Search

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) can be used as greenhouse glazing materials in agrivoltaic systems because they are translucent, have different colors, and can produce electricity. However, the light quality of DSSCs differs from that of sunlight, and the visible light transmittance is low. Therefore, we compared the plant shape, growth, and leaf color of coleus, a highly photosensitive plant, under transparent glass and red-colored DSSCs. Coleus ‘Highway Rose’ was grown in transparent (T, the control), shaded (S), and DSSC (D) chambers maintained at 23 ± 2 °C. The DSSC chambers were additionally illuminated with blue (B), green (G), white (W), B+G, and R+B+W light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (D+L) at 60 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density for 15 h from 05:00 to 20:00. The coleus generally exhibited good growth under the T treatment. However, the light quality of DSSCs differed from that of sunlight, and the visible light transmittance decreased. Coleus exhibited increased growth and leaf color characteristics under the supplemental B lighting treatments (D+L(RBW), D+L(B), D+L(BG), and D+L(W)). Supplemental lighting with B LEDs using DSSCs improved plant morphology growth and leaf color. On the other hand, supplemental G lighting reinforced the shade avoidance syndrome. Moreover, DSSCs could aid in reducing the energy required to control the environment.

Botulinum neurotoxin injections near the lateral canthal rhytids are commonly used in cosmetic settings; however, there is a lack of thorough anatomical knowledge, and an effective way to treat them with accumulating knowledge is needed. The anatomical characteristics concerning the injection of botulinum neurotoxin into the orbicularis oculi muscle were evaluated in this review. Current knowledge on the identification of botulinum neurotoxin injection points from recent anatomical research was assessed. The lateral canthal lines are involved with the orbicularis oculi muscle and nearby anatomical structures, and the injection points can be more precisely defined. The best possible injection sites were provided, and the injection procedure was described. This review proposes evidence for injection sites associated with the surface anatomy of the orbicularis oculi muscles to enhance the effectiveness of easing lateral canthal rhytids.

When botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is injected to treat glabellar frown lines, the corrugator supercilia muscle (CSM) and procerus muscles are the main targets. Although there have been many studies on the treatment of glabellar frown lines, no study has confirmed the dynamic movement under ultrasonography (US). This study examined and evaluated dynamic muscle movements under US, thereby providing more effective BoNT injection guidelines for glabellar frowning. Glabellar frowning was categorized as either Type A or B. Type A is the general frowning pattern in which vertical wrinkles are made by contracting the CSM and procerus muscles (81%, n = 13). On US images, the procerus muscle thickens and the bilateral CSMs contract. Type B is an upward frowning pattern demonstrating upward elevation of vertical wrinkles due to hyperactive contraction of the frontalis muscle during frowning (19%, n = 3). On US images, the hypoechoic frontalis muscle thickens, forming horizontal forehead lines. After BoNT injection into the CSM and frontalis muscle but not the procerus muscle, Type B patterns showed improvements in the vertical crease and horizontal forehead line. Both types showed improvement in glabellar frown lines after conventional injection, but the horizontal forehead line did not improve in Type B. Type B wrinkles improved after additional injections into the frontalis muscle. This study provided novel anatomical findings related to the injection of glabellar frown lines with BoNT. Preliminary analysis and optimized procedures using US will enable more effective and safer injections.

This study was carried out to investigate the changes in internal shoot growth, total and reducing sugar content, plant growth, and flowering characteristics after cold-stored bulbs of Lilium Oriental Hybrids are planted. Bulbs of Lilium Oriental Hybrids ‘Le Reve’, ‘Sorbonne’, and ‘Siberia’ were harvested at the end of November, cleaned, treated with fungicides, conditioned for 30 days at 4 °C, and cold-stored for 30 to 120 days at 0 °C. Plant height, fresh and dry weights, leaf numbers and area, chlorophyll content (SPAD index), days to flowering, number of flower buds, and flower diameter were measured when the cut flowers were harvested. In all cultivars, the shoot lengths in the bulbs increased as the storage period increased. As the storage period was extended, the fructose and glucose contents increased, whereas sucrose content decreased. The total sugar content increased during the early storage period and decreased subsequently. Plant height, fresh and dry weights of cut flowers showed a decreasing trend as the storage period increased. Flower diameter generally decreased with increasing storage period but varied among cultivars. These results indicated that more storage carbohydrates in bulbs were consumed as the storage period increased, and thus, the subsequent plant growth and flowering were negatively affected.

We investigated the relationship between simulated shipping (SS) without watering or light and post-shipping growth and flowering of Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’. Two experimental environments were created: a low-temperature chamber for simulated shipping and a growth chamber for simulated finishing at the destination. Plants from both the control and treatment groups were moved from the low-temperature chamber to the growth chamber after the end of the simulated shipping. Control plants received continuous light and regular irrigation; plants in the treatment group were placed in the low-temperature chamber under light (LSS) or dark (DSS) conditions for 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 days, without irrigation. Once DSS duration exceeded 40 days, the leaf-yellowing rate increased rapidly. Chlorophyll content decreased from day 10 to 30 of DSS and slightly increased in LSS and DSS over 40 days. The photochemical reflectance index decreased with the SS duration. The maximum quantum yield PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) values sharply decreased after the end of SS; after 40 days, neither LSS nor DSS plants recovered to the normal range. In the same SS duration, the number of days to spiking was delayed in the DSS. In addition, the number of days to spiking was delayed, owing to the longer SS duration. LSS for 50 days induced early flowering, as in the control group, but lowered flower quality. The results demonstrate that drought stress from long-term shipping (>40 days) delayed flowering. In particular, DSS delayed flowering more than LSS due to the decrease in chlorophyll content and the reduction in carbohydrates through respiration.

In this study, we performed a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of Salmonella through intake of egg consumption after cooking (dry-heat, moist-heat, and raw consumption). Egg samples (n = 201) from retail markets were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella. In addition, temperature and time were investigated during egg transit, storage, and display. A predictive model was developed to characterize the kinetic behavior of Salmonella in eggs, and data on egg consumption and frequency were collected. Eventually, the data was simulated to estimate egg-related foodborne illnesses. Salmonella was not found in any of the 201 egg samples. Thus, the estimated initial contamination level was –4.0 Log CFU/g. With R2 values of 0.898 and 0.922, the constructed predictive models were adequate for describing the fate of Salmonella in eggs throughout distribution and storage. Eggs were consumed raw (1.5%, 39.2 g), dry-heated (57.5%, 43.0 g), and moist-heated (41%, 36.1 g). The probability of foodborne Salmonella illness from the consumption of cooked eggs was evaluated to be 6.8×10−10. Additionally, the probability of foodborne illness not applied cooking methods was 1.9×10−7, indicating that Salmonella can be reduced by cooking. Therefore, the risk of Salmonella infection through consumption of eggs after cooking might be low in S. Korea.

Many farms utilize closed-type livestock systems to enhance productivity and facilitate effective environmental management. However, the confined nature of these closed spaces poses an increased risk of exposure to harmful gases and organic dust for both workers and livestock. Additionally, the introduction of outside air through ventilation systems can lead to temperature fluctuations within the breeding environment, resulting in potential productivity issues. This research paper employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to develop ventilation operation management plans that address both the working environment and the breeding environment simultaneously. The proposed plans are designed to be easily implemented in practical farm settings. The findings of this study, based on the simulation analysis, indicate that while ventilation is effective in reducing harmful gases and improving the working environment, its efficiency decreases after the initial 3 min of operation. Furthermore, uncontrolled ventilation can cause sudden temperature changes, which may adversely affect the well-being of the livestock. However, when upgraded ventilation structures are implemented, significant improvements in the working environment (an average of 27.3% improvement) can be achieved while maintaining temperature stability for the livestock. These results highlight the importance of referring to the provided ventilation operation management table before commencing work, as it enables workers to improve the working environment while minimizing the potential impact of ventilation on the breeding environment.

Purpose The objective of the study was to explore how urology-related news, one of the medical specialties profoundly linked to human health and life, is communicated to the public through media outlets that serves as primary sources of medical information for the public. Methods In this study, articles were retrieved using the keyword ‘Urology’ from the Bigkinds spanning from January 1, 1990 to August 17, 2023. The Beautifulsoup library in Python was utilized for parsing the text to collect both titles and bodies of the articles. The gathered data was then analyzed using the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) algorithm from the scikit-learn library. Additionally, tools such as Wordcloud and Networkx were employed to visualize the relationships and patterns within the data. Results The keyword analysis led to the identification of various themes in the articles, with a clear distinction between those providing medical information and those promoting healthcare services, technologies, and products. Notably, the content frequently intertwined informational aspects with promotional ones. Articles on men’s health and pet diseases, for example, often combined educational material with product or procedure promotions. This overlap highlights the complexity of categorizing media content into distinct themes. Furthermore, the coverage of health insurance and treatment methods including recent advancements like robotic surgery reflected the evolving nature of healthcare discussions to emphasize the interplay between policy changes, medical advancements, and media portrayal. Conclusions By identifying 10 distinct topics mentioned in the news, the analysis determined which topics are common in urology-related news coverage. The findings revealed a substantial volume of medical information on urology in the media with a wide range of topics including treatment and prevention of urologic conditions, insurance information, new treatments, and news stories promoting new products or hospitals.

Thermoelectric materials are attracting considerable attention to alleviate the global energy crisis by enabling the direct conversion of heat into electricity. As a class of I–V–VI2 semiconductors, AgBiSe2 is expected to be the potential thermoelectric material to replace conventional PbTe-based compounds due to its non-toxic and abundant nature of its constituent elements. This review article summarizes the fundamental properties of AgBiSe2, thermoelectric properties, the effect of different dopants on its transport properties and entropy engineering for cubic phase stabilization with the detailed description of related techniques used to analyze the properties of AgBiSe2. The current thermoelectric figure-of-merit and approaches to further improve performance and operational stability are also discussed.

Introduction: Salivary gland (SG) damage is commonly caused by aging, irradiation, and some medications, and currently, no damage modifying agent is available. However, cell therapy based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been proposed as a therapeutic modality for irradiated SGs. Therefore, we administered cell-derived vesicles (CDVs) of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) to irradiated SG cells to investigate their radioprotective effects in vitro. Methods: The artificial CDVs were obtained from ADMSC by tangential flow filtration (TFF) purification and ultracentrifugation. Cultured human SG epithelial cells were exposed to 2, 5 or 15 Gy of 4 MV X-rays produced by a linear accelerator. The effects of ADMSC-CDVs on SG epithelial cells damaged by irradiation were tested by proliferation activity, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and amylase activity. Results: Exposure to penetrating radiation inhibited the proliferation of SG epithelial cells, but the radiation intensity required to reduce the proliferation of human submandibular gland epithelial cells (hSMGECs) was greater than required for other SG cells. ADMSC-CDVs restored the proliferative ability of SG epithelial cells reduced by irradiation, and the proliferation capacities of irradiated human parotid gland epithelial cells (hPGECs) and human sublingual gland epithelial cells (hSLGECs) were increased by administering ADMSC-CDVs to non-irradiated SG epithelial cells. Furthermore, amylase activity in irradiated hPGECs, hSMGECs, and hSLGECs was lower than in non-irradiated controls. However, amylase ability was restored in all by ADMSC-CDV treatment. Also, TEER was diminished by irradiation in hPGECs, hSMGECs, and hSLGECs and restored by ADMSC-CDV administration. Conclusion: Overall, our findings demonstrate that ADMSC-CDVs have potent radioprotective effects on irradiated SG cells.

Abstract RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), protein kinase R (PKR), and endosomal Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) sense viral non-self RNA and are involved in cell fate determination. However, the mechanisms by which intracellular RNA induces apoptosis, particularly the role of each RNA sensor, remain unclear. We performed cytoplasmic injections of different types of RNA and elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying viral dsRNA-induced apoptosis. The results obtained revealed that short 5′-triphosphate dsRNA, the sole ligand of RIG-I, induced slow apoptosis in a fraction of cells depending on IRF-3 transcriptional activity and IFN-I production. However, intracellular long dsRNA was sensed by PKR and TLR3, which activate distinct signals, and synergistically induced rapid apoptosis. PKR essentially induced translational arrest, resulting in reduced levels of cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein and functioned in the TLR3/TRIF-dependent activation of caspase 8. The present results demonstrated that PKR and TLR3 were both essential for inducing the viral RNA-mediated apoptosis of infected cells and the arrest of viral production.

Thermoelectric materials enable us to convert heat into electricity, but their application has been limited to high-temperature heat sources. Here, the authors show the direct conversion of low-grade waste heat into chemical energy via combining thermoelectric materials with biocatalysts below 100 °C.

Abstract Membrane‐bound vesicles such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) can function as biochemical effectors on target cells. Docking of the vesicles onto recipient plasma membranes depends on their interaction with cell‐surface proteins, but a generalizable technique that can quantitatively observe these vesicle–protein interactions (VPIs) is lacking. Here, we describe a fluorescence microscopy that measures VPIs between single vesicles and cell‐surface proteins, either in a surface‐tethered or in a membrane‐embedded state. By employing cell‐derived vesicles (CDVs) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) as a model system, we found that integrin‐driven VPIs exhibit distinct modes of affinity depending on vesicle origin. Controlling the surface density of proteins also revealed a strong support from a tetraspanin protein CD9, with a critical dependence on molecular proximity. An adsorption model accounting for multiple protein molecules was developed and captured the features of density‐dependent cooperativity. We expect that VPI imaging will be a useful tool to dissect the molecular mechanisms of vesicle adhesion and uptake, and to guide the development of therapeutic vesicles.

ObjectiveNeuronata-R® (lenzumestrocel) is an autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) product, which was conditionally approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (KMFDS, Republic of Korea) in 2013 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the long-term survival benefits of treatment with intrathecal lenzumestrocel.MethodsA total of 157 participants who received lenzumestrocel and whose symptom duration was less than 2 years were included in the analysis (BM-MSC group). The survival data of placebo participants from the Pooled-Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials (PROACT) database were used as the external control, and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce confounding biases in baseline characteristics. Adverse events were recorded during the entire follow-up period after the first treatment.ResultsSurvival probability was significantly higher in the BM-MSC group compared to the external control group from the PROACT database (log-rank, p

Amid the ongoing global warming crisis, there has been growing interest in hydrogen energy as an environmentally friendly energy source to achieve carbon neutrality. A stable and large-scale hydrogen storage infrastructure is essential to satisfy the increasing demand for hydrogen energy. Particularly for hydrogen refueling stations located in urban areas, technological solutions are required to ensure the stability of adjacent civil structures in the event of hydrogen storage tank explosions. In this study, a numerical analysis using equivalent trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) models was employed to analyze the dynamic behavior of the ground in response to hydrogen gas explosions in shallow underground hydrogen storage facilities and to assess the stability of nearby structures against explosion effects. According to the simulation results, it was possible to ensure the structural stability of nearby buildings and tunnel structures by maintaining a minimum separation distance. In the case of nearby building structures, a distance of at least 6 to 7 m is needed to be maintained from the underground hydrogen storage facility to prevent explosion damage from a hydrogen gas explosion. For nearby tunnel structures, a distance of at least 10 m is required to ensure structural stability.

The mixing of fibrous additives in the polymer base is being widely investigated for improving the mechanical properties of printed parts using fused filament fabrication (FFF). In this study, flow visualisation experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis were conducted on the flow channel of a nozzle with an orifice for enhancing the through-layer physical properties of the printed parts. Flow visualisation experiments were conducted on the flow channels of nozzles installed with orifices of various shapes. Using ball-milled carbon fibre in high-viscosity polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that imitates filament flow in FFF, the fibre angles were measured for different internal and external locations of the nozzle. The distribution of the fibre angles inside the nozzle was compared with the gradient of the flow field calculated for the same shape by CFD analysis. It was found that the orifice structure inside the nozzle increases the vertical alignment of the fibre. An abrupt increase in the extension rate at the exit of the orifice is considered to be the reason behind the rotation and vertical orientation of fibres inside the nozzle channel. Results presented in this work provide the basis for achieving improved through-plane physical properties of FFF printed parts through fibre alignment.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by a variety of cell types have been shown to act as a natural delivery system for bioactive molecules such as RNAs and proteins. EV therapy holds great promise as a safe and cell‐free therapy for many immunological and degenerative diseases. However, translation to clinical application is limited by several factors, including insufficient large‐scale manufacturing technologies and low yield. We have developed a novel drug delivery platform technology, BioDrone™, based on cell‐derived vesicles (CDVs) produced from diverse cell sources by using a proprietary extrusion process. This extrusion technology generates nanosized vesicles in far greater numbers than naturally obtained EVs. We demonstrate that the CDVs are surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane with a correct membrane topology. Physical, biochemical and functional characterisation results demonstrate the potential of CDVs to act as effective therapeutics. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC)‐derived CDVs exhibit a biological activity that is similar to UCMSCs or UCMSC‐derived EVs. Lastly, we present the establishment of a GMP‐compliant process to allow the production of a large number of UCMSC‐CDVs in a reproducible manner. GMP‐compliant manufacturing of CDVs will facilitate the preclinical and clinical evaluation of these emerging therapeutics in anti‐inflammatory or regenerative medicine. This study also represents a crucial step in the development of this novel drug delivery platform based on CDVs.

Abstract Reinforced retaining walls are structures constructed horizontally to resist earth pressure by leveraging the frictional force imparted by the backfill. Reinforcements are employed because they exhibit excellent safety and economic efficiency. However, insufficient reinforcement can lead to collapse, and excessive reinforcement reduces economic efficiency. Therefore, it is important to select the appropriate type, length, and spacing of reinforcements. However, in actual sites, although the stress and fracture mechanisms in the straight and curved sections of reinforced soil retaining walls differ, the same amount of reinforcements are typically installed. Such an approach can lead to wall collapse or reduce economic feasibility. Therefore, in this study, the behaviours of straight and curved sections fortified with reinforcements of various lengths (1, 3, 5, and 7 m) are predicted through a three-dimensional numerical analysis. The retaining walls are of the same height, but the reinforcement variations in the aforementioned sections influence the wall behaviour differently. Based on the results, the optimum reinforcement lengths for the straight and curved parts were selected. By installing reinforcements of different lengths in these sections, the maximum reinforcing effect with minimum reinforcement was derived. This study further found that the curved section of the wall required more reinforcements, and the reinforcement lengths for the curved and straight sections should be separately optimized.

Tunneling, especially in urban areas, affects many structures on the ground, which directly influences the usability and stability of the structures. The settlement of and axial stress on the pile foundation are important factors that determine the behavioral characteristics of the pile foundation. Therefore, this study uses numerical analysis and machine learning to derive a prediction model of pile axial stress due to tunnel excavation adjacent to the piled raft. Numerical analysis data were utilized for machine learning purposes, and the effects of the input data on the prediction model were scrutinized. The numerical analysis revealed that the change in the pile axial stress resulting from tunnel excavation differed depending on the pile’s location, with the greatest axial stress reduction occurring in the center of the piled raft. Furthermore, the rate of reduction was higher in soils with lower relative densities. Several algorithms were employed to derive the prediction model, with tree-based algorithms displaying notable performance in predicting pile axial stress. Additionally, preprocessing the data with appropriate feature engineering techniques exhibited superior predictive power, and incorporating settlement data aided in enhancing the prediction model’s performance.

Cinnamon is a natural spice with a wide range of pharmacological functions, including anti-microbial, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cinnamaldehyde-rich cinnamon extract (CRCE) on the colorectal cancer cell lines HCT 116 and HT-29. The gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of a lipophilic extract of cinnamon revealed the dominance of trans-cinnamaldehyde. Cells treated with CRCE (10–60 µg/mL) showed significantly decreased cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We also observed that cell proliferation and migration capacity were inhibited in CRCE-treated cells. In addition, a remarkable increase in the number of sub-G1-phase cells was observed with arrest at the G2 phase by CRCE treatment. CRCE also induced mitochondrial stress, and finally, CRCE treatment resulted in activation of apoptotic proteins Caspase-3, -9, and PARP and decreased levels of mu-2-related death-inducing gene protein expression with BH3-interacting domain death agonist (BID) activation.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is commonly used in manufacturing, and it is highly reactive and causes respiratory damage. This study aims to identify the mechanism of tumorigenesis in bronchial epithelial cells induced by chronic TDI exposure. In addition, transcriptome analysis results confirmed that TDI increases transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) expression and regulates genes associated with cancerous characteristics in bronchial cells. Our chronically TDI-exposed model exhibited elongated spindle-like morphology, a mesenchymal characteristic. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was evaluated following chronic TDI exposure, and EMT biomarkers increased concentration-dependently. Furthermore, our results indicated diminished cell adhesion molecules and intensified cell migration and invasion. In order to investigate the cellular regulatory mechanisms resulting from chronic TDI exposure, we focused on TGF-β1, a key factor regulated by TDI exposure. As predicted, TGF-β1 was significantly up-regulated and secreted in chronically TDI-exposed cells. In addition, SMAD2/3 was also activated considerably as it is the direct target of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 receptors. Inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling through blocking of the TGF-β receptor attenuated EMT and cell migration in chronically TDI-exposed cells. Our results corroborate that chronic TDI exposure upregulates TGF-β1 secretion, activates TGF-β1 signal transduction, and leads to EMT and other cancer properties.

Background: The primo vascular system (PVS) has been difficult to detect due to its small diameter and translucent features of the threadlike network. Thus, contrast-enhancing dyes including Alcian blue, Trypan blue and Janus green B had to be used for finding and taking out PVS from rat and mouse. Objective: Generation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against PVS of rat was intended to use as a detector for PVS and a biological tool for functional study of PVS. Materials and methods: Primo vessel (PV) and Primo node (PN) were isolated from organ surfaces of rat and then their proteins were isolated and injected into mouse as an immunogen. The classical traditional method was applied for production of mAbs against PVS. The various techniques, such as cell fusion, screening of hybridoma, ELISA, Western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence microscopy (IF), and limiting dilution, were used to generate mAbs against PVS. Results: Among 16 mAbs generated, 4 representative mAbs were characterized with their specificities in ELISA, WB, and IF. α-rPVS-m1-1 and α-rPVS-m4-6 had strong binding affinities to PVS in both ELISA and WB but did not show specificities in IF at all. On the contrary, α-rPVS-m3-2 and α-rPVS-m3-4 almost did not respond in WB but had strong binding affinities in ELISA and specificities in IF. Two mAbs stained predominantly at extra cellular matrix and cell membrane of PVS of rat in IF, and they were able to discriminate PVS from blood vessel (BV) and lymphatic vessel (LV). Conclusions: 4 representative mAbs against PVS of rat were characterized by ELISA, WB, and IF. α-rPVS-m3-2 and α-rPVS-m3-4, which had strong specificities in IF, can be used as a tool in discriminating PVS from other similar tissues and in elucidate biological function of PVS.

Context Methyl lucidone (ML) from the dried fruit of Lindera erythrocarpa Makino (Lauraceae) exhibits cytotoxic effects in various cancer cell lines. However, its effects on ovarian cancer cells remain unknown. Objective This study evaluates the mechanism of ML-induced apoptosis, cell cycle distribution in ovarian cells. Materials and methods The cytotoxic effect of ML (2.5–80 µM) on OVCAR-8 and SKOV-3 cells was evaluated by MTS assay for 24 and 48 h. Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were analysed by flow cytometry. PCR, western blot analyses were performed to examine the related signalling pathways. Results ML induced significant cellular morphological changes and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells, leading to an antiproliferative effect (IC50 = 33.3–54.7 µM for OVCAR-8 and 48.8-60.7 µM for SKOV-3 cells). Treatment with ML induced cleavage of caspase-3/9 and PARP and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Moreover, ML downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Additionally, ML suppressed the expression of cyclin-A/B and promoted that of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. The expression of death receptors was not altered. Interestingly, ML also inhibited the activity of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB. Discussion and conclusions ML caused G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells by activating intrinsic apoptotic pathways and suppressing the PI3K/Akt survival pathway. ML may be a potential anticancer agent to suppress ovarian cancer proliferation; thus, to improve the survival rate of cancer patients.

After decades of research and development concerning cancer treatment, cancer is still at large and very much a threat to the global human population. Cancer remedies have been sought from all possible directions, including chemicals, irradiation, nanomaterials, natural compounds, and the like. In this current review, we surveyed the milestones achieved by green tea catechins and what has been accomplished in cancer therapy. Specifically, we have assessed the synergistic anticarcinogenic effects when green tea catechins (GTCs) are combined with other antioxidant-rich natural compounds. Living in an age of inadequacies, combinatorial approaches are gaining momentum, and GTCs have progressed much, yet there are insufficiencies that can be improvised when combined with natural antioxidant compounds. This review highlights that there are not many reports in this specific area and encourages and recommends research attention in this direction. The antioxidant/prooxidant mechanisms of GTCs have also been highlighted. The current scenario and the future of such combinatorial approaches have been addressed, and the lacunae in this aspect have been discussed.

This study predicted Salmonella outbreak risk from eating cooked poultry in various methods. The incidence of Salmonella in poultry meat and the environment from farm to home for consumption was investigated. To develop the predictive models, Salmonella growth data were collected at 4–25 °C during storage and fitted with the Baranyi model. The effects of cooking on cell counts in poultry meat were investigated. Temperature, duration, and consumption patterns were all searched. A simulation in @Risk was run using these data to estimate the probability of foodborne Salmonella disease. In farm, Salmonella was detected from only fecal samples (8.5%; 56/660). In slaughterhouses, Salmonella was detected from feces 16.0% (38/237) for chicken and 19.5% (82/420) for duck) and from carcasses of each step (scalding, defeathering, and chilling) by cross contamination. In chicken (n = 270) and duck (n = 205), Salmonella was detected in 5 chicken (1.9%) and 16 duck meat samples (7.8%). Salmonella contamination levels were initially estimated to be −3.1 Log CFU/g and −2.5 Log CFU/g, respectively. With R2 values between 0.862 and 0.924, the predictive models were suitable for describing the fate of Salmonella in poultry meat with of 0.862 and 0.924. The Salmonella was not detected when poultry meat cooks completely. However, if poultry meat contaminated with Salmonella were cooked incompletely, Salmonella remained on the food surface. The risk of foodborne Salmonella disease from poultry consumption after cooking was 3.0 × 10−10/person/day and 8.8 × 10−11/person/day in South Korea, indicating a low risk.

While plastics are already notorious for their accumulation in the environment, which poses environmental challenges, invisible microplastics (MPS) are an even greater challenge. This review focuses on consolidating the reports available on MP accumulation in edible marine and freshwater fishes, shrimps, and crabs. The reality as to whether MPs in these edible aquatic organisms are really a cause of high concern is questioned and discussed. While the entrails of aquatic organisms are reported to contain high levels of MPs, because these products are consumed after the removal of the entrails and gut area in the majority of cases, the MP threat is questionable. The existence of MPs in these aquatic sources is validated but their potency in harming humans, aquatic organisms, and other interlinked species is unassessed. To overcome the difficulty in tracing the movement of MPs in a bigger ecosystem, this review proposes laboratory-based pilot studies mimicking real-world conditions, which will help us to understand the kinetics of MPs in the food chain. The effects of MPs on human welfare and health are yet to be assessed, and this is another gap that needs attention.

Despite the current developments in cancer therapeutics, efforts to excavate new anticancer agents continue rigorously due to obstacles, such as side effects and drug resistance. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) can be utilized to treat cancer because of their effectiveness on a variety of molecular targets, along with high selectivity and specificity for cancer cells. In the present study, a novel ACP was de novo designed using in silico methods, and its functionality and molecular mechanisms of action were explored. AC-P19M was discovered through functional prediction and sequence modification based on peptide sequences currently available in the database. The peptide exhibited anticancer activity against lung cancer cells, A549 and H460, by disrupting cellular membranes and inducing apoptosis while showing low toxicity towards normal and red blood cells. In addition, the peptide inhibited the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, AC-P19M showed anti-angiogenic activity through the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling. Our findings suggest that AC-P19M is a novel ACP that directly or indirectly targets cancer cells, demonstrating the potential development of an anticancer agent and providing insights into the discovery of functional substances based on an in silico approach.

Abstract Thermoelectric properties are frequently manipulated by introducing point defects into a matrix. However, these properties often change in unfavorable directions owing to the spontaneous formation of vacancies at high temperatures. Although it is crucial to maintain high thermoelectric performance over a broad temperature range, the suppression of vacancies is challenging since their formation is thermodynamically preferred. In this study, using PbTe as a model system, it is demonstrated that a high thermoelectric dimensionless figure of merit, zT ≈ 2.1 at 723 K, can be achieved by suppressing the vacancy formation via dopant balancing. Hole‐killer Te vacancies are suppressed by Ag doping because of the increased electron chemical potential. As a result, the re‐dissolution of Na2Te above 623 K can significantly increase the hole concentration and suppress the drop in the power factor. Furthermore, point defect scattering in material systems significantly reduces lattice thermal conductivity. The synergy between defect and carrier engineering offers a pathway for achieving a high thermoelectric performance by alleviating the power factor drop and can be utilized to enhance thermoelectric properties of thermoelectric materials.

Mushrooms are the gifts of the non-green revolution; they are not limited by land demand or specific growth requirements. Nearly 14,000 species of mushrooms are on record thus far; of these, only 2200 species are deemed edible. Only 650 species from this list have been cultivated and consumed. Farmed on waste, mushrooms are rich reservoirs of proteins, polysaccharides, metabolites, minerals and vitamins. In the following review, various edible mushrooms have been listed and their nutritional aspects and their associated contributions have been discussed. Furthermore, the commercial mushroom-based products that are on the market have been surveyed. The challenges facing the use of mushroom and mushroom products as foods, functional foods and nutraceuticals have been presented. The need to seek options to troubleshoot the current limitations has also been discussed.

Emulsion gel has been used to replace animal fats in meat products. Konjac is a widely used gelling agent; however, its low emulsion stability limits its use in meat products. This study aimed to examine the quality characteristics of β-cyclodextrin (CD)-supplemented konjac-based emulsion gel (KEG) (CD-KEG) and its application as a fat substitute in emulsion-type sausages. The supplementation of CD increased hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with konjac and oil in the gels, respectively. Additionally, CD increased the structural complexity and strength of KEG. Since adding more than 6% of CD to KEG did not increase the gel strength, 6% CD-added KEG was adopted to substitute for pork backfat in manufacturing low-fat emulsion-type sausages. The following formulations of the sausages were prepared: pork backfat 20% (PF20); pork backfat 10% + KEG 10% (KEG10); KEG 20% (KEG20); pork backfat 10% + CD-KEG 10% (CD-KEG10); CD-KEG 20% (CD-KEG20); and pork backfat 5% (PF5). The CD-KEG20 formulation exhibited higher viscosity and viscoelasticity than KEG20, which suggested that CD improves the rheological properties and the thermal stability of meat batter. Additionally, CD-KEG20 showed similar emulsion stability, cooking yield and texture parameters compared with PF20. Therefore, 6% CD-added KEG is a suitable fat substitute for preparing low-fat emulsion-type sausages.

Chitosan has come a long way in biomedical applications: drug delivery is one of its core areas of imminent application. Chitosan derivatives are the new generation variants of chitosan. These modified chitosans have overcome limitations and progressed in the area of drug delivery. This review briefly surveys the current chitosan derivatives available for biomedical applications. The biomedical applications of chitosan derivatives are revisited and their key inputs for oral drug delivery have been discussed. The limited use of the vast chitosan resources for oral drug delivery applications, speculated to be probably due to the interdisciplinary nature of this research, is pointed out in the discussion. Chitosan-derivative synthesis and practical implementation for oral drug delivery require distinct expertise from chemists and pharmacists. The lack of enthusiasm could be related to the inadequacy in the smooth transfer of the synthesized derivatives to the actual implementers. With thiolated chitosan derivatives predominating the oral delivery of drugs, the need for representation from the vast array of ready-to-use chitosan derivatives is emphasized. There is plenty to explore in this direction.

Chitosan and its allies have in multiple ways expanded into the medical, food, chemical, and biological industries and is still expanding. With its humble beginnings from marine shell wastes, the deacetylated form of chitin has come a long way in clinical practices. The biomedical applications of chitosan are truly a feather on its cap, with rarer aspects being chitosan’s role in tissue regeneration and artificial organs. Tissue regeneration is a highly advanced and sensitive biomedical application, and the very fact that chitosan is premiering here is an authentication of its ability to deliver. In this review, the various biomedical applications of chitosan are touched on briefly. The synthesis methodologies that are specific for tissue engineering and biomedical applications have been listed. What has been achieved using chitosan and chitosan composites in artificial organ research as well as tissue regeneration has been surveyed and presented. The lack of enthusiasm, as demonstrated by the very few reports online with respect to chitosan composites and artificial organs, is highlighted, and the reasons for this lapse speculated. What more needs be done to expand chitosan and its allies for a better utilization and exploitation to best benefit the construction of artificial organs and building of tissue analogs has been discussed.

Cervical cancer is a life-threatening disease and the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Apple pomace is a multifunctional phenolic compound possessing effective biological activity against cervical cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of quercetin-3-glucoside (Q3G) extracted from apple pomace in HeLa cell lines and analyze its molecular mechanisms. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that Q3G, coumaric acid, phloridzin, quercetin, and phloretin are the major polyphenolic compounds constituting apple pomace. Among them, Q3G possessed the greatest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and exhibited significant cytotoxic effects in HeLa cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that Q3G induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase in a time-dependent manner by altering cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Moreover, it induced apoptosis via chromosomal DNA degradation and increased reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, Q3G treatment altered the apoptosis-associated protein expression in the cells by activating caspase-9/-3, downregulating anti-apoptosis protein B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 expressions and up regulating the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein. BH3-interacting domain death agonist cleavage occurred prior to the degradation of an anti-apoptotic Mu-2-related death-inducing gene involved in cell death signaling. Consequently, apple pomace Q3G holds promise as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent for treating cervical cancer.

The present study was aimed to investigate the composition and contents and the major lipophilic compounds, including the sterols, fatty acids, and tocols of shellfish species. Moreover, to explore the antitumor activity of these lipophilic constituents, their cytotoxicity potentials were determined against five different human cancer cells, including colon carcinoma (HCT116), epithelial melanoma (A2058), glioblastoma multiforme (T98G), lung carcinoma (A549), and adenocarcinoma (HeLa). The results show a significant variation in the contents and composition of lipophilic constituents among the studied species. The highest omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were recorded from arrow squid and pacific oysters, accounting for 53.2% and 53.0% of their total fatty acids, respectively. However, the highest cholesterol content was also recorded in arrow squid (154.4 mg/100 g; 92.6% of total sterols). In contrast, in the Japanese littleneck, Yesso scallop, and common orient clam, cholesterol was just 17.1%, 18.3%, and 18.9% of total sterols, respectively, making them the richest source of non-cholesterol sterols (NCS). Lipids extracted from shellfish species showed ABTS+•- and DPPH•-scavenging activities. In the cytotoxicity analysis, lipids extracted from the Argentine red shrimp showed the highest cytotoxicity against glioblastoma multiforme T98G cells, with an IC50 value of 12.3 µg/mL. The composition and cytotoxicity data reported herein may help explore the nutritional and anticancer potentials of shellfish species.

Chitosan begins its humble journey from marine food shell wastes and ends up as a versatile nutraceutical. This review focuses on briefly discussing the antioxidant activity of chitosan and retrospecting the accomplishments of chitosan nanoparticles as an anticarcinogen. The various modified/functionalized/encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles and nanoforms have been listed and their biomedical deliverables presented. The anticancer accomplishments of chitosan and its modified composites have been reviewed and presented. The future of surface modified chitosan and the lacunae in the current research focus have been discussed as future perspective. This review puts forth the urge to expand the scientific curiosity towards attempting a variety of functionalization and surface modifications to chitosan. There are few well known modifications and functionalization that benefit biomedical applications that have been proven for other systems. Being a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer, chitosan-based nanomaterials are an attractive option for medical applications. Therefore, maximizing expansion of its bioactive properties are explored. The need for applying the ideal functionalization that will significantly promote the anticancer contributions of chitosan nanomaterials has also been stressed.

Chitin/chitosan research is an expanding field with wide scope within polymer research. This topic is highly inviting as chitin/chitosan’s are natural biopolymers that can be recovered from food waste and hold high potentials for medical applications. This review gives a brief overview of the chitin/chitosan based nanomaterials, their preparation methods and their biomedical applications. Chitin nanofibers and Chitosan nanofibers have been reviewed, their fabrication methods presented and their biomedical applications summarized. The chitin/chitosan based nanocomposites have also been discussed. Chitin and chitosan nanofibers and their binary and ternary composites are represented by scattered superficial reports. Delving deep into synergistic approaches, bringing up novel chitin/chitosan nanocomposites, could help diligently deliver medical expectations. This review highlights such lacunae and further lapses in chitin related inputs towards medical applications. The grey areas and future outlook for aligning chitin/chitosan nanofiber research are outlined as research directions for the future.