Search Results (133,026)

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection, overweight, and obesity are global health concerns. This bacterium is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Additionally, overweight and obesity, associated with unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, cause alterations in the gut microbiota that facilitate gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori. Moreover, individuals with obesity tend to consume low-quality foods due to episodes of anxiety and exhibit elevated insulin levels, which may promote the development of gastric neoplasms. Studies conducted in Latin America have found that over 50% of participants are infected with Helicobacter pylori, a situation similar to that reported in Ecuador, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals aged 19 to 59 years reached 64.58% in 2018. Both health issues are influenced by the high consumption of processed foods or those prepared under inadequate hygiene conditions. Methods: In this context, this research aimed to correlate the body composition of university students with the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted with 57 Nursing, Medicine, and Psychology students from Universidad Indoamérica, Ambato campus, during 2024. Fecal samples were analyzed to detect the presence of the bacterium, and anthropometric measurements were taken to establish a possible relationship between these parameters. Results: Of the 57 students who participated, 54.39% tested positive for Helicobacter pylori. However, the presence of the bacteria did not show any relationship with body composition parameters such as fat mass, lean mass, BMI, weight, height, or age. Conclusions: The study found no evidence of a connection between Helicobacter pylori infection and anthropometric parameters in this university population. However, the high incidence of infections highlights the importance of promoting the consumption of safe food and ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment. Full article

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) significantly impact air quality and climate. Mechanical injury is a common stressor affecting plants in both natural and urban environments, and it has potentially large influences on BVOC emissions. However, the interspecific variability in wounding-induced BVOC emissions remains poorly understood, particularly for subtropical trees and shrubs. In this study, we investigated the effects of controlled mechanical injury on isoprenoid and aromatic compound emissions in a taxonomically diverse set of 45 subtropical broad-leaved woody species, 26 species without and in 19 species with BVOC storage structures (oil glands, resin ducts and glandular trichomes for volatile compound storage). Emissions of light-weight non-stored isoprene and monoterpenes and aromatic compounds in non-storage species showed moderate and variable emission increases after mechanical injury, likely reflecting the wounding impacts on leaf physiology. In storage species, mechanical injury triggered a substantial release of monoterpenes and aromatic compounds due to the rupture of storage structures. Across species, the proportion of monoterpenes in total emissions increased from 40.9% to 85.4% after mechanical injury, with 32.2% of this increase attributed to newly released compounds not detected in emissions from intact leaves. Sesquiterpene emissions, in contrast, were generally low and decreased after mechanical injury. Furthermore, wounding responses varied among plant functional groups, with evergreen species and those adapted to high temperatures and shade exhibiting stronger damage-induced BVOC emissions than deciduous species and those adapted to dry or cold environments. These findings suggest that mechanical disturbances such as pruning can significantly enhance BVOC emissions in subtropical urban forests and should be considered when modeling BVOC fluxes in both natural and managed ecosystems. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between storage structure characteristics and BVOC emissions, as well as their broader ecological and atmospheric implications. Full article

Six biobased ionic liquids were prepared from saturated fatty acids (octanoic, decanoic and dodecanoic acids) and choline with yields up to 90% following procedures respecting green chemistry principles. These ionic liquids were fully characterized (NMR, IR, elemental analysis, viscosimetry and TGA) and used as extraction solvents for bioactive compounds (curcuminoids and carvacrol) using classical conditions, and the ionic liquids were able to be recovered after five runs without loss of activity. The ionic liquid containing a C12 carbon chain was the best extracting solvent, extracting 95% of the total curcuminoids contained in turmeric and 69% of the total carvacrol contained in oregano, which are higher yields compared to the extraction procedures described in the literature. As C12 ionic liquids were more cytotoxic than C8 ones, the biological activity of the curcuminoids extracted with C8 ionic liquids was evaluated on a MIAPaCa-2, a pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line for which antitumor activity of curcuminoids had previously been reported. Compared to the cytotoxicity of the commercially available extract, the cytotoxic activity of the extracts was slightly weaker. Full article

The Abelar pilot basin in Coruña (northwestern Spain) has been monitored for hydrological and hydrochemical data to assess the effects of eucalyptus plantation and manure applications on water resources, water quality, and nitrate contamination. Here, we report the machine learning analysis of hydrological and hydrochemical data from the Abelar basin. K-means cluster analysis (CA) is used to relate nitrate concentrations at the outlet of the basin with daily interflows and groundwater flows calculated with a hydrological balance. CA identifies three linearly separable clusters. Times series Gaussian process regression (TS-GPR) is employed to predict surface water nitrate concentration by incorporating hydrological variables as additional input parameters using a time series shifting. TS-GPR allows modelling nitrate concentrations based on shifted interflows and groundwater flows and chemical concentrations with R² = 0.82 and 0.80 for training and testing, respectively. Groundwater flow from five days prior to the current date, $Q_{g5}$, is the most important input parameter of the TS-GPR model. Interaction effects between the variables are found. TS-GPR validation with recent data provides results consistent with those of testing (R² = 0.85). Model inspection by permutation feature importance and partial dependence plots shows interactions between $Q_{g5}$ and Cl, and between Ca and Mg. Full article

Background/Objectives: The influence of individual differences in the selection of food portions can have a deep effect on recommendations for personalised nutrition. In addition to typical aspects such us energy density and nutrient composition, portion size is important for dietary recommendations. This study examined the dietary behaviours and portion size selection of 224 subjects in Spain and Germany to use such information to improve dietary adherence to a personalised nutrition app. Methods: An online questionnaire administered to adults in Spain and Germany collected sociodemographic data and dietary habits. The measurement of portion sizes was derived from a classification ranging from XXS to XL across 22 food groups, with assistance from a photographic atlas. Results: Significant differences across dimensions were found. Dietary habits showed that omnivores were the majority in both countries, with significant differences in the consumption of bread, desserts, and beverages. The Mediterranean diet was significantly followed by the Spanish group, reflecting cultural differences. Body mass index (BMI) was slightly higher among Germans, although both populations fell within the normal ranges. Portion size comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in the consumption of various food items between the two countries. Spaniards consumed higher amounts of rice, meat, and legumes, while Germans consumed larger portions of stews, lasagne, and pizza. These variations highlight differing dietary habits influenced by cultural preferences and dietary guidelines. Conclusions: The findings support the development of novel personalised nutrition apps that consider user preferences and enhance dietary adherence, thereby contributing to improved dietary recommendations and health outcomes. Full article

Red ginger, a plant widely available in Indonesia, is known for its rich content of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and phenolics, which are known for their strong antioxidant properties. This study explored the fermentation of red ginger extract with kombucha inoculum (SCOBY), aiming to evaluate its potential as a health-enhancing herb with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting α-glucosidase activity. This study included laboratory-scale (100 mL) and large-scale (10 L) fermentation using 10% red ginger concentration and 15% red ginger kombucha SCOBY for fermentation periods of 0, 7, and 14 days at room temperature. The analysis included sugar content (glucose, fructose, and maltose), organic acids (acetic acid, lactic acid, and gluconic acid), pH, total titrated acids, total polyphenols (Folin–Ciocalteu), and total flavonoids (AlCl₃). Fermented red ginger kombucha showed high levels of acetic, lactic, and gluconic acids, along with minor components such as phenolic acids, indicating its potential health benefits as a natural antioxidant. Red ginger kombucha showed significant antioxidant and antidiabetic activity, indicating its potential in managing conditions such as prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The results of the fermented ginger study showed potential as a health drink with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties given its ability to reduce free radicals and inhibit the activity of the enzyme α-glucosidase. Full article

Eruca sativa Mill. is an annual plant belonging to the Cruciferous family that is characterized by the presence of antioxidant bioactive molecules such as phenolic compounds. Their extraction is usually performed through solid–liquid extraction based on the use of organic solvent. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are new green solvents capable of increasing bioactive molecules yield if replaced with organic solvents. The aim of this work was to develop a green analytical method based on the use of DESs for the determination of phenolic compounds in rocket plants. The extraction optimization involved the selection of the best extraction solvent among different selected DESs and the study of the parameters that mainly affect the extraction yield: the quantity of water to add to the selected DES to reduce its viscosity, the matrix-to-solvent ratio, and the time and temperature of the extraction. ChCl-glucose (1:2 molar ratio) DES was selected as the extraction solvent under the following optimized conditions: 1:50 (w/v) as the matrix-to-solvent ratio; 30% of water was added to the DES; extraction time of 30 min; and extraction temperature of 50 °C. The rocket phenolic compounds profile was determined through a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. The innovative green method was applied to real plant samples to determine the growth conditions that favored the accumulation of bioactive molecules. Full article

As a typical high-energy-density material, the sensitivity of CL-20 severely limits its application in explosives and propellants. Adjusting its structure at the microscopic level can effectively solve such problems. In this study, a microfluidic recrystallization technique was used to prepare ε-CL-20 with three different particle sizes, with narrow particle size distributions (D₅₀ = 2.77 μm, 17.22 μm and 50.35 μm). The prepared samples had fewer surface defects compared to the raw material. As the particle size decreased, the density of CL-20 increased and its impact sensitivity was significantly reduced. The activation energy of the CL-20 prepared using microfluidic technology increased with increases in particle size. Laser ignition experiments revealed that smaller CL-20 particles had the highest energy release efficiency, while larger particles exhibited a higher energy density and more stable energy release. The combustion performance and safety of CL-20 can be effectively improved by improving the crystal size distribution and surface morphology. Controllable preparation of multiple particle sizes of CL-20 was achieved using microfluidic recrystallization technology, which provides a reference for the preparation of multiple particle sizes of other energetic materials. Full article

We investigate the molecular dynamics of glycolide/lactide/caprolactone (Gly/Lac/Cap) copolymers using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H second-moment, ¹H spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) analysis, and ¹³C solid-state NMR over a temperature range of 100–413 K. Activation energies and correlation times of the biopolymer chains were determined. At low temperatures, relaxation is governed by the anisotropic threefold reorientation of methyl (-CH₃) groups in lactide. A notable change in T₁ at ~270 K and 294 K suggests a transition in amorphous phase mobility due to translational diffusion, while a second relaxation minimum (222–312 K) is linked to CH₂ group dynamics influenced by caprolactone. The activation energy increases from 5.9 kJ/mol (methyl motion) to 22–33 kJ/mol (segmental motion) as the caprolactone content rises, enhancing the molecular mobility. Conversely, lactide restricts motion by limiting rotational freedom, thereby slowing global dynamics. DSC confirms that increasing ε-caprolactone lowers the glass transition temperature, whereas higher glycolide and lactide content raises it. The onset temperature of main-chain molecular motion varies with the composition, with greater ε-caprolactone content enhancing flexibility. These findings highlight the role of composition in tuning relaxation behavior and molecular mobility in copolymers. Full article

One of the major concerns for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is the occurrence of thermal runaway (TR), usually of a single cell, and its propagation to adjacent cells in a battery pack. To guarantee sufficient safety for the vehicle occupants, the TR mechanisms must be known and predictable. In this work, we compare thermal runaway scenarios using different initiation protocols (heat–wait–seek, constant heating, nail penetration) and battery chemistries (nickel manganese cobalt oxide, NMC; lithium iron phosphate, LFP; and sodium-ion batteries, SIB) with the cells in a fully charged state. Our goal is to specifically trigger a variety of different possible TR scenarios (internal failure, external hotspot, mechanical damage) with different types of chemistries to obtain reliable data that are subsequently employed for modeling and prediction of the phenomenon. The safety of the tested cells depending on their chemistry can be summarized as LFP > SIB >> NMC. The data of the TR experiments were used as the basis for high-fidelity modeling and predicting of TR phenomena in 3D. The models simulated reaction rates, represented by the typically employed Arrhenius approach. The effects of the investigated TR triggering methods and cell chemistries were represented with sufficient accuracy, enabling the application of the models for the simulation of thermal propagation in battery packs. Full article

Foam and hydrogel profile control are commonly utilized water-blocking and profile modification techniques in oil fields. This study integrates a foam system with a gel system, employing an organic titanium crosslinking agent to crosslink polyvinyl alcohol, thereby forming a gel system. Concurrently, a gas-evolving agent is incorporated into the system to induce in situ foaming, thereby creating an environmentally benign foam gel system. The fundamental constituents of this system comprise 2 wt% to 5 wt% polyvinyl alcohol, 2 wt% to 4 wt% crosslinker, and 0.3 wt% to 0.9 wt% gas-generating agent. By varying the amounts of each component, the strength grade, gelation time, and foaming volume of the foam gel can be effectively adjusted. The results of the temperature resistance performance evaluation indicate that within the temperature range of 80 °C to 130 °C, the gelation performance of the foam gel is stable and good. At 90 °C, the foam gel can remain stable for 340 days with minimal strength variation. The plugging experiments indicate that the formulated foam gel system exhibits superior injectability and can effectively seal the sand-filled tube model, achieving a blocking efficiency of up to 96.36%. Full article

The use of graphene oxide (GO) in combination with mesoporous materials has gained interest in the development of adsorbents. In this study, GO was impregnated into zeolite at three concentrations (ZGO2.5, ZGO5, and ZGO10) through a simple thermal process to enhance the adsorption of methylene blue (MB). Characterization of the resulting materials was performed using spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, and EDS, confirming the presence of GO on zeolite. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate their performance, analyzing contact time, pH effect, and adsorption kinetics. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetic models were applied, and the adsorption mechanism was studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin II, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms at different temperatures. Optimal adsorption was achieved at 273 K, 100 mg L⁻¹ of MB, adsorbent mass of 100 mg, 250 rpm, and pH 5–9, with 90% removal efficiency after 70 min. The pseudo-second-order, Freundlich, and D-R models best described the process (R² > 0.98), suggesting a mixed physisorption–chemisorption mechanism. The maximum adsorption capacity from the D-R isotherm reached 119 mg g⁻¹ at 333 K. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. These findings highlight the potential of GO-impregnated zeolite as an effective adsorbent for MB. Full article

Five series of rigid polyurethane–polyisocyanurate (RPU/PIR) foams were obtained. They were modified by ashes from burning paper (P) and wood: conifers (pine—S, spruce—S’) and deciduous trees (oak—D, birch—B). The ash was added to rigid polyurethane–polyisocyanurate foams (PU/PIR). In this way, five series of foams with different ash contents (from 1 to 9% wt.) were obtained: PP, PS, PD, PS’, PB. The model foam (reference—W) was obtained without filler. The basic properties, physico-mechanical, and thermal properties of the ashes and obtained foams were examined. It was specified, among other things, the cellular structure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and changes in chemical structure by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were compared. The obtained foams were also subjected to thermostating in a circulating air dryer in increased temperature (120 °C) for 48 h. Ash tests showed that their skeletal density is about 2.9 g/cm³, and the pH of their solutions ranges from 9 to 13. The varied color of the ashes affected the color of the foams. SEM-EDS tests showed the presence of magnesium, calcium, silicon, potassium, aluminum, phosphorus, sodium, and sulfur in the ashes. Foam tests showed that pine ash is the most beneficial for foams, because it increases their compressive strength three times compared to W foam and improves their thermal stability. All ashes cause the residue after combustion of the foams (retention) to increase and the range of combustion of the samples to decrease. Full article

Pollen is a cornerstone of life for plants. Its durability, adaptability, and complex design are the key factors to successful plant reproduction, genetic diversity, and the maintenance of ecosystems. A detailed study of its chemical composition is important to understand the mechanism of pollen–pollinator interactions, pollination processes, and allergic reactions. In this study, a multimodal approach involving Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), direct mass spectrometry with an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was applied for metabolite profiling. ATR-FTIR provided an initial overview of the present metabolite classes. Phenylpropanoid, lipidic, and carbohydrate structures were revealed. The hydrophobic outer layer of pollen was characterized in detail by ASAP-MS profiling, and esters, phytosterols, and terpenoids were observed. Diacyl- and triacylglycerols and carbohydrate structures were identified in MALDI-MS spectra. The MALDI-MS imaging of lipids proved to be helpful during the microscopic characterization of pollen species in their mixture. Polyphenol profiling and the quantification of important secondary metabolites were performed by UHPLC-MS in context with pollen coloration and their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The obtained results revealed significant chemical differences among Magnoliophyta and Pinophyta pollen. Additionally, some variations within Magnoliophyta species were observed. The obtained metabolomics data were utilized for pollen differentiation at the taxonomic scale and provided valuable information in relation to pollen interactions during reproduction and its related applications. Full article

The development of alternative adsorptive separation technologies is extremely significant for the separation of C₂H₂/CO₂ and CO₂/CH₄ in the chemical industry. Emerging metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great potential as adsorbents for gas adsorption and separation. Herein, we synthesized two layered Zn-MOFs, UPC-96 and UPC-97, with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-3,6-dimethylbenzene (TCPB-Me) as a ligand via the solvent regulation of the pH values. UPC-96 with a completely deprotonated ligand was obtained without the addition of acid, exhibiting two different channels with cross-sectional sizes of 11.6 × 7.1 and 8.3 × 5.2 Ų. In contrast, the addition of acid led to the partial deprotonation of the ligand and afforded UPC-97 two types of channels with cross-sectional sizes of 11.5 × 5.7 and 7.4 × 3.9 Ų. Reversible N₂ adsorption isotherms at 77 K confirmed their permanent porosity, and the differentiated single-component C₂H₂, CO₂, and CH₄ adsorption isotherms indicated their potential in C₂H₂/CO₂ and CO₂/CH₄ separation. Full article