Influence of the AOT counterion chemical structure in the generation of organized systems

The impact of the imidazolium counterion structure on the organized systems formed by the surfactant 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate, AOT, both in aqueous solutions and in nonpolar solvents is investigated. With this in mind, we investigated if the ionic liquid-like (IL-like) surfactant 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate, emim-AOT, forms direct micelles or vesicles in water. Dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, conductivity, fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy measurements were performed to characterize the organized systems in aqueous solutions. We also studied the self-aggregation of emim-AOT, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate, bmim-AOT, and of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate, hmim-AOT, in nonpolar solvents. The results obtained showed that the IL-like surfactant emim-AOT forms direct micelles in water, as sodium 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (Na-AOT) does. However, emim-AOT aggregates are larger, have a lower surface charge, are more stable, and have a more polar and less fluid micellar interface than Na-AOT micelles. It was also observed that emim-AOT and hmim-AOT form reverse micelles in nonpolar solvents. The size of the imidazolium cations dramatically influences the size of the reverse micelles and their ability to solubilize water.Fil: Lépori, Cristian Marcelo Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Correa, Nestor Mariano. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Silber, Juana J.. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; ArgentinaFil: Falcone, Ruben Dario. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: López-López, Manuel. Universidad de Huelva; EspañaFil: Moyá, María Luisa. Universidad de Sevilla; Españ

Multivalent Calixarene-Based Liposomes as Platforms for Gene and Drug Delivery

The formation of calixarene-based liposomes was investigated, and the characterization of these nanostructures was carried out using several techniques. Four amphiphilic calixarenes were used. The length of the hydrophobic chains attached to the lower rim as well as the nature of the polar group present in the upper rim of the calixarenes were varied. The lipid bilayer was formed with one calixarene and with the phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, DOPE. The cytotoxicity of the liposomes for various cell lines was also studied. From the results obtained, the liposomes formed with the least cytotoxic calixarene, (TEAC12)4 , were used as nanocarriers of both nucleic acids and the antineoplastic drug doxorubicin, DOX. Results showed that (TEAC12)4/DOPE/p-EGFP-C1 lipoplexes, of a given composition, can transfect the genetic material, although the transfection efficiency substantially increases in the presence of an additional amount of DOPE as coadjuvant. On the other hand, the (TEAC12)4/DOPE liposomes present a high doxorubicin encapsulation efficiency, and a slow controlled release, which could diminish the side effects of the drugThis work was financed by the Consejería de Conocimiento, Innovación y Universidades de la Junta de Andalucía (FQM-206, FQM-274, and PY20-01234), the VI Plan Propio Universidad de Sevilla (PP2019/00000748), RTI2018-100692-B-100; P18-RT-1271; PI18-0005-2018; VI-PP AY.SUPLEM2019; RYC-2015-18670, The R+D+I grant PID2019-104195G from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation-Agencia Estatal de Investigación/10.13039/501100011033 (P.H.) and the European Union (Feder Funds). The authors thank the University of Seville for the grant VPPI-US. J.A.L. also thanks the Fundación ONCE funded by the Fondo Social Europe

Properties of polyplexes formed between a cationic polymer derived from l-arabinitol and nucleic acids

In this work a sugar-based cationic polymer derived from l-arabinitol, PUArab, was prepared and its interactions with the linear calf thymus DNA and with the circular plasmid pEGFP-C1 were investigated at different N/P ratios. The polyplexes were characterized by using several techniques. For both nucleic acids, a charge inversion was observed, together with a conformational change from a coiled structure to a more compacted one. However, the N/P ratio required to observe the DNA condensation depended on the nucleic acid architecture. PUArab presents low toxicity in several cell lines. The transfection efficiency, TE, of the PUArab/pEGFP-C1 polyplexes was investigated at several N/P ratios in order to study their potential as vectors in gene transfection

Effectiveness of an mHealth intervention combining a smartphone app and smart band on body composition in an overweight and obese population: Randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT 3 study)

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to an improvement in health markers by helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. mHealth interventions have been widely reported to achieve greater weight loss than other approaches, but their effect on body composition remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to assess the short-term (3 months) effectiveness of a mobile app and a smart band for losing weight and changing body composition in sedentary Spanish adults who are overweight or obese. Methods: A randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted involving the participation of 440 subjects from primary care centers, with 231 subjects in the intervention group (IG; counselling with smartphone app and smart band) and 209 in the control group (CG; counselling only). Both groups were counselled about healthy diet and physical activity. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG was trained to use a smartphone app that involved self-monitoring and tailored feedback, as well as a smart band that recorded daily physical activity (Mi Band 2, Xiaomi). Body composition was measured using the InBody 230 bioimpedance device (InBody Co., Ltd), and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The mHealth intervention produced a greater loss of body weight (–1.97 kg, 95% CI –2.39 to –1.54) relative to standard counselling at 3 months (–1.13 kg, 95% CI –1.56 to –0.69). Comparing groups, the IG achieved a weight loss of 0.84 kg more than the CG at 3 months. The IG showed a decrease in body fat mass (BFM; –1.84 kg, 95% CI –2.48 to –1.20), percentage of body fat (PBF; –1.22%, 95% CI –1.82% to 0.62%), and BMI (–0.77 kg/m2, 95% CI –0.96 to 0.57). No significant changes were observed in any of these parameters in men; among women, there was a significant decrease in BMI in the IG compared with the CG. When subjects were grouped according to baseline BMI, the overweight group experienced a change in BFM of –1.18 kg (95% CI –2.30 to –0.06) and BMI of –0.47 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.80 to –0.13), whereas the obese group only experienced a change in BMI of –0.53 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.86 to –0.19). When the data were analyzed according to physical activity, the moderate-vigorous physical activity group showed significant changes in BFM of –1.03 kg (95% CI –1.74 to –0.33), PBF of –0.76% (95% CI –1.32% to –0.20%), and BMI of –0.5 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.83 to –0.19). Conclusions: The results from this multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial study show that compared with standard counselling alone, adding a self-reported app and a smart band obtained beneficial results in terms of weight loss and a reduction in BFM and PBF in female subjects with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 and a moderate-vigorous physical activity level. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to ensure that this profile benefits more than others from this intervention and to investigate modifications of this intervention to achieve a global effect

Fluorescent Calixarene-Schiff as a Nanovehicle with Biomedical Purposes

Gene therapy is a technique that is currently under expansion and development. Recent advances in genetic medicine have paved the way for a broader range of therapies and laid the groundwork for next-generation technologies. A terminally substituted difluorene-diester Schiff Base calix[4]arene has been studied in this work as possible nanovector to be used in gene therapy. Changes to luminescent behavior of the calixarene macrocycle are reported in the presence of ct-DNA. The calixarene macrocycle interacts with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA), generating changes in its conformation. Partial double-strand denaturation is induced at low concentrations of the calixarene, resulting in compaction of the ct-DNA. However, interaction between calixarene molecules themselves takes place at high calixarene concentrations, favoring the decompaction of the polynucleotide. Based on cytotoxicity studies, the calixarene macrocycle investigated has the potential to be used as a nanovehicle and improve the therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological agents against tumorsThis work was financed by the Consejería de Conocimiento, Innovación y Universidades de la Junta de Andalucía (FQM-206, FQM-274, and PY20-01234), the VI Plan Propio Universidad de Sevilla (PP2019/00000748), RTI2018-100692-B-100; P18-RT-1271; PI18-0005-2018; VIPP AY.SUPLEM-2019; RYC-2015-18670 and the European Union (Feder Funds). F.J.O. thanks the University of Seville for the grant VPPI-US (DOC_00963). J.A.L. also thanks the Fundación ONCE funded by the Fondo Social Europe

Impact of Zulla cover crop in vineyard on the musts volatile profile of Vitis vinifera L. cv Syrah

Grape aromatic characteristics are very important for producing quality wines. There have been very few studies on concentrations of volatile compounds in grape berries from vines with cover crops. For this reason, the aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of “Zulla” cover crop on the volatile profiles of organically grown Syrah variety grapes. For this purpose, volatile profiles of grapes obtained from vines with three different amounts of cover crop (one line, two lines, and four lines) and without cover crop, over three harvests (2019, 2020, and 2021) were determined. Moreover, a comparative study of conventional and organic crops, both submitted to soil tillage, was performed. The grape samples came from a warm climate zone. Must volatile compounds were determined by sequential sorptive extraction with Twisters by immersion (SBSE) and headspace (HSSE), followed by GC–MS analysis. A total of 160 compounds were determined and most of them were influenced by the presence of cover crop. However, the results showed an important influence of the harvest year over agronomic practices. Therefore, organic cultivation using Zulla cover crop seems to be a suitable tool for the implementation of friendly ecosystem management in a warm climate Syrah vineyard.Junta de Andalucía PR.AVA. AVA2019.016Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional- Universidad Pablo de Olavide 138131

A Benchmarking Framework for Background Subtraction in RGBD Videos

The complementary nature of color and depth synchronized information acquired by low cost RGBD sensors poses new challenges and design opportunities in several applications and research areas. Here, we focus on background subtraction for moving object detection, which is the building block for many computer vision applications, being the first relevant step for subsequent recognition, classification, and activity analysis tasks. The aim of this paper is to describe a novel benchmarking framework that we set up and made publicly available in order to evaluate and compare scene background modeling methods for moving object detection on RGBD videos. The proposed framework involves the largest RGBD video dataset ever made for this specific purpose. The 33 videos span seven categories, selected to include diverse scene background modeling challenges for moving object detection. Seven evaluation metrics, chosen among the most widely used, are adopted to evaluate the results against a wide set of pixel-wise ground truths. Moreover, we present a preliminary analysis of results, devoted to assess to what extent the various background modeling challenges pose troubles to background subtraction methods exploiting color and depth information