Synergic Cellulose Nanofiber/Tourmaline Nanoparticle-Assembled Layered Piezoelectric Cryogels for High-Performance Airborne Particulate Filtration.

Here, hybrid stimuli-responsive (exhibiting pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity) porous cryogels are engineered by embedding tourmaline nanoparticles (TNs) in a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) skeleton to generate high-performance CNF-TN-based airborne particulate matter (PM) filters. First, single-layer hybrid cryogels with varying TN contents (0-5% w v) are assembled, and the design principles for multilayered filters are established based on a novel sequential pre-freezing and freeze-drying technique. As observed, the embedded TNs transformed the CNF network into a more homogeneous, isotropic, and firm structure, thus improving the structural integrity and thermal stability of the assembled cryogels while maintaining their ultrahigh porosity and low density.

Green space quantity and exposure in relation to the risk of immune-mediated diseases: a scoping review.

The growing global incidence of immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) is worrisome, with evidence suggesting that environmental factors, notably urbanization and the reduction of green spaces, may act as potential instigators. However, conflicting findings in studies necessitate a closer examination of recent research (January 2020 - February 2024) to elucidate the factors contributing to these inconsistencies. This review explores study protocols to avoid erroneously endorsing the null hypothesis of no association between green space coverage and IMID risks.

Production, analysis, and safety assessment of a soil and plant-based natural material with microbiome- and immune-modulatory effects.

It has been suggested that reduced contact with microbiota from the natural environment contributes to the rising incidence of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs) in western, highly urbanized societies. In line with this, we have previously shown that exposure to environmental microbiota in the form of a blend comprising of soil and plant-based material (biodiversity blend; BDB) enhances the diversity of human commensal microbiota and promotes immunoregulation that may be associated with a reduced risk for IMIDs. To provide a framework for future preclinical studies and clinical trials, this study describes how the preparation of BDB was standardized, its microbial content analysed and safety assessments performed.

Using patterns of shared taxa to infer bacterial dispersal in human living environment in urban and rural areas.

Unlabelled: Contact with environmental microbial communities primes the human immune system. Factors determining the distribution of microorganisms, such as dispersal, are thus important for human health. Here, we used the relative number of bacteria shared between environmental and human samples as a measure of bacterial dispersal and studied these associations with living environment and lifestyles.

Skin exposure to soil microbiota elicits changes in cell-mediated immunity to pneumococcal vaccine.

A resilient immune system is characterized by its capacity to respond appropriately to challenges, such as infections, and it is crucial in vaccine response. Here we report a paired randomized intervention-control trial in which we evaluated the effect of microbially rich soil on immune resilience and pneumococcal vaccine response. Twenty-five age and sex matched pairs of volunteers were randomized to intervention and control groups.