Search Results (127,067)

High concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) in the blood contribute to various metabolic disorders and are linked to endometritis in dairy cows. Isorhamnetin (ISO), a flavonoid found in many plants, is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties. This study systematically assessed NEFA-induced damage in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEECs) and investigated whether ISO alleviates NEFA-induced cell damage and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Our observations revealed that excessive NEFA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in bEECs, accompanied by an increase in the expression of BAX and cleaved caspase-3. We further observed that NEFA could induce lipid accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the release of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in bEECs. RNA sequencing and Western blot analysis revealed that NEFA induced damage in bEECs by activating MAPK signaling pathway. Notably, ISO treatment ameliorated these effects induced by NEFA, as evidenced by decreased protein levels of BAX, cleaved caspase-3, and PPAR-γ, along with reductions in triglyceride content, ROS generation, and levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Mechanistically, our experimental results demonstrated that ISO inhibited NEFA-induced activation of MAPK signaling. Overall, ISO shows promise for therapeutic development to address NEFA-related endometritis in dairy cows. Full article

Emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of diet in preventing and managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As our comprehension of the microbiome’s role in IBD expands, dietary modifications are increasingly recognized as potential adjuncts or primary therapeutic strategies. Key components of the Mediterranean diet (MD)—including microbiota-accessible carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and antioxidants—have demonstrated promise in enhancing gut microbiota diversity and reducing intestinal inflammation, making it a practical approach for managing IBD. Moreover, the MD offers additional benefits considering the rising prevalence of comorbid chronic inflammatory conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity in IBD patients. The purpose of this narrative review was to provide an overview of the feasibility and clinical outcomes of the MD and offer evidence-based guidance for researchers and practitioners on how to adapt the MD to patients with IBD. According to several cross-sectional and interventional studies, the MD is feasible for patients with IBD and confers several benefits, such as reduced inflammation, improved disease activity, and enhanced quality of life, with a strong adherence rate and minimal adverse effects. To facilitate knowledge translation, we provide a practical framework for integrating the MD as a nutritional therapy for IBD, including specific recommendations and messaging that researchers, practitioners, and patients can use. By synthesizing current evidence and offering actionable insights, the aim is to facilitate the integration of the MD into IBD management, with the potential to improve patient outcomes. Full article

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO${}_2$) at room temperature into industrial chemicals and energy products offers a promising strategy to mitigate atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, bismuthene was employed as a catalyst for CO${}_2$ reduction reaction (CO${}_2$RR). Through first-principles calculations, we evaluated the CO${}_2$RR catalytic activities of bismuth (Bi) on the (001) and (012) surfaces, analyzing the mechanisms underlying these activities. Surface energy calculations for monolayer and multilayer bismuthene confirmed that monolayer bismuthene is stable and suitable for catalytic applications. Adsorption free energies of intermediates showed that formic acid is the primary product. Furthermore, it is found that the Bi(012) surface has a lower free energy barrier than Bi(001) in the CO${}_2$RR process, representing the higher catalytic activity. These results provide theoretical insights for designing bismuthene-based CO${}_2$RR catalysts with reduced overpotential, improved efficiency and enhanced selectivity, particularly enhancing catalyst selectivity. Full article

Non-degradable plastic bags are a major contributor to marine and soil pollution. They represent a significant percentage of the generated solid waste and can last for hundreds of years in the environment. The aim of the present study was to find alternatives to conventional non-degradable plastic bags by obtaining biodegradable and compostable bags starting from simple materials like starch, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and glycerol. Increasing the strength and hardness of the polymer was achieved by adding a mineral (talcum). The preliminary studies indicated that two compositions are suitable for advanced testing to produce the initial granular material. These materials were tested for the determination of melt flow index (MFI), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and the polymers response to heating (thermogravimetric analysis, TGA and differential scanning calorimetry, DSC). The polymer biodegradability was evaluated by burial in two types of soil. The obtained results were compared with the same set of experiments performed on conventional polyethylene bags. After three months in the soil, only the materials synthesized in this study show signs of accentuated degradation while polyethylene bags are still intact. The surface morphology was explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that the biodegradable thermoplastic material meets the requirements of the European standard EN13432/2002 regarding compostable and biodegradable packaging. Full article

Biomimetic nanoassemblies derived from natural products are considered promising nanomaterials due to their self-assembling ability and their favorable interactions with biological molecules leading to their numerous applications as therapeutic agents or as molecular probes. In this work, we have created peptide nanoconjugates of two natural products, β-Boswellic acid (BA) and β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GH). Both BA and GH are known for their medicinal value, including their role as strong antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and as anti-tumor agents. To enhance the bioavailability of these molecules, they were functionalized with three short peptides (YYIVS, MPDAHL and GSGGL) to create six conjugates with amphiphilic structures capable of facile self-assembly. The peptides were also derived from natural sources and have been known to display antioxidant activity. Depending upon the conjugate, nanofibers, nanovesicles or a mixture of both were formed upon self-assembly. The binding interactions of the nanoconjugates with α-Synuclein, a protein implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) was examined through in silico studies and FTIR, circular dichroism and imaging studies. Our results indicated that the nanoassemblies interacted with alpha-synuclein fibrils efficaciously. Furthermore, the nanoassemblies were found to demonstrate high viability in the presence of microglial cells, and were found to enhance the uptake and interactions of α-Synuclein with microglial cells. The nanoconjugates designed in this work may be potentially utilized as vectors for peptide-based drug delivery or for other therapeutic applications. Full article

Soil salinization and alkalization can cause great losses to agricultural production in arid regions. Cotton, a common crop in arid and semi-arid regions in China, often encounters saline stress and alkaline stress. In this study, NaCl (8 g·kg⁻¹), Na₂CO₃ (8 g·kg⁻¹⁾, and a compound material (an organic polymer compound material) were mixed with field soil before cotton sowing, and the ion content, photosynthetic characteristics, and metabolite levels of the new cotton leaves were analyzed at the flowering and boll-forming stage, aiming to clarify the photosynthetic and metabolic mechanisms by which compound material regulates cotton’s tolerance to saline stress and alkaline stress. The results showed that the application of the compound material led to an increase in the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, stomatal conductance (Gs), efficiency of PSII photochemistry (ψPSⅡ), potential activity (Fv/Fo), and chlorophyll content (Chla and Chlb), as well as the abundances of D-xylonic acid and DL-phenylalanine in the NaCl treatments. Additionally, there were increases in the K⁺ content, K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, Chla/b ratio, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), ψPSⅡ, and D-saccharic acid abundance in the Na₂CO₃ treatments. A correlation analysis and a metabolic pathway analysis revealed that the compound material mainly regulated the photosynthetic characteristics of and the ion balance in the new leaves through regulating the abundance of key metabolites when the cotton was under NaCl stress or Na₂CO₃ stress. Furthermore, the positive impact of the compound material on the cotton’s NaCl stress tolerance was stronger than that on the cotton’s Na₂CO₃ stress tolerance. Full article

Background: Next-generation vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) focus on inducing a long-lasting immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its emerging variants. To achieve this, antigens other than spike proteins have been proposed, and different platforms have been evaluated. Nucleic acid-based vaccines are fundamental for this process. Preclinical data have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein induces a protective cellular immune response, and when combined with the spike protein, the resulting humoral and cellular immune responses are effective against some SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods: We designed a DNA vaccine against the spike and nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2 to generate fusion proteins based on the Delta and Omicron B.5 strains. The most immunogenic regions of the spike and nucleocapsid proteins of the Delta and Omicron B strains were selected using bioinformatics. The nucleotide sequences were cloned into pcDNA3.1, and named pcDNA3.1/D-S1, pcDNA3.1/D-S1N, and pcDNA3.1/O-SN. The immunogenicity of the generated fusion proteins was evaluated by analyzing the humoral and cellular responses elicited after the immunization of BALB/c mice. Results: DNA immunization induced antibody production, neutralization activity, and IFN-γ production. The inclusion of the nucleocapsid regions in the plasmid greatly enhanced the immune response. Moreover, cross-reactions with the variants of interest were confirmed. Conclusions: Plasmids-encoding fusion proteins combining the most immunogenic regions of the spike and nucleocapsid proteins present a promising strategy for designing new and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Full article

Developing biodegradable complex fertilizers is crucial for sustainable agriculture to reduce the environmental impact of mineral fertilizers and enhance soil quality. This study evaluated chitosan-based hydrogel coatings for sodium alginate matrices encapsulating amino acid hydrolysates from mealworm larvae, known for their plant growth-promoting properties. The research aims to identify the potential of biopolymer matrices for producing biodegradable slow-release fertilizers and to outline future development pathways necessary for this technology to be usable in the fertilizer industry. Chitosan coatings prepared with citric acid and crosslinked with ascorbic acid optimized plant growth, while those using acetic acid negatively affected it. Water absorption and nutrient release tests showed that chitosan coatings reduced water uptake and slowed initial nutrient release compared to uncoated samples. Leaching assays confirmed controlled-release behavior, with an initial burst followed by stability, driven by alginate–chitosan interactions and ion exchange. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that adding hydrolysate and chitosan increased amorphousness and reduced porosity, improving structural properties. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated enhanced homogeneity and the presence of chemical interactions, which led to improvements in the material’s thermal stability and chemical characteristics. Biodegradation tests indicated greater durability of chitosan-coated composites, although hydrolysate incorporation accelerated decomposition due to its acidic pH. Germination tests confirmed no phytotoxicity and highlighted the potential of biopolymeric matrices for slow nutrient release. These findings indicate the possibilities of chitosan-coated alginate matrices as sustainable fertilizers, emphasizing the importance of adjusting coating composition and hydrolysate pH for enhanced efficacy and environmental benefits. The main recommendation for future research focuses on optimizing the chitosan coating process by exploring whether adding hydrolysate to the chitosan solution can reduce diffusional losses. Additionally, investigating the use of glycerol in the alginate matrix to minimize pore size and subsequent losses during coating is suggested. Future studies should prioritize analyzing percentage losses during the crosslinking of the alginate matrix, chitosan coating, and final shell crosslinking. This pioneering research highlights the potential for encapsulating liquid fertilizers in biopolymer matrices, offering promising applications in modern sustainable agriculture, which has not been studied in other publications. Full article

Higher demands on extreme pressure lubrication performance are posed by stringent working conditions. In this study, the synergistic tribological properties of phosphate ammonium salt in combination with active sulfurized olefin (S1) and non-active sulfurized fatty acids (S2) were investigated to meet the needs under stringent working conditions. The anti-wear mechanisms were further explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and focused ion beam microscopy. The experimental results indicate that P-S2 demonstrates superior friction reduction and wear resistance under low loads, potentially attributable to its higher polarity, whereas P-S1 exhibits better wear resistance under high loads. P-S1 also shows superior extreme pressure performance attributed to its higher active sulfur content and stronger film-forming ability, evidenced by a thicker friction film (82.62 nm vs. 24.28 nm for P-S2). The study highlights that the variations in the synergistic tribological performance of phosphorus- and sulfur-based additives may link to differences in molecular structure, active sulfur content, polarity, and corrosiveness, with P-S1 demonstrating enhanced extreme pressure performance possibly through the formation of a multi-layered friction film of polyphosphate, sulfide, oligophosphate, and sulfate layers. Full article

(1) Background: Litter size is one of the most important economic traits of sheep. The FecB locus has been extensively studied due to its significant impact on litter size in Hu sheep, and BMP15 and GDF9 have also been reported as major genes associated with litter size in sheep. This study aimed to identify variants of BMP15 and GDF9 and perform an association analysis of these variants with litter size in the Hu sheep breed. (2) Methods: In this study, exons of the BMP15 and GDF9 genes were fully sequenced to identify polymorphisms in Hu sheep. Population genetic parameters and haplotype frequencies were estimated, and an association analysis between these polymorphic loci and litter size was performed. Additionally, the protein structures of the wild-type and mutated BMP15 and GDF9 genes were predicted. (3) Results: The polymorphisms of the BMP15 and GDF9 genes were investigated within their exon regions, revealing mutations at four previously reported sites: BMP15 c.31_33CTTdel and GDF9 (G2, G3, and G4) in Hu sheep, with no novel variants were detected. Genetic analysis indicated that the GDF9-G3 and GDF9-G4 loci have low polymorphisms, whereas the BMP15 c.31_33CTTdel and the GDF9-G2 locus are moderately polymorphic. The mutation sites in the BMP15 and GDF9 genes were under Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis revealed that the BMP15 c.31_33CTTdel and GDF9 (G2, G3, and G4) mutations are not associated with litter size in Hu sheep. Protein structure prediction indicated that the mutations in BMP15 and GDF9 resulted in alterations to their tertiary structures. (4) Conclusions: In this study, four reported mutations in the BMP15 and GDF9 genes can also be detected in the Hu sheep breed. In these mutations, the G2 and G3 mutations of GDF9 did not alter the amino acid sequence, while the BMP15 c.31_33CTTdel mutation and the GDF9 G4 mutation resulted in protein structure alteration. Furthermore, the BMP15 c.31_33CTTdel mutation and the GDF9 mutations (G2, G3, G4) were associated with an increased tendency in litter size. However, no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05). This study provides valuable insights for improving the lambing performance of Hu sheep. Full article

The Gti1/Pac2 protein family, which is highly conserved across fungi, is pivotal in processes such as fungal development, spore formation, protein export, toxin production, and virulence. Despite its importance, the precise functions of Pac2 within entomopathogenic fungi have yet to be fully understood. In our study, the MaPac2 gene from M. acridum was identified, and its functions were explored. Studying the domain of the protein showed that MaPac2 comprises 422 amino acids with a characteristic Gti1/Pac2 family domain (Pfam09729). Additionally, MaPac2 is predicted to have an N-terminal protein kinase A phosphorylation site and a potential cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation site, highlighting its potential regulatory roles in the fungus. Our findings indicate that the inactivation of MaPac2 resulted in faster germination of conidia and a marked reduction in conidial production. Furthermore, stress tolerance tests revealed that the absence of MaPac2 significantly bolstered the fungal resilience to UV-B radiation, heat shock, SDS exposure, and stresses induced by hyperosmotic conditions and oxidative challenges. Virulence assessments through bioassays indicated no substantial differences among the WT, MaPac2-disrupted strain, and CP strains in the topical inoculation trials. Interestingly, deletion of MaPac2 increased the fungal virulence by intrahemocoel injection. Furthermore, we found that disruption of MaPac2 impaired fungal cuticle penetration due to the diminished appressorium formation but increased the fungal growth in locust hemolymph. These findings provide further insights into the roles played by Gti1/Pac2 in insect pathogenic fungi. Full article

This study proposes the exposure of nonwoven fabrics to carbon dioxide for bundling and packaging purposes. The proposed process, which utilizes the shrinking property of the nonwoven fabric during carbon dioxide exposure, is demonstrated on a polylactic acid (PLA) nonwoven fabric produced by the melt-blown method. Evaluating the shrinkage induced by carbon dioxide in PLA nonwoven fabrics with varying degrees of crystallinity, it was found that increasing the crystallinity decreases both the speed and amount of shrinkage. This process is potentially applicable as a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly approach for packaging food and drug products. Full article

Chiral layered coordination polymers have attracted considerable attention not only because of their intriguing physicochemical properties but also because of their ability to exfoliate into chiral nanosheets. Chiral metal phosphonates with layered structures are of particular interest due to their relatively high thermal and water stabilities, but their corresponding nanosheets are rarely reported on. Herein, we report on a pair of enantiopure zinc phosphonates with the formula S- and R-Zn₈(cyampH)₈Cl₈ (S-Zn, R-Zn), where S- and R-cyampH₂ represent S- and R-(1-cyclohexylamino)methylphosphonic acids. They have layered structures in which the {ZnO₃Cl} tetrahedra are connected by {PO₃C} tetrahedra via corner-sharing. By doping analogous chromophore ligands S- and R-(1-naphthalenethylamino)methylphosphonic acid (S-, R-nempH₂), we obtained compounds S- and R-Zn₈(cyampH)_8-n(nempH)_nCl₈ (S-, R-Zn-x%, x = 2, 4, 6), which exhibited obvious circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) properties. The bulk samples of S-Zn and S-Zn-4% were further subjected to exfoliation in acetone, resulting in chiral nanosheets of one–three-layer thicknesses. Full article

In this study, the biodegradability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), the most widely produced bioplastic, and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), known for its very biodegradability, was investigated in soil and soil amended with nitrogen sources, such as treatment sludge and vermicompost. Biodegradability was evaluated over 180 days by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and analyzing samples with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). PLA showed a low biodegradation (6%) in soil, but this increased to 40% in soil amended with treatment sludge and 45% in soil amended with vermicompost. PHB completely degraded within 90 days in soil; however, this process extended to 120 days in soil amended with vermicompost and 150 days in soil amended with treatment sludge. The organic and microbial content of the amendments enhanced PLA biodegradation, while PHB degradation slowed after 50 days as microorganisms prioritized other organic matter. SEM and FTIR analyses after 60 days showed more intense degradation of both bioplastics in soil amended with vermicompost. These findings highlight the potential of treatment sludge and vermicompost for improving bioplastic degradation, contributing to sustainable waste management and soil enhancement. Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the mechanical properties of lime-based mortar in an acidic environment, employing both experimental analysis and machine learning to model techniques. Despite the extensive use of lime-based mortar in construction, particularly for the strengthening of structures as externally bonded materials, its behavior under acidic conditions remains poorly understood in the literature. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the mechanical performance of lime-based mortar under prolonged exposure to acidic environments, laying the groundwork for further research in this critical area. In the experimental phase, a commercial hydraulic lime-based mortar was subjected to varying environmental conditions, including acidic solution immersion with a pH of 3.0, distilled water immersion, and dry storage. Subsequently, the specimens were tested under flexure following exposure durations of 1000, 3000, and 5000 h. In the modeling phase, the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm was deployed to predict the mechanical properties of the lime-based mortar by 1000, 3000, and 5000 h of exposure. Using the experimental data, the machine learning models were trained to capture the complex relationships between the stress-displacement curve (as the output) and various environmental and mechanical properties, including density, corrosion, moisture, and exposure duration (as input features). The predictive models demonstrated remarkable accuracy and generalization (using a 4-fold cross-validation approach) capabilities (R² = 0.984 and RMSE = 0.116, for testing dataset), offering a reliable tool for estimating the mortar’s behavior over extended periods in an acidic environment. The comparative analysis demonstrated that mortar samples exposed to an acidic environment reached peak values at 3000 h of exposure, followed by a decrease in the mechanical properties with prolonged acidic exposure. In contrast, specimens exposed to distilled water and dry conditions exhibited an earlier onset of strength increase, indicating different material responses under varying environmental conditions. Full article