Search Results (54)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a consequence of the ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to develop resistance against conventional antibiotics, hampering the treatment of common infections, is recognized as one of the most imperative health threats of this century. Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has emerged as a promising alternative strategy, utilizing photosensitizers activated by light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill pathogens without inducing resistance. In this work, we synthesized silica nanoparticles (NPs) of different sizes (20 nm, 80 nm, and 250 nm) functionalized with the photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB) and a gluconamide ligand, which targets Gram-negative bacteria, to assess their potential in aPDT. Comprehensive characterization, including dynamic light scattering (DLS) and photophysical analysis, confirmed the stability and effective singlet oxygen production of the functionalized nanoparticles. Although the surface loading density of Rose Bengal was constant at the nanoparticle external surface, RB loading (in mg/g nanoparticle) was size-dependent, decreasing with increasing nanoparticle diameter. Further, the spherical geometry of nanoparticles favored smaller nanoparticles for antibacterial PDT, as this maximizes the surface contact area with the bacteria wall, with the smallest (20 nm) and intermediate (80 nm) particles being more promising. Bacterial assays in E. coli revealed minimal dark toxicity and significant light-activated phototoxicity for the RB-loaded nanoparticles. The addition of gluconamide notably enhanced phototoxic activity, particularly in the smallest nanoparticles (RB-G-20@SiNP), which demonstrated the highest phototoxicity-to-cytotoxicity ratio. These findings indicate that small, gluconamide-functionalized silica nanoparticles are highly effective for targeted aPDT, offering a robust strategy to combat AMR. Full article

Alfalfa is a widely grown forage with a high crude protein content. Clarifying the interactions between light quality and nitrogen level on yield and nitrogen metabolism can purposely improve alfalfa productivity in plant factories with artificial light (PFAL). In this study, the growth, quality, and nitrogen metabolism of alfalfa grown in PFAL were investigated using three nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (10, 15, and 20 mM, labeled as N₁₀, N₁₅, and N₂₀) and continuous light (CL) with two light qualities (red–blue and red–blue–green light, labeled as RB-C and RBG-C). The results showed that the adaptation performance of alfalfa to nitrogen concentrations differed under red–blue and red–blue–green CL. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, yield, Chl a + b, Chl a, Chl b, crude protein contents, and NiR activity under the RB-CN₁₅ treatment were significantly higher than RB-CN₁₀ and RB-CN₂₀ treatments. The RB-CN₂₀ treatment showed morphological damage, such as plant dwarfing and leaf chlorosis, and physiological damage, including the accumulation of proline, H₂O₂, and MDA. However, the difference was that under red–blue–green CL, the leaf area, yield, and Chl a + b, carotenoid, nitrate, and glutamate contents under RBG-CN₂₀ treatment were significantly higher than in the RBG-CN₁₀ and RBG-CN₁₅ treatments. Meanwhile, the contents of soluble sugar, starch, and cysteine were significantly lower. However, the crude protein content reached 21.15 mg·g⁻¹. The fresh yield, dry yield, stomatal conductance, leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, crude protein, GS, and free amino acids of alfalfa were positively correlated with increased green light. In addition, with the increase in nitrogen concentration, photosynthetic capacity, NiR, and GOGAT activities increased, promoting growth and improving feeding value. The growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, carbon, nitrogen substances, and enzyme activities of alfalfa were significantly affected by the interaction between nitrogen concentration and light quality, whereas leaf/stem ratio and DPPH had no effect. In conclusion, RB-CN15 and RBG-CN₂₀ are suitable for the production of alfalfa in PFAL, and green light can increase the threshold for the nitrogen concentration adaptation of alfalfa. Full article

Light quality optimization is a cost-effective method for increasing leafy vegetable quality in plant factories. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that enable the precise modulation of light quality were used in this study to examine the effects of red-blue (RB), red-blue-green (RBG), red-blue-purple (RBP), and red-blue-far-red (RBF) lights on the growth, antioxidant capacity, and nitrogen metabolism of Chinese cabbage leaves, while white light served as the control (CK). Results showed that the chlorophyll, carotenoid, vitamin C, amino acid, total flavonoid, and antioxidant levels of Chinese cabbage were all significantly increased under RBP combined light treatment. Meanwhile, RBG combined light treatment significantly increased the levels of amino acids but decreased the nitrite content of Chinese cabbage. In addition, RBF combined light treatment remarkably increased the amino acid levels but decreased the antioxidant capacity of Chinese cabbage. In conclusion, the addition of purple light to red-blue light was effective in improving the nutritional value and antioxidant capacity of Chinese cabbage. This light condition can be used as a model for a supplemental lighting strategy for leafy vegetables in plant factory production. Full article

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the 3-year radiographic outcomes of periodontal intrabony defects treated with non-surgical subgingival therapy (NST), assessing radiographic bone gain (RBG) through experimental digital software, named “Bone Defect Analysis (BDA)”. Methods: The study included 17 intrabony defects in 14 patients. BDA software (version 1) was used on radiographs to calculate RBG (in %) and variations in defect angle (in °) between baseline (T0) and 3-year follow-up (T1). Soft tissue conditions were registered, reporting bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Defects were analyzed according to angles less (group A) or greater (group B) than 30°. Results: Nine and eight defects were, respectively, analyzed in groups A and B. Three years after treatment, an average RBG of 12.28% was found overall, with 13.25% and 10.11% for groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.28). Clinically, a mean CAL of 6.05 mm at T1 (from 10.94 mm at T0) was found, with 6.88 mm and 5.12 mm in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.07). Conclusions: BDA software demonstrated predictability in the evaluation of bone variations after NST, revealing better clinical findings for intrabony defects with an initial smaller angle. Full article

The main objective of this study was to explore the dietary behaviors of parents and their adult children, focusing on patterns, potential intrinsic and extrinsic predictors of body mass, and determinants of becoming overweight. Non-probability, cross-sectional sampling was used to select participants from a university student population. Young adults (19–21 years of age, n = 144) and their parents were examined. The data of those family pairs with complete sets of results were used. Dietary patterns and physical activity were assessed with questionnaires (QEB and IPAQ), and body height, weight measurements, and body mass indexes were calculated. A cophylogenetic approach with tanglegrams and heatmaps was used to study patterns, while predictors of body mass index were identified using multiple linear regression, stepwise logistic regression, and mediation analysis procedures. Cophenetic statistics confirmed significant incongruence between fathers and sons, confirmed by Baker’s Gamma correlation (r_BG = 0.23, p = 0.021), and mothers and daughters (r_BG = 0.26, p = 0.030). The relationships between the dietary patterns of the fathers and daughters, as well as mothers and sons, were of medium strength (r_BG = 0.33, p = 0.032, r_BG = 0.43, p = 0.031; respectively). Most of the patterns were mixed. Fast food, fried meals, alcoholic drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened beverages were associated significantly with being overweight. Significant intrinsic predictors of excessive weight in young adults were sex (b = 2.31, p < 0.001), PA (b = −0.02, p < 0.001), and eating fermented milk and curd cheese (b = −0.55, p = 0.024), while extrinsic (parental) predictors included eating fast food and fried meals (b = −0.44, p = 0.049). Both physical activity and dietary behaviors independently determined the sons’ overweight status (b = −1.25, p = 0.008; b = −0.04, p < 0.001; respectively); while only PA did in daughters (b = −0.04, p < 0.001). No mediating effects of physical activity were observed. Adult children and parental dietary patterns were divergent, reflecting the influence of multiple factors on a child’s dietary habits. However, this divergence is moderated by sex. Reciprocal interactions between dietary intake—particularly positive dyads such as fruits and vegetables, fermented milk, and curd cheese—and physical activity significantly impacted children’s body mass index (BMI). The study of dietary patterns in conjunction with physical activity (both as independent determinants), particularly in relation to the link between overweight/obese children and overweight/obese parents, presents a separate challenge. Full article

The present systematic review was performed to assess the application of orally derived stem cells in periodontal regenerative therapy, and because of this, the following PICO question was proposed: “In patients with periodontitis, can the adjunctive use of orally derived stem cells provide additional clinical and radiographic benefits for periodontal regeneration?”. Randomized clinical studies were electronically and manually searched up until December 2023. Quantitative analyses were performed with the aim of evaluating the mean differences (MDs) between the treatment and control groups in terms of clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, gingival recession (GR), and radiographic bone gain (RBG) using random effect models. A total of seven studies were selected for the systematic review. Meta-analyses excluding studies with a high risk of bias highlighted a non-statistically significant result for the use of stem cells when compared to the control groups in terms of CAL gain [MD = 1.05; 95% CI (−0.88, 2.97) p = 0.29] and PPD reduction [MD = 1.32; 95% CI (−0.25, 2.88) p = 0.10]. The same also applied to GR [MD = −0.08; 95% CI (−0.79, 0.63) p = 0.83] and RBG [MD = 0.50; 95% CI (−0.88, 1.88) p = 0.48]. Based on the high heterogeneity, there is not enough evidence to consider the adjunctive application of orally derived mesenchymal stem cells as a preferential approach for periodontal regenerative treatment, as compared to standard procedures. Full article

This study investigates the effect of dynamic changes in monitor height and tilt on neck pain and posture of computer users. Using a wearable device, we aim to compare neck pain and spine angle between static and dynamic monitors. A spine angle tracking system using the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was proposed, and the accuracy was validated. Eight office workers participated for five hours over two days, and each day used either a static monitor or a dynamic monitor that changed height and tilt every 30 min. The angles of C0, C7, L1, and S1 endplates were estimated using the proposed system. Changes in neck pain and spine angle with time were compared in static and dynamic monitors. The intraclass correlation coefficient confirmed a high concordance between the estimated and actual angles (p < 0.001). Rehabilitation Bioengineering Group (RBG) score increased less in the dynamic monitor compared to the static monitor (p = 0.003). Spinal curvatures are bent in the static monitor compared to the dynamic monitor. The estimated angles aligned well with X-ray measurements. A dynamic monitor that changes height and tilt at regular intervals may reduce neck pain increase and reduce bend forward posture compared to a static monitor. Full article

Colorimetric characterisation systems based on LEDs and RBG sensors are straightforward to implement, are highly integrable allowing for portable measurement systems and can be constructed using widespread and affordable components. They have already proved to be a satisfactory solution in several applications related to chemical analysis. In this paper, we present an RGB sensor-based prototype for colorimetric characterisation, which can accommodate cuvettes with optical paths of 10 mm and 40 mm. We assessed the impact of experimental condition parameters such as the variability of the analyte volume in the cuvette, as well as the presence of floating particles or deposits at the bottom of the cuvette. While these would not impact the result given by a spectrophotometer that generally has a directional light source, they must be considered in LED/RGB sensor analysers in which the light path is not tightly controlled. We demonstrated that there is a minimal sensor height above the bottom of the cuvette and a minimal analyte level (both depending on the prototype optical path length) above which the analyte volume and the presence of floating particles and deposits have no impact on the prototype output signal. Finally, based on these results, we proposed a test method for a quick dye-displacement assay, in which the reagent is a dye-loaded molecularly imprinted polymer that is poured directly into a cuvette. Full article

Although methods for point-of-care testing gains are growing in importance, it is still essential to develop alternatives for tests performed centrally on commercial analyzers, thus making photometry cheaper and more accessible to the public. We introduce a low-cost photometer based on the Arduino with APDS9960 sensor and RBG LED in this work. A photometric platform based on a color sensor can gain a four-signal response. Acetylcholinesterase was chosen as the model element for the biosensor. The device can also easily be upgraded for fluorometric assays. Full article

In contemporary times, owing to the swift advancement of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), there is enormous potential for the use of UAVs to ensure public safety. Most research on capturing images by UAVs mainly focuses on object detection and tracking tasks, but few studies have focused on the UAV object re-identification task. In addition, in the real-world scenarios, objects frequently get together in groups. Therefore, re-identifying UAV objects and groups poses a significant challenge. In this paper, a novel dynamic screening strategy based on feature graphs framework is proposed for UAV object and group re-identification. Specifically, the graph-based feature matching module presented aims to enhance the transmission of group contextual information by using adjacent feature nodes. Additionally, a dynamic screening strategy designed attempts to prune the feature nodes that are not identified as the same group to reduce the impact of noise (other group members but not belonging to this group). Extensive experiments have been conducted on the Road Group, DukeMTMC Group and CUHK-SYSU-Group datasets to validate our framework, revealing superior performance compared to most methods. The Rank-1 on CUHK-SYSU-Group, Road Group and DukeMTMC Group datasets reaches 71.8%, 86.4% and 57.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, our method performance is explored on the UAV datasets of PRAI-1581 and Aerial Image, the infrared datasets of SYSU-MM01 and CM-Group and the NIR dataset of RBG-NIR Scene dataset; the unexpected findings demonstrate the robustness and wide applicability of our method. Full article

Plants, whilst also having an ornamental role, are also a source of beneficial, bioactive compounds, and in vitro cultures are helpful in finding and obtaining them. Streptocarpus ×hybridus can be a source of antioxidants. The effect of different LED light qualities on the growth, development and metabolite composition of Streptocarpus multiplied in vitro on Murashige and Skoog medium was investigated. The used spectra were: 100% blue (B), 100% red (R), red and blue in 7:3 proportion (RB), 50% RB + 50% ultra violet (RBUV), 50% RB + 50% green (RBG), 50% RB + 50% yellow (RBY), 50% RB + 50% far red (RBfR), and white (WLed). A fluorescent lamp served as the control (Fl). For the best morphological quality of multiplied plants, the use of RBY light is recommended. Fl light reduced the antioxidant properties of extracts compared to LEDs. The most recommended spectrum in this aspect is RBfR, WLed, RBG and R light. These lights (except for R) stimulated the polyphenol content. RBY and R light influenced the highest content of free amino acids and reducing sugars. Studies showed that a selected LED light spectrum can influence the production of plant biomolecules with antioxidant properties and, compared to Fl light, improves the growth and development of multiplied plants. Full article

The RNA-binding glycine-rich proteins (RBGs) of the glycine-rich protein family play vital roles in regulating gene expression both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the members and functions in response to abiotic stresses of the RBG gene family remain unclear in Brassica oleracea. In this study, a total of 19 BoiRBG genes were identified through genome-wide analysis in broccoli. The characteristics of BoiRBG sequences and their evolution were examined. An analysis of synteny indicated that the expansion of the BoiRBG gene family was primarily driven by whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication events. The BoiRBG expression patterns revealed that these genes are involved in reaction to diverse abiotic stress conditions (i.e., simulated drought, salinity, heat, cold, and abscisic acid) and different organs. In the present research, the up-regulation of BoiRBGA13 expression was observed when subjected to both NaCl-induced and cold stress conditions in broccoli. Moreover, the overexpression of BoiRBGA13 resulted in a noteworthy reduction in taproot lengths under NaCl stress, as well as the inhibition of seed germination under cold stress in broccoli, indicating that RBGs play different roles under various stresses. This study provides insights into the evolution and functions of BoiRBG genes in Brassica oleracea and other Brassicaceae family plants. Full article

When plastics are discarded, they do not biodegrade and instead break down over time into progressively smaller particles, termed secondary microplastics, which adversely impact biota and human health as well as persist in the environment for centuries. Our research objective was to evaluate the capabilities of object-based image analyses in detecting compositionally varied microplastics suspended in an aquatic mesocosm under no-slip and turbulent water conditions. We found that the presence of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and low-density polyethylene microplastic pollution in both single-type and mixed-type suspensions was not detectable by either average red (R), average blue (B), average green (G), or average RBG pixel intensities, but was significantly detectable by means of total RBG pixel intensity from digital imagery of the surface-water. Our findings suggest that object-based image analyses of surface waters to quantify pixel information is better suited for monitoring the presence and absence of suspended microplastics, rather than for the stepwise determination of microplastic concentrations. We propose the development of a smartphone application to facilitate citizen-science monitoring of microplastic contamination as well as comment on future applications utilizing drone imagery to boost cloud-based mapping spatiotemporal plumes. Full article

Vaginal ecosystem is a unique environment where, in physiological conditions, lactobacilli dominate. However, pathogenic microbial species responsible for vaginitis and vaginosis can also harbor vaginal microbiota. To extend our previously published data, we analyzed here both the anti-Candida and anti-inflammatory properties of the vaginal gel formulation, Respecta^® Balance Gel (RBG), commercialized as an adjuvant to treat vaginitis and vaginosis. We evaluated its activity by an in vitro model where a monolayer of A-431 vaginal epithelial cells was infected by Candida albicans in the presence of RBG or the placebo formulation (pRBG). Specifically, we tested the RBG capacity to counteract C. albicans virulence factors and their anti-inflammatory properties. Our results show that, unlike the placebo, RBG reduces C. albicans adhesion, its capacity to form hyphae and C. albicans-induced vaginal cell damage. Interestingly, both RBG and pRBG reduce LPS-induced IL-8 secretion (with RBG being the most effective), demonstrating that also the placebo retains anti-inflammatory properties. From our experimental approach, we highlighted the possible role of farnesol on such effects, but we would like to point out that lactic acid, polydextrose and glycogen too must be relevant in the actual application. In summary, our results show that RBG impairs C. albicans virulence and is able to reduce the inflammation in the vaginal environment, ultimately allowing the establishment of a balanced vaginal ecosystem. Full article

In this study, we identified and determined the content of phenolic compounds in Lilium candidum adventitious bulbs formed in vitro. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of four phenolic acids: chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acid. Phenolic acid content was assessed in adventitious bulbs formed in vitro on media supplemented with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs at 25, 50, and 75 mg/L) under fluorescent light (FL) or in darkness (D). The second experiment analyzed the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of variable light spectra on the formation of adventitious bulbs and their contents of phenolic acids. Spectral compositions of red (R; 100%), blue (B; 100%), red and blue (RB; 70% and 30%, respectively), a mix of RB and green (RBG) in equal proportions (50%), and white light (WLED, 33.3% warm, neutral, and cool light, proportionately) were used in the study. FL and D conditions were used as controls for light spectra. Bulbs grown in soil served as control samples. The most abundant phenolic acid was p-coumaric acid. Treatment with LED light spectra, i.e., RB, RBG, WLED, and B, translated into the highest p-coumaric acid concentration as compared with other treatments. Moreover, all the bulbs formed in light, including those grown on the media supplemented with ZnO NPs and under FL light, contained more p-coumaric acid than the bulbscales of the control bulbs grown in soil. On the other hand, control bulbs grown in soil accumulated about two to three times higher amounts of chlorogenic acid than those formed in vitro. We also found that the levels of all examined phenolics decreased under FL, R, and D conditions, while the bulblets formed in vitro under RB light showed the highest phenolic content. The use of ZnO NPs increased the content of p-coumaric, chlorogenic, and caffeic acid in the bulblets formed under FL as compared with those grown in darkness. Full article