Mindfulness meditation is associated with global EEG spectral changes in theta, alpha, and beta amplitudes.

Mindfulness meditation is linked to a broad range of psychological and physical health benefits, potentially mediated by changes in neural oscillations. This study explored changes in neural oscillations associated with both immediate and regular mindfulness meditation practice. Electroencephalographic (EEG) data were collected from 40 healthy young adults (M = 20.

Environment-related health risks, knowledge and awareness among people in precarious milieus: secondary data analysis from the German "Environmental Awareness Study".

Introduction: Precarious milieus more frequently suffer from environmental risks and show lower environmental awareness and behavior than other milieus in the German population. This study investigates the factors that influence environmental awareness in precarious milieus and the roles of environmental knowledge and the perception of environment-related health burdens.

Methods: A quantitative secondary data analysis of the German Environmental Awareness Study 2018 ( = 2017) was used to analyze the perception of environmental health burdens, environmental knowledge, and environmental awareness between precarious milieus ( = 190) and seven other milieus.

Age-Related Differences in Prestimulus EEG Affect ERPs and Behaviour in the Equiprobable Go/NoGo Task.

Detailed studies of the equiprobable auditory Go/NoGo task have allowed for the development of a sequential-processing model of the perceptual and cognitive processes involved. These processes are reflected in various components differentiating the Go and NoGo event-related potentials (ERPs). It has long been established that electroencephalography (EEG) changes through normal lifespan development.

Mindfulness meditation alters neural oscillations independently of arousal.

Neuroscience has identified that mindfulness meditation induces a state of relaxed alertness, characterised by changes in theta and alpha oscillations and reduced sympathetic arousal, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to address this gap by examining changes in neural oscillations and arousal during mindfulness meditation using both traditional and data-driven methods. Fifty-two healthy young adults underwent electroencephalography (EEG) and skin conductance level (SCL) recordings during resting baseline and mindfulness meditation conditions, both conducted with eyes closed.

Global alpha power fluctuations in a self-caught mind-wandering paradigm are independent of arousal.

Mind-wandering is characterised as the emergence of thought and emotions which shift attention away from a primary task. It is thought to consume up to 50 % of our waking lives and has several negative implications. Breath-counting is one task that has been utilised in conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the brain states associated with mind-wandering.

An engineered prodrug selectively suppresses β-lactam resistant bacteria in a mixed microbial setting.

The rise of β-lactam resistance necessitates new strategies to combat bacterial infections. We purposefully engineered the β-lactam prodrug AcephPT to exploit β-lactamase activity to selectively suppress resistant bacteria producing extended-spectrum-β-lactamases (ESBLs). Selective targeting of resistant bacteria requires avoiding interaction with penicillin-binding proteins, the conventional targets of β-lactam antibiotics, while maintaining recognition by ESBLs to activate AcephPT only in resistant cells.

The Influence of Active Compounds of Chips Made from Different Wood Species on the Antioxidant, Oenological and Sensory Properties of Apple Wines.

Wood chips contain numerous active compounds that can affect the wine's characteristics. They are commonly used in red grape wines, whisky, cherry and brandy, but in fruit wines, production is not typically utilised. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of an oak barrel ageing with the effect of the addition of chips made from various types of wood (oak, maple, cherry, apple) and with various degrees of toasting to the apple wines on their antioxidant, oenological and sensory properties.

Volatilomics of Fruit Wines.

Volatilomics is a scientific field concerned with the evaluation of volatile compounds in the food matrix and methods for their identification. This review discusses the main groups of compounds that shape the aroma of wines, their origin, precursors, and selected metabolic pathways. The paper classifies fruit wines into several categories, including ciders and apple wines, cherry wines, plum wines, berry wines, citrus wines, and exotic wines.

The Impact of Furfural on the Quality of Meads.

Furfural is a naturally occurring compound in bee honey, classified as a fermentation inhibitor. The aim of this study was to ascertain the concentration of furfural in mead worts, prepared at room temperature (unsaturated) and heated to boiling for 10 to 70 min (saturated), with an extract of 25 to 45°Brix. Moreover, the impact of the furfural on the fermentation course of mead wort was assessed.

Anionic nanoplastic contaminants promote Parkinson's disease-associated α-synuclein aggregation.

Recent studies have identified increasing levels of nanoplastic pollution in the environment. Here, we find that anionic nanoplastic contaminants potently precipitate the formation and propagation of α-synuclein protein fibrils through a high-affinity interaction with the amphipathic and non-amyloid component (NAC) domains in α-synuclein. Nanoplastics can internalize in neurons through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, causing a mild lysosomal impairment that slows the degradation of aggregated α-synuclein.

Anionic Nanoplastic Contaminants Promote Parkinson's Disease-Associated α-Synuclein Aggregation.

Recent studies have identified increasing levels of nanoplastic pollution in the environment. Here we find that anionic nanoplastic contaminants potently precipitate the formation and propagation of α-synuclein protein fibrils through a high-affinity interaction with the amphipathic and non-amyloid component (NAC) domains in α-synuclein. Nanoplastics can internalize in neurons through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, causing a mild lysosomal impairment that slows the degradation of aggregated α-synuclein.

Investigation of Chelating Agents for the Removal of Thorium from Human Teeth upon Nuclear Contamination.

Thorium-232 (Th) is a radioactive heavy metal that is of increasing interest as a source of nuclear energy. However, upon nuclear incidents, the ingestion or inhalation of Th in major quantities can contribute to chemical and radiological health problems, including accumulation in the bone tissue and an increased risk of developing pancreatic, lung, and hematopoietic cancers. The major mineral component of the bone is hydroxyapatite (HAP)─also the major mineral component of the teeth.

Expert laparoscopist performance on virtual reality simulation tasks with and without haptic features.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) simulation for laparoscopic training is available with and without haptic feedback features. Currently, there is limited data on haptic feedback's effect on skill development. Our objective is to compare expert laparoscopists' skills characteristics using VR delivered laparoscopic tasks via haptic and nonhaptic laparoscopic surgical interfaces.

Effect of mTOR Inhibitors in Epilepsy Treatment in Children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Under 2 Years of Age.

Introduction: Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors sirolimus and everolimus are an effective therapy for subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, cardiac rhabdomyomas, renal angiomyolipomas, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Everolimus was recently approved in the EU and the USA for the treatment of refractory focal-onset seizures. Despite frequent use of mTOR inhibitors, there are only a few studies on their effect on epilepsy control in children under 2 years of age.

In-situ experimental study on hydro-borehole technology application to improve the hard coal excavating techniques in coal mine.

The hydro-mining technology is considered as a promising method of bituminous coal excavation. The paper presents the results of the in-situ experimental campaign and modelling of hydro-cutting technology application. The proposed innovative technology was tested in terms of the effects of the distance between the outlet of water from the nozzle and a sidewall, pressure of the water jet, as well as the type of a nozzle on hydro-mining effectiveness.

Photogrammetry-Based Volume Measurement Framework for the Particle Density Estimation of LECA.

This paper presents a photogrammetry-based volume measurement framework for the particle density estimation of Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA). The results are compared with computed tomography (CT) and Archimedes' method measurements. All of the steps required in order to apply the proposed approach are explained.

Identification of Mutations in Circulating Tumor DNA in Patients With Cancer.

Purpose: is the most mutated proto-oncogene that has been identified in cancer, and treatment of patients with mutations remains an arduous challenge. Recently, mutation has attracted special interest because it is now considered potentially druggable with recently developed covalent small-molecule inhibitors. Nevertheless, to date, there have been no large-scale analyses of liquid biopsy that include testing for .

Photochemically-Mediated Inflammation and Cross-Presentation of BCG Proteins Stimulates Strong CD4 and CD8 T-Cell Responses in Mice.

Conventional vaccines are very efficient in the prevention of bacterial infections caused by extracellular pathogens due to effective stimulation of pathogen-specific antibodies. In contrast, considering that intracellular surveillance by antibodies is not possible, they are typically less effective in preventing or treating infections caused by intracellular pathogens such as . The objective of the current study was to use so-called photochemical internalization (PCI) to deliver a live bacterial vaccine to the cytosol of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for the purpose of stimulating major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I-restricted CD8 T-cell responses.

Electrochemically Deposited Zinc (Tetraamino)phthalocyanine as a Light-activated Antimicrobial Coating Effective against .

Light-activated antimicrobial coatings are currently considered to be a promising approach for the prevention of nosocomial infections. In this work, we present a straightforward strategy for the deposition of a photoactive biocidal organic layer of zinc (tetraamino)phthalocyanine (ZnPcNH) in an electrochemical oxidative process. The chemical structure and morphology of the resulting layer are widely characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, while its ability to photogenerate reactive oxygen species (ROS) is investigated in situ by UV-Vis spectroscopy with α-terpinene or 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran as a chemical trap.

Surgical management of atrial-esophageal fistula as a complication of atrial fibrillation ablation.

Atrial-esophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare, but life-threatening complication of ablative treatments for atrial fibrillation. Although the incidence of this complication is low, the mortality is very high. There are many surgical approaches to this disease but we offer a novel technique to reduce the number of incisions used and provides central cannulation.

Kinetics and persistence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralisation and antibodies after BNT162b2 vaccination in a Swiss cohort.

Introduction: Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), substantial effort has been made to gain knowledge about the immunity elicited by infection or vaccination.

Methods: We studied the kinetics of antibodies and virus neutralisation induced by vaccination with BNT162b2 in a Swiss cohort of SARS-CoV-2 naïve (n = 40) and convalescent (n = 9) persons. Blood sera were analysed in a live virus neutralisation assay and specific IgG and IgA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay and analysed by descriptive statistics.