Search Results (758)

Following the significant advancement in the cosmetic field over the past few decades, carotenoids, vitamin A, and vitaminoids have emerged as pivotal components in the formulation of cosmetic products due to their diverse bioactive properties. Delving into a general approach on vitamin A and its derivatives’ structure, activity, biochemical way of action, and benefits, their role towards promoting mainly skin health is thoroughly detailed. For this purpose, vitamin A, vitaminoids, and carotenoids of animal, marine, plant, herb, and microorganism sources were extensively reviewed in order to evaluate their health benefits regarding skin protection. Vitamin A and its derivatives of any source heavily contributed to specific skin-related functions, including their anti-aging, skin regeneration, wound healing, hyperpigmentation, and acne treatment activity, by primarily supporting hydration, skin elasticity, and barrier repair. This review also entails recent advances in the delivery systems of these compounds, such as microencapsulation and nanoemulsions, while their potential side effects are addressed as well. Ultimately, limitations and future perspectives of vitamin A, vitaminoids, and carotenoids, considering their utilization in nutricosmetic, cosmeceutical, and cosmetic products, are further discussed. Full article

Chitosan is a positively charged natural polymer with several properties conducive to wound-healing applications, such as biodegradability, structural integrity, hydrophilicity, adhesiveness to tissue, and bacteriostatic potential. Along with other mechanical properties, some of the properties discussed in this review are antibacterial properties, mucoadhesive properties, biocompatibility, high fluid absorption capacity, and anti-inflammatory response. Chitosan forms stable complexes with oppositely charged polymers, arising from electrostatic interactions between (+) amino groups of chitosan and (−) groups of other polymers. These polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) can be manufactured using various materials and methods, which brings a diversity of formulations and properties that can be optimized for specific wound healing as well as other applications. For example, chitosan-based PEC can be made into dressings/films, hydrogels, and membranes. There are various pros and cons associated with manufacturing the dressings; for instance, a layer-by-layer casting technique can optimize the nanoparticle release and affect the mechanical strength due to the formation of a heterostructure. Furthermore, chitosan’s molecular weight and degree of deacetylation, as well as the nature of the negatively charged biomaterial with which it is cross-linked, are major factors that govern the mechanical properties and biodegradation kinetics of the PEC dressing. The use of chitosan in wound care products is forecasted to drive the growth of the global chitosan market, which is expected to increase by approximately 14.3% within the next decade. This growth is driven by products such as chitoderm-containing ointments, which provide scaffolding for skin cell regeneration. Despite significant advancements, there remains a critical gap in translating chitosan-based biomaterials from research to clinical applications. Full article

Differing English translations of Franz Kafka’s “Josefine, the Singer or The Mouse People” have inspired diverse critical readings of the story. As a post-liminal text, a translation retrospectively highlights the ambiguity of the original’s rhetorical meaning. Read as a metaphor for artificial intelligence (A.I.), “Josefine” reflects an uncanny sort of regenerated reality as a conflicted narrator ponders the meaning of Josefine’s song following her disappearance. Likewise, the form produced by A.I. programs like ChatGPT following an initial human input is typically that of a narrative, albeit one devoid of creativity, replaced instead with algorithmic determinism. Philosophical questions about the discursive potential of technology such as generative A.I. pose challenges to the definitional assumptions about the form narrative takes in rhetorical situations, wherein the audience/reader is left with a message untethered from its prompter/writer. Full article

This study aims to analyze the natural regeneration characteristics and the key factors of Quercus forests, providing a theoretical foundation for maintaining the ecological stability of Quercus forests in northern China. In June and July 2023, 17 square plots of five Quercus species in Beijing were surveyed, and seedling regeneration and environmental factors (site, stand and soil factors) were measured. Pearson correlation and random forest algorithms were used to identify the relevant and key environmental factors affecting seedling regeneration density (Seedling 1, Seedling 2, Seedling 3). The natural regeneration capabilities of the five Quercus species in the Beijing area vary, with Quercus aliena and Quercus variabilis being stronger, while Quercus mongolica, Quercus acutissima and Quercus dentata are relatively weaker. Correlation analysis showed that Seedling 1 has no significant correlation with environmental factors; Seedling 2 is significantly negatively correlated with Pielou’s evenness (J) and exchangeable calcium (ECa) (p < 0.05); Seedling 3 is significantly positively correlated with species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener index (H), stand volume (M), and litter layer thickness (LT) (p < 0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with Pielou’s evenness (J) (p < 0.01). The random forest algorithm indicated that the regeneration of Seedling 1 is mainly affected by stand factors, while the regeneration of Seedling 2 and Seedling 3 is more influenced by soil and site factors. The Quercus forests in the Beijing region exhibit a rich species composition and demonstrate a certain capacity for natural regeneration. However, seedling growth is more constrained by soil and site factors in the later stages. Therefore, in the management of Quercus forests, environmental factors can be regulated during the seedling growth stage to create more suitable conditions for regeneration. Full article

Oral research using murine models spans a broad spectrum of studies, including investigations into oral infections such as periodontitis and peri-implantitis, wound healing, periodontal responses to orthodontic treatment, and occlusal overload. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of murine models employed in oral research, with a particular focus on their relevance in studying systemic implications, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The objectives of this review are twofold: first, to highlight the diversity of experimental methods utilized in murine oral research, such as ligature placement, bacterial inoculation, surgical interventions, and mechanical manipulations; second, to explore how these models enhance our understanding of oral–systemic interactions. The findings demonstrate that murine models have significantly contributed to uncovering how oral conditions influence systemic health. Models of oral infections reveal pathways linking systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherogenesis, while studies on wound healing and mechanical stress offer valuable insights into periodontal tissue responses and regeneration under various conditions. These diverse findings underscore the versatility of murine models in addressing key questions across oral health research. By replicating human disease mechanisms, murine models serve as powerful tools for investigating the interplay between oral health and systemic diseases, including cardiovascular dysfunction. The insights gained from these models guide the development of integrated therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating systemic inflammation and promoting periodontal regeneration. Full article

Background: Understanding microbial colonization on different membranes is critical for guided bone regeneration procedures such as socket preservation, as biofilm formation may affect healing and clinical outcomes. This randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) investigates, for the first time, the microbiome of two different high-density polytetrafluoroethylene (d-PTFE) membranes that are used in socket preservation on a highly molecular level and in vivo. Methods: This RCT enrolled 39 participants, with a total of 48 extraction sites, requiring subsequent implant placement. Sites were assigned to two groups, each receiving socket grafting with a composite bone graft (50% autogenous bone, 50% bovine xenograft) and covered by either a permamem^® (group P) or a Cytoplast™ (group C). The membranes were removed after four weeks and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for bacterial adherence, qPCR for bacterial species quantification, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for microbial diversity and composition assessment. Results: The four-week healing period was uneventful in both groups. The SEM analysis revealed multispecies biofilms on both membranes, with membranes from group C showing a denser extracellular matrix compared with membranes from group P. The qPCR analysis indicated a higher overall bacterial load on group C membranes. The NGS demonstrated significantly higher alpha diversity on group C membranes, while beta diversity indicated comparable microbiota compositions between the groups. Conclusion: This study highlights the distinct microbial profiles of two d-PTFE membranes during the four-week socket preservation period. Therefore, the membrane type and design do, indeed, influence the biofilm composition and microbial diversity. These findings may have implications for healing outcomes and the risk of infection in the dental implant bed and should therefore be further explored. Full article

Exosomes, a subtype of extracellular vehicles (EVs), play a pivotal role in cellular communication and have gained considerable attention in dermatological research. Formed through the inward budding of the endosomal membrane, exosomes facilitate the transfer of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, including microRNAs (miRNAs), thereby influencing the behavior and function of recipient cells. These vesicles are secreted by various cell types, including keratinocytes, and are crucial for maintaining skin homeostasis, regulating immune responses, and promoting wound healing. Exosomes have demonstrated therapeutic potential in addressing dermatological conditions such as hair disorders, skin cancers and photoaging through enhanced regeneration and reduced oxidative stress. However, they are also implicated in disease progression, with pathogens utilizing exosome release to evade host immune responses. Recent studies highlight the diverse origins and functions of exosomes, suggesting their promise as innovative therapeutic agents in dermatology. As research continues to elucidate their multifaceted roles, exosomes represent a frontier in understanding intercellular communication and developing novel treatments for skin-related diseases, underscoring their potential impact on both health and clinical applications. This review synthesizes the existing literature on exosome biology and isolation with a focus on their implications in dermatological contexts. Full article

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a parasitic zoonosis with significant health impacts, particularly in Latin America. While traditionally associated with vector-borne transmission, increased migration has expanded its reach into urban and non-endemic regions. Congenital transmission has become a critical route of infection, involving intricate maternal–fetal immune interactions that challenge diagnosis and treatment. This review synthesizes findings from three RNA-seq studies that explore the molecular underpinnings of congenital Chagas disease, emphasizing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) implicated in host–pathogen interactions. The DAVID tool analysis highlighted the overexpression of genes associated with the innate immune response, including pro-inflammatory cytokines that drive chemotaxis and neutrophil activation. Additionally, calcium-dependent pathways critical for parasite invasion were modulated. T. cruzi exploits the maternal–fetal immune axis to establish a tolerogenic environment conducive to congenital transmission. Alterations in placental angiogenesis, cellular regeneration, and metabolic processes further demonstrate the parasite’s ability to manipulate host responses for its survival and persistence. These findings underscore the complex interplay between the host and pathogen that facilitates disease progression. Future research integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches is essential to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying congenital Chagas disease, with a particular focus on the contributions of genetic diversity and non-coding RNAs in immune evasion and disease pathogenesis. Full article

Mechanical loads degrade polymers by enabling mechanochemical fragmentation of macromolecular backbones. In most polymers, this fragmentation is irreversible, and its accumulation leads to the appearance and propagation of cracks and, ultimately, fracture of the material. Self-healing describes a diverse and loosely defined collection of approaches that aim at reversing this damage. Most reported synthetic self-healing polymers are non-autonomic, i.e., they require the user to input free energy (in the form of heat, irradiation, or reagents) into the damaged material to initiate its repair. Here, we critically discuss emerging chemical approaches to autonomic self-healing that rely on regenerating the density of load-bearing, dissociatively-inert backbone bonds either after the load on a partially damaged material dissipated or continuously and in competition with the mechanochemically driven loss of backbones in the loaded material. We group the reported chemistries into three broad types whose analysis yields a set of criteria against which the potential of a prospective approach to yield practically relevant self-healing polymers can be assessed quantitatively. Our analysis suggests that the direct chain-to-chain addition in mechanically loaded unsaturated polyolefins is the most promising chemical strategy reported to date to achieve autonomic synchronous self-healing of practical significance. Full article

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) has a wide distribution range through Central and Western Europe, and is tolerant to a range of environmental factors and shade. Due to the high wood quality and growth rate, there is increasing interest in the cultivation of this species in Northern Europe, and European beech is appropriate for closer-to-nature forestry management practices, where shade-tolerant species are essential. Latvia is located to the north of the natural range of European beech, but stands have been successfully established in the 19th century, using reproductive material of unknown origin. This study investigated the natural regeneration, genetic diversity, population structure, and provenance of Latvian F. sylvatica populations from two areas in western Latvia—Skede and Kaleti. Parent–offspring analyses did not identify a decrease in genetic diversity parameters in the naturally regenerated offspring, indicating that natural regeneration has not decreased the genetic viability of these populations. The three stands located in Skede were genetically very similar (pairwise Fst values ranged from 0.004 to 0.007). The Kaleti stand was more differentiated from the Skede stands (pairwise Fst values with the Skede stands ranged from 0.047 to 0.051), and the genetic diversity was low (H_e = 0.638). This is probably a result of the use of reproductive material collected from a very limited number of individuals to establish this stand, which also prevented the determination of the origin of this material. The Skede stand was compared to German, Polish, and Swedish F. sylvatica populations, and a Bayesian clustering analysis indicated that the most likely provenance of the Skede stand in Latvia was from southern Germany. Full article

Blueberries are a relatively recently domesticated species, primarily bred through hybridization. Mutation breeding, which uses chemical or physical treatment to increase plant mutation, has not yet been applied to blueberries. This study introduces a mutation breeding strategy for the highbush blueberry cultivar Vaccinium corymbosum. We established a high-efficiency regeneration protocol, which was applied to leaves and stems exposed to gamma irradiation using ⁶⁰Co-γ rays at doses of 10, 20, 40, 80, and 120 gray (Gy), to increase the efficiency of mutated cells to develop into adventitious shoots. We determined that the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was approximately 56 Gy for leaf explants and 80 Gy for stem explants. Phenotypic variations, including changes in leaf color and growth characteristics, which may be due to altered plant response to environmental factors, were successfully observed in the first-generation (M1) plants. The height of M1 plants quantitatively decreased with increasing irradiation doses. To evaluate the mutants induced by each irradiation dose, whole-genome resequencing was conducted on individuals from each dose group, revealing significant genomic alterations at the 80 Gy dose. This approach provides a valuable reference for future blueberry breeding programs aimed at enhancing genetic diversity and improving cultivar performance. Full article

Urban green spaces provide many benefits, including to human wellbeing, ecosystem services, and urban wildlife. Thus, there are many reasons to green up urban spaces, especially by using native species. Furthermore, urban green spaces are suited to enhancing biodiversity without negatively impacting food or fiber production. Municipalities and private landowners invest substantially in landscaping and its maintenance. However, much of that outlay supports non-native plants that may be less adapted to local conditions such as rainfall patterns and temperature ranges, thus having greater resource requirements, as well as being less supportive of native wildlife and possessing a greater potential of becoming invasive. Here, we explore ways to increase the use of native plant species in urban settings to reduce the need for watering or chemical application, enhance the support of native species, and reduce the risk of invasion to urban and ex-urban habitats. We identify three main impediments: the perception of native species as less aesthetically pleasing, the availability of native plants in the nursery industry, and the willingness of policymakers to take supportive measures. We propose methods to address all three, providing successful examples from a number of US localities and a case study that demonstrates what drivers might exist and what actions remain to be taken. Full article

Environmental factors control the accumulation of aboveground biomass (AB) in tropical forests, along with the role of AB in climate change mitigation. As such, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of factors such as forest type, succession, abundance of individuals, species richness, height, diameter, texture, and soil nutrient levels on the AB in mature and postmining forests in Chocó, Colombia. Five plots each were set up in primary and postmining forests with 15 and 30 years of regeneration, in which the amount of AB was measured and related to the environmental factors. The AB was 178.32 t ha⁻¹ in the mature forests and 35.17 and 56.3 t ha⁻¹ after 15 and 30 years of postmining regeneration, respectively. Furthermore, the general AB level was determined by the ecosystem type, diameter, richness, abundance, Shannon evenness, and Margalef diversity. In mature forests, the AB amount was positively influenced by height and richness, and negatively influenced by dominance and evenness; in areas degraded by mining, the AB level was positively related to richness and equity, and negatively related to species diversity and soil silt. In summary, environmental factors determine the carbon storage in the forests in Chocó. Mining reduces the function of these ecosystems in mitigating climate change. Full article

As European forests face increasing threats from climate change and disturbances, diversifying tree species can be a crucial strategy to safeguard their ecological functions and climate mitigation potential. European beech is a valuable tree species with a wide distribution across Central and Western Europe. While the current natural distribution of European beech does not extend to the Baltic states, climate change models indicate a potential northward range expansion. This suggests the possibility of introducing beech to Baltic forests as a proactive measure to enhance the future resilience of local forests to climate variability. Beech’s ability to adapt to changing climate conditions, coupled with its potential to enhance biodiversity and provide high-quality timber, makes it an attractive option for forest managers. However, successful establishment and growth of beech in the Baltic region will depend on various factors, including competition with native species, soil conditions, and microclimate. Beech stands in southwestern Lithuania and Latvia, originating from diverse European populations, demonstrate good adaptation. Despite fragmentation, they can serve as sources for beech expansion. However, assisted migration may be crucial to support natural regeneration and ensure the species’ long-term viability in the region. To fully assess the potential benefits and risks of beech introduction, further research is needed to understand its ecological interactions with local species and its response to specific site conditions. By carefully considering these factors, forest managers can develop effective strategies to promote beech’s establishment and growth, ultimately contributing to the resilience and sustainability of Baltic forests in the face of climate change. Full article

This study investigates the Fukugi (Garcinia subelliptica) windbreak landscapes on Iriomote Island through case studies in two of its oldest villages, Sonai and Hoshitate. These windbreak forests, integral to the cultural landscape of Okinawa, offer both ecological and socio-economic benefits. Using field measurements and surveys, the research analyzes the distribution, growth patterns, and historical significance of Fukugi groves within the village setting and compares naturally regenerated forests with those planted by humans. The findings underscore the importance of Fukugi trees in promoting sustainable rural landscapes, where they dominate the local ecosystem of rural settlements. Fukugi windbreak landscapes in Okinawa are characterized by trees encircling homes on all four sides, distinguishing them from homestead windbreaks found in other regions of Japan. Surveys from the two villages suggest that the original homestead windbreak forests in the Yaeyama region contain a diverse mix of tree species, with Fukugi and Calophyllum inophyllum being predominant, along with other useful species like Diospyros ferrea and Podocarpus macrophyllus. These species were selected not only for their windbreak capabilities but also for timber and home furniture production. The study’s findings on naturally regenerated Fukugi groups support the hypothesis that the cultivation of Fukugi as a windbreak species originated in the Yaeyama region and likely spread to other parts of Okinawa, influencing both the ecological and cultural evolution of the region’s landscapes. Full article