounced in the transition and turbulent flow regimes. Drag reduction strongly depends on the polymers and surfactants’ concentrations as well as the bubble fraction of micro-bubbles. It is also reported that drag reduction in curved pipes depends on temperature and existence of dissolved salts in the fluids. Maximum drag reduction asymptote differed between straight and curved pipes and between polymer and surfactant. No definite conclusion could be drawn as regards drag reduction for two-phase flow in curved pipes due to the limited studies in this area. Many questions such as the mechanism of drag reduction in curved pipes and how drag-reducing agents interact with secondary flows still remained unanswered. Hence, some research gaps have been identified with recommendations for areas of future researches.

Abstract: This study reviewed aspects of the biology of two members of the glucosinolate family, namely sinigrin and glucoraphanin and their anti-tumour and anti-microbial properties. Sinigrin and glucoraphanin are converted by the β-sulphoglucosidase myrosinase or the gut microbiota into their bioactive forms, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and sulphoraphanin (SFN) which constitute part of a sophisticated defence system plants developed over several hundred million years of evolution to protect them from parasitic attack from aphids, ticks, bacteria or nematodes. Delivery of these components from consumption of cruciferous vegetables rich in the glucosinolates also delivers many other members of the glucosinolate family so the dietary AITCs and SFN do not act in isolation. In-vitro experiments with purified AITC and SFN have demonstrated their therapeutic utility as antimicrobials against a range of clinically important bacteria and fungi. AITC and SFN are as potent as Vancomycin in the treatment of bacteria listed by the World Health Organisation as antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" and also act as anti- cancer agents through the induction of phase II antioxidant enzymes which inactivate potential carcinogens. Glucosinolates may be useful in the treatment of biofilms formed on medical implants and catheters by problematic pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and are potent antimicrobials against a range of clinically important bacteria and fungi. The glucosinolates have also been applied in the prevention of bacterial and fungal spoilage of food products in advanced atmospheric packaging technology which improves the shelf-life of these products.

DR2B and DR2C extracts, from peel of commercially and physiologically ripe eggplants, were studied for the antioxidative cytoprotective properties and anti-HSV-1 activity, in line with the evidence that several antioxidants can impair viral replication by maintaining reducing conditions into the host cells. The antioxidative cytoprotective effects against tBOOH-induced damage was assessed in Caco2 cells, while the antiviral activity was studied in Vero cells; phenolic and anthocyanin fingerprint was characterized by integrated phytochemical methods. Results highlighted different compositions of the extracts, with chlorogenic acid and delphinidin-3-rutinoside as the major constituents; other peculiar phytochemicals were also identified. DR2C resulted able to partly counteract the tBOOH-induced cytotoxicity, with a remarkable lowering of lactate metabolism under both normoxia and hypoxia. DR2B and DR2C reduced ROS production, possessed scavenging and chelating properties. Interestingly, DR2C increased intracellular GSH levels. Furthermore, DR2C inhibited the HSV-1 replication when added for 24 h after viral adsorption, as also confirmed by the reduction of many viral proteins expression. Since DR2C was able to reduce NOX4 expression during HSV-1 infection, its antiviral activity may be correlated to its antioxidant properties. Although further studies are needed to better characterize DR2C activity, the results suggest this extract as a promising new anti-HSV-1 agent.

The objective of this study is to evaluate how two varying amounts of sepiolite-based powder, infused with indigo extract, affect the appearance and durability of a water-based white primer. To examine the influence of this eco-friendly pigment on the coatings' overall appearance, assessments were performed for color, gloss, and surface roughness. Additionally, the coatings were investigated through optical and electron microscopic observations, to evaluate the distribution of the pigment within the polymer matrix. The effect of the pigment on the coating's durability was assessed through accelerated tests, including exposure in a salt spray chamber and a UV-B chamber. These tests aimed to evaluate the emergence of defects and changes in the appearance of the samples over time. Furthermore, the impact of different quantities of sepiolite-based powder on the coating's ability to act as a barrier was assessed using liquid resistance tests and contact angle measurements. These evaluations aimed to understand how the coating responded to various liquids and its surface properties concerning repellency or absorption. In essence, this study underscores the considerable influence of the eco-friendly pigment, demonstrating its capacity to introduce unique color and texture variations to the paint. Moreover, the inclusion of the pigment has enhanced the coating's color stability, its ability to act as a barrier, and overall durability when exposed to harsh environments.

This research explores the enhancement of bio-oil quality through upgrading with the magnetic bimetallic oxide (CuO-Fe3O4) catalysts supported on the activated rice straw biochar (AcB). These catalysts were employed in a supercritical ethanol-based upgrading process. Various characterization techniques, including elemental analysis, XRD, BET, TGA, and SEM, were utilized to characterize the prepared catalyst. The study revealed significant improvements in the physical characteristics and chemical composition of the bio-oil, with higher heating value (HHV) increasing from 21.3 to 32.1 MJ/kg. Esterification and transesterification were identified as key reactions contributing to this improvement. Notably, the pH of bio-oil increased from 4.3 (raw bio-oil) to 5.63 (after upgrading), signifying reduced acidity. The analysis of the bio-oil's chemical composition highlighted a decrease in oxygen content and an increase in carbon and hydrogen content. At the optimum conditions, the application of supercritical ethanol proved to be an efficient method for enhancing the bio-oil's properties. A crucial transformation occurred during the upgrading process and more than 90% % of carboxylic acids were converted into esters, primarily ethyl acetate at the optimal conditions. This study has demonstrated the effective enhancement of raw bio-oil from rice straw through the utilization of carbon-based bimetallic oxide catalysts in a supercritical upgrading procedure.

Metachrony is defined as coordinated asynchronous movement throughout multiple appendages, such as the cilia of cells and swimmerets of crustaceans. We investigate the process of metachronal propulsion, notably used by species of crustaceans and microscopic cells to move through fluid. A rigid crustacean model with paddles moving in symmetric strokes was created to simulate metachronal movement. Coupled with the surrounding fluid domain, we employ the immersed boundary method to analyze fluid-structure interactions. To explore the effect of nonlinear morphology on the efficiency of metachronal propulsion, we generate and simulate a range of crustacean body shapes, from upward curves to downwards curves. We found that the highest propulsion velocity is achieved when the crustacean model morphology follows a downwards curve, specifically a parabola of leading coefficient k=−0.4. This curved morphology results in 4.5% higher velocity compared to the linear model. As k deviates from −0.4, the propulsion velocity decreases with increasing magnitude, forming a concave downward trend. The impact of body shape on propulsion velocity is shown by how the optimal velocity with k=−0.4 is 71.5% larger than the velocity at k=1. Overall, this study suggests that morphology has a significant impact on metachronal propulsion.

Chitin/chitosan and collagen are two of the most important bioactive compounds with applications in the pharmaceutical, veterinary, nutraceutical, cosmetic, biomaterials, and other industries. When extracted from fish and shellfish non-edible parts, by-catches, and invasive species, their use contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy. The present article reviews the scientific knowledge and publication trends along the marine chitin/chitosan and collagen value-chains and assesses how researchers, industry players, and end-users can bridge the gap between scientific understanding and industrial applications. Overall, research on chitin/chitosan remains focused on the compound itself rather than its market applications. Still, chitin/chitosan use is expected to increase in food and biomedical applications, while that of collagen is expected to increase in biomedical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutritional applications. Sustainable practices, such as the reuse of waste materials, contribute to strengthen both value-chains; the identified weaknesses include the lack of studies considering market trends, social sustainability, and profitability, as well as insufficient examination of intellectual property rights. Government regulations, market demand, consumer preferences, technological advancements, environmental challenges, and legal frameworks play significant roles in shaping both value-chains. Addressing these factors is crucial for seizing opportunities, fostering sustainability, complying with regulations, and maintaining competitiveness in these constantly evolving value-chains.

With the development of bioinspired green solutions for sustainable construction over the past two decades, bio-cementation, which exploits the naturally occurring phenomenon of calcium carbonate precipitation in different environments, has drawn a lot of attention in both building construction and soil stabilization. Various types of microorganisms, along with specific enzymes derived from these microorganisms, have been utilized to harness the benefits of bio-cementation. Different application methods for incorporating this mechanism into the production process of the construction material, as well as a variety of experimental techniques for characterizing the outcomes of bio-cementation, have been developed and tested. Despite the success of bio-cementation as a sustainable method to construction has been demonstrated in a significant body of literature at the laboratory scale, the expansion of this strategy to construction sites and field application remains a pending subject. The issue may be attributed to two primary challenges. Firstly, the complexity of the bio-cementation phenomenon is influenced by a variety of factors. Secondly, the extensive body of literature examines various types of microorganisms under different conditions, leading to a wide range of outcomes. Hence, this study aims to examine the recent advancements in utilizing the most commonly employed microorganism, Sporosarcina Pasteurii, to emphasize the significance of influential factors identified in the literature, discuss the findings that have been brought to light, and outline future research directions toward scaling up the process.

While biologic originators’ patents are expiring, biosimilars are emerging to take their place, offering significant cost savings to healthcare systems. Many challenges still need to be addressed in the clinical practice of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A global survey was organized to highlight physicians’ current knowledge and beliefs and to gain insight about their practical management and remaining concerns and obstacles associated with starting a biosimilar, switching from an originator to a biosimilar, or switching from one biosimilar to another (multiple switches and reverse switching). Fifteen physicians with expertise in the field of IBD from 13 countries attended a virtual international consensus meeting to develop practical guidance regarding biosimilar adoption worldwide, considering the survey results. Consensus was reached on 10 statements regarding biosimilar effectiveness, safety, indications and rationale, multiple switches, therapeutic drug monitoring of biosimilars, non-medical switching and future perspectives.

This study investigates the influence of the porous structure, on the density and the mechanical behaviour of new foam concretes incorporating hemp shives. A total of eight batches of foam concretes were manufactured and tested, made with a protein-based foam agent, containing cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag and Metakaolin as binder and hemp shives as natural aggregate. The effect of several parameters is studied, elaboration method (direct and preformed), amount of pozzolanic additions (0% and 30%) and incorporation of hemp shives (5 and 15 vol%) on the resulting physical properties, microstructure, porous structure and mechanical behaviour of the concretes. Hemp shives incorporation results in increased concrete porosity and air bubble radius, decreased uniformity and mechanical strength, and lower cohesion with the cement matrix compared to standard concretes.

Bionic robotic hand can perform many movements similar to human hand. But there is still a significant gap in manipulation between robot and human hand. It is necessary to understand the finger kinematics and motion patterns of human hand to improve the performance of robotic hand. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate normal hand motion patterns by evaluating the kinematics of hand grip and release in healthy individuals. The data corresponding to rapid grip and release were collected from the dominant hand of 22 healthy people by sensory glove. The kinematics of 14 finger joints were analyzed, including the dynamic range of motion (ROM), peak velocity, joint sequence and finger sequence. The results show that the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint had a largest dynamic ROM than metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Besides, the PIP joint had the highest peak velocity, both in flexion and extension. For joint sequence, the PIP joint moved prior to the DIP or MCP joints during flexion, while extension started in DIP or MCP joints, followed by PIP joint. Regarding the finger sequence, the thumb started to move before four fingers, and stopped moving after the fingers during both grip and release. This study explored the normal motion patterns in hand grip and release, which provided kinematic reference for the design of robotic hand and thus contribute to its development.

From the merge of arts and crafts towards a practice for mass production of desirability, consumption and product development in a capitalist economy of scale, design has lost its natural ability of problem comprehension and tension alleviation. The modern world needs the creativity, flexibility, and responsiveness embedded into design practices, mostly when a behavioural change, either individual or organizational, is intended. Still, the informality nature of the field is creating a gap between the study, research, and industrial design practice. Here it is presented the Biology of Creativity Model (BoC) which is a design-by-analogy method that promotes an empowered design practice through analysis of mostly biology reference texts for enhanced creativity and innovation performance in a diverse array of contexts.

Rice is considered as the most important crop for most of the world population. Utilization of seaweed as bio-stimulant can be an alternative way to enhance rice plant growth and productivity, as well as a strategic move to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer that is harmful to the environment. Seaweed and its derivative products have been widely used as bio-stimulant in the agricultural industry because of their potential use in increasing plant growth and productivity. Auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinin are some of growth regulators found in seaweed extract, as well as macro and micronutrients required for plant growth and development. Several studies have found that seaweed extract has a variety of favorable effects as a plant growth promoter, including early seed germination and establishment, improved nutritional quality, increased yield and crop performance, and increased tolerance to environmental stress. The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive overview of the impacts of several seaweed species on seed germination, crop development and production, enhancement of rice plants (Oryza sativa) nutritional quality and the modes of action of seaweed extract includes the chemical components that might be causing plant physiological changes.

Literature revealed the potential of using guayule resin for asphalt cement replacement from the binder’s perspective. However, monitoring guayule resin through binder-aggregate mixture could disclose its performance through field. In this study, designated binders were employed to investigate the applicability of such an innovative replacer through mixture, which were neat asphalt and guayule-based binders (neat guayule, asphalt-rubber-guayule, guayule-rubber binders). Consecutively, field-simulated lab mixtures were prepared to investigate the major distresses. Moisture damage, rutting, fatigue cracking, and thermal cracking resistances were investigated using the modified Lottman (TSR) test, rut test by asphalt pavement analyzer (APA), semi-circular bending (SCB) test, and disk-shaped compact tension (DCT) test, respectively. Additionally, the Hamburg wheel-tracking (HWT) test was employed to evaluate moisture susceptibility and rutting resistance. Outcomes revealed that the neat guayule was susceptible to moisture damage at a 7% air content (V_a) when the TSR test was employed. In contrast, all investigated mixtures yielded perfect performances against moisture susceptibility under the HWT test. Guayule-based mixtures perfectly resisted rutting, as analyzed by the rut test and HWT test. Generally, changing parameters (e.g., V_a, rubber addition, and partial asphalt replacement by guayule and rubber) enhanced the guayule-based mixture resistance to rutting and moisture damage resulting in acceptable performances. Guayule-based mixture had a high fracture toughness at low temperatures, hence fatigue fracture resistance at intermediate temperatures. Neat guayule mixture with or without rubber addition did not entirely resist thermal fracture. However, partial asphalt replacement by guayule and rubber resisted the thermal fracture to a great extent.

Dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) is a novel source of biomarkers that can be considered as an alternative to blood sampling for disease diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, in vivo extraction and analysis of ISF are challenging. On the other hand, microneedle (MN) technology can address most of the challenges associated with dermal ISF extraction and is well-suited for long-term, continuous ISF monitoring as well as in situ detection. In this review, we first briefly summarise the different dermal ISF collection methods and compare them with MN methods. Next, we elaborate on the design considerations and biocompatibility of MNs. Subsequently, the fabrication technologies of various MNs used for dermal ISF extraction, including solid MNs, hollow MNs, porous MNs and hydrogel MNs, are thoroughly explained. In addition, different sensing mechanisms of ISF detection will be discussed in detail. Subsequently, we identify the challenges and propose the possible solutions associated with ISF extraction. A detailed investigation is provided for the transport and sampling mechanism of ISF in vivo. Also, the current in vitro skin model integrated with the MN arrays will be discussed. Finally, future directions to develop a point-of-care (POC) device to sample ISF are proposed.

Bacteria a Microscopic organisms are the most inexhaustible and flexible of microorganisms and constitute a huge division of the whole living earthly biomass, certain microorganisms were found to amass metallic components at a high limit Was Known as Bacterial Bio-sorption Due to their little size, capacity to become under controlled conditions, and their Accommodation to an extensive variety of ecological situations; Potent metal bio-sorbents among microorganisms, at low pH esteems, cell divider ligands are protonated and contend essentially with metals for official. With expanding pH, more ligands, such as amino and carboxyl groups, could be exposed, leading to attraction between these negative charges and the metals, and consequently increment bio-sorption onto the cell surface. Starting with Isolation and identification of heavy metal-resistant bacteria from rock Ore. Studying Factors Affecting Uranium Bio-sorption, Optimization of bacterial growth conditions and optimum for metal uptake by free and immobilized bacterial cells and Desorption ratio of uranium ions adsorbed by Coli. /alginate, All this evidence suggest that functions groups Represented in our study are responsible for metal uptake in our bacterial biomass beside change in peaks position which assigned for it's groups confirm bio-sorption of metal ions from waste due to ions charge interaction comparing with immobilized we found increase in no of binding sites indicate that immobilized bacterial have high efficiency for metal up take which also change in peaks position which assigned for its groups confirm bio-sorption of metal ions from waste due to ions charge interaction, Where the high bio-sorption yield obtained by bacteria, the Uranium & heavy metal bioremediation process expects microorganisms to be joined to a strong surface.

Artificial reefs have been deployed in multiple regions of the world for different purposes including habitat restoration and protection, biodiversity and fish stock enhancement, fisheries management and recreation. Artificial reefs can be a valuable tool for ecosystem protection and rehabilitation, helping mitigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts that we face today. However, knowledge on artificial reefs is unevenly distributed worldwide, with some regions having much more quality information available and published (e.g. European Mediterranean Sea area), while others, for instance the North-East Atlantic area, do not. Here, we provide a characterization of purposely built artificial reefs in North-East Atlantic area based on all available literature (i.e. research papers and reports), highlighting the needs and gaps that are vital for establishing future perspectives for artificial reef deployment and research. In the North-East Atlantic area, sixty-one purposely built artificial reefs have been deployed since 1970, mostly between the years 1990-2009, with Spain being the country with the highest number of artificial reefs. The most reported purpose for their deployment is fisheries productivity and habitat/species protection, although, most artificial reefs are multipurpose in order to maximise the benefits of a given financial investment. The majority of artificial reefs were submerged at < 50 m, mainly between 10-20 m of depth. The most used designs were cubic blocks and complex designs made by an array of combined shapes, which mostly consist of concrete (79%). From all the analysed data on artificial reefs, 67% of the cases reported surveys to assess biodiversity after the deployment. However, in 26% of those cases, data was not available. When data was available, only 31% of cases reported long-term biomonitoring surveys (3 years or more). Based upon these findings, we noticed a general lack of scientifically robust data, including records of species and abundance of both fish and invertebrates, as well as macroalgae. Preventing an adequate determination of the best balance between shape, construction material and bio-colonization. Critiques and suggestions are discussed in the light of current available data in order to perform more efficient research, evaluation and functioning of future artificial reefs.

Ca-bentonite (CB) alone and in a mixture with limestone (L), tobacco biochar (TB) and zeolite (Z) on the fixation, geochemical fractions and absorption of Cd and Zn by Chinese cabbage in smelter heavily polluted (S-HP) and smelter low polluted (S-LP) soils were investigated. The results showed that the CB+TB and CB+L+TB treatments significantly immobilized Cd up to 22.03% and 29.68%, respectively, and reduced uptake by Chinese cabbage shoot to 35.98% with CB+Z+L and 61.35% with CB+L in S-HP and S-LP soils compared with the control. The CB+ Z+ L+TB treatment mobilized Cd up to 4.45% and increased absorption in the shoot by 9.85% in S-HP soil. The greatest immobilization of Zn was 53.18% and 58.20% with the CB+Z+L+TB treatment, which reduced Zn uptake in the plant shoot by 9.94% with CB + L and 58.04 with CB+Z+L+TB in S-HP and S-LP soils. The CB+Z+TB and CB+TB treatments mobilized Zn up to 35.40% and 4.80%, respectively, in both soils. Furthermore, the uptake of Zn in plant shoot was observed by 58.96% and 7.82% with application of CB+Z and CB+TB treatments, respectively, in S-HP and S-LP soils. Overall, our results suggest that Ca-bentonite alone and in mixtures with different amendments can be used to reduce the phyto-extraction of Cd and Zn in Zn-smelter polluted soils.

Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) is a medium-size carnivore that in Europe is restricted to Iberia. The bio-ecology of this species remains to be elucidated in several dimensions, including gut microbiota that is nowadays recognized as a fundamental component of mammals. In this work, we investigated the gut microbiota of this herpestid by single-molecule real-time sequencing of twenty paired male (n=10) and female (n=10) intestinal samples. This culture-independent approach enabled microbial profiling based on 16S rDNA and investigation of taxonomical and functional features. The core gut microbiome of the adult subpopulation was dominated by Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Eight genera were uniquely found in adults and five in non-adults. When comparing gut bacterial communities across sex, four genera were exclusive of females and six uniquely found in males. Despite these compositional distinctions, alpha- and beta-diversity analyses showed no statistically significant differences across sex or between adult and non-adult specimens. However, males presented a significantly higher abundance of amino acid and citrate cycle metabolic pathways, compared to the significant overrepresentation in females of galactose’ metabolic pathways. Adults showed a significantly higher abundance of cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance pathways, while non-adults bared a significant overrepresentation of two-component systems associated with antibiotic synthesis, flagellin production and chemotaxis control. This study adds new insights into mongoose bio-ecology palette, highlighting taxonomical and functional microbiome dissimilarities across sex and age classes, possibly related to primary production resources and life-history traits that impact on behavior, diet and gut ecosystem.

Developments in technology have enabled envisioning the derivation of materials and products from renewable biomass, as an alternative to finite fossil-based resource consumption. Therefore, bioeconomy is regarded as an opportunity for sustainable economic growth. Countries are formulating strategies in accordance with their goals to attain from bioeconomy. Proper measurement, monitoring and reporting of the outcomes of these strategies is crucial for long-term success. This study aims to critically evaluate the national methods used for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of bioeconomy contribution to the total economy. For this purpose, research and surveys have been conducted on selected countries (Argentina, Germany, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United States). The results reveal that the bioeconomy targets set up in the strategies often reflect country’s priorities and comparative advantages. However, comprehensive approaches to measure and monitor bioeconomy progress are frequently lacking. Most countries only measure the contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), turnover and employment of the sectors included in their bioeconomy definition, which may provide an incomplete picture. In addition, this study identifies the mismatch between the targets and measurement methods, as the environmental and social impacts of bioeconomy are often foreseen, but not measured. It is concluded that existing global efforts towards a sustainable bioeconomy monitoring can be strengthened and leveraged to measure progress towards sustainable goals.

This work deals with the numerical investigation of the delivery of potential therapeutic agents through dentinal discs (i.e. a cylindrical segment of the dentinal tissue) towards the dentin-pulp junction. The aim is to assess the main key features (i.e. molecular size, initial concentration, consumption rate, disc porosity and thickness) that affect the delivery of therapeutic substances to the dental pulp and consequently to define the necessary quantitative and qualitative issues related to a specific agent before its potential application in clinical practice. The CFD code used for the computational study is validated with relevant experimental data obtained using micro Laser Induced Fluorescence (μ-LIF) a non-intrusive optical measuring technique. As the phenomenon is diffusion dominated and strongly dependent on the molecular size, the time needed for the concentration of released molecules to attain a required value can be controlled by their initial concentration. Finally, a model is proposed which, given the maximum acceptable time for the drug concentration to attain a required value at the pulpal side of the tissue along with the aforementioned key design parameters, is able to estimate the initial concentration to be imposed and vice versa.

The study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of bulking agents and single-incision slings in the treatment of urinary incontinence in 159 patients during a 29-month follow-up period. Of the 159 patients suffering from stress urinary incontinence, 64 were treated with bulking agents and 75 with a single incision sling. The ICIQ-UI-SF, PISQ-12, FSFI, FSDS, and PGI-I were used to assess efficiency and quality of life. In the 29-month follow-up, the bulking agents showed significantly increased efficacy and safety. Compared to the ones treated with a single-incision sling, the patients treated with bulking agents showed less and mild postoperative complications. Furthermore, at our follow-up there was no discernible difference in terms of effectiveness or quality of life between patients treated with bulking agents and those treated with single-incision slings

With the current increase in the demand from animal and agricultural products, management of agrowaste has become critical to avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The present article investigates the applicability of ammonium bicarbonate synthesis via flash distillation to valorize and stabilize several types of anaerobic digestate produced from individual fermentations of amino acids. Prior to the development of the model in Aspen Plus v12, the description of the system aqua-ammonia-carbon dioxide provided by the electrolyte non-random two-liquid property method was validated with empirical data available in the literature. The content of CO₂ in the digestate was found to be responsible of the OH alkalinity (0.4 equivalents of acid/kg digestate), while the partial and total alkalinities (0.8 eq/kg digestate) were essentially derived from the content of NH₃. The most suitable conditions for the flash distillation were 95 ⁰C and 1 bar with the condensation occurring at 25 ⁰C. However, in order to attain the precipitation of NH₄HCO₃ in the distillate, it was necessary to consider digestates with a moisture content of 50 wt.%, since the minimum levels of inorganic nitrogen and inorganic carbon were not attained otherwise. Even under these conditions, few amino acids (i.e. arginine, glycine, and histidine) were able to provide an anaerobic digestate, upon fermentation, that would be suitable for NH₄HCO₃ stabilization. Despite alanine digestate and glutamine digestate presented sufficient concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and inorganic carbon, the NH₄HCO₃-stabilization was not feasible due to the limited volatilization of NH₃. The process of stabilization with a capacity of a tonne of digestate per hour was improved by adding hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide at rates 44 kg/h, leading to production of 34 kg NH₄HCO₃/h. The economic viability of this process needs to be investigated considering not only the market value of the isolated inorganic fertilizer but the carbon credits saved, resulting from handling a more stabilized organic manure. Furthermore, given the role of the volatile elements of the biogas as endogenous stripping agents, it is recommended to use a fresh and saturated digestate as feed for the flash distillation.