Link between Viral Infections, Immune System, Inflammation and Diet.

The strong spread of COVID-19 and the significant number of deaths associated with it could be related to improper lifestyles, which lead to a low-grade inflammation (LGI) that not only increases the risk of chronic diseases, but also the risk of facing complications relating to infections and a greater susceptibility to infections themselves. Recently, scientific research has widely demonstrated that the microbiota plays a fundamental role in modulating metabolic responses in the immune system. There is, in fact, a two-way interaction between lifestyle, infection, and immunity.

Disposable and low-cost electrochemical sensor based on the colorless nail polish and graphite composite material for tartrazine detection.

A new method to manufacture electrochemical devices based on the graphite and colorless nail polish (N-grap) film was developed for tartrazine (Tz) detection. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrates that the composite material presents a high porous carbon structure. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to electrochemically characterize the electrode material, which corroborates the porous structure of the N-graph due to the enhanced electroactive area (5.

Universal LNA Probe-Mediated Multiplex Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction for Ultrasensitive and Accurate Quantitative Analysis of Genetically Modified Organisms.

Multiplex and high-throughput assays are becoming the main trends in the development of new nucleic acid detection and quantification methods, such as those for genetically modified organism (GMO) analysis. Here, we report a novel universal LNA probe-mediated droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method (ULNA-ddPCR) for multiple DNA target quantification in GMOs. In ULNA-ddPCR, only one universal LNA probe is used for multiple DNA targets instead of using one to one TaqMan probe.

Treatment of Breast Cancer-Bearing BALB/c Mice with Magnetic Hyperthermia using Dendrimer Functionalized Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles.

The development of novel nanoparticles for diagnostic and therapeutic applications has been one of the most crucial challenges in cancer theranostics for the last decades. Herein, we functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with the fourth generation (G) of poly amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers (G@IONPs) for magnetic hyperthermia treatment of breast cancer in Bagg albino strain C (BALB/c)mice. The survival of breast cancer cells significantly decreased after incubation with G@IONPs and exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) due to apoptosis and elevation of Bax (Bcl-2 associated X)/Bcl-2(B-cell lymphoma 2) ratio.

Natural Products Attenuating Biosynthesis, Processing, and Activity of Ras Oncoproteins: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.

genes encode signaling proteins, which, in mammalian cells, act as molecular switches regulating critical cellular processes as proliferation, growth, differentiation, survival, motility, and metabolism in response to specific stimuli. Deregulation of Ras functions has a high impact on human health: gain-of-function point mutations in genes are found in some developmental disorders and thirty percent of all human cancers, including the deadliest. For this reason, the pathogenic Ras variants represent important clinical targets against which to develop novel, effective, and possibly selective pharmacological inhibitors.

Unveiling the high-temperature dielectric response of [Formula: see text].

Understanding the physics behind changes in dielectric permittivity and mechanical response with temperature and frequency in lead-free ferroic materials is a fundamental key to achieve optimal properties and to guarantee good performance in the technological applications envisaged. In this work, dense [Formula: see text] (BNT) electroceramics were prepared through solid-state reaction of high-grade oxide reagents, followed by sintering at high temperature (1393 K for 3 h). In good agreement with previous reports in the literature, the thermal behaviour of dielectric response from these BNT materials showed the occurrence of a high-temperature diffuse-like permittivity peak, whose origin has been so far controversial.

Institutional environments and breakthroughs in science. Comparison of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Scientific and/or technical breakthroughs require the exploration of novel ideas and technologies. Yet, it has not been studied quantitatively how national institutional contexts either facilitate or stifle organizational support for exploration. Available qualitative evidence suggests that institutional contexts that exert weak control over universities and research organizations strengthen their capabilities to achieve scientific breakthroughs, while contexts with strong control constrain them.

Development of Genomic DNA Certified Reference Materials for Genetically Modified Rice Kefeng 6.

The application of certified reference materials (CRMs) to genetically modified organism (GMO) detection is essential for guaranteeing the accuracy, comparability, and traceability of quantitative results over time and among laboratories. Clean leaves from GM rice Kefeng 6 were used as raw materials to develop a batch of genomic DNA (gDNA) CRMs. The optimized KF6/ duplex digital PCR was used for collaborative characterization of Kefeng 6 gDNA CRMs by eight qualified laboratories; this batch of gDNA CRMs was certified for two property values, namely, copy number ratio and copy number concentration, which were 1.

SnO-SnO heterostructural gas sensor with high response and selectivity to parts-per-billion-level NO at low operating temperature.

Considering the harmfulness of nitrogen dioxide (NO), it is important to develop NO sensors with high responses and low limits of detection. In this study, we synthesize a novel SnO-SnO heterostructure through a one-step solvothermal method, which is used for the first time as an NO sensor. The material exhibits three-dimensional flower-like microparticles assembled by two-dimensional nanosheets, -formed SnO-SnO heterostructures, and large specific surface area.

Development of a certified genomic DNA reference material for detection and quantification of genetically modified rice KMD.

Qualitative and quantitative detection of genetically modified products is inseparable from the application of reference materials (RMs). In this study, a batch of genomic DNA (gDNA) certified reference materials (CRMs) was developed using genetically modified rice Kemingdao (KMD) homozygotes as the raw material. The gDNA CRMs in this batch showed good homogeneity; the minimum sample intake was determined to be 2 μL.

Time lag of vegetation growth on the Loess Plateau in response to climate factors: Estimation, distribution, and influence.

Vegetation growth is importantly affected by seasonal weather patterns. The time lag between changes in these patterns and the vegetative response is an important factor in vegetation-climate interactions and can vary considerably with the spatial heterogeneity of an ecosystem. In this study of the Loess Plateau, China, highly accurate time lags were determined at the daily scale using linear regression based on a multiyear normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) dataset (1982-2015) and the corresponding reconstructed monthly climate series.

Joint effects of cadmium and copper on Apis mellifera forgers and larvae.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are important ecological and agricultural resources. They are among the most widely available pollinators and provide products as well as services.

A 'turn-on' ultra-sensitive multiplex real-time fluorescent quantitative biosensor mediated by a universal primer and probe for the detection of genetically modified organisms.

Among the existing multiplex genetically modified organism (GMO) detection methods, significant problems are highlighted, including amplification asymmetry of different targets, and the low detection throughput, which limits their capacity to meet the requirements of high-throughput analysis. To mitigate these challenges, a 'turn-on' ultra-sensitive multiplex real-time fluorescent quantitative biosensor is developed. In this system, the multiplex ligation-dependent amplification (MLPA), universal primer and universal probe are innovatively combined, which can enhanced the amplification specificity, overcome asymmetric amplification and guarantee the homogeneity of amplification efficiency simultaneously.

Cancer Chemopreventive Properties of Sulfated Extract.

(EC) is an edible plant and a gum source for food industries. Its sulfated polysaccharide extract (SEC) was examined for cancer chemopreventive properties to estimate its anti-tumor activity. The modulation of carcinogen metabolism and the antioxidant activity revealed that SEC is a potent tumor anti-initiator since it inhibited cytochrome P450-1A (CYP1A) and induced carcinogen detoxification enzyme glutathione-S-transferase.

[Analysis of metabolites of 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid in rat plasma and urine based on LC-MS].

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem high field orbital trap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Orbitrap Elite-MS/MS) method was applied in this paper to analyze the metabolites of 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid in rat plasma and urine after oral administration. A gradient elution was performed by using Thermo C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.

Three new steroidal saponins from Aspidistra letreae plants and their cytotoxic activities.

Three new steroidal saponins, aspiletreins A-C (1-3), together with 2H-chromen-2-one (4), and α-tocopherol (5), were isolated from whole Aspidistra letreae plants collected in Vietnam. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, IR, and HRESIMS, and by comparison with the reported data in the literature. Compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against the LU-1, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and MKN-7 human cancer cell lines, with IC values ranging from 7.

Mini-Disk Capillary Array Coupling with LAMP for Visual Detection of Multiple Nucleic Acids using Genetically Modified Organism Analysis as an Example.

Convenient, portable, and low-cost multiplex nucleic acid testing (NAT) systems are the trends in the fields of food safety, environmental microorganisms, molecular diagnosis, etc. In this study, we developed a novel system for visual monitoring of multiple nucleic acids combining a mini-disk capillary array (diameter = 17 mm, embedded with 6-10 capillaries), visual loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and quick DNA extraction called mDC-LAMP. The performance and applicability of mDC-LAMP in testing multiple nucleic acids were evaluated and verified employing genetically modified contents analysis as an example.

Photothermal enhancement in sensitivity of lateral flow assays for detection of E-coli O157:H7.

Lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) is a well-known point-of-care technology for the detection of various analytes. However, low sensitivity and lack of quantitative results are some of its critical drawbacks. Here we report a photothermal enhanced lateral flow sensor on the basis of the photothermal properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the detection of E-coli O157:H7 as a model pathogen.

Comprehensive analysis of the molecular characterization of GM rice G6H1 using a paired-end sequencing approach.

Molecular characterization of exogenous DNA integrations in host genome is a key aspect in risk assessment of bioengineered crops. However, gaining a clear understanding of the molecular characters of a bioengineered crop using conventional techniques remains a challenging task. Herein, we report the full molecular characterization of one new transgenic rice event G6H1 via a paired-end sequencing approach and bioinformatics analysis pipelines.

TiO Nanoparticle-Enhanced Linker Recombinant Strand Displacement Amplification (LRSDA) for Universal Label-Free Visual Bioassays.

The influence of nanomaterials on dynamic isothermal amplification and their morphology regulated by bionic biological reactions in vitro remain unknown. From a theoretical perspective, TiO nanoparticles enhance the amplification efficiency and reaction specificity of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). These nanoparticles aggregated into larger nanoclusters by adsorbing RPA components, termed nanoscale RPA factories, which increased their local concentrations to enhance RPA.

Cell-Wall-Targeting Antibiotics Cause Lag-Phase Bacteria to Form Surface-Mediated Filaments Promoting the Formation of Biofilms and Aggregates.

Antibiotics are known to promote bacterial formation of enhanced biofilms, the mechanism of which is not well understood. Here, using biolayer interferometry, we have shown that bacterial cultures containing antibiotics that target cell walls cause biomass deposition on surfaces over time with a linear profile rather than the Langmuir-like profiles exhibited by bacterial adherence in the absence of antibiotics. We observed about three times the initial rate and 12 times the final biomass deposition on surfaces for cultures containing carbenicillin than without.

Impact of extract and magnetized water on the survival rate and functional capabilities of pancreatic β-cells in type 2 diabetic rat model.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a widely distributed disease that affects large population worldwide. This study aimed to verify the role of (GB) extract and magnetized water (MW) on the survival rate and functional capabilities of pancreatic β-cells in type 2 diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: T2D was induced by feeding the rats on a high-fat diet (20% fat, 45% carbohydrate, 22% protein) for eight weeks followed by intra-peritoneal injection of a single low dose of streptozotocin (25mg/Kg).

Crack growth-driven wettability transition on carbon black/polybutadiene nanocomposite coatings via stretching.

Ordered topography patterns with a mechanical response are usually designed to achieve wettability switching by geometric parameter changes through mechanical stimuli. However, their fabrication often needs expensive and complicated micro/nano-fabrication processing (e.g.