Passive accumulation of alkaloids in inconspicuously colored frogs refines the evolutionary paradigm of acquired chemical defenses.

Understanding the origins of novel, complex phenotypes is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Poison frogs of the family Dendrobatidae have evolved the novel ability to acquire alkaloids from their diet for chemical defense at least three times. However, taxon sampling for alkaloids has been biased towards colorful species, without similar attention paid to inconspicuous ones that are often assumed to be undefended.

Highly Sensitive and Selective SnO-Gr Sensor Photoactivated for Detection of Low NO Concentrations at Room Temperature.

Chemical nanosensors based on nanoparticles of tin dioxide and graphene-decorated tin dioxide were developed and characterized to detect low NO concentrations. Sensitive layers were prepared by the drop casting method. SEM/EDX analyses have been used to investigate the surface morphology and the elemental composition of the sensors.

Exploring Distinct Second-Order Data Approaches for Thiamine Quantification via Carbon Dot/Silver Nanoparticle FRET Reversion.

Accurate and selective monitoring of thiamine levels in multivitamin supplements is essential for preventing deficiencies and ensuring product quality. To achieve this, a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) system using carbon dots (CDs) as energy donors and citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as energy acceptors was developed. The aqueous synthesis of AgNPs using microwave irradiation was optimized to obtain efficient plasmonic nanoparticles for FRET applications, targeting maximal absorbance intensity, stability, and wavelength alignment.

Implementation of an Oncogeriatric Unit for Frail Older Patients with Breast Cancer: Preliminary Results.

(1) Background: Breast cancer (BC) has a high incidence in Europe, particularly in older adults. Traditionally under-represented in clinical trials, this age group is often undertreated due to ageism. This study aims to characterize frail older adults (≥70 years) with BC based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment, to guide individualized treatment decision-making.

Innovative Ink-Based 3D Hydrogel Bioprinted Formulations for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Three-dimensional (3D) models with improved biomimicry are essential to reduce animal experimentation and drive innovation in tissue engineering. In this study, we investigate the use of alginate-based materials as polymeric inks for 3D bioprinting of osteogenic models using human bone marrow stem/stromal cells (hBMSCs). A composite bioink incorporating alginate, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), type I collagen (Col) and hBMSCs was developed and for extrusion-based printing.