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Healthy and sustainable diets have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, driven by a desire to consume foods that not only help health but also have a favorable influence on the environment, such as plant-based proteins. This has created controversy because plant-based proteins may not always contain all the amino acids required by the organism. However, protein extraction methods have been developed due to technological advancements to boost their nutritional worth. Furthermore, certain chemicals, such as bioactive peptides, have been identified and linked to favorable health effects. As a result, the current analysis focuses on the primary plant-based protein sources, their chemical composition, and the molecular mechanism activated by the amino acid types of present. It also discusses plant protein extraction techniques, bioactive substances derived from these sources, product development using plant protein, and the therapeutic benefits of these plant-based proteins in clinical research.

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Ocean oil pollution has a large impact on the environment and the health of living organisms. Bioremediation cleaning strategies are promising eco-friendly alternatives for tackling this problem. Previously, we designed and reported a hydrocarbon (HC) degrading microbial consortium of four marine strains belonging to the species Alloalcanivorax xenomutans, Halopseudomonas aestusnigri, Paenarthrobacter sp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the knowledge about the metabolic potential of this bacterial consortium for HC bioremediation is not yet well understood. Here, we analyzed the complete genomes of these marine bacterial strains accompanied by a phylogenetic reconstruction along with 138 bacterial strains. Synteny between complete genomes of the same species or genus, revealed high conservation among strains of the same species, covering over 91% of their genomic sequences. Functional predictions highlighted a high abundance of genes related to HC degradation, which may result in functional redundancy within the consortium; however, unique and complete gene clusters linked to aromatic degradation were found in the four genomes, suggesting substrate specialization. Pangenome gain and loss analysis of genes involved in HC degradation provided insights into the evolutionary history of these capabilities, shedding light on the acquisition and loss of relevant genes related to alkane and aromatic degradation. Our work, including comparative genomic analyses, identification of secondary metabolites, and prediction of HC-degrading genes, enhances our understanding of the functional diversity and ecological roles of these marine bacteria in crude oil-contaminated marine environments and contributes to the applied knowledge of bioremediation.

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The 2030 Agenda, established in 2015, contains seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing global challenges. SDG-06, focused on clean water, drives the increase in basic sanitation coverage, the management of wastewater discharges, and water quality. Wastewater treatment could contribute to achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs. For this purpose, phytoremediation is a low-cost and adaptable alternative to the reduction and control of aquatic pollutants. The objective of this study is to highlight the role of macrophytes in the removal and degradation of these compounds, focusing on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, commonly known as water hyacinth. The reported values indicate that this plant has a removal capacity of over 70% for metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, mercury, cadmium, and metalloids such as arsenic. Additionally, it significantly improves water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, and color. It also reduces the presence of phosphates, and nitrogen compounds to values below 50%. It also plays a significant role in the removal of organic contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. This study describes several valuable by-products from the biomass of the water hyacinth, including animal and fish feed, energy generation (such as briquettes), ethanol, biogas, and composting. According to the analysis carried out, E. crassipes has a great capacity for phytoremediation, which makes it a viable solution for wastewater management, with great potential for water ecosystem restoration.

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We report the draft genome sequence of three marine bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas and Stutzerimonas genera, with hydrocarbonoclastic metabolism for oil and monoaromatic hydrocarbon degradation. The genomic information of these organisms contributes to the knowledge of natural and polluted marine environments with ubiquitous presence of hydrocarbons as a selective pressure.

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen found in a wide variety of environments, including soil, water, and habitats associated with animals, humans, and plants. From a One Health perspective, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, it is important to study the virulence characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of environmental bacteria. In this study, we compared the virulence properties and the antibiotic resistance profiles of seven isolates collected from the Gulf of Mexico with those of seven clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Our results indicate that the marine and clinical isolates tested exhibit similar virulence properties; they expressed different virulence factors and were able to kill Galleria mellonella larvae, an animal model commonly used to analyze the pathogenicity of many bacteria, including P. aeruginosa. In contrast, the clinical strains showed higher antibiotic resistance than the marine isolates. Consistently, the clinical strains exhibited a higher prevalence of class 1 integron, an indicator of anthropogenic impact, compared with the marine isolates. Thus, our results indicate that the P. aeruginosa marine strains analyzed in this study, isolated from the Gulf of Mexico, have similar virulence properties, but lower antibiotic resistance, than those from hospitals.

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OBJECTIVE: To compare the stress distribution and total strain applied to the dentition, periodontal ligament (PDL) and cortical and trabecular bones by three Class II correctors using finite element analysis. DESIGN: Three-dimensional analysis of stresses and total strain of the dentition with three Class II correctors. SETTING: Computational study. METHODS: Three-dimensional finite element models of Class II elastics, the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FRD) and the Carriere Motion Appliance (CMA) were constructed from a cone-beam computed tomography (CBTC) image of an orthodontic Class II patient. The distribution of stress (von Mises and principal stress) and the total strain (mm) in maxillo-mandibular dentition, PDL, cortical and trabecular bone were analysed. RESULTS: The highest von Mises yield and the maximum principal stress in the three models were found at the teeth, followed by the cortical bone, trabecular bone and PDL. The maximum stress and total deformation were located at the upper canines and lower molars in the Class II elastics and CMA models, in the upper first molars in the Forsus FRD and CMA, and in the lower first premolars in the Forsus FRD. In addition, stress was distributed in the anterior and posterior regions of the teeth, and the total deformation was found in the distal direction in the upper arch and in the mesial direction in the lower arch. CONCLUSION: The stress concentrations in the three models were located close to the active components of each appliance, producing specific patterns of stress distribution and displacement that should be taken into account when planning the type of appliance to be used for the correction of the Class II malocclusion.

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Modulation of autophagy as an anticancer strategy has been widely studied and evaluated in several cell models. However, little attention has been paid to the metabolic changes that occur in a cancer cell when autophagy is inhibited or induced. In this review, we describe how the expression and regulation of various autophagy-related (ATGs) genes and proteins are associated with cancer progression and cancer plasticity. We present a comprehensive review of how deregulation of ATGs affects cancer cell metabolism, where inhibition of autophagy is mainly reflected in the enhancement of the Warburg effect. The importance of metabolic changes, which largely depend on the cancer type and form part of a cancer cell's escape strategy after autophagy modulation, is emphasized. Consequently, pharmacological strategies based on a dual inhibition of metabolic and autophagy pathways emerged and are reviewed critically here.

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CONTEXT AND PURPOSE: This work aimed to study the seroprevalence of natural infection by T. gondii in different population segments of dogs from Aguascalientes, Mexico as well as its possible association with some risk factors. METHODS: The study included 210 clinically healthy dogs from three population segments: rural, stray and pet. A blood serum sample was collected on a single occasion and processed by indirect immunofluorescence considering a dilution of 1:16 as a positive reaction; the association between the presence of antibodies and the potential risk factors was estimated with logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the studied population was 59% (123/210; CI 95% 51-65) being different between population segments, in rural dogs 74% (59/80; CI 95% 62-82), in stray dogs 60% (48/80; CI 95% 48-70) and in pet dogs 32% (16/50; CI 95% 19-46), the titers of the positive sera were in a range of 1:16-1:128. In rural dogs the seroprevalence according to the municipality was in a range of 55% to 100% finding positive dogs in all the studied municipalities. The zootechnical function of guarding the property in rural dogs was identified as a risk factor (OR 2.4), while in pet dogs it was living with cats (OR 7) as well as sharing the drinking water container (OR 4); in stray dogs it was not possible to identify any risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the wide presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the population groups examined, this being more important in rural dogs.

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We report here the draft genome sequence of a marine Pseudomonas sp. novel species with lipase activity isolated from a deep-sea water sample of the Gulf of Mexico. The genome consists of 4.3 Mbp in 48 contigs.

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Introduction. Workplace bullying and sexual harassment are concerns among general surgery residents in Colombia. Objective. To explore the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying and sexual harassment incidents among general surgery residents in Colombia. Materials and methods. This nationwide study was conducted in 2020. Residents selfrated their exposure to workplace bullying and to sexual harassment in the forms of gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion. We analyzed demographic variables, perpetrator's characteristics, and differences between victims and non-victims. Results. The study included 302 residents. It found that 49% of general surgery residents in Colombia suffered from workplace bullying and 14.9% experienced sexual harassment. The main forms of sexual harassment were gender harassment (47%) and unwanted sexual attention (47%). Women reported significantly higher rates of being sexually harassed. Surgeons were the main perpetrators of sexual harassment. Conclusions. Workplace bullying and sexual harassment are frequent events in general surgery residency in Colombia. These findings suggest the need for interventions to improve the educational culture of surgical departments and decrease the prevalence of these behaviors.

Introducción. El acoso laboral y el acoso sexual son preocupaciones en la formación quirúrgica. Objetivo. Exploramos la magnitud de estos problemas entre los residentes de cirugía general en Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio nacional en junio de 2020. Los residentes autoevaluaron su exposición a la intimidación y el acoso sexual en forma de acoso de género, atención sexual no deseada y coerción sexual. Se analizaron variables demográficas y perpetradores entre víctimas y no víctimas. Resultados. Se incluyeron un total de 302 residentes. Las tasas de acoso laboral y sexual fueron del 49% y 14,9%, respectivamente. Las principales formas de acoso sexual correspondieron al acoso de género (47%) y la atención sexual no deseada (47%). El acoso sexual fue significativamente mayor entre las mujeres. Los cirujanos fueron los principales perpetradores. Conclusiones. El acoso laboral y el acoso sexual son frecuentes en la formación quirúrgica en Colombia. Estos hallazgos conducen a intervenciones para mejorar la cultura educativa de los departamentos quirúrgicos para disminuir la prevalencia de estos comportamientos.

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