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Diesel engines are extensively employed in transportation, agriculture, and industry due to their high thermal efficiency and fuel economy. However, the combustion of conventional diesel fuel is accompanied by substantial emissions of pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2), posing significant threats to environmental quality. Biodiesel, as a renewable and cleaner alternative fuel, can significantly reduce emissions of CO, HC, and particulate matter (PM) due to its unique molecular structure. Nonetheless, its lower calorific value and poor cold-start performance limit its application, while its high oxygen content may contribute to increased NOx emissions. To address these limitations, researchers have proposed blending biodiesel with alcohol-based fuels such as methanol, ethanol, or butanol to create synergistic combustion systems that optimize engine performance and emission characteristics. This paper systematically reviews the effects of alcohol fuels on the performance and emission characteristics of biodiesel blends in diesel engines. Studies indicate that the addition of alcohol fuels can significantly enhance engine performance by improving fuel atomization, extending ignition delay, and increasing premixed combustion efficiency. These enhancements result in higher cylinder pressure, net heat release rate (HRR), and brake thermal efficiency (BTE), while reducing brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) to some extent. Moreover, most studies report that alcohol fuels help reduce CO, HC, smoke, and NOx emissions but tend to increase CO2 emissions. However, some findings suggest that in certain cases, the opposite results may occur. The impact of different types of alcohol fuels on performance and emissions varies significantly, requiring a comprehensive evaluation of their properties, such as latent heat, viscosity, and oxygen content. Although the appropriate addition of alcohol fuels demonstrates substantial potential for optimizing engine performance and reducing emissions, excessive blending may lead to adverse effects, necessitating careful control of the blending ratio. Future research should consider mixing two or more alcohol fuels with biodiesel to explore synergistic effects beyond the capabilities of single alcohols. Additionally, further studies should focus on optimizing fuel compositions and emission control strategies for varying operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a serious condition affecting 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide, leading to high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules, have emerged as potential biomarkers for various pregnancy-related pathologies, including PE. MiRNAs in plasma and serum have been extensively studied, but urinary miRNAs remain underexplored, especially during early pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the urinary miRNA expression profiles in women with pre-eclampsia during the first and second trimesters. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted using 48 urine samples from 24 pregnant women (n = 12 pre-eclampsia and n = 12 controls). Urine samples were collected in the first (9–13 weeks) and second (22–24 weeks) trimesters. MiRNA isolation, library preparation, and high-throughput sequencing were performed, followed by differential expression and enrichment analyses. Results: In the first trimester, five miRNAs were dysregulated in PE in comparison with the control group (hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-203a-3p, hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p—downregulated; hsa-miR-1-3p—upregulated). In the second trimester, hsa-miR-205-5p and hsa-miR-223-3p were downregulated, and hsa-miR-9-5p, hsa-miR-1-3p, and hsa-miR-206 were upregulated. Conclusions: Our study identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the urine of pre-eclamptic patients during early pregnancy. These findings suggest that specific urinary miRNAs could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection and risk assessment of pre-eclampsia. The changes in the level of differential expression of miRNAs during gestation highlight their role in the progression of PE. Further research and validation with a larger cohort are needed to explore their clinical potential for improving maternal and fetal outcomes through early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the quality of scientific production in family medicine in Mexico and identify gaps in the development of research in this medical discipline. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed original articles, reviews, case reports, and editorials published from Mexico, from the year 2014 to 2023, in the three family medicine journals edited in the country. Several bibliometric indicators were evaluated. Attributes that confer validity in original articles were analyzed, and through random sampling, 10% were selected to determine their quality using checklists. Results: A total of 627 articles were analyzed; among these, 57.89% were original, 19.61% reviews, 17.06% editorials, and 5.42% case reports. Our analysis revealed significant disparities in research activity across regions in Mexico. Productivity, transience, and isolation indices were 2.79, 78.58%, and 54.05%, respectively, while the Price index was 42.74%. A small percentage of articles received funding and followed guidelines for medical research reporting (0.47% and 0.63%, respectively). The analysis of validity attributes in original articles revealed that 92.83% were observational, 88.98% were unicentric, in 47.38%, no sample size calculation was performed or specified, while in 12.12%, sampling was probabilistic. In the evaluation of the original articles, more than 60% showed limitations that compromised their quality. Conclusions: The number of published articles, along with their bibliometric, validity, and quality attributes, reflect significant gaps in the generation and dissemination of knowledge in family medicine in Mexico. This shows a transgenerational problem, identified in many countries, where the advancement of family medicine as a specialty is limited by low research productivity and methodological weaknesses in reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the risks posed by metals in Peruvian coffee plantations to human health and environmental integrity, ensuring the protection of local communities and the ecosystems reliant on this agricultural activity. To assess the contamination levels, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) were surveyed in the soil, roots, and parchment coffee beans cultivated in Amazonas and San Martin regions, using both conventional and organic cultivation. Results showed that As was the metal with the highest concentration in soil (52.37 ± 21.16 mg/kg), roots (11.27 ± 2.3 mg/kg), and coffee beans (10.19 ± 1.69 mg/kg), followed by Cr in soil (22.36 ± 11.47 mg/kg) and roots (8.17 ± 3.85 mg/kg) and Pb in beans (0.7 ± 0.05 mg/kg). Cd was only detected in soil (1.70 ± 1.73 mg/kg). The bioaccumulation (BAF) findings suggest that roots and coffee beans have a low capacity to accumulate As, Cd, Ni, and Pb, but they have the potential capacity to accumulate Cr. The translocation factor (TF) indicated that all values were less than one, except for As from San Martin in conventional and organic cultivation. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) showed that the soil was unpolluted for Cr, Ni, and Pb but was polluted to different extents for As and Cd. Similarly, the ecological risk (ER) pointed to a low risk for Cr, Ni, and Pb and values from low to considered risk for As and Cd depending on the region and cultivation system. Hazard index (adults: 1.68 × 10−3, children: 9.26 × 10−3) and cancer risk (adults: 1.84 × 10−7, children: 2.51 × 10−7) indicated a low risk for humans via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxylipins are oxidized fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, formed through pathways that involve singlet oxygen or dioxygen-mediated oxygenation reactions and are primarily produced by enzyme families such as cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and cytochrome P450. These lipid-based complex bioactive molecules are pivotal signal mediators, acting in a hormone-like manner in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases, especially cardiometabolic diseases via modulating plenty of mechanisms. It has been reported that omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins are important novel biomarkers of cardiometabolic diseases. Moreover, collected literature has noted that diet and dietary components, especially fatty acids, can modulate these oxygenated lipid products since they are mainly derived from dietary omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or linoleic acid and α-linolenic by elongation and desaturation pathways. This comprehensive review aims to examine their correlations to cardiometabolic diseases and how diets modulate oxylipins. Also, some aspects of developing new biomarkers and therapeutical utilization are detailed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are double-membrane vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication and play a pivotal role in both physiological and pathological processes. A substantial body of evidence suggests that EVs play a role in the pathogenesis of various pregnancy complications. Because EVs can be detected in the peripheral blood, they are potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pregnancy complications and foetal developmental disorders. The majority of studies have demonstrated a correlation between alterations in the concentration of EVs and changes in their contents and the occurrence of pregnancy complications. Despite the current limitations in establishing a clear link between these findings and the pathogenesis of the disease, as well as the lack of sufficient evidence to support their use in clinical practice, it is noteworthy to highlight the potential role of specific miRNAs carried by EVs in the development of pregnancy complications. These include miR-210 and miR-136-5p for pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, miR-155, miR-26b-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-495 and miR-374c for pre-eclampsia and preterm birth. The following miRNAs have been identified as potential biomarkers for preterm birth and gestational diabetes mellitus: miR-197-3p and miR-520h, miR-1323, miR-342-3p, miR-132-3p, miR-182-3p, miR-517-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-16-5p and miR-126-3p. Additionally, miR-127-3p has been linked to foetal growth restriction and preterm birth. Nevertheless, it would be premature to propose that EVs can be employed as biomarkers for pregnancy complications. Further research and the accumulation of results obtained using the methods proposed in the MISEV2023 guidelines will enable a definitive conclusion to be reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials with a soft tissue regenerative capacity can be produced using biopolymer scaffolds and nanomaterials, which allow injured tissue to recover without any side effects or limitations. Four formulations were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS), with silicon dioxide nanoparticles (NPs-SiO2) incorporated using the freeze-drying method at a temperature of −50 °C. TGA and DSC showed no change in thermal degradation, with glass transition temperatures around 74 °C and 77 °C. The interactions between the hydroxyl groups of PVA and CS remained stable. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the incorporation of NPs-SiO2 complemented the freeze-drying process, enabling the dispersion of the components on the polymeric matrix and obtaining structures with a small pore size (between 30 and 60 μm) and large pores (between 100 and 160 μm). The antimicrobial capacity analysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria revealed that the scaffolds inhibited around 99% of K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, and S. aureus ATCC 55804. The subdermal implantation analysis demonstrated tissue growth and proliferation, with good biocompatibility, promoting the healing process for tissue restoration through the simultaneous degradation and formation of type I collagen fibers. All the results presented expand the boundaries in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by highlighting the crucial role of nanoparticles in optimizing scaffold properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preservation of meat via sustainable methods and packaging is an area of continued interest driven by the need to address food security. The use of biomaterial films and coatings has gained significant attention due to their non-toxicity and biodegradability compared with conventional synthetic films. Starch and chitosan are sustainable sources for the preparation of films/coatings owing to their relatively low cost, natural abundance derived from numerous sources, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and film-forming attributes. These remarkable features have notably increased the shelf life of meat by inhibiting lipid oxidation and microbial activity in food products. Furthermore, recent studies have successfully incorporated binary biopolymer (starch and chitosan) systems to combine their beneficial properties upon composite formation. This literature review from 2020 to the present reveals that chitosan- and starch-based films and coatings have potential to contribute to enhanced food security and safety measures whilst reducing environmental issues and improving sustainability, compared with conventional synthetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placenta operates during gestation as the primary communication organ between the mother and fetus. It is essential for gas, nutrient exchange, and fetal waste transfer. The placenta also produces a wide range of hormones and other factors that influence maternal physiology, including survival and activity of the corpus luteum of the ovary, but the means whereby the placenta shapes fetal development remain less clear, although the fetal brain is thought to be dependent upon the placenta for factors that play roles in its early differentiation and growth, giving rise to the term "placenta–brain axis". Placental hormones transit via the maternal and fetal vasculature, but smaller placental molecules require protection from fetal and maternal metabolism. Such biomolecules include small RNA, mRNA, peptides, lipids, and catecholamines that include serotonin and dopamine. These compounds presumably shuttle to maternal and fetal systems via protective extracellular vesicles (EVs). Placental EVs (pEVs) and their components, in particular miRNA (miRs), are known to play important roles in regulating maternal systems, such as immune, cardiovascular, and reproductive functions. A scant amount is known about how pEVs affect fetal cells and tissues. The composition of pEVs can be influenced by gestational diseases. This review will provide critical insight into the roles of pEVs as the intermediary link between maternal and fetal systems, the impact of maternal pathologies on pEV cargo contents, and how an understanding of biomolecular changes within pEVs in health and disease might be utilized to design early diagnostic and mitigation strategies to prevent gestational diseases and later offspring disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A growing body of evidence highlights the effects of air pollution on chronic and acute cardiovascular diseases, such as associations between PM10 and several cardiovascular events. However, evidence of the impact of fine air pollutants on the development and progression of peripheral arterial aneurysms is not available. Methods: Data were obtained from the multicenter PAA outcome registry POPART and the German Environment Agency. Means of the mean daily concentration of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations were calculated for 2, 10, and 3650 days prior to surgery for each patient. Additionally, weighted ten-year averages were analyzed. Correlation was assessed by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients, and regression analyses were conducted as multiple linear or multiple logistic regression, depending on the dependent variable. Results: For 1193 patients from the POPART registry, paired air pollution data were available. Most patients were male (95.6%) and received open surgical repair (89.9%). On a regional level, the arithmetic means of the daily means of PM10 between 2000 and 2022 were neither associated with average diameters nor runoff vessels. Negative correlations for mean PAA diameter and mean NO2, as well as a positive correlation with mean O3, were found; however, they were not statistically significant. On patient level, no evidence for an association of mean PM10 exposure over ten years prior to inclusion in the registry and PAA diameter or the number of runoff vessels was found. Weighted PM10, NO2, and O3 exposure over ten years also did not result in significant associations with aneurysm diameter or runoff vessels. Short-term air pollutant concentrations were not associated with symptomatic PAAs or with perioperative complications. Conclusions: We found no indication that long-term air pollutant concentrations are associated with PAA size or severity, neither on a regional nor individual level. Additionally, short-term air pollution showed no association with clinical presentation or treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to explore the potential effects of two microalgae-based additives included in finishing feeds on the quality and shelf-life of seabream fillets. In a 41-day feeding trial, seabream specimens were fed with experimental aquafeeds containing 10% of the bioactive supplements. These additives consisted of a blend of Nannochloropsis gaditana and Arthrospira platensis biomass, which was utilized as either raw (LB-CB) or enzymatically hydrolyzed (LB-CBplus). A control group received a microalgae-free diet. The results showed that the functional aquafeeds improved the nutritional profile of seabream fillets, increasing protein and PUFA-n3 contents while reducing the atherogenic index, especially for the LB-CBplus treatment. LB-CBplus also enhanced the texture parameters (hardness and chewiness) of fillets during the initial 5 days under cold storage. Regarding skin pigmentation, fillets showed increased greenish and yellowish coloration compared to control fish, mostly attributed to the inclusion of crude algal biomass (LB-CB). Moreover, diets enriched with microalgae additives effectively delayed muscle lipid oxidation processes under refrigeration for up to 12 days, with LB-CBplus exhibiting higher antioxidant effects. These findings highlight the potential of microalgae-based additives to enhance both the nutritional and organoleptic quality of seabream fillets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal was to model irrigated (IBY) and rainfed (RBY) bean yields in central (Culiacán) and southern (Rosario) Sinaloa state as a function of the essential climate variables soil moisture, temperature, reference evapotranspiration, and precipitation. For Sinaloa, for the period 1982–2013 (October–March), the following were calculated: (a) temperatures, (b) average degree days for the bean, (c) cumulative reference evapotranspiration, and (d) cumulative effective precipitation. For essential climate variables, (e) daily soil moisture obtained from the European Space Agency and (f) IBY and RBY from the Agrifood and Fisheries Information Service were used. Multiple linear regressions were significant for predicting IBY–RBY (dependent variables) as a function of essential climate variables (independent variables). The four models obtained were significantly predictive: IBY–Culiacán (Pearson correlation (PC) = 0.590 > Pearson critical correlation (CPC) = |0.349|), RBY–Culiacán (PC = 0.734 > CPC = |0.349|), IBY–Rosario (PC = 0.621 > CPC = |0.355|), and RBY–Rosario (PC = 0.532 > CPC = |0.349|). Due to the lack of irrigation depth data, many studies only focus on modeling RBY; this study is the first in Sinaloa to predict IBY and RBY based on essential climate variables, contributing to the production of sustainable food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of compression ignition engines (CIEs) is associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore necessary to research sustainable solutions and reduce the negative environmental impact of these engines. A widely studied alternative is the use of H2 in dual-fuel mode. This review has been developed to include the most recent studies on the subject to collect and compare their main conclusions on performance and emissions. Moreover, this study includes most relevant emission control strategies that have not been extensively analyzed in other reviews on the subject. The main conclusion drawn from the literature is the negative effect of the addition of H2 on NOx. This is due to the increase in temperature during combustion, which increases NOx formation, as the thermal mechanism predominates. Therefore, to reduce these emissions, three strategies have been studied, namely exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), water injection (WI), and compression ratio (CR) reduction. The effect of these techniques on NOx reduction, together with their effect on other analyzed performance parameters, have been deeply analyzed. The studies reviewed in this work indicate that hydrogen is an alternative fuel for CIEs when used in conjunction with techniques that have proven to be effective in reducing NOx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence and prevalence of cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases are constantly increasing, with chronic coronary syndrome and ischemic stroke as the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to current knowledge, the heart–brain axis is more than a theoretical concept, with many common pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the onset and evolution of both coronary and cerebral ischemia. Moreover, the focus is on the prevention and early intervention of risk factors in searching for targeted and personalized medical treatment. In this context, this narrative review aims to offer, in a didactic and practice-oriented manner, an up-to-date overview of the role played by lipid-derived biomarkers (from low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to oxylipin and apolipoproteins) in chronic coronary syndrome and ischemic stroke. Firstly, the authors highlight, via relevant epidemiological data, the significant burden of chronic coronary syndrome and ischemic stroke in the general population, thus explaining the need for updated information on this topic. Subsequently, the most important lipid-derived biomarkers and their multiple roles in the pathogenesis of these two disorders are listed. Currently available and experimental targeted therapies based on these lipid-derived biomarkers are presented in the final part of this paper, representing this manuscript's original and novel input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anadenanthera colubrina (Acol) and Anadenanthera peregrina (Aper) (Fabaceae) are two species popularly known as "angicos" that occur in seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTR) remnants in Brazil. Since many of the morphological characteristics of Anadenanthera species are superimposed and species-specific characteristics are difficult to observe, their identification is complex. Therefore, in this research, a set of ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat Polymorphic DNA) molecular markers was standardized, aiming to characterize A. colubrina and A. peregrina species and study the genetic diversity of three populations of each species located within a fragmented landscape in São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Seven ISSR markers (UBC 2, 820, 851, 858, 864, 866, and 886) that show polymorphism for both species were used. The Bayesian cluster, PCoA and dendrogram analysis show that the total sample divides into two groups corresponding to each species. Also, a genetic divergence (Gst = 0.143) and a high number of migrants per generation (Nm = 3.0) were detected between them. The Acol populations showed significantly higher values for mean genetic diversity (h = 0.30) than Aper (h = 0.25) (p < 0.05). The ISSR marker UBC2250bp showed species-specific electrophoretic fingerprints for both species. The molecular tools generated herein support the conservation of Anadenanthera sp. and the restoration of vegetation where the species naturally occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agave genera include slow-growing plants with cultural and economic roots dating back to pre-Columbian times in Mexico. Several species have a widespread presence in the country and are cultivated and/or used directly from the field to obtain various derived products. Agave salmiana is widely used in the region of the High Valleys of Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico. However, fungal diseases are causing considerable losses to Agave crops. For this reason, fungi strains from maguey plants from Apan, Hidalgo, with "Negrilla" disease symptoms were isolated and identified morphologically and molecularly. The results provide information on a new disease disseminated in A. salmiana plants, which causes symptoms such as black spots on the leaves due to pathogenic fungi of the genera Bipolaris. The morphological and molecular characterization located the phytopathogenic fungus as new isolates of Bipolaris zeae. Finally, the re-isolation of the causal agent of the disease was achieved in all pathogenicity tests, verifying that the symptoms observed in the maguey plants were caused by B. zeae, thus corroborating Koch's postulates, and constituting the first report of this fungus as a pathogen of A. salmiana in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical ZSM5 and Y zeolites were prepared through a surfactant-mediated strategy with NH4OH changing the duration of the treatment and the amount of CTAB surfactant and taking as reference multiples of the critical micellar concentration (CMC). The materials were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption isotherms at −196 °C, and SEM and TEM microscopy. The catalytic performance was evaluated in Friedel–Crafts acylation of furan with acetic anhydride at 80 °C. The alkaline surfactant-mediated treatment had different effects on the two zeolites. For ZSM5, the CTAB molecular aggregates can hardly diffuse inside the medium-size pores, leading mainly to intercrystalline mesoporosity and increased external surface area, with no positive catalytic impact. On the other hand, for large-pore Y zeolite, the CTAB molecular aggregates can easily diffuse and promote the rearrangement of crystal units around micelles, causing the enlargement of the pores, i.e., intracrystalline porosity. The optimized Y-based sample, treated for 12 h with a CTAB amount 32 times the CMC, shows an increase in product yield and rate constant that was not observed when a higher amount of surfactant was added. The reuse of spent catalysts upon thermal treatment at 400 °C shows a regeneration efficiency around 90%, showing good potentialities for the modified catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is a by‐product of the brewery and represents a sustainable alternative for application in starch‐based active materials. This study aimed to develop starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) films containing BSG extract, with focus on the influence of BSG on the mechanical, structural, and barrier properties of the films. The antioxidant potentials of the extract and the films were proved by ABTS●+ (IC50 = 2.0 ± 0.6 μg mL−1) and DPPH● (IC50 = 196.05 ± 018.66 μg mL−1) assays. The addition of BSG extract did not have a significant impact on the mechanical performance and weight loss in water of the materials. The incorporation of the extract resulted in a rough surface, without pores and/or cracks. Controlled release of phenolic compounds was observed for BSG3 (3 g.100 g−1 of BSG extract) (163.3 ± 20.9 mgGAE.mL−1) and BSG5 (5 g.100 g−1 of BSG extract) (165.7 ± 23.6 mgGAE.mL−1) over a 4 h period. Therefore, this study shows the potential of BSG as an organic source of antioxidants for active biopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a perfect graphene absorber without any external mirrors, we proposed asymmetric slot-assisted grating structures supporting two degenerate resonant modes of the guided-mode resonances (GMR) and the quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BIC). The GMR mode functions as an internal mirror in conjunction with the background scattering, while the quasi-BIC, which is responsible for perfect graphene absorption, stems from the horizontal symmetry breaking by an asymmetric slot. By properly shifting the slot center from the grating center, the leakage rate of quasi-BIC can be controlled in such a way as to satisfy the critical coupling condition. We provide a comprehensive study on the coupling mechanism of two degenerate resonant modes for a one-port system mimicking the resonance. We also numerically demonstrated that our proposed grating structures show an excellent reflection-type modulation performance at optical wavelength ranges when doped double-layer graphene is applied. Due to the perfect absorption at the OFF state, a high modulation depth of ~50 dB can be achieved via a small Fermi level variation of ~0.05 eV. To obtain the lower insertion loss at the ON state, the higher Fermi level is required to decrease the graphene absorption coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the spontaneous emission dynamics of a quantum emitter near a topological insulator Bi 2 Se 3 spherical nanoparticle. Using the electromagnetic Green's tensor method, we find exceptional Purcell factors of the quantum emitter up to 10 10 at distances between the emitter and the nanoparticle as large as half the nanoparticle's radius in the terahertz regime. We study the spontaneous emission evolution of a quantum emitter for various transition frequencies in the terahertz and various vacuum decay rates. For short vacuum decay times, we observe non-Markovian spontaneous emission dynamics, which correspond perfectly to values of well-established measures of non-Markovianity and possibly indicate considerable dynamical quantum speedup. The dynamics turn progressively Markovian as the vacuum decay times increase, while in this regime, the non-Markovianity measures are nullified, and the quantum speedup vanishes. For the shortest vacuum decay times, we find that the population remains trapped in the emitter, which indicates that a hybrid bound state between the quantum emitter and the continuum of electromagnetic modes as affected by the nanoparticle has been formed. This work demonstrates that a Bi 2 Se 3 spherical nanoparticle can be a nanoscale platform for strong light–matter coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of perinatal tissues to provide cellular populations to be used in different applications of regenerative medicine is well established. Recently, the efforts of researchers are being addressed regarding the evaluation of cell products (secreted molecules or extracellular vesicles, EVs) to be used as an alternative to cellular infusion. The data regarding the effective recapitulation of most perinatal cells' properties by their secreted complement point in this direction. EVs secreted from perinatal cells exhibit key therapeutic effects such as tissue repair and regeneration, the suppression of inflammatory responses, immune system modulation, and a variety of other functions. Although the properties of EVs from perinatal derivatives and their significant potential for therapeutic success are amply recognized, several challenges still remain that need to be addressed. In the present review, we provide an up-to-date analysis of the most recent results in the field, which can be addressed in future research in order to overcome the challenges that are still present in the characterization and utilization of the secreted complement of perinatal cells and, in particular, mesenchymal stromal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical modeling presents symmetries and aesthetic-mathematical characteristics which are not catchable in numerical computation for science and technology; nanoscience plays a significant role in unification attempts, considering also models including holistic aspects of reality. In this paper we present new discovered results about the complete analytical quantum-relativistic form of the mean square deviation of position R 2 (t) related to a recently introduced Drude–Lorentz-like model (DS model), already performed at classical, quantum and relativistic level. The function R 2 (t) gives precise information about the distance crossed by carriers (electrons, ions, etc.) inside a nanostructure, considering both quantum effects and relativistic velocities. The model has a wide scale range of applicability; the nanoscale is considered in this paper, but it holds application from sub-pico-level to macro-level because of the existence of a gauge factor, making it applicable to every oscillating process in nature. Examples of application and suggestions supplement this paper, as well as interesting developments to be studied related to the model and to one of the basic elements of a current unified holistic approach based on vacuum energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We integrated graphene with asymmetric metal metasurfaces and optimised the geometry dependent photoresponse towards optoelectronic molecular sensor devices. Through careful tuning and characterisation, combining finite-difference time-domain simulations, electron-beam lithography-based nanofabrication, and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we achieved precise control over the mid-infrared peak response wavelengths, transmittance, and reflectance. Our methods enabled simple, reproducible and targeted mid-infrared molecular sensing over a wide range of geometrical parameters. With ultimate minimization potential down to atomic thicknesses and a diverse range of complimentary nanomaterial combinations, we anticipate a high impact potential of these technologies for environmental monitoring, threat detection, and point of care diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate ophthalmic onset manifestations and the impact of diagnostic delay on the prognosis in infants (<1 year) diagnosed with a brain tumour., Methods: A retrospective population-based nationwide study of infants diagnosed with a brain tumour between 2007 and 2017 in Denmark. Data was retrieved from the Danish Childhood Cancer Registry, the National Danish Health registries, and medical files. Primary outcome measures included symptoms, clinical findings, time to diagnosis and survival., Results: Thirty-seven infants were diagnosed with a brain tumour in Denmark between 2007 and 2017. In total, 19/37 infants (51%, 95% CI: 34-68) had ophthalmic manifestations at any time prior to or at diagnosis; and in 6/37 (16%, 95% CI: 6-32) ophthalmic manifestations were the initial symptom. The most common ophthalmic manifestations were strabismus (n = 7), sunset eyes (n = 6), nystagmus (n = 4), reduced pupillary light reflex (n = 4), and/or decreased vision (n = 4). The median number of symptoms per infant at the time of diagnosis was three (range 0-9). The median diagnostic delay was 26 days (range 0-283, IQR: 6;90). 5-year survival rate was 75% (95% CI: 61-90) and all children with diagnostic delay > 100 days (n = 9, 24%) were still alive at the end of follow-up (median 6.3 years, range 2.2-10.2)., Conclusion: We provide an overview of symptoms and clinical signs in a nation-wide series of infants with CNS tumours and demonstrate that ophthalmic manifestations are frequently observed in infants prior to diagnosis, but, often in combination with other clinical signs. The diagnostic delay was substantial for a large part of the infants, but this was not associated with increased mortality., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.)

A frequency magnetically tunable perfect absorber based on graphene in the terahertz (THz) region is proposed. The performance is analysed using the 4 × 4 transfer matrix method, demonstrating that the perfect absorption frequency of the proposed absorber for a left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) wave can be dynamically tuned by varying the external static bias magnetic field in three frequency ranges (0.95–2.2 THz, 4.15–5.4 THz, and 7.3–8.55 THz). Due to the destructive interference of the reflected waves and the graphene-induced photonic band gap, the maximum absorption of the LCP wave can reach 99.91%. In addition, the proposed absorber can tolerate a wide range of incident angles for the LCP wave. This study may have great potential for various applications, such as detectors, sensors, and other optoelectronic devices in the THz region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work studies biofuel production using an American native species that belongs to the Argemone genus. It is considered a weed, and its presence extends from the southern United States to some areas of South America; the species Argemone pleiacantha, together with other species of the same genus, is known as "chicalote". Oil physical and chemical properties confirm that chicalote oil is an effective raw material for biofuel production, presenting a fatty acid composition similar to that of soybean oil. A biodiesel production study was carried out using two methods of synthesis, conventional and ultrasound-assisted transesterification, employing the same molar ratio and amount of catalyst in both cases. Reaction time and supplied energy during synthesis were compared in batch mode. The results revealed that ultrasound-assisted transesterification has significant advantages over the conventional one in terms of reaction time and energy savings during chicalote oil synthesis to produce fatty acid methyl esters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its clinical entity, the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to represent an important health burden worldwide. Although great advances have been made towards determining the way viral genetic diversity affects clinical outcome, genetic association studies have been hindered by the complexity of their interactions with the human host. This study provides an innovative approach for the identification and analysis of epidemiological associations between HIV Viral Infectivity Factor (Vif) protein mutations and four clinical endpoints (Viral load and CD4 T cell numbers at time of both clinical debut and on historical follow-up of patients. Furthermore, this study highlights an alternative approach to the analysis of imbalanced datasets, where patients without specific mutations outnumber those with mutations. Imbalanced datasets are still a challenge hindering the development of classification algorithms through machine learning. This research deals with Decision Trees, Naïve Bayes (NB), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). This paper proposes a new methodology considering an undersampling approach to deal with imbalanced datasets and introduces two novel and differing approaches (MAREV-1 and MAREV-2). As theses approaches do not involve human pre-determined and hypothesis-driven combinations of motifs having functional or clinical relevance, they provide a unique opportunity to discover novel complex motif combinations of interest. Moreover, the motif combinations found can be analyzed through traditional statistical approaches avoiding statistical corrections for multiple tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from shrimp waste mainly by a polluting chemical method. In this work, a less polluting biological-chemical method to obtain chitosan from this waste has been optimized; this method used a successive lactic fermentation and chemical process. Additionally, in this work, the effect of chitosan coating on the post-harvest behavior of fresh-cut papaya was studied as a practical application. A rotatable central composite design (CCRD) with two variables (fermentation time and total soluble solids of the fermentation medium) was used to optimize the chitosan extraction. The optimized conditions for chitosan extraction were 108 h and 8.74 °Brix. The optimized chitosan showed a high deacetylation degree of 83%, acceptable process yield of 2.03%, a low ash content of 0.23% and a molecular weight of 107.5 kDa. In addition, optimized chitosan decreased the loss of color and acidity, as well as the growth of microorganisms; it also increased the pH of minimally processed papaya slices without a statistically significant difference with that of commercial chitosan. Based on these results, optimized chitosan could be applied to other fruits as a coating to maintain their quality characteristics and inhibit microbial growth during the storage of fresh-cut fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the last few decades' advances towards social and gender justice, reproductive decisions are still a source of oppression for many European Romani women and girls. This protocol aims to propose a model to empower Romani women and girls' reproductive decisions, inspired by Reproductive Justice—the recognition of women and girls' ability to make safe and free decisions about their bodies and reproduction. Through Participatory Action Research, 15–20 Romani girls and their families, two Romani platforms, and key agents from a rural and an urban context in Spain will participate. They will (1) contextualize Romani women and girls' inequities, (2) build partnerships, (3) implement Photovoice and advocate for their gender rights, and (4) assess the initiative's related changes, using self-evaluation techniques. Qualitative and quantitative indicators will be collected to assess impacts among participants, while tailoring and assuring the quality of the actions. Expected outcomes include the creation and consolidation of new social networks, and the promotion of Romani women and girls' leadership. For this, Romani organizations must be transformed into empowering settings for their communities, spaces where Romani women and girls assume responsibility of the initiatives, being these tailored to their real needs and interests, and guaranteeing transformative social changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food loss and waste occur for many reasons, from crop processing to household leftovers. Even though some waste generation is unavoidable, a considerable amount is due to supply chain inefficiencies and damage during transport and handling. Packaging design and materials innovations represent real opportunities to reduce food waste within the supply chain. Besides, changes in people's lifestyles have increased the demand for high-quality, fresh, minimally processed, and ready-to-eat food products with extended shelf-life, that need to meet strict and constantly renewed food safety regulations. In this regard, accurate monitoring of food quality and spoilage is necessary to diminish both health hazards and food waste. Thus, this work provides an overview of the most recent advances in the investigation and development of food packaging materials and design with the aim to improve food chain sustainability. Enhanced barrier and surface properties as well as active materials for food conservation are reviewed. Likewise, the function, importance, current availability, and future trends of intelligent and smart packaging systems are presented, especially considering biobased sensor development by 3D printing technology. In addition, driving factors affecting fully biobased packaging design and materials development and production are discussed, considering byproducts and waste minimization and revalorization, recyclability, biodegradability, and other possible ends-of-life and their impact on product/package system sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband optical absorbers are increasingly in demand in various applications, including solar cells and radiative cooling systems. Among various types of structures, absorbers based on metamaterial structures have attracted much attention. However, they generally suffer from the issues of narrow bandwidth, high-cost fabrication, and high sensitivity to polarization changes. This paper presents a broadband, polarization-independent metamaterial absorber working in both infrared and visible frequency regimes. This structure is composed of a continuous phase-change material film ( Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 ) separated between two thin spacer layers of SiO 2 , and an array of amorphous Silicon particles located on the top of the structure. The proposed device was shown to exhibit remarkable absorptivity (more than 90 percent) within a broad range of frequencies starting from 250 to 1050 THz. In addition, thanks to the structural symmetry, the strong absorbance shows a considerable overlap between transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes over an extensive range of incident angles. The designing procedure for this absorber can be used as a guideline for designing similar metamaterial absorbers in any desirable frequency band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a plasmonic electro-optical encoder based on graphene at THz frequency is proposed. The surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the graphene–insulator–metal structure are excited by an incident TM wave with a wavelength of 9.3 μm. Graphene plasma waveguides have extremely high confinement, relatively low losses, and high tunability. The switching mechanism is based on the application of an external voltage to locally change the chemical potential of the graphene for encoding. Setting the chemical potential to 1 eV allows SPPs to propagate while lowering the chemical potential to 0.1 eV prevents the SPPs from propagating. A 4 × 2 encoder with a minimum encoding extinction ratio (ER) of 37 dB, a maximum modulation depth (MD) of 99.99%, and a structure area of 0.8 μm2 is proposed based on the design rules and simulations using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. In terms of the obtained results, the proposed structure can be used in optical integrated circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernacular houses treasure the knowledge and traditions of nations. They express the cultural heritage of different generations, including local materials and non-professional designs evolved by resident communities. In South America, vernacular houses often are designed in rural areas. These are influenced by the customs of the indigenous people who inhabited this region for centuries before colonization. In the coastal area of Ecuador, particularly in the canton of Portoviejo, belonging to the province of Manabí, there is an architectural typology called "housing of the three spaces", which has not been valued as cultural heritage. This article responds to the research question of how to structure a sustainable architectural solution, which observes the patrimonial values of the housing of the three Manabí spaces, and which contributes to the resolution of the housing problem in rural Ecuadorian areas. The research was descriptive. The questionary technique was used to characterize these housings and analyze their sustainability criteria and historic heritage values. The results contribute relevant information for the consideration of the housing of the three spaces as cultural heritage. Furthermore, we explored a conceptual and analytical transition of the modern housing named Biosuvernacular (bio meaning life, su for sustainability and vernacular for traditional design) with reasonable economical solutions for resolving the housing problem in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility, chitosan (Cs) is a ubiquitous biopolymer. However, applications of Cs are limited owing to the existence of strong inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds within its network. To address this issue, we regenerated medium-molecular-weight Cs to enhance the physico-chemical and functional properties using a cationic approach. Accordingly, alkaline modification was employed to introduce an additional positive charge to the amine functional groups of Cs and moderately disintegrate the inter- and intra-hydrogen bonds. The chemical structure of Cs and regenerated chitosan (RCs) was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. RCs showed higher zeta potential value compared to Cs. Additionally, using X-ray diffraction, RCs exhibited low crystallinity, which can be attributed to the repulsive force caused by the positive surface charge and the destruction of hydrogen bonds. The RCs exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than Cs. Furthermore, the minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of RCs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were reduced by almost four times compared with those of Cs. The superior functional properties of RCs can be attributed to the formation of a polycationic structure after alkaline modification. Thus, RCs can be introduced as potent agents for various biomedical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapamycin-loaded nano-micelle ophthalmic solution (RAPA-NM) offers a promising application for preventing corneal allograft rejection; however, RAPA-NM has not yet been fully characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and underlying mechanism of RAPA-NM in inhibiting corneal allograft rejection. An optimized RAPA-NM was successfully prepared using a polyvinyl caprolactam–polyvinyl acetate–polyethylene glycol (PVCL-PVA-PEG) graft copolymer as the excipient at a PVCL-PVA-PEG/RAPA weight ratio of 18:1. This formulation exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (99.25 ± 0.55%), small micelle size (64.42 ± 1.18 nm), uniform size distribution (polydispersity index = 0.076 ± 0.016), and a zeta potential of 1.67 ± 0.93 mV. The storage stability test showed that RAPA-NM could be stored steadily for 12 weeks. RAPA-NM also displayed satisfactory cytocompatibility and high membrane permeability. Moreover, topical administration of RAPA-NM could effectively prevent corneal allograft rejection. Mechanistically, a transcriptomic analysis revealed that several immune- and inflammation-related Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were significantly enriched in the downregulated genes in the RAPA-NM-treated allografts compared with the rejected allogenic corneal grafts. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of RAPA-NM in treating corneal allograft rejection and other ocular inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia and hypertension complicate several pregnancies. Identifying women at risk of developing these conditions is essential to establish potential treatment modalities. Biomarkers such as C19MC microRNA in pregnant patients wopuld assist in defining pregnancy surveillance and implementing interventions. This study sought to analyze circulating C19MC microRNA as an early marker of hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnant patients. A systematic review was undertaken using the following registers: disease registries, pregnancy registries, and pregnancy exposure registries, and the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane technique. From the 45 publications retrieved from the registers and databases, only 21 were included in the review after the removal of duplicates, screening, and eligibility evaluation. All 210 publications had a low risk of bias and illuminated the potential use of circulating C19MC microRNA as an early marker of hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnant patients. Therefore, it was concluded that C19MC microRNA can be used as an early marker of gestational preeclampsia and hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One‐third of the world's trees are at risk of extinction, with large, old, long‐lived trees among the most vulnerable. Long‐lived trees in arid and semi‐arid biomes are particularly at risk, including Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum, Santalaceae), which is experiencing substantial population decline due to a suite of natural and anthropogenic drivers, with no appreciable recruitment estimated for more than 80 years. To contextualize this range‐wide collapse and quantify regional variation in population dynamics across Australia's western rangelands, we investigated the size‐class profiles of 12 sandalwood populations in a 1,500‐kilometre arc between Shark Bay and the Gibson Desert in central Western Australia including Indigenous Protected Areas, pastoral leases and public and private conservation parks and reserves. Stem diameters, indicative of age using known growth rates, were recorded for 1,355 sandalwood plants, along with a set of another plant structural and ecological parameters. Using size‐class profiles and associated demographic data, we estimated the population age structure and trajectory to determine whether each population was increasing, stable or declining. Our surveys revealed sandalwood populations are declining and are composed almost entirely of very old trees in advanced states of senescence. Of 1,355 plants sampled, 1,198 (88.4%) individuals were large (old) trees. A total of 23 seedlings and 21 saplings were recorded across all sites, almost all of which (22 and 19, respectively) were in one population, and located under the canopies of parent trees where they would not be expected to survive to maturity. Our findings reinforce the urgent need to list Santalum spicatum as a threatened species in Western Australia (where wild plants are still being commercially harvested) and to initiate effective conservation actions to secure the species' continued existence across its natural range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active film composed of corn starch/κ-carrageenan and ethanolic grape seed extract (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt% of GSE on corn starch basis) were successfully prepared using the solvent casting technique. The effects of the different concentrations of ethanolic grape seed extract (GSE) on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial properties of CS/κC films were analyzed. The results showed that the addition of GSE inhibited the recrystallization of starch in the composite film. The glass transition temperature of composite film is 121.65 °C. With the addition of GSE, the surface roughness of the composite film increased, and the cross-section displayed a stratification phenomenon. Meanwhile, when GSE was added to the composite film, the tensile strength of the composite film decreased (3.50 ± 0.27 MPa), the elongation at break increased (36.87 ± 2.08%), and the WVP increased (1.58 ± 0.03 g mm/m2·d· kPa). With the increase of the concentration of GSE in the composite film, the a* value and b* value of the composite film increase, the L* value decreases, and the opacity increases. The lipid oxidation test proved that the composite films containing 1% GSE has a significant inhibitory effect on the oxidation of lard (p < 0.05). The above results indicate that the GSE can be used as a food-grade packaging material and has a good application prospect in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: A thorough review of the quantitative methods for the detection of Alzheimer's from neuroimaging studies acquired with positron emission tomography, with a special emphasis on supervised machine/deep learning techniques for specialist physicians, neuroscientists, computer scientists, and other allied professions in dementia care and diagnosis. The dementia spectrum is a broad range of disorders with complex diagnosis, pathophysiology, and a limited set of treatment options, where the most common variety is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Positron emission tomography (PET) has become a valuable tool for the detection of AD; however, following the results of post-mortem studies, AD diagnosis has modest sensitivity and specificity at best. It remains common practice that readings of these images are performed by a physician's subjective impressions of the spatial pattern of tracer uptake, and so quantitative methods based on established biomarkers have had little penetration into clinical practice. The present study is a review of the data-driven methods available for molecular neuroimaging studies (fluorodeoxyglucose-/amyloid-/tau-PET), with emphasis on the use of machine/deep learning as quantitative tools complementing the specialist in detecting AD. This work is divided into two broad parts. The first covers the epidemiology and pathology of AD, followed by a review of the role of PET imaging and tracers for AD detection. The second presents quantitative methods used in the literature for detecting AD, including the general linear model and statistical parametric mapping, 3D stereotactic surface projection, principal component analysis, scaled subprofile modeling, support vector machines, and neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active packaging based on chitosan (Ch) incorporated with six different natural hydro-alcoholic extracts (HAE) (rosemary, green tea, black tea, ginger, kenaf, and sage) were developed and tested to extend the shelf life of fresh poultry meat. The quality of the meat packaged was assessed through physical-chemical and microbiological characterization over 15 days of refrigerated storage. In vitro antimicrobial activity of pure extracts and films against Gram-positive (B. cereus) and Gram-negative (S. enterica) foodborne bacteria was also addressed. Pure extracts and the films developed showed antimicrobial activity by the diffusion agar method only against the Gram-positive bacteria. Microbial analysis of the meat wrapped with films incorporated with HAE showed a reduction of 3.1–4.5 log CFU/g and 2.5–4.0 log CFU/g on the total viable microorganisms and total coliforms, respectively. Ch + Kenaf and Ch + Sage films presented the highest antimicrobial activity. Regarding the oxidation degradation, as expected, TBARS values increased for all samples over time. However, the meat wrapped in the biocomposites, except for CH + Sage, presented lower secondary oxidation metabolites (reduction of 75–93%) in the content of malonaldehyde. This protection was superior for the meat wrapped with Ch + Rosemary. Active film also showed promising results by retarding the discoloration process and the increase of pH over time. Thus, the biocomposites produced can pose as an alternative technology to enhance the shelf life of fresh poultry meat and maintain its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,3-Dihydroindoles are promising agents for the synthesis of new compounds with neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. Usually, these compounds are obtained by direct reduction of the corresponding indoles containing acceptor groups in the indole ring for its activation. In this work, we propose a synthetic strategy to obtain new 2,3-dihydroindole derivatives from the corresponding polyfunctional 2-oxindoles. Three methods were proposed for reduction of functional groups in the 2-oxindole and 2-chloroindole molecules using various boron hydrides. The possibility of chemoselective reduction of the nitrile group in the presence of an amide was shown. The proposed synthetic strategy can be used, for example, for the synthesis of new analogs of the endogenous hormone melatonin and other compounds with neuroprotective properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the outstanding physical properties of graphene, its biosensing applications implemented by the terahertz metasurface are widely concerned and studied. Here, we present a novel design of the graphene metasurface, which consists of an individual graphene ring and an H-shaped graphene structure. The graphene metasurface exhibits a dual-resonance response, whose resonance frequency strongly varies with the geometrical parameters of the proposed metasurface, the carrier density of graphene, and the analyte composition. The transparency window, including width and position, can be artificially controlled by adjusting the geometrical parameters or the Fermi energy. Furthermore, the sensing parameters of the graphene metasurface for cancerous and normal cells are investigated, focusing on two factors, namely cell quantity and position on the metasurface. The simulated results clearly show that the theoretical sensitivity, figure of merit, and quantity of the graphene metasurface for breast cells reach 1.21 THz/RIU, 2.75 RIU − 1 , and 2.43, respectively. Our findings may open up new avenues for promising applications in the diagnosis of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to characterize the intestinal microbiota of wild thick-lipped grey mullets (Chelon labrosus) and explore its potential functionality on the host. Intestinal contents of anterior and posterior sections from wild fish were collected and DNA was extracted. Subsequently, the V3–V4 regions of 16S rRNA were sequenced using the Illumina technology and results were analyzed by bioinformatics pipeline. The functional profile of the microbial community was analyzed using PICRUSt software. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were significantly higher in the posterior section of wild specimens. The overall taxonomic composition suggests a certain homogeneity in the anterior section of the intestine and heterogeneity in the posterior section. Due to this, no statistical differences were detected at any level among both intestinal sections. Predicted functions of intestinal microbiota showed the most abundant were those related to amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, membrane transport, and cell replication and repair. Furthermore, the analysis revealed microbial functional genes related to the elimination of environmental toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the successful separation of graphene from its bulk counterpart, two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have become the focus of research for their exceptional properties. The layered hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), for instance, offers good lubricity, electrical insulation, corrosion resistance, and chemical stability. In recent years, the wide-band-gap layered h-BN has been recognized for its broad application prospects in neutron detection and quantum information processing. In addition, it has become very important in the field of 2D crystals and van der Waals heterostructures due to its versatility as a substrate, encapsulation layer, and a tunneling barrier layer for various device applications. However, due to the poor adhesion between h-BN and substrate and its high preparation temperature, it is very difficult to prepare large-area and denseh-BN films. Therefore, the controllable synthesis of h-BN films has been the focus of research in recent years. In this paper, the preparation methods and applications of h-BN films on III–V compounds are systematically summarized, and the prospects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 outbreak has reminded us of the importance of viral evolutionary studies as regards comprehending complex viral evolution and preventing future pandemics. A unique approach to understanding viral evolution is the use of ancient viral genomes. Ancient viruses are detectable in various archaeological remains, including ancient people's skeletons and mummified tissues. Those specimens have preserved ancient viral DNA and RNA, which have been vigorously analyzed in the last few decades thanks to the development of sequencing technologies. Reconstructed ancient pathogenic viral genomes have been utilized to estimate the past pandemics of pathogenic viruses within the ancient human population and long-term evolutionary events. Recent studies revealed the existence of non-pathogenic viral genomes in ancient people's bodies. These ancient non-pathogenic viruses might be informative for inferring their relationships with ancient people's diets and lifestyles. Here, we reviewed the past and ongoing studies on ancient pathogenic and non-pathogenic viruses and the usage of ancient viral genomes to understand their long-term viral evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MIS-type structures composed of silicon-rich oxide (SRO), thin films deposited by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD), show interesting I-V and I-t properties under white light illumination and a response as photodetectors. From electrical measurements, it was found that at a reverse bias of −4 V, the illumination current increased by up to three orders of magnitude relative to the dark current, which was about 82 nA, while the photogenerated current reached a value of 25 μA. The reported MIS structure with SRO as the dielectric layer exhibited a hopping conduction mechanism, and an ohmic conduction mechanism was found with low voltage. I-t measurements confirmed the increased photogenerated current. Furthermore, the MIS structure, characterized by current-wavelength (I-λ) measurements, exhibited a maximum responsivity value at 254 mA/W, specific detectivity (D*) at 2.21 × 1011 cm Hz1/2 W−1, and a noise equivalent power (NEP) of 49 pW at a wavelength of 535 nm. The structure exhibited good switching behavior, with rise and fall times between 120 and 150 ms, respectively. These rise and decay times explain the generation and recombination of charge carriers and the trapping and release of traps, respectively. These results make MIS-type structures useful as photodetectors in the 420 to 590 nm range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal cardiovascular complications. It is widely believed that maternal endothelial dysfunction is a critical determinant of these risks, however, connections to maternal cardiac dysfunction and mechanisms of pathogenesis are unclear. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging biomarkers that may provide insights into the pathogenesis of GDM. We examined the impact of GDM on maternal cardiac and vascular health in a rat model of diet-induced obesity-associated GDM. We observed a >3-fold increase in circulating levels of endothelial EVs (p < 0.01) and von Willebrand factor (p < 0.001) in GDM rats. A significant increase in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within circulating extracellular vesicles was also observed suggesting possible mitochondrial dysfunction in the vasculature. This was supported by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide deficiency in aortas of GDM mice. GDM was also associated with cardiac remodeling (increased LV mass) and a marked impairment in maternal diastolic function (increased isovolumetric relaxation time [IVRT], p < 0.01). Finally, we observed a strong positive correlation between endothelial EV levels and IVRT (r = 0.57, p < 0.05). In summary, we observed maternal vascular and cardiac dysfunction in rodent GDM accompanied by increased circulating endothelial EVs and EV-associated mitochondrial DNA. Our study highlights a novel method for assessment of vascular injury in GDM and highlights vascular mitochondrial injury as a possible therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several novel treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been recently approved based on the results of randomized clinical trials. However, real-world evidence (RWE) is also requested before and after drug authorization in order to confirm safety and to provide data for health technology assessments. We conducted a scoping review of the available RWE for targeted treatments of CLL, namely ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, idelalisib, and venetoclax, as well as for chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). In particular, we searched studies published since 1 January 2010 and reported outcomes of the above treatments based on health databases, registries, or phase IV studies, including named-patient programs. We included both full papers and abstracts of studies presented at major meetings. Overall, 110 studies were selected and analyzed: 28,880 patients were treated with ibrutinib, 1424 with idelalisib, 751 with venetoclax, 496 with acalabrutinib, and 14,896 with CIT. Reported discontinuation rates were higher than in clinical trials, while effectiveness could not be indirectly compared with clinical trials since a detailed case mix, including cytogenetic risk factors, was partially available and propensity scores rarely applied. RWE on CLL can help to set realistic outcomes with novel treatments, however, real-world studies should be fostered, and available data shared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing rate of pollution has attracted considerable interest in research. Several anthropogenic activities have diminished soil, air, and water quality and have led to complex chemical pollutants. This review aims to provide a clear idea about the latest and most prevalent pollutants such as heavy metals, PAHs, pesticides, hydrocarbons, and pharmaceuticals—their occurrence in various complex mixtures and how several environmental factors influence their interaction. The mechanism adopted by these contaminants to form the complex mixtures leading to the rise of a new class of contaminants, and thus resulting in severe threats to human health and the environment, has also been exhibited. Additionally, this review provides an in-depth idea of various in vivo, in vitro, and trending biomarkers used for risk assessment and identifies the occurrence of mixed contaminants even at very minute concentrations. Much importance has been given to remediation technologies to understand our current position in handling these contaminants and how the technologies can be improved. This paper aims to create awareness among readers about the most ubiquitous contaminants and how simple ways can be adopted to tackle the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]