EffectS of non-nutritive sWeetened beverages on appetITe during aCtive weigHt loss (SWITCH): Protocol for a randomized, controlled trial assessing the effects of non-nutritive sweetened beverages compared to water during a 12-week weight loss period and a follow up weight maintenance period

Background Acute and medium-term intervention studies suggest that non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are beneficial for weight loss, however there is limited human data on the long-term effects of consuming NNS on weight loss, maintenance, and appetite. Further research is therefore required to elucidate the prolonged impact of NNS consumption on these outcome measures. Methods/design A randomized parallel groups design will be used to assess whether regular NNS beverage intake is equivalent to a water control in promoting weight loss over 12-weeks (weekly weight loss sessions; Phase I), then supporting weight maintenance over 40-weeks (monthly sessions; Phase II) and subsequently independent weight maintenance over 52-weeks (Phase III) in 432 participants. A subset of these participants (n = 116) will complete laboratory-based appetite probe days (15 sessions; 3 sessions each at baseline, at the start of phase I and the end of each phase). A separate subset (n = 50) will complete body composition scans (DXA) at baseline and at the end of each phase. All participants will regularly be weighed and will complete questionnaires and cognitive tasks to assess changes in body weight and appetitive behaviours. Measures of physical activity and biochemical markers will also be taken. Discussion The trial will assess the efficacy of NNS beverages compared to water during a behavioural weight loss and maintenance programme. We aim to understand whether the impact of NNS on weight, dietary adherence and well-being are beneficial or transient and effects on prolonged successful weight loss and weight maintenance through sustained changes in appetite and eating behaviour. Trial registration: Clinical Trials: NCT02591134; registered: 23.10.201

On the production of ancient Egyptian blue: Multi-modal characterization and micronscale luminescence mapping

The ancient pigment Egyptian blue has long been studied for its historical significance; however, recent work has shown that its unique visible induced luminescent property can be used both to identify the pigment and to inspire new materials with this characteristic. In this study, a multi-modal characterization approach is used to explore variations in ancient production of Egyptian blue from shabti statuettes found in the village of Deir el-Medina in Egypt (Luxor, West Bank) dating back to the New Kingdom (18th-20th Dynasties; about 1550-1077 BCE). Using quantitative SEM-EDS analysis, we identify two possible production groups of the Egyptian blue and demonstrate the presence of multiple phases within samples using cluster analysis and ternary diagram representations. Using both macro-scale non-invasive (X-rays fluorescence and multi-spectral imaging) and micro-sampling (SEM-EDS and Raman confocal microspectroscopy) techniques, we correlate photoluminescence and chemical composition of the ancient samples. We introduce Raman spectroscopic imaging as a means to capture simultaneously visible-induced luminesce and crystal structure and utilize it to identify two classes of luminescing and non-luminescing silicate phases in the pigment that may be connected to production technologies. The results presented here provide a new framework through which Egyptian blue can be studied and inform the design of new materials based on its luminescent property

London calling Gaza: The role of international collaborations in the globalisation of postgraduate burn care education.

Burn injuries represent a significant epidemiological problem, with the vast majority occurring in low- to middle-income countries. These regions also represent areas where lack of socioeconomic growth and geopolitical instability pose additional barriers not only to healthcare provision but also to the acquisition of continuing professional development. Long-distance, web-based learning programmes ('tele-education') have been identified as a successful and powerful means of propagating up-to-date medical education and training in poor-resource, isolated or conflict-ridden regions. This report evaluates the role of tele-education in delivering a distance-learning Master's degree in Burn Care to a group of 11 healthcare professionals working in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT), which was funded as part of a collaboration between Queen Mary University of London and IMET-Pal (International Medical Education Trust - Palestine). We present our experience in delivering the programme in a conflict-ridden part of the world, which includes the specific adaptations to tailor the programme to regional needs as well the unique challenges faced by students and faculty in enhancing the educational value of this unique initiative. The academic achievements of this group of healthcare professionals were found to be comparable to historical student cohorts from privileged socioeconomic backgrounds and the majority of students felt that participation in the programme contributed to a direct improvement to their daily burn care practices. The successful outcomes achieved by our students support the constantly emerging evidence that targeted, well-delivered, long-distance learning programmes can become powerful tools in combating inequalities in global healthcare and health education

uptake, intracellular distribution and cellular responses

Silver nanoparticles (SNP) are among the most commercialized nanoparticles worldwide. They can be found in many diverse products, mostly because of their antibacterial properties. Despite its widespread use only little data on possible adverse health effects exist. It is difficult to compare biological data from different studies due to the great variety in sizes, coatings or shapes of the particles. Here, we applied a novel synthesis approach to obtain SNP, which are covalently stabilized by a small peptide. This enables a tight control of both size and shape. We applied these SNP in two different sizes of 20 or 40 nm (Ag20Pep and Ag40Pep) and analyzed responses of THP-1-derived human macrophages. Similar gold nanoparticles with the same coating (Au20Pep) were used for comparison and found to be non-toxic. We assessed the cytotoxicity of particles and confirmed their cellular uptake via transmission electron microscopy and confocal Raman microscopy. Importantly a majority of the SNP could be detected as individual particles spread throughout the cells. Furthermore we studied several types of oxidative stress related responses such as induction of heme oxygenase I or formation of protein carbonyls. In summary, our data demonstrate that even low doses of SNP exerted adverse effects in human macrophages

Is the effect of menu energy labelling on consumer behaviour equitable? A pooled analysis of twelve randomized control experiments

Menu energy labelling has been implemented as a public health policy to promote healthier dietary choices and reduce obesity. However, it is unclear whether the influence energy labelling has on consumer behaviour differs based on individuals’ demographics or characteristics and may therefore produce inequalities in diet. Data were analysed from 12 randomized control trials (N = 8508) evaluating the effect of food and drink energy labelling (vs. labelling absent) on total energy content of food and drink selections (predominantly hypothetical) in European and US adults. Analyses examined the moderating effects of participant age, sex, ethnicity/race, education, household income, body mass index, dieting status, food choice motives and current hunger on total energy content of selections. Energy labelling was associated with a small reduction (f2 = 0.004, −50 kcal, p < 0.001) in total energy selected compared to the absence of energy labelling. Participants who were female, younger, white, university educated, of a higher income status, dieting, motivated by health and weight control when making food choices, and less hungry, tended to select menu items of lower energy content. However, there was no evidence that the effect of energy labelling on the amount of energy selected was moderated by any of the participants' demographics or characteristics. Energy labelling was associated with a small reduction in energy content of food selections and this effect was similar across a range of participants’ demographics and characteristics. These preliminary findings suggest that energy labelling policies may not widen existing inequalities in diet

Dendritic cell-mediated vaccination relies on interleukin-4 receptor signaling to avoid tissue damage after Leishmania major infection of BALB/c mice

Prevention of tissue damages at the site of Leishmania major inoculation can be achieved if the BALB/c mice are systemically given L. major antigen (LmAg)-loaded bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) that had been exposed to CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN). As previous studies allowed establishing that interleukin-4 (IL-4) is involved in the redirection of the immune response towards a type 1 profile, we were interested in further exploring the role of IL-4. Thus, wild-type (wt) BALB/c mice or DC-specific IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα)-deficient (CD11ccreIL-4Rα−/lox) BALB/c mice were given either wt or IL-4Rα-deficient LmAg-loaded bone marrow-derived DC exposed or not to CpG ODN prior to inoculation of 2×105 stationary-phase L. major promastigotes into the BALB/c footpad. The results provide evidence that IL4/IL-4Rα-mediated signaling in the vaccinating DC is required to prevent tissue damage at the site of L. major inoculation, as properly conditioned wt DC but not IL-4Rα-deficient DC were able to confer resistance. Furthermore, uncontrolled L. major population size expansion was observed in the footpad and the footpad draining lymph nodes of CD11ccreIL-4Rα−/lox mice immunized with CpG ODN-exposed LmAg-loaded IL-4Rα-deficient DC, indicating the influence of IL-4Rα-mediated signaling in host DC to control parasite replication. In addition, no footpad damage occurred in BALB/c mice that were systemically immunized with LmAg-loaded wt DC doubly exposed to CpG ODN and recombinant IL-4. We discuss these findings and suggest that the IL4/IL4Rα signaling pathway could be a key pathway to trigger when designing vaccines aimed to prevent damaging processes in tissues hosting intracellular microorganisms

DOGS: Reaction-Driven de novo Design of Bioactive Compounds

We present a computational method for the reaction-based de novo design of drug-like molecules. The software DOGS (Design of Genuine Structures) features a ligand-based strategy for automated ‘in silico’ assembly of potentially novel bioactive compounds. The quality of the designed compounds is assessed by a graph kernel method measuring their similarity to known bioactive reference ligands in terms of structural and pharmacophoric features. We implemented a deterministic compound construction procedure that explicitly considers compound synthesizability, based on a compilation of 25'144 readily available synthetic building blocks and 58 established reaction principles. This enables the software to suggest a synthesis route for each designed compound. Two prospective case studies are presented together with details on the algorithm and its implementation. De novo designed ligand candidates for the human histamine H4 receptor and γ-secretase were synthesized as suggested by the software. The computational approach proved to be suitable for scaffold-hopping from known ligands to novel chemotypes, and for generating bioactive molecules with drug-like properties

Upravljanje otporno na kvarove modularnim prekidačko-reluktantnim strojem nadahnuto prirodom

Fault tolerance is an obligatory feature in safety critical applications (aeronautical, aerospace, medical and military applications, power plants, etc.), where loss of life, environmental disasters, equipment destructions or unplanned downtimes must be avoided. For such applications, a novel bio-inspired motion control system is proposed. All its three components (the switched reluctance machine, the power converter and the control system) are designed to be as fault tolerant as possible. This paper describes all these three fault tolerant components: the bio-inspired control system having self-healing capabilities, the power converter with an extra leg and the fault tolerant modular machine. The theoretical expectations and simulation results are validated by means of laboratory experiments.Otpornost na kvarove je nužnost u sigurnosno kritičnim aplikacijama (aeronautičke, zrakoplovne, medicinske i vojne aplikacije, elektrane itd.), gdje je potrebno izbjeći smrtne slučajeve, prirodne nepogode, uništenje opreme ili neplanirane prekide u radu. Za takve aplikacije, predložen je novi slijedni sustav nadahnut prirodom. Sve tri komponente (prekidačko-reluktantni stroj, pretvarač i sustav upravljanja) su projektirani da budu što je više moguće otporni na kvarove. Ovaj rad opisuje sve tri komponente: sustav upravljanja nadahnut prirodom sa samoliječećim svojstvima, pretvarač s dodatnom granom i modularni stroj otporan na kvarove. Teoretska očekivanja i simulacijski rezultati su provjereni laboratorijskim eksperimentima