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This article explores how video games, with no apparent connection to the literary rogue, still articulate Picaresque episodes and simulate Picaresque experiences through their intended gameplay and worldbuilding. These experiences are a specific expression of the combination of mechanics, narrative, and the agency of the player around a defined type of character, the rogue. They show how pervasive the influence of Picaresque Literature is, influencing design choices and informing key forms of being and acting in virtual worlds. This paper aims to define what a Picaresque experience in video games is and how it is possible to produce them. To achieve this, three video games will be analysed to show the different specific tools video games use to enable these experiences. The analyses will be supported by a theoretical framework based on existing bibliography about agency, videoludic narrative, mechanics, and Picaresque Literature with the objective of offering a comprehensive description of Picaresque experiences while also explaining them as a transmedia phenomenon that demonstrates the influence of Picaresque Literature in video games.

Bioactive compounds are naturally occurring substances that have the ability to have physiological impacts on the human body. Due to their potential health advantages and their function in preventing and treating a variety of serious health risks, also this substances shown a high antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against bacteria that can affect health. Therefore, the purpose of the current investigation was to test different bioactive compounds (Thymol, Quercetin, Epicatechin gallate, Gallic acid, Coumarin, Caffeic acid, Tannic acid, Apigenin, Carvacrol, Carvone, Beta ionone and Eucalyptol), in order to see there effect against B. cereus. Additionally, the contact angle method was used to examine the influence of those substances on the physicochemical characteristics of PLA 3D printing material and there antiadhesive effect against bacteria studied. According to the antibacterial activities it should be noted that Carvacrol, Tannic acid and Epicatechin gallate were the most active against B. cereus bacteria. The measurements of the contact angle showed a substantial change in the physicochemical characteristics of 3D printing PLA, indicating an improvement in the electron donor character after treatment, and significantly changed the surface hydrophobicity following treatment from hydrophobe PLA to hydrophile PLA after treatement, we can also see that B. cereus can adhere to PLA before treatment but after treatment with bioactive compounds it has become unfavorable which means that our select compounds are indeed active. After the use of computational methods like ADMET analysis, molecular docking and dynamic analysis, it was practical to better understand the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic proprieties, drug-likeness, antibacterial antiadhesive properties of the studied phytocomponents.

Abstract Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a versatile and low-cost polymer with high biocompatibility, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, thermal stability, and ferroelectricity. This material has been widely used in many applications, ranging from membranes to electronic devices. In this study, self-supporting, flexible, and lightweight PVDF films were prepared by an evaporation route using a low-toxicity solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide – DMSO). Graphene oxide (GO) and anatase titania (TiO2) were incorporated into the PVDF after preparing DMSO-based suspensions of these materials. The prepared materials were examined in terms of their structural, electrical, and wetting properties before and after exposure to near ultraviolet (UV-A) light. Substantial structural changes took place after incorporating GO and TiO2 into PVDF. Such modifications were accompanied by dramatic changes in the wetting and electrical properties of the PVDF. UV-A light caused the formation of surface defects on PVDF and GO films. In addition, it promoted the photoreduction of GO into reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Composites containing TiO2 showed high resistance to UV-A light, probably because titania particles absorb the incoming photons and shield the polymer matrix. This study provides new insights into the synthesis and characterization of PVDF/TiO2/GO composite films, which may be useful for many applications, including flexible electronics, solar cells, and biomedical devices.

Novel mechanisms of COVID-19 vaccines raised concern about their potential immunogenicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing immunomodulatory treatments. We designed a retrospective single-center study to investigate their effectiveness and safety in this population, analyzing data from the first vaccination program (December 2020–October 2021). Inclusion criteria were availability of post-vaccination serology and a minimum subsequent follow-up of 6 months. Binding antibody units (BAU/mL) ≥ 7.1 defined an adequate serological response. Post-vaccine COVID-19 incidence and its timing since vaccination, adverse events (AEs), and RA flares were recorded. Adjusted logistic and linear multivariate regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with vaccine response. We included 118 patients (87.2% women, age 65.4 ± 11.6 years, evolution 12.0 ± 9.6 years), of whom 95.8% had a complete vaccination schedule. Adequate humoral immunogenicity was achieved in 88.1% of patients and was associated with previous COVID-19 and mRNA vaccines, whereas smoking, aCCP, age, and DMARDs exerted a negative impact. Post-vaccine COVID-19 occurred in 18.6% of patients, a median of 6.5 months after vaccination. Vaccine AE (19.5%) and RA flares (1.7%) were mostly mild and inversely associated with age. Our results suggest that COVID-19 vaccines induce adequate humoral immunogenicity, with an acceptable safety profile in RA patients.

The development of polymers obtained from renewable sources such as polysaccharides has gained scientific and industrial attention. Cross-linked bio-derived cationic polymers were synthesized via a sustainable approach exploiting a commercial maltodextrin product, namely, Glucidex 2®, as the building block, while diglycidyl ethers and triglycidyl ethers were used as the cross-linking agents. The polymer products were characterized via FTIR-ATR, TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, elemental analysis, and zeta-potential measurements, to investigate their composition, structure, and properties. Polydispersed amorphous granules displaying thermal stabilities higher than 250 °C, nitrogen contents ranging from 0.8 wt % and 1.1 wt %, and zeta potential values between 10 mV and 15 mV were observed. Subsequently, water absorption capacity measurements ranging from 800% to 1500%, cross-linking density determination, and rheological evaluations demonstrated the promising gel-forming properties of the studied systems. Finally, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate removal tests were performed to assess the possibility of employing the studied polymer products as suitable sorbents for water remediation. The results obtained from the ion chromatography technique showed high sorption rates, with 80% of nitrates, over 90% of sulfates, and total phosphates removal.

Cholesterol, the essential building block of cellular membranes, has proven to be a useful tool for increasing the biocompatibility and bioavailability of drug delivery systems in cancer treatment. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound with promising anticancer properties, faces significant limitations due to its low solubility and bioavailability, hindering its clinical utility. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to design cholesterol-functionalized cyclodextrin nanosponges (Chol-NSs) with a tunable cholesterol content to optimize resveratrol encapsulation and delivery. Both formulations, free carbonyl diimidazole (CDI) NSs and functionalized Chol-NSs, demonstrated high drug loading and encapsulation efficiency. In vitro experiments revealed that cholesterol incorporation significantly improved the cellular uptake of nanocarriers and potentiated the cytotoxic effects of resveratrol on breast cancer cells. Importantly, both free CDI NSs and functionalized Chol-NSs, even at varying cholesterol percentages, demonstrated a safe profile against both fibroblast and breast cancer cell lines. These results indicate that cholesterol-functionalized nanosponges represent a promising platform for the effective and safe delivery of natural compounds in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 vaccination program has probably been the most complex and extensive project in history until now, which has been a challenge for all the people involved in the planning and management of this program. Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) on immunosuppressive therapy have required special attention, not only because of the particular haste in carrying out the process but also because of the uncertainty regarding their response to the vaccines. We now have strong scientific evidence that supports the hypothesis that immunosuppressive therapy inhibits the humoral response to vaccines against other infectious agents, such as influenza, pneumococcus and hepatitis B. This has led to the hypothesis that the same could happen with the COVID-19 vaccine. Several studies have therefore already been carried out in this area, suggesting that temporarily discontinuing the administration of methotrexate for 2 weeks post-vaccination could improve the vaccine response, and other studies with various immunosuppressive drugs are in the same line. However, the fact of withholding or interrupting immunosuppressive therapy when dealing with COVID-19 vaccination remains unclear. On this basis, our article tries to compile the information available on the effect of immunosuppressant agents on COVID-19 vaccine responses in patients with IMIDs and proposes an algorithm for the management of these patients.

Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (CD-NSs) have gained importance in drug delivery in the last years due to their easy synthesis and versatility. However, their use as carriers for the delivery of macromolecules such as proteins is less known and sometimes difficult to consider. In this entry, the authors summarize and highlight the multiple possibilities of CD-NSs to deliver active proteins, improving their activity or stability. Starting with a brief description of CD-NSs and their characteristics, the entry will be focused on several proteins, such as (1) Lipase, (2) Insulin and (3) Nisin, for chemical or pharmaceutical applications. The revised results demonstrated that CD-NSs can generate different and interesting applications with proteins. These results could be added to their uses with small drugs, being an interesting alternative for protein delivery and applicability.

Isorhapontigenin has been proposed as a better alternative for oral administration than the famous resveratrol, as it shares many biological activities, but with a structure that could make its delivery easier. Although this hydrophobic structure could enhance bioavailability, it could also be a disadvantage in the development of products. In this research, we study the antiproliferative activity of this stilbene against colorectal cancer and overcome its limitations through molecular encapsulation in cyclodextrins. The cytotoxic activity against human colorectal cancer cells of isorhapontigenin was similar to that of resveratrol or piceatannol, supporting its use as a bioactive alternative. The study of the encapsulation through fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking revealed that the complexation satisfies a 1:1 stoichiometry and that HP-β-CD is the most suitable CD to encapsulate this stilbene. Through a spectrophotometric assay, it was observed that this CD could double the basal water solubility, exceeding the solubility of other hydroxylated stilbenes. The stability of these inclusion complexes was higher at a pH below 9 and refrigeration temperatures. Moreover, the use of CDs retained more than 78% of isorhapontigenin after storage for 12 weeks, compared to 15% in free form. Overall, these findings could help design novel formulations to better deliver isorhapontigenin.

It has been argued that methoxylated stilbenes are better candidates for oral administration than hydroxylated stilbenes, including resveratrol, as they share many biological activities but have better bioavailability. By contrast, they have a disadvantage to consider, i.e., their lower hydrophilic character that leads to precipitation issues in the final product. In this work, we analysed and compared the growth inhibition of colorectal cancer cells of the methoxylated stilbene rhapontigenin and some analogues and overcame potential problems in the development of fortified products by designing inclusion complexes. Among several cyclodextrins, we found the one that best fit the molecule by physicochemical and bioinformatics assays. The stoichiometry and the encapsulation constants with natural and modified cyclodextrins were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The most promising complexes were analysed at different temperature and pH conditions, determining the thermodynamic parameters, to discover the optimal conditions for the preparation and storage of the products. The results showed that rhapontigenin solubility and stability were significantly improved, achieving a sevenfold increase in water solubility and maintaining more than 73% of the stilbene after three months. These findings could be of great interest for industries that aim to deliver novel bioactive compounds with higher solubility and lower degradation.