MOGrip: Gripper for multiobject grasping in pick-and-place tasks using translational movements of fingers.

Humans use their dexterous fingers and adaptable palm in various multiobject grasping strategies to efficiently move multiple objects together in various situations. Advanced manipulation skills, such as finger-to-palm translation and palm-to-finger translation, enhance the dexterity in multiobject grasping. These translational movements allow the fingers to transfer the grasped objects to the palm for storage, enabling the fingers to freely perform various pick-and-place tasks while the palm stores multiple objects.

Metabolite Profile Characterization of Cyanobacterial Strains with Bioactivity on Lipid Metabolism Using In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches.

Cyanobacteria have demonstrated their therapeutic potential for many human diseases. In this work, cyanobacterial extracts were screened for lipid reducing activity in zebrafish larvae and in fatty-acid-overloaded human hepatocytes, as well as for glucose uptake in human hepatocytes and mRNA induction in murine brown adipocytes. A total of 39 cyanobacteria strains were grown and their biomass fractionated, resulting in 117 chemical fractions.

Phytoremediation of diclofenac using the Green Liver System: Macrophyte screening to system optimization.

Green Liver Systems employ the ability of macrophytes to take up, detoxify (biotransform), and bioaccumulate pollutants; however, these systems require optimization to target specific pollutants. In the present study, the aim was to test the applicability of the Green Liver System for diclofenac remediation considering the effects of selected variables. As a starting point, 42 macrophyte life forms were evaluated for diclofenac uptake.

Investigating Endocrine Disrupting Impacts of Nine Disinfection Byproducts on Human and Zebrafish Estrogen Receptor Alpha.

Background: Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) cause endocrine disruption via estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects on estrogen receptors. However, most studies have focused on human systems, with little experimental data being presented on aquatic biota. This study aimed to compare the effects of nine DBPs on zebrafish and human estrogen receptor alpha (zERα and hERα).

Titanium (IV) oxide anatase nanoparticles as vectors for diclofenac: assessing the antioxidative responses to single and combined exposures in the aquatic macrophyte Egeria densa.

Titanium dioxide, frequently used in commonplace products, is now regularly detected in aquatic environments. Understanding its toxic effects on native biota is essential. However, combined toxicity with commonly occurring pollutants, such as the pharmaceutical diclofenac, may provide more insight into environmental situations.

Thyroid-Friendly Soft Materials as 3D Cell Culture Tool for Stimulating Thyroid Cell Function.

The disruption of thyroid hormones because of chemical exposure is a significant societal problem. Chemical evaluations of environmental and human health risks are conventionally based on animal experiments. However, owing to recent breakthroughs in biotechnology, the potential toxicity of chemicals can now be evaluated using 3D cell cultures.

In vivo oxidative stress responses of the freshwater basket clam Corbicula javanicus to microplastic fibres and particles.

Microplastics have been detected in several aquatic organisms, especially bivalves such as clams, oysters, and mussels. To understand the ecotoxicological implication of microplastic accumulation in biota, it is crucial to investigate effects at the physiological level to identify knowledge gaps regarding the threat posed to the environment and assist decision-makers to set the necessary priorities. Typically, xenobiotics elicit an overproduction of reactive oxygen species in organisms, resulting in oxidative stress and cellular damage when not combated by the antioxidative system.

Possible Effect of Chelation Treatment on Metabolomic and Lipidomic Analysis in Lead Exposure.

Objective: This study aimed to examine patients with lead poisoning in terms of metabolomic profiles and bioactive lipids (oxysterols and sphingosine 1-phosphate [S1P]) before and after chelation therapy.

Methods: Consent was obtained from 42 individuals diagnosed with lead poisoning and blood and urine samples were collected before and after chelation therapy. The levels of 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), cholestan-3b,5a,6b-triol (Ctriol), and S1P were measured via LC-MS/MS.

Effects of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, high-density polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastic on Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus) in water and sediment.

Plastic waste is recognised as hazardous, with the risk increasing as the polymers break down in nature to secondary microplastics or even nanoplastics. The number of studies reporting on the prevalence of microplastic in every perceivable niche and bioavailable to biota is dramatically increasing. Knowledge of the ecotoxicology of microplastic is advancing as well; however, information regarding plants, specifically aquatic macrophytes, is still lacking.

On/off switchable physical stimuli regulate the future direction of adherent cellular fate.

The utilization of cell-manipulating techniques reveals information about biological behaviors suited to address a wide range of questions in the field of life sciences. Here, we introduced an on/off switchable physical stimuli technique that offers precise stimuli for reversible cell patterning to allow regulation of the future direction of adherent cellular behavior by leveraging enzymatically degradable alginate hydrogels with defined chemistry and topography. As a proof of concept, targeted muscle cells adherent to TCP exhibited a reshaped structure when the hydrogel-based physical stimuli were applied.

Ageing affects microplastic toxicity over time: Effects of aged polycarbonate on germination, growth, and oxidative stress of Lepidium sativum.

Plastic has been an environmental pollutant far longer than claimed by the first reports surfacing in 1979, meaning some plastic materials have been decaying in nature for decades. Nevertheless, the threat posed to biota is not fully understood, especially from aged microplastic. The question considered in this study was whether the adverse effects of new plastic differ from those of old plastic material.

Testing of Eluates from Waterproof Building Materials for Potential Environmental Effects Due to the Behavior of .

In order to determine the potential environmental impact of construction products, it is necessary to evaluate their influence on organisms exposed to them or their eluates under environmental conditions. The behavior of the white worm is a useful tool for assessing the potential environmental impact of construction products in contact with water and soil. This study investigates the environmental effects of eluates from two construction products, a reactive waterproofing product, and an injection resin, on the reproduction and avoidance behavior of .

Mycoremediation of acetaminophen: Culture parameter optimization to improve efficacy.

Untreated pharmaceutical pollution and their possibly toxic metabolites, resulting from overloaded wastewater treatment processes, end up in aquatic environments and are hazardous to the ecosystem homeostasis. Biological wastewater remediation could supplement traditional methods and overcome the release of these biologically active compounds in the environment. Mycoremediation is especially promising due to the unspecific nature of fungi to decompose compounds through exoenzymes and the uptake of compounds as nutrients.

Large-Scale Green Liver System for Sustainable Purification of Aquacultural Wastewater: Construction and Case Study in a Semiarid Area of Brazil (Itacuruba, Pernambuco) Using the Naturally Occurring Cyanotoxin Microcystin as Efficiency Indicator.

The aquaculture industry in Brazil has grown immensely resulting in the production of inefficiently discarded wastewater, which causes adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. The efficient treatment of aquaculture wastewater is vital in reaching a sustainable and ecological way of fish farming. Bioremediation in the form of the Green Liver System employing macrophytes was considered as wastewater treatment for a tilapia farm, COOPVALE, in Itacuruba, Brazil, based on previously demonstrated success.

The Influence of New and Artificial Aged Microplastic and Leachates on the Germination of L.

With the increase in environmental monitoring and assessing, we are gaining insight into the extent of microplastic pollution in our environment. The threat posed by microplastics to biota could come, e.g.

Avoid Soil Spiked with Microplastic.

Microplastics (MPs) of varying sizes are widespread pollutants in our environment. The general opinion is that the smaller the size, the more dangerous the MPs are due to enhanced uptake possibilities. It would be of considerably ecological significance to understand the response of biota to microplastic contamination both physically and physiologically.

Uptake, Growth, and Pigment Changes in L. Exposed to Environmental Concentrations of Cylindrospermopsin.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN)-producing cyanobacterial blooms such as , , , , and spp. are occurring more commonly and frequently worldwide. CYN is an environmentally stable extracellular toxin, which inhibits protein synthesis, and, therefore, can potentially affect a wide variety of aquatic biota.

Imidacloprid modifies the mitotic kinetics and causes both aneugenic and clastogenic effects in the macrophyte L.

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used in agricultural activities all around the world. This compound is transported from croplands to surrounding freshwater ecosystems, producing adverse effects on non-target organisms. Because of the relevance of aquatic macrophytes in the above-mentioned environments and the lack of studies of potential effects of IMI on them, this work aimed to assess the mitotic process and potential genotoxicity in the aquatic macrophyte L.

Translocation of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR into guttation drops of Triticum aestivum and remaining toxicity.

Uptake of the commonly occurring cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) into crop plants via spray irrigation has been demonstrated. As other hazardous compounds such as pesticides were shown to be transported within plants, it was essential to understand the transport and fate of MC-LR in plants and the risks posed to grazers and other consumers. Of specific interest was to investigate if MC-LR could be detected in guttation drops and the toxicity thereof.

Phytoremediation: green technology for the removal of mixed contaminants of a water supply reservoir.

The Iraí Reservoir, a water supply in Brazil, is constantly impacted by anthropogenic activities such as waste inputs from agriculture, hospitals and urbanization, resulting toxic cyanobacterial blooms causing economic, social and environmental problems. This study assessed the concentration of some common contaminants of the Iraí Reservoir, namely paracetamol, diclofenac and microcystin-LR and tested whether a laboratory scale Green Liver System would serve as a suitable technology to remove these contaminants. Further, the study investigated whether the pollutants caused adverse effects to the macrophytes using catalase as a biomarker for oxidative stress and investigated whether biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase) was a main route for detoxification.

Protein association of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine in Triticum aestivum via irrigation.

Bioaccumulation of several cyanotoxins has been observed in numerous food webs. More recently, the neurotoxic, non-proteinogenic amino acid β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) was shown to biomagnify in marine food webs. It was thus necessary to assess whether a human exposure risk via a terrestrial food source could exist.

Genetically Engineered Phage Induced Selective H9c2 Cardiomyocytes Patterning in PDMS Microgrooves.

A micro-patterned cell adhesive surface was prepared for future design of medical devices. One-dimensional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-patterns were prepared by a photolithography process. Afterwards, recombinant filamentous phages that displayed a short binding motif with a cell adhesive peptide (-RGD-) on p8 proteins were immobilized on PDMS microgrooves through simple contact printing to study the cellular response of rat H9c2 cardiomyocyte.

Collective Migration of Lens Epithelial Cell Induced by Differential Microscale Groove Patterns.

Herein, a micro-patterned cell adhesive surface is prepared for the future design of medical devices. One-dimensional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro patterns were prepared by a photolithography process. We investigated the effect of microscale topographical patterned surfaces on decreasing the collective cell migration rate.

Uptake and biotransformation of pure commercial microcystin-LR versus microcystin-LR from a natural cyanobacterial bloom extract in the aquatic fungus Mucor hiemalis.

Objectives: To evaluate the remediation efficiency of Mucor hiemalis by comparing media elimination, uptake, and biotransformation of microcystin-LR with exposure to pure toxin versus a crude bloom extract.

Results: With exposure to the extract, the elimination rate of microcystin-LR from the media, which was 0.28 ng MC-LR l h, was significantly higher compared to that achieved with exposure to the pure toxin (0.

Responses of the antioxidative and biotransformation enzymes in the aquatic fungus Mucor hiemalis exposed to cyanotoxins.

Objectives: To investigate antioxidative and biotransformation enzyme responses in Mucor hiemalis towards cyanotoxins considering its use in mycoremediation applications.

Results: Catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in M. hiemalis maintained their activities at all tested microcystin-LR (MC-LR) exposure concentrations.