Search

Abstract We investigate how the Next-Two-Higgs Doublet Model extension (N2HDM) should look if we are to address the naturalness problem using dimensional regularization. In such a model, new Higgs states are predicted, namely: three CP-even $$h_{1,2,3}$$ h 1 , 2 , 3 , one CP-odd A, and a pair of charged Higgs boson $$H^\pm $$ H ± . Our calculations of the overall quadratic divergences have been performed with full consistency with the latest data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) concerning the observed 125 GeV Higgs boson, alongside precision electroweak data tests and lower mass limits on charged Higgs boson. It is shown that the quadratically divergent quantum corrections $$\delta _i$$ δ i (i=1,2,3) for the three CP-even Higgs bosons are controllably small, though hidden fine-tuning might still be required. This reveals a significant impact on the model parameter space, Higgs spectrum mass and notably the singlet-doublet admixture.

IntroductionMany beneficial compounds found in fig leaves can be used in tea and medicine. These compounds aid with digestion, reduce inflammation, and treat diabetes and bronchitis. Chetoui, Malha, Ghoudane, and Onk Hmam fig leaf hydro-ethanol extracts from Eastern Morocco were analyzed for metabolites and biological activities.Methods, results, and discussion:HPLC-UV examination revealed that the leaf extract included mainly caffeine, rutin, and ferrulic acid. Spectrophometric results show that Malha leaf is rich in polyphenols (62.6 ± 1.3 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (26.2 ± 0.1 mg QE/g). Chetoui leaf contains the highest vitamin C content (8.2 ± 0.1 mg Asc A/100 g DW), while Onk Hmam leaf has the highest condensed tannin (4.9 ± 0.1 mg CatE/g). The investigations found that all leaf extracts were antioxidant-rich, with strong Pearson bivariate correlation between bioactive polyphenol levels and antioxidant tests for DPPH, β-carotene, ABTS, and TAC (values of −0.93, −0.94, −0.85, and 0.98, respectively). The coefficients for flavonoid content were −0.89, −0.89, −0.97, and 0.80, respectively. Disk diffusion and MIC results show that the hydro-ethanol fig leaf extracts eliminate fungi and bacteria. In addition, these fig leaf extracts showed promise cytotoxicity against the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-436 and an interesting selectivity index. In silico leaf bioactive component analysis revealed that myricitin inhibited NADPH oxidase the greatest (gscore −6.59 Kcal/mol). Trans-ferulic acid inhibits Escherichia coli beta-ketoacyl-[acyl carrier protein] synthase (−6.55 kcal/mol), whereas quercetin inhibits Staphylococcus aureus nucleoside diphosphate kinase (−8.99). CYP51 from Candida albicans is best treated with kaempferol and myricitin. Both had a glide gscore of −7.84 kcal/mol. Rutin has the most potent Sespace 3 anticancer activity, with a glide gscore of −7.09 kcal/mol.ConclusionThis research indicates that fig leaf extracts from the region can be used in medicine, food, natural cosmetics, and breast cancer prevention. To maximize the value of these leaves, their use must be carefully studied. Naturally, this fortunate tree’s diversity must be preserved and enhanced.

Purpose – Using a generalized translation operator, this study aims to obtain a generalization of Titchmarsh's theorem for the Laguerre–Bessel transform for functions satisfying the ψ-Laguerre–Bessel–Lipschitz condition in the space L2α (K), where K=0,+∞×0,+∞[. Design/methodology/approach – The author has employed the results developed by Titchmarsh, of reference number [1]. Findings – In this paper, an analogous of Titchmarsh's theorem is established for Laguerre–Bessel transform. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ findings, at the time of submission of this paper, the results reported are new and interesting.

Abstract In this study, we aim to see how much the actual measurement of the Z+photon and di-photon signal strength, $$\mu _{\gamma \gamma }$$ μ γ γ and $$\mu _{\gamma Z}$$ μ γ Z , could influence the allowed parameter space of the Inert Doublet Model (IDM), and to what extent such measurement can be aligned with the latest bound from XenonNT experiment on the spin-independent dark-matter-nucleon scattering cross-section. Also, by considering the new embedded scalars in the IDM (i.e., S, A and $$H^\pm $$ H ± ), a wide investigation of the one-loop radiative corrections to the trilinear Higgs coupling hhh has been made in the light of the previous measurements.

An eco-friendly approach was used to fabricate zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using thyme, Thymus vulgaris L., leaf extract. The produced ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. The ZnO NPs showed remarkable adsorption efficiency for tetracycline (TC) from water systems, with a maximum removal rate of 95% under optimal conditions (10 ppm, 0.10 g of ZnO NPs, pH 8.5, and 30 min at 25 °C). The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-2nd-order model, and the adsorption process fitted the Temkin isotherm model. The process was spontaneous, endothermic, and primarily chemisorptive. Quantum chemistry calculations, utilizing electrostatic potential maps and HOMO-LUMO gap analysis, have confirmed the stability of the TC clusters. This study suggests that green synthesis using plant extracts presents an opportunity to generate nanoparticles with properties suitable for real-world applications.

The catalytic reduction of organic pollutants in water is a critical environmental challenge due to the persistent and hazardous nature of compounds like azo dyes and nitrophenols. In this study, we synthesized nanostructured CuO/TiO2 catalysts via a combustion technique, followed by calcination at 700 °C to achieve a rutile-phase TiO2 structure with varying copper loadings (5–40 wt.%). The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis (TGA–DTA), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The XRD results confirmed the presence of the crystalline rutile phase in the CuO/TiO2 catalysts, with additional peaks indicating successful copper oxide loading onto TiO2. The FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of all the functional groups in the prepared samples. SEM images revealed irregularly shaped copper oxide and agglomerated TiO2 particles. The DRS results revealed improved optical properties and a decreased bandgap with increased Cu content, and 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) and methyl orange (MO), which were chosen for their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nonbiodegradable properties, were used as model organic pollutants. Catalytic activities were tested by reducing 4-NP and MO with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of a CuO/TiO2 catalyst. Following the in situ reduction of CuO/TiO2, Cu (NPs)/TiO2 was formed, achieving 98% reduction of 4-NP in 480 s and 98% reduction of MO in 420 s. The effects of the NaBH4 concentration and catalyst mass were investigated. The catalysts exhibited high stability over 10 reuse cycles, maintaining over 96% efficiency for MO and 94% efficiency for 4-NP. These findings demonstrate the potential of nanostructured CuO/TiO2 catalysts for environmental remediation through efficient catalytic reduction of organic pollutants.

The Newark Basin comprises Late Triassic and Early Jurassic fluvio-lacustrine rocks (Stockton, Lockatong, Passaic, Feltville, Towaco, and Boonton Formations) and Early Jurassic diabase intrusions and basalt lava flows. Boron concentrations in private well water samples range up to 18,000 μg/L, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health Advisory of 2000 μg/L for children and 5000 μg/L for adults. Boron was analyzed in minerals, rocks, and water samples using FUS-ICPMS, LA-ICP-MS, and MC ICP-MS, respectively. Boron concentrations reach up to 121 ppm in sandstone of the Passaic Formation, 42 ppm in black shale of the Lockatong Formation, 31.2 ppm in sandstone of the Stockton Formation, and 36 ppm in diabase. The δ11B isotopic values of groundwater range from 16.7 to 32.7‰, which fall within those of the diabase intrusion (25 to 31‰). Geostatistical analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveals that boron is associated with clay minerals in black shales and with Na-bearing minerals (possibly feldspar and evaporite minerals) in sandstones. The PCA also shows that boron is not associated with any major phases in diabase intrusion, and is likely remobilized from the surrounding rocks by the intrusion-related late hydrothermal fluids and subsequently incorporated into diabase. Calcite veins found within the Triassic rock formations exhibit relatively elevated concentrations ranging from 6.3 to 97.3 ppm and may contain micro-inclusions rich in boron. Based on the available data, it is suggested that the primary sources of boron contaminating groundwater in the area are clay minerals in black shales, Na-bearing minerals in sandstone, diabase intrusion-related hydrothermal fluids, and a contribution from calcite veins.

We report the synthesis of two novel halogenated nitro-arylhimachalene derivatives: 2-bromo-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-1-nitro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulene (bromo-nitro-arylhimachalene) and 2-chloro-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dinitro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulene (chloro-dinitro-arylhimachalene). These compounds were derived from arylhimachalene, an important sesquiterpene component of Atlas cedar essential oil, via a two-step halogenation and nitration process. Characterization was performed using 1H and 13C NMR spectrometry, complemented by X-ray structural analysis. Quantum chemical calculations employing density functional theory (DFT) with the Becke3-Lee-Yang-parr (B3LYP) functional and a 6-31++G(d,p) basis set were conducted. The optimized geometries of the synthesized compounds were consistent with X-ray structure data. Frontier molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) profiles were identified and discussed. DFT reactivity indices provided insights into the compounds’ behaviors. Moreover, Hirshfeld surface and 2D fingerprint analyses revealed significant intermolecular interactions within the crystal structures, predominantly H–H and H–O contacts. Molecular docking studies demonstrate strong binding affinities of the synthesized compounds to the active site of protein 7B2W, suggesting potential therapeutic applications against various isolated smooth muscles and neurotransmitters.

In this research, the chemical compositions of various extracts obtained from Ulva lactuca, a type of green seaweed collected from the Nador lagoon in the northern region of Morocco, were compared. Their antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties were also studied. Using GC–MS technology, the fatty acid content of the samples was analyzed, revealing that palmitic acid, eicosenoic acid, and linoleic acid were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids present in all samples. The HPLC analysis indicated that sinapic acid, naringin, rutin, quercetin, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, apigenin, flavone, and flavanone were the most prevalent phenolic compounds. The aqueous extract obtained by maceration showed high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with values of 379.67 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 212.11 ± 0.11 mg QE/g, respectively. This extract also exhibited an impressive ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, as indicated by its IC50 value of 0.095 ± 0.12 mg/mL. Additionally, the methanolic extract obtained using the Soxhlet method demonstrated antioxidant properties by preventing β-carotene discoloration, with an IC50 of 0.087 ± 0.14 mg/mL. Results from in-vitro studies showed that extracts from U. lactuca were able to significantly inhibit the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Among the various extracts, methanolic extract (S) has been identified as the most potent inhibitor, exhibiting a statistically similar effect to that of acarbose. Furthermore, molecular docking models were used to evaluate the interaction between the primary phytochemicals found in these extracts and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. These findings suggest that U. lactuca extracts contain bioactive substances that are capable of reducing enzyme activity more effectively than the commercially available drug, acarbose.

Most bread wheat is consumed after processing, which mainly depends on the quantity and quality of protein in the grain. Storage protein content and composition particularly influence the end use quality of milled grain products. Storage proteins are components of the gluten network that confer dough viscoelasticity, an essential property for processing. To explore grain storage protein diversity, 75 bread wheat accessions were grown with two replicates each at two locations. Grains were harvested at maturity and samples were phenotyped for each site and each replicate plant. Grain hardness, thousand-kernel weight and grain nitrogen content were measured. The protein composition of flour from each replicate was characterised by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The molecular distribution of flour polymers was determined by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) and dough technological properties were assessed using a Glutomatic system and a Chopin alveograph. In addition, the 75 accessions were genotyped by the BreedWheat 35k genotyping array (Axiom TaBW35K) containing 34,746 single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs).The dataset produced by this work includes six files with raw data, two files with protocols and figures. Data show the genotypic and phenotypic variabilities of the material used and can be used to explore genetic and environmental effects on traits involved in grain protein quality.This dataset is associated to the research article “Differences in bread protein digestibility traced to wheat cultivar traits” [1].

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the quadratic divergences using dimensional regularization within the context of the Standard Model (SM) extended by two real scalar singlets (TRSM). This extension provides three neutral scalar fields that mix, after developing its VEVs, leading to three CP-even Higgs bosons, namely, $$h_1$$ h 1 , $$h_2$$ h 2 and $$h_3$$ h 3 , which would offer a wide phenomenology at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), as reported recently. Furthermore, to fulfill the Veltman conditions for those three fields, we concentrate on the one-loop level ( $$d_L=2$$ d L = 2 ) of dimensional regularization calculations, assuming $$R_{\xi }$$ R ξ Feynman–’t Hooft gauge-invariant, $$\xi =1$$ ξ = 1 . We show that the divergence cancellation could take place in the framework of the TRSM for the SM-like Higgs boson predicting a stringent constraint on the space parameters as well as the new physics (NP) scale, and yet remain consistent with current experimental measurements at 13 TeV.

In the general framework of a program to improve the local production of common wheat by the Lebanese State, we have characterized the rheology of different bread wheat cultivars selected for their adaptation to semi-arid weather conditions. After a biochemical characterization [i.e. synthesis and accumulation of the major constituents of the grains (mainly storage proteins and starch)] of the plant material selected in a previous work, the main technological behavior of the flour that resulted from these grains and associated with bread-making properties was evaluated in the present study. Despite the selection of the plant material used in this study, the results demonstrate that environmental conditions inducing limitations in reserve accumulation [i.e. high gliadin content, very high level of polymerization/aggregation of polymeric prolamins, significant increase in the amylopectin/amylose ratio, modifications in the distribution of starch granules (A-type vs. B-type)] during grain filling affected the rheological behavior. The studied flours showed high wet and dry gluten contents, high Zeleny values, and a low gluten index value. They also showed high extensibility on the alveograph and extensograph and elevated dough strength on the farinograph, as well as great water absorption. Furthermore, flours of the studied cultivars did not express their optimal rheological potential in spite of their favorable glutenin subunit composition.

Wheat bran (WB) consists mainly of different histological cell layers (pericarp, testa, hyaline layer and aleurone). WB contains large quantities of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), including arabinoxylans (AX) and β-glucans. These dietary fibres have long been studied for their health effects on management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cancer. NSP benefits depend on their dose and molecular characteristics, including concentration, viscosity, molecular weight, and linked-polyphenols bioavailability. Given the positive health effects of WB, its incorporation in different food products is steadily increasing. However, the rheological, organoleptic and other problems associated with WB integration are numerous. Biological, physical, chemical and combined methods have been developed to optimise and modify NSP molecular characteristics. Most of these techniques aimed to potentially improve food processing, nutritional and health benefits. In this review, the physicochemical, molecular and functional properties of modified and unmodified WB are highlighted and explored. Up-to-date research findings from the clinical trials on mechanisms that WB have and their effects on health markers are critically reviewed. The review points out the lack of research using WB or purified WB fibre components in randomized, controlled clinical trials.

In this study, a comparison was made of the chemical makeup of different extracts obtained from Gracilaria bursa-pastoris, a type of red seaweed that was gathered from the Nador lagoon situated in the northern part of Morocco. Additionally, their anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties were investigated. The application of GC-MS technology to analyze the fatty acid content of the samples revealed that linoleic acid and eicosenoic acid were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids across all samples, with palmitic acid and oleic acid following in frequency. The HPLC analysis indicated that ascorbic and kojic acids were the most prevalent phenolic compounds, while apigenin was the most common flavonoid molecule. The aqueous extract exhibited significant levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, registering values of 381.31 ± 0.33 mg GAE/g and 201.80 ± 0.21 mg QE/g, respectively. Furthermore, this particular extract demonstrated a remarkable ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, as evidenced by its IC50 value of 0.17 ± 0.67 mg/mL. In addition, the methanolic extract was found to possess antioxidant properties, as evidenced by its ability to prevent β-carotene discoloration, with an IC50 ranging from 0.062 ± 0.02 mg/mL to 0.070 ± 0.06 mg/mL. In vitro study showed that all extracts significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Finally, molecular docking models were applied to assess the interaction between the primary phytochemicals identified in G. bursa-pastoris extracts and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The findings suggest that these extracts contain bioactive substances capable of reducing enzyme activity more effectively than the commercially available drug acarbose.

Canola, Brassica napus L., is a major oilseed crop that has various uses in the food, feed, and industrial sectors. It is one of the most widely produced and consumed oilseeds in the world because of its high oil content and favorable fatty acid composition. Canola grains and their derived products, such as canola oil, meal, flour, and bakery products, have a high potential for food applications as they offer various nutritional and functional benefits. However, they are affected by various factors during the production cycle, post-harvest processing, and storage. These factors may compromise their quality and quantity by affecting their chemical composition, physical properties, functional characteristics, and sensory attributes. Therefore, it is important to optimize the production and processing methods of canola grains and their derived products to ensure their safety, stability, and suitability for different food applications. This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of how these factors affect the quality of canola grains and their derived products. The review also suggests future research needs and challenges for enhancing canola quality and its utilization in food.

Biosorbent materials represent an interesting alternative to classic methods of metal removal from industrial effluents. Acacia biomass showed a higher absorption capacity for heavy metals than living biomass. This study aimed to evaluate the bioadsorption of Lead and Cadmium onto Acacia Gummifera gum, using batch experiment. The structural characterization of the biosorbent was carried out using FT-IR, SEM, BET, TGA and DSC analysis. The adsorption equilibrium was reached within 15 min. A maximum uptake of 18.3 mg.g−1 Pb2+ and 9.57 mg.g−1 Cd2+ was achieved at pH 6.5. The metal ions seemed to be removed exclusively by ion exchange, physical sorption and chelation. The biomass of A. Gummifera powder was found to be effective for lead and cadmium removal with respectively 97% and 86% sorption efficiency at a concentration of 100 mg/L, in aqueous media. Parameters affecting adsorption capacities such as biosorbent dosage, initial metal concentration, temperature, and pH are discussed in detail. Furthermore, adsorption thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium were studied and fitted by different models. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms were used to compare adsorption data at equilibrium. The adsorption kinetics data were found to be best fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption isotherm was well fitted with the Langmuir model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG0, ΔS0 and ΔH0) indicated a spontaneous and exothermic biosorption of both metal ions onto Acacia Gummifera. Moreover, chromatograms obtained by size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering detection system (SECMALLS) showed the formation of complexes between the arabinogalactan-peptide (AGP) and glycoprotein (GP) Acacia moieties and the two studied metal ions. The analysis of the FTIR spectra of dried Acacia and that of Acacia loaded with lead and cadmium in aqueous media suggests that the surface functional groups such as amides and carboxy groups might be involved in the metal removal process.The extent of adsorption for both metals increased along with an increase of the A. Gummifera biomass dosage. A. Gummifera biomass, which is safe, of low-cost, and highly selective, seems therefore to be a promising substrate for simultaneous trapping of Pd and Cd ions in aqueous solutions.

As an intensification process of the unit operation of vegetable oil extraction, the cooking pre-treatment systematically results in damaging thermal degradations. However, recently, two thermomechanical expansion processes have been suggested and applied at industrial scales to pre-treat oilseeds: expansion and instant controlled pressure drop DIC. In both cases, it is a flash transformation from high-temperature/high-pressure to 100 °C/atmospheric pressure and 33 °C/vacuum phases, respectively. The use of DIC resulted in cumulative impact yields of 247 mg oil/g db, compared to 210, 230, and 224 for cracking, cracking/blocking, and expanding, respectively. To achieve the same yields obtained in 160 min for cracked or cracked/flaked soybean, the expander took 120 min against 35 min for DIC. Besides, thanks to the short heat treatment and the induced instant cooling, DIC allowed the highest preservation of soybean oil quality, with fatty acid concentrations almost identical to that of untreated seeds. Practical impacts: In the sector of the vegetal oil industry, researchers and engineers mostly look for increasing the extraction yields while preserving or improving the sensorial and biochemical quality of the oil. Henceforth, the modification of the oleaginous seed texture may usually be the major factor affecting and normally enhancing the capacity of extraction. Based on the improvement of material structure through adequate expansion, the higher the volume of vapor issued from the autovaporization throughout the instant controlled pressure-drop (DIC) technology, the higher the oil yields. Moreover, using the instantaneous thermodynamic theory, the feasibility of integrating DIC technology as an HTST treatment in the industrial-scale soybean extraction process could be performed and optimized without any biochemical degradation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of Lavandula officinalis from Morocco using the GC-MS technique and assess the antibacterial effects against seven pathogenic bacteria strains isolated from the food origins of Salmonella infantis, Salmonella kentucky, Salmonella newport, three serotypes of Escherichia coli (O114H8K11, O127K88ac, O127H40K11) and Klebsiella. Tests of sensitivity were carried out on a solid surface using the Disc Diffusion Method. Results showed that E. coli and S.newport were sensitive to Lavandula officinalis essential oil. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using the method of agar dilution. The antibacterial results showed that four strains (three serotypes of E. coli, and S. newport) were remarkedly sensitive to Lavandula officinalis essential oil, giving MIC values of 88.7 µg/mL and 177.5 µg/mL. The molecular docking of the main oil products with the E. coli target protein 1VLY, showed that eucalyptol and linalyl acetate bind efficiently with the active site of the target protein. In particular, eucalyptol showed a higher activity than gentamicin used as positive control with a binding energy of −5.72 kcal/mol and −5.55 kcal/mol, respectively.

An increasing burden of evidence is pointing toward pesticides as risk factors for chronic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, leading to metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to assess the impact of chlorpyrifos (CPF) on metabolic and bacteriologic markers. Female rats were exposed before and during gestation and during lactation to CPF (1 mg/kg/day). Outcomes such as weight, glucose and lipid profiles, as well as disturbances in selected gut bacterial levels, were measured in both the dams (at the end of the lactation period) and in their female offspring at early adulthood (60 days of age). The results show that the weight of CPF dams were lower compared to the other groups, accompanied by an imbalance in blood glucose and lipid markers, and selected gut bacteria. Intra-uterine growth retardation, as well as metabolic disturbances and perturbation of selected gut bacteria, were also observed in their offspring, indicating both a direct effect on the dams and an indirect effect of CPF on the female offspring. Co-treatment with inulin (a prebiotic) prevented some of the outcomes of the pesticide. Further investigations could help better understand if those perturbations mimic or potentiate nutritional risk factors for metabolic syndrome through high fat diet.

The need for biodegradable and biocompatible polymers is growing quickly, particularly in the biomedical and environmental industries. Cellulose acetate, a natural polysaccharide, can be taken from plants and modified with polycaprolactone to improve its characteristics for a number of uses, including biomedical applications and food packaging. Cellulose acetate-g-polycaprolactone was prepared by a three-step reaction: First, polymerization of ε-caprolactone via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) reaction using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and functionalization of polycaprolactone(PCL) by introducing NCO on the hydroxyl end of the HEMA-PCL using hexamethyl lenediisocyanate(HDI) were carried out. Then, the NCO–HEMA-PCL was grafted onto cellulose acetate (using the “grafting to” method). The polycaprolactone grafted cellulose acetate was confirmed by FTIR, the thermal characteristics of the copolymers were investigated by DSC and TGA, and the hydrophobicity was analyzed via water CA measurement. Introducing NCO-PCL to cellulose acetate increased the thermal stability. The contact angle of the unreacted PCL was higher than that of cellulose acetate-g-PCL, and it increased when the chain length increased. The CA-g-PCL50, CA-g-PCL100, and CA-g-PCL200 showed very high inhibition zones for all three bacteria tested (E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa).

Minor compounds in vegetable oils are of health interest due to their powerful biological antioxidant properties. In order to extend the shelf life of sunflower oil, it is generally subjected to a refining process that can affect these desirable compounds. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of this chemical/physical refining process on selected minor components of sunflower oil in order to establish the nutritional quality and health properties of the oil. The oxidative stability, contents of fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, reducing capacity, β-carotene, chlorophyll, and squalene were studied during six refining steps. Quantitative data showed the evolution of oil quality according to its degree of refinement. The results showed a significant decrease for all of the minor compounds analyzed, with losses in carotenoids of 98.6%, 8.5% in tocopherols, 19.5% in phytosterols and 45.0% in squalene. The highest reductions were recorded for the compounds that alter the most the visual aspects of the oil (waxes, carotenoids and chlorophylls) whereas reduction was limited for the compounds with no impact on the organoleptic quality. The losses in the compounds of health interest should be minimized by improving the refining processes and/or having a greater content of those molecules in crude oil by breeding new performing varieties.

We measured maternal and fetal outcomes for black South African women of age 35 years and above, compared with younger controls. The study was carried out at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Maternity Hospital and the Soweto Community Health Centres, that provide maternity services for urban black pregnant women. This was a retrospective pregnancy cohort, comparing pregnant women aged 35 and above with a control group aged 20-29 years. Early pregnancy losses (<20 weeks) were excluded. There were 1047 women in each arm of the study. Frequencies of hypertension (22.8%), gestational diabetes (0.9%), and prelabour rupture of the membranes (6.9%) were significantly higher for older women. Perinatal mortality rates (42/1000 vs. 33/1000) did not differ significantly. Antepartum admission, induction of labour, caesarean section and neonatal admission were required more frequently in older women. We conclude that pregnancy at age 35 years and above is often difficult and expensive, requiring hospital based interventions to maintain a low perinatal mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the introduction of local soft wheat varieties, the Lebanese state has implemented, during recent years, an improvement program to select plant material with good productivity in semi-arid conditions that can lead to national production that can, at the same time, meet quality needs expressed by Lebanese processors. In the present study, the main biochemical components of grains conventionally associated with bread-making properties (storage proteins, starch polysaccharides) were physiochemically characterized for a panel of local soft wheat varieties selected. During the two consecutive years of cultivation, the post-flowering thermal constraints significantly modified the kinetics of accumulation of the major constituents by mainly limiting the grain filling time. The level of polymerization/aggregation (i.e., gliadin/glutenin ratio, unextractable polymeric protein (UPP) amount, molecular weight average of glutenins) of prolamins was very high. The reduction in the amount of starch was accompanied by a significant change in the amylopectin/amylose ratio. Finally, the genotypes studied were characterized by significantly different distributions of starch granules; the percentage of the volume occupied by A-type and B-type starch granules varied between genotypes for the two cropping years. All these observations must be considered because of their determining role in the technological aptitude of the flours generated.

Astaxanthin is a marine carotenoid that has a number of potential health benefits, including a very strong antioxidant potential. Present in the flesh of salmonids and shellfish, its natural sources currently on the market for food supplements come from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis and krill. However other natural sources can be found and may be of interest. Cellular uptake studies were performed on Caco-2/TC7 colonic cells. The cells were cultured on a semi-permeable membrane to create a polarized and functional epithelium, representative of the intestinal barrier. Four sources of astaxanthin were selected and compared; synthetic, natural extracts from bacteria, algae or yeast. Astaxanthin was incorporated at a concentration of 5µM into mixed micelles and applied to cultured cells and concentration of astaxanthin measured by HPLC in both apical and basolateral compartments. Small variations in bioavailability were observed at 3 hours. After 6 hours, only the algae source of astaxanthin was still present in the apical compartment as the esterified form. Structure-activity relationships are further discussed. Animal experiments using yeast and algae sources in different types of matrices confirm the role of source and formulation in the bioavailability potential of astaxanthin.

This study investigates genetic and environmental variation in starch content and characteristics of 14 French bread cultivars. Understanding the impact of these factors on wheat quality is important for processors and especially bakers to maintain and meet the requirements of industrial specifications. Different traits were evaluated: starch content, distribution of starch granules, percentage of amylose and amylopectin and their molecular characteristics (weight-average molar mass, number-average molar mass, polydispersity and gyration radius). Genetic, environment and their interaction had significant effects on all parameters. The relative magnitude of variance attributed to growth conditions, for most traits, was substantially higher (21% to 95%) than that attributed to either genotype (2% to 73%) or G × E interaction (2% to 17%). The largest environmental contribution (95%) to total variance was found for starch dispersity. The highest genetic influence was found for the percentage of A-type starch granules. G × E interaction had relatively little influence (≈7%) on total phenotypic variance. All molecular characteristics were much more influenced by environment than the respective percentages of amylose and amylopectin were. This huge difference in variance between factors obviously revealed the importance of the effect of growing conditions on characteristics of cultivars.

We characterized the molecular weight distribution of polymeric proteins (PP) of bread wheat grains using asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (A4F). The experiment, involving six environmental conditions and 130 cultivars, offered the opportunity to approach the phenotypic values of the polymer characteristics and their contribution of the rheological properties of flours and/or doughs. The contents of high-molecular-weight polymers (MW > 2 × 106 g·mol−1) that can be considered as “rheologically active polymers” (RAPP) for their major contribution to dough baking strength and mixing tolerance were mainly controlled by environmental factors. Under the influence of the growing conditions, at the cellular level, the redox status of non-protein free thiol, such as glutathione, is modified and leads to the formation of polymeric protein-bound glutathione conjugates (PPSSG). The accumulation of these conjugates reduces the formation of the RAPP by limiting the intermolecular interactions between PP in the grain during desiccation. This phenomenon is, therefore, potentially responsible for decreases in the technological properties of the wheat genotypes concerned. These first results invite us to continue our investigations to fully confirm this phenomenon, with emphasis on the behavior of wheat genotypes under various growing conditions.

The polymers of wheat glutenins are studied here using asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (A4F). Molecular mass (Mw), gyration radius (Rw), and the polydispersity index (PI) of polymers were measured over a four-year, multi-local wheat trial in France. The experiment, involving 11 locations and 192 cultivars, offered the opportunity to approach the genetic and environmental factors associated with the phenotypic values of the polymer characteristics. These characteristics, which were all highly influenced by environmental factors, exhibited low broad-sense heritability coefficients and were not influenced by grain protein content and grain hardness. The 31 alleles encoding the glutenin subunits explained only 17.1, 25.4, and 16.8% of the phenotypic values of Mw, Rw, and PI, respectively. The climatic data revealed that a 3.5 °C increase between locations of the daily average temperature, during the last month of the grain development, caused an increase of more than 189%, 242%, and 434% of the Mw, Rw, and PI, respectively. These findings have to be considered in regard to possible consequences of global warming and health concerns assigned to gluten. It is suggested that the molecular characteristics of glutenins be measured today, especially for research addressing non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).

Early-life microbial exposure is of particular importance to growth, immune system development and long-lasting health. Hence, early microbiota composition is a promising predictive biomarker for health and disease but still remains poorly characterized in regards to susceptibility to diarrhoea. In the present study, we aimed to assess if gut bacterial community diversity and composition during the suckling period were associated with differences in susceptibility of pigs to post-weaning diarrhoea. Twenty piglets from 5 sows (4 piglets / litter) were weaned in poor housing conditions to challenge their susceptibility to post-weaning diarrhoea. Two weeks after weaning, 13 pigs exhibited liquid faeces during 2 or 3 days and were defined as diarrhoeic (D) pigs. The other 7 pigs did not have diarrhea during the whole post-weaning experimental periodand were defined as healthy (H) pigs. Using a molecular characterisation of fecal microbiota with CE-SSCP fingerprint, Next Generation Sequencing and qPCR, we show that D and H pigs were mainly discriminated as early as postnatal day (PND) 7, i.e. 4 weeks before post-weaning diarrhoea occurence. At PND 7 H pigs displayed a lower evenness and a higher abundance of Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminocacaceae and Lactobacillaceae compared to D pigs. The sPLS regression method indicates that these bacterial families were strongly correlated to a higher Bacteroidetes abundance observed in PND 30 H pigs one week before diarrhoea. These results emphasize the potential of early microbiota diversity and composition as being an indicator of susceptibility to post-weaning diarrhoea. Furthermore, they support the health promoting strategies of pig herds through gut microbiota engineering.

Increasing evidence indicates that chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus insecticide, is involved in metabolic disorders. We assess the hypothesis whether supplementation with prebiotics from gestation to adulthood, through a modulation of microbiota composition and fermentative activity, alleviates CPF induced metabolic disorders of 60 days old offspring. 5 groups of Wistar rats, from gestation until weaning, received two doses of CPF pesticide: 1 mg/kg/day (CPF1) or 3.5 mg/kg/day (CPF3.5) with free access to inulin (10g/L in drinking water). Then male pups received the same treatment as dams. Metabolic profile, leptin sensitivity, insulin receptor (IR) expression in liver, gut microbiota composition and short chain fatty acid composition (SCFAs) in the colon, were analyzed at postnatal day 60 in the offspring (PND 60). CPF3.5 increased offspring's birth body weight (BW) but decreased BW at PND60. Inulin supplementation restored the BW at PND 60 to control levels. Hyperinsulinemia and decrease in insulin receptor β in liver were seen in CPF1 exposed rats. In contrast, hyperglycemia and decrease in insulin level were found in CPF3.5 rats. Inulin restored the levels of some metabolic parameters in CPF groups to ranges comparable with the controls. The total bacterial population, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and butyrate levels were enhanced in CPF groups receiving inulin. Our data indicate that developmental exposure to CPF interferes with metabolism with dose related effects evident at adulthood. By modulating microbiota population and fermentative activity, inulin corrected adult metabolic disorders of rats exposed to CPF during development. Prebiotics supply may be thus considered as a novel nutritional strategy to counteract insulin resistance and diabetes induced by a continuous pesticide exposure.

The perovskite oxides XSnO 3 have garnered significant attention due to their potential applications in various fields, including electronics, photonics, and renewable energy technologies. This study presents a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of XSnO 3 (X: Ca, Mg, Sr) compounds with density functional theory based on the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method. Our analysis begins with thoroughly examining the structural stability and lattice parameters of XSnO 3 compounds, revealing their robust perovskite crystal structures. These compounds' lattice constants, total energy, bulk modulus, and cohesive energy were determined. Subsequently, we delve into the electronic properties of XSnO 3 , elucidating their electronic band structures, density of states, and charge densities. The studied compounds are indirect bandgap semiconductors having band gaps in the visible range. Furthermore, our investigation extends to the optical properties of XSnO 3 , encompassing absorption spectra, refractive indices, energy loss function, reflectivity, extinction coefficient, and dielectric functions across a wide range of wavelengths. Overall, the excellent optical properties of these compounds make them suitable for optoelectronic applications., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Materials such as oxide and halide perovskites that simultaneously exhibit spontaneous polarization and absorption of visible light are called photoferroelectrics. They hold great promise for the development of applications in optoelectronics, information storage, and energy conversion. Devices based on ferroelectric photovoltaic materials yield an open-circuit voltage that is much higher than the band gap of the corresponding active material owing to a strong internal electric field. Their efficiency has been proposed to exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit for ideal solar cells. In this paper, we present theoretical calculations of the photovoltaic properties of the ferroelectric phase of the inorganic germanium halide perovskite (CsGeI 3 ). Firstly, the electronic, optical and ferroelectric properties were calculated using the FP-LAPW method based on density functional theory, and the modern theory of polarization based on the Berry phase approach, respectively. The photovoltaic performance was evaluated using the Spectroscopic Limited Maximum Efficiency (SLME) model based on the results of first-principles calculations, in which the power conversion efficiency and the photocurrent density-voltage ( J - V ) characteristics were estimated. The calculated results show that the valence band maximum (VBM) of CsGeI 3 is mainly contributed by the I-5p and Ge-4s orbitals, whereas the conduction band is predominantly derived from Ge-4p orbitals. It can be seen that CsGeI 3 exhibits a direct bandgap semiconductor at the symmetric point of Z with a value of 1.53 eV, which is in good agreement with previous experimental results. The ferroelectric properties were therefore investigated. With a switching energy barrier of 19.83 meV per atom, CsGeI 3 has a higher theoretical ferroelectric polarization strength of 15.82 μC cm -2 . The SLME calculation also shows that CsGeI 3 has a high photoelectric conversion efficiency of over 28%. In addition to confirming their established favorable band gap and strong absorption, we demonstrate that CsGeI 3 exhibits a large shift current bulk photovoltaic effect of up to 40 μA V -2 in the visible region. Thus, this material is a potential ferroelectric photovoltaic absorbed layer with high efficiency., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

There is little published information on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals in Ghana. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with AMR, multi-drug resistance (MDR-resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) and colistin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in healthy pigs in Accra, Ghana. Rectal swabs obtained from the pigs on 20 farms from January to March 2022, were examined for Escherichia coli , Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae . AMR was determined using standard microbiological techniques and the mcr-1 gene detected through molecular analysis. Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from 197 of 200 pigs: these comprised 195 E. coli isolates, 38 Enterobacter spp. and 3 K. pneumoniae , either singly or combined. Over 60% of E. coli were resistant to tetracycline, with 27% and 34% being resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ampicillin, respectively; 23% of E. coli and 5% of Enterobacter spp. exhibited MDR phenotypes. Phenotypic colistin resistance was found in 8% of E. coli and Enterobacter spp., with the mcr-1 gene detected in half. Our study findings should be incorporated into on-going AMR, MDR and colistin resistance surveillance programs in Ghana. We further advocate for tailored-specific education for pig farmers on animal antimicrobial use and for strengthened regulatory policy on antimicrobial usage and monitoring in the animal production industry., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. The authors alone are responsible for the view expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the decisions and policies of their respective institutions.

Global response to climate-sensitive infectious diseases has been uncertain and slow. The understanding of the underlying vulnerabilities which forms part of changes created by forces within the Earth system has never before been critical until the coronavirus disease 2019, "COVID-19" pandemic with the initial developmental phase linked to weather elements and climate change. Hence, the heightened interest in climate-sensitive infectious diseases and GeoHealth, evident in the renewed calls for "One Health" approach to disease management. "One Health" explains the commonality of human and animal medicine, and links to the bio-geophysical environment, yet are at crossroads with how forces within the Earth system shape etiologies, incidences, and transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. Hence, the paper explores how these forces, which are multistage and driven by climate change impacts on ecosystems affect emerging infectious diseases, leading to the question "what drive the drivers of diseases?" Three questions that challenge broad theories of Earth system science on boundaries and connectivity emerged to guide study designs to further interrogating disease surveillance and health early warning systems. This is because, climate change (a) drives prevailing biological health hazards as part of forces within the Earth system, (b) shifts disease control services of ecosystems and functioning to effectively regulate disease incidence, and (c) modifies pathogen-species hosts relationships. Hence, the need to rethink pluralistic concepts of climate-sensitive diseases in their infection and management from a GeoHealth perspective, which "One Health" potentially conveys, and to also maintain ecosystem health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this study., (© 2022 The Authors. GeoHealth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Geophysical Union.)