Enhancing Thermogalvanic Efficiency through Electrostatic Interaction in Cationic Hydrogels.

Thermoelectric hydrogels have the potential to be used in energy conversion devices for harnessing ubiquitous low-grade heat and generating useful electricity. This can be achieved through the use of thermogalvanic cells based on redox chemistry. While significant attention has been focused toward maximizing voltage for a given temperature gradient in liquid-based thermocells, it is crucial to consider both voltage and current density for accurate power output estimation in the case of gel-based thermocells.

Vaccine effectiveness against influenza hospitalisation in adults during the 2022/2023 mixed season of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B circulation, Europe: VEBIS SARI VE hospital network.

We conducted a multicentre hospital-based test-negative case-control study to measure vaccine effectiveness (VE) against PCR-confirmed influenza in adult patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) during the 2022/2023 influenza season in Europe. Among 5547 SARI patients ≥18 years, 2963 (53%) were vaccinated against influenza. Overall VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 11% (95% CI: -23-36); 20% (95% CI: -4-39) against A(H3N2) and 56% (95% CI: 22-75) against B.

Correction: Epigenetic, psychological, and EEG changes after a 1-week retreat based on mindfulness and compassion for stress reduction in healthy adults: Study protocol of a cross-over randomized controlled trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Antimicrobial Properties of New Polyamines Conjugated with Oxygen-Containing Aromatic Functional Groups.

Antibiotic resistance is now a first-order health problem, which makes the development of new families of antimicrobials imperative. These compounds should ideally be inexpensive, readily available, highly active, and non-toxic. Here, we present the results of our investigation regarding the antimicrobial activity of a series of natural and synthetic polyamines with different architectures (linear, tripodal, and macrocyclic) and their derivatives with the oxygen-containing aromatic functional groups 1,3-benzodioxol, ortho/para phenol, or 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran.

Epigenetic, psychological, and EEG changes after a 1-week retreat based on mindfulness and compassion for stress reduction in healthy adults: Study protocol of a cross-over randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The main objective of the study will be to evaluate the effects of two widely used standardized mindfulness-based programs [Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT)], on epigenetic, neurobiological, psychological, and physiological variables.

Methods: The programs will be offered in an intensive retreat format in a general population sample of healthy volunteer adults. During a 7-day retreat, participants will receive MBSR and CCT in a crossover design where participants complete both programs in random order.

Jorge clinical study: 10-year outcomes of risk-adapted radiotherapy defined by multiparametric MRI for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To analyze the 10-year biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with localized prostate adenocarcinoma treated with radiotherapy (RT) ± androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), according to the risk groups based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) instead of digital rectal exam (DRE).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 140 consecutive patients diagnosed with localized prostate adenocarcinoma, stratified into different risk groups-low (LR), intermediate (IR), and high (HR) by mpMRI results.

Results: After a median follow-up of 104 months, in LR group (n = 15), 10-year BRFS was 86.

Biotechnological applications of biofilms formed by osmotolerant and halotolerant yeasts.

Many microorganisms are capable of developing biofilms under adverse conditions usually related to nutrient limitation. They are complex structures in which cells (in many cases of different species) are embedded in the material that they secrete, the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is composed of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. The ECM has several functions including adhesion, cellular communication, nutrient distribution, and increased community resistance, this being the main drawback when these microorganisms are pathogenic.

The effectiveness of a school mindfulness-based intervention on the neural correlates of inhibitory control in children at risk: A randomized control trial.

Interest in the applications of mindfulness practice in education is growing in the scientific community. Recent research has shown that mindfulness practice in schools may be beneficial for executive functions (EFs) which are abilities crucial for healthy development. The study of the effects of mindfulness practices on children's neural correlates of EFs, particularly inhibitory control, may provide relevant information about the impact and mechanisms of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in children.

Recent developments in the biology and biotechnological applications of halotolerant yeasts.

Natural hypersaline environments are inhabited by an abundance of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms capable of thriving under extreme saline conditions. Yeasts represent a substantial fraction of halotolerant eukaryotic microbiomes and are frequently isolated as food contaminants and from solar salterns. During the last years, a handful of new species has been discovered in moderate saline environments, including estuarine and deep-sea waters.

Psychiatric disorders in patients with resistant temporal lobe epilepsy two years after undergoing elective surgery. A longitudinal study.

Purpose: Psychiatric morbidity in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is frequent and negatively affects patients' life quality. Surgery is the procedure of choice when treating seizures, although the effects on psychiatric disorders remain unclear. We evaluate the effect of surgery on psychiatric disorders in patients with TLE two years after the intervention, to then shed light on how these are related to anxiety and depression symptoms, and Interictal Dysphoric Disorder (IDD).

Incidence of COVID-19 in 902 Patients With Immunomediated Inflammatory Diseases Treated With Biologics and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs-Findings From the BIOCOVID Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients with immunomediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) treated with biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs) and to evaluate the influence of either IMIDs or related therapies on the incidence and evolution of COVID-19.

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted from January 31, 2020, to May 15, 2020. Data of 902 patients were obtained from clinical records in hospitals, primary care units, and community pharmacies.

Formation and characterization of biofilms formed by salt-tolerant yeast strains in seawater-based growth medium.

Yeast whole cells have been widely used in modern biotechnology as biocatalysts to generate numerous compounds of industrial, chemical, and pharmaceutical importance. Since many of the biocatalysis-utilizing manufactures have become more concerned about environmental issues, seawater is now considered a sustainable alternative to freshwater for biocatalytic processes. This approach plausibly commenced new research initiatives into exploration of salt-tolerant yeast strains.

Effect of Aerobic Physical Exercise in an Animal Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a condition caused by an amendment to the X chromosome, inherited as a recessive trait, and affects 1:3500 live births, especially males. Low-intensity exercise is known to decrease certain parameters associated with muscular degeneration in animal models of progressive muscular dystrophies. In the present study, 28-day-old male mdx and wild-type (wild) mice were used.

Whole-Cell Biocatalysis in Seawater: New Halotolerant Yeast Strains for the Regio- and Stereoselectivity Reduction of 1-Phenylpropane-1,2-Dione in Saline-Rich Media.

The application of green chemistry concepts in catalysis has considerably increased in recent years, and the interest in using sustainable solvents in the chemical industry is growing. One of the recent proposals to fall in line with this is to employ seawater as a solvent in biocatalytic processes. This involves selecting halotolerant strains capable of carrying out chemical conversions in the presence of the salt concentrations found in this solution.

Enhanced response inhibition and reduced midfrontal theta activity in experienced Vipassana meditators.

Response inhibition - the ability to suppress inappropriate thoughts and actions - is a fundamental aspect of cognitive control. Recent research suggests that mental training by meditation may improve cognitive control. Yet, it is still unclear if and how, at the neural level, long-term meditation practice may affect (emotional) response inhibition.

Tolerability and positive efficacy results after subcutaneous immunotherapy with Parietaria judaica depot extract.

Aim: To evaluate tolerability and efficacy of Parietaria judaica subcutaneous immunotherapy on patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Patients & Methods: 51 patients were assigned to build-up scheme (six increasing doses) of P. judaica depot native extract, plus three maintenance monthly administrations.

Development of a rapid and accurate method for the determination of sodium in vacuum gas oils (VGOs) by ICP-OES.

Sodium in vacuum gas oils (VGOs), even at trace levels, produces corrosion by-products in the refinery pipelines and it is a significant catalyst poison, especially for those from atmospheric or vacuum distillation units, thus its concentration in middle-distillate petroleum products needs to be controlled. In addition, sodium contamination was an issue in this study, as sodium might be present even in the dust floating in the air. The use of an ultrapure sodium-free water and the disposal of a clean and dust-free room were the key to be successful on the development of this method.

Biotransformation using halotolerant yeast in seawater: a sustainable strategy to produce R-(-)-phenylacetylcarbinol.

Acyloin condensation between benzaldehyde and decarboxylated pyruvate results in the production of R-(-)-phenylacetylcarbinol, a chiral precursor of the drug ephedrine. Huge research efforts have been made to improve the conditions of this reaction and to avoid the generation of by-products. Recently, we reported the advantages of using whole cells of the yeast Debaryomyces etchellsii as biocatalysts for this purpose.

Yeast arming systems: pros and cons of different protein anchors and other elements required for display.

Yeast display is a powerful strategy that consists in exposing peptides or proteins of interest on the cell surface of this microorganism. Ever since initial experiments with this methodology were carried out, its scope has extended and many applications have been successfully developed in different science and technology fields. Several yeast display systems have been designed, which all involve introducting into yeast cells the gene fusions that contain the coding regions of a signal peptide, an anchor protein, to properly attach the target to the cell surface, and the protein of interest to be exposed, all of which are controlled by a strong promoter.

Effects of a brief mindfulness-meditation intervention on neural measures of response inhibition in cigarette smokers.

Research suggests that mindfulness-practices may aid smoking cessation. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of mindfulness-practices on smoking are unclear. Response inhibition is a main deficit in addiction, is associated with relapse, and could therefore be a candidate target for mindfulness-based practices.

High precision measurement of silicon in naphthas by ICP-OES using isooctane as diluent.

An analytical protocol for the accurate and precise determination of Si in naphthas is presented by using ICP-OES, optimizing from the sample preparation to the measurement conditions, in order to be able to analyze for the first time silicon contents below 100µgkg in a relatively short time thus being used as a control method. In the petrochemical industry, silicon can be present as a contaminant in different petroleum products such as gasoline, ethanol, or naphthas, forming different silicon compounds during the treatment of these products that are irreversibly adsorbed onto catalyst surfaces decreasing its time life. The complex nature of the organic naphtha sample together with the low detection limits needed make the analysis of silicon quite difficult.