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van der Waals (vdW) materials supporting phonon polaritons (PhPs) – light coupled to lattice vibrations – have gathered significant interest because of their intrinsic anisotropy and low losses. In particular, α-MoO3 supports PhPs with in-plane anisotropic propagation, which has been exploited to tune the optical response of twisted bilayers and trilayers. Additionally, various studies have explored the realization of polaritonic crystals (PCs) – lattices with periods comparable to the polariton wavelength. PCs consisting of hole arrays etched in α-MoO3 slabs exhibit Bragg resonances dependent on the angle between the crystallographic axes and the lattice vectors. However, such PC concept, with a fixed orientation and size of its geometrical parameters, constrains practical applications and introduces additional scattering losses due to invasive fabrication processes. Here, we demonstrate a novel PC concept that overcomes these limitations, enabling low-loss optical tuning. It comprises a rotatable pristine α-MoO3 layer located on a periodic hole array fabricated in a metallic layer. Our design prevents degradation of the α-MoO3 optical properties caused by fabrication, preserving its intrinsic low-loss and in-plane anisotropic propagation of PhPs. The resulting PC exhibits rotation of the Bloch modes, which is experimentally visualized by scanning near-field microscopy. In addition, we experimentally determine the polaritons momentum and reconstruct their band structure. These results pave the way for mechanically tunable nano-optical components based on polaritons for potential lasing, sensing, or energy harvesting applications.

Excitation-contraction (EC) coupling is the coordinated process by which an action potential triggers cardiac myocyte contraction. EC coupling is initiated in dyads where the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (jSR) is in tight proximity to the sarcolemma of cardiac myocytes. Existing models of EC coupling critically depend on dyad stability to ensure the fidelity and strength of EC coupling, where even small variations in ryanodine receptor channel and voltage-gated calcium channel-α 1.2 subunit separation dramatically alter EC coupling. However, dyadic motility has never been studied. Here, we developed a novel strategy to track specific jSR units in dissociated adult ventricular myocytes using photoactivatable fluorescent proteins. We found that the jSR is not static. Instead, we observed dynamic formation and dissolution of multiple dyadic junctions regulated by the microtubule-associated molecular motors kinesin-1 and dynein. Our data support a model where reproducibility of EC coupling results from the activation of a temporally averaged number of SR Ca2+ release units forming and dissolving SR-sarcolemmal junctions. These findings challenge the long-held view that the jSR is an immobile structure and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying its motility.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the test applied at the eighth Statistics II tournament to students from the University Center for Economic and Administrative Sciences of the University of Guadalajara, for the purpose of determining whether it promotes competitive learning among students. To achieve this, Item Response Theory (IRT) is used, specifically in the form of a three-parameter logistic model. The findings show that approximately 20% of the participating students performed at a level ranging from outstanding to satisfactory, while the rest had a performance that fell between regular and poor. The findings also indicate that participating students were motivated by academic competition and the opportunity to improve their skills in the area of statistics. Moreover, we concluded that the tournament's assessment instruments need to be substantially improved in terms of design and the content of the items.

Background: The Mediterranean diet is considered a healthy dietary pattern associated with substantial health benefits. While its application at global level is rather difficult due to the intricate features eradicated into the cultural heritage of populations living in countries facing the Mediterranean basin, its preservation in such areas is considered crucial to maintain a good health status of current and future generations. Objective: To assess the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in children and adolescents living in 5 Mediterranean countries participating in the DELICIOUS project. Methods: An online survey was conducted involving 2011 parents of children and adolescents from Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt, and Portugal. The KIDMED score applied to 24-h recalls of their children's diets was used to assess the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and cross-references with background and lifestyle variables. Results: Children and adolescents living in Lebanon and Portugal are more adherent than their counterparts in other countries. Some specific aspects related to the Mediterranean diet were rather common, such as olive oil consumption, daily fruit and vegetable intake, as well as lifestyle habits including having breakfast and limited sweets. Others, including having a second portion of fruit and vegetable, adequate consumption of fish, nuts, and cereals (for breakfast), as well as frequent consumption of fast foods underscored substantial abandonment of certain other Mediterranean diet features. Older adolescents with inadequate sleep duration, longer screen time, and low physical activity levels, as well as children of older parents with lower educational level, lower family income, and living in rural areas had significantly lower KIDMED scores. Conclusions: This study provides important information on the current status of adherence to the Mediterranean among children and adolescents in the Mediterranean region and may help setting specific targets for nutrition interventions aiming at its promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The diet quality of younger individuals is decreasing globally, with alarming trends also in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this study was to assess diet quality and adequacy in relation to country-specific dietary recommendations for children and adolescents living in the Mediterranean area. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 2011 parents of the target population participating in the DELICIOUS EU-PRIMA project. Dietary data and cross-references with food-based recommendations and the application of the youth healthy eating index (YHEI) was assessed through 24 h recalls and food frequency questionnaires. Results: Adherence to recommendations on plant-based foods was low (less than ∼20%), including fruit and vegetables adequacy in all countries, legume adequacy in all countries except for Italy, and cereal adequacy in all countries except for Portugal. For animal products and dietary fats, the adequacy in relation to the national food-based dietary recommendations was slightly better (∼40% on average) in most countries, although the Eastern countries reported worse rates. Higher scores on the YHEI predicted adequacy in relation to vegetables (except Egypt), fruit (except Lebanon), cereals (except Spain), and legumes (except Spain) in most countries. Younger children (p < 0.005) reporting having 8–10 h adequate sleep duration (p < 0.001), <2 h/day screen time (p < 0.001), and a medium/high physical activity level (p < 0.001) displayed a better diet quality. Moreover, older respondents (p < 0.001) with a medium/high educational level (p = 0.001) and living with a partner (p = 0.003) reported that their children had a better diet quality. Conclusions: Plant-based food groups, including fruit, vegetables, legumes, and even (whole-grain) cereals are underrepresented in the diets of Mediterranean children and adolescents. Moreover, the adequate consumption of other important dietary components, such as milk and dairy products, is rather disregarded, leading to substantially suboptimal diets and poor adequacy in relation to dietary guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) are at the center of new cell-based therapies for cardiac disease, but may also serve as a useful in vitro model for cardiac cell development. An intriguing feature of hESC-CMs is that although they express contractile proteins and have sarcomeres, they do not develop transverse-tubules (T-tubules) with adult-like Ca2+ release units (CRUs). We tested the hypothesis that expression of the protein BIN1 in hESC-CMs promotes T-tubules formation, facilitates CaV 1.2 channel clustering along the tubules, and results in the development of stable CRUs. Using electrophysiology, [Ca2+ ]i imaging, and super resolution microscopy, we found that BIN1 expression induced T-tubule development in hESC-CMs, while increasing differentiation toward a more ventricular-like phenotype. Voltage-gated CaV 1.2 channels clustered along the surface sarcolemma and T-tubules of hESC-CM. The length and width of the T-tubules as well as the expression and size of CaV 1.2 clusters grew, as BIN1 expression increased and cells matured. BIN1 expression increased CaV 1.2 channel activity and the probability of coupled gating within channel clusters. Interestingly, BIN1 clusters also served as sites for sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) anchoring and stabilization. Accordingly, BIN1-expressing cells had more CaV 1.2-ryanodine receptor junctions than control cells. This was associated with larger [Ca2+ ]i transients during excitation-contraction coupling. Our data support the view that BIN1 is a key regulator of T-tubule formation and CaV 1.2 channel delivery. By studying the role of BIN1 during the differentiation of hESC-CMs, we show that BIN1 is also important for CaV 1.2 channel clustering, junctional SR organization, and the establishment of excitation-contraction coupling. Stem Cells 2019;37:54-64.

The conversion of spent coffee grounds (SCG) into hydrochars has been the subject of extensive research in recent years, aimed at evaluating their potential for biofortifying foods and mitigating the plant toxicity linked to SCG. This study aimed to assess the physicochemical characterization and the impact of incorporating both activated (ASCG and AH160) and functionalized SCG (ASCG-Zn), as well as SCG-derived hydrochars (AH160-Zn), on cucumber yield and plant zinc content. The following physicochemical properties were analyzed: specific surface area, pH and electrical conductivity, polyphenols, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The by-products activated and functionalized with zinc were applied to cucumber crops grown in a greenhouse across multiple harvests. The activation of both SCG and H160 reduced the specific surface area of the particles. However, when these by-products were functionalized, their Zn content increased significantly, up to 7400 ppm. Concerning polyphenol content, the activated products showed levels ranging from 3.5 to 4.9 mg GAE/g. Regarding cumulative production, the treatments that showed the highest yields were the by-products activated and functionalized with Zn reaching 25 kg. Incorporating these by-products notably raised the Zn content in cucumbers, reaching 0.1 mg Zn per 100 g of fresh weight. The activated by-products demonstrated the highest Zn utilization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) is essential for the control of cellular redox homeostasis. When activated, Nrf2 elicits cytoprotective effects through the expression of several genes encoding antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. Nrf2 can also improve antioxidant defense via the pentose phosphate pathway by increasing NADPH availability to regenerate glutathione. Microarray and genome‐wide localization analyses have identified many Nrf2 target genes beyond those linked to its redox‐regulatory capacity. Nrf2 regulates several intermediary metabolic pathways and is involved in cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, contributing to malignant phenotypes. Nrf2 also modulates substrate utilization for mitochondrial respiration. Here we review the experimental evidence supporting the essential role of Nrf2 in the regulation of energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) into hydrochars has been extensively studied in recent years to explore their potential in biofortifying foods and mitigating the plant toxicity associated with SCGs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding activated (ASCG and AH160) and functionalized SCGs, as well as SCG-derived hydrochars (ASCG-Fe and AH160-Fe), on cucumber production and plant iron content. To achieve this, SCGs and SCG-derived hydrochars activated and functionalized with Fe were incorporated into cucumber crops grown in a greenhouse over multiple harvests. Among the treatments, SCG-Fe proved to be the most promising for cucumber production, yielding an average of 25 kg of cumulative production per treatment across three harvests. Regarding iron content, the average results across all harvests showed that SCGs and functionalized SCG-hydrochars matched the performance of the commercial chelate (0.108 vs. 0.11 mg Fe/100 g fresh weight). However, in subsequent harvests, iron appeared to leach out, with the activated bio-products (ASCG and AH160) leaving the highest iron reserves in the soil. Additionally, the hydrochar activated at 160 °C demonstrated the highest utilization efficiency. In conclusion, the incorporation of SCG residues and second-generation residues (hydrochars) shows promise as agents for biofortifying cucumbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]