These features of the dynamic polymer network coatings are unique; they are not observed in elastomers, films, and hydrogels, whereby the polymer networks are bound to the substrate surface. Evidence indicates that controlling the polymer’s physical properties is a key factor in designing high-performance self-healing and damage-reporting polymer coatings based on mechanophores.The performance of two innovative packaging materials was investigated on two Sardinian extra-virgin olive oils (Nera di Gonnos and Bosana). In particular, a transparent plastic film loaded with a UV-blocker (packaging B) and a metallized material (packaging C) were compared each other and to brown-amber glass (packaging A). During accelerated shelf-life tests at 40 and 60 °C, the evolution of quality parameters (i.e., acidity, peroxide value, K270, and phenolic content) was monitored, together with the aromatic fingerprint evaluated by electronic nose. Packaging B resulted in the best-performing material in protecting oil from oxidation, due to its lower oxygen transmission rate (0.1 ± 0.02 cm3/m2 24 h) compared to packaging C (0.23 ± 0.04 cm3/m2 24 h). At the end of storage, phenolic reduction was on average 25% for packaging B and 58% for packaging C, and the aromatic fingerprint was better preserved in packaging B. In addition, other factors such as the sanitary status of the olives at harvesting and the storage temperature were demonstrated to have a significant role in the shelf life of packaged extra-virgin olive oil.Calcific aortic valve disease is the most common valvular heart disease in industrialized countries. Pulsatile pressure, sheer and bending stress promote initiation and progression of aortic valve degeneration. The aim of this work is to establish an ex vivo model to study the therein involved processes. Ovine aortic roots bearing aortic valve leaflets were cultivated in an elaborated bioreactor system with pulsatile flow, physiological temperature, and controlled pressure and pH values. Standard and pro-degenerative treatment were studied regarding the impact on morphology, calcification, and gene expression. In particular, differentiation, matrix remodeling, and degeneration were also compared to a static cultivation model. Bioreactor cultivation led to shrinking and thickening of the valve leaflets compared to native leaflets while gross morphology and the presence of valvular interstitial cells were preserved. Degenerative conditions induced considerable leaflet calcification. In comparison to static cultivation, collagen gene expression was stable under bioreactor cultivation, whereas expression of hypoxia-related markers was increased. Osteopontin gene expression was differentially altered compared to protein expression, indicating an enhanced protein turnover. The present ex vivo model is an adequate and effective system to analyze aortic valve degeneration under controlled physiological conditions without the need of additional growth factors.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease of the retina featured by dysfunction of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) and loss of photoreceptor cells under oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions. Vitamin D and antioxidants have beneficial effects against retinal degenerative diseases, such as AMD. We investigated the impact of associating vitamin D (ND) with a nutritional antioxidant complex (Nutrof Total®; N) on oxidative stress and inflammation-like induced conditions by H2O2 and LPS, respectively, in human retinal epithelial (ARPE-19) and human retinal endothelial (HREC) cells. Application of either N or ND treatments to H2O2-induced media in ARPE-19 cells counteracted late apoptosis, attenuated oxidative DNA damage, and increased cell proliferation. Significant reduction in the expression levels of MCP1, IL-8, and IL6 cytokines was observed following application of either N or ND treatments under LPS-induced conditions in ARPE-19 cells and in MCP-1 and IL12p70 cytokine levels in HREC cells. ND and not N revealed significant downregulation of IFNγ in ARPE-19 cells, and of IL-6 and IL-18 in HREC cells. In conclusion, adding vitamin D to Nutrof Total® protects in a synergistic way against oxidative and inflammatory stress-induced conditions in retinal epithelial and endothelial cells.This study investigated how stroke’s hemispheric localization affects motor performance, spinal maps and muscle synergies while performing planar reaching with and without assistive or resistive forces. A lesion of the right hemisphere affected performance, reducing average speed and smoothness and augmenting lateral deviation in both arms. Instead, a lesion of the left hemisphere affected the aiming error, impairing the feedforward control of the ipsilesional arm. The structure of the muscle synergies had alterations dependent on the lesion side in both arms. The applied force fields reduced the differences in performance and in muscle activations between arms and among populations. These results support the hypotheses of hemispheric specialization in movement control and identify potential significant biomarkers for the design of more effective and personalized rehabilitation protocols.In this paper, we try to build on the problems surrounding the management of human resources in health care organizations worldwide. After the analysis of the reviewed literature, we detected that the scientific community considers several recurring themes that need attention stress, burnout, and turnover intention. Based on this, we developed a model of organizational commitment that aims to achieve performance and health quality, its main result the establishment of the appropriate management policies in order to avoid the abandonment of the organization through the search for commitment and job satisfaction. Amongst our main conclusions, we highlight the need to implement a human resources model for hospital administrators based on the relationships with „patients” not „clients” through the maintenance of a positive and strong atmosphere of staff participation. It is important to develop innovative practices related to clear job design that eliminate reasons for ambiguity and stress in executing the tasks of the healthcare system. Finally, we urge training programs in transformational leadership to promote the well-being and organizational commitment of employees.

Studies have reported the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet as well as lower recreational screen time. Similarly, higher screen time has been negatively linked to a lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet. However, the mediator effect of cardiorespiratory fitness on the influence of screen time on adherence to the Mediterranean diet is still unknown. The aim of this study was two-fold first, to assess the combined association of recreational screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness with adherence to Mediterranean diet among Spanish schoolchildren, and second, to elucidate whether the association between recreational screen time and adherence to the Mediterranean diet is mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 370 schoolchildren aged 6-13 years from six schools in the Region of Murcia (Spain) were included.

The mediation analysis showed that once screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness were included together in the model, cardiorespiratory fitness was positively linked to adherence to the Mediterranean diet (

= 0.020) and although screen time remained negatively related to adherence to the Mediterranean diet, this association was slightly attenuated (indirect effect = -0.027; 95% CI = (-0.080, -0.002)).

This research supports that cardiorespiratory fitness may reduce the negative association between screen time and Mediterranean dietary patterns.

This research supports that cardiorespiratory fitness may reduce the negative association between screen time and Mediterranean dietary patterns.Al0.10Ti0.30V0.25Zr0.10Nb0.25 was prepared to evaluate the effect of 10% aluminum into the previously reported quaternary alloy, Ti0.325V0.275Zr0.125Nb0.275. The as-cast quinary alloy formed a single-phase body centered cubic solid solution and transformed into a body centered tetragonal after hydrogenation. The alloy had a storage capacity of 1.6 H/M (2.6 wt.%) with fast absorption kinetics at room temperature, reaching full capacity within the first 10 min. The major improvements of Al addition (10%) were related to the desorption and cycling properties of the material. The temperature for hydrogen release was significantly decreased by around 100 °C, and the quinary alloy showed superior cycling stability and higher reversible storage capacity than its quaternary counterpart, 94% and 85% of their respective initial capacity, after 20 hydrogenation cycles without phase decomposition.Lipid droplets (LDs) have traditionally been thought of as solely lipid storage compartments for cells; however, in the last decade, they have emerged as critical organelles in health and disease. LDs are highly dynamic within cells, and their movement is critical in organelle-organelle interactions. Their dynamics are known to change during cellular stress or nutrient deprivation; however, their movement during pathogen infections, especially at very early timepoints, is under-researched. This study aimed to track LD dynamics in vitro, in an astrocytic model of infection. Cells were either stimulated with a dsRNA viral mimic, poly IC, or infected with the RNA virus, Zika virus. Individual LDs within infected cells were analysed to determine displacement and speed, and average LD characteristics for multiple individual cells calculated. Both LD displacement and mean speed were significantly enhanced in stimulated cells over a time course of infection with an increase seen as early as 2 h post-infection. With the emerging role for LDs during innate host responses, understanding their dynamics is critical to elucidate how these organelles influence the outcome of viral infection.Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) is the most important timber species in Japan; however, its pollen is the primary cause of pollinosis in Japan. The total number of pollen grains produced by a single tree is determined by the number of male strobili (male flowers) and the number of pollen grains per male strobilus. While the number of male strobili is a visible and well-investigated trait, little is known about the number of pollen grains per male strobilus. We hypothesized that genetic and environmental factors affect the pollen number per male strobilus and explored the factors that affect pollen production and genetic variation among clones. We counted pollen numbers of 523 male strobili from 26 clones using a cell counter method that we recently developed. Piecewise Structural Equation Modeling (pSEM) revealed that the pollen number is mostly affected by genetic variation, male strobilus weight, and pollen size. Although we collected samples from locations with different environmental conditions, statistical modeling succeeded in predicting pollen numbers for different clones sampled from branches facing different directions. Comparison of predicted pollen numbers revealed that they varied >3-fold among the 26 clones. The determination of the factors affecting pollen number and a precise evaluation of genetic variation will contribute to breeding strategies to counter pollinosis. Furthermore, the combination of our efficient counting method and statistical modeling will provide a powerful tool not only for Japanese cedar but also for other plant species.