2-Mercaptonicotinoyl glycine, a new potent melanogenesis inhibitor, exhibits a unique mode of action while preserving melanocyte integrity.

Research on new ingredients that can prevent excessive melanin production in the skin while considering efficacy, safety but also environmental impact is of great importance to significantly improve the profile of existing actives on the market and avoid undesirable side effects. Here, the discovery of an innovative technology for the management of hyperpigmentation is described. High-throughput screening tests on a wide chemical diversity of molecules and in silico predictive methodologies were essential to design an original thiopyridinone backbone and select 2-mercaptonicotinoyl glycine (2-MNG) as exhibiting the most favorable balance between the impact on water footprint, skin penetration potential and performance.

Addressing the synchronized impact of a novel strontium titanium over copolymerized carbon nitride for proficient solar-driven hydrogen evolution.

Currently, novel technologies are highly prerequisite as an outstanding approach in the field of photocatalytic water splitting (PWS). Previous research has shown that copolymerization technology could improve the photocatalytic performance of pristine carbon nitride (CN) more efficiently. As this technology further allows the charge carrier recombination constraints, due to novel monomer-incorporated highly abundant surface-active sites of metals in polymeric carbon nitride-based heterojunction.

Microplastic-sorbed persistent organic pollutants in coastal Mediterranean Sea areas of Tunisia.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants of global concern due to their pervasiveness, high sorption ability for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and direct and indirect toxicity to marine organisms, ecosystems, as well as humans. As one of the major coastal interfaces, beaches are considered among the most affected ecosystems by MPs pollution. The morphological characteristics of MPs (pellets and fragments) collected from four beaches along the Tunisian coast and sorbed POPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), were investigated in this study.

Investigation of Entropy Production with Thermal Analysis under Soret and Dufour Effects in MHD Flow between Convergent and Divergent Channels.

Hydromagnetic flow and heat transport have sustainable importance in conventional system design along with high-performance thermal equipment and geothermal energy structures. The current computational study investigates the energy transport and entropy production due to the pressure-driven flow of non-Newtonian fluid filled inside the wedge-shaped channel. The nonlinear radiation flux and uniform magnetic field are incorporated into the flow analysis.

Programmable self-regulated molecular buffers for precise sustained drug delivery.

Unlike artificial nanosystems, biological systems are ideally engineered to respond to their environment. As such, natural molecular buffers ensure precise and quantitative delivery of specific molecules through self-regulated mechanisms based on Le Chatelier's principle. Here, we apply this principle to design self-regulated nucleic acid molecular buffers for the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin and the antimalarial agent quinine.

Prevalence, Evolution, and Predictive Factors of Symptoms of Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a French-Speaking Cohort.

Background: Identifying factors that are predictive for postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is important to inform clinical and research practice. Yet prospective longitudinal studies investigating symptoms of postpartum PTSD and their prevalence, evolution, comorbidities, and predictors remain limited. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of women's symptoms of PTSD at different times in the postpartum period and to identify comorbidities and predictive factors in a French-speaking sample.

Biomarkers responses and polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their methoxylated analogs measured in Sparus aurata from the Lagoon of Bizerte, Tunisia.

This study aimed to the examination of the levels and effects of organobromine compounds (polybrominated diphenyl ethers: PBDEs and methoxylated brominated diphenyl ethers: MeO-PBDEs), in Sparus aurata native to the Lagoon of Bizerte. For that, different biomarkers of exposure (somatic indices, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities) and effect (malondialdehyde level, histopathologic alterations, and DNA damage) as well as pollutant levels were measured in specimens collected from this impacted ecosystem and the Mediterranean Sea as a reference site. Bizerte Lagoon PBDE fish levels were higher than the Mediterranean Sea, whereas MeO-PBDEs were higher in the reference site.

Bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in from Bizerte and Ghar El Melh Lagoons (Tunisia) and human health risk assessment.

The present study objective was to assess polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Bizerte and Ghar El Melh Lagoons and to assess the potential risk to human health from its consumption. To reach these objectives twenty fish samples from each site were collected and 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in their muscles using high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. Total PAH sole concentrations from Bizerte and Ghar El Melh Lagoons were similar or lower to those recorded in other species from other regions across the world.

Assessment of carbamazepine acute toxicity in the cockle Cerastoderma edule through chemical, physiological and biochemical tools.

The cockle Cerastoderma edule was exposed to four concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 70 μg L-1) of carbamazepine (CBZ). This anticonvulsant was found to alter the mussel behavior of by reducing its clearance rate (CR). Analysis of CBZ accumulation in tissues of C.

Calcium and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid mitigate toxicity and alteration of gene expression associated with cadmium stress in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) shoots.

In the aim to estimate the protective role of calcium (Ca) and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) against cadmium (Cd)-induced damage, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds were exposed to 200 μM Cd stress for 6 days or 3 days then subjected to co-treatment of the metal with either 100 mM CaCl or 100 μM EGTA for 3 additional days. The addition of Ca and EGTA improved seedling growth.

Legacy and Emerging Brominated Flame Retardants in Bizerte Lagoon Murex (Hexaplex Trunculus): Levels and Human Health Risk Assessment.

Occurrence of traditional (PBDEs) and novel (HBB, PBEB, DBDPE) brominated flame retardants, as well as the natural compounds of MeO-PBDEs, were studied in a shellfish species (Hexaplex trunculus) sampled from Bizerte Lagoon. PBDE and MeO-PBDE mean concentrations in murex soft tissues were 187 and 264 ng g lw respectively. The alternative flame retardants were not identified.

Phthalocyanine-Cored Fluorophores with Fluorene-Containing Peripheral Two-Photon Antennae as Photosensitizers for Singlet Oxygen Generation.

A series of free base and Zn(II) phthalocyanines featuring fluorenyl antennae linked by methoxy or oxo bridges to the phthalocyanine core (Pc) were synthesized and characterized. Selected linear and nonlinear (two-photon absorption) optical properties of these new compounds were subsequently studied. As previously observed for related porphyrin dendrimers bearing 2-fluorenyl peripheral dendrons, an efficient energy transfer occurs from the peripheral antennae to the central phthalocyanine core following excitation in the fluorenyl-based π-π* absorption band of these chromophores.

HIV-1 requires Staufen1 to dissociate stress granules and to produce infectious viral particles.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genomic RNA (vRNA) has two major fates during viral replication: to serve as the template for the major structural and enzymatic proteins, or to be encapsidated and packaged into assembling virions to serve as the genomic vRNA in budding viruses. The dynamic balance between vRNA translation and encapsidation is mediated by numerous host proteins, including Staufen1. During HIV-1 infection, HIV-1 recruits Staufen1 to assemble a distinct ribonucleoprotein complex promoting vRNA encapsidation and viral assembly.

Clay-Na as a sorbent for the extraction of anti-inflammatory compounds in water samples.

In this work, clay-Na particles are used as the adsorbent for the solid-phase extraction of acidic compounds. The novel sorbent under study is based on high-specific surface area, cation-exchange capacity designed specifically to offer ion-exchange properties with the goal being to selectively extract a group of acidic compounds. The effects of the extraction parameters including extraction elution solvent, sample volume and pH.

Enhancement of mixture pollutant biodegradation efficiency using a bacterial consortium under static magnetic field.

One of the main challenges of bioremediation is to define efficient protocols with low environmental impact and high removal rates, such as static magnetic field (SMF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SMF exposure on the biodegradation rate of a mixture of pollutants using three bacterial strains which were isolated and identified from the Bizerte lagoon: Pseudomonas stutzeri LBR (KC157911), Cupriavidus metallidurans LBJ (KU659610) and Rhodococcus equi LBB (KU743870). To recognize the improvement role of SMF, the culture was submitted to a pre-treatment with SMF with an induction equal to 200 mT for 5 hours, after that the degradation experiment was followed with individual strains and with a consortium.

Correction to: The M-phase specific hyperphosphorylation of Staufen2 involved the cyclin-dependent kinase CDK1.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported a change to one of the author names.

Anthropogenic (PBDE) and naturally-produced (MeO-PBDE) brominated compound levels in Bizerte Lagoon clams (Ruditapes decussatus): Levels and human health risk assessment.

Information on the occurrence of organobrominated compounds in bivalves from Tunisia is scarce. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these compounds in clams from Tunisia. The aim of this study is to measure natural and synthetic organobrominated compound concentrations and evaluate congener distribution and pollution sources in a clam species (Ruditapes decussatus) from three sites of the Bizerte Lagoon.

The M-phase specific hyperphosphorylation of Staufen2 involved the cyclin-dependent kinase CDK1.

Background: Staufen2 (STAU2) is an RNA-binding protein involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. This protein was shown to be required for organ formation and cell differentiation. Although STAU2 functions have been reported in neuronal cells, its role in dividing cells remains deeply uncharacterized.

Determination of Chlorophenols in Water Samples Using Solid-Phase Extraction Enrichment Procedure and Gas Chromatography Analysis.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure followed by derivatization and gas chromatography electron capture detection was evaluated for the determination of trace amounts of chlorophenols (CPs) in waters samples. Different parameters affecting extraction efficiency such as, volume of elution solvent, volume and pH of water sample, quantity of sorbent phase were studied and optimized. SPE was carried out on polystyrene-divinylbenzene (Bond Elut ENV) and high recoveries were obtained using 1000 mg of this cartridge for the treatment of 500 mL of acidified water sample.

Methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDE) in human milk from Bizerte, Tunisia.

Methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) were determined in 36 human milk samples collected in 2010 from healthy mothers living in Bizerte region from Tunisia. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry working with negative ion chemical ionization (GC-NCI-MS) was used to identify and quantify residue levels on a lipid basis of organo-brominated compounds. Among the 8 examined MeO-PBDE congeners 6-MeO-BDE-47, 2'-MeO-BDE-68, 4'-MeO-BDE-49 and 5'-MeO-BDE-100 were detected in human milk at different levels and frequencies.

Particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the atmosphere of Bizerte city, Tunisia.

The particle-phase concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in 13 air samples collected in an urban area of Bizerte (Tunisia) during 2009-2010. Atmospheric particulate samples were extracted by ultrasonic bath and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. PAH were found in all the analyzed air samples and the most abundant compounds were pyrene, fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene.

[Radiation therapy of sinonasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma].

Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma are part of lymphoproliferative diseases, they are rare in Europe and the United States but relatively common in Asia and South America. Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma present clinically as destructive lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract with perforation of deep structures of the face, destruction of the palate or an invasion of orbits. Treatment modalities of these lymphomas are still discussed because of the lack of available studies and the rarity of this disease.

Polymorphism of C3 complement in association with myocardial infarction in a sample of central Tunisia.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major clinical problem because of its large contribution to mortality. The genetic bases of this disease have been widely studied in recent years to find a clear association with some genetic markers that increase the risk of its occurrence. In the present investigation, the correlation between MI and the C3 complement polymorphism was analyzed using a case-control study.

Distribution and ecological risk of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface sediments from the Bizerte lagoon, Tunisia.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in 18 surface sediment samples collected from Bizerte lagoon, Tunisia. The total concentrations of ten PCBs (∑PCBs) and of four OCPs (∑OCPs) in the sediments from this area ranged from 0.8 to 14.