Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) leaves, a major by-product of pepper cultivation in the Yucatán Peninsula, are an underexploited source of phenolic compounds with relevant antioxidant potential. In this work, phenolic-rich extracts obtained with a choline chloride–glucose Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction were microencapsulated by spray-drying using maltodextrin and Guar gum. The microcapsules were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy, total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (Ax), and were subsequently subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion to assess their bioaccessibility. Raman spectra confirmed the formation of a maltodextrin–Guar-gum matrix with broad glycosidic bands (480–1450 cm−1) and CH-stretching at ≈2900 cm−1, indicative of polymer–phenolic interactions. From de experimental design, the formulation containing 5% Guar gum at 100 °C reached the highest intestinal TPC (31.00 ± 0.30 mg GAE/100 g powder) and increased TPC bioaccessibility at the intestinal phase (283.28 ± 3.22%), evidencing efficient enzymatic release of bound phenolics. The greatest pre-digestion antioxidant capacity (19.56 ± 0.33% DPPH inhibition) corresponded to 7.5% GG at 104 °C, while intestinal antioxidant recovery peaked at 17.34 ± 0.14% (7.8% GG, 89.4 °C). The optimal TPC bioaccessibility value obtained was 358.3%, under optimal spray-drying conditions, consisting of 4% guar gum and an inlet temperature of 104 °C. Overall, the synergy between NADES-based extraction and optimized spray-drying enabled a stable, digestion-responsive encapsulation system that substantially enhanced phenolic retention and intestinal bioaccessibility, supporting its application as a sustainable strategy to valorize C. chinense leaves into antioxidant-rich functional ingredients.
The recovery of hand function in chronic stroke survivors is challenging because of finger complexity and post-stroke spasticity. This study developed iPARKO-2, a novel device that simulates the manual finger extensor facilitation technique while overcoming the limitations of the original device. iPARKO-2 enables the simultaneous fixation of the index through the little fingers and applies resistance from the proximal phalanges, allowing training in patients with strong fingertip spasticity. This study is a pilot study aimed at technical validation and feasibility. Five participants underwent training at three distinct target-pushing force levels. Concurrently, their active range of motion and extensor muscle activity were measured. The results show a direct correlation between the increased pushing force and the improvement in total active motion. Furthermore, the level of muscle activity exhibited a positive correlation with the extent of the observed improvement. iPARKO-2 also reduced the fixation time and enhanced usability. These findings suggest that iPARKO-2 effectively enhances voluntary hand movements and that pushing force is a key factor in determining training efficacy.
Many family farmers depend on public support to maintain their activity, which highlights the need to review the challenges associated with their farming system and marketing. The importance of family farming reinforces the need to include this sector in agricultural, environmental, and social policies, identifying opportunities and promoting the necessary changes to ensure more equitable and balanced development. In Portugal, in 2018, the Family Farming Statute was established to distinguish, recognise, and value family farming through specific local support measures. In this study, farmers with the Family Farming Statute in the North of Portugal were characterised. Interviews were conducted using questionnaires, and the indicators/requirements currently provided in the statute were analysed. Based on the literature review, new indicators have been suggested to help increase the number of family farmers included in the Statute. Despite being a good policy to support family farming, the Family Farming Statute needs revision to ensure wider inclusion. Support should be more attractive and comprehensive, including economic support, technical assistance, training programmes, local marketing channels, valorisation of traditional products, and short supply chains.
Towns and cities may provide suitable habitats for wildlife, including birds. In Africa, ecological studies on avian communities are, however, rare. Namibia is an exception to the rule, but even here, there is still an urgent need to conduct such studies in various urban habitats. This study has been conducted on breeding bird communities in Windhoek, the largest city in the country. Bird communities were quantified in five distinguished habitats by means of the line transect method. In total, 16 transects were designed, with a total length of 82.8 km. The studies were conducted in August 2020. The avian assemblage was composed of 32–45 resident (breeding) bird species in various habitats of the city, with 4–7 dominant species distinguished in each habitat. In all distinguished habitats, granivores comprised more than half of all birds recorded. Frugivores comprised 20.4–28.0% in most habitats. In most habitats, birds nesting on trees or shrubs comprised at least 50%, except for the city centre, where they comprised only 30.6%. On the other hand, only in the city center, species nesting on/in buildings comprised as much as 68.2%; in all other habitats their contribution ranged between 39.2% and 48.5%. The Shannon’s Diversity Index ranged slightly between 1.17 and 1.26. Also the Pielou’s Evenness Index was much the same (0.31–0.36) in all habitats investigated.
Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) and congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) are two rare cystic lung diseases occurring in childhood. PPB can evolve from a low-grade epithelial cyst lesion to a high-grade sarcoma with a poor prognosis, whereas CPAM usually has a favorable non-tumorous outcome. Clinical similarities complicate diagnosis and may delay appropriate care. PPB is associated with DICER1 mutations that disturb miRNA biogenesis, altering the miRNA repertoire. Conversely, KRAS mutations are detected in CPAM, but their implication remains unclear. To decipher the mechanisms underlying these diseases, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of molecular variations in CPAM and PPB lung lesions using genome-wide RNA-seq and miRNA-seq assays. Each pathology displayed a distinct expression profile revealing a unique etiology. CPAM presented misexpression of bronchial epithelial markers correlating with KRAS mutation, while changes in expression of distal lung epithelial and mesenchymal markers were PPB-specific. PPB also exhibited abnormal gain of expression of developmental transcription factors, likely due to perturbed Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) activity. Overexpression of miR-323a-3p, which targets the PRC2 subunit EED, correlated with decreased EED expression. Together, these observations propose a PPB pathogenetic mechanism connecting DICER1 mutations and altered miRNA profile to defective PRC2 activity, misexpression of developmental transcription factors, and cancer.
