Search Results (62)

The prostate gland, a male accessory reproductive organ, is regulated by hormonal inputs and autonomic innervation from the major pelvic ganglion. This study examined the effects of major pelvic ganglion denervation on prostate histology, immune cell infiltration, and systemic levels of prolactin, testosterone, and cytokines in rats. Male Wistar rats (300–350 g) were divided into groups receiving bilateral axotomy of the hypogastric nerve, the pelvic nerve, or both, alongside with a sham-operated control. After 15 days, the animals were killed, and prostate tissue was dissociated in DMEM medium containing DNase I and collagenase. The dissociated cells were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies, and cell characterization was performed using a flow cytometer. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to analyze histological characteristics, while testosterone, prolactin, and interleukin levels were measured via ELISA. Histological analysis revealed inflammatory atypical hypertrophy e hiperplasia. Immunological assessments demonstrated increased leukocytes, T lymphocytes (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺), B lymphocytes, and macrophages following double nerve axotomy. Serum analyses showed elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ, as well as anti-inflammatory IL-10, in denervated animals. Hormonal assessments revealed significant increases in serum prolactin and testosterone levels after double axotomy. Loss of neural control may promote pathological prostate changes via inflammation and hormonal dysregulation, offering insights into neuroimmune and neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying prostate pathologies. Full article

Urolithiasis (UL) is the presence of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract; its prevalence has increased worldwide. Thus, strategies have been sought to reduce it and one of them is the use of medicinal plants due to their accessibility, low cost, and cultural traditions. Studies on traditional medicinal plants in UL mainly documented results of litholytic and urinary parameters. Although, stone formation is related to oxidative stress and inflammation, and only a few studies are focused on these types of biomarkers. Thus, the aim of the present review was to summarize studies showing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants used in UL management. We performed a scoping review; the database sources used were MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, Scielo and Redalyc. From a total of 184 studies screened, six were included from China (2), India (3), and Corea (1). These studies have shown the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants, including Glechoma longituba (G. longituba), Bergenia ligulate (B. ligulate), Lygodium japonicum (L. japonicum), Citrus limon (C. limon), Xanthium strumarium (X. strumarium) and Tribulus terrestris (T. terrestris). They have also described their molecular mechanism of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the activation of antioxidant genes induced by Nrf2 or by suppressing the inflammatory gene expression by the inhibition of NFκ-B. These effects could be modulated by their bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenes, present in these plants. This review summarizes the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants and highlights their molecular mechanisms of action and main bioactive compounds. This evidence may be used in biotechnology and synthetic biology areas for the development of new products from plant-derived compounds to reduce the high recurrence rates of UL. Full article

Using a digital oscilloscope, the main harmonics resulting from the application of different frequencies and power levels of ultrasonic waves during the polymer extrusion process were identified. The primary harmonics are located between 10 and 60 kHz and exhibit unique characteristics, such as shape, crest, and trough, the latter being associated with voltage and current. The crest-to-trough distance (height) observed during processing at 34 kHz and 375 W shows the highest value, which correlates with the highest melt flow index and the lowest apparent viscosity. It is well known that the application of ultrasonic waves can randomly break C-C bonds in hydrocarbon compounds, leading to a decrease in molecular weight. However, the application of ultrasonic waves at different frequencies and power levels can promote chain scission in both high- and medium-molecular-weight polymer chains, thereby increasing the molecular weight distribution. This phenomenon can lead to chain disentanglement, along with chain scission, as evidenced by a decrease in molecular weight at medium power and frequency intensities. Finally, a schematic representation of the interaction between polymer chains and ultrasonic waves is proposed. Full article

The mining process has always generated residues that often still contain valuable metals. This work focuses on the re-processing of these residues by evaluating and comparing two reagents that can extract valuable silver from tailings. A preliminary kinetic study of silver leaching was conducted in both cyanide and thiosulfate media, and a comparative analysis was performed to determine the optimal leaching conditions. The mining residue was found to contain 83 g/ton of Ag and 0.28 g/ton of Au. This study, carried out for both cyanide and thiosulfate, involved determining the effects of the reagent concentration, temperature, and pH. For the reagent concentration, apparent reaction orders of n = 0.0531 and n = 0.41 were determined for cyanide and thiosulfate, respectively. The apparent activation energies were E_a = 21.7 kJ/mol for cyanide and E_a = 23.13 kJ/mol for thiosulfate, indicating mixed-control kinetics in both systems. Under the conditions studied, maximum silver recoveries of 92% and 93% were achieved using cyanide at 323 K and thiosulfate at 328 K, respectively. Notably, pH had no significant effect on the cyanide system, whereas for thiosulfate, the reaction order was n = 3.27. The results show similar behavior in both systems, but the thiosulfate system is more attractive due to its non-toxic nature and lower cost. Full article

In agriculture, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have increased significantly in the last few years. The use of ML and DL for image classification in plant disease has generated significant interest due to their cost, automatization, scalability, and early detection. However, high-quality image datasets are required to train robust classifier models for plant disease detection. In this work, we have created an image dataset of 649 orange leaves divided into two groups: control (n = 379) and huanglongbing (HLB) disease (n = 270). The images were acquired with several smartphone cameras of high resolution and processed to remove the background. The dataset enriches the information on characteristics and symptoms of citrus leaves with HLB and healthy leaves. This enhancement makes the dataset potentially valuable for disease identification through leaf segmentation and abnormality detection, particularly when applying ML and DL models. Full article

Bacteriophage therapy is a promising approach for targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria and modulating gut microbiota in metabolic diseases such as obesity. This study evaluated the impact of a two-phage cocktail on an ex vivo colonic simulation model of gut microbiota derived from obese individuals, both in its normalized state and after enrichment with Enterobacter cloacae, an obesity-related bacteria. Microbiological analyses confirmed that the phage cocktail remained active throughout the colonic regions over three digestion cycles and effectively reduced enterobacterial populations in the enriched microbiota. Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that phage therapy did not significantly alter the abundance of dominant genera, but selectively reduced E. cloacae across all colonic regions. Alpha diversity was significantly affected only in the enriched microbiota, while beta diversity analysis indicated significant compositional shifts during therapy, with reduced dispersion in the final treatment stage. Short-chain fatty acid profiling demonstrated region- and group-specific metabolic responses, with increased lactic and butyric acid concentrations in the ascending colon of the enriched microbiota following phage treatment. This study provides the first ex vivo evidence that a two-phage cocktail can selectively eliminate E. cloacae while preserving overall microbiota structure and functionality. These findings establish a foundation for future in vivo studies exploring the role of phage therapy in reshaping gut microbial communities and metabolic profiles, highlighting its potential as a precision tool for managing gut dysbiosis in metabolic disorders. Full article

Background: The few epidemiologic studies of infection exposure in early life and acute leukemia (AL) risk in Latino children have yielded inconsistent results, suggesting a possible effect of ethnicity. Here, we examined the correlation between infection exposure and acute leukemia risk in children from Mexico City—One of the biggest Latino cities worldwide. Methods: This study included 1455 Mexican children diagnosed with de novo AL (2002–2016), and 1455 control individuals frequency-matched by age and health institution. The AL population included acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Pre-B ALL, and acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate direct and indirect proxies of infection in children or their mothers. Results: Upper respiratory tract infections during the child’s first year of life were a risk factor for AL (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.48–5.15), including ALL (OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.67–5.89) and Pre-B (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.63–5.96). Mother’s infections before and during pregnancy were protective factors against AL (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.47–0.64; and OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.52–0.72, respectively). These associations included ALL and Pre-B. In contrast, only mothers’ infections before pregnancy and respiratory tract infections were protective factors against AML (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33–0.62; and OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.37–0.68, respectively). Conclusions: Infections during the first year of life were associated with AL development in children of Mexico City. Additionally, mothers’ exposure to respiratory tract infections before and during pregnancy reduced the AL risk in this Latino population. Full article

The production of viable nucleopolyhedrovirus in the feces of infected lepidopteran larvae represents a poorly understood route for virus transmission prior to host death. In the present study, we examined the presence of viable virus in the feces of fourth-instar Spodoptera frugiperda larvae infected with the Nicaraguan isolate of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV-NIC). Feces production increased in samples taken at 2 to 6 days post-inoculation but was significantly lower in infected insects compared to controls. Second instars experienced 3.9 to 68.3% of polyhedrosis disease following consumption of feces collected at 2–5 days post-inoculation, which subsequently fell to 29.1% in the 6-day sample. Calibration of the insect bioassay using OB-spiked samples of feces indicated that the concentration of OBs varied between 5.4 × 10² and 4.4 × 10⁵ OBs/100 mg of feces in infected fourth instars. Quantitative PCR analysis of fecal samples indicated the presence of 0 to 7629 copies/mg feces following amplification targeted at the polyhedrin gene. However, no correlation was detected between qPCR estimates of virus concentration and time of sample collection or the quantity of feces collected. The qPCR estimates were positively correlated with the prevalence of lethal infection observed in the insect bioassay, but the correlation was weak and several samples did not amplify. Calibration of the qPCR assay using OB-spiked samples of feces provided estimates that were 5- to 10-fold lower than the insect bioassay, indicating inhibition of the amplification reaction or loss of material during processing. In a greenhouse experiment, 2.5–48.3% of second-instar larvae acquired lethal infection following a 24 h period of feeding on maize plants on which fourth instar larvae had deposited their feces at 3 days and 4 days post-infection, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of OB-contaminated feces as a source of biologically significant quantities of inoculum for virus transmission prior to the death of infected insects and represent an additional contribution to the biological control of lepidopteran pests by these pathogens. Full article

The global problem of water scarcity is exacerbated by the continued contamination of potable water sources. This preliminary study investigates the potential of a hazardous industrial jarosite waste to adsorb As(V) and Cr(III) from contaminated waters. The results showed that this mining waste effectively adsorbed both As(V) and Cr(III), demonstrating its potential as a low-cost and sustainable solution for water remediation along with the use of a hazardous waste that also contaminates. The adsorption process was optimized, and the effects of various parameters on the adsorption capacity were investigated. The findings of this study suggest that the use of toxic mining residues in porous concrete could provide a promising approach for the removal of toxic heavy metals from polluted water sources, contributing to the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly water treatment technologies. A maximum adsorption of 90.6% of As(V) and 96.3% of Cr(III) was achieved, and it was verified that the industrial jarosite initially contained about 0.44% As, which was later leached during decomposition; again, the industrial jarosite was able to re-adsorb both As(V) and Cr(III). Full article

The objectives of this study were to determine the rates of natural mortality (M), fishing mortality (F), total mortality (Z), the exploitation rates (E), as well as the biological reference points (BRPs) and the annual removal rates (R) of the crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai, in the Ecuadorian Pacific. Thirty similar and different models were applied to determine all these rates. These equations were obtained from studies on teleost and chondrichthyan fish. The biological parameters, including age, growth, longevity, and reproduction, were obtained from the specialized literature based on the biology of P. kamoharai in Ecuadorian waters. These biological parameters were used in all the models considered here. The M estimations were 0.14 to 0.28 based on six models for chondrichthyans and osteichthyes. These values were similar to the six algorithms designed for cartilaginous fish, ranging from 0.16 to 0.35; for this reason, these mortality rates were considered low. The Z values ranged from 0.08 to 0.51; however, they were not considered given that the three estimations were less than M, and only the Z = 0.51 was considered. Given that Z = 0.51 and M = 0.24, an F = 0.27 was obtained by subtraction, indicating a low mortality by fishing. E had values between 0.21 and 0.53, which indicated overexploitation that exceeded the E_opt = 0.50 value. The obtained BRPs were F_opt = 0.10 and 0.12 and F_lim = 0.16, which showed that the optimal fishing levels (best possible capture) to achieve long-term sustainable exploitation of the stock encompass 10 to 16% of the fishing effort applied for this species. However, the F surpassed this prudential range. The annual removal percentage (R = 21%) demonstrated that 21% of the population was being removed. Based on the biology and ecology of this species, all models applied in this study showed that P. kamoharai had low natural and fishing mortality rates and moderate total mortality; its exploitation rate exceeded the fishing limits. These values and their life history traits indicated that this shark species cannot tolerate any fishing level without threatening its populations. Full article

The Reynolds number (Re), introduced in the late 19th century, has become a fundamental parameter in a lot of scientific fields—the main one being fluid mechanics—as it allows for the determination of flow characteristics by distinguishing between laminar and turbulent regimes, or some intermediate stage. Reynolds’ 1895 paper, which decomposed velocity into average and fluctuating components, laid the foundation for modern turbulence modeling. Since then, the concept has been applied to various fields, including external flows—the science that studies friction—as well as wear, lubrication, and heat transfer. Literature research in recent times has explored new interpretations of Re, and despite its apparent simplicity, the precise prediction of Reynolds numbers remains a computational challenge, especially under conditions such as the study of multiphase flows, non-Newtonian fluids, highly turbulent flow conditions, flows on very small scales or nanofluids, flows with complex geometries, transient or non-stationary flows, and flows of fluids with variable properties. Reynolds’ work, which encompasses both scientific and engineering contributions, continues to influence research and applications in fluid dynamics. Full article

Mining operations for the extraction and processing of useful geological materials are common anthropogenic activities that generate enormous quantities of waste that can alter the natural balance. In this way, soil, water and air are contaminated with waste that contains heavy metals, acids and many other compounds that are toxic to the environment and health. Minimizing and eradicating these pollutants is an arduous but necessary task. That is why, in the present work, the physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of metallurgical mining waste was carried out using analytical techniques. Tests and trials were also carried out to assess the degree of toxicity, corrosiveness and chemical capacity to generate acid mine drainage. In general, it was found that this waste does not contain active toxic elements or elements that could be corrosive. However, due to the residual content of sulfide minerals, it can generate acid mine drainage, which could contaminate groundwater. Likewise, it can be seen that due to the content of heavy metals and minerals such as quartz and feldspars, this waste can be reprocessed to recover metals and subsequently separate, by flotation, the associated silica and feldspar, which can be used in the glass and cement industry. Full article

Ultraviolet shortwave (UV-C) is a technology for postharvest fruit disinfection. This study aimed to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on the discrete ordinate (DO) radiation model to analyze the distribution of UV-C intensity on whole and minimally processed mangoes within a disinfection chamber and to predict treatments against foodborne pathogens. The mango spears were oriented both parallel and perpendicular to the lamp and positioned at varying distances from the radiation source (50, 75, and 100 mm for spears and 100 mm for whole fruit). CFD simulations integrated with in vitro kinetic parameters enabled predictions of the time and doses needed to inactivate one to three logarithmic units of pathogens on the fruit surface. The highest average radiation intensity values were recorded for the whole mango oriented parallel to the lamp at 100 mm and the spears oriented normally to the lamp at 50 mm. The estimated times to achieve inactivation of one to three logarithmic units of microorganisms ranged from approximately 15 to 6540 s, while the doses necessary for this inactivation were, on average, 1.854, 5.291, and 10.656 kJ/m², respectively. CFD simulations are valuable for optimizing UV-C treatments in large-scale designing from both microbicide and sustainable perspectives. Full article

Induction stoves are increasingly recognized as the future of cooking technology due to their numerous benefits, including enhanced energy efficiency, improved safety, and precise cooking control. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the key technological advancements in induction stoves, while also examining the societal and health impacts that need to be addressed to support their widespread adoption. Induction stoves operate based on the principle of eddy currents induced in metal cookware, which generate heat directly within the pot, reducing cooking times and increasing energy efficiency compared with conventional gas and electric stoves. Moreover, induction stoves are considered an environmentally sustainable option, as they contribute to improvements in indoor air quality by reducing emissions associated with fuel combustion during cooking. However, ongoing research is essential to ensure the safe and effective use of this technology on a broader scale. Full article

The application of fractional calculus to obtain dynamic models for supercapacitors represents an alternative approach to obtaining simpler and more accurate models. This paper presents a model for the supercapacitor in the time domain, based on the use of the fractional or non-integer order integral. This fractional model is compared with the conventional simple model, which is typically used in industrial applications. This fractional integral-based model provides satisfactory fits in relation to the number of parameters used in the model. Furthermore, an interpretation of the effect of the application of fractional integration is presented for constant current charging and discharging processes at constant current, using the Riemann–Liouville definition for the non-integer order integral. Supercapacitors are devices that exhibit non-linear behavior, with a distinct charging and discharging operation. There are several methods of dynamic analysis for the characterization of supercapacitors. The information extracted from these methods is essential for understanding the behavior of supercapacitors and, thus, ensuring that processes involving supercapacitors are as efficient as possible. This paper presents a dynamic analysis based on charge and discharge operations with constant currents. The conclusion is that the fractional model provides fairly accurate fits. Full article