Application of Pulsed Electric Field During Malting: Impact on Species Growth and Mycotoxin Production.

The increasing contamination of cereals by micromycetes and mycotoxins during malting still poses an unresolved food safety problem. This study characterises the potential of the novel, rapidly developing food production technology of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) to reduce the viability of fungi and the production of mycotoxins during malting. Barley, artificially inoculated with four species, was treated by PEF with two different intensities and then malted using a standard Pilsner-type technology.

Evaluation of the Body Burden of Short- and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in the Blood Serum of Residents of the Czech Republic.

Short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) are environmental contaminants known for their persistence and bioaccumulation in fatty tissues. SCCPs are considered potential carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, with similar effects expected for MCCPs. This study investigated the body burden of SCCPs and MCCPs in residents of two regions of the Czech Republic with different levels of industrial pollution.

Synthesis of galactooligosaccharides with four β-galactosidases: Structural comparison of the products by HPLC, ESI-MS and NMR.

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are lactose-derived functional ingredients applied in food products and have great potential in health protection. The conversion of lactose to GOS commonly occurs using β-galactosidases of mould, yeast and bacterial origin. The yield and structure of the resulting GOS depend on the enzyme used and the reaction conditions.

Giant anisotropic piezoresponse of layered ZrSe.

We investigated the effect of uniaxial strain on the electrical properties of few-layer ZrSe devices under compressive and tensile strains applied up to ±0.62% along different crystal directions. We observed that the piezoresponse, the change in resistance upon application of strain, of ZrSe strongly depends on both the direction in which electrical transport occurs and the direction in which uniaxial strain is applied.

FLUORESCENCE DETECTION OF DNA/RNA G-QUADRUPLEXES (G4s) BY TWICE-AS-SMART LIGANDS.

Fluorescence detection of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) is a very efficient strategy to assess not only the existence and prevalence of cellular G4s but also their relevance as targets for therapeutic interventions. Among the fluorophores used to this end, turn-on probes are the most interesting since their fluorescence is triggered only upon interaction with their G4 targets, which ensures a high sensitivity and selectivity of detection. We reported on a series of twice-as-smart G4 probes, which are both smart G4 ligands (whose structure is reorganized upon interaction with G4s) and smart fluorescent probes (whose fluorescence is turned on upon interaction with G4s).

Molecular dynamics of evaporative cooling of water clusters.

The cooling of water clusters through evaporation into a vacuum is studied using classical molecular dynamics with the SPC water model, and the results are compared with macroscopic theory. A simple model based on the Hertz-Knudsen equation significantly underestimates cooling rates. A modified approach that accounts for the Kelvin equation provides better results.

Molecular insights into kinetic stabilization of amorphous solid dispersion of pharmaceuticals.

Poor aqueous solubility of crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) restricts their bioavailability. Amorphous solid dispersions with biocompatible polymer excipients offer a solution to overcome this problem, potentially enabling a broader use of many drug candidate molecules. This work addresses various aspects of the design of a suitable combination of an API and a polymer to form such a binary solid dispersion.

Design and development of spectrophotometric enzymatic cyanide assays.

Determination of free cyanide (fCN) is required for various industrial, environmental, food, and clinical samples. Enzymatic methods are not widely used in this field despite their selectivity and mild conditions. Therefore, we present here a proof of concept for new spectrophotometric enzymatic assays of fCN.

Efficient Degradation of Recalcitrant Pharmaceuticals in Greywater Using Treatment of MBR and Immobilized TiO Porous Layers.

Traditional wastewater treatment often fails to remove pharmaceuticals, necessitating advanced solutions, such as TiO photocatalysis, for post-treatment. However, conventionally applied powder TiO can be cumbersome to separate from treated water. To solve this issue, this study immobilized three TiO photocatalysts (Anatase 16, Anatase 5, and P25) into porous layers and evaluated their efficacy for the degradation of three pharmaceuticals (naproxen, NPX; sulfamethoxazole, SMX; metformin, MTF) in standard solutions and greywater pretreated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR).

Using Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy to Separately Quantify the Effect of Strain on Nanosheet and Junction Resistance in Printed Nanosheet Networks.

Many printed electronic applications require strain-independent electrical properties to ensure deformation-independent performance. Thus, developing printed, flexible devices using 2D and other nanomaterials will require an understanding of the effect of strain on the electrical properties of nano-networks. Here, novel AC electrical techniques are introduced to fully characterize the effect of strain on the resistance of high-mobility printed networks, fabricated from of electrochemically exfoliated MoS nanosheets.

Assessing PFAS in drinking water: Insights from the Czech Republic's risk-based monitoring approach.

This study investigates the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the drinking water supplies in the Czech Republic using a risk-based monitoring approach. Tap water samples (n = 27) from sources close to areas potentially contaminated with PFAS were analysed. A total of 28 PFAS were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry after solid phase extraction.

Simultaneous treatment with palm-LEAP2(1-14) and feeding high-fat diet attenuates liver lipid metabolism but not obesity: Sign of selective resistance to palm-LEAP2(1-14).

Liver-enriched antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) is a natural antagonist/inverse agonist of ghrelin receptor GHSR. Its truncated palmitoylated analog palm-LEAP2(1-14) promised anti-obesity properties because it exhibited favourable stability and an acute anorexigenic effect in our previous studies. Here we demonstrate desirable palm-LEAP2(1-14) pharmacokinetics, with significant levels of the peptide persisting in mouse blood 3 h after its subcutaneous administration.

Characterization of Archaea membrane lipids in radioactive springs using shotgun lipidomics.

Lipids from microorganisms, and especially lipids from Archaea, are used as taxonomic markers. Unfortunately, knowledge is very limited due to the uncultivability of most Archaea, which greatly reduces the importance of the diversity of lipids and their ecological role. One possible solution is to use lipidomic analysis.

The zymogenic form of SARS-CoV-2 main protease: A discrete target for drug discovery.

SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M) autocatalytically releases itself out of the viral polyprotein to form a fully active mature dimer in a manner that is not fully understood. Here, we introduce several tools to help elucidate differences between cis (intramolecular) and trans (intermolecular) proteolytic processing and to evaluate inhibition of precursor M. We found that many mutations at the P1 position of the N-terminal autoprocessing site do not block cis autoprocessing but do inhibit trans processing.

Two isoniazid-based chemosensors for the detection of cyanide ions in solution: an experimental and computational study.

Colorimetric chemosensors L and L, based on isoniazid hydrazones, have been designed for the highly sensitive and selective recognition of CN ion. Competing experiments were conducted with various other anions such as F, Cl, Br, I, SCN, ClO, ClO, NO, HPO, SO, and HSO in an acetonitrile solution. In the UV-Vis spectra, a bathochromic shift in the absorption bands of both hydrazones was observed following the addition of cyanide.

The Evaluation of Glyceryl C3-Azolyl-Thiogalactosides as Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 Ligands.

Galectins are a family of galactoside-binding proteins involved in various pathophysiological processes, which makes them attractive targets for drug discovery. The derivatization of d-galactose at C3 and C1 positions has been shown to increase the affinity of synthetic galectin antagonists. In this study, two small libraries of d-galactose derivatives have been designed and synthesized.

Sensitivity Analysis in Photodynamics: How Does the Electronic Structure Control -Stilbene Photodynamics?

The techniques of computational photodynamics are increasingly employed to unravel reaction mechanisms and interpret experiments. However, misinterpretations in nonadiabatic dynamics caused by inaccurate underlying potentials are often difficult to foresee. This work focuses on revealing the systematic errors in the nonadiabatic simulations due to the underlying potentials and suggests a thrifty approach to evaluate the sensitivity of the simulations to the potential.

Occurrence of mycotoxins in milk thistle: to be included in legislation or not?

The silymarin complex extracted from milk thistle provides significant health benefits, particularly due to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. However, plant substances can be contaminated by a number of fungi types and their secondary metabolites-mycotoxins. This work deals with the determination of aflatoxins and zearalenone and its metabolites in 39 different samples grown in 2020 and 2021.

Preparation and Biological Activity of Lignin-Silver Hybrid Nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are excellent antimicrobial agents and promising candidates for preventing or treating bacterial infections caused by antibiotic resistant strains. However, their increasing use in commercial products raises concerns about their environmental impact. In addition, traditional physicochemical approaches often involve harmful agents and excessive energy consumption, resulting in AgNPs with short-term colloidal stability and silver ion leaching.

Prefrontal electrophysiological biomarkers and mechanism-based drug effects in a rat model of alcohol addiction.

Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who seek treatment show highly variable outcomes. A precision medicine approach with biomarkers responsive to new treatments is warranted to overcome this limitation. Promising biomarkers relate to prefrontal control mechanisms that are severely disturbed in AUD.

Using plasma-activated water for decontamination of Salmonella spp. on common building surfaces in poultry houses.

Plasma-activated water (PAW) has been shown to have antimicrobial properties, making it a promising tool for surface decontamination. This study evaluated the ability of PAW generated from high voltage atmospheric cold plasma to remove Salmonella from common surfaces (stainless steel (SS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), concrete, and wood) found in poultry houses. PAW was generated by exposing distilled water to atmospheric cold plasma in 80% humid air at 90 kV and 60 Hz for 30 min.

Low risk of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding and molecular evolution in kidney transplant recipients during the Omicron era: A prospective observational study.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the duration of culture-viable SARS-CoV-2 and to monitor the emergence of mutations in a cohort of 23 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) from June 2022 to June 2023. Combined nares/oropharyngeal swabs were collected weekly starting as soon as possible after symptom onset. The time from symptom onset to a negative culture was 11 days (interquartile range, 8-14), while the time to negative reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction was 18 days (interquartile range, 15-30).

Topical siRNA therapy of diabetic-like wound healing.

Non-healing wounds are a serious complication in diabetic patients. One of the detrimental factors contributing to limited wound healing is the accumulation of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the wound. Selective inhibition of MMP-9 is one of the established therapeutic targets for diabetic wound healing.

Hepatocyte targeting the asialoglycoprotein receptor.

This review highlights the potential of asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR)-mediated targeting in advancing liver-specific treatments and underscores the ongoing progress in the field. First, we provide a comprehensive examination of the nature of ASGPR ligands, both natural and synthetic. Next, we explore various drug delivery strategies leveraging ASGPR, with a particular emphasis on the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs).

Formulation of minitablets with personalised dissolution profile by fluid-bed granulation ofdrug nanosuspensions.

Transforming poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into a nanoparticulate form is a proven way of improving their dissolution characteristics. The preparation of API nanosuspensions is commonly achieved by wet-stirred media milling. The challenge lies in converting the nanosuspension into a solid dosage form without compromising its re-dispersibility.