Innovative Honey-Based Product and Its Beneficial Effects Measured by Modern Biophysical and Imaging Skin Techniques.

Background: Honey is widely recognized for its potential benefits in skincare, yet its incorporation into formulations is challenging due to its stickiness. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hand creams with varying concentrations of multifloral honey (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% /) on skin parameters and to assess their application characteristics.

Methods: A total of 24 volunteers were divided into two groups, each receiving a blinded pair of creams (0%/10% or 5%/15% honey) to apply on their left and right hands.

Antimicrobial Activity of Naphthyridine Derivatives.

To combat the problem of the increasing drug resistance of microorganisms, it is necessary to constantly search for new medicinal substances that will demonstrate more effective mechanisms of action with a limited number of side effects. Naphthyridines are N-heterocyclic compounds containing a fused system of two pyridine rings, occurring in the form of six structural isomers with different positions of nitrogen atoms, which exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity, in particular antimicrobial properties. This review presents most of the literature data about the synthetic and natural naphthyridine derivatives that have been reported to possess antimicrobial activity.

The Application of the Design of Experiments and Artificial Neural Networks in the Development of a Fast and Straightforward HPLC-UV Method for Fluconazole Determination in Hemato-Oncologic Pediatric Patients and Its Adaptation to Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

This study aimed to develop an optimized and wide concentration range HPLC-UV method for fluconazole (FLU) determination and its adaptation for pharmacokinetics (PK) studies in the pediatric population. The following parameters of chromatographic separation were optimized: retention time, tailing factor, peak height, and the sample preconditioning parameter, such as recovery. The optimization process involved the use of a central composite design (CCD) and Box-Behnken design (BBD) in the design of experiments (DoE) approach and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) for artificial neural network (ANN) application.

Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents Combined with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for the Extraction of Curcuminoids from Turmeric.

Background: Curcuminoids, the bioactive compounds found in turmeric, exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This study aims to enhance the extraction of curcuminoids from turmeric using environmentally friendly solvents supercritical CO (scCO) combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) in one process, and to evaluate the resulting biological activity.

Methods: A Box-Behnken statistical design was applied to optimize scCO extraction conditions-pressure, CO volume, and temperature-to maximize curcuminoid yield.

Asymptomatic Malaria Cases and Species in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar Archipelago (Pemba).

Malaria remains a major public health threat in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, species account for nearly 100% of the malaria cases occurring on the African continent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falciparum malaria predominates, but non-falciparum species are also present in Africa.

Clinical Cases of Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs During the Autumn-Winter Season in Poland.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a growing threat to companion animals, especially dogs, due to the increasing abundance of tick populations in Europe, driven by climate change, urbanization, and the mobility of humans and animals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in clinically ill dogs suspected of having developed TBDs during the autumn-winter season, as well as to detect pathogens in ticks collected during the same period in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland. A total of 30 dogs with clinical symptoms of babesiosis and 45 ticks from dogs were acquired for this study.

Antimicrobial Resistance in the Context of Animal Production and Meat Products in Poland-A Critical Review and Future Perspective.

The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in meat and meat products is a significant public health challenge, largely driven by the excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry. In Poland, a key meat producer in Europe, antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as spp., spp.

-A Pathogen Causing the Black Root Rot of Tobacco.

Black root rot is a dangerous disease affecting many crops. It is caused by pathogens formerly known as and then reclassified as two cryptic species, and . The aim of this study was to perform species identification, morphological characterization, and pathogenicity tests for fungal isolates obtained from tobacco roots with black root rot symptoms in Poland.

A Retrospective Epidemiological Analysis of Microscopically Detected Babesiosis in Dogs of Southern Poland (2018-2022).

is the parasite responsible for a life-threatening disease for dogs in Central Europe, of which the main vector is the ornate dog tick-. The objective of the presented study was to assess the prevalence of infection in dogs with clinical suspicion of babesiosis, which tested positive for from locations where there is no or very limited information about dog exposure to this pathogen. In order to confirm the presence of this protozoan, blood samples were collected from dogs treated in veterinary clinics with suspicion of canine babesiosis.

in Sewage Sludge and Digestate Intended for Soil Fertilization.

Substances of organic origin are seeing increasing use in agriculture as rich sources of nutrients for plants. The aim of this study was to determine the microbiological contamination of sewage sludge and digestate to assess their safe use as fertilizers in Poland. The assessment of microbial soil, sewage sludge and digestate contamination was based on the total number of mesophilic bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria from the family.

Recognizing a Silent Threat: Canine Ehrlichiosis and Rickettsiosis in Northern Portugal.

Vector-borne diseases pose significant challenges for both animal and public health worldwide [...

Topic Editorial on Photonic and Optoelectronic Devices and Systems.

Photonic and optoelectronic devices and systems represent a transformative paradigm in modern technology, exploiting the manipulation and utilization of light for diverse applications across various industries [...

Topic Editorial on Fiber-Optic Sensors.

Fiber-optic sensors are highly significant in modern technology due to their unique abilities and versatility [...

Suspended Slot Membrane Waveguide Based on Germanium-on-Silicon-on-Insulator at λ = 4.23 µm for CO Monitoring.

In this work, we propose a novel suspended slot membrane waveguide (SSMW) utilizing a germanium-on-silicon-on-insulator (Ge-on-SOI) platform for carbon dioxide (CO) gas-sensing applications. The design and analysis focus on the absorption line of CO in the mid-infrared region, specifically at a wavelength of 4.23 µm.

A Spectroscopy Solution for Contactless Conductivity Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis.

This paper introduces a novel contactless single-chip detector that utilizes impedance-to-digital conversion technology to measure impedance in the microfluidic channel or capillary format analytical device. The detector is designed to operate similarly to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detectors for capillary electrophoresis or chromatography but with the added capability of performing frequency sweeps up to 200 kHz. At each recorded data point, impedance and phase-shift data can be extracted, which can be used to generate impedance versus frequency plots, or phase-shift versus frequency plots.

Melittin-Induced Structural Transformations in DMPG and DMPS Lipid Membranes: A Langmuir Monolayer and AFM Study.

In this study, we explore the interactions between melittin, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, and model lipid membranes composed of the negatively charged phospholipids 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DMPG) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (DMPS). Using the Langmuir monolayer technique and atomic force microscopy (AFM), we reveal novel insights into these interactions. Our key finding is the observation of the ripple phase in the DMPS bilayer on mica, a phenomenon not previously reported for negatively charged single bilayers.

α-Tocopherol and Trolox as Effective Natural Additives for Polyurethane Foams: A DFT and Experimental Study.

In this work, α-tocopherol and trolox were studied as compounds that have high biological activity. α-Tocopherol is considered a food additive because the refining process of vegetable oils causes the depletion of this vitamin, and thus, its inclusion is required to keep them from oxidizing. Computational tools have determined the antioxidant activity of these additives.

Search for New Compounds with Anti-Inflammatory Activity Among 1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives.

Compounds containing the 1,2,4-triazole moiety in their structure exhibit broad biological activities. Many of these compounds demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity in vitro through various mechanisms, such as inhibiting COX-1/COX-2 and LOX, modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, or having effects on other specific enzymes. Some also display activities in vivo.

Effects of Intercropped Insectary Plants (Sweet Alyssum, Coriander, and White Mustard) on Elemental Composition and Antioxidant Levels in Broad Bean Plants.

Insectary plants, such as sweet alyssum, coriander, and white mustard, are well known for their traits that attract beneficial insects, allowing them to protect crops from pests. The aim of the study was to analyze the compounds that are important in the antioxidant response, such as malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid, proline, total phenolics, and total flavonoids, as well as the content of elements, including macroelements (K, Mg, Na, Ca, P, and S) and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Fe) in broad bean plants. These plants were grown in field conditions as the main protected plant alongside a mixture of three insectary plants at different proportions of the individual components.

Adsorption of Methylene Blue on Activated Carbon Surfaces Obtained by Shock Compression of Graphite Using Reactive Molecular Dynamics.

This study explores the formation of functionalized carbon surfaces through shock compression of graphite in the presence of water, modeled using molecular dynamics and the ReaxFF reactive force field. The shock compression method produces activated carbon with surface functionalities, primarily hydroxyl groups, and varying morphological properties. Two approaches, unidirectional and isotropic compression, yield distinct surface structures: the former preserves a relatively flat surface, while the latter generates corrugated features with valleys and ridges.

Assessment of the Variability in the Occurrence of PFAS in Fish Tissues from Selected Fisheries in the Baltic Sea.

In this study, the results of a comprehensive assessment of the variability in the occurrence of ten perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in fish tissues originating from 2014 to 2019 from six fisheries in the Baltic Sea are presented. A total of 360 fish samples of three species (perch, herring and flatfish) were analysed. For the determination of PFAS, both linear and branched stereoisomers, LC-ESI-MS/MS technique preceded by simultaneous SPE isolation was validated and applied.

New Chloroprene Rubber/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (CR/SBR) Blends Cross-Linked with Tin(II) Oxide (SnO): Curing Characteristics, Swelling Studies, Mechanical Properties, and Flame Resistance.

This study aimed to investigate the properties of tin(II) oxide (SnO) as an unconventional cross-linking agent for chloroprene (CR) and styrene-butadiene (SBR) rubbers compositions. The use of tin(II) oxide results from the need to reduce the use of zinc oxide as a cross-linking agent due to environmental regulations and its toxic impact on aquatic environments. The studied elastomeric blends can be cross-linked with tin(II) oxide, and the results demonstrate the significant potential of this oxide in such applications.

The Amination of Waste Newsprint Paper with Various Aminating Agents (Ammonia Water, Ethylenediamine, and Diethylenetriamine) to Improve the Sorption Efficiency of Anionic Dyes.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of aminating waste newsprint paper with different aminating agents (ammonia/ammonia water, ethylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine) for the sorption efficiency of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Reactive Yellow 84 (RY84) dyes. To increase the amination efficiency, the paper material was pre-activated with epichlorohydrin. The scope of this study included the characterization of the sorbents tested (FTIR, elemental analysis, BET surface area, porosity, and pH), determination of the influence of pH on dye sorption efficiency, sorption kinetics, and the maximum sorption capacity of the dyes.

Org24598, a Selective Glycine Transporter 1 (GlyT1) Inhibitor, Reverses Object Recognition and Spatial Memory Impairments Following Binge-like Ethanol Exposure in Rats.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor is a major target of ethanol, and it is implicated in learning and memory formation, and other cognitive functions. Glycine acts as a co-agonist for this receptor. We examined whether Org24598, a selective inhibitor of glycine transporter1 (GlyT1), affects ethanol withdrawal-induced deficits in recognition memory (Novel Object Recognition (NOR) task) and spatial memory (Barnes Maze (BM) task) in rats, and whether the NMDA receptor glycine site participates in this phenomenon.