Exposure to adversity during the first years of life might already be biologically embedded well before adult life. Thus, the impact of different stressful experiences needs to be explored. This ...study aims to examine if the association between being victimized (adverse childhood experiences—ACEs and bullying) and (hs-) C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is explained by the influence of adversity on the body mass index (BMI) of the child. We included children from the Portuguese birth cohort Generation XXI (n = 3712) that at 10 years of age completed a questionnaire on the exposure to ACEs and bullying victimization, assessed by an adaptation from the original ACEs study and an adaptation of The Bully Scale Survey, respectively. Following an overnight fast, a venous blood sample was collected by trained nurses and hs-CRP was assayed in fresh blood samples. Weight and height were measured with the child in underwear and bare feet. Weight was measured to the nearest one-tenth of a kilogram with the use of a digital scale (Tanita), and height was measured to the nearest one-tenth of a centimetre with the use of a wall stadiometer (seca®). BMI was calculated as the value of weight (kg) over squared height (m), and computed as an age- and sex-specific BMI standard deviation (SD) score (z-score), according to the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (5–19 years). Regression coefficients and respective 95% Confidence Interval β(95%CI) were computed using path analysis. We observed that ACEs had a positive total effect on hs-CRP at the age of 10 years (β = 0.06; 95%CI: -0.02; 0.15). A direct effect (β = 0.02; 95%CI: -0.01; 0.06) accounted for 66.1% of the association between ACEs and hs-CRP. A positive total effect of bullying victimization on hs-CRP (β = 0.20; 95%CI: 0.06; 0.34) was observed. A direct effect (β = 0.08; 95%CI: -0.05; 0.21) accounted for 40.0% of the association, while an indirect effect through BMI (β = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.06; 0.18) explained 60.0% of the pathway between bullying victimization and hs-CRP. Results suggest that there might be different mechanisms involved in the biological embedding of childhood experiences. BMI seems to explain a great part of the association between exposure to bullying victimization and hs-CRP at 10 years of age. Further research is still needed to better understand the mechanisms explaining the emergence and persistence of health poorer outcomes later in life for victims of abuse.
Adaptive evolution is key in mediating responses to global warming and may sometimes be the only solution for species to survive. Such evolution will expectedly lead to changes in the populations’ ...thermal reaction norm and improve their ability to cope with stressful conditions. Conversely, evolutionary constraints might limit the adaptive response. Here, we test these expectations by performing a real-time evolution experiment in historically differentiated Drosophila subobscura populations. We address the phenotypic change after nine generations of evolution in a daily fluctuating environment with average constant temperature, or in a warming environment with increasing average and amplitude temperature across generations. Our results showed that (1) evolution under a global warming scenario does not lead to a noticeable change in the thermal response; (2) historical background appears to be affecting responses under the warming environment, particularly at higher temperatures; and (3) thermal reaction norms are trait dependent: although lifelong exposure to low temperature decreases fecundity and productivity but not viability, high temperature causes negative transgenerational effects on productivity and viability, even with high fecundity. These findings in such an emblematic organism for thermal adaptation studies raise concerns about the short-term efficiency of adaptive responses to the current rising temperatures.
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Pickering emulsions are systems composed of two immiscible fluids, which are stabilized by solid organic or inorganic particles. These solid particles include a broad range of ...particles that can be used to stabilize Pickering emulsions. An improved resistance against coalescence and lower toxicity, against conventional emulsions stabilized by surfactants, make Pickering emulsions suitable candidates for numerous applications, such as catalysis, food, oil recovery, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. In this article, we give an overview of Pickering emulsions focusing on topical applications. First, we reference the parameters that influence the stabilization of Pickering emulsions. Second, we discuss some of the already investigated topical applications of nano- and microparticles used to stabilize Pickering emulsions. Afterwards, we consider some of the most promising stabilizers of Pickering emulsions for topical applications. Ultimately, we carried out a brief analysis of toxicity and advances in future perspectives, highlighting the promising use of these emulsions in cosmetics and dermopharmaceutical formulations.
Dominant cultural frameworks, laws, and social policy in Southern Europe often stem from and replicate a collective imaginary based on a reproductive, cohabiting, monogamous, and cis-heterosexual ...couple. Concomitantly, despite significant advances in legislation in recent years, LGBTQ+ intimacies continue to be subject to daily prejudice, violence, and shame. The purpose of this article is to understand how state recognition contributes to the un/doing of the abject culturally attached to LGBTQ+ intimacies; and to examine personal, sociocultural, and legal traits that shape biographies turning intimate citizens into intimate lovers and/or legal strangers. The first part of this chapter involves an outlining of developments regarding law and relational diversity in Portugal. The second part deals with the visibility of non-normative sexuality that is often a target of abject gaze, rejection, and other cultural practices of discrimination. It is suggested that legally recognized marital status can become a way to overcome the abject or the invisible, both in relation to the state and the cultural milieu. We offer the notion of relational performativity and suggest that non-monogamy (even when consensual) is a major cultural source of the relational abject, encapsulating moral panic around the promiscuous, unhealthy, and uncommitted sexual monster. The article finishes with reflections that move beyond the examples provided to dialogue with dissident relationality as a concept that describes the intimate experiences of aging LGBTQ+ people.
Environmental issues make the quest for better and cleaner energy sources a priority. Worldwide, researchers and companies are continuously working on this matter, taking one of two approaches: ...either finding new energy sources or improving the efficiency of existing ones. Hydrogen is a well-known energy carrier due to its high energy content, but a somewhat elusive one for being a gas with low molecular weight. This review examines the current electrolysis processes for obtaining hydrogen, with an emphasis on alkaline water electrolysis. This process is far from being new, but research shows that there is still plenty of room for improvement. The efficiency of an electrolyzer mainly relates to the overpotential and resistances in the cell. This work shows that the path to better electrolyzer efficiency is through the optimization of the cell components and operating conditions. Following a brief introduction to the thermodynamics and kinetics of water electrolysis, the most recent developments on several parameters (e.g., electrocatalysts, electrolyte composition, separator, interelectrode distance) are highlighted.
The major obstacles observed in current chemotherapy are severe adverse effects, narrow therapeutic indexes and multidrug resistance. Anticancer phytochemicals are extracted and purified from natural ...plants, providing alternative therapeutic approaches with recognized biomedical benefits. However, poor bioavailability, high dose requirements and non-specific targeting have made those molecules less effective. To tackle those issues, liposomal nanovesicles for phytochemical delivery are taken into consideration for improving the therapeutic effectiveness by increasing transportation across cell barriers and conferring attractive cancer-specific targeting capabilities. In the present review, the liposomal approaches of anticancer phytochemicals are discussed, and recent advances in these formulations applied to cancer phytotherapy are further reviewed by an informed approach.
This review describes the application of liposomal phyto-chemotherapy as a promising therapeutic and technological intervention against cancer that has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapy, reduce the associated side effects and improve the clinical outcomes of cancer patients.
Nanotechnology is an increasingly widespread area of research for its various applications and advantages. Accordingly, nanotechnology has been the focus of investment in different areas of science, ...namely as a technological strategy for the development of cosmetics formulations. Nanosystems allow for a profit skin penetration and an effective release profile of ingredients, which contributes to superior technological and cosmetic effects. The applications of nanocosmetics are numerous, from anti-aging care, make-up, nails, deodorants, oral care, sunscreens, and hair care. However, as an area of emerging knowledge, it has now begun to encourage investigations into its toxicology profile, particularly regarding health damage and environmental pollution. Also, the regulatory area saw its adaptation concerning the use of formulations containing nanotechnology.
A description of the nanosystems so far applied in the development of cosmetics is presented. Moreover, an outline concerning lipid-based-nanosystems, polymeric-based nanoparticles, metal-based nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, and additional nanosystems (dendrimers, nanocrystals, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and cyclodextrins) towards the obtainment of effective cosmetic outcomes is addressed. The concerning toxicological as well as the regulatory aspects are also discussed.
This innovative and timely review emphasizes that nanosystems constitute a highly promising technology strategy towards the obtainment of superior and ground-breaking cosmetic formulations.
Gamification has become a significant direction in designing technologies, services, products, organizational structures, and any human activities towards being more game-like and consequently being ...more engaging and motivating. Albeit its success, research indicates that personal differences exist with regards to susceptibility to gamification at large as well as to different types of gamification designs. As a response, models and measurement instruments of user types when it comes to gamification have been developed. One of the most discussed related instruments is the Hexad user types scale. However, there has been paucity of research related to the validity and reliability of the Hexad instrument in general but also of its different formulations and language versions. To face this gap, our study focused on analyzing the psychometric properties of the Hexad scale in Brazilian Portuguese by conducting two confirmatory factor analyses and two multi-group confirmatory factor analyses. The survey was answered by 421 Brazilian respondents (52% self-reported women, 47% self-reported men, 0.5% preferred not to provide their gender, and 0.5% checked the option "other"), from the five Brazilian regions (23 different states and the Federal District), and aged between 10 and 60 years old. Findings support the structural validity of the scale as an oblique model and indicate opportunities for small improvements. Further research, both at academy and practice, may use this study as the source of measurement of user types related to gamification (in Brazilian Portuguese), as well as, as a theoretical and practical source for further studies discussing personalized gamification.
Except for dementia and depression, little is known about common mental disorders in elderly people.
To estimate current, 12-month and lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders in different ...European and associated countries using a standardised diagnostic interview adapted to measure the cognitive needs of elderly people.
The MentDis_ICF65+ study is based on an age-stratified, random sample of 3142 older men and women (65-84 years) living in selected catchment community areas of participating countries.
One in two individuals had experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, one in three within the past year and nearly one in four currently had a mental disorder. The most prevalent disorders were anxiety disorders, followed by affective and substance-related disorders.
Compared with previous studies we found substantially higher prevalence rates for most mental disorders. These findings underscore the need for improving diagnostic assessments adapted to the cognitive capacity of elderly people. There is a need to raise awareness of psychosocial problems in elderly people and to deliver high-quality mental health services to these individuals.
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•Several CDs are recognized by regulatory authorities for parenteral route.•Smart multifunctional CD-based delivery systems can incorporate small molecules, drugs, genes and ...proteins.•CDs can act as macromolecular structured platforms for biotechnological applications.•CD-based supramolecular hydrogels are very studied owing to their unique properties for injectable formulations.•Most clinical trials of injectable formulations containing CDs display satisfactory safety and efficacy outcomes.
Parenteral formulations are indispensable in clinical practice and often are the only option to administer drugs that cannot be administrated through other routes, such as proteins and certain anticancer drugs - which are indispensable to treat some of the most prevailing chronic diseases worldwide (like diabetes and cancer). Additionally, parenteral formulations play a relevant role in emergency care since they are the only ones that provide an immediate action of the drug after its administration. However, the development of parenteral formulations is a complex task owing to the specific quality and safety requirements set for these preparations and the intrinsic properties of the drugs.
Amongst all the strategies that can be useful in the development of parenteral formulations, the formation of water-soluble host-guest inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins (CDs) has proven to be one of the most advantageous. CDs are multifunctional pharmaceutical excipients able to form water-soluble host-guest inclusion complexes with a wide variety of molecules, particularly drugs, and thus improve their apparent water-solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability, to make them suitable for parenteral administration. Besides, CDs can be employed as building blocks of more complex injectable drug delivery systems with enhanced characteristics, such as nanoparticles and supramolecular hydrogels, that has been found particularly beneficial for the delivery of anticancer drugs. However, only a few CDs are considered safe when parenterally administered, and some of these types are already approved to be used in parenteral dosage forms. Therefore, the application of CDs in the development of parenteral formulations has been a more common practice in the last few years, due to their significant worldwide acceptance by the health authorities, promoting the development of safer and more efficient injectable drug delivery systems.
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