Integrated untargeted metabolomics and bioactivity studies as new insights into the chemotaxonomy of Hura crepitans specimens from Peru and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Hura crepitans (Euphorbiaceae), is widespread in the Amazon rainforest and on plantations in sub-Saharan Africa. This tree produces an irritating milky latex rich in secondary metabolites, notably daphnane-type diterpenes and cerebrosides. Previous studies have shown that huratoxin, the main daphnane in the latex, significantly and selectively inhibited the growth of colorectal cancer cells through a unique mechanism involving the activation of PKCζ.

Cancer cells impair monocyte-mediated T cell stimulation to evade immunity.

The tumour microenvironment is programmed by cancer cells and substantially influences anti-tumour immune responses. Within the tumour microenvironment, CD8 T cells undergo full effector differentiation and acquire cytotoxic anti-tumour functions in specialized niches. Although interactions with type 1 conventional dendritic cells have been implicated in this process, the underlying cellular players and molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

Vancomycin population pharmacokinetic models: Uncovering pharmacodynamic divergence amid clinicobiological resemblance.

Vancomycin is an antibiotic used for severe infections. To ensure microbiological efficacy, a ratio of AUC/MIC ≥400 is recommended. However, there is significant interindividual variability in its pharmacokinetic parameters, necessitating therapeutic drug monitoring to adjust dosing regimens and ensure efficacy while avoiding toxicity.

Structure and Photonic Properties of a Perylenediimide Monolayer Assembled by the Langmuir-Blodgett Technique.

The photonic responses of densely packed dye molecule assemblies are strongly dependent on their organization and environment. The precise control of molecular orientations and distances relative to the substrate and to each other is thus a key point in the design of photonic molecular materials. Herein, we report the preparation of a homogeneous and well-organized single monolayer of the perylenediimide (PDI) derivative by means of the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.

Quantum Metrology Using Time-Frequency as Quantum Continuous Variables: Resources, Sub-Shot-Noise Precision and Phase Space Representation.

We study the role of the electromagnetic field's frequency on the precision limits of time measurements from a quantum perspective, using single photons as a paradigmatic system. We demonstrate that a quantum enhancement of precision is possible only when combining both intensity and spectral resources and, in particular, that spectral correlations enable a quadratic scaling of precision with the number of probes. We identify the general mathematical structure of nonphysical states that achieve the Heisenberg limit and show how a finite spectral variance may cause a quantum-to-classical-like transition in precision scaling for pure states similar to the one observed for noisy systems.

Daphnanes diterpenes from the latex of Hura crepitans L. and their PKCζ-dependent anti-proliferative activity on colorectal cancer cells.

Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a thorn-covered tree widespread in South America, Africa and Asia which produces an irritating milky latex containing numerous secondary metabolites, notably daphnane-type diterpenes known as Protein Kinase C activators. Fractionation of a dichloromethane extract of the latex led to the isolation of five new daphnane diterpenes (1-5), along with two known analogs (6-7) including huratoxin.

Dedicated macrophages organize and maintain the enteric nervous system.

Correct development and maturation of the enteric nervous system (ENS) is critical for survival. At birth, the ENS is immature and requires considerable refinement to exert its functions in adulthood. Here we demonstrate that resident macrophages of the muscularis externa (MMϕ) refine the ENS early in life by pruning synapses and phagocytosing enteric neurons.

Dissemination, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Effective School-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Adolescents: A Study Protocol.

Adolescents around the world do not engage in sufficient physical activity and the Spanish context is no exception. Understanding the educational context as a complex system, school-based multi-level and multi-component interventions seem to be an effective strategy to reverse this trend. Moreover, a co-creational approach seems to facilitate the mobilization of community partnerships and the engagement of stakeholders in the intervention process.

Dynamics of the energy transfer involved in a diarylethene-perylenebisimide dyad: comparison between the molecule and the nanoparticle level.

Photochromic materials are widely used to achieve fluorescence photoswitching. Understanding the energy transfer processes occurring in these systems would be an advantage for their use and better optimization of their properties. In this scope, we studied a diarylethene-perylenebisimide (DAE-PBI) dyad that presents a bright red emission and a large ON-OFF contrast, both in solution and in an aqueous suspension of nanoparticles (NPs).

Influence of the river flow pulse on the maturity, resilience, and sustainability of tropical coastal ecosystems.

Coastal marine ecosystems have structural and functional features usually connected by the seasonal transfer of nutrients and organisms. These environments can utilize inter-ecosystem subsidies to increase resilience and maturity and support human activities like fishing. However, the importance of the connection and the role of the seasonal pulse of energy flows to enhance maturity are still poorly understood and reported.

Variable electro-optic shearing interferometry for ultrafast single-photon-level pulse characterization.

Despite the multitude of available methods, the characterization of ultrafast pulses remains a challenging endeavor, especially at the single-photon level. We introduce a pulse characterization scheme that maps the magnitude of its short-time Fourier transform. Contrary to many well-known solutions it does not require nonlinear effects and is therefore suitable for single-photon-level measurements.

Comparison of the Phytochemical Variation of Non-Volatile Metabolites within Mother Tinctures of Prepared from Fresh and Dried Whole Plant Using UHPLC-HRMS Fingerprinting and Chemometric Analysis.

L. has been recognized for centuries as an herbal remedy to treat wounds and promote healing. It also has a long tradition of use in homeopathy.

Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity Assessment During Intermittent Conditions: Effect of Epoch Length on Energy Expenditure Estimate.

: This study analyzed the effect of epoch length on energy expenditure (EE) estimates and on the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) measure obtained from EE estimates during accelerometer-based assessment. : Ten active students exercised on a treadmill for four 5-min bouts, using two effort intensities (running and walking) and two physical activity (PA) patterns (continuous or intermittent) wearing an accelerometer. The criterion measure of EE was achieved using indirect calorimetry.

Diagnostic utility of T2*-weighted GRE in migraine with aura attack. The cortical veins sign.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency, distribution, and clinical associations of the dilated appearance of cerebral cortical veins, termed cortical veins sign on T2*-weighted gradient recalled-echo (T2*-GRE) in the acute setting of migraine with aura attack in adult patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 60 consecutive patients admitted for acute neurological symptoms with a final diagnosis of migraine with aura (42%) or probable migraine with aura (58%) who underwent emergency brain magnetic resonance imaging and 60 non-migrainous control adults. The cortical veins sign was defined as a marked hypo-intensity and/or an apparent increased diameter of at least one cortical vein.

Cordiasecosides G-J, 9,10-Seco-29-norcycloartane glycosides isolated from Cordia lutea and their antibacterial activities.

Four undescribed secocycloartane monoglycosides (1-4) were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the dry flowers of Cordia lutea Lam. Their structural assignment is based on NMR and MS analysis. Their stereochemistry is confirmed by molecular modelling studies using DFT-NMR calculations done for compound 3.

Quality assessment of Curcuma dietary supplements: Complementary data from LC-MS and H NMR.

Due to the numerous potential health benefits of Curcuma, turmeric dietary supplements (DS) are among the top selling products. To assess the quality of these formulations, thirty Curcuma DS along with five standard Curcuma rhizomes were analyzed with UHPLC-MS and H NMR. The chemometric treatment of the UHPLC-MS spectra showed a significant variability of their chemical composition that was confirmed by H NMR which allowed the absolute quantification of the Curcuma major bioactive components, i.

Intermediate-Range Casimir-Polder Interaction Probed by High-Order Slow Atom Diffraction.

At nanometer separation, the dominant interaction between an atom and a material surface is the fluctuation-induced Casimir-Polder potential. We demonstrate that slow atoms crossing a silicon nitride transmission nanograting are a remarkably sensitive probe for that potential. A 15% difference between nonretarded (van der Waals) and retarded Casimir-Polder potentials is discernible at distances smaller than 51 nm.

Assessing tropical coastal dynamics across habitats and seasons through different dimensions of fish diversity.

Coastal habitat mosaics are among the most productive ecosystems around the globe, with many ecological and social-economic services provided. Their natural challenging conditions have always been a subject of concern for ecologist and conservationist, with a particular interest in understanding how its spatial and temporal dynamics influence ecosystem functioning. In this context, we aimed to assess tropical coastal dynamics using an integrative approach, measuring the different facets of fish diversity across space (habitats) and time (seasons).

Pharmacological validation of Solanum mammosum L. as an anti-infective agent: Role of solamargine.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Fungal and bacterial infections remain a major problem worldwide, requiring the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Solanum mammosum L. (Solanaceae) ("teta de vaca") is used in traditional medicine in Peru to treat fungal infections and respiratory disorders via topical application.

Genomic methods reveal independent demographic histories despite strong morphological conservatism in fish species.

Human overexploitation of natural resources has placed conservation and management as one of the most pressing challenges in modern societies, especially in regards to highly vulnerable marine ecosystems. In this context, cryptic species are particularly challenging to conserve because they are hard to distinguish based on morphology alone, and thus it is often unclear how many species coexist in sympatry, what are their phylogenetic relationships and their demographic history. We answer these questions using morphologically similar species of the genus Mugil that are sympatric in the largest coastal Marine Protected Area in the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic marine province.

Advances in Wheat Physiology in Response to Drought and the Role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria to Trigger Drought Tolerance.

In the coming century, climate change and the increasing human population are likely leading agriculture to face multiple challenges. Agricultural production has to increase while preserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Drought is one of the major abiotic problems, which limits the growth and productivity of crops and impacts 1-3% of all land.

Effects of an Intervention to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Sedentary Time in Disadvantaged Children: Randomized Trial.

Background: In our society, children are particularly vulnerable to physical inactivity and excessive sedentary time (ST). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention designed to promote physical activity (PA) and reduce ST in 6- to 10-years-old children from a disadvantaged neighborhood.

Methods: The first intervention of this randomized trial was carried out in School 1 in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, School 2 benefited from the same intervention in 2018/2019.

Chronic advanced-glycation end products treatment induces TXNIP expression and epigenetic changes in glomerular podocytes in vivo and in vitro.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in oxidative stress and inflammation, processes implicated in the development and progression of kidney dysfunction. In the present study, we investigated the participation of the pro-oxidant protein thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) and of epigenetic mechanisms on kidney tissue (in vivo, in non-diabetic rats) and on terminally differentiated glomerular podocytes (in vitro) chronically exposed to AGEs. AGEs induced total kidney and glomerular TXNIP expression and decreased H3K27me3 content.

Local immune response to food antigens drives meal-induced abdominal pain.

Up to 20% of people worldwide develop gastrointestinal symptoms following a meal, leading to decreased quality of life, substantial morbidity and high medical costs. Although the interest of both the scientific and lay communities in this issue has increased markedly in recent years, with the worldwide introduction of gluten-free and other diets, the underlying mechanisms of food-induced abdominal complaints remain largely unknown. Here we show that a bacterial infection and bacterial toxins can trigger an immune response that leads to the production of dietary-antigen-specific IgE antibodies in mice, which are limited to the intestine.