Self-Reinforced Biocomposites Made from Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV): An Innovative Approach to Sustainable Packaging Production through Melt Processing.

The production of self-reinforced composites allows for a targeted tailoring of the property profile for specific applications and offers the physical-mechanical advantages of a synergistic combination of the two components with a high value in terms of their end-of-life scenarios. This study deals with the preparation and evaluation of self-reinforced biocomposites of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with PHBV microparticles produced for the first time by industry-oriented melt processing. First, microparticles with a size of 4 μm were prepared and characterized by using the miniemulsion/evaporation technique.

The costs and benefits of a dynamic host microbiome.

All species host a rich community of microbes. This microbiome is dynamic, and displays seasonal, daily, and even hourly changes, but also needs to be resilient to fulfill important roles for the host. In evolutionary ecology, the focus of microbiome dynamism has been on how it can facilitate host adaptation to novel environments.

Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Video Game Addiction in Schoolchildren from the South-Central Region of Chile.

Video game addiction is a worldwide concern, particularly in schoolchildren where it has impact on academic, social, and emotional spheres. The objective of this study was to determine the sociodemographic factors associated with video game addiction in schoolchildren from the south-central region of Chile. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study that included a sample of 308 schoolchildren was performed.

Current Challenges for Conscientious Objection by Physicians in Spain.

The College of Physicians of Madrid organized an open debate on conscientious objection (CO) in the medical profession on September 14, 2022. We summarize here the main arguments discussed. CO is defined as the right to raise exceptions to the performance of legal duties when they involve a contravention of personal convictions, whether religious, moral, or philosophical.

Cysteamine Eye Drops in Hyaluronic Acid Packaged in Innovative Single-Dose Systems, Part II: Long-Term Stability and Clinical Ocular Biopermanence.

Background: Cystinosis is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of cystine crystals in several tissues and organs causing, among others, severe eye symptoms. The high instability of cysteamine eye drops makes it difficult to develop formulations with an acceptable shelf life to be prepared in hospital pharmacy departments. Previously, a new compounded formulation of cysteamine eye drops in hyaluronic acid (HA) packaged in innovative single-dose systems was developed.

City comfort: weaker metabolic response to changes in ambient temperature in urban red squirrels.

The ecophysiological responses of species to urbanisation reveal important information regarding the processes of successful urban colonization and biodiversity patterns in urban landscapes. Investigating these responses will also help uncover whether synurban species are indeed urban 'winners'. Yet we still lack basic knowledge about the physiological costs and overall energy budgets of most species living in urban habitats, especially for mammals.

Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Could Be a Risk Factor for Infertility in Women: A Prospective Descriptive Study.

Objective: To determine whether previous (CT) infection among sexually active women is significantly associated with a diagnosis of infertility.

Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted in Lleida Health Region (Spain). Women who attended medical consultations for infertility at a public university hospital in 2021 were included in the study.

Disentangling direct from indirect effects of habitat disturbance on multiple components of biodiversity.

Human habitat disturbance affects both species diversity and intraspecific genetic diversity, leading to correlations between these two components of biodiversity (termed species-genetic diversity correlation, SGDC). However, whether SGDC predictions extend to host-associated communities, such as the intestinal parasite and gut microbial diversity, remains largely unexplored. Additionally, the role of dominant generalist species is often neglected despite their importance in shaping the environment experienced by other members of the ecological community, and their role as source, reservoir and vector of zoonotic diseases.

Effect of Different Plasticizers on Thermal, Crystalline, and Permeability Properties of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) Films.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) films were prepared using a cast film technique. Dioxane was chosen over other polymer solvents as it resulted in homogenous films with better morphology. Several plasticizers with different molecular weights and concentrations were added to the biopolymer solution prior to casting.

A framework for testing the impact of co-infections on host gut microbiomes.

Parasitic infections disturb gut microbial communities beyond their natural range of variation, possibly leading to dysbiosis. Yet it remains underappreciated that most infections are accompanied by one or more co-infections and their collective impact is largely unexplored. Here we developed a framework illustrating changes to the host gut microbiome following single infections, and build on it by describing the neutral, synergistic or antagonistic impacts on microbial α- and ß-diversity expected from co-infections.

Isosorbide plasticized corn starch filled with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) microparticles: Properties and behavior under environmental factors.

In this work, new green and fully biodegradable composites, based on corn starch, plasticized with two different amounts of isosorbide and filled by poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microparticles, were obtained by melt processing. The analysis of their morphologies, crystallinity, structural interactions and dynamomechanical properties as well as the evaluation of their moisture resistance and biodegradability in soil, were performed in function of the plasticizer and/or microparticle amount. The analysis of morphology, crystallinity and structural interactions showed that the plasticization process was completed under the melting processing conditions used.

Disparate roost sites drive intraspecific physiological variation in a Malagasy bat.

Many species are widely distributed and individual populations can experience vastly different environmental conditions over seasonal and geographic scales. With such a broad ecological reality, datasets with limited spatial and temporal resolution may not accurately represent a species and could lead to poorly informed management decisions. Because physiological flexibility can help species tolerate environmental variation, we studied the physiological responses of two separate populations of Macronycteris commersoni, a bat widespread across Madagascar, in contrasting seasons.

Evidence of MHC class I and II influencing viral and helminth infection via the microbiome in a non-human primate.

Until recently, the study of major histocompability complex (MHC) mediated immunity has focused on the direct link between MHC diversity and susceptibility to parasite infection. However, MHC genes can also influence host health indirectly through the sculpting of the bacterial community that in turn shape immune responses. We investigated the links between MHC class I and II gene diversity gut microbiome diversity and micro- (adenovirus, AdV) and macro- (helminth) parasite infection probabilities in a wild population of non-human primates, mouse lemurs of Madagascar.

Ultrastaging protocol in sentinel lymph node for apparent early stage ovarian cancer.

Objective: The objective of the present study is to determine the role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) ultrastaging in apparent early-stage ovarian cancer.

Methods: We previously demonstrated the feasibility of SLN in early-stage ovarian cancer in a pilot study and in a clinical trial (NCT03452982). The SLN of the 30 patients involved in both were processed following an ultrastaging protocol.

Bioaccumulation of trace elements affects chick body condition and gut microbiome in greater flamingos.

Elevated concentrations of trace elements represent a major concern to wetland ecosystems, since river estuaries are geochemical endpoints that accumulate pollution. Although the negative impact of environmental exposure of highly toxic elements such as Pb and Hg has received substantial attention, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the effects that these and other common trace elements have on natural populations. We used greater flamingos as a study system within three sites that represent a gradient of pollution.

A novel workflow to improve genotyping of multigene families in wildlife species: An experimental set-up with a known model system.

Genotyping complex multigene families in novel systems is particularly challenging. Target primers frequently amplify simultaneously multiple loci leading to high PCR and sequencing artefacts such as chimeras and allele amplification bias. Most genotyping pipelines have been validated in nonmodel systems whereby the real genotype is unknown and the generation of artefacts may be highly repeatable.

Properties and behavior under environmental factors of isosorbide-plasticized starch reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose biocomposites.

Green biocomposites based on corn starch plasticized with isosorbide and glycerol and filled with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were processed. The structural interactions, dynamomechanical properties, water absorption, and soil biodegradability were investigated by different techniques considering the effect of the type and amount of plasticizer and the MCC addition. The changes along the time of the structural interactions and the dynamomechanical properties of these materials and the influence of the retrogradation phenomenon were also studied.

Sentinel lymph node technique in early-stage ovarian cancer (SENTOV): a phase II clinical trial.

Objective: Early-stage ovarian cancer might represent an ideal disease scenario for sentinel lymph node application. Nevertheless, the published experience seems to be limited. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and safety concerns of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with clinical stage I-II ovarian cancer.

Port site resection after laparoscopy in advance ovarian cancer surgery: Time to abandon?

Introduction: The use of laparoscopy in the treatment and management of advanced ovarian cancer is increasing among the gynaecologic oncologists. The development of port site metastases after laparoscopy is a concern and a matter of debate due to theoretical iatrogenic disease spread. Port site resection (PSR) has been proposed as an option to avoid this scenario.

The differential diagnoses of uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas using DNA and RNA sequencing.

Background: Although uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas are considered biologically unrelated tumors, they share morphologic and histologic characteristics that complicate their differential diagnosis. The long-term therapeutic option for leiomyoma is laparoscopic myomectomy with morcellation, particularly for patients who wish to preserve their fertility. However, because of the potential dissemination of undiagnosed or hidden leiomyosarcoma from morcellation, there is a need to develop a preoperative assessment of malignancy risk.

Challenges of next-generation sequencing in conservation management: Insights from long-term monitoring of corridor effects on the genetic diversity of mouse lemurs in a fragmented landscape.

Long-term genetic monitoring of populations is essential for efforts aimed at preserving genetic diversity of endangered species. Here, we employ a framework of long-term genetic monitoring to evaluate the effects of fragmentation and the effectiveness of the establishment of corridors in restoring population connectivity and genetic diversity of mouse lemurs . To this end, we supplement estimates of neutral genetic diversity with the assessment of adaptive genetic variability of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).