Weight Loss and Regain After Bariatric Surgery: Importance of the Psychological Therapy in Postoperative Outcomes.

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease constituting a public health issue, and its prevalence is alarmingly on the rise worldwide. This disease represents a chronic and multifactorial condition, one of the factors being related to the psychological aspect of the patients. Bariatric is an effective tool for obesity control, with weight regain observed more frequently between the third and sixth postoperative years.

Extruded Quinoa Flour Applied for the Development of Gluten-Free Breads: a Technological, Sensory and Microstructural Approach.

Quinoa flour due to its nutritional and sensory characteristics could be used as an ingredient to improve the nutritional and technological properties of gluten-free bread. Furthermore, the application of hydrothermal processes such as extrusion can enhance their native properties. Hence, our objective was to evaluate how the incorporation of extruded quinoa flours (EQFs) affects the technological, sensory and nutritional quality of gluten-free bread.

Male seminal fluid allocation according to socio-sexual context in the South American fruit fly.

During copulation male insects transfer sperm and seminal fluids, including accessory gland proteins (Acps) to females, produced in the accessory glands (AGs). These Acps influence female behavior and physiology, inhibiting sexual receptivity, promoting ovulation and/or oviposition. The theory of ejaculate allocation postulates that production is costly; therefore, males strategically allocate ejaculates based on perception of sperm competition and quality and availability of females.

Validation of Härtel Surface Anatomical Landmarks for Locating the Foramen Ovale: A Computed Tomography Scan Analysis and Revised Technique Description.

Background And Objectives: Härtel triangle provides surface landmarks for locating the foramen ovale (FO) when performing trigeminal nerve percutaneous procedures. Although widely adopted in clinical practice, there is no report that these landmarks have ever been formally validated through modern imaging techniques. Here we aim to validate Härtel anatomical landmarks using computed tomography scans and propose technical considerations for percutaneous trigeminal procedures.

PlomBOX: a low cost bioassay for the sensitive detection of lead in drinking water.

This paper reports the design of a biosensor for sensitive, low-cost measurement of lead in drinking water. The biosensor uses a genetically-modified strain of Escherichia coli, which serves as both signal amplifier and reporter of lead in water, measured via colour change. We developed the PlomBOX measurement platform to image this colour change and we demonstrate its capability to detect concentrations as low as the World Health Organisation upper limit for drinking water of 10 ppb.

Using space-filling curves and fractals to reveal spatial and temporal patterns in neuroimaging data.

Objective Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI) and other neuroimaging techniques are routinely used in medical diagnosis, cognitive neuroscience or recently in brain decoding. They produce three- or four-dimensional scans reflecting the geometry of brain tissue or activity, which is highly correlated temporally and spatially. While there exist numerous theoretically guided methods for analyzing correlations in one-dimensional data, they often cannot be readily generalized to the multidimensional geometrically embedded setting.

Yerba mate () genome provides new insights into convergent evolution of caffeine biosynthesis.

Yerba mate (YM, ) is an economically important crop marketed for the elaboration of mate, the third-most widely consumed caffeine-containing infusion worldwide. Here, we report the first genome assembly of this species, which has a total length of 1.06 Gb and contains 53,390 protein-coding genes.

Metformin reverts aortic calcifications and elastin loss induced by an experimental metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and accumulation of arterial calcifications (AC). Metformin (MET) inhibits this transdifferentiation in vitro. Here, we evaluate the in vivo efficacy of oral MET to reduce AC in a model of MetS.

The magnitude of legal wildlife trade and implications for species survival.

The unsustainable use of wildlife is a primary driver of global biodiversity loss. No comprehensive global dataset exists on what species are in trade, their geographic origins, and trade's ultimate impacts, which limits our ability to sustainably manage trade. The United States is one of the world's largest importers of wildlife, with trade data compiled in the US Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS).

Role of the stratosphere in the global mercury cycle.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant with substantial risks to human and ecosystem health. By upward transport in tropical regions, mercury enters into the stratosphere, but the contribution of the stratosphere to global mercury dispersion and deposition remains unknown. We find that between 5 and 50% (passing through the 400-kelvin isentropic surface and tropopause, respectively) of the mercury mass deposited on Earth's surface is chemically processed in the lower stratosphere.

Correction: Abdulrahim et al. Evaluation of Tissue Tropism and Horizontal Transmission of a Duck Enteritis Virus Vectored Vaccine in One-Day-Old Chicken. 2024, , 1681.

In the original publication [...

Genomic Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Córdoba, Argentina (2021-2022): Analysis of Uncommon and Prevalent Spike Mutations.

Understanding the evolutionary patterns and geographic spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly Omicron, is essential for effective public health responses. This study focused on the genomic analysis of the Omicron variant in Cordoba, Argentina from 2021 to 2022. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the dominant presence of BA.

Morbillivirus Canis Infection Induces Activation of Three Branches of Unfolded Protein Response, MAPK and Apoptosis.

, commonly named Canine distemper virus (CDV), is a morbillivirus implicated in several signs in the family. In dogs (), common signs of infection include conjunctivitis, digital hyperkeratosis and neuropathologies. Even with vaccination, the canine distemper disease persists worldwide so the molecular pathways implicated in the infection processes have been an interesting and promising area in new therapeutic drugs research in recent years.

A QbD Approach for the Formulation and Control of Triclabendazole in Uncoated Tablets: From Polymorphs to Drug Formulation.

Triclabendazole (TCB) is a well-established anthelmintic effective in treating fascioliasis, a neglected tropical disease. This study employs quality by design (QbD) to investigate the impact of TCB polymorphism and pharmacotechnical variables, from the development of immediate-release tablets to process optimization and green analysis. Critical process parameters (CPPs) and critical material attributes (CMAs), characterized by type of polymorph, composition of excipients (talc, lactose, cornstarch, and magnesium stearate), and compression force, were screened using a Plackett-Burman design (n = 24), identifying polymorphic purity and cornstarch as a CPP.

Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations for the Skin Delivery of Cannabidiol.

The aims of this work were to formulate cannabidiol in different lipid carriers for skin delivery after topical application and to study their stability, interaction with the skin, and antibacterial activity. Solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with cannabidiol were prepared and characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties, colloidal stability, protection of the antioxidant capacity of cannabidiol, as well as their retention over time. Skin penetration was assessed using an in vitro model with human skin.

Current Positron Studies on the Modifications of the Molecular Packing in Green-Based Polymers Through Changes in the Synthesis Procedures or Environmental Conditions.

The sensitivity of positron annihilation characteristics to changes in the molecular packing in network-forming polymers has been demonstrated since the early 1980s. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) is a unique technique that can provide direct information on the free volume in polymers through the experimental parameters of the free volume hole distribution, their mean value, and volume fraction. This knowledge is currently applied for PALS investigations on the main processes that govern the molecular organization in some green polymers when subjected to different synthesis procedures or environmental conditions (humidity, physical aging, temperature).

Connecting Dynamics and Thermodynamics in Polymer-Resin Cured Systems.

This work connects the calorimetric responses of different rubber-resin blends with varying resin contents with their alpha relaxation dynamics. We used differential scanning calorimetry and broadband dielectric spectroscopy to characterize the calorimetric and dielectric responses of styrene-butadiene, polybutadiene, and polyisoprene with different resin contents. To model the results, we used the Gordon-Taylor equation combined with an extension of the Adam-Gibbs approach.

Ecophysiological and Molecular Analysis of Contrasting Genotypes for Leaf Senescence in Sunflower ( L.) Under Differential Doses of N in Soil.

Leaf senescence in plants is the last stage of leaf development and is characterized by a decline in photosynthetic activity, an active degeneration of cellular structures, and the recycling of accumulated nutrients to areas of active growth, such as buds, young leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. This process holds economic significance as it can impact yield, influencing the plant's ability to maintain an active photosynthetic system during prolonged periods, especially during the grain filling stage, which affects plant weight and oil content. It can be associated with different stresses or environmental conditions, manifesting itself widely in the context of climate change and limiting yield, especially in crops of agronomic relevance.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils.

is a halophytic pantropical invasive fern growing in mangroves and swamps. Its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been reported in Asia. AMF and their symbiosis (AM) commonly colonise the absorption organs of terrestrial plants worldwide.

Understanding the Epidemiology of Monkeypox Virus to Prevent Future Outbreaks.

Monkeypox (Mpox) is an infectious disease caused by the Mpox virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family and has been declared by the WHO as a global health emergency owing to its rapid spread during 2022 and 2023. All patients diagnosed with Mpox who were confirmed by PCR between July 2022 and April 2023 were included in this study. In total, 405 patients in whom clade 2 was identified were included.

Dipole Potential of Monolayers with Biologically Relevant Lipid Compositions.

The membrane dipole potential that arises from the interfacial water and constitutive dipolar groups of lipid molecules modulates the interaction of amphiphiles and proteins with membranes. Consequently, its determination for lipid mixtures resembling the existing diversity in biological membranes is very relevant. In this work, the dipole potentials of monolayers, formed at the air-water interface, from pure or mixed lipids (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl--glycero-3-phosphatidyserine (POPS), sphingomyelin (SpM) and cholesterol) were measured and correlated with the mean area per lipid.

DFT Study of the Stability and Electronic Properties of Ni-Doped Defected (6,0) and (8,0) Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

The interaction of Ni with (6,0) and (8,0) zigzag carbon nanotube exterior surfaces containing two vacancies was studied using density functional theory (DFT). A two-vacancy defect was analysed in order to anchor Ni, and the pristine nanotube was also considered as a reference for each chirality. The adsorbed Ni stability and the nanotube's geometry and electronic structure were analysed before and after the adsorption.

End of the Season Blues: Senescence and Reproductive Trade-Offs in Male Scorpions.

Seasonal reproductive dynamics and senescence have profound impacts on male fertility, yet these processes remain understudied in scorpions. This study investigates how reproductive parameters-such as testicular mass, sperm quantity, and viability-change over the course of the reproductive season in males. We found that early-season males exhibited higher sperm quality and testicular mass compared to their older counterparts, suggesting that senescence, rather than reproductive effort, drives the decline in sperm viability.

Microwave-Energy-Based Device for the Treatment of Cellulite and Localized Adiposity: Recommendations of the "Onda Coolwaves" International Advisory Board.

The body contour market has grown rapidly in recent years, due to persistent requests for noninvasive treatments for localized fat adiposities, cellulite, and skin laxity. A variety of different methods are now available to improve body shaping. This review aims to provide an exhaustive compendium of the main recommendations for the optimal use of an innovative device delivering microwaves (MWs) for unwanted fat and cellulite reduction (Onda Coolwaves, DEKA, Florence, Italy), resulting from the experiences of the most expert international users.

Studying Rare Movement Disorders: From Whole-Exome Sequencing to New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in a Modern Genetic Clinic.

Rare movement disorders often have a genetic etiology. New technological advances have increased the odds of achieving genetic diagnoses: next-generation sequencing (NGS) (whole-exome sequencing-WES; whole-genome sequencing-WGS) and long-read sequencing (LRS). In 2017, we launched a WES program for patients with rare movement disorders of suspected genetic etiology.