Search Results (111)

Background/Objectives: Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world, characterized by a high risk of metastasis, resistance to various drugs, and late diagnosis. In addition, the drugs used for treatment are associated with serious neurological damage, causing acute and chronic pain and compromising the patient’s quality of life. Meanwhile, lectins are proteins capable of exerting cytotoxic action on cells from various tumors in a selective manner, without exerting significant toxicity on healthy cells. Despite this, studies on the potential of lectins obtained from microalgae are still scarce in the literature. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity of lectin isolated from the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris (CvL) on colorectal cancer cells, HT-29. Methods: The purified lectin was tested for cytotoxicity using MTT colorimetric methods, in addition to clonogenicity, cell cycle, apoptosis, and necrosis tests, analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The assays demonstrated that the lectin was able to induce cell death in the HT-29 tumor line by approximately 83.75% with an IC₅₀ value of 21.5 µg/mL⁻¹, reduced colony formation by more than 90%, was able to regulate the cell cycle by apoptosis, and did not present significant necrosis. These results show that microalgae lectins have the potential to be exploited in the control of neoplastic cells. Full article

Backgroud/Objectives: Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is a significant public health concern due to dogs serving as reservoirs for human infection. An accurate and rapid diagnostic method to distinguish symptomatic and asymptomatic CVL from healthy and vaccinated animals is essential for controlling canine and human disease. Developing innovative antibody detection techniques and exploring new antigens are essential for enhancing CVL testing efficiency. Our study focuses on a multiplex flow cytometry technique to detect Leishmania-specific antibodies in canine serum. This involved conjugating small peptides with carrier proteins or peptide tags, sequences designed to facilitate bead coupling. Methods: A peptide from the L. infantum A2 protein was coupled to beads in three forms: unconjugated, conjugated with BSA, and conjugated with a C-terminal β-alanine–lysine (x4)–cysteine TAG. This TAG was previously designed to enhance peptide solubility, improve binding efficiency, and provide functional groups for covalent attachment to the beads, ensuring stable immobilization in the multiplex assay. Results: Our results suggest that the multiplex approach shows promise as a rapid serological test for CVL, particularly with TAG-conjugated peptides, which optimize bead coupling. However, peptide/BSA conjugation revealed anti-BSA antibodies in samples from healthy and CVL dogs. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings highlight the potential of multiplex methodologies to enhance CVL diagnostics and caution against using BSA as a bead coupling agent in serological tests for canine samples due to its impact on test specificity and sensitivity. Full article

Metal powders have both a high specific energy and a high energy density, which explains their widespread use in energetic materials (propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics). Pyrotechnic compositions are used extensively for both civilian and military applications. However, the combustion of pyrotechnics remains challenging to understand or predict due to the diversity of the components and the wide range of parameters that affect their results. Therefore, ongoing research efforts worldwide aim to investigate the combustion mechanisms of pyrotechnic compositions to improve their performance. In this review, studies on the ignition and combustion mechanisms of four metal powders (Al, Mg, Fe and B) are discussed. Moreover, their use as fuel in pyrotechnic systems is reported, as well as the combustion performance and energy release of the pyrotechnic mixtures. Additionally, some mixtures composed of fluorinated oxidizers and Al, Mg and B are also presented. Thermal analysis methods such as DSC and TG are used to obtain the thermal behavior of the pyrotechnic compositions. Furthermore, parameters such as particle size and the equivalence ratio that affect the performance of pyrotechnic mixtures and those that remain little studied are reported in this review. Full article

This study investigates the use of recycled concrete aggregates as a replacement for natural sand in printable mortars, comparing the properties of both fresh and hardened states. Two types of mortars were considered, natural mortar and recycled mortar, with further variations based on mixing methods under ordinary atmospheric pressure and vacuum pressure. The experimental approach included air content, mini-slump, printability, and various hardened state tests such as compressive strength and porosity measurements using both water absorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results showed that mortars made with recycled sand exhibited higher fluidity, as evidenced by an increase in slump of approximately 50 to 70 mm across 30 min, compared to those made with natural sand. This difference was attributed to the pre-saturation of recycled sand, which, as a hypothesis, may increase with the amount of free water available while mixing under vacuum. Additionally, mortars containing recycled sand exhibited higher water-accessible porosity (approximately +7% compared to natural mortars) and lower compressive strength, with a reduction of about 5 to 10% for printed and cast samples, with the decrease being more pronounced in printed specimens. However, vacuum mixing was found to significantly reduce entrapped air content, by about 53% in natural mortars and 62% in recycled ones, and to enhance the workability of both types. The pore size distribution indicated that recycled mortars had a more complex pore network, with pores in the ranges of [0.01–0.1] mm and [0.1–1] mm, contributing to increased porosity and reduced mechanical strength. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of using recycled sand in mortar formulations, with proper control of pre-saturation and mixing conditions to optimize performance in both fresh and hardened states. Full article

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading etiological factor in cervical cancer, creating a pressing need for less invasive and more objective diagnostic tools. This pilot study pioneers the application of Raman spectroscopy to cell-free cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) for distinguishing between low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL) in HPV-positive patients. Raman spectra were acquired at 532-nm excitation from cell-free CVL samples of 20 patients with histologically confirmed LSIL (n = 9) or HSIL (n = 11). Comparative analysis of Raman bands revealed a significant biochemical shift in HSIL, presumably characterized by reduced glycogen and lactate/lactic acid levels alongside substantially elevated heme proteins. A diagnostic model based on key spectral intensity ratios achieved differentiation between LSIL and HSIL with 80% sensitivity and 86% specificity. These findings demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy of cell-free CVL effectively captures profound metabolic and microvascular alterations characteristic of neoplastic progression, showcasing its strong potential as a rapid, cost-effective, non-invasive, and objective tool for cervical lesion risk stratification. Full article

Background/Objectives: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is one of the main neglected protozoan diseases in the world. Dogs play a fundamental role in the maintenance of Leishmania infantum in the Americas, and we have already encountered resistance problems with drugs currently used in these animals. Methods: In view of this, two new immunotherapeutic protocols were tested in 48 dogs, using L. amazonensis antigens plus saponin (LaSap) and only L. amazonensis antigens (La) as a control group. Dogs naturally infected with L. infantum were divided into four groups, according to clinical staging. A total of 24 dogs (stages 1 and 2) received a four-dose protocol, and another 24 dogs (stages 3 to 5) received six doses. All animals received a booster dose every three months until they were one year old. Results: Our results showed that dogs in the early stages of the disease respond better and are able to remain stable for longer, maintaining baseline laboratory biomarkers, in addition to having a lower parasite load. Conclusions: On the other hand, dogs in more advanced stages have a poor response, with stage 3 being a key point in clinical progression or regression. Full article

In this paper, an image-driven regional pansharpening technique based on simplex optimization analysis with a graph-based superpixel segmentation strategy is proposed. This fusion approach optimally combines spatial information derived from a high-resolution panchromatic (PAN) image and spectral information captured from a low-resolution multispectral (MS) image to generate a unique comprehensive high-resolution MS image. As the performance of such a fusion method relies on the choice of the fusion strategy, and in particular, on the way the algorithm is used for estimating gain coefficients, our proposal is dedicated to computing the injection gains over a graph-driven segmentation map. The graph-based segments are obtained by applying simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) on the MS image followed by a region adjacency graph (RAG) merging stage. This graphical representation of the segmentation map is used as guidance for spatial information to be injected during fusion processing. The high-resolution MS image is achieved by inferring locally the details in accordance with the local simplex injection fusion rule. The quality improvements achievable by our proposal are evaluated and validated at reduced and at full scales using two high resolution datasets collected by GeoEye-1 and WorldView-3 sensors. Full article

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a major zoonosis that poses a growing challenge to public health services, as successful disease management requires sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic methods capable of identifying infected animals even at a subclinical level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the recombinant chimeric protein rMELEISH3 as an antigen in ELISA assays for the robust diagnosis of CVL. The protein was expressed in a bacterial system, purified by affinity chromatography, and evaluated through a series of serological assays using serum samples from dogs infected with Leishmania infantum. ROC curve analysis revealed a diagnostic sensitivity of 96.4%, a specificity of 100%, and an area under the curve of 0.996, indicating excellent discriminatory power. Furthermore, rMELEISH3 was recognized by antibodies present in the serum of dogs with low parasite loads, reinforcing the diagnostic potential of the assay in asymptomatic cases. It is concluded that the use of the recombinant antigen rMELEISH3 could significantly contribute to the improvement of CVL surveillance and control programs in endemic areas of Brazil and other countries, by offering a safe, reproducible and effective alternative to the methods currently recommended for the serological diagnosis of the disease. Full article

This research considers a preliminary comparative technical evaluation of two micro-gas turbine (MGT) systems in combined heat and power (CHP) mode (100 kWe), aimed at supplying heat to a residential community of 15 average-sized buildings located in Central Europe over a year. Two systems were modelled in Ebsilon 15 software: a natural gas case (benchmark) and an ammonia-fueled case, both based on the same on-design parameters. Off-design simulations evaluated performance over variable ambient temperatures and loads. Idealized, unrecuperated cycles were adopted to isolate the thermodynamic impact of the fuel switch under complete combustion assumption. Under these assumptions, the study shows that the ammonia system produces more electrical energy and less excess heat, yielding marginally higher electrical efficiency and EUF (26.05% and 77.63%) than the natural gas system (24.59% and 77.55%), highlighting ammonia’s utilization potential in such a context. Future research should target validating ammonia combustion and emission profiles across the turbine load range, and updating the thermodynamic model with a recuperator and SCR accounting for realistic pressure losses. Full article

Modern dermocosmetics combine the effectiveness of active substances with the benefits of percutaneous penetration enhancers to address skin issues such as hyperpigmentation. In this study, three bioactive tripeptides (with amino acid sequences CSF, CVL, and CSN) with previously confirmed tyrosinase inhibition activity were synthesized using the solid-phase synthesis method. The structures of the obtained peptides were determined. In addition, elastase in silico and in vitro inhibition assays were carried out. The tripeptides were subsequently encapsulated into liposomes, for which key physicochemical parameters were determined, including size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. The average diameter of the prepared liposomes was approximately 100 nm across all samples. The prepared carriers were found to be stable and exhibited no cytotoxicity toward reconstructed human epidermis cells. The peptides achieved an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 20–30%, with no significant differences observed between the cationic and anionic vesicles. Liposomes containing the CSF tripeptide, which showed the strongest tyrosinase-inhibiting effect, did not transport the peptide through the human skin in an ex vivo assay to permit quantification in the receptor solution, but facilitated penetration and retention of the tripeptide within the epidermis (4.65 ± 1.81 μg/cm²). These findings suggest that the prepared liposomes may serve as valuable carriers of bioactive tripeptides in anti-aging cosmetics. Full article

Film mulching and gravel mulching are effective methods for increasing crop yields in Northwest China but exacerbate soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralisation. Manure amendment is a viable method for offsetting carbon (C) losses from mulching. SOC stability is a key factor in determining the nutrient supply capacity of soils, as it affects the C sources available to microorganisms. However, the synergistic effects of film mulching and manure amendment on SOC stability and crop nutrient uptake are still unclear. Therefore, four treatments—no mulching (CK), gravel mulching (GM), film mulching (FM), and film mulching with manure amendment (FCM)—were established on the Loess Plateau. Experiments were conducted to measure plant and grain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) uptake, SOC, labile organic C fractions (LOCFs), stability-based organic C fractions (SOCFs), and the C management index (CMI) in 2019 and 2020. The results showed that the FM and FCM treatments significantly improved crop dry matter accumulation in both years compared to the control. The FCM treatment significantly increased the two-year NPK averages of plants to 44.9%, 50.7%, and 54.5% and significantly increased those of grains to 46.7%, 58.2%, and 30.4%. The FCM treatment significantly increased all LOCFs, water solution C (WSC), hot-water-extractable C (HWC), permanganate oxidisable C (POXC), and particulate organic C (POC) in the topsoil (0–20 cm) in both years. The fractions of the active C pool (AP) in the SOCFs, namely, very labile C (C_VL) and labile C (C_L), were significantly increased, suggesting that the FCM treatment significantly decreased C stability in the topsoil. The sensitivity index showed that, among all SOC fractions, POC (21.5–72.9%) and less labile C (C_LL) (20.8–483.8%) were the most sensitive fractions of LOCFs and SOCFs compared to SOC (1.93–35.8%). A random forest analysis showed that most labile C fractions and the CMI significantly contributed to crop N, P, and K uptake, especially POXC to crop N uptake, the CMI to crop P uptake, and the AP to crop K uptake. It was concluded that the FCM treatment synergistically enhanced SOC lability, crop NPK uptake, and labile C fractions, especially POXC, the AP, and the CMI, which serve as robust indicators for guiding precision nutrient management in semi-arid croplands. Full article

Rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease, affects humans, domestic animals, and wildlife predominantly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Malawi, rabies virus (RABV) is primarily transmitted by infected dogs, impacting humans and cattle. Lyssavirus has also been documented in insectivorous bats. A community survey near bat roosts assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding bat-borne zoonoses. Bat samples were tested for lyssavirus using RT-PCR, and RABV genomes from humans and domestic animals were sequenced and analysed phylogenetically. The survey revealed that 50% of participants consumed bat meat, and 47% reported bats entering their homes. Reduced bat presence indoors significantly lowered contact risk (aOR: 0.075, p = 0.021). All 23 bat samples tested negative for lyssavirus. Malawian RABV genomes, 11,801 nucleotides long, belonged to the Africa 1b lineage, showing >95% similarity with GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated close clustering with strains from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Human and cattle strains shared 99% and 92% amino acid similarity with dog strains, respectively, with conserved critical sites and unique substitutions across all five RABV genes. Frequent human–bat interactions pose zoonotic risks. While no lyssavirus was detected in bats, ongoing surveillance is crucial. This first comprehensive genome analysis of Malawian RABVs highlights their regional transmission and signifies the need for regional collaboration in rabies control, community education, and further study of genetic adaptations. Full article

Vulvovaginal symptoms affect up to 39% of women. These symptoms have a significant impact on quality of life and are often linked to imbalances in the vaginal microbiota. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of a zinc-containing hydroxyethyl cellulose-based hydrogel in 37 women with different vulvovaginal symptoms (itching, burning, irritation, pain, dryness, discharge, and odor). Over 12 weeks, participants applied the gel intravaginally with both assessments conducted at baseline and follow-ups. Results revealed substantial improvements in symptoms, including reductions in vaginal discharge, itching, and burning, as measured by the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire (VSQ-21), with scores decreasing from 10.78 ± 3.66 at baseline to 3.17 ± 4.16 at week 12 (p < 0.01). Vaginal Health Index (VHI) scores improved significantly, from 20.78 ± 1.74 at baseline to 23.64 ± 2.59 (p < 0.01). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) zinc levels decreased from 110 ± 102 µg/L at baseline to 62 ± 48 µg/L at week 4 (p < 0.01), increased to 80 ± 55 µg/L at week 8 (p = 0.04), and reached 99 ± 92 µg/L by week 12 (NS). A correlation analysis showed an inverse relationship between baseline CVL zinc levels and VSQ-21 scores (r = −0.3586, p = 0.034), while no significant correlation was observed with VHI scores (r = −0.0187, p = 0.9545). Vaginal pH levels decreased significantly, dropping from 4.03 ± 0.42 to 3.71 ± 0.48 (p < 0.01). These findings support the gel’s role as an effective, nonhormonal, drug-free, and local adjunct treatment for a variety of vulvovaginal symptoms. Full article

Coffea canephora genotypes adopt distinct strategies to cope with drought and rehydration. We hypothesized that the greater drought tolerance of genotype ‘3V’ compared to ‘A1’, previously reflected in physiological and anatomical leaf traits after two water-stress (WS) cycles, could also be observed in P–V curve responses, root and branch anatomy, leaf midrib elongation (CVL), and root distribution. The ‘3V’ and ‘A1’ plants were grown under well-watered (WW) conditions and two cycles of water stress (WS). The ‘3V’ was more sensitive to WS, with reduced branch xylem vessel density (BXVD), while ‘A1’ demonstrated increased BXVD. Root xylem vessel area (RXVA) decreased to a greater extent in ‘3V’ than in ‘A1’, and both genotypes showed increased bulk elastic modulus. Regardless of water conditions, ‘A1’ maintained a higher relative leaf water content at the turgor loss point (RWC_TLP). Morphological acclimation did not occur in the second WS cycle. The ‘3V’ plants developed greater root mass in deeper soil layers than ‘A1’ under the WS condition. These findings suggest that ‘A1’ follows a conservative drought-avoidance strategy with lower physio-morphological plasticity, while ‘3V’ exhibits greater drought tolerance. Such responses highlighted coordinated physiological, morphological, and anatomical adaptations of the above- and below-ground organs for resource acquisition and conservation under WS. Full article