Search Results (191)

Cyclodextrins (CDs), cyclic oligosaccharides formed by α-1,4-glycosidic-bonded D-glucopyranose units, feature unique hydrophobic cavities and hydrophilic exteriors that enable molecular encapsulation via host–guest interactions. CDs form supramolecular host–guest complexes with diverse molecular entities, establishing their fundamental role in supramolecular chemistry. This review examines fabrication strategies for CD-based supramolecular hydrogels and their applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with focused analysis on wound healing, corneal regeneration, and bone repair. We critically analyze CD–guest molecular interaction mechanisms and innovative therapeutic implementations, highlighting the significant potential of CD hydrogels for tissue regeneration while addressing clinical translation challenges and future directions. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves progressive dopaminergic neuron degeneration and motor deficits. Oligodendrocyte dysfunction contributes to PD pathogenesis through impaired myelination. Methods: Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of PD mice revealed compromised oligodendrocyte differentiation and STAT5B downregulation. Pseudotemporal trajectory analysis via Monocle2 demonstrated impaired oligodendrocyte maturation in PD oligodendrocytes, correlating with reduced myelin-related gene expression (Sox10, Plp1, Mbp, Mog, Mag, Mobp). DoRothEA-predicted regulon activity identified STAT5B as a key transcriptional regulator. Results: Oligodendrocyte-specific STAT5B activation improved myelin integrity, as validated by Luxol Fast Blue staining and transmission electron microscopy; attenuated dopaminergic neuron loss; and improved motor function. Mechanistically, STAT5B binds the MBP promoter to drive transcription, a finding confirmed by the luciferase assay, while the DNMT3A-mediated hypermethylation of the STAT5B promoter epigenetically silences its expression, as verified by MethylTarget sequencing and methylation-specific PCR. Conclusions: DNMT3A inhibited the expression of STAT5B by affecting its methylation, which reduced the transcription of MBP, caused oligodendrocyte myelin damage, and eventually led to dopamine neuron damage and motor dysfunction in an MPTP-induced mouse model. This DNMT3A-STAT5B-MBP axis underlies PD-associated myelin damage, connecting epigenetic dysregulation with oligodendrocyte dysfunction and subsequent PD pathogenesis. Full article

Naturally occurring prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) influences cytokine production regulation in bovine neutrophils exposed to Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach. Here, we employed bovine neutrophils as the primary experimental system, and administered specific inhibitors targeting various receptors, which were subsequently exposed to S. aureus. Cytokine expression levels in dairy cow neutrophils induced by S. aureus via the endogenous PGE₂-EP2/4 receptor pathway were investigated, and its effects on P38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), P65 activation, and phagocytic function in Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach-induced dairy cow neutrophils, were examined. Blocking cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) enzymes substantially decreased PGE₂ production and release in S. aureus-exposed bovine neutrophils. Cytokine output showed significant reduction compared to that in SA113-infected controls. Phosphorylation of P38, ERK, and P65 signaling molecules was depressed in the infected group. Pharmacological interference with EP2/EP4 receptors similarly diminished cytokine secretion and phosphorylation patterns of P38, ERK, and P65, with preserved cellular phagocytic function. During S. aureus infection of bovine neutrophils, COX-2 and mPGES-1 participated in controlling PGE₂ biosynthesis, and internally produced PGE₂ molecules triggered NF-κB and MAPK inflammatory pathways via EP2/EP4 receptor activation, later adjusting the equilibrium between cytokine types that promote or suppress inflammation. This signaling mechanism coordinated inflammatory phases through receptor-mediated processes. Full article

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a significant global health challenge. Liupao tea (LPT), a post-fermented dark tea, has shown potential metabolic benefits, but clinical evidence remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of LPT with varying aging durations on clinical parameters, body composition and gut microbiota in individuals with MetS. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind trial, patients with MetS were randomly assigned to intervention groups, receiving 6 g/day of LPT aged for 1, 4, 7, or 10 years, respectively, over a 90-day intervention period. Blood pressure, lipid and glucose levels, body weight, body composition, and gut microbiota were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: A total of 71 participants, with a mean age of 53.5 years, were included. At the final assessment, significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed in the 10-year-aged groups (p < 0.05). In terms of lipid profiles, the 1-year-aged group showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol (TC), while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly decreased in the 1-, 4-, 7-, and 10-year-aged groups (p < 0.05). All intervention groups showed significant reductions in body weight, body fat mass (BFM), along with an increase in muscle mass (MM) (p < 0.05). A decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroides (F/B) ratio was observed in the 10-year-aged group. No significant differences in clinical parameters or body composition regulation were observed between groups with varying aging durations (p > 0.05). Conclusions: LPT intervention effectively improves metabolic health and modulates gut microbiota in MetS patients, irrespective of aging duration. These findings support LPT as a functional beverage for the management of MetS. Full article

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the short-term effects of ambient ozone (O₃) meteorological factors and their interactions on hospitalizations for cerebral infarction in Zhengzhou, China. Methods: Daily data on air pollutants, meteorological factors, and hospitalization of cerebral infarction patients were collected from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2023 in Zhengzhou, China. A generalized additive model was constructed to evaluate the association between ambient O₃ levels and hospitalization for cerebral infarction. A distributed lag non-linear model was applied to capture lagged and non-linear exposure effects. We further examined the modifying roles of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, and conducted stratified analyses by sex, age, and season. Results: O₃ exposure was significantly associated with increased cerebral infarction risk, particularly during the warm season. A bimodal temperature-lag pattern was observed, as follows: moderate temperatures (10–20 °C) were associated with immediate effects, while cold (<10 °C) and hot (>30 °C) temperatures were linked to delayed risks. The association of O₃ and hospitalizations for cerebral infarction appeared stronger under high humidity, low wind speed, and low atmospheric pressure. Conclusions: Short-term O₃ exposure and adverse meteorological conditions are jointly associated with an elevated risk of cerebral infarction. Integrated air quality and weather-based warning systems are essential for targeted stroke prevention. Full article

The TGACG motif-binding factor (TGA) family is an important group of basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors in plants, playing crucial roles in plant development and stress responses. This study conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the TGA transcription factor (TF) family in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A total of 48 wheat TGAs were identified and classified into four subgroups. Collinearity analysis of the TGAs between wheat and other species identified multiple duplicated gene pairs and highlighted the presence of highly conserved TGAs in wheat. Whole-genome and segmental duplications were identified as the primary drivers of TaTGA expansion. Expression pattern analysis indicated that TaTGAs are involved in plant development and responses to abiotic stresses, including drought, heat, and cold treatment. Among these, TaTGA16-2D was significantly upregulated under both drought and heat stresses, showing more than a five-fold increase in expression. Subcellular localization confirmed its nucleus localization. Functional validation through ectopic expression in Arabidopsis demonstrated that transgenic lines overexpressing TaTGA16-2D exhibited significantly improved stress tolerance. Under heat stress, the survival rates of transgenic lines exceeded 34%, compared to less than 18% in wild-type plants. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the evolution and functional roles of TaTGAs and identifies TaTGA16-2D as a promising candidate to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in wheat via molecular breeding. Full article

This study aims to determine the differences in the effects of vacuum packaging and modified atmosphere packaging on the quality, flavor, and microorganisms of Mianning ham. Vacuum packaging exhibits stronger antioxidant properties (a* value), while modified atmosphere packaging inhibits microorganisms and delays the decline of Aw through CO₂. A total of 249 volatile substances was determined in the ham, while 19 main flavor substances, such as 1-octanol, hexanal, 2-nonanone, and p-cresol, were identified. It was found that the packaging method significantly affected the contents of alcohols and hydrocarbons. At the phylum level, Firmicutes is the dominant bacterial community. At the genus level, in the vacuum packaging group, Tetragenococcus and Carnobacterium are the core contributing bacteria for flavor, while Staphylococcus is dominant in both packaging types and may inhibit flavor formation. Full article

In order to evaluate spatial pollution patterns of the Shaying River and assess human health risk, thirty-three sampling points were established in different reaches of the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Shaying River. According to the difference in human activities and land use types, the sampling points were artificially divided into three areas: mountainous area, urban area, and agricultural area. Water samples and sediments were collected at each sampling site, and the physicochemical parameters of the water at each site were measured simultaneously. The nutrient content of water samples and the heavy metal content of sediments were measured in the laboratory. The water pollution status of the Shaying River, as well as the status of heavy metal pollution and its associated risk to human health, were assessed and analyzed using the Water Quality Index (WQI) method, principal component analysis (PCA) method, potential ecological risk index method, and health risk assessment method, respectively. The results of the Water Quality Index indicated that the water quality of the Shaying River was moderate, with the reaches in the urban area being more polluted, the agricultural area being the second most polluted, and the mountainous area being in better condition. The results of the principal component analysis showed that soluble ions, organic matter, and nutrients were the main factors contributing to water pollution in the Shaying River, and there was significant variability in the factors contributing to water pollution in different regions, with human activities being the main cause of this variation. The results of a potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments showed that heavy metal pollution in the water bodies of the Shaying River was serious and had significant spatial variability. Mountain reaches were the most polluted, followed by agricultural reaches, and urban reaches were the least polluted. The results of the health risk assessment showed that non-carcinogenic risks of heavy metals in different reaches of the Shaying River were within acceptable limits, while carcinogenic risks in agricultural areas exceeded thresholds. Among them, agricultural areas had the highest health risk, with Cr being the most carcinogenic heavy metal and Pb and Cr being the most non-carcinogenic heavy metals. The assessment also found that children’s carcinogenic risk was 8.4 times higher than adult males and 7.3 times higher than adult females. This study involves the typical diverse areas where the Shaying River passes, in order to provide data support and a theoretical basis for environmental protection of the Shaying River Basin. Full article

The association of gut microbiota with lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) remains unexplored. This study employed metagenomic sequencing and plasma metabolomics analyses to investigate the role of gut microbiota in LNTB patients. Significant alterations in gut microbial diversity were observed in LNTB patients, characterized by a notable reduction in bacterial taxa involved in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis, including Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Blautia, compared to healthy individuals. KEGG pathway analysis further revealed that gut dysbiosis could negatively impact SCFA biosynthesis and metabolism. Plasma metabolomics demonstrated disruptions in metabolites associated with SCFA synthesis and inflammation pathways in the LNTB group. Integrated analysis indicated significant correlations between specific gut microbiota (Blautia, Butyricicoccus, Coprococcus, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, Clostridium) and plasma metabolites, including α-benzylbutyric acid, acetic acid, and succinic acid. Our findings demonstrate that gut microbiota dysbiosis and related metabolic dysfunction significantly reduce SCFA production in LNTB patients, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets for LNTB management. Full article

Liangshan Semi-fine Wool Sheep (LSWS, Ovis aries) are widely raised in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China. To provide a scientific basis for LSWS meat processing, our study investigated various parameters across six meat parts of LSWS including the neck, chuck roll, thin flank, outside flat, eye of round, and hind shank. Our findings revealed that thin flank displayed a higher pH₂₄ compared to outside flat (p < 0.05), as well as greater lightness than outside flat and hind shank (p < 0.05), along with higher redness than eye of round (p < 0.05). Hardness among six meat parts ranked in descending order as chuck roll, hind shank, outside flat, eye of round, neck, and thin flank. Meanwhile, the odor activity value decreased in the order of thin flank, eye of round, hind shank, neck, chuck roll, and outside flat. In terms of the nutritional composition, hind shank exhibited the highest protein content (p < 0.05). Thin flank also contained elevated levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs, 4977 μg/g), Σn-3 (1859 μg/g) and Σn-6 (2962 μg/g) fatty acids (p < 0.05). Regarding human health implications, thin flank showed a lower thrombogenicity index (p < 0.05). This study undertook a comprehensive analysis of meat quality and nutritional attributes across six LSWS meat parts, providing a scientific foundation for LSWS meat industry development and assisting consumers in making informed purchasing decisions. Full article

Small and micro wetlands exhibit enduring ecological dynamics that critically inform urban development planning and biodiversity conservation strategies. Focusing on Wuxi City (a representative area under high-intensity anthropogenic pressure in China’s Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration), we employ the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. By integrating multi-temporal remote sensing imagery (1980–2020) with field surveys, we quantitatively assess spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality, with particular emphasis on their enhancement effects. The key findings were as follows. (1) The overall habitat quality in Wuxi City declined significantly during the period of 1980–2020 based on 30 m resolution land-use/land cover (LULC) data. The area of “good” habitat increased marginally by 1.02%, while “fair” and “excellent” habitats decreased by 19.4% and 1.64%, respectively. Conversely, the area of “poor” habitat rose markedly by 28.71%. (2) Small and micro wetlands were identified using Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification on Landsat imagery, showing a transformation from abundance to scarcity and then back to abundance. Before 2000, these areas grew rapidly, reaching a peak of 4.04 × 10⁴ hm² in 2000. Afterward, there was a sharp decline from 2000 to 2005, followed by stabilization. (3) A comparison of two land-use scenarios revealed that incorporating small and micro wetlands significantly expanded high-quality habitat areas and reduced low-quality areas. The most notable expansion occurred in 2000, with high-quality habitat areas increasing by 12.30%. This study demonstrates that directly using existing land-use data for habitat quality simulation overlooks the influence of small and micro wetlands. It is recommended that habitat quality simulations include extracted small and micro wetland data to ensure accurate assessments. Full article

To address the dual clinical challenges of poor osseointegration and inadequate analgesia caused by postoperative infections in traditional titanium implants, this study proposes a multifunctional synergistic strategy based on metal—organic frameworks (MOFs). By integrating drug-controlled release and ionic microenvironment regulation, it constructs a titanium-based implant coating system with antibacterial and bone-regenerative properties. Ketoprofen, a drug with excellent analgesic properties, was loaded into MgCu-MOF74 powder, and the Ket@MgCu-MOF74 powder was successfully anchored onto the surface of the titanium alloy through dopamine-mediated adhesion. The maximum load of ketoprofen to MgCu-MOF74 is 18.55%, and it has a good controllable release effect. The results showed that MgCu-MOF74/Ti and Ket@MgCu-MOF74/Ti coatings enhanced osteogenic performance by promoting alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen secretion, and extracellular matrix mineralization. Additionally, the release of Mg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ created an alkaline environment, providing antibacterial properties. In summary, the MOF enabled the controlled release of ketoprofen, and the composite coating can improve osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts and enhance the antibacterial properties of titanium alloy implants. Full article

The electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) into value-added multi-carbon C₂₊ products holds significant promise for sustainable chemical synthesis and carbon-neutral energy cycles. Among the various strategies developed to enhance CO₂RR, the use of ionic liquids (ILs) has emerged as a powerful approach for modulating the local microenvironment and electronic structure of Cu-based metal catalysts. In this study, to unravel the molecular-level mechanisms underlying these enhancements, density functional theory calculations (DFTs) were employed to systematically explore how ILs with different terminal groups modulate the electronic reconstruction of the Cu surface, further affecting the *CO–*CO coupling and product selectivity. Electronic structure analyses reveal that ILs bearing polar moieties (–SH, –COOH) can synergistically enhance the interfacial electron accumulation and induce an upshift of the Cu d-band center, thereby strengthening *CO adsorption. In contrast, nonpolar IL (CH₃) exhibits negligible effects, underscoring the pivotal role of ILs’ polarity in catalyst surface-state engineering. The free energy diagrams and transition state analyses reveal that ILs with polar groups significantly lower both the reaction-free energy and activation barrier associated with the *CO–*CO coupling step. This energetic favorability selectively inhibits the C₁ product pathways and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), further improving the selectivity of C₂ products. These theoretical insights not only unveil the mechanistic origins of IL-induced performance enhancement but also offer predictive guidance for the rational design of advanced IL–catalyst systems for efficient CO₂ electroreduction. Full article

This paper explores how to reduce supply-demand conflicts in supply chains by utilizing complementary products’ unique relationships and shared objectives. Also, it considers the service level concerns of consumers. Primarily employing game theory, this paper analyzes the pricing strategies of complementary products within a three-tier dual-channel supply chain, the relationship between pricing and service levels, and the performance optimization across channels. Numerical results demonstrate that elevated values of α₁ indicate heightened consumer sensitivity to manufacturer price fluctuations. To sustain sales volume, manufacturers are compelled to reduce prices, consequently leading to a decline in equilibrium prices within the market. A rise in β₁ induces an across-the-board increase in all price tiers, albeit with differential magnitudes. The intensification of channel competition α₂ exerts downward pressure on all pricing components. The retailer’s price demonstrates maximal responsiveness to β₂ fluctuations, as retailers directly absorb cost variances. Full article

This study investigated anaerobically digested swine wastewater (ADSW) as a nutrient source for Chlorella vulgaris FACHB-8 cultivation under mixotrophic conditions with carbon supplementation. The microalgal strain was grown in ADSW supplemented with six carbon sources, followed by concentration optimization. Under optimized conditions (20 g/L glucose), FACHB-8 demonstrated a high biomass productivity (271.31 mg/L/day) and a specific growth rate of 0.42 per day. The system achieved an 88.70% total nitrogen removal and an 82.93% total phosphorus removal. The biomass contained 45.59% lipids, 29.72% proteins, and 13.05% carbohydrates, with fatty acid methyl esters showing balanced proportions of saturated (50.77%) and unsaturated fatty acids (49.23%). These findings highlight the potential of glucose-based mixotrophic cultivation for simultaneous wastewater treatment, renewable biomass production, and value-added lipid production. This work proposes a scalable swine wastewater treatment system that synergizes bioremediation and renewable energy production via carbon-enhanced microalgae cultivation, offering a dual-functional strategy for sustainable livestock wastewater reuse. Full article