Sustainable development of a carob-based food with antioxidant and prebiotic functionality via in situ enzymatic and microbial fructo-oligosaccharide production.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are well-established prebiotics, while polyphenols have recently demonstrated their potential as prebiotics. Carob pulp, with its high intrinsic sucrose content and high levels of polyphenols, shows great potential to be transformed into a prebiotic food. In this study, we investigated the development of a functional food product based on carob pulp, with an emphasis on sustainability.

Exploring the Safety and Satisfaction of Patients Injected With Collagen Biostimulators-A Prospective Investigation Into Injectable Poly-l-Lactic Acid (PLLA).

Background: Esthetic medicine has shifted significantly toward non-surgical procedures, with the collagen biostimulator poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) becoming increasingly popular for facial rejuvenation. However, the safety and patient satisfaction associated with PLLA facial treatments remain largely unexplored.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety profile of PLLA treatment and assess patient mid- and long-term satisfaction with the outcome.

Are Microfibers a Threat to Marine Invertebrates? A Sea Urchin Toxicity Assessment.

The rise of "fast fashion" has driven up the production of low-cost, short-lived clothing, significantly increasing global textile fiber production and, consequently, exacerbating environmental pollution. This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of different types of anthropogenic microfibers-cotton, polyester, and mixed fibers (50% cotton: 50% polyester)-on marine organisms, specifically sea urchin embryos. All tested fibers exhibited toxicity, with cotton fibers causing notable effects on embryonic development even at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Exposure to microplastics contaminated with pharmaceuticals and personal care products: Histological effects on Ucides cordatus.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are known to interact with microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments, with substances such as the antimicrobial triclosan (TCS) and the synthetic hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) being prevalent. These persistent contaminants are linked to toxic effects in aquatic organisms. This study aimed to investigate histological and morphometric changes in the gills of Ucides cordatus exposed to microplastics alone and microplastics contaminated with PPCPs.

Consumer-driven selection of low-emission vehicles for sustainable urban centers: An AHP-based approach.

In densely populated urban areas, air quality is one of the main concerns, affecting human health and the environment. In developing and emerging countries, an alternative method for reducing the effects of air pollution is to select vehicles with lower pollutant emissions, as a way of making these large centers more sustainable. Since the complete elimination of vehicle emissions is not possible in the short term.