Effect of Ph on the Physicochemical Properties of a Cassava Peel Starch Biopolymer.

Background/aims: This study investigates how pH levels affect the characteristics of biopolymer films manufactured from cassava peel starch. Cassava peel starch's abundance and biodegradability make it a promising candidate for sustainable packaging. The study seeks to improve film qualities such as thickness, density, moisture content, solubility, and optical properties by altering pH levels.

Characterization and Biomedical Applications of Electrospun PHBV Scaffolds Derived from Organic Residues.

This study explores the characterization and application of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) synthesized from organic residues, specifically milk and molasses. Six PHBV samples with varying 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) content (7%, 15%, and 32%) were analyzed to assess how 3HV composition influences their properties. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including NMR, FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, and tensile-stress test, were used to evaluate the molecular structure, thermal properties, crystalline structure, and mechanical behavior.

Human fallopian tube organoids provide a favourable environment for sperm motility.

Study Question: Does a human fallopian tube (HFT) organoid model offer a favourable apical environment for human sperm survival and motility?

Summary Answer: After differentiation, the apical compartment of a new HFT organoid model provides a favourable environment for sperm motility, which is better than commercial media.

What Is Known Already: HFTs are the site of major events that are crucial for achieving an ongoing pregnancy, such as gamete survival and competence, fertilization steps, and preimplantation embryo development. In order to better understand the tubal physiology and tubal factors involved in these reproductive functions, and to improve still suboptimal in vitro conditions for gamete preparation and embryo culture during IVF, we sought to develop an HFT organoid model from isolated adult stem cells to allow spermatozoa co-culture in the apical compartment.

TRF1 and TRF2 form distinct shelterin subcomplexes at telomeres.

The shelterin complex protects chromosome ends from the DNA damage repair machinery and regulates telomerase access to telomeres. Shelterin is composed of six proteins (TRF1, TRF2, TIN2, TPP1, POT1 and RAP1) that can assemble into various subcomplexes . However, the stoichiometry of the shelterin complex and its dynamic association with telomeres in cells is poorly defined.

Rurality predisposes departure from gold-standard care, leading to delayed or accelerated access to surgery: insights from a scoping review.

Background: Because tertiary centres are generally situated at urban sites, it is unclear whether patients in rural areas have the same access to surgical services that patients in urban areas do. We sought to map the North American evidence landscape of how rurality affects access to medically indicated surgeries and identify system-, patient-, and provider-level barriers that preclude urban-comparable care.

Methods: We carried out a systematic search adhering to PRISMA for Scoping Reviews methodology across PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, encompassing literature from the last 26 years (January 2023).