Enhancing wastewater treatment efficiency: A hybrid technology perspective with energy-saving strategies.

The study aimed to investigate how hybrid technology, combined with various intermittent aeration (IA) strategies, contributes to reducing the energy costs of wastewater treatment while simultaneously ensuring a high treatment efficiency. Even with IA subphases lasting half as long as those without aeration, and oxygen levels reduced from 3.5 to 1.5 mg O2/L, pollutants removal efficiency remains robust, allowing for a 1.41-fold reduction in energy consumption (EO). Hybrid technology led to a 1.34-fold decrease in EO, along with improved denitrification efficiency from 74.05 ± 4.71 to 81.87 ± 2.43 % and enhanced biological phosphorus removal from 35.03 ± 4.25 to 87.32 ± 3.64 %. The high nitrification efficiency may have been attributed to the abundance of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Rhodococcus, which outcompeted the genera of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria, suggesting that the hybrid system is favorable for the growth of heterotrophic nitrifiers.

miRNA-ome plasma analysis unveils changes in blood-brain barrier integrity associated with acute liver failure in rats.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) symptoms associated with liver insufficiency are linked to the neurotoxic effects of ammonia and other toxic metabolites reaching the brain via the blood-brain barrier (BBB), further aggravated by the inflammatory response. Cumulative evidence documents that the non-coding single-stranded RNAs, micro RNAs (miRs) control the BBB functioning. However, miRs' involvement in BBB breakdown in HE is still underexplored. Here, we hypothesized that in rats with acute liver failure (ALF) or rats subjected to hyperammonemia, altered circulating miRs affect BBB composing proteins. METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy was employed to delineate structural alterations of the BBB in rats with ALF (thioacetamide (TAA) intraperitoneal (ip.) administration) or hyperammonemia (ammonium acetate (OA) ip. administration). The BBB permeability was determined with Evans blue dye and sodium fluorescein assay. Plasma MiRs were profiled by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), followed by in silico analysis. Selected miRs, verified by qRT-PCR, were examined in cultured rat brain endothelial cells. Targeted protein alterations were elucidated with immunofluorescence, western blotting, and, after selected miR mimics transfection, through an in vitro resistance measurement. RESULTS: Changes in BBB structure and increased permeability were observed in the prefrontal cortex of TAA rats but not in the brains of OA rats. The NGS results revealed divergently changed miRNA-ome in the plasma of both rat models. The in silico analysis led to the selection of miR-122-5p and miR-183-5p with their target genes occludin and integrin ß1, respectively, as potential contributors to BBB alterations. Both proteins were reduced in isolated brain vessels and cortical homogenates in TAA rats. We documented in cultured primary brain endothelial cells that ammonia alone and, in combination with TNFα increases the relative expression of NGS-selected miRs with a less pronounced effect of TNFα when added alone. The in vitro study also confirmed miR-122-5p-dependent decrease in occludin and miR-183-5p-related reduction in integrin ß1 expression. CONCLUSION: This work identified, to our knowledge for the first time, potential functional links between alterations in miRs residing in brain endothelium and BBB dysfunction in ALF.

Vegan diet: nutritional components, implementation, and effects on adults' health.

Vegan diet has emerged as a popular dietary choice for people worldwide in recent times, due to concerns such as health issues, animal rights and welfare, and the sustainability of the environment. The purpose of this literature review was to explain how a vegan diet may affect the health of adults and to point out beneficial components found in it as well as any difficulties associated with its implementation. Evidence supports that a vegan diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. A well-planned vegan diet must include adequate calories and nutrients, as well as the necessary supplements, such as vitamin B12, vitamin D and EPA/DHA. Given the current growing interest in plant-based diets among the general population, it is crucial to understand both the barriers, risks, and benefits of the vegan diet among physicians, policy makers, and the general population.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletes for young physically active Polish adults.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Individuals who are not professional and competitive athletes but who engage in regular (even daily) physical activity may experience a different body image in the context of physical activity compared with that in everyday life. The Contextual Body Image Questionnaire for Athletes (CBIQA) has been developed to assess aspects of body image within these two dimensions, but has not yet been validated in the Polish population. This study aimed to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the CBIQA for physically active Polish adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample comprised 90 young Polish adults (49 women and 41 men). All respondents regularly participated in recreational sports. The average age of the sample was 21.4 years. All participants engaged in physical activity at least 3 times per week. The average training experience was 8.6 years. A 3-phase study was conducted: 1) translation of the CBIQA for use in a Polish sample, 2) pretesting and cognitive debriefing, and 3) evaluation of the test-retest reliability. The test-retest interval was 7 days. Interclass correlation coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: The 1-week test- retest results (ICC) ranged from 0.83-0.94 in the daily life subscales and from 0.86-0.95 in the athletic subscales among all participants. The reliability of the CBIQA was high. The alpha value for the internal consistency of the translated and adapted instrument was 0.91. After the translation and cognitive interview, 3 sentences were reworded to adapt the instrument to Polish culture. CONCLUSIONS: The CBIQA exhibited a high tes-retest reliability and good validity for assessing daily and physical activity-related body image in a Polish population.

Dietary Nutrient Deficiencies and Risk of Depression (Review Article 2018-2023).

Depression is classified as one of the most common mental disorders. Its prevalence has recently increased, becoming a growing public health threat. This review focuses on clarifying the role and importance of individual nutrients in the diet and the impact of nutrient deficiencies on the risk of depression. Deficiencies in nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids have a significant impact on brain and nervous system function, which can affect the appearance of depressive symptoms. However, it is important to remember that diet in itself is not the only factor influencing the risk of or helping to treat depression. There are many other aspects, such as physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social support, that also play an important role in maintaining mental health. The data review observed that most of the available analyses are based on cross-sectional studies. Further studies, including prospective cohort, case-control studies, are recommended to draw more reliable conclusions.

Effectiveness of various diet patterns among patients with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: The main aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the dietary patterns studied in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS), including anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean diet (MD), Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND), intermittent fasting (IF), gluten-free and ketogenic diets. In addition, another aim was to verify or otherwise the efficacy of other alternative dietary models, which include the Paleo diet, the Wahls diet, the McDougall diet and the Swank diet. Whether and to what extent the use of different dietary regimens can affect the course and reduction of individual MS symptoms was also examined. The advantages and disadvantages of selected diets and dietary patterns in the context of MS are discussed. Views: Autoimmune diseases are estimated to affect more than 3% of the world's people, the majority of whom are of working age. Therefore, delaying the first manifestation of the disease, reducing the number of relapses and alleviating symptoms are particularly welcome developments. In addition to finding effective pharmacotherapy, high hopes for patients lie in nutritional prevention and diet therapy. For years the medical literature has discussed supporting the treatment of diseases caused by an impairment of the body's immune system with the help of nutrition. Conclusions: An appropriate and balanced diet can be extremely helpful in improving the condition and well-being of patients with MS, and effectively support drug therapy.

Post-harvest ripening affects drying behavior, antioxidant capacity and flavor release of peach via alteration of cell wall polysaccharides content and nanostructures, water distribution and status.

Effect of post-harvest ripening on cell wall polysaccharides nanostructures, water status, physiochemical properties of peaches and drying behavior under hot air-infrared drying was evaluated. Results showed that the content of water soluble pectins (WSP) increased by 94 %, while the contents of chelate-soluble pectins (CSP), Na2CO3-soluble pectins (NSP) and hemicelluloses (HE) decreased during post-harvest ripening by 60 %, 43 %, and 61 %, respectively. The drying time increased from 3.5 to 5.5 h when the post-harvest time increased from 0 to 6 days. Atomic force microscope analysis showed that depolymerization of hemicelluloses and pectin occurred during post-harvest ripening. Time Domain -NMR observations indicated that reorganization of cell wall polysaccharides nanostructure changed water spatial distribution and cell internal structure, facilitated moisture migration, and affected antioxidant capacity of peaches during drying. This leads to the redistribution of flavor substances (heptanal, n-nonanal dimer and n-nonanal monomer). The current work elucidates the effect of post-harvest ripening on the physiochemical properties and drying behavior of peaches.

Effect of Nigella sativa on Selected Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Nigella sativa L. (family Ranunculaceae), also known as black cumin, has been used in cuisine around the world for many years. Due to its health-promoting properties, it can be used not only in the food industry but also in medicine. The main bioactive compound contained in the black cumin extract is thymoquinone (TQ), which has a special therapeutic role. The results of research in recent years confirmed its hypoglycemic, hypolipemic, and hepatoprotective effects, among others. In addition, the results of laboratory tests also indicate its immunomodulatory and anticancer effects, although there is still a lack of data on the mechanisms of how they are involved in the fight against cancer. Including this plant material in one's diet can be both an element of prophylaxis and therapy supporting the treatment process, including pharmacological treatment. However, attention should be paid to its potential interactions with drugs used in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Synergy between health technology assessments and clinical guidelines for multiple sclerosis.

Decision-making for reimbursement and clinical guidelines (CGs) serves different purposes although the decision-criteria and required evidence largely overlap. This study aimed to assess similarities and discrepancies between health technology assessment (HTA) reports as compared to CGs for multiple sclerosis (MS) medicines. All HTA reports and corresponding CGs for MS from the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the European Union were assessed to identify synergies in recommendations for MS medicines (approved 1995-2020). A content analysis of HTA reports and CGs was performed to identify similarities and discrepancies in wording of treatment recommendations across documents. We assessed 132 HTA reports and 9 CGs for 16 MS treatments. Final recommendations for reimbursement and inclusion in CGs were mostly similar (90%), albeit with considerable differences in treatment lines and subindications. Since 2010, HTA reports refer to the use of CGs in 42% (55/132) and to consultations with clinicians in 43% (57/132) of cases. Six of nine CGs referred to HTA reports and two referred to HTA consultations, in one case having a formal relation to the HTA organization. CGs referenced pharmacoeconomic studies (4/9) for costs and cost-effectiveness. To date, not all new HTA recommendations for MS treatments are included in CGs. Some synergy exists between treatment recommendations in HTA reports and CGs, although discrepancies were seen in timelines and in recommended treatment lines and subindications. More stakeholder dialogue and/or consultation of each other's publications may further improve synergy, facilitate transparency, and enhance patient access.

S100B Protein but Not 3-Nitrotyrosine Positively Correlates with Plasma Ammonia in Patients with Inherited Hyperammonemias: A New Promising Diagnostic Tool?

Individuals with inherited hyperammonemias often present developmental and intellectual deficiencies which are likely to be exaggerated by hyperammonemia episodes in long-term outcomes. In order to find a new, systemic marker common to the course of congenital hyperammonemias, we decided to measure the plasma level of S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), which is associated with cerebral impairment. Further, we analyzed three mechanistically diverged but linked with oxidative-nitrosative stress biochemical parameters: 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), a measure of plasma proteins' nitration; advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), a measure of protein oxidation; and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, a measure of anti-oxidative enzymatic capacity. The plasma biomarkers listed above were determined for the first time in congenital hyperammonemia. Also, the level of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-12, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-10) and chemokines (IP-10, MCP-1, MIG, and RANTES) were quantified. S100B was positively correlated with plasma ammonia level, while noticeable levels of circulating 3-NT in some of the patients' plasma did not correlate with ammonia concentration. Overall, the linear correlation between ammonia and S100B but not standard oxidative stress-related markers offers a unique perspective for the future identification and monitoring of neurological deficits risk-linked with hyperammonemia episodes in patients with inherited hyperammonemias. The S100B measure may support the development of therapeutic targets and clinical monitoring in these disorders.

Concept for the valorization of cereal processing waste: Recovery of phenolic acids by using waste-derived tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and biochar.

Valorization of agro-food waste by converting it into a renewable resource plays a crucial role in a bio-based circular economy. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the suitability of distillery stillage (DS), which comes from alcohol production from cereals, for producing value-added products that can be used synergistically. The main objective was to investigate the usefulness of two substances for the recovery of phenolic acids, which have antioxidant activity, from the liquid fraction of DS: namely, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) as a solvent and biochar as an adsorbent, both produced from the solid fraction of cereal processing waste. The effect of THFA concentration (80 and 100%) on phenolic acid yield in ultrasound-assisted extraction was studied. The solubilization predictions of phenolic compounds by the Hansen solubility parameters were in accordance with the experimental results: the yield of phenolic acids in the extracts was highest (3.76 µg g-1 dry mass) with 80% THFA. Among the extracted phenolic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids predominated over hydroxybenzoic acids, which may affect the bioactive properties of the extracts and their future applications for industrial purposes. Phenolic acids from the extracts were adsorbed on 17-170 g biochar L-1 and desorbed into water at 40-60 °C. The phenolic acid recovery was highest (∼92%) when the biochar dose was 85 g L-1 and when desorption was performed at 50 °C. After adsorption/desorption, ∼95% of the antioxidant activity of the phenolic acids in the extracts was maintained. As biochar has a smaller specific surface area than commercial powdered activated carbon (PAC), the biochar dose should be about 5 times higher than an equivalent PAC dose for adsorption efficiency above 90%.

Corrigendum: Vegan diet: nutritional components, implementation, and effects on adults' health.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1294497.].

Genetic and Epigenetic Etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Update.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and remission of the disease. The etiology of IBD is not fully understood. Many studies point to the presence of genetic, immunological, environmental, and microbiological factors and the interactions between them in the occurrence of IBD. The review looks at genetic factors in the context of both IBD predisposition and pharmacogenetics.

Alginate-like polymers from full-scale aerobic granular sludge: content, recovery, characterization, and application for cadmium adsorption.

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a proven resource for the recovery of biopolymers like alginate-like polymers (ALP). This is the first report on the dynamics of ALP produced by AGS (ALP-AGS) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), optimization of ALP recovery from AGS, and adsorption of cadmium (Cd2+) by ALP. Recovery of ALP was highest when using 120 mL of 0.2 M Na2CO3 at 70 °C for 45 min. Seasonal (1.5 years, over 3100 cycles) and intra-cycle changes in ALP-AGS in the WWTP were monitored. The ALP content in AGS increased in the transition period between winter and spring, reaching over 150 mg/g MLSS. In the batch reactor cycle, the ALP-AGS level peaked 2 h after the start of aeration (mean peak level: 120 mg/g MLSS), then decreased about two-fold by the end of the cycle. The ALP-AGS had a small surface area and a lamellar structure with crystalline outgrowths. The optimal conditions of Cd2+ adsorption with ALP were a dosage of 7.9 g d.m./L, a pH of 4-8, and an equilibrium time of 60 min. Carboxyl and hydroxyl groups were the key functional groups involved in Cd2+ adsorption. According to the Sips model, the maximum Cd2+ adsorption capacity of ALP-AGS was 29.5 mg/g d.m., which is similar to that of commercial alginate. AGS is a richer source of ALP than activated sludge, which ensures the cost-effectiveness of ALP recovery and increases the sustainability of wastewater treatment. Information on the chemical properties and yields of ALP from full-scale WWTPs is important for downstream applications with the recovered ALP.

The Mediterranean Diet and the Western Diet in Adolescent Depression-Current Reports.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the world and a current and growing social and health problem. The growing scale of the problem not only concerns adults, but now it particularly affects children and adolescents. Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders in adolescence is crucial because adolescent depression is a risk factor for recurrence of depression later in life, as well as many other mental health disorders in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to analyze data on the dietary patterns and composition of the Mediterranean diet as a modifiable risk factor for depression, which would be a viable prevention strategy and a good target for early intervention and supportive treatment of depression. Research shows that the Mediterranean diet pattern can reduce the risk and symptoms of depression, while western eating styles can increase the risk and severity of depression in adolescents. The number of studies in adolescent populations continues to increase, but most longitudinal and clinical studies are still insufficient. Modification of the diet can be a helpful strategy for the prevention and treatment of depression in adolescents; therefore, the diet of young people should be considered a key and modifiable goal in the prevention of mental disorders.

Nutritional Programming: History, Hypotheses, and the Role of Prenatal Factors in the Prevention of Metabolic Diseases-A Narrative Review.

Childhood obesity and the numerous lifestyle diseases associated with it are undoubtedly among the key problems in modern medicine and public health. However, this problem concerns not only the present or immediate future, but also the longer term. Adult health is fundamentally shaped in the first years of life and in the fetal period. The preconceptual period, which is responsible for the proper preparation of the internal environment for the life and development of the fetus during pregnancy, is also significant. A special role in describing the phenomenon of conditioning the metabolism of the new human being is now attributed to the theory of nutritional programming. Research in this area was pioneered by David Barker, who put forward the theory of the "stunted phenotype" and described the relationship between a child's birth weight, which is largely a consequence of the mother's feeding behaviour, and diseases such as ischaemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia, or high blood pressure. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the history, theory, and prenatal mechanisms involved in nutritional programming and its relationship to childhood obesity and other metabolic diseases.

Valorization of distillery stillage by polyphenol recovery using microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted and conventional extractions.

An increasing understanding of the negative environmental effects of waste discharges has made valorization of distillery by-products to recover added-value compounds a sound option for distillery stillage management. In this study, the recovery of bioactive compounds, i.e. polyphenols, from distillery stillage was performed by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional solid-liquid extraction (CSLE) to investigate the effects of extraction time, the concentration of ethyl acetate (EA) in a solvent mixture with ethanol and water, and solid-to-solvent ratio on the recovery yield and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The highest yields of total polyphenol content (TPC) (3.73 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and phenolic acid content (2.51 µg/g) were obtained with 8-min MAE with 70% EA. MAE provided 1.2- and 1.4-times higher yield of phenolic acids and 1.2- and 1.6-times higher antioxidant activity than UAE and CSLE, respectively. Due to the approximately 3-times higher rate of extraction, the ratio between energy consumption and extraction yield was better in MAE than in UAE. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the antioxidant activity of the extracts was positively correlated with TPC and phenolic acid content. Six phenolic acids that were identified were present mainly in their free forms (up to 95% of the total), with a predominance of ferulic (up to 0.80 µg/g) and p-coumaric (up to 0.72 µg/g) acids.

Simulation of Fluid Flow during Egg Pickling under Different Inlet and Outlet Conditions in a Pulsed Pressure Tank with Liquid Circulation.

Pulsed pressure pickling is an emerging highly efficient osmotic dehydration technique. However, the immobility of the pickling liquid and the material, the formation of layers, and the uneven pickling efficiency in different sections make it difficult to use industrially. This work aims at improving and optimizing the conditions of fluid flow in the pickling tank with a liquid-cycle system to reduce the unevenness in the production process. Fluid flow around the eggs was numerically investigated by solving three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations within the flow regime, adopting different angles and positions at the inlet and outlet. The simulation results show that the inlet with a radial deflection of 35° and the outlet with axial direction were characterized by the best flow efficiency. Under these conditions, the average flow velocity and the global uniformity index were 0.153 m/s and 0.407, respectively. Furthermore, the experiments were carried out using an equivalent scale model of the pulsed pressure equipment with liquid circulation. The experimental results showed that, under optimal conditions, the salt content in all four layers of the egg white was about 2.8% after 48 h. This study provides a solution to ensure the constant salinity of different layers of pickled eggs and to improve pickling efficiency, especially in industrial-scale production.

Mitochondrial Changes in Rat Brain Endothelial Cells Associated with Hepatic Encephalopathy: Relation to the Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction.

The mechanisms underlying cerebral vascular dysfunction and edema during hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are unclear. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment, resulting from increased vascular permeability, has been reported in acute and chronic HE. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-documented result of HE mainly affecting astrocytes, but much less so in the BBB-forming endothelial cells. Here we review literature reports and own experimental data obtained in HE models emphasizing alterations in mitochondrial dynamics and function as a possible contributor to the status of brain endothelial cell mitochondria in HE. Own studies on the expression of the mitochondrial fusion-fission controlling genes rendered HE animal model-dependent effects: increase of mitochondrial fusion controlling genes opa1, mfn1 in cerebral vessels in ammonium acetate-induced hyperammonemia, but a decrease of the two former genes and increase of fis1 in vessels in thioacetamide-induced HE. In endothelial cell line (RBE4) after 24 h ammonia and/or TNFα treatment, conditions mimicking crucial aspects of HE in vivo, we observed altered expression of mitochondrial fission/fusion genes: a decrease of opa1, mfn1, and, increase of the fission related fis1 gene. The effect in vitro was paralleled by the generation of reactive oxygen species, decreased total antioxidant capacity, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as increased permeability of RBE4 cell monolayer to fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran. Electron microscopy documented enlarged mitochondria in the brain endothelial cells of rats in both in vivo models. Collectively, the here observed alterations of cerebral endothelial mitochondria are indicative of their fission, and decreased potential of endothelial mitochondria are likely to contribute to BBB dysfunction in HE.