Background and Objectives: The hormonal state of hypoestrogenism is associated with the accumulation of white adipose tissue, which can induce an increase in pro-inflammatory markers, leading to progressive health complications. Melatonin can act on adipose tissue mass, promoting its reduction and influencing inflammation, reducing IL-6 and releasing IL-10, pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, respectively. However, the role of melatonin regarding such parameters under the context of hypoestrogenism remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 12 weeks of hypoestrogenism and melatonin on white adipose tissue mass and circulating levels of IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β-1, and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). Materials and Methods: The animals (Wistar rats with sixteen weeks of age at the beginning of the experiment) under hypoestrogenism were submitted to the surgical technique of bilateral ovariectomy. The animals received melatonin (10 mg·kg⁻¹) or vehicles by orogastric gavage every day for 12 weeks and administration occurred systematically 1 h after the beginning of the dark period. White adipose tissue (perigonadal, peritoneal, and subcutaneous) was collected for mass recording, while blood was collected for the serum determination of IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β-1, and LTC4. Results: Hypoestrogenism increased the perigonadal and subcutaneous mass and IL-6 levels. Melatonin kept hypoestrogenic animals in physiological conditions similar to the control group and increased thymus tissue mass. Conclusions: Hypoestrogenism appears to have a negative impact on white adipose tissue mass and IL-6 and although melatonin commonly exerts a significant effect in preventing these changes, this study did not have a sufficiently negative impact caused by hypoestrogenism for melatonin to promote certain benefits. Full article

Knowledge of tree biomass allocation is fundamental for estimating forest acclimation and carbon stock for global changes in the future. Optimal partitioning theory (OPT) and allometric partitioning theory (APT) are two major patterns of biomass allocation, and occurrences have been tested on taxonomical, ontogenetic, geographic and environmental scales, showing conflicting results and unclear ecophysiological mechanisms. Here, we examine the biomass allocation patterns of two young poplar (Populus) clones varying greatly in drought resistance under different soil water and nitrogen availabilities and the major physiological processes involved in biomass partitioning. We found that Biyu, a drought-sensitive hybrid poplar clone, had significant relations among biomass of leaf, stem and root, showing allometric partitioning. Xiaoye, a drought-tolerant poplar clone native to semi-arid areas, on the contrary, showed tightly regulated biomass allocation following optimal partitioning theory. Biyu had higher nitrate reductase activity in the fine roots, while Xiaoye had higher nitrate reductase activity in the leaves. Biochemical analyses and measurements of fluorescence and gas exchange showed that Xiaoye maintained more stable chloroplast membranes and photosystem electron flow, showing higher water use efficiency and a higher resistance to drought. A nitrogen addition could improve leaf photosynthesis and growth both in Biyu and Xiaoye seedlings under drought conditions. We concluded that the two poplar clones showed different biomass allocation patterns and suggest that the site of nitrate assimilation may play a role in biomass partitioning under varying water and nitrogen availabilities. Full article

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) plays a crucial role in global gold production. However, the adoption of poor mining practices or the use of mercury (Hg) in gold recovery processes has generated serious environmental contamination events. The focus of this study is assessing the concentration of Hg in surface waters within the coastal region of Ecuador. The results are used to conduct a human health risk assessment applying deterministic and probabilistic methods, specifically targeting groups vulnerable to exposure in affected mining environments. Between April and June 2022, 54 water samples were collected from rivers and streams adjacent to mining areas to determine Hg levels. In the health risk assessment, exposure routes through water ingestion and dermal contact were considered for both adults and children, following the model structures outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The results indicate elevated Hg concentrations in two of the five provinces studied, El Oro and Esmeraldas, where at least 88% and 75% of the samples, respectively, exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) set by Ecuadorian regulations for the preservation of aquatic life. Furthermore, in El Oro province, 28% of the samples exceeded the MPL established for drinking water quality. The high concentrations of Hg could be related to illegal mining activity that uses Hg for gold recovery. Regarding the human health risk assessment, risk values above the safe exposure limit were estimated. Children were identified as the most vulnerable receptor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish effective regulations that guarantee the protection of river users in potentially contaminated areas. Finally, it is important to continue investigating the contamination caused by human practices in the coastal region. Full article

Despite elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, some older subjects with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) do not develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) during their lifetime. The factors related to this resilient state have not been fully established. The aim of this study was to evaluate differential characteristics between older HeFH subjects with and without ACVD and factors associated with the presence of ACVD. Subjects were part of the Spanish Atherosclerosis Society Dyslipidemia Registry, and those ≥ 70 years old and with HeFH were included. Baseline characteristics of these subjects with and without ACVD were compared. A multivariate analysis was performed to assess factors associated with the presence of ACVD. A total of 2148 subjects with HeFH were included. Resilient subjects were mostly female, younger and presented fewer comorbidities with respect to the ACVD group. Subjects without ACVD had higher baseline high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (55.8 ± 17.1 vs. 47.9 ± 15.4 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and lower lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] (53.4 ± 67.9 vs. 66.6 ± 85.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001) levels with respect to those in the ACVD group. Lp(a) and the presence of ≥3 risk factors were associated with the presence of ACVD. Full article

Background: Reducing a child’s level of anxiety before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures allows for better behavioral outcomes. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate anxiolytic efficacy of Midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin oral formulation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 100 medical charts of children who, between 1 February and 31 July 2022, underwent MRI under general anesthesia with or without premedication with midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin. Primary outcome was comparison of behavior to facemask positioning, while secondary endpoints were degree of drugs acceptance, anxiolytic effect evaluation, child’s behavior on separation, and sevoflurane need. Results: Facemask positioning was accepted by 58% of the midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin group compared to 22% of children in the control group. The rate of acceptance was >90%. At the moment of separation from parent, none of the premedicated children needed to be restrained compared to 18% in the control group. A lower percentage of sevoflurane was needed for eye-closure at induction of anesthesia and for anesthesia maintenance. At emergence from anesthesia, 46% of children in the premedicated group compared to 66% of children in the control group showed transient agitation. Conclusions: Midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin showed a good profile of acceptance, satisfactory anxiolytic properties, and reduced need for anesthetics when administered to children before MRI under general anesthesia. Full article

Because of its low whiteness, complex composition, radioactivity and high impurity percentage, the usage of phosphogypsum (PG) resources is limited. A theoretical foundation for upgrading and bleaching PG can be obtained by researching the presence and status of impurities in the material and its symbiotic connection with gypsum. This paper makes use of an automatic mineral phase analyzer, optical microscope, XRF, XRD and SEM-EDS. After analyzing the chemical makeup of PG, phase composition and particle size composition, the distribution law and symbiotic interaction between impurities and gypsum in various particle sizes were discovered. Using a flotation test, the process mineralogy analysis results were confirmed. According to the XRF and XRD study results, the primary impurity elements in PG are Si, P and F. Si is more abundant in PG that is between +850 μm and −37.5 μm in size. The concentrations of gypsum and quartz in PG are 82.59% and 8.73%, respectively, according to the results of XRD and process mineralogy. The monomer dissociation degree of the gypsum mineral phase is as high as 90.47%. Gibbsite and pyrite are the primary causes of the low whiteness of PG and are clearly related to the quartz mineral phase. The coupling process of “flotation + pickling” produced purified PG with a purity of 95.35%, whiteness of 70.76% and SiO₂ content of 2.73%. The quality met the first-class index standards of PG in GB/T23456-2018. Full article

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains a deadly disease due to a lack of efficacious treatments. The reprogramming of cancer metabolism toward elevated glycolysis is a hallmark of mCRPC. Our goal is to identify therapeutics specifically associated with high glycolysis. Here, we established a computational framework to identify new pharmacological agents for mCRPC with heightened glycolysis activity under a tumor microenvironment, followed by in vitro validation. First, using our established computational tool, OncoPredict, we imputed the likelihood of drug responses to approximately 1900 agents in each mCRPC tumor from two large clinical patient cohorts. We selected drugs with predicted sensitivity highly correlated with glycolysis scores. In total, 77 drugs predicted to be more sensitive in high glycolysis mCRPC tumors were identified. These drugs represent diverse mechanisms of action. Three of the candidates, ivermectin, CNF2024, and P276-00, were selected for subsequent vitro validation based on the highest measured drug responses associated with glycolysis/OXPHOS in pan-cancer cell lines. By decreasing the input glucose level in culture media to mimic the mCRPC tumor microenvironments, we induced a high-glycolysis condition in PC3 cells and validated the projected higher sensitivity of all three drugs under this condition (p < 0.0001 for all drugs). For biomarker discovery, ivermectin and P276-00 were predicted to be more sensitive to mCRPC tumors with low androgen receptor activities and high glycolysis activities (AR(low)Gly(high)). In addition, we integrated a protein–protein interaction network and topological methods to identify biomarkers for these drug candidates. EEF1B2 and CCNA2 were identified as key biomarkers for ivermectin and CNF2024, respectively, through multiple independent biomarker nomination pipelines. In conclusion, this study offers new efficacious therapeutics beyond traditional androgen-deprivation therapies by precisely targeting mCRPC with high glycolysis. Full article

Remote sensing (RS) is often employed to estimate suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in rivers, and the availability of hyperspectral imagery enhances the effectiveness of RS-based water quality monitoring due to its high spectral resolution. Yet, the necessity of hyperspectral imagery for SSC estimation in rivers has not been fully validated. This study thus compares the performance of hyperspectral RS with that of multispectral RS by conducting field-scale experiments in shallow rivers. In the field experiments, we measured radiance from a water body mixed with suspended sediments using a drone-mounted hyperspectral sensor, with the sediment and riverbed types considered as controlling factors. We retrieved the SSC from UAV imagery using an optimal band ratio analysis, which successfully estimated SSC distributions in the sand bed conditions with both multispectral and hyperspectral data. In the vegetated bed conditions, meanwhile, the prediction accuracy decreased significantly due to the temporally varying bottom reflectance associated with the random movement of vegetation caused by near-bed turbulence. This is because temporally inhomogeneous bottom reflectance distorts the relationship between the SSC and total reflectance. Nevertheless, the hyperspectral imaging exhibited better prediction accuracy than the multispectral imaging, effectively extracting optimal spectral bands sensitive to back-scattered reflectance from sediments while constraining the bottom reflectance caused by the vegetation-covered bed. Full article

Cu-based ternary oxides with delafossite structure have received considerable attention in recent years for their versatility in a wide range of applications, among which is the possibility to use them in heterostructure solar cells as hole transport layers, due to their promising behavior as p-type conducting oxides. Ab initio calculations have been performed with density functional theory to investigate the role of the trivalent metal within the CuMO₂ structure and the dependence of structural and electronic properties with the species (M = Al, Ga, In, Fe, Cr, Co, Sc, Y) occupying the site of the metal. Generalized Gradient Approximation also including a Hubbard term and nonlocal Heyd–Scuseria–Enzerhof screened hybrid functional schemes were tested and their results were compared. Excellent agreement with experimental lattice parameters and measured gaps have been found. The use of hybrid functionals in HSE approximation considerably improves the bandgaps when compared with the experimental results but takes considerable time to converge, hence the need to explore less demanding methodologies. Trends in the geometry as well as in the electronic properties are discussed, and the effect of mixing different metals (CuM_xN_1−xO₂, M, N being the aforementioned elements) in the geometry and electronic properties of these delafossite materials is investigated. Due to the high cost of HSE calculations, especially when supercells are needed to model several x concentrations, statistical models and techniques based on machine learning have also been explored to predict HSE bandgap values from GGA and structural information. Full article

Joaquin Sorolla’s Social Realist work Sad Inheritance! provides the grounds for this cross-sectional case study into Social Realism in Spain, Spanish politics at the turn of the twentieth century, and affect theory in art. By formally analyzing this work, presenting its differing receptions in France and Spain, and discussing the identity crisis that Spain experienced at the end of the twentieth century, all within the frame of Jill Bennett’s conception of practical aesthetics and affect in art, this article will show how Sorolla produced an image that had differing valences of affect depending on the context in which it was viewed. Through his singular pictorial strategies, Sorolla successfully created an image that was political and sentimental, controversial and appealing, fraught with emotion, and ultimately affective. Full article

Mineral assemblages containing Cu-Bi sulfosalts, Bi chalcogenides, and Ag-(Au) tellurides have been identified in the mid-Miocene Zhibula Cu skarn deposit, Gangdese Belt, southern Tibet. Different mineral assemblages from three locations in the deposit, including proximal massive garnet skarn, proximal retrogressed pyroxene-dominant skarn in contact with marble, and distal banded garnet–pyroxene skarn hosted in marble, are studied to constrain the evolution of the mineralization. Hypogene bornite contains elevated Bi (mean 6.73 wt.%) and co-exists in proximal andradite skarn with a second bornite with far lower Bi content, carrollite, Au-Ag tellurides (hessite, petzite), and wittichenite. This assemblage indicates formation at relatively high temperatures (>400 °C) and high f_S2 and f_Te2 during prograde-stage mineralization. Assemblages of Bi sulfosalts (wittichenite, aikinite, kupčíkite, and paděraite) and bismuth chalcogenides (e.g., tetradymite) in proximal pyroxene skarn are also indicative of formation at relatively high temperatures, but at relatively lower f_Te2 and f_S2 conditions. Within the reduced distal skarn (chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite-bearing) in marble, cobalt, and nickel occur as discrete minerals: cobaltite, melonite and cobaltic pentlandite. The trace ore mineral signature of the Zhibula skarn and the distributions of precious and critical trace elements such as Ag, Au, Co, Te, Se, and Bi support an evolving magmatic–hydrothermal system in which different parts of the deposit each define ore formation at distinct local physicochemical conditions. This is the first report of kupčíkite and paděraite from a Chinese location. Their compositions are comparable to other occurrences, but conspicuously, they do not form nanoscale intergrowths with one another. Full article

The management of elderly patients diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is complicated by high relapse risk and comorbidities that often preclude access to allogeneic hematopoietic cellular transplantation (allo-HCT). In recent years, fast-paced FDA drug approval has reshaped the therapeutic landscape, with modest, albeit promising improvement in survival. Still, AML outcomes in elderly patients remain unacceptably unfavorable highlighting the need for better understanding of disease biology and tailored strategies. In this review, we discuss recent modifications suggested by European Leukemia Network 2022 (ELN-2022) risk stratification and review recent aging cell biology advances with the discussion of four AML cases. While an older age, >60 years, does not constitute an absolute contraindication for allo-HCT, the careful patient selection based on a detailed and multidisciplinary risk stratification cannot be overemphasized. Full article

Standing and lying are the fundamental behaviours of quadrupedal animals, and the ratio of their durations is a significant indicator of calf health. In this study, we proposed a computer vision method for non-invasively monitoring of calves’ behaviours. Cameras were deployed at four viewpoints to monitor six calves on six consecutive days. YOLOv8n was trained to detect standing and lying calves. Daily behavioural budget was then summarised and analysed based on automatic inference on untrained data. The results show a mean average precision of 0.995 and an average inference speed of 333 frames per second. The maximum error in the estimated daily standing and lying time for a total of 8 calf-days is less than 14 min. Calves with diarrhoea had about 2 h more daily lying time (p < 0.002), 2.65 more daily lying bouts (p < 0.049), and 4.3 min less daily lying bout duration (p = 0.5) compared to healthy calves. The proposed method can help in understanding calves’ health status based on automatically measured standing and lying time, thereby improving their welfare and management on the farm. Full article

The intermittency of gravity wave potential energy (GWPE) in the upper troposphere and stratosphere was investigated using the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate-2 (COSMIC-2) temperature data over three typical mountains (Tibetan Plateau, Rocky Mountains, and Andes). These typical mountains have high sea level elevations but different land–sea contrast. The probability density function (PDF) of GWPE has the independent variable of GWPE and dependent variable of occurrence probability of GWPE over a region. Our analysis showed that the PDFs of GWPE over these three mountains roughly followed lognormal distributions in all heights and months. But, the key parameters (mean value and standard deviation) of lognormal distribution varied with heights and months. Above each mountain, the two key parameters exhibited similar temporal and spatial distributions. They had the largest values around the tropopause region, smaller values in the lower stratosphere (~20–30 km), and larger values in the upper stratosphere (~35–45 km). The intermittency of GWs is represented as the ratio of the GWPE at 50th percentile to the GWPE at 90th percentile. The weakest intermittency was at ~20–30 km (above the zonal mean winds of zero) over the Tibetan Plateau and Rocky Mountains in all months and over the Andes from November to March, respectively. Generally, the weakest intermittency (~0.4) occurred in the region where the key parameters were the smallest around summer. The key parameters of lognormal distribution were dominated by annual variation over the Andes throughout the height range, 8–50 km. However, the semiannual variations are also significant in the lower stratosphere over the Tibetan Plateau and Rocky Mountains. The seasonal variations in the intermittency were not as obvious as those of the key parameters. The lognormal distributions and the intermittencies derived here provide an observational constraint on the tunable parameters in GW parameterization schemes. Full article

Dongting Lake wetland is a typical lake wetland in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain in China. Due to the influence of natural and human activities, the landscape pattern has changed significantly. This study used 12 Landsat images from 1991 to 2022 and applied three common classification methods (support vector machine, maximum likelihood, and CART decision tree) to extract and classify the landscape information, with the latter having a superior annual accuracy of over 90%. Based on the CART decision tree classification results, the dynamic characteristics of wetland spatial patterns were analyzed through the landscape pattern index, dynamic degree model, and transition matrix model. Redundancy and grey correlation analysis were employed to investigate the driving factors. The results showed increased landscape fragmentation, reduced heterogeneity, and increased complexity from 1991 to 2022. The water and mudflat areas exhibited three distinct stages: gradual decline until 2001 (−3.06 km²/a); sharp decrease until 2014 (−19.44 km²/a); and steady increase (22.93 km²/a). Vegetation conversion, particularly between sedge and reed, dominated the change in landscape pattern. Reed area initially increased (18.88 km²/a), then decreased (−35.89 km²/a), while sedge showed the opposite trend. Woodland area fluctuated, peaking in 2016 and declined by 2022. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam significantly altered landscape dynamics through water level changes, reflected by a 4.03% comprehensive dynamic degree during 2001–2004. Potential evaporation also emerged as a significant natural factor, exhibiting a negative correlation with the landscape index. During 1991–2001 and 2004–2022, the comprehensive explanatory rates of temperature, precipitation, potential evaporation, and water level on landscape pattern dynamics were 88.56% and 52.44%, respectively. Other factors like policies and socio-economic factors played a crucial role in wetland change. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamic evolution and driving mechanisms of Dongting Lake wetland. Full article

The involvement of the second pair of chlorophylls, termed A_-1A and A_-1B, in light-induced electron transfer in photosystem I (PSI) is currently debated. Asparagines at PsaA600 and PsaB582 are involved in coordinating the A_-1B and A_-1A pigments, respectively. Here we have mutated these asparagine residues to methionine in two single mutants and a double mutant in PSI from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which we term NA600M, NB582M, and NA600M/NB582M mutants. (P700⁺–P700) FTIR difference spectra (DS) at 293 K were obtained for the wild-type and the three mutant PSI samples. The wild-type and mutant FTIR DS differ considerably. This difference indicates that the observed changes in the (P700⁺–P700) FTIR DS cannot be due to only the P_A and P_B pigments of P700. Comparison of the wild-type and mutant FTIR DS allows the assignment of different features to both A_-1 pigments in the FTIR DS for wild-type PSI and assesses how these features shift upon cation formation and upon mutation. While the exact role the A_-1 pigments play in the species we call P700 is unclear, we demonstrate that the vibrational modes of the A_-1A and A_-1B pigments are modified upon P700⁺ formation. Previously, we showed that the A_-1 pigments contribute to P700 in green algae. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that this is also the case in cyanobacterial PSI. The nature of the mutation-induced changes in algal and cyanobacterial PSI is similar and can be considered within the same framework, suggesting a universality in the nature of P700 in different photosynthetic organisms. Full article

Originated during the 1970s by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the theory of work-related flow has the following features: (1) the goals pursued are clear; (2) each action taken results in instantaneous feedback; (3) the skills required are equal to the challenges presented; (4) awareness and action for how to proceed are integrated; (5) consciousness is focused while distractions are ignored; (6) failure is not considered an option; (7) self-consciousness is non-existent; (8) time awareness is distorted; and (9) the engaged activity is the end in itself. According to research findings, it is the optimal work-related experience to sustain careers. Full article

Background: Pitt–Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare genetic disorder affecting psychomotor, social, and intellectual development, caused by a mutation in the TCF4 gene. The study aims to gather the phenotype and genotype data of PTHS patients from Poland and to assess the quality of life (QoL) and the impact of the disorders on the family. Methods: Eight families with PTHS participated in the study. To obtain data, the following standardized questionnaires were used: Questionnaire on Clinical Problems (QCP), the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module, and the QL-Disability Questionnaire. Additionally, a retrospective analysis of clinical examination, genetic consult, medical history, and genotype of each individual was performed. Results: All of the examined children exhibited a mutation in the TCF4 gene and typical features of PTHS. The most prevalent clinical symptoms in the study group included typical PTHS appearance, intellectual disability (n = 5; as the rest of the patients were too young to be assessed), abnormal speech development (n = 8), reduced pain response (n = 7), constipation (n = 7), drooling (n = 7), cold extremities (n = 7), and disturbances in sensory integration processes (n = 7). The QL-Disability Questionnaire revealed a total QoL score of 67.7/100 for children with PTHS, while the QoL for their families in the PedsQL Family Impact Module was 53.82/100. The highest-rated domain was cognitive functioning (Median (Me) = 67.50; Standard Deviation (SD) = 21.95), while the lowest was daily activities (Me = 25.00; SD = 29.86). Conclusions: The study allowed the collection of data on the phenotype and genotype of children with PTHS living in Poland. Overall, our study showed that the QoL of children with PTHS is impaired. Full article

Knowledge of gender-specific drug distributions in different organs are of great importance for personalized medicine and reducing toxicity. However, such drug distributions have not been well studied. In this study, we investigated potential differences in the distribution of imipramine and chloroquine, as well as their metabolites, between male and female kidneys. Kidneys were collected from mice treated with imipramine or chloroquine and then subjected to atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (AP-MALDI-MSI). We observed differential distributions of the drugs and their metabolites between male and female kidneys. Imipramine showed prominent distributions in the cortex and medulla in male and female kidneys, respectively. Desipramine, one of the metabolites of imipramine, showed significantly higher (*** p < 0.001) distributions in the medulla of the male kidney compared to that of the female kidney. Chloroquine and its metabolites were accumulated in the pelvis of both male and female kidneys. Interestingly, they showed a characteristic distribution in the medulla of the female kidney, while almost no distributions were observed in the same areas of the male kidney. For the first time, our study revealed that the distributions of imipramine, chloroquine, and their metabolites were different in male and female kidneys. Full article

Adenosine, as a water-soluble active substance, has various pharmacological effects. This study proposes a layer-by-layer assembly method of composite wall materials, using hydroxypropyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin as the inner wall and whey protein isolate as the outer wall, to encapsulate adenosine within the core material, aiming to enhance adenosine microcapsules’ stability through intermolecular interactions. By combining isothermal titration calorimetry with molecular modeling analysis, it was determined that the core material and the inner wall and the inner wall and the outer wall interact through intermolecular forces. Adenosine and hydroxypropyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin form an optimal 1:1 complex through hydrophobic interactions, while hydroxypropyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin and whey protein isolate interact through hydrogen bonds. The embedding rate of AD/Hp-$\beta$-CD/WPI microcapsules was 36.80%, and the 24 h retention rate under the release behavior test was 76.09%. The method of preparing adenosine microcapsules using composite wall materials is environmentally friendly and shows broad application prospects in storage and delivery systems with sustained release properties. Full article

This study investigates the efficacy of a thermo-responsive N-acetylcysteine (NAC) hydrogel on wound healing and oral ulcer recovery. Formulated by combining NAC with methylcellulose, the hydrogel’s properties were assessed for temperature-induced gelation and cell viability using human fibroblast cells. In vivo experiments on Sprague Dawley rats compared the hydrogel’s effects against saline, NAC solution, and a commercial NAC product. Results show that a 5% NAC and 1% methylcellulose solution exhibited optimal outcomes. While modest improvements in wound healing were observed, significant enhancements were noted in oral ulcer recovery, with histological analyses indicating fully regenerated mucosal tissue. The study concludes that modifying viscosity enhances NAC retention, facilitating tissue regeneration. These findings support previous research on the beneficial effects of antioxidant application on damaged tissues, suggesting the potential of NAC hydrogels in improving wound care and oral ulcer treatment. Full article

Circulating food metabolites could improve dietary assessments by complementing traditional methods. Here, biomarker candidates of food intake were identified in plasma samples from pregnancy (gestational week 29, N = 579), delivery (mothers, N = 532; infants, N = 348), and four months postpartum (mothers, N = 477; breastfed infants, N = 193) and associated to food intake assessed with semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Families from the Swedish birth cohort Nutritional impact on Immunological maturation during Childhood in relation to the Environment (NICE) were included. Samples were analyzed using untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics. Both exposure and outcome were standardized, and relationships were investigated using a linear regression analysis. The intake of fruits and berries and fruit juice were both positively related to proline betaine levels during pregnancy (fruits and berries, β = 0.23, FDR < 0.001; fruit juice, β = 0.27, FDR < 0.001), at delivery (fruit juice, infants: β = 0.19, FDR = 0.028), and postpartum (fruits and berries, mothers: β = 0.27, FDR < 0.001, infants: β = 0.29, FDR < 0.001; fruit juice, mothers: β = 0.37, FDR < 0.001). Lutein levels were positively related to vegetable intake during pregnancy (β = 0.23, FDR < 0.001) and delivery (mothers: β = 0.24, FDR < 0.001; newborns: β = 0.18, FDR = 0.014) and CMPF with fatty fish intake postpartum (mothers: β = 0.20, FDR < 0.001). No clear relationships were observed with the expected food sources of the remaining metabolites (acetylcarnitine, choline, indole-3-lactic acid, pipecolic acid). Our study suggests that plasma lutein could be useful as a more general food group intake biomarker for vegetables and fruits during pregnancy and delivery. Also, our results suggest the application of proline betaine as an intake biomarker of citrus fruit during gestation and lactation. Full article