scBoolSeq: Linking scRNA-seq statistics and Boolean dynamics.

Boolean networks are largely employed to model the qualitative dynamics of cell fate processes by describing the change of binary activation states of genes and transcription factors with time. Being able to bridge such qualitative states with quantitative measurements of gene expression in cells, as scRNA-seq, is a cornerstone for data-driven model construction and validation. On one hand, scRNA-seq binarisation is a key step for inferring and validating Boolean models. On the other hand, the generation of synthetic scRNA-seq data from baseline Boolean models provides an important asset to benchmark inference methods. However, linking characteristics of scRNA-seq datasets, including dropout events, with Boolean states is a challenging task. We present scBoolSeq, a method for the bidirectional linking of scRNA-seq data and Boolean activation state of genes. Given a reference scRNA-seq dataset, scBoolSeq computes statistical criteria to classify the empirical gene pseudocount distributions as either unimodal, bimodal, or zero-inflated, and fit a probabilistic model of dropouts, with gene-dependent parameters. From these learnt distributions, scBoolSeq can perform both binarisation of scRNA-seq datasets, and generate synthetic scRNA-seq datasets from Boolean traces, as issued from Boolean networks, using biased sampling and dropout simulation. We present a case study demonstrating the application of scBoolSeq's binarisation scheme in data-driven model inference. Furthermore, we compare synthetic scRNA-seq data generated by scBoolSeq with BoolODE's, data for the same Boolean Network model. The comparison shows that our method better reproduces the statistics of real scRNA-seq datasets, such as the mean-variance and mean-dropout relationships while exhibiting clearly defined trajectories in two-dimensional projections of the data.

Early-life and chronic exposure to high-fat diet alters noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the male rat amygdala and hippocampus under cognitive challenges.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of health and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Consuming high-fat diets (HFD) during critical neurodevelopmental periods, like childhood, impairs cognition and memory in humans and animals, affecting the function and connectivity of brain structures related to emotional memory. However, the underlying mechanisms of such phenomena need to be better understood. This study aimed to investigate the neurochemical profile of the amygdala and hippocampus, brain structures involved in emotional memory, during the acquisition of conditioned odor aversion in male rats that consumed a HFD from weaning to adulthood. The rats gained weight, experienced metabolic changes, and reduced insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Rats showed enhanced odor aversion memory, contrary to the expected cognitive impairments. This memory enhancement was accompanied by increased noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the amygdala and hippocampus. Importantly, this upregulation was specific to stimuli exposure, as basal neurotransmitter levels remained unaltered by the HFD. Our results suggest that HFD modifies cognitive function by altering neurochemical signaling, in this case, upregulating neurotransmitter levels rendering a stronger memory trace, demonstrating that metabolic dysfunctions do not only trigger exclusively detrimental plasticity processes but also render enhanced plastic effects depending on the type of information.

Health Benefits of High Voltage Electrostatic Field Processing of Fruits and Vegetables.

High voltage electrostatic field processing (HVEF) is a food preservation procedure frequently used to produce healthy minimally processed fruits and vegetables (F&V) as it reduces the growth of microorganisms and activates or inhibits various enzymes, thus retarding their natural ripening while preserving and even enhancing native nutritional quality and sensory characteristics. HVEF is one of the various nonthermal processing technology (NTPT) regarded as abiotic stress that can activate the antioxidant system of F&V and can also inhibith spoilage enzymes as, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), lipoxygenase (LOX), pectin methylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG), cellulase (Cel), ß-xylosidase, xyloglucan and endotransglycosylase/hydrolase, bringing positive effect on hardness, firmness, colour attributes, electric conductivity, antioxidant compounds, microstructure and decreasing electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and browning degree. This technique can also increase the contents of fructose, glucose, and sucrose and decrease the production of CO2 and H2O2. Additionally, it has been reported that HVEF could be used with other treatments, such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) treatment, to enhance its effects. Future works should deepen on elucidating the activation of the antioxidant systems by applying HVEF of critical enzymes related to the synthesis pathways of phenolic compounds (PC) and carotenoids (Car). Holistic approaches to the effects of HVEF on metabolism based on systems biology also need to be studied by considering the overall biochemical, physical, and process engineering related aspects of this technique.

Potential energy landscape of a flexible water model: Equation of state, configurational entropy, and Adam-Gibbs relationship.

The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism is a tool within statistical mechanics that has been used in the past to calculate the equation of states (EOS) of classical rigid model liquids at low temperatures, where computer simulations may be challenging. In this work, we use classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the PEL formalism to calculate the EOS of the flexible q-TIP4P/F water model. This model exhibits a liquid-liquid critical point (LLCP) in the supercooled regime, at (Pc = 150 MPa, Tc = 190 K, and ρc = 1.04 g/cm3) [using the reaction field technique]. The PEL-EOS of q-TIP4P/F water and the corresponding location of the LLCP are in very good agreement with the MD simulations. We show that the PEL of q-TIP4P/F water is Gaussian, which allows us to calculate the configurational entropy of the system, Sconf. The Sconf of q-TIP4P/F water is surprisingly similar to that reported previously for rigid water models, suggesting that intramolecular flexibility does not necessarily add roughness to the PEL. We also show that the Adam-Gibbs relation, which relates the diffusion coefficient D with Sconf, holds for the flexible q-TIP4P/F water model. Overall, our results indicate that the PEL formalism can be used to study molecular systems that include molecular flexibility, the common case in standard force fields. This is not trivial since the introduction of large bending/stretching mode frequencies is problematic in classical statistical mechanics. For example, as shown previously, we find that such high frequencies lead to unphysical (negative) entropy for q-TIP4P/F water when using classical statistical mechanics (yet, the PEL formalism can be applied successfully).

Steering the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis by Antibiotics to Model Neuro-Immune-Endocrine Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Over the last century, animal models have been employed to study the gut-brain axis and its relationship with physiological processes, including those necessary for survival, such as food intake and thermoregulation; those involved in diseases, ranging from inflammation to obesity; and those concerning the development of neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and autism spectrum disorder, respectively. SUMMARY: The gut microbiota has been recognized in the last decade as an essential functional component of this axis. Many reports demonstrate that the gut microbiota influences the development of a vast array of physiological processes. Experiments that use animal models to assess the effect of the gut microbiota on the brain and behavior may involve the acute or chronic administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics. KEY MESSAGES: This narrative review summarizes the beneficial or detrimental effects of antibiotics administered prenatally or postnatally to rodents during acute or chronic periods in a wide range of protocols. These include animal models of disease and behavioral paradigms of learning and memory, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Biomarkers and behavioral assays associated with antibiotic exposure are also included in this review.

Distal Rotational Metatarsal Osteotomy (DROMO) for the treatment of hallux valgus associated with first metatarsal pronation: Surgical technique and initial results.

BACKGROUND: Hallux valgus (HV) is a very common deformity worldwide. Most of the surgical techniques used in the treatment of HV only correct these deformities in two planes, that is sagittal and transverse planes. The importance of the first metatarsal pronation as an etiological factor of hallux valgus is validated by numerous authors and it is usually unaddressed. Few surgical techniques have focused on the correction of rotational deformity of the hallux valgus. We aim to first report a detailed technique and a case series using the Distal Rotational Metatarsal Osteotomy (DROMO) surgical technique, which is less invasive and can address the pronation deformation. METHODS: The inclusion period was 6 months finishing in April 2021. The study analyzed the following x-ray parameters: preoperative and postoperative intermetatarsal angle (IMA), preoperative and postoperative hallux valgus angle (HVA), preoperative and postoperative coronal rotation of the first metatarsal according Hardy and Clapham's classification as described by Kim et al., preoperative and postoperative shape of the first metatarsal head as described by Ono et al. RESULTS: 33 patients matched our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most patients underwent the surgery for the left foot (n = 18), compared to the right foot (n = 15). We found statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative IMA (p < 0.001), preoperative and postoperative HVA (p < 0.001). Preoperative and postoperative coronal rotation of the first metatarsal as classified by Hardy and Clapham was significantly different (p < 0.001), as well as preoperative and postoperative shape of the first metatarsal head (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: DROMO can correct the metatarsal rotation through minimal invasive surgery. From our perspective, DROMO technique should be another alternative for HV correction technique which in time can be associated as a local anesthetic technique, DROMO results are attractive for an ambulatory procedure.

Editorial for the Special Issue "Food and Microbial Bioprocesses".

The aim of this Special Issue was to provide readers with a holistic, systematic, and integrative approach to microbial processes involved in the production of selected foods, nutraceuticals, and bioactive materials by using modern biotechnological tools [...].

A continuum of amorphous ices between low-density and high-density amorphous ice.

Amorphous ices are usually classified as belonging to low-density or high-density amorphous ice (LDA and HDA) with densities ρLDA ≈ 0.94 g/cm3 and ρHDA ≈ 1.15-1.17 g/cm3. However, a recent experiment crushing hexagonal ice (ball-milling) produced a medium-density amorphous ice (MDA, ρMDA ≈ 1.06 g/cm3) adding complexity to our understanding of amorphous ice and the phase diagram of supercooled water. Motivated by the discovery of MDA, we perform computer simulations where amorphous ices are produced by isobaric cooling and isothermal compression/decompression. Our results show that, depending on the pressure employed, isobaric cooling can generate a continuum of amorphous ices with densities that expand in between those of LDA and HDA (briefly, intermediate amorphous ices, IA). In particular, the IA generated at P ≈ 125 MPa has a remarkably similar density and average structure as MDA, implying that MDA is not unique. Using the potential energy landscape formalism, we provide an intuitive qualitative understanding of the nature of LDA, HDA, and the IA generated at different pressures. In this view, LDA and HDA occupy specific and well-separated regions of the PEL; the IA prepared at P = 125 MPa is located in the intermediate region of the PEL that separates LDA and HDA.

High-density genetic linkage mapping in Sitka spruce advances the integration of genomic resources in conifers.

In species with large and complex genomes such as conifers, dense linkage maps are a useful resource for supporting genome assembly and laying the genomic groundwork at the structural, populational, and functional levels. However, most of the 600+ extant conifer species still lack extensive genotyping resources, which hampers the development of high-density linkage maps. In this study, we developed a linkage map relying on 21,570 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bong.] Carr.), a long-lived conifer from western North America that is widely planted for productive forestry in the British Isles. We used a single-step mapping approach to efficiently combine RAD-seq and genotyping array SNP data for 528 individuals from 2 full-sib families. As expected for spruce taxa, the saturated map contained 12 linkages groups with a total length of 2,142 cM. The positioning of 5,414 unique gene coding sequences allowed us to compare our map with that of other Pinaceae species, which provided evidence for high levels of synteny and gene order conservation in this family. We then developed an integrated map for P. sitchensis and Picea glauca based on 27,052 markers and 11,609 gene sequences. Altogether, these 2 linkage maps, the accompanying catalog of 286,159 SNPs and the genotyping chip developed, herein, open new perspectives for a variety of fundamental and more applied research objectives, such as for the improvement of spruce genome assemblies, or for marker-assisted sustainable management of genetic resources in Sitka spruce and related species.

The Harmonic and Gaussian Approximations in the Potential Energy Landscape Formalism for Quantum Liquids.

The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism has been used in the past to describe the behavior of classical low-temperature liquids and glasses. Here, we extend the PEL formalism to describe the behavior of liquids and glasses that obey quantum mechanics. In particular, we focus on the (i) harmonic and (ii) Gaussian approximations of the PEL, which have been commonly used to describe classical systems, and show how these approximations can be applied to quantum liquids/glasses. Contrary to the case of classical liquids/glasses, the PEL of quantum liquids is temperature-dependent, and hence, the main expressions resulting from approximations (i) and (ii) depend on the nature (classical vs quantum) of the system. The resulting theoretical expressions from the PEL formalism are compared with results from path-integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulations of a monatomic model liquid. In the PIMC simulations, every atom of the quantum liquid is represented by a ring-polymer. Our PIMC simulations show that at the local minima of the PEL (inherent structures, or IS), sampled over a wide range of temperatures and volumes, the ring-polymers are collapsed. This considerably facilitates the description of quantum liquids using the PEL formalism. Specifically, the normal modes of the ring-polymer system/quantum liquid at an IS can be calculated analytically if the normal modes of the classical liquid counterpart are known (as obtained, e.g., from classical MC or molecular dynamics simulations of the corresponding atomic liquid).

Assessing the effects of oxytocin in changes of core body temperature during LPS-induced endotoxemia: A novel approach using Extended Poincaré Plot Analysis.

Oxytocin has shown cardioprotective effects during inflammation and may modify the core body temperature changes in LPS-induced endotoxemia. Notably, the time series analysis of core body temperature fluctuations may indicate thermoregulation alterations. This study aims to assess the effects of oxytocin on changes in the core body temperature by analyzing the fluctuations of the temperature time series of endotoxemic rats. Twelve hours of continuous core body temperature fluctuations time series were obtained from adult male Dark Agouti rats implanted with a telemetric transmitter under the following treatment: lipopolysaccharide (LPS); oxytocin (O); lipopolysaccharide + oxytocin (LPS + O), and vehicle or control (C). The temperature fluctuations time series were analyzed using the Extended Poincaré Plot Analysis (EPPA), a novel approach for measuring nonlinear features, to compute the autocorrelation by Pearson's correlation coefficient r, the standard deviation perpendicular to the line of identity (SD1), and the standard deviation parallel to the line of identity (SD2). The autocorrelation of the temperature fluctuations assessed by Pearson's coefficient was significantly higher in the LPS group compared to control rats (C). Likewise, the co-administration of oxytocin during endotoxemia (LPS + O) significantly reduced the autocorrelation and increased the short-term variability (SD1) of temperature fluctuations compared to those recorded with a single dose of LPS. Thus, we concluded that oxytocin may introduce thermoregulatory changes under LPS-induced endotoxemia. The EPPA is a simple and powerful approach to assess physiological variability that can provide valuable insights into changes in thermoregulation.

Impact of Normal and Overweight Pregnancy in GLUT4 and Glucose-Dependent Vascular Contractility.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity during pregnancy can contribute to hypertensive complications through changes in glucose utilization. We investigated the impact of vascular glucose uptake, GLUT4 density, and endothelium on agonist-induced vasoconstriction in the aortas of overweight pregnant rats. METHODS: Isolated aortic rings with or without endothelium from pregnant or nonpregnant rats fed a standard (SD) or hypercaloric diet (HD) were contracted with phenylephrine or serotonin (10-9 to 10-4M) using standard (11 mm) or without (0 mm) glucose Krebs solution. GLUT4 density in the aortas was measured using the en face method. RESULTS: Aortas from overweight pregnant animals (PHD) showed increased Phe-induced vasoconstriction (p < 0.05 vs. pregnant standard diet [PSD]), which was endothelium-independent. The contraction decreased significantly in the absence of glucose. In contrast, vessels from pregnant SD rats maintained their contraction in glucose-free Krebs solution. 5-HT increases PHD aortic contraction only in the absence of glucose. The fetal aortas from PHD mothers showed blunted vasoconstriction. Overweight significantly reduced GLUT4 expression in maternal and fetal aortas (p < 0.05 vs. PSD). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic contractility is independent of glucose uptake during healthy pregnancy. In contrast, overweight pregnancy increases contractility. This increase depends directly on smooth muscle glucose uptake and inversely on GLUT-4 density. The increased contraction observed in the vasculature of overweight mothers was inverted in the fetal aortas.

Protective Effect of Alginate Microcapsules with Different Rheological Behavior on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v.

Alginate encapsulation is a well-known technique used to protect microorganisms from adverse conditions. However, it is also known that the viscosity of the alginate is dependent on its composition and degree of polymerization and that thermal treatments, such as pasteurization and sterilization, can affect the structure of the polymer and decrease its protection efficiency. The goal of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of encapsulation, using alginates of different viscosities treated at different temperatures, on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions and cold storage at 4 °C and -15 °C, respectively. Steady- and dynamic-shear rheological tests were used to characterize the polymers. Thermal treatments profoundly affected the rheological characteristics of alginates with high and low viscosity. However, the solutions and gels of the low-viscosity alginate were more affected at a temperature of 117 °C. The capsules elaborated with high-viscosity alginate solution and pasteurized at 63 °C for 30 min provided better protection to the cells of L. plantarum 299v under simulated gastrointestinal and cold storage conditions.

Chronic resveratrol administration reduces oxidative stress and brain cell loss and improves memory of recognition in old rats.

The cognitive functions of people over 60 years of age have been diminished, due to the structural and functional changes that the brain has during aging. The most evident changes are at the behavioral and cognitive level, with decreased learning capacity, recognition memory, and motor incoordination. The use of exogenous antioxidants has been implemented as a potential pharmacological option to delay the onset of brain aging by attenuating oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Resveratrol (RSVL) is a polyphenol present in various foods, such as red fruits, and drinks, such as red wine. This compound has shown great antioxidant capacity due to its chemical structure. In this study, we evaluated the effect of chronic RSVL treatment on oxidative stress and cell loss in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of 20-month-old rats, as well as its impact on recognition memory and motor behavior. Rats treated with RSVL showed an improvement in locomotor activity and in short- and long-term recognition memory. Likewise, the concentration of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation decreased significantly in the group with RSVL, coupled with an improvement in the activity of the antioxidant system. Finally, with the help of hematoxylin and eosin staining, it was shown that chronic treatment with RSVL prevented cell loss in the brain regions studied. Our results demonstrate the antioxidant and neuroprotective capacity of RSVL when administered chronically. This strengthens the proposal that RSVL could be an important pharmacological option to reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases that affect older adults.

The Importance of Nuclear Quantum Effects on the Thermodynamic and Structural Properties of Low-Density Amorphous Ice: A Comparison with Hexagonal Ice.

We study the nuclear quantum effects (NQE) on the thermodynamic properties of low-density amorphous ice (LDA) and hexagonal ice (Ih) at P = 0.1 MPa and T ≥ 25 K. Our results are based on path-integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) and classical MD simulations of H2O and D2O using the q-TIP4P/F water model. We show that the inclusion of NQE is necessary to reproduce the experimental properties of LDA and ice Ih. While MD simulations (no NQE) predict that the density ρ(T) of LDA and ice Ih increases monotonically upon cooling, PIMD simulations indicate the presence of a density maximum in LDA and ice Ih. MD and PIMD simulations also predict a qualitatively different T-dependence for the thermal expansion coefficient αP(T) and bulk modulus B(T) of both LDA and ice Ih. Remarkably, the ρ(T), αP(T), and B(T) of LDA are practically identical to those of ice Ih. The origin of the observed NQE is due to the delocalization of the H atoms, which is identical in LDA and ice Ih. H atoms delocalize considerably (over a distance ≈ 20-25% of the OH covalent-bond length) and anisotropically (preferentially perpendicular to the OH covalent bond), leading to less linear hydrogen bonds HB (larger HOO angles and longer OO separations) than observed in classical MD simulations.

Dedicated odor-taste stimulation design for fMRI flavor studies.

BACKGROUND: Flavor is a mental representation that results from the brain's integration of at least odor and taste, and fMRI can highlight brain-related areas. However, delivering stimuli during fMRI can be challenging especially when administrating liquid stimuli in supine position. It remains unclear how and when odorants are released in the nose and how to improve odorant release. NEW METHOD: We used a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) to monitor the in vivo release of odorants via the retronasal pathway during retronasal odor-taste stimulation in a supine position. We tested techniques to improve odorant release, including avoiding or delaying swallowing and velum open training (VOT). RESULTS: Odorant release was observed during retronasal stimulation, before swallowing, and in a supine position. VOT did not improve odorant release. Odorant release during stimulation had a latency more optimal for fitting with BOLD timing than after swallowing. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S): Previous in vivo measurements of odorant release under fMRI-like conditions showed that odorant release occurred only after swallowing. On the contrary, a second study found that aroma release could occur before swallowing, but participants were sitting. CONCLUSION: Our method shows optimal odorant release during the stimulation phase, meeting the criteria for high-quality brain imaging of flavor processing without swallowing-related motion artifacts. These findings provide an important advancement in understanding the mechanisms underlying flavor processing in the brain.

Frecuencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables en estudiantes universitarios de carreras de salud

Introducción: las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la principal causa de muerte por enfermedades no transmisibles. La detección de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables juega un rol importante en la prevención de la morbimortalidad cardiovascular. Objetivos: describir la frecuencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables en estudiantes de carreras de salud en la Universidad Politécnica y Artística del Paraguay, filial San Lorenzo. Metodología: diseño observacional, descriptivo, de corte trasversal. Los datos fueron obtenidos por una encuesta telemática durante el año 2022. Resultado: participaron 134 estudiantes, con predomino de mujeres: 104 (78%) con edad promedio de 25 ± 7 años, mayoría de la carrera de medicina 44 (33%). Los factores de riesgo cardiovascular encontrados fueron: sedentarismo en 83 (62%) participantes, hábito alimentario no saludable en 128 (95%), tabaquismo en 7 (5%), hipertensión arterial en 7 (5%), diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en 3 (2%), dislipidemia en 4 (3%). Hubo pérdida de datos para IMC en 62 casos, por lo que no se ha analizado la frecuencia de sobrepeso ni obesidad. La muestran estudiada presentó al menos 1 factor de riesgo cardiovascular 131 participantes (98%). La sumatoria de factores de riesgo cardiovascular por sujeto, muestra alto porcentaje 42,5% y 39,5% para 2 y 3 factores de riesgo asociados, respectivamente. Conclusión: en la muestra estudiada, a pesar de ser jóvenes y en formación en materias de salud, existe una alta frecuencia de al menos un factor de riesgo cardiovascular modificable. Los factores de riesgo cardiovascular más frecuentes fueron el hábito alimentario no saludable y sedentarismo. Llama la atención que a pesar de ser una población joven, la hipertensión, diabetes y dislipidemia ya se encuentran presentes suponiendo una carga alta y precoz de riesgo cardiovascular.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death due to non-communicable diseases. The detection of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To describe the frequency of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in health career students at the Polytechnic and Artistic University of Paraguay, San Lorenzo branch. Methodology: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional design. The data was obtained by a telematic survey during the year 2022. Result: One hundred thirty-four students participated, with a predominance of women: 104 (78%) with an average age of 25 ± 7 years, most of them were from the medical career 44 (33%). The cardiovascular risk factors found were: sedentary lifestyle in 83 (62%) participants, unhealthy eating habits in 128 (95%), smoking in 7 (5%), arterial hypertension in 7 (5%), type 2 diabetes mellitus in 3 (2%), and dyslipidemia in 4 (3%). There was loss of data for BMI in 62 cases, so the frequency of overweight or obesity has not been analyzed. The sample studied presented at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor in 131 participants (98%). The sum of cardiovascular risk factors per subject shows a high percentage of 42.5% and 39.5% for 2 and 3 associated risk factors, respectively. Conclusion: In the studied sample, despite being young and in training in health matters, there is a high frequency of at least one modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. The most frequent cardiovascular risk factors were unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. It is striking that, despite being a young population, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are already present, assuming a high and early burden of cardiovascular risk.

Sc-HOPO: A Potential Construct for Use in Radioscandium-Based Radiopharmaceuticals.

Three isotopes of scandium─43Sc, 44Sc, and 47Sc─have attracted increasing attention as potential candidates for use in imaging and therapy, respectively, as well as for possible theranostic use as an elementally matched pair. Here, we present the octadentate chelator 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) (or HOPO), an effective chelator for hard cations, as a potential ligand for use in radioscandium constructs with simple radiolabeling under mild conditions. HOPO forms a 1:1 Sc-HOPO complex that was fully characterized, both experimentally and theoretically. [47Sc]Sc-HOPO exhibited good stability in chemical and biological challenges over 7 days. In healthy mice, [43,47Sc]Sc-HOPO cleared the body rapidly with no signs of demetalation. HOPO is a strong candidate for use in radioscandium-based radiopharmaceuticals.

Recommended food supplies under conditions of natural and provoked catastrophes.

Natural catastrophes include those of biological origin as the pandemic provoked by virus SARS CoV2, earthquakes, flooding and hurricanes among others, while provoked ones are mainly those related to wars and social movements. These situations may cause food shortage and challenge food safety and security systems. In this review, strategies to produce foods aimed to alleviate food needs before, during and after catastrophic conditions are described based on the supply of various processed, intermediate and low moisture foods and three categories of food supplies are depicted based on the nature of the adverse conditions, Also, relevant patents on on innovative food preparations and containers for disaster areas are discussed. Innovation to produce appropriate and nutritious foods for disaster zones may include food bags containing individual packages of high protein, high fiber/vitamins and carbohydrate/oils ingredients in dried/vitreous state. Additionally, the role of food structure on food preservation is mentioned in the context of ready to eat, nutritious and sensory acceptable food supplies during natural or provoked catastrophes is also reported.