Search Results (181)

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is a recent issue of concern for researchers primarily working on the anthropogenic impacts on animal and ecosystem health. Our concern is associated with the ALAN exposure to an aquatic ecosystem by disrupting the natural dark–light cycle, which is essential for maintaining the overall health of the ecosystem and its inhabitants. In this study, we have attempted to understand the adverse consequences of ALAN in inducing neuro-behavioural stress in a freshwater prawn species (aquatic arthropod) Macrobrachium lamarrei by considering grooming behaviour, a well-established indicator of neurological stress in animals. Our results show that continuous ALAN exposure (for seven days) can increase collective grooming activity in Macrobrachium lamarrei over time. In our experiment, we have used two intensities of ALAN (50 and 120 lux). Although the response (in terms collective grooming) to both intensities are apparently different, our fundamental hypothesis is confirmed, where it is evident that prolonged light exposure can induce an elevation in cumulative grooming performances in a freshwater prawn population. Full article

Patient involvement in health technology assessment (HTA) processes is increasingly recognized as pivotal for informed, equitable, and patient-relevant health care decision-making. With the implementation of Joint Scientific Consultations (JSCs) and Joint Clinical Assessments (JCAs) under Regulation (EU) 2021/2282, the European Union has a unique opportunity to design harmonized mechanisms that reflect best practices from established HTA systems. This article, drawing on the Acute Leukemia Advocates Network (ALAN)’s comparative analysis of HTA practices across seven countries (Canada, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy), examines how current patient involvement processes can inform the JCA framework. It identifies opportunities to replicate effective practices and proposes strategies to embed patient voices meaningfully into the JCA process. By prioritizing robust and inclusive patient involvement, the EU can establish a global benchmark for impactful and consistent HTA processes. By leveraging lessons from international HTA systems and prioritizing clear frameworks, early involvement, and capacity building, the EU can set a global standard for meaningful patient participation in HTA processes. ALAN is an independent global network of patient organizations dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with acute leukemia. Full article

Background/Objectives: Candidiasis, primarily caused by Candida albicans, and sporotrichosis, mainly caused by Sporothrix schenckii, are skin fungal infections that pose serious threats to global health. The Candida auris is a great concern in immunocompromised individuals, and while Sporothrix brasiliensis cause sporotrichosis, an infection commonly found in cats, this disease can be transmitted to humans through scratches or bites. Existing treatments for these fungal infections often cause problems related to resistance and significant side effects. Consequently, development of alternative therapeutic approaches such as nanotechnology-based topical lipid-based formulations is interesting. Thus, the objectives of this study were to prepare clove oil (CO)-in-water nanoemulsions (NEs) containing amphotericin B (AmB) and characterize them with respect to stability, release profile, and in vitro cytotoxic activity against Candida and Sporothrix strains. As a future alternative for the treatment of fungal skin diseases. Methods: Chemical analysis of clove oil was obtained by GC-MS. The NEs were produced using an ultrasound (sonicator) method with varying proportions of CO, Pluronic^® F-127, and AmB. The NEs were characterized by droplet size, morphology, stability and in vitro release profile. The antifungal and cytotoxic activity against C. albicans, C. auris, S. schenckii, and S. brasiliensis were ascertained employing agar diffusion and colorimetric MTT assay methods. A checkerboard assay was carried out using clove oil and amphotericin B against C. auris. Results: Eugenol was the major compound identified in CO at a concentration of 80.09%. AmB-loaded NEs exhibited particle sizes smaller than 50 nm and a polydispersity index below 0.25. The optimal Ne (NEMLB-05) remained stable after 150 days of storage at 4 °C. It exhibited rapid release within the first 24 h, followed by a slow and controlled release up to 96 h. NEMLB-05 more effectively inhibited C. auris compared to free AmB and also demonstrated greater activity against C. albicans, S. schenckii, and S. brasiliensis. Clove oil and amphotericin B presented synergism inhibiting the growth of C. auris. Conclusions: The selected CO-in-water NEs containing AmB demonstrated promising potential as a topical therapeutic alternative for treating fungal infections. Full article

Hydroxymethyl 1,3-diol motifs are common structural motifs in natural products, particularly in polypropionates with important therapeutic potential. However, general and complementary methods for their regio- and diastereoselective synthesis remain limited. In this study, we expanded a second-generation epoxide-based methodology involving the regioselective cleavage of TIPS-monoprotected cis- and trans-2,3-epoxy alcohols using alkenyl Grignard reagents. Regioselective ring opening of cis-epoxides provided anti-1,3-diols, while trans-epoxides afforded the corresponding syn-1,3-diols. The use of cis-propenylmagnesium bromide and vinyl Grignard reagents enabled direct access to cis- and terminal homoallylic 1,3-diols, respectively, with moderate to good yields (46–88%) and excellent regioselectivities (95:5). In contrast, reactions with trans-propenyl Grignard reagent led to partial alkene isomerization, limiting their synthetic utility. To address this, a complementary two-step approach employing propynyl alanate addition followed by sodium/ammonia reduction was incorporated, providing access to trans-homoallylic 1,3-diols with high diastereoselectivity. All 1,3-diols were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, confirming regioselective epoxide opening. These combined strategies offer a practical and modular platform for the synthesis of syn- and anti-hydroxymethylated 1,3-diols and their application to the construction of polypropionate-type fragments, supporting future efforts in the total synthesis of polyketide natural products. Full article

This research studies the impact of macroeconomic announcement surprises on daily U.S. Treasury excess returns during the heart of Alan Greenspan’s tenure as Federal Reserve Chair, addressing the possible limitations of standard static regression (SSR) models, which may suffer from omitted variable bias, parameter instability, and poor mis-specification diagnostics. To complement the SSR framework, an automated general-to-specific (Gets) modeling approach, enhanced with modern indicator saturation methods for robustness, is applied to improve empirical model discovery and mitigate potential biases. By progressively reducing an initially broad set of candidate variables, the Gets methodology steers the model toward congruence, dispenses unstable parameters, and seeks to limit information loss while seeking model congruence and precision. The findings, herein, suggest that U.S. Treasury market responses to macroeconomic news shocks exhibited stability for a core set of announcements that reliably influenced excess returns. In contrast to computationally costless standard static models, the automated Gets-based approach enhances parameter precision and provides a more adaptive structure for identifying relevant predictors. These results demonstrate the potential value of incorporating interpretable automated model selection techniques alongside traditional SSR and Markov switching approaches to improve empirical insights into macroeconomic announcement effects on financial markets. Full article

Leachate management remains a major environmental challenge, especially in rapidly urbanizing cities of developing countries. Traditionally considered toxic and useless, it is a sustainable organic resource with the potential for high-value biochemical production through bioprocessing. This study investigated the characteristics of fresh leachates from three solid waste transfer stations (SWTS) in the Abidjan district, Côte d’Ivoire, and assessed their potential as substrates for medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) production via microbial chain elongation. The MCFA synthesis was carried out in anaerobic bioreactors operated under methanogenesis inhibition conditions. The leachates from Bingerville, Abobo-Dokui, and Yopougon exhibited acidic and high organic content, particularly volatile fatty acids (VFAs), key precursors for MCFA synthesis. High concentrations of microbial communities associated with chain elongation were observed, including Clostridium (sulphite-reducing), Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas (greater than 5 log10 CFU/mL). MCFA production ranged from 5 to 10 g/L, mainly C6, C7, and C8, with compositional variation depending on the SWTS. Notably, leachates from higher-income areas demonstrated higher MCFA productivity compared to those from lower-income areas. These findings highlight the potential of fresh SWTS leachates in the Abidjan district for sustainable MCFA production, paving the way for industrial applications. Full article

Light pollution can affect various groups of aquatic organisms. This effect will vary depending on the color temperature of the artificial lighting. However, at the moment, the issue of adaptation of organisms to light pollution and the influence of different color temperatures on them has not been well-studied. In this study, we decided to conduct a series of experiments with individuals of the amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus from two populations and find out how individuals adapted to light pollution. The first group of individuals is from the population in Lake Baikal (Bolshie Koty Bay), and the second group is from the population in the Angara River (within the city of Irkutsk). The second population is significantly affected by light pollution. Since the middle of the last century, there has been an artificial barrier between these populations in the form of a hydroelectric power station. The experiments showed that G. fasciatus individuals developed different behavioral strategies in relation to artificial lighting with different color temperatures. In warm light, individuals tend to move to a shaded area, while in cold light, individuals may be attracted to artificial lighting, but only in small groups. These identified patterns may likely find practical use. Full article

Light pollution is a rapidly growing environmental challenge, with the global brightness of the night sky increasing by an average of 9.6% per year. This study assessed the ecological impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on protected areas in Poland, including all 23 national and 125 landscape parks, from 2012 to 2023. Based on VIIRS satellite radiance data and modelled sky surface brightness (Sa), we developed and applied the Ecological Light Pollution (ELP) scale, which classifies areas into four classes of ecological impact: strong (ELP-A), pronounced (ELP-B), noticeable (ELP-C), and weak or none (ELP-D). The analysis revealed that 38.5% of protected areas are affected by artificial skyglow at levels classified as ELP-B or ELP-C. Under cloudy conditions, which intensify light pollution effects, 22% of national parks and 41.8% of landscape parks fell into these classes. Notably, Wielkopolski National Park exhibited the most pronounced impact (ELP-B) even under clear skies, primarily due to its proximity to the Poznań metropolitan area. In contrast, Bieszczadzki and Białowieski National Parks recorded near-natural darkness (ELP-D). These light pollution effects can disrupt nocturnal species’ behaviour, reduce biodiversity, and degrade opportunities for dark-sky tourism. The findings emphasise the need for targeted mitigation, including stricter outdoor lighting regulations, formal dark-sky protection zones, and public education to preserve protected areas’ ecological integrity and tourism potential. Full article

The effects of proline co-solvent on helix folding are explored through the single discrete coordinate of the number of helical hydrogen bonds. The analysis is based on multi-microsecond length molecular dynamics simulations of alanine-based helix-forming peptides, (ALA)n, of length n = 4, 8, 15 and 21 residues, in an aqueous solution with 2 M concentration of proline. The effects of addition of proline on the free energy landscape for helix folding were analyzed using the graph-based Dijkstra algorithm, Optimal Dimensionality Reduction kinetic coarse graining, committor functions, as well as through the diffusion of the helix boundary. Viewed at a sufficiently long time-scale, helix folding in the coarse-grained hydrogen bond space follows a consecutive mechanism, with well-defined initiation and propagation phases, and an interesting set of intermediates. Proline addition slows down the folding relaxation of all four peptides, increases helix content and induces subtle mechanistic changes compared to pure water solvation. A general trend is for transition state shift towards earlier stages of folding in proline relative to water. For ALA5 and ALA8 direct folding is dominant. In ALA8 and ALA15 multiple pathways appear possible. For ALA21 a simple mechanism emerges, with a single path from helix to coil through a set of intermediates. Overall, this work provides new insights into effects of proline co-solvent on helix folding, complementary to more standard approaches based on three-dimensional molecular structures. Full article

Light pollution can have a variety of effects on aquatic organisms. Despite the fact that amphipods are one of the model organisms for studying the effects of light among macroinvertebrates, data on the reaction of Baikal amphipods to artificial lighting are limited and contradictory. In this study, we examine the response of Baikal littoral and sublittoral amphipod species to artificial lighting of varying intensity and spectral composition. In the experiments, amphipods were exposed to warm and white light at three different intensity ranges (5–15, 20–35, and 80–100 lx), as well as blue and red light. As a result, it was found that the reaction of Baikal amphipods to different lighting conditions was species-specific and dependent on the spectral composition of the light more so than the intensity of the light. In particular, white LED light generally repulsed E. cyaneus, but tended to attract A. godlevskii. P. cancelloides, and G. fasciatus, suggesting that white LED light may have a greater negative impact on wildlife than warm LED light. Generally, artificial light influences the behavior of Baikal amphipods, and an increase in light pollution on Lake Baikal may lead to changes in the littoral community in certain areas of the lake subject to pollution. Full article

The present study investigated the in vitro digestibility of diets for broiler chickens (Ross308) and broiler and laying Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). The diets contained unconventional feedstuffs such as silkworm (Bombyx mori) meal (SWM) and meals obtained from different Camelina sativa lines (Pearl and Alan, characterized by reduced linoleic acid and glucosinolates content, respectively). An in vitro technique was tested in order to assess its potential for replacing in vivo studies. To test this, the digestive tracts of fifty broiler chickens and four hundred Japanese quails were sampled to extract digestive enzymes to be used for in vitro digestibility assessments, including dry matter digestibility (DMd), organic matter digestibility (OMd), and crude protein digestibility (CPd). Diets including SWM exhibited comparable digestibility values to those of Control diet for broiler chickens, highlighting its potential as a valuable protein source in poultry nutrition. The study also found strong correlations between DMd and OMd (p < 0.01), indicating a logical relationship in nutrient breakdown. A 5% or 10% inclusion of the two camelina lines in the diet for broiler quails did not significantly alter the digestibility parameters (p ≥ 0.05), whereas in laying quails, diets with a 15% inclusion level of camelina resulted in a significant difference in digestibility (p < 0.05). Specifically, oil diets provided the best outcomes, while the diet Pearl Spring 15 showed the lowest DMd, CPd, and OMd (p < 0.05). Overall, results from the present study indicate that the tested alternative feedstuffs (SWM and camelina) have a good potential for poultry feed formulations. In addition, the tested in vitro technique was shown to be more suitable to predict the digestibility of single feedstuffs (i.e., SWM) rather than complete diets, which is consistent with the existing literature. For this reason, this in vitro technique is not adequate to replace in vivo digestibility experiments. Full article

Rising energy costs and a desire for sustainability have led municipalities to implement measures such as reducing artificial public lighting at night (ALAN). However, under pressure from residents, some municipalities are being forced to reverse their decision. Although important, the social relationship of individuals to public lighting and its impact on decisions to reduce or modify is still little considered. This study examines how residents of a municipality in southern France perceive a policy of reducing artificial night lighting from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. A survey of 91 participants was used to assess their understanding of the positive (safety, nightlife…) and negative (effects on biodiversity, health…) impacts of ALAN, their attitudes towards the measure, and their opinions regarding its extension. The results indicate that participants who recognise the negative impacts of ALAN are more inclined to support its reduction (r = 0.56, p < 0.001; ß = 0.44, t = 3.12, p = 0.003), while those who appreciate its positive impacts are more reluctant to accept the measure (r = −0.57, p < 0.001; ß = −0.70, t = −5.30, p < 0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that specific attitudes towards these lighting-off measures were the main predictor of support for the policy (ß = 0.60, t = 6.70, p < 0.001) than general beliefs about the impacts of lighting. These results suggest that implementing such policies requires balancing ecological considerations with social expectations and building trust between local authorities and residents to improve public acceptance of lighting strategies. This study contributes to the still scarce research on the positioning of individuals in real projects to reduce or even switch off lighting and demonstrates the value of studying the relationship between individuals and policies to reduce public lighting. Full article

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become a global public health threat. Although no replication-competent virus has been found in breast milk samples, breastfeeding practices during the pandemic were impacted. It is well known that breast milk is adapted to meet the needs of infants, providing the appropriate amounts of nutrients and various bioactive compounds that contribute to the maturation of the immune system and antioxidant protection, safeguarding infants against diseases. While its composition is variable, breast milk contains immune cells, antibodies, and cytokines, which have anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties that strengthen infant immunity. Since COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been approved for infants under six months of age, newborns rely on the passive transfer of antibodies via the placenta and breast milk to protect them against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several studies that analyzed breast milk samples in the context of COVID-19 have demonstrated that a strong antibody response is induced following maternal infection with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of maternal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through natural infection and/or vaccination on the immunological composition of breast milk based on the studies conducted on this topic. Full article

This study presents the chemical profile of the ethanolic extract of Genipa americana L. stem bark and the evaluation of its antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The chemical prospecting consisted of a qualitative analysis and quantification by HPLC-DAD. An antibacterial evaluation was performed using broth microdilution to determine the MIC, while gentamicin and amikacin were used to modify the antimicrobials. The antioxidant tests included the DPPH^• method, ABTS^•+ radical cation capture, Fe²⁺ chelation, Fe³⁺ reduction, and oxidative degradation of deoxyribose. Phytochemical tests identified its flavonoid and alkaloid classes, and an HPLC analysis allowed for caffeic acid quantification in the extract. The results of this study showed satisfactory MICs for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, 256 µg/mL; S. flexneri and P. vulgaris, 512 µg/mL; and S. typhimurium, ≥ 1024 µg/mL. Furthermore, there was a modifying effect on the bacterial strains, except for S. enterica. The antioxidant tests using the DPPH^• method showed an IC₅₀ of 298.1 µg.mL⁻¹, with the highest percentage of ABTS^•+ radical cation capture occurring at a concentration of 500 µg/mL; regarding Fe²⁺, chelating activity was not present, and for Fe³⁺ reduction, the best concentrations were 10 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL. The data obtained can be used to turn G. americana into a viable species as an agent for antibacterial and antioxidant functionalities in foods. Full article

In an ongoing series of interviews, Challenges Advisory Board member and Nova Institute for Health Fellow Alan C. Logan meets with thought leaders, scientists, scholars, healthcare professionals, artisans, and visionaries concerned about health at the scale of individuals, communities, and the planet. Here, Dr. Pragya Mishra responds to a set of questions posed by Challenges. Dr. Mishra, a legal academician and one of the few global scholars with a PhD specifically in neurolaw, is at the forefront of research examining the intersection of law and brain sciences. As a concept and developing field, the promise of neurolaw is that it will lead to a more equitable and less punitive justice system, one based on objective science rather than prescientific assumptions of blameworthiness and willpower. Here, Dr. Mishra reflects on the promises and pitfalls of neurolaw, the growing challenges to the free will assumptions held by the courts, and her work in a field that epitomizes a transdisciplinary effort. She discusses the place of contemplative practices within neurolaw, with special emphasis on the hope of rehabilitation. Dr. Mishra describes neurolaw through a holistic lens, one that embraces future possibilities and the shaping of evidence-based policy changes. While planetary health embraces justice as a broad term, it has paid little attention to the criminal justice system. Discussions of neurolaw are important to the ethical frameworks of planetary health. Neurolaw, as Dr. Mishra explains, is at the heart of the many interconnected challenges of our time. Full article