Environmental impacts of restructuring the EU's natural gas supply and consumption: Learnings from the 2022 energy crisis.

In 2022, the European Union put forward the REPowerEU plan in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, aiming at enhancing short-term energy security by diversifying imports and reducing natural gas demand while accelerating the deployment of renewable alternatives in the long term. Here, we quantify the life cycle environmental impacts of both REPowerEU's short-term measures, including the controversial extended coal-fired power plant operations, and how the first year of the crisis was managed in practice. We find that the policy measures' impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would be negligible, although they could have detrimental effects on other environmental categories.

Forest edge landscape context affects mosquito community composition and risk of pathogen emergence.

Forest edges, where humans, mosquitoes, and wildlife interact, may serve as a nexus for zoonotic arbovirus exchange. Although often treated as uniform interfaces, the landscape context of edge habitats can greatly impact ecological interactions. Here, we investigated how the landscape context of forest edges shapes mosquito community structure in an Amazon rainforest reserve near the city of Manaus, Brazil, using hand-nets to sample mosquitoes at three distinct forest edge types.

Indigenous Maya-Mam leadership competencies: a grounded theory study.

Introduction: This study explores the leadership competencies within the Indigenous Maya-Mam community, aiming to understand the specific skills and qualities exhibited by Maya-Mam leaders. The research seeks to address the gap in literature regarding Indigenous leadership practices, particularly focusing on how cultural values influence leadership behaviors.

Methods: Qualitative methods were employed for this study, including interviews and thematic analysis.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Using LED Light Combined With Chromophore Gel in Treating Acne Vulgaris - Preliminary Study.

Purpose: The aim was to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of LED light therapy combined with photoacceptor substances having anti-acne properties in reducing the symptoms of acne vulgaris.

Patients And Methods: 15 subjects aged 20 to 24 who suffered from moderate or severe acne lesions. The treatments were performed using a LED device (465-880 nm).

Electrochemically grafted molecular layers as on-chip energy storage molecular junctions.

Molecular junctions (MJs) are celebrated nanoelectronic devices for mimicking conventional electronic functions, including rectifiers, sensors, wires, switches, transistors, negative differential resistance, and memory, following an understanding of charge transport mechanisms. However, capacitive nanoscale molecular junctions are rarely seen. The present work describes electrochemically (E-Chem) grown covalently attached molecular thin films of 10, 14.

A chemically modified DNAzyme-based electrochemical sensor for binary and highly sensitive detection of reactive oxygen species.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in regulating various physiological processes. To gain a comprehensive understanding of their distinct functions in different physiological events, it is imperative to detect binary ROS simultaneously. However, the development of the sensing method capable of binary ROS detection remains a significant challenge.

Characterization of 3D printed micro-blades for cutting tissue-embedding material.

Cutting soft materials on the microscale has emerging applications in single-cell studies, tissue microdissection for organoid culture, drug screens, and other analyses. However, the cutting process is complex and remains incompletely understood. Furthermore, precise control over blade geometries, such as the blade tip radius, has been difficult to achieve.

Effect of pH and temperature on the stability of the natural dye from the roselle flower ( L.) and its application in flavored milk.

In recent years, global trends indicate consumer interest in functional foods. Thus, there is a trend to replace the use of artificial colors with natural colors that, in addition to being attractive to consumers, provide benefits to the biological functions of the human organism. The objective of this research was the solvent extraction of a natural dye from the roselle flower, its identification and evaluation of its behavior at different pH and temperatures.

Novel multipotent conjugate bearing tacrine and donepezil motifs with dual cholinergic inhibition and neuroprotective properties targeting Alzheimer's disease.

In this work, we developed potential multifunctional agents to combat Alzheimer's disease. According to our strategy, fragments of tacrine and donepezil were merged in a unique hybrid structure. After successfully synthesizing the compounds, they were evaluated for their dual AChE/BuChE inhibitor potential and neuroprotector response using a glutamate-induced excitotoxicity model.

Optimizing oral 3-hydroxybutyrate dosage using pharmacokinetic model to improve cognitive function and mood in healthy subjects.

Introduction: The brain uses ketones, mainly 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), as an alternative energy source. Therefore, oral intake of 3-HB may help maintain brain health. Previous studies indicated that achieving a maximum concentration (C) of 3-HB in plasma at 0.

A comprehensive review of challenges and opportunities for stem cell research in India.

Stem cell research is a major focus for scientific and medical communities worldwide due to the potential for stem cells to restore function lost due to disease, trauma, congenital abnormalities, and aging. Stem cells can repair, replace, or regenerate damaged cells, tissues, or organs, making them an important area of research in regenerative medicine. India is emerging as a prominent hub for the development of stem cell therapy (SCT), and it is important to assess the current state of stem cell research in India and the potential for advancement to promote stem cell-based therapy.

Large soluble CD18 complexes with exclusive ICAM-1-binding properties are shed during immune cell migration in inflammation.

The family of heterodimeric CD11/CD18 integrins facilitate leukocyte adhesion and migration in a wide range of normal physiologic responses, as well as in the pathology of inflammatory diseases. Soluble CD18 (sCD18) is found mainly in complexes with hydrodynamic radii of 5 and 7.2 nm, suggesting a compositional difference.

Redox-Gated Optical Modulation of Coumarin-Triphenyliminophosphorane Fluorophores.

Novel coumarin-triphenyliminophosphorane (TPIPP) fluorophores, synthesized via a nonhydrolytic Staudinger reaction, exhibit remarkable redox-responsive optical properties. Upon chemical and electrochemical oxidation, these compounds display a hypsochromic shift in absorption from 430 to 350 nm, accompanied by up to 11-fold fluorescence enhancement under 405 nm excitation. The fluorescence switching occurs at an electrochemical oxidation potential of approximately +2.

Scale-Up of Nanocorundum Synthesis by Mechanochemical Dehydration of Boehmite.

This work presents the scale-up of room-temperature mechanochemical synthesis of nanocorundum (high-surface-area α-AlO) from boehmite (γ-AlOOH). This transformation on the 1 g scale using a laboratory shaker mill had previously been reported. High-energy Simoloyer ball mills equipped with milling chambers of sizes ranging from 1 to 20 L were used to scale up the mechanochemical nanocorundum synthesis to the 50 g to 1 kg scale, which paves the way to further increase batch size.

Effect of oxalic acid treatment on the oxidation efficiency of maize stover cellulose and controllable preparation of nanocellulose.

Corn stover was used as raw material, and purification, oxalic acid treatment, oxidation treatment, and ultrasonic treatment were performed to realize the preparation of corn stover nanocellulose with low energy consumption. The effects of oxalic acid concentration (1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, and 5 wt%) on the purity, morphology, crystalline structure and oxidation efficiency of corn stover cellulose during oxalic acid treatment were investigated. The controllable preparation of corn stover nanocellulose was achieved by changing the parameter conditions of ultrasonic treatment.

Nanosized MCM-41 silica from rice husk and its application for the removal of organic dyes from water.

A novel synthesis of a nanometric MCM-41 from biogenic silica obtained from rice husk is here presented. CTABr and Pluronic F127 surfactants were employed as templating agents to promote the formation of a long-range ordered 2D-hexagonal structure with cylindrical pores and to limit the particle growth at the nanoscale level thus resulting in a material with uniform particle size of 20-30 nm. The physico-chemical properties of this sample (RH-nanoMCM) were investigated through a multi-technique approach, including PXRD, Si MAS NMR, TEM, -potential and N physisorption analysis at 77 K.

iRGD-Targeted Biosynthetic Nanobubbles for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging of Osteosarcoma.

Purpose: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the bone. However, there is a lack of effective means for early diagnosis due to the heterogeneity of tumors and the complexity of tumor microenvironment. αvβ3 integrin, a crucial role in the growth and spread of tumors, is not only an effective biomarker for cancer angiogenesis, but also highly expressed in many tumor cells.

A Multifunctional MIL-101-NH(Fe) Nanoplatform for Synergistic Melanoma Therapy.

Background: Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer, and single-modality treatments often fail to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. Combination therapy has emerged as an effective approach to improve treatment outcomes.

Methods: In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanoplatform, MIL@DOX@ICG, utilizing MIL-101-NH(Fe) as a carrier to co-deliver the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) and the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG).

Development and Evaluation of Aloperine-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Objective: This study focuses on the development and evaluation of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with aloperine as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods: The NLCs were designed to enhance the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of aloperine, a compound with vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Through a series of experiments including single-factor experimentation, transmission electron microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution studies, we assessed the physicochemical properties, drug release profiles, and in vitro and in vivo performance of this novel nanocarrier.

Fusidic Acid and Lidocaine-Loaded Electrospun Nanofibers as a Dressing for Accelerated Healing of Infected Wounds.

Introduction: Wound treatment is a significant health burden in any healthcare system, which requires proper management to minimize pain and prevent bacterial infections that can complicate the wound healing process.

Rationale: There is a need to develop innovative therapies to accelerate wound healing cost-effectively. Herein, two polymer-based nanofibrous systems were developed using poly-lactic-co-glycolic-acid (PLGA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) loaded with a combination of an antibiotic (Fusidic acid, FA) and a local anesthetic (Lidocaine, LDC) via electrospinning technique for an expedited healing process by preventing bacterial infections while reducing the pain sensation.

Chondroitin Sulphate-Chitosan Based Nanogels Loaded with Naringenin-β-Cyclodextrin Complex as Potential Tool for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Formulation Study.

Purpose: The main purpose of the study was the formulation development of nanogels (NHs) composed of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and low molecular weight chitosan (lCH), loaded with a naringenin-β-cyclodextrin complex (NAR/β-CD), as a potential treatment for early-stage diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Different formulations of NHs were prepared by varying polymer concentration, lCH ratio, and pH and, then, characterized for particle size, zeta potential, particle concentration (particles/mL) and morphology. Cytotoxicity and internalization were assessed in vitro using Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC).

Neonatal pseudo-hypoaldosteronism type 1 with a novel gene variant.

Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) is a rare disorder that mimics congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Renal type A1A of the disorder has a known gene mutation (NR3C2) and parents may be asymptomatic despite biochemical abnormalities. Meticulous interpretation of hormonal and biochemical data, and early liaison with endocrinology and renal teams are key in diagnosis.

Evaluation of Thigh Muscle Strength in Adolescent Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis or Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: There has been increased interest in lateral extra-articular procedures, such as anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) or lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET), to reduce anterolateral rotation instability of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Despite promising surgical outcomes with these techniques, their impact on knee strength recovery is unknown.

Hypothesis: Patients undergoing lateral extra-articular procedures at the time of ACLR would have impaired thigh muscle strength at 6 to 9 months after surgery.

Conversion therapy strategy: A novel GPC3-targeted multimodal organic phototheranostics platform for mid-late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is typically diagnosed at intermediate to advanced stage, making surgical treatment unfeasible. Conversion therapy aims to reduce tumor stage, improve hepatic resection feasibility, and lower recurrence rates. Since traditional therapies are often accompanied by uncertainty of efficacy, there is an urgent need to explore new treatment strategies.

Doxorubicin-loaded PEGylated liposome modified with ANGPT2-specific peptide for integrative glioma-targeted imaging and therapy.

Liposomal nanocarriers are able to carry peptides for efficient and selective delivery of radioactive tracer and drugs into the tumors. Angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2) is an excellent biomarker for precise diagnosis and therapy of glioma. The present study aimed to design ANGPT2-specific peptides to modify the surface of nanoliposomes containing doxorubicin (Dox) for integrative imaging and targeting therapy of glioma.