Reduced Energy Levels Research Articles

The Potential Role of Polyphenol Supplementation in Preventing and Managing Depression: A Review of Current Research

Depression is a common mental illness that affects 5% of the adult population globally. The most common symptoms of depression are low mood, lack of pleasure from different activities, poor concentration, and reduced energy levels for an extended period, and it affects the emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being of an individual. The complex pathophysiology of depression presents challenges for current therapeutic options involving a biopsychosocial treatment plan. These treatments may have a delayed onset, low remission and response rates, and undesirable side effects. Researchers in nutrition and food science are increasingly addressing depression, which is a significant public health concern due to the association of depression with the increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality. Polyphenols present in our diet may significantly impact the prevention and treatment of depression. The primary mechanisms include reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, regulating monoamine neurotransmitter levels, and modulating the microbiota–gut–brain axis and hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the effects of dietary polyphenols on depression and explores the underlying mechanisms of these effects for the benefit of human health. It also highlights studies that are looking at clinical trials to help future researchers incorporate these substances into functional diets, nutritional supplements, or adjunctive therapy to prevent and treat depression.

Sirtuin 3 drives sex-specific responses to age-related changes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

The aging process is a complex phenomenon characterised by a gradual decline in physiological functions and an increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. An important factor in aging is mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to an accumulation of cellular damage over time. Mitochondrial Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3), an important regulator of energy metabolism, plays a central role in maintaining mitochondrial function. Loss of Sirt3 can lead to reduced energy levels and an impaired ability to repair cellular damage, a hallmark of the aging process. In this study we investigated the impact of Sirt3 loss on mitochondrial function, metabolic responses and cellular aging processes in male and female mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) exposed to etoposide-induced DNA damage, which is commonly associated with cellular dysfunction and senescence. We found that Sirt3 contributes to the sex-specific metabolic response to etoposide treatment. While male MEF exhibited minimal damage suggesting potential prior adaptation to stress due to Sirt3 loss, female MEF lacking Sirt3 experienced higher vulnerability to genotoxic stress, implying a pivotal role of Sirt3 in their resistance to such challenges. These findings offer potential insights into therapeutic strategies targeting Sirt3- and sex-specific signalling pathways in diseases associated with DNA damage that play a critical role in the aging process.

Tunable Charge Transport Using Heterocycles-Flanked Alkoxyphenanthrenes for High-Performing OFETs.

A series of new heterocycles-flanked alkoxyphenanthrenes with D'-D-D' and A-D-A architecture was synthesized for high-performance solution-processable p-channel, n-channel, and ambipolar organic field-effect transistors. The impact of electron-donating and -accepting abilities of the sulfur- and nitrogen-containing heteroaromatics on photophysical, electrochemical, and semiconducting properties was analyzed. The presence of heteroaryl rings improves the extended conjugation, two-dimensional lattices of π-π stacks, and increased molecular interaction of the functionalized phenanthrenes (PN) to allow better self-assembly. The electronically dynamic PN self-assembles into continuous microdomains, forming percolation channels for holes, electrons, or both reliant on functionalization. The low-lying LUMO levels of the compounds enabled ambipolar transport and reduced energy levels for charge injections. Spin-coated devices fabricated using functionalized PN with sulfur-containing heteroaryl substituted PN exhibited the highest hole mobility of 0.85 cm2/(V s) with 108 on/off current ratio. Compounds with A-D-A architecture showed n-channel/ambipolar charge transport, especially napthalimide acceptor substituted PN exhibited n-channel electron mobility of 0.78 cm2/(V s) and an on/off ratio of 106. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy studies further delineate the impact of efficient packing in the film. Quantum chemistry calculations combined with Marcus-Hush electron transfer theory interpret the transport parameters, and heteroatoms are established to impact the charge mobility intensely.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Postmenopausal women frequently encounter a range of symptoms, including fatigue, diminished physical strength, reduced energy levels, vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes, and vaginal atrophy, all of which adversely affect their overall quality of life. Engaging in physical activity and structured exercise may effectively alleviate these symptoms and enhance overall well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and quality of life in postmenopausal Greek women. This cross-sectional clinical study included 219 postmenopausal women. Women with natural menopause for at least 12 consecutive months were enrolled in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. The female participants were asked to fill out the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) instrument. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, and waist circumference measurements. A total of 219 postmenopausal women with an age of 61.4 ± 6.1 years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 were studied. Out of the total postmenopausal women studied, 64.8% were physically active. The mean value of MET-min/week was M = 1383.46 ± 1030.12. Physical activity among postmenopausal Greek women showed a strong correlation of PA with quality of life (r = 0.5; p ≤ 0.001) and age (r = 0.55; p ≤ 0.001) and a medium correlation with the HADS (r = 0.4; p ≤ 0.05). There was a 64.8% prevalence of physically active postmenopausal Greek women. The findings underscore the significance of fostering physical activity and quality of life among postmenopausal women to formulate efficacious therapeutic interventions. The results demonstrate a correlation between physical activity and the age of female participants, quality of life, and the HADS and can be used to improve postmenopausal women's physical activity levels, which is recommended as a strategy for improving the quality of life in postmenopausal women.

The Impact of Physiological and Psychological Fatigue on Work Efficiency: A Case Study of Parcel Sorting Work.

The popularity of online shopping in China has increased significantly, creating new development opportunities for the express delivery industry. However, the rapid expansion of the express industry has also created challenges in the parcel sorting process. The demanding nature of parcel sorting work, which is characterized by intense and prolonged repetitive tasks, makes individuals particularly vulnerable to the effects of fatigue. Fatigue is a complex condition that encompasses both physiological and psychological exhaustion. It often results in reduced energy levels and diminished functionality, significantly impacting an individual's performance at work and their overall well-being. This study aimed to investigate how physiological and psychological fatigue affects sorting efficiency and to identify appropriate rest periods that will allow employees to maintain their performance levels. The research involved fifteen participants who took part in a 60 min continuous sorting experiment and a similar experiment with scheduled breaks. During both trials, we collected data on participants' electromyography (EMG) and electrodermal activity (EDA), as well as subjective fatigue ratings (RPE). Signal features such as the median frequency (MF) of EMG and the skin conductance level (SCL) were analyzed to assess physiological and psychological fatigue, respectively. The results show that physiological fatigue mainly affects sorting efficiency in the first 30 min, while psychological fatigue becomes more influential in the following half-hour period. In addition, subjective fatigue levels during the first 30 min are primarily determined by psychological factors, while beyond that point, both physiological and psychological fatigue contribute to subjective fatigue. Rest periods of 415-460 s, based on EDA recovery times, effectively support sorting efficiency and participants' recovery. This study highlights the complex ways in which fatigue affects parcel sorting performance and provides valuable theoretical and practical insights for establishing labor quotas and optimizing work schedules in the parcel sorting industry.

Crocetin Delays Brain and Body Aging by Increasing Cellular Energy Levels in Aged C57BL/6J Mice.

Aging is usually accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced energy levels, and cell death in the brain and other tissues. Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining cellular energy through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). However, OXPHOS is impaired as the mitochondrial oxygen supply decreases with age. We explored whether pharmacologically increased oxygen diffusion by crocetin can restore OXPHOS and help delay the aging of the brain and other vital organs. We found that aged mice treated with crocetin for four months displayed significantly improved memory behavior, neuromuscular coordination, and ATP and NAD+ levels in the brain and other vital organs, leading to an increased median life span. The transcriptomic analysis of hippocampi from crocetin-treated mice revealed that enhanced brain energy level was caused by the upregulation of genes linked to OXPHOS, and their expression was close to that in young mice. The chronic treatment of aged astrocytes also showed improved mitochondrial membrane potential and energy state of the cells. Moreover, chronic treatment with crocetin did not cause any oxidative stress. Our data suggest that restoring OXPHOS and the normal energy state of the cell can delay aging and enhance longevity. Therefore, molecules such as crocetin should be further explored to treat age-related diseases.

Donor-acceptor-donor type AIEgens based on thieno[3.4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione: Synthesis, electropolymerization, and electrochromism.

Photoelectric functional materials with electrochemical reversible activity and fluorescence intensities have attracted significant interest due to their wide range of applications in optoelectronic devices. In this work, a series of photoresponsive and electroactive monomers based on thieno[3.4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) are synthesized and characterized. They possess planar geometry with smaller dihedral angles owing to the existence of a noncovalent conformation lock coming from the S atoms and the O atoms. Crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational results reveal that the introduction of the TPD unit can endow the monomers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE), reduced energy levels, and increased electrochemical activity. The monomers were successfully polymerized through the electrochemical method, and the corresponding polymers displayed reversible electrochemical activity and stability. Moreover, polymer films based on 3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine (ProE)-TPD have electrochromic properties in the near-infrared field with a high value of optical contrast ratio (∆T) of 27.1% at 1000 nm.

Effects of Balsa Fish Skin Gelatin, Lentinula edodes Mushrooms, Soy Protein Isolate, and Starch on the Sensory Quality and Characterization of Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of New Sausage

Sausages are loved by people for their unique texture, satisfying chewiness, and pleasant flavor. However, in the production of sausages, red meat and a large amount of fat are mainly used, and long-term consumption will increase the risk of diseases such as obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. Our previous studies have shown that the intake of red meat and fat can be reduced through the replacement of lean meat and fat in sausages by Lentinula edodes and Pleaurotus eryngii mushrooms, but this will lead to the deterioration of the gel of sausage products and seriously affect the sensory quality of sausages. In this study, the response surface method was used to optimize the amount of balsa fish skin gelatin, soy protein isolate, and starch added to, and the proportion of Lentinula edodes mushrooms replacing lean meat in, the new sausage, with Pleaurotus eryngii mushrooms replacing fat. The results show that Lentinula edodes mushrooms replaced 36.1% of the lean meat, and the addition of 0.96% balsa fish skin gelatin, 10.61% starch, and 9.94% soy protein isolate resulted in the highest sensory score and the sensory quality being the closest to that of traditional sausages. Compared with the control group, this novel sausage exhibits characteristics such as lower fat and saturated fatty acid content, reduced energy levels, and higher levels of amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, cysteine, methionine, and proline) and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The total phenolic content of the novel sausage is 12.52 times higher than that of the control. In comparison with the control group, the novel sausage demonstrates a 65.58% increase in DPPH radical scavenging activity and a 3.88-fold improvement in ABTS+ radical scavenging activity. These findings highlight the outstanding antioxidant performance of the novel sausage. This study provides new ideas for improving the sensory quality of new sausages, promoting the healthy development of the sausage industry, and promoting the high-value utilization of edible mushrooms.

17β-Estradiol Effects in Skeletal Muscle: A 31P MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) Study of Young Females during Early Follicular (EF) and Peri-Ovulation (PO) Phases

The natural variation in estrogen secretion throughout the female menstrual cycle impacts various organs, including estrogen receptor (ER)-expressed skeletal muscle. Many women commonly experience increased fatigue or reduced energy levels in the days leading up to and during menstruation, when blood estrogen levels decline. Yet, it remains unclear whether endogenous 17β-estradiol, a major estrogen component, directly affects the energy metabolism in skeletal muscle due to the intricate and fluctuating nature of female hormones. In this study, we employed 2D 31P FID-MRSI at 7T to investigate phosphoryl metabolites in the soleus muscle of a cohort of young females (average age: 28 ± 6 years, n = 7) during the early follicular (EF) and peri-ovulation (PO) phases, when their blood 17β-estradiol levels differ significantly (EF: 28 ± 18 pg/mL vs. PO: 71 ± 30 pg/mL, p < 0.05), while the levels of other potentially interfering hormones remain relatively invariant. Our findings reveal a reduction in ATP-referenced phosphocreatine (PCr) levels in the EF phase compared to the PO phase for all participants (5.4 ± 4.3%). Furthermore, we observe a linear correlation between muscle PCr levels and blood 17β-estradiol concentrations (r = 0.64, p = 0.014). Conversely, inorganic phosphate Pi and phospholipid metabolite GPC levels remain independent of 17β-estradiol but display a high correlation between the EF and PO phases (p = 0.015 for Pi and p = 0.0008 for GPC). The robust association we have identified between ATP-referenced PCr and 17β-estradiol suggests that 17β-estradiol plays a modulatory role in the energy metabolism of skeletal muscle.

Depression, anxiety, stress, and job performance among Turkish nurses in the early post-earthquake period.

Individual and social concerns can negatively affect nurses' mental health during a large-scale earthquake's early stages, making it challenging to perform their professional responsibilities. This cross-sectional correlational study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress levels Turkish nurses experienced during an earthquake's early period. The nurses participating in this study were not directly present in the earthquake-affected area. The study was conducted on 232 nurses between February 10 and 25, 2023. The data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety,Stress-21 Scale and the Job Performance Evaluation Form developed by the researchers through a literature review. These were used to investigate nurses' work motivation changes due to the earthquake. The study followed the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies. The participants' depression levels were severe, anxiety levels were extremely severe, and stress levels were moderate following the earthquake. Nurses who felt exhausted experienced reduced energy levels toward their work and reported a decrease in their desire, effort, and work motivation to perform well. In addition, they had higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores (p<0.005). Psychological difficulties, including depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by nurses not directly present in an earthquake-affected area, reduced their professional efforts and motivation and negatively affected the patient care process. Further studies should focus on conducting comparative studies in different cultures affected by natural disasters on the longitudinal analysis of the impacts of nurses' psychological distress on their job performance. Nursing policymakers should be aware of the negative psychological effects experienced by nurses during the early post-earthquake period, even if they are not directly present in the earthquake-affected area. The study recommended that nurses should be provided with psychological support to deal with the negative effects of natural disasters and maintain job performance, including the nursing care process.

Continuous exposure to bisphenol S increases the accumulation of endogenous metabolic toxicants by obstructing the glucuronic acid pathway

Uridine diphosphate glucuronic acid (UDPGA) is an essential substrate in the glucuronidation of exogenous and endogenous lipophilic compounds via the liver glucuronic acid pathway, and its synthesis depends on glucose and energy in the body. Bisphenol S (BPS), as a lipophilic environmental pollutant, has been widely utilized in the manufacturing of daily necessities. The biological effect of BPS in interference with liver energy metabolism might affect UDPGA synthesis and the excretion of lipophilic compounds, but this was not clearly revealed. Here, female zebrafish that were exposed to BPS for 35 days exhibited a significant decrease in UDPGA in the liver with significant accumulation of exogenous BPS and endogenous bilirubin in the body. One vital reason may be that the exposure to BPS for 35 days promoted the lipid formation through PPARg signaling and reduced energy levels in the liver, resulting in the decreased raw materials for UDPGA production in glucuronic acid pathway. Meanwhile, transcriptome analysis showed that BPS inhibited the mRNA expression levels of genes related to the glucuronic acid pathway. The accumulation of endogenous and exogenous lipophilic compounds can trigger a variety of toxicological effect. Thus, weakened liver detoxification might be the primary cause of the toxicological effects of lipophilic pollutants.

Trapping and release of NIR-active dye in porous silicon as a theranostic strategy for ROS photothermal monitoring and chronic wound management.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive theranostics hold great promise for personalized treatment of various diseases. However, most current theranostics rely on luminescence techniques with complex probe design, high background signals and bulky instruments. Herein, we propose a novel thermal signal-based theranostic for ROS monitoring by detecting the photothermal signal change of near-infrared (NIR)-active dye (IR820) that released from the porous silicon (PSi)-based carrier and demonstrate its application for synergistic theranostics of chronic wounds. Owing to the reduced energy level caused by J-aggregate formation and the improved non-radiative decay pathway, trapping of IR820 in calcium ion sealed PSi (I-CaPSi) exhibits significantly enhanced photothermal capability compared to free IR820. With the degradation of PSi induced by ROS, the trapped and aggregated IR820 is released to be dispersed and free state. Therefore, the decrease of photothermal signal in response to ROS stimuli can be recorded in real time. Using a portable smartphone equipped with a thermal camera, ROS levels at wounds can be monitored non-invasively and conveniently to indicate exacerbation or healing conditions. Moreover, the NIR-triggered smart delivery platform also triggers photothermal and photodynamic therapy to inhibit bacterial growth and exhibits bioactivity to promote cell migration and angiogenesis via the Si ions released from PSi. With the synergistic advantages of ROS-responsive property, pro-healing ability, anti-infection effect and excellent biosafety, the NIR-activated theranostic platform achieves convenient diagnosis and effective treatment in diabetic wound infection models in vivo. Overall, this work demonstrates a promising paradigm of I-CaPSi smart delivery platform with great clinical translation potential for home-based chronic wound theranostics.

Understanding the Challenges of Intensive Care Staff in Communicating With Patients and Patients' Families During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation protocols in India restricted family members of COVID-19 patients from visiting them in hospitals and in intensive care units, especially during the peak of the pandemic. This along with the elaborate personal protective equipment (PPE) created challenges for intensivists and nurses in COVID ICUs in effectively communicating with patients and patients' families, especially in shared decision-making processes. Methods This article is the outcome of a qualitative study using in-depth one-on-one interviews with 10 intensivists and four intensive care nurses in two teaching hospitals in Bengaluru, South India. Each participant, purposively selected till data saturation was reached,had spent extensive periods of time in a COVID ICU during both COVID-19 waves in 2020 and 2021.A framework of descriptive phenomenology led to the design of the study in which varied experiences and insights of participants were captured using an interview guide to understand their lived reality. The interviews were conducted online or in person between July 2021 and October 2021 and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.Coding of transcripts using the NVivo 12 (Burlington, MA: QSR International Pty Ltd) software helped with the thematic analysis. This was guided by interpretive phenomenological methods that derived meaning from participants' life experiences. Results Four themes involving challenges in effective communication in the COVID ICU emerged as follows: physical barriers, emotional and mental stressors, infrastructural challenges, and ethical and moral dilemmas. Sub-themes included personal protective equipment as a barrier, reduced energy levels, and isolation of family from patientsunder the domain of physical challenges; fears of the unknown, handling death of patients in isolation, and the frustrations of families were challenges under the emotional and mental domain. Infrastructural/systemic challenges included poor connectivity and insufficient mobile phones, and the absence of rules to handle interruptions. Privacy breaches, taking consent over the phone, end-of-life discussions, and medico-legal risks emerged as the subthemes under the domain of ethical and moral challenges. A mobile phone communication policy specifying usage times and operating methods, a mandatory communication and counseling training module for intensivists and intensive care nurses, and a set of protocols for highly restrictive, intensive care units in pandemic situations were recommendations and lessons learned. Conclusions The lack of face-to-face interactions was a serious barrier to communication between ICU staff and patients and their caregivers. It had a bearing on trust levels and had emotional and ethical consequences for healthcare teams to handle.Opportunities for self-care, venting of anxiety and distress, and opportunities to celebrate and reward special efforts and cooperation between consultants, residents, nurses, and technicians in stressful environments like a pandemic ICU were important to sustain empathy and keep care and communication humane.

Effects of carbohydrase and phytase enzymes supplementation within low energy diets on performance and energy utilization of broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different enzymes on the performance and gut morphology of broilers fed reduced energy diets, metabolizable energy values of reduced energy level diets. In experiment I - 1,120 male Cobb broilers, aged 1 to 42 days old, were used to evaluate performance parameters and gut morphology. Broilers were distributed into 7 treatments with 8 replicates of 20 broilers each. The treatments consisted of: T1 - positive control (PC) diet with 3050 kcal ME/kg; T2 - negative control (NC) diet with a reduction of 200 kcal ME/kg; T3 - NC + Carbohydrase I (100 g/ton endo-1,4-beta-mannanase); T4 - NC + Carbohydrase II (100 g/ton endo-1,4-beta-xylanase and endo-1,4-beta-glucanase); T5 - NC + phytase (50 g/ton phytase-6); T6 - NC + Carbohydrase II + phytase; T7 - NC + Carbohydrase I + Carbohydrase II + phytase. The evaluated variables were body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and villus height: crypt depth ratio (VH: CD). In experiment II – 360 14-day-old broilers were distributed into six treatments with ten replicates of` six broilers each, to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of the diets. The same diets were used as treatments, excluding the PC. Comparing the treatments with the NC group, birds fed diets containing enzymes showed better BWG and FCR from 1 to 21 days old (P ≤ 0.05), and better FCR from 1 to 42 days (P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, the addition of Carbohydrase II and phytase promoted an increase in AME and AMEn of feed (P ≤ 0.05). Broilers fed with phytase showed higher VH when compared with the other treatments (P ≤ 0.05), whereas the treatments with phytase and Carbohydrases I, II, and phytase combination showed a better VH:CD (P ≤ 0.05). The inclusion of enzymes (carbohydrases and phytase) in broiler diets makes it possible to reduce feed energy levels without affecting performance parameters, AME corrected for nitrogen, and morphometry characteristics of the jejunum.

Improvement of thermal perceptions and physiological responses using torso heating under short-term cold exposure

Short-term cold exposure (<1 h) may adversely affect human thermal comfort and health. Few studies have investigated the effectiveness of body heating in providing thermal protection to the torso against sharp temperature decreases, as well as the optimal operation modes of torso heating equipment. In this study, 12 male subjects were acclimatised in a room at 20 °C, then exposed to a cold environment at −2.2 °C, and finally returned to the room for recovery; each phase lasted 30 min. During cold exposure, they wore uniform clothing with an electrically heated vest (EHV) operated under these modes: no heating (NH), stage-regulated heating (SH), and intermittent alternating heating (IAH). Variations in subjective perceptions, physiological responses, and temperatures set for heating were recorded during the experiments. Torso heating mitigated the adverse effects of the large temperature down-step and continuous cold exposure on thermal perception and decreased the occurrence of three symptoms: cold hands or feet, running or stuffy noses, and shivering during cold exposure. After torso heating, the same skin temperature of the non-directly heated parts corresponded to a higher local thermal sensation, which was attributed to an indirect effect of the improved overall thermal state. The IAH mode could achieve thermal comfort at a reduced energy level, and it outperformed SH in subjective perception enhancement and self-reported symptom relief at lower heating temperatures. Additionally, under the same heating setting temperatures and power capacity, it could achieve an approximately 50 % longer usage time than SH could. The results suggest that intermittent heating protocol can be an efficient way to achieve thermal comfort and energy savings for personal heating devices.

Carbohydrase inclusion in a corn-soybean diet improves broiler growth performance

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of diets with reduced energy level content, supplemented with carbohydrase, on broiler performance and the coefficient of metabolizability of nutrients. A total of 720 one-day-old male Cobb-500 chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design, with six treatments, eight repetitions of 15 birds each. The treatments were: (1) a positive control, basal diet to meet the requirements of broiler chickens (PC); (2) a negative control, basal diet with a reduction of 80 kcal kg-1 (NC); (3) NC + alphagalactosydase; (4) NC + xylanase; (5) NC + xylanase and alphagalactosydase, and (6) NC + enzymatic blend (alphagalactosydase, xylanase, pectinase and amylase). The nutrient digestibility was not improved by use of enzymes. At 7 days of age, the broilers which were fed diets supplemented with enzymes showed a lower feed intake (FI) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the broilers fed on PC. Both the NC and enzymatic blend resulted in a worse performance of the broilers at 21, 35 and 42 days old. The use of alphagalactosydase and xylanase, isolated or in combination, in a corn-soybean meal-based diet is effective in improving the growth performance of broilers fed energy-reduced diets.

Small molecular donor materials based on electron withdrawing benzobisthiazole core unit enable an efficiency of 11.8% for organic solar cells

All-small-molecule (ASM) organic solar cells (OSCs) are in advantage of their defined molecular structures and good reproducibility. However, the state-of-art donor molecules are usually based on benzodithiophene (BDT) as the core unit, which limits the modulation of energy levels, optical absorption, and opto-electronic properties. In this research, we designed and synthesized two small molecular donors (BBTSM-1 and BBTSM-2) with electron withdrawing benzobisthiazole (BBT) as the core unit, developing a type of A-π-A'-π-A conjugated system. The molecules exhibit reduced energy levels, high charge carrier mobilities, and ordered edge-on molecular packing in thin films. High power conversion efficiency of 11.8% was achieved in solar cells based on BBTSM-1:Y6, which indicating that small molecular donors based on the weak electron withdrawing BBT unit would be promising candidates for high-performance organic solar cells.

Dietary Problems Are Associated with Frailty Status in Older People with Fewer Teeth in Japan.

This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary problems and frailty according to tooth loss in older Japanese people. This cross-sectional study included 160 older people (mean age 82.6 years) from Japan. Frailty status was assessed using the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) criteria, which consists of (i) weight loss > 5% in the past year, (ii) inability to perform five chair stands, and (iii) self-perceived reduced energy level. Frailty was defined as the presence of ≥2 items of SOF criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with frailty as the dependent variable and dietary problems as the independent variable, stratified according to having <20 teeth. Low appetite and no enjoyment of eating were associated with frailty after adjusting for covariates in participants with <20 teeth. Dietary problems, including low appetite, eating alone, and negative attitudes toward enjoyment of eating were associated with a self-perceived reduced energy level in participants with <20 teeth. However, this association was not observed in participants with ≥20 teeth. In older people with fewer teeth, dietary problems have been suggested to be associated with frailty. Therefore, it may be necessary to pay attention to dietary problems, especially in older people with tooth loss.

Next Level in Computed Tomography-Guided Periradicular Infiltration Therapy: Same Efficiency with Less Radiation Exposure

This retrospective cohort study investigated the radiation exposure and clinical efficiency of a new institutional low-dose protocol for computed tomography (CT)-guided lumbar periradicular infiltration (PRI). This was a retrospective matched-pair comparison of patients undergoing single-level lumbar PRI therapy employing a new low-dose CT protocol consisting of a helical scan with reduced energy levels and tube current versus the institutional standard CT protocol. The following variables were collected: dose-length product for the planning step, interventional step, and total examination, number of CT guidance scans, examination time, and postprocedural improvement on the numerical rating scale for radicular pain. Forty-five patients were allocated to each group. A sufficient radiation dose reduction of 30% during PRI was achieved with the low-dose protocol with a median dose-length product of 9.8mGy∗cm compared to 32.9mGy∗cm with the standard protocol (P < 0.001). No need for additional multiple scans during the interventional mode was observed in the low-dose group, resulting in a comparable procedure time between the groups. Furthermore, the short-term pain-reducing effect of PRI was comparable between the low-dose and standard protocols (median delta numerical rating scale= 4 in both groups). Our low-dose protocol with less tube voltage and lower electric current leads to less radiation exposure with the same safety and efficiency. In conclusion, every facility that performs CT-based procedures should check whether a further dose reduction is applicable to avoid stochastic radiation damage to the patient.

Three Birds with One Stone: Acceptor Engineering of Hemicyanine Dye with NIR-II Emission for Synergistic Photodynamic and Photothermal Anticancer Therapy.

It is challenging to develop a near-infrared (NIR) small molecular photosensitizer for synergistic phototherapy in deep tissues. Herein, first, a heavy-atom-free NIR hemicyanine photosensitizer (BHcy) for 808nm light-mediated synergistic photodynamic therapy/photothermal therapy (PDT/PTT) anticancer therapy by leveraging the acceptor engineering strategy is reported. This strategy endows BHcy with a more planar and larger π-conjugated structure, resulting in long NIR absorption/emission at 770/915-1200nm as well as enhanced singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) generation ability and photothermal effect, which is ascribed to the reduced energy levels of excited singlet/triplet states and the promoted intersystem crossing process. Notably, BHcy-based nanoparticles (BHcy-NPs) exhibit efficient 1 O2 yield (12.9%) and high photothermal conversion efficiency (55.1%). More importantly, BHcy-NPs are able to significantly kill cancer cells by destroying main organelles and inhibit tumor growth in vivo after a single irradiation. Overall, this study provides a strategy to design new heavy-atom-free PDT/PTT agents for potential clinical applications.