The food industry progressively requires innovative and environmentally safe packaging materials with increased physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. Due to its unique properties, cellulose has several potential applications in the food industry as a packaging material, stabilizing agent, and functional food ingredient. A coffee pod is a filter of cellulosic, non-rigid, ready-made material containing ground portions and pressed coffee prepared in dedicated machines. In our study, we obtained, with homogenization and sonication, cellulose micro/nanoparticles from three different coffee pods. It is known that nanoparticulate systems can enter live cells and, if ingested, could exert alterations in gastrointestinal tract cells. Our work aims to investigate the response of HT-29 cells to cellulose nanoparticles from coffee pods. In particular, the subcellular effects between coffee-embedded nanocellulose (CENC) and cellulose nanoparticles (NC) were compared. Finally, we analysed the pathologic condition (Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) from Campylobacter jejuni) on the same cells conditioned by NC and CENC. We evidenced that, for the cellular functional features analysed, NC and CENC pre-treatments do not worsen cell response to the C. jejuni CDT, also pointing out an improvement of the autophagic flux, particularly for CENC preconditioning.

The possibility of preoperative prediction of pathologic complete response in rectal cancer has been studied in order to identify patients who would respond to neoadjuvant therapy and to individualize therapeutic strategies. Endoscopic ultrasound of the rectum is an accurate method for the evaluation of local tumor and lymph node invasion. Objective: To evaluate the potential of endoscopic ultrasound as a predictor of complete pathological response to neoadjuvant treatment in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Material and methods: Retrospective study of patients with rectal cancer from January 2014 to December 2016. Results: We obtained a statistical association between T stage by endoscopic ultrasound and complete pathological response (p = 0.015). It is not so for N, sphincter involvement, circumferential involvement and maximum tumor thickness (p = 0.723, p = 0.510, p = 0.233 and p = 0.114, respectively). When multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the degree of influence of the predictor variables on pathologic response, none of these variables was associated with complete pathologic response. Conclusion: Prediction of pathologic complete response in rectal cancer has been considered as the crucial point upon which treatments for rectal cancer could be individualized. So far, no imaging method has been able to demonstrate efficacy in predicting complete pathologic response, and in turn there is no direct association between any endosonographic finding that can accurately predict it.

Europium (Eu) doped Calcium borophosphate (CBP) phosphors were synthesized via the solid-state diffusion method. The prepared Europium (Eu) doped Calcium borophosphate (CBP) powder was heated up to 600 ℃ for 6 h for a complete diffusion of ions in the powder system. XRD results showed that the prepared phosphors exhibit a well-crystallized hexagonal phase. The complete diffusion inside the CBP/Eu powder system has been confirmed by the presence of elements such as P, O, Bi, Ca, C, Eu, and B. Apart from that, the synthesized powder system has shown a down-conversion property where the Eu³⁺-activated ion was excited at 251 nm. Under the excitation of 251 nm, CBP/Eu phosphor showed intense emissions peaking at 591,617, and 693 nm due to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁, ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂, and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₄ transition of Eu³⁺ ions. The obtained results suggest that the CBP/Eu phosphors have the potential for spectral response coating materials to improve photovoltaic (PV) panel efficiency.

Nanoparticle drug delivery systems are engineered technologies that use nanoparticles for the targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents. Cisplatin-loaded nanoparticle formulations were optimized utilizing response surface methods and the central composite rotating design model. This study employed a central composite rotatable design with a three-factored factorial design with three tiers. Three independent variables namely drug polymer ratio, aqueous organic phase ration, and stabilizer concentration were used to examine the particle size, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading of cisplatin PLGA nanoparticles as responses. The results revealed that this response surface approach might be able to be used to find the best formulation for the cisplatin PLGA nanoparticles. A polymer ratio of 1:8.27, organic phase ratio of 1:6, and stabilizer concentration of 0.15 were found to be optimum for cisplatin PLGA nanoparticles. Nanoparticles made under the optimal conditions found yielded a 112 nm particle size and a 95.4 percent entrapment efficiency, as well as a drug loading of 9 percent. The cisplatin PLGA nanoparticles tailored for scanning electon microscopy displayed a spherical form. A series of in vitro tests showed that the nanoparticle delivered cisplatin progressively over time. According to this work, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) employing the central composite rotatable design may be successfully used to simulate cisplatin-PLGA nanoparticles.

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that drastically hinders plant growth and development, resulting in lower crop yields and productivity. As one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide, tomato (Solanum lycropersicum L.) plays a key role in the human diet. The current study aimed to explore the differential tolerance level of two tomato varieties (Rio Grande and Agata) to salt stress. To this end, various growth, physiological and biochemical attributes were assessed after two weeks of 100 mM NaCl treatment. Obtained findings indicated that, although the effects of salt stress included noticeable reductions in shoots’ and roots’ dry weights and relative growth rate as well as total leaf area, for the both cultivars, Rio Grande performed better compared to Agata variety. Furthermore, despite the exposure to salt stress, Rio Grande was able to maintain an adequate tissue hydration and a high leaf mass per area (LMA) through the accumulation of proline. However, relative water content, LMA and proline content were noticeably decreased for Agata cultivar. Likewise, total leaf chlorophyll, soluble proteins and total carbohydrates were significantly decreased; whereas, malondialdehyde was significantly accumulated in response to salt stress for the both cultivars. Moreover, such negative effects were remarkably more pronounced for Agata relative to Rio Grande cultivar. Overall, the current study provided evidence that, at the early growth stage, Rio Grande is more tolerant to salt stress than Agata variety. Therefore, Rio Grande variety may constitute a good candidate for inclusion in tomato breeding programs for salt-tolerance and is highly recommended for tomato growers, particularly in salt-affected fields.