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The study investigates the application of waste rubber in cement-stabilized base course (CBC), aiming to address internal stresses, reflective cracks, and waste disposal issues. Mixtures of gravel and sand stabilized with varying cement and rubber content were examined, including reference mixtures and those with granulated rubber or rubber threads, a total of 17 mixtures. Mechanical properties, durability, and environmental impact were evaluated through standard tests such as Proctor elements, compressive and tensile strengths, freeze thaw resistance, shrinkage, and scanning electron microscope analysis. Non-standard, non-contact methods like ultrasonic pulse velocity and 3D digital image correlation were employed. Results indicate the feasibility of using waste rubber in CBC, with the optimal mixture containing 5 % cement and 20 % rubber as a replacement for sand showing satisfactory compressive strength (3.01 MPa) for application as a base layer, reduced stiffness, improved frost resistance (9.76 %), improved tensile to compressive strength ratio (52.99 %), and increased resistance to reflective cracking comparing to reference mixture. Moreover, it exhibited minimal shrinkage compared to other mixtures. The study underscores the importance of assessing environmental acceptability in waste materials for road construction, emphasizing the need for further research. Furthermore, the possibility of employing non-contact testing methods has been demonstrated. [Display omitted] • The optimal composition of rubberized CBC has been defined. • Rubber improves freeze – thaw resistance of CBC. • Rubber decreases the shrinkage of CBC. • The use of rubber in CBC does not pose an environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural biomass has great bioenergy potential due to its availability, and it is a carbon-free energy source. During biomass incineration, biomass ash is formed, which is still considered as a waste without proper disposal and management solutions. Various biomass ash utilization options were investigated, mainly concerning engineering issues (the mechanical characterization of newly produced building materials or products), and there is a lack of knowledge of environmental issues arising from this "waste" material utilization in civil engineering practice. The main aim of this research is discussion of a different agricultural biomass characteristics as a fuel, the impact of agricultural biomass ashes (ABA) on the mechanical properties of stabilized soil with a particular emphasis on the environmental impacts within this kind of waste management. The results of this study indicate improved geotechnical characteristics of low-plasticity clay stabilized by lime/ABA binder. In addition to mechanical characterization for materials embedded in road embankments and subgrades, appropriate environmental risk assessment needs to be performed, and the results of this study indicate that the amount of ABAs added to the soil for roadworks should not have adverse effects on the soil fauna in the surrounding environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly difficult treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has become a global problem of the 21st century. Within a group of multiresistant bacteria, the Acinetobacter baumannii convincingly occupies the position at the top of the group designated as ESKAPE pathogens. In this study, 61 isolates of A. baumannii were recovered from different samples originating from various departments of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar during 2018. All of the isolates were identified using conventional phenotypic methods and the VITEK® 2 Compact System, and were confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the microbroth dilution method using MICRONAUT-S MDR MRGN-Screening and VITEK 2 Compact System. All strains were resistant to carbapenems and classified in eight different resistotypes according to their antibiotic resistance and macrorestriction pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles, with all belonging to IC II. One isolate displayed resistance to colistin (MIC ≥16 mg/L). The presence of blaOXA genes encoding OXA-type carbapenemases was investigated by multiplex PCR and the Eazyplex® SuperBugAcineto system and showed 100% compatibility with the detection of acquired oxacillinases. Molecular characterization of the isolates tested in this study revealed the OXA-23- and OXA-40-like groups of acquired oxacillinases. Sequencing of two PCR products of the OXA-40-like group confirmed the presence of OXA-72. Survival assays with two selected isolates of A. baumannii encoding different mechanisms of carbapenem resistance revealed that one isolate was able to survive on a fragment of white laboratory coat during 90 days of monitoring. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first article to present the results of a comprehensive phenotypic, genotypic, and molecular analysis of A. baumannii isolates from the leading clinical hospital center in the southwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including data for the survival of this pathogen on the white laboratory coats used as compulsory medical clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel approach to measure the attenuation curves of 485 individual star-forming galaxies with > 1010 M⊙ based on deep optical spectra from the VLT/VIMOS LEGA-C survey and multiband photometry in the COSMOS field. Most importantly, we find that the attenuation curves in the rest-frame 3000–4500 Å range are typically almost twice as steep as the Milky Way, LMC, SMC, and Calzetti attenuation curves, which is in agreement with recent studies of the integrated light of present-day galaxies. The attenuation at 4500 Å and the slope strongly correlate with the galaxy inclination: face-on galaxies show less attenuation and steeper curves compared to edge-on galaxies, suggesting that geometric effects dominate observed variations in attenuation. Our new method produces 2175 Å UV bump detections for 260 individual galaxies. Even though obvious correlations between UV bump strength and global galaxy properties are absent, strong UV bumps are most often seen in face-on, lower-mass galaxies (10 < log10(M*/M⊙) < 10.5) with low overall attenuation. Finally, we produce a typical attenuation curve for star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 0.8; this prescription represents the effect of dust on the integrated spectral energy distributions of high-redshift galaxies more accurately than commonly used attenuation laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the durability of cement-bound layers with steel slag as a partial aggregate replacement. Mixtures with various amounts of slag and cement are investigated for their durability after freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to de-icing agent. Optical microscopy analysis is conducted as a method for assessing the behaviour of low-strength material in order to determine why the application of slag resulted in greater compressive strength and durability properties. It was shown that this method is suitable for providing more details and insights into the material's internal structure. All the mixtures show a loss in compressive strength after exposure to freeze-thaw cycles and de-icers, but this loss is more pronounced in mixtures with gravel-only aggregates. A strong linear correlation is obtained between 28-day compressive strength and retained compressive strength after 10 freeze-thaw cycles. The main conclusion of the research presented here is that steel slag aggregate presents good potential for use in adverse climates, and it is possible to predict the freeze-thaw resistance of cement-bound aggregate on the basis of compressive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research of micro TiO 2 and CRT glass application in pervious concrete paving flags. • Testing of surface, mechanical and durability properties and the infiltration rate. • Testing of flag's ability to reduce the transport of pollution driven by rainwater. • CRT glass reduced wear resistance while TiO 2 reduced the USRV value of flags. • CRT glass can be used in pavement structure and micro TiO 2 is photocatalytic active. In the subject of pavement engineering, real-life conditions must be recreated using carefully selected materials and techniques. This is especially true for the evaluation of non-standard, waste materials prior to their usage in pavement structure. The objective of this study is to ascertain the effects of partial cement replacement with cost-effective micro TiO 2 and full fine aggregate replacement with CRT (cathode ray tube) glass on the characteristics of pervious concrete paving flags and their capacity to reduce pollutants carried by rainwater. Within the research, standard test methods for paving flags characterisation are used (EN 1339) along with some new and innovative research approaches to environmental impact assessment simulating real-life conditions. Results indicate a high influence of used materials on pervious concrete properties, both separately and combined. When applied separately, CRT glass and TiO 2 exhibited reduced bending strength; however, when put together, bending strength improved. TiO 2 decreased the unpolished slip resistance value (USRV) of flags while CRT glass reduced wear resistance. Although the infiltration rate was greatly improved, neither component had a substantial impact on water absorption. Environmental impact assessment results support the safety of use of both materials in paving flags. Finally, by using CRT glass and micro TiO 2 , innovative, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective paving product can be produced for sustainable development improvement within pavement engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the "ESKAPE" group of serious pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii is under a great concern worldwide. This microorganism has become a leading nosocomial pathogen of the 21th century, and numerous studies are focused on the epidemiology, resistance and control measures of this pathogen in the hospital setting. The epidemiology and molecular basis of resistance of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii in Croatia over the last two decades has changed significantly in most health institutions, with a high percentage of resistance to carbapenems, quinolones and aminoglycosides, and the presence of multiresistant isolates. In this review, emphasis was placed on the results of research on epidemiology and resistance of clinical isolates from Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six mixtures of single-sized pervious concrete were prepared with three different types of aggregates (dolomite, diabase, and steel slag from a Croatian landfill near the town of Sisak) and with two different aggregate fractions (4–8 mm and 8–16 mm). Each pervious concrete mixture contained 10% of sand from the Drava River. The hydrologic properties of the pervious concrete mixtures are compared in order to define the aggregate type that will ensure the best drainage properties. The draining capability was tested by three methods: the constant head and falling head methods on the small samples, and the standard test method for testing the infiltration rate of in-place pervious concrete by ASTM C 1701-09. The possibility of pervious concrete application as a surface layer in pavement construction in the European area is estimated according to the achieved mechanical properties. The optimal aggregate type for preparing pervious concrete from the hydrologic point of view is diabase because of its sharp grain edges, which allow the water to pass smoothly through the pore system. None of the studied mixtures satisfied the set criteria on the mechanical properties of concrete for the surface layer of pavements in the European area. However, it is observed that the coarser aggregate fraction will result in better hydraulic and mechanical properties of pervious concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of hospital and environmental Acinetobacter baumannii isolate biofilms on ceramics and glass to common disinfectants benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine. For this purpose we developed a new method for biofilm cultivation and quantification on ceramics. The biofilm bacteria were more resistant to disinfectants than the planktonic populations, as more than 50 % of the biofilm population and none of the planktonic population survived 5-minute exposure. Furthermore, biofilm populations on ceramic tiles were significantly more resistant than those on glass coverslips, even though the amount of biofilm was practically the same on ceramics and glass. The reason for reduced susceptibility of A. baumannii biofilms on ceramics may be related to surface/disinfection interactions. Our findings suggest that biofilms on ceramic surfaces can be an important source of A. baumannii infection in hospital environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of hospital and environmental Acinetobacter baumannii isolate biofilms on ceramics and glass to common disinfectants benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine. For this purpose we developed a new method for biofilm cultivation and quantification on ceramics. The biofilm bacteria were more resistant to disinfectants than the planktonic populations, as more than 50 % of the biofilm population and none of the planktonic population survived 5-minute exposure. Furthermore, biofilm populations on ceramic tiles were significantly more resistant than those on glass coverslips, even though the amount of biofilm was practically the same on ceramics and glass. The reason for reduced susceptibility of A. baumannii biofilms on ceramics may be related to surface/disinfection interactions. Our findings suggest that biofilms on ceramic surfaces can be an important source of A. baumannii infection in hospital environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the elastic and mechanical properties of a new type of cement-stabilised material made with steel slag, varying the content of cement and steel slag. To study the elastic properties of these mixes, we measured their density, compressive strength and ultrasound pulse velocity at curing ages of 7, 28 and 90 days. The aggregate type and curing age greatly affected the elastic properties and varied much depending on the cement content. The Poisson's ratio chosen in analyses had little influence on the dynamic modulus. Various expressions given by building codes were used to predict the elastic properties of the mixtures. These codes generated very different values of the static modulus of elasticity, making most of them unsuitable for predicting the elastic properties of cement-stabilised materials. Using our experimental data, we provide the best combination of existing equations to predict elastic properties, and we conclude that measuring the ultrasound pulse velocity is a suitable way to predict the mechanic and elastic properties of cement-stabilised materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate design of pavement behavior requires elastic properties of all the constituting layers. Measuring of elastic modulus on crude surfaces, by contact based mechanical devices, often results in a high dispersion of determined values. Therefore, application of multiple measurement methods on six different mixtures is presented, among which an innovative approach using spatial digital image correlation. Obtained results indicate that there is a strong correlation between the compressive strength and the dynamic and static modulus. Thus, by using presented equations it is possible to predict elastic properties of cement bound aggregate by measuring just one of the relevant parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new type of low-strength concrete made with steel slag and gravel was investigated in this report. Increasing the amount of cement or steel slag in the mix increased the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of the concrete. Additionally, the compressive and indirect tensile strength of the concrete increased with curing age. The strength of mixes with low cement contents increased with the slag content, while that of mixes with higher cement contents decreased with slag content. Finally, the average indirect tensile strength for all mixes as a percentage of compressive strength was ∼14%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tuberculous meningitis is the most serious form of tuberculosis and carries a high mortality and morbidity despite the availability of effective chemotherapeutic agents. Poor response to therapy or death is often due to failure to begin appropriate therapy in the early stages of the disease. We report a rare case of tuberculous meningitis in a 7-month old infant following unsuccessful vaccination and close exposure to adult uncle who died from pulmonary tuberculosis when she was 3 months old. The described case points out serious possibility of pulmonary tuberculosis with meningitis in non-vaccinated or unsuccessfully vaccinated children and importance of the chemoprophylaxis in infants who were exposed to tuberculous infection, as well as early discovery and treatment of illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the influence of clogging on paving material (pervious concrete) drainage characteristics as well as the influence of the properties of an unbound base layer on drainage characteristics of the whole paving system. The clogging influence has been studied measuring the drainage characteristics on pervious concrete flags before and after their clogging, according to ASTM C1701-09. Additionally, the drainage characteristics of uncontaminated pervious concrete as a paving material was assessed using the falling head method. To assess the influence of properties of an unbound base course (UBC) on drainage characteristics of the whole paving system, the unbound base layer was compacted in two different levels of compaction and the drainage characteristics were measured (according to ASTM C1701-09). It is concluded that pervious concrete prepared with a smaller aggregate fraction is more prone to clogging. Regarding the influence of UBC, it is important to find a balance between pervious concrete infiltration and UBC exfiltration rate, particularly in a case of pervious concrete flags made of coarse aggregate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural biomass ash is a waste material produced by incineration of residue from fields after harvesting crops. The use of agricultural biomass in industry produces large quantities of ash that represent an ecological problem. Another ecological problem is the dependency of road building on natural materials, which has been traditionally used for all pavement layers. Today, roads are built on less accessible and suitable terrains, increasing the need for improving the mechanical characteristics of locally available materials by various means of stabilisation. Within this research, three agricultural biomass fly ashes are used as lime substitutes for hydraulically stabilised soil. The purpose of this research is evaluation of potential use of agricultural biomass fly ash for the soil stabilisation of road works, i.e., for embankment and subgrade purposes. The results indicate that there is a potential of using barley, sunflower seed shells and wheat fly ash as lime substitutes in the soil stabilisation of road works. The strength characteristics of stabilised soil incorporating biomass fly ash are highly dependent on its chemical composition. Using a three-dimensional digital image correlation technique, it is concluded that the elastic properties of stabilised soil correlate to a fracture mechanism that can be efficiently defined by this modern research tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidrug-resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii cause serious hospital infections. Commercial poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) used for endotracheal tubes was modified in order to obtain a composite with an antibacterial effect towards a clinical isolate of A. baumannii ST145. The composites were prepared by addition of different amounts of copper-containing zeolite tuff (CuZ) and by successive impregnation with D-tyrosine (D-Tyr) solution. The composites that were obtained by addition of CuZ (CuZ-PVC) only did not exhibit an antibacterial effect. The impregnation of the CuZ-PVC by D-Tyr resulted in an antibacterial effect which was explained by a synergistic effect of CuZ and D-Tyr. Rheological tests confirmed that the modification of PVC by CuZ does not affect its processability and reformability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use reconstructed star formation (SF) histories of quiescent galaxies at z = 0.6–1 in the Large Early Galaxy Astrophysics Census survey to identify secondary SF episodes that, after an initial period of quiescence, moved the galaxies back to the star-forming main sequence (blue cloud). 16 ± 3% of the z ∼ 0.8 quiescent population has experienced such rejuvenation events in the redshift range of 0.7 < z < 1.5 after reaching quiescence at some earlier time. On average, these galaxies first became quiescent at z = 1.2, and those that rejuvenated, remained quiescent for ∼1 Gyr before their secondary SF episode, which lasted ∼0.7 Gyr. The stellar mass attributed to rejuvenation is on average 10% of the galaxy stellar mass, with rare instances of an increase of more than a factor of 2. Overall, rejuvenation events only contribute ∼2% of the total stellar mass in z ∼ 0.8 quiescent galaxies and we conclude that rejuvenation is not an important evolutionary channel when considering the growth of the red sequence. However, our results complicate the interpretation of galaxy demographics in color space: the galaxies with rejuvenation events tend to lie in the so-called "green valley," yet their progenitors were quiescent at z ∼ 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The long-standing goal in the field of peptide antibiotics has been to design lead compounds that have a wide spectrum of excellent antibacterial activity but are nontoxic to human cells. Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria have very different membranes, which are additionally modified in some drug-resistant species, presenting a challenge for the design of a single membrane-active peptide able to adapt its conformation to various physical properties of membrane microenvironments. In this paper, we describe how a peptide sequence can be constructed starting from an adaptable dynamic turn tandem motif in a central location. The peptide, named flexampin, has been examined firstly by molecular dynamics simulations. It uses a flexible central motif and designed helix-forming cationic amphipathic arms to form a boomerang-like, L-shape, V-shape, and hairpin, super-secondary structures, whichever is the best in matching amphipathic and hydrophobic microenvironments it encounters. Secondly, activity measurements showed that flexampin is bactericidal at low micromolar concentrations against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains including some multidrug resistant clinical isolates, while it is nontoxic for human circulating blood cells, does not cause DNA damage, and has good selectivity for bacterial cells in comparison to human cells. It is the first membrane-active peptide designed with the ability to self-adjust the orientation of its two cationic helical arms, 3D-hydrophobic moment, and dipole moment for obtaining a better grasp of anionic polar head groups at bacterial membrane surfaces. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • In silico designed peptide can adjust its structure to membrane surface charge. • Flexible central hinge enables increased activity against bacterial strains. • Orientation & magnitude of dipole moment favor entrance into anionic membrane. • Molecular dynamics simulations connect structural changes to selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides often show broad-spectrum activity due to a mechanism based on bacterial membrane disruption, which also reduces development of permanent resistance, a desirable characteristic in view of the escalating multidrug resistance problem. Host cell toxicity however requires design of artificial variants of natural AMPs to increase selectivity and reduce side effects. Kiadins were designed using rules obtained from natural peptides active against E. coli and a validated computational algorithm based on a training set of such peptides, followed by rational conformational alterations. In vitro activity, tested against ESKAPE strains (ATCC and clinical isolates), revealed a varied activity spectrum and cytotoxicity that only in part correlated with conformational flexibility. Peptides with a higher proportion of Gly were generally less potent and caused less bacterial membrane alteration, as observed by flow cytometry and AFM, which correlate to structural characteristics as observed by circular dichroism spectroscopy and predicted by molecular dynamics calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising candidates for new antibiotic classes but often display an unacceptably high toxicity towards human cells. A naturally produced C-terminal fragment of PGLa, named PGLa-H, has been reported to have a very low haemolytic activity while maintaining a moderate antibacterial activity. A sequential tandem repeat of this fragment, di PGLa-H, was designed, as well as an analogue with a Val to Gly substitution at a key position. These peptides showed markedly improved in vitro bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against both reference strains and multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, with generally low toxicity for human cells as assessed by haemolysis, cell viability, and DNA damage assays. The glycine substitution analogue, kiadin, had a slightly better antibacterial activity and reduced haemolytic activity, which may correlate with an increased flexibility of its helical structure, as deduced using molecular dynamics simulations. These peptides may serve as useful lead compounds for developing anti-infective agents against resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to test the antibacterial activity of Pinus pinaster aqueous bark extract (PABE) and its basic components against multidrug-resistant isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii belonging to European clone I and II, isolated previously from the clinical outbreaks. The minimum bactericidal concentration of PABE against both clones of A. baumannii was 200 mg ml-1, while lower concentrations showed high antibacterial activity. After 24 h of treatment with 100, 50 or 10 mg ml-1 of extract, the reduction in the number of A. baumannii isolates belonging to European clone I and II was 85.8 ± 2.5 %, 78.5 ± 1.1 %, 66.3 ± 2.5 % and 90.2 ± 1.7 %, 78.6 ± 1.2 %, 69.8 ± 0.7 %, respectively. Several basic components: caffeic acid, catechin, epicatechin, gallic acid and vanillin, detected in the extract by high performance liquid chromatography, contributed to the antibacterial activity of the extract against both clones of A. baumannii. However, the antibacterial activity of extract was higher than that of each tested basic component suggesting that proanthocyanidins, which were present in quite a large amount in the extract, might have also contributed to the activity of the extract. Antibacterial activity of PABE against A. baumannii reveals that complex and inexpensive natural product might be useful in combat against naturally competent bacteria that easily acquire resistance against antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a rule, asbestosis is a disease of workers who are occupationally exposed to inhalation of asbestos dust, leaving permanent alterations on the lung parenchyma or pleura. In our ten-year study, we investigated 318 workers with pleural asbestosis from whom we took medical history which included occupational exposure to asbestos, radiological examinations and lung function, which is mandatory for the diagnosis and the follow up of the disease. We analysed functional parameters such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and intermediate forced expiratory flow at 25 % to 75 % (FEF25 %-75 %). In addition, we investigated the predicted values of functional parameters according to smoking and non-smoking habits. We found a significant reduction in vital capacity, particularly in smokers after 25 years of exposure to asbestos. During the first 15 years, values of vital capacity on the group basis remained inside the 80 % of the normal values and were not significant for assessing the dynamics of the lung function. To better assess the effects of occupational asbestos exposure, it is necessary to interpret lung function data not only on the group basis, but also for each subject individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We report a case of a 21-year-old man with recurrent tonsillitis caused by Mycobacteriumtuberculosis. For a period of 5 months, the patient had tonsillitis seven times and was treated with several oral or parenteral antibiotics. On one of these occasions, tonsillitis was complicated with a peritonsillar abscess that was treated by incision. According to relevant bibliographic data, this is the first case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis confirmed by direct molecular microbiology methods from the tonsillar tissue of a young immunocompetent male reported in Europe. In a case of recurrent tonsillitis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection should be considered as a possible cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of peptides has long been studied, and the number of peptides identified with both activities has recently increased considerably. In this work, we hypothesized that designed peptides with a wide spectrum of selective antimicrobial activity will also have anticancer activity, and tested this hypothesis with newly designed peptides. The spectrum of peptides, used as partial or full design templates, ranged from cell-penetrating peptides and putative bacteriocin to those from the simplest animals (placozoans) and the Chordata phylum (anurans). We applied custom computational tools to predict amino acid substitutions, conferring the increased product of bacteriostatic activity and selectivity. Experiments confirmed that better overall performance was achieved with respect to that of initial templates. Nine of our synthesized helical peptides had excellent bactericidal activity against both standard and multidrug-resistant bacteria. These peptides were then compared to a known anticancer peptide polybia-MP1, for their ability to kill prostate cancer cells and dermal primary fibroblasts. The therapeutic index was higher for seven of our peptides, and anticancer activity stronger for all of them. In conclusion, the peptides that we designed for selective antimicrobial activity also have promising potential for anticancer applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]