Search Results (141)

Purpose: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a class of man-made compounds widely utilized in manufacturing everyday consumer products. Experimental studies indicate that PFAS may interfere with iron regulation by hindering absorption or inducing oxidative stress. Nonetheless, epidemiological studies examining the association between PFAS exposure and a broad spectrum of iron-related biomarkers remain scarce. Approach and Results: In this study, data from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed, which included 5050 adults aged 18 and older. The relationships between six PFAS compounds, oral iron intake, and a comprehensive set of markers of iron homeostasis, including serum iron, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation, ferritin, and transferrin receptor levels, were examined. Our findings revealed a negative association between both individual and total PFAS (sum of six PFAS) levels and oral iron intake. Additionally, serum iron and transferrin saturation levels exhibited significant positive correlations with all PFAS compounds, whereas ferritin was positively correlated with all PFAS compounds except n-perfluorooctanoic acid (n-PFOA). UIBC and transferrin receptor showed significant negative correlations with all PFAS compounds, while TIBC was significantly negatively correlated with n-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (n-PFOS), perfluoromethylheptane sulfonic acid isomers (sm-PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and the total PFAS. Conclusions: Higher PFAS exposure was associated with altered iron status biomarkers While this cross-sectional study cannot establish causality, the observed associations raise the possibility that PFAS exposure may influence iron absorption. These findings emphasize the need for additional research into the potential impact of PFAS exposure on iron homeostasis. Full article

Fat embolism is a critical medical emergency often resulting from long bone fractures or amputations, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a key regulator of innate immunity, is activated by reactive oxygen species and tissue damage, contributing to inflammatory responses. This study examines the role of NLRP3 in fat embolism-induced ARDS and evaluates the therapeutic potential of MCC950, a selective NLRP3 antagonist. Fat embolism was induced by fatty micelle injection into the tail vein of Sprague Dawley rats. Pulmonary injury was assessed through lung weight gain as an edema indicator, NLRP3 expression via Western blot, and IL-1β levels using ELISA. Histological damage and macrophage infiltration were evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Fat embolism significantly increased pulmonary NLRP3 expression, lipid peroxidation, IL-1β release, and macrophage infiltration within four hours, accompanied by severe pulmonary edema. NLRP3 was localized in type I alveolar cells, co-localizing with aquaporin 5. Administration of MCC950 significantly reduced inflammatory responses, lipid peroxidation, pulmonary edema, and histological damage, while attenuating MAPK cascade phosphorylation of ERK and Raf. These findings suggest that NLRP3 plays a critical role in fat embolism-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, and its inhibition by MCC950 may offer a promising therapeutic approach. Full article

The optimal parameters for the microwave-assisted extraction of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. were determined by using response surface methodology (RSM), increasing the extraction of flavonoids by 1.79 times. The resulting extract facilitated the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) with a wurtzite structure through a reaction with zinc nitrate. These ZnONPs were then incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) by using an electrospinning technique to produce nanofibers. The incorporation of ZnONPs resulted in an increase in Young’s modulus, biodegradation rate, and swelling ratio while decreasing the diameter and water contact angle of the nanofibers, thereby improving the hydrophilicity of PCL. ZnO demonstrates excellent biocompatibility with periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), increasing cell proliferation and enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity by 56.9% (p < 0.05). Additionally, mineralization deposition increased by 119% (p < 0.01) in the presence of 1% ZnO and showed a concentration-dependent response. After inducing PDLSC cultures with PCL–1% ZnO for 21 days, the protein expression levels of Runx2 and OCN increased by 50% (p < 0.05) and 30% (p < 0.001), respectively. Additionally, Col-1, Runx2, BSP, and OCN gene expression levels increased by 2.18, 1.88, 1.8, and 1.7 times, respectively. This study confirms that biosynthesized ZnONPs improve the physical properties of PCL nanofibers and effectively induce the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. Full article

This study was conducted at SPINLab. The full-scale experiments were performed using two experimental spaces of identical specifications to investigate the effects of electrochromic film (OG + EC_ON or OG + EC_OFF) on indoor environment and air conditioning electricity consumption in buildings with different orientations (East and West). The electricity-saving effects are more pronounced on the building’s west-facing side than on its east-facing side. For the east-facing side, the average electricity savings for OG + EC_ON and OG + EC_OFF were 4.5%, and 5.1%, respectively. For the west-facing side, the average electricity savings increased to 9.2% and 9.4% for OG + EC_ON and OG + EC_OFF. The research results on thermal comfort indicate (PMV) that applying electrochromic film (OG + EC_ON or OG + EC_OFF) significantly improved indoor thermal comfort compared to using clear glass (OG) alone. The visual comfort analysis results indicate that the opaque (OG + EC_OFF) and transparent (OG + EC_ON) states of electrochromic film could reduce daylight glare probability (DGP) values. However, due to the light-scattering properties of the liquid crystal droplets, the OG + EC_OFF and OG + EC_ON states of the electrochromic film increased DGP values in 26.5% and 41.5% of the cases, respectively, when sunlight directly entered the interior. Full article

Optical modulators are indispensable components in optical communication systems and must be designed to minimize insertion loss, reduce driving voltage, and enhance linearity. State-of-the-art silicon modulator technology has limitations in terms of power, performance, and spatial size. The addition of materials such as thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), silicon–organic hybrids (SOH), and plasma–organic hybrids (POH) has improved the modulation performance in silicon photonics. An evaluation of the differences among these modulators and their respective performance characteristics is conducted. Full article

The rise of industrial machinery and military training activities has significantly contributed to low-frequency noise pollution, which can penetrate traditional passive noise isolation methods and pose serious health risks, including irreversible hearing damage. To address this challenge, this study proposes a hybrid active noise control (HANC) system, integrating an adaptive active noise control (AANC) module based on the filtered-x least mean squares (FxLMS) algorithm and an audio-balance control circuit (ABCC). The AANC system actively generates anti-noise signals to mitigate low-frequency disturbances, while the ABCC module enhances voice clarity and protects users from excessive impulse noise. MATLAB R2023b simulations and hardware implementations validate the system’s effectiveness, achieving a noise reduction of up to 21.8 dB in controlled environments. Additionally, the proposed feedback active noise control architecture ensures robust performance under dynamic noise conditions, improving stability and response time. By integrating both software-based adaptive filtering and hardware circuit design, this study provides a comprehensive noise mitigation solution with potential applications in military, industrial, and vehicular environments. Full article

Background and Objectives: In recent years, bipolar disorder (BD), a multifaceted mood disorder marked by severe episodic mood fluctuations, has been shown to have an impact on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The increasing prevalence of BD highlights the need for better diagnostic tools, particularly those involving genetic insights. Genetic association studies can play a crucial role in identifying variations linked to BD, shedding light on its genetic underpinnings and potential therapeutic targets. This study aimed to identify novel genetic variants associated with BD in the Taiwanese Han population and to elucidate their potential roles in disease pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: Genotyping was conducted using the Taiwan Precision Medicine Array (TPM Array) on 128 BD patients and 26,122 control subjects. Following quality control, 280,177 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed via chi-square tests, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses were employed to examine the associations among key SNPs. Results: Eleven SNPs reached significance (p < 10⁻⁵), with the variant rs11156606 in the ABCD1 gene—implicated in fatty acid metabolism—emerging as a prominent finding. LD analysis revealed that rs11156606 is strongly linked with rs73640819, located in the 3′ untranslated region, suggesting a regulatory role in gene expression. Additionally, rs3829533 in the MTHFSD gene was found to be in strong LD with the missense variants rs3751800 and rs3751801, indicating potential alterations in protein function. Conclusion: These findings enhance the genetic understanding of BD within a Taiwanese cohort by identifying novel risk-associated variants and support the potential for using these markers in early diagnosis and targeted therapeutic strategies. Full article

Oral health is fundamental to overall well-being, especially in childhood, when dental structures and lifelong habits are established. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of children’s dental development, common oral health challenges, and evidence-based preventive strategies. Key topics include the mechanisms of tooth development, the eruption processes of primary and permanent dentition, and the management of developmental abnormalities. The prevalence, risk factors, and health impacts of dental caries in children are examined, underscoring the need for early intervention and targeted prevention. This review evaluates the effectiveness of preventive measures such as dental sealants, fluoride varnishes, and fluoride mouth rinses while highlighting the influence of dietary habits, toothbrush selection, and parental involvement on oral health outcomes. Additionally, it explores the synergistic benefits of combining preventive approaches, such as the concurrent use of dental sealants and fluoride applications, which have demonstrated superior caries prevention compared to either method alone. The effectiveness of these strategies is analyzed across different age groups, from early childhood to adolescence, with tailored recommendations for each developmental stage. Furthermore, the role of education, policy interventions, and community-based programs in addressing oral health disparities is discussed. By integrating developmental insights with epidemiological data and clinical evidence, this review provides a comprehensive framework for advancing pediatric dentistry, informing best practices, and enhancing preventive strategies to reduce the burden of oral diseases in diverse pediatric populations. Full article

In this study, a single zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanoneedle structure oriented in the <100> direction was fabricated by a dual-beam focused ion beam (FIB-SEM) system, and its field emission characteristics and emission current stability were evaluated. Benefiting from controlled fabrication with real-time observation, the ZrC nanoneedle has a smooth surface and a tip with a radius of curvature smaller than 20 nm and a length greater than 2 μm. Due to its low work function and well-controlled morphology, the ZrC nanoneedle emitter, positioned in a high-vacuum chamber, was able to generate a single and collimated electron beam with a current of 1.2 nA at a turn-on voltage of 210 V, and the current increased to 100 nA when the applied voltage reached 325 V. After the treatment of the nanoneedle tip, the field emission exhibited a stable emission for 150 min with a fluctuation of 1.4% and an emission current density as high as 1.4 × 10¹⁰ A m⁻². This work presents an efficient and controllable method for fabricating nanostructures, and this method is applicable to the transition metal compound ZrC as a field emission emitter, demonstrating its potential as an electron source for electron-beam devices. Full article

There are limited studies in the literature on the surface characterization of modified graphene and graphene oxide and the impact of these modified adsorbents on adsorption performance. In addition, the amine group essentially has a promising affinity for carbon dioxide (CO₂). Therefore, chitosan was used in this study to be grafted onto graphene and graphene oxide respectively. This study examines the effects of graphene, graphene oxide, and chitosan-modified graphene oxide thin films on the removal of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Thin films of graphene, graphene oxide, and their chitosan-modified counterparts were prepared via the methods of precipitation and grafting. The differences in the chemical structure, surface properties, and surface morphology of the films were evaluated, and their effect on the adsorption performance of CO₂ is discussed herein. The micrographs from a scanning electron microscope (SEM) show that the surface of graphene oxide appeared to be more porous than graphene, and the amount of grafted chitosan on graphene oxide is higher than that on graphene. An analysis of atomic force microscope (AFM) finds that the surface of chitosan-modified graphene oxide is rougher than that of chitosan-modified graphene. The results of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectra reveal that the composition of oxygen in graphene oxide is greater than that in graphene and confirm that the oxygen and nitrogen contents of chitosan-modified adsorbents are greater than those of the pristine materials. An analysis of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) shows that most of the oxygen-containing groups are reacted or covered by amide or amine groups due to modification with chitosan. The adsorption isotherms for CO₂ adsorbed by the prepared graphene and graphene oxide presented as type I, indicating great adsorption performance under low pressure. The appropriate amount of chitosan for modifying graphene oxide could be found based on the change in surface area. Although the breakthrough times and the thicknesses of the mass transfer regions for graphene oxide modified with 0.9% and 1.2% chitosan were similar, the modification of graphene oxide with 0.9% chitosan was appropriate in this study due to a significant decrease in surface area with 1.2% chitosan dosage. The adsorption uptake difference between chitosan-modified graphene oxide and graphene was greater than that without modification with chitosan due to more chitosan grafted on graphene oxide. The Toth adsorption isotherm model was used to fit the adsorption uptake, and the average deviation was about 1.36%. Full article

Background: Muscle depletion (MD) is a critical factor that influences clinical outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although its role in cancer prognosis is recognized, its integration into widely used prognostic systems remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of MD on overall survival (OS) in HCC patients and to improve existing noninvasive prognostic models by incorporating MD-related metrics. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1072 HCC patients treated at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital between January 2006 and December 2016. All patients had follow-up data and computed tomography (CT) scans at vertebral level L3 for MD evaluation. Independent prognostic factors for OS were identified using Cox proportional hazards models, and the predictive performance of various prognostic models was assessed through the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: The key independent predictors of OS in HCC patients included hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, liver cirrhosis, tumor size, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, and MD-related metrics (psoas muscle-to-spine ratio, psoas muscle-to-vertebral ratio, and myosteatosis). Among existing models, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, the Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP) class, and the albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) grade demonstrated robust predictive performance for OS. However, incorporating MD significantly improved the predictive accuracy of these models, with the MD–BCLC model showing the highest AUROC (0.804, 95% CI: 0.777–0.832, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MD is an independent and significant prognostic predictor for patients with HCC. Integrating MD metrics into established systems, particularly the BCLC staging system, markedly improves OS prediction, providing a more comprehensive tool for clinical decision-making in the management of HCC. Full article

Sedimentary records of event deposits are crucial for regional natural disaster risk assessments and hazard history reconstructions. After Super Typhoon Haiyan passed through the South China Sea in 2013, five gravity cores were collected along the typhoon path in the southern South China Sea basin (>3800 mbsl). The results showed that Super Typhoon Haiyan deposits with clear graded bedding are preserved at the top of all cores. The thickness of the typhoon layers ranges from 20 to 240 cm and is related to changes in typhoon intensity. The lack of river-connected submarine canyon systems limited the transportation of terrestrial sediments from land to sea. Super Typhoon Haiyan-induced large surface waves played an important role in carrying suspended sediment from the Philippines. The Mn-rich layers at the bottom of the typhoon layers may be related to the soil and rock composition of the Palawan region, which experienced tsunami-like storm surges caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan. These Mn-rich layers may serve as a proxy for sediment export from large-scale extreme terrigenous events. This study provides the first sedimentary record of extreme typhoon events in the deep ocean, which may shed light on reconstructing regional hazard history. Full article

Luteolin (Lut) and apigenin (Apn), flavones present in various edible plants, exhibit diverse antioxidant and pharmacological activities but have limited in vivo efficacy due to low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Here, we generated luteolin and apigenin monophosphate derivatives (LutPs and ApnPs) individually via microbial biotransformation. We then characterized their physicochemical properties and evaluated their in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics and bioavailability. Both LutPs and ApnPs showed enhanced solubility and dissolution and remained stable in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Additionally, they efficiently reverted to parental forms via alkaline phosphatase in Caco-2 cells. Following oral administration in rats, LutPs and ApnPs exhibited higher plasma exposure to both aglycone and conjugated forms compared to Lut and Apn. Notably, the in vivo biotransformation of Apn to Lut was observed in all apigenin-related groups. Our study suggests that flavone monophosphates are effective alternatives with enhanced bioavailability, providing insights for the potential application of emerging bioactive nutraceuticals. Full article

Understanding the relationships between nutrient content in plant roots and ecological stoichiometry is crucial for elucidating nutrient utilization strategies and material cycling in alpine plant communities. However, data characterizing the stoichiometric characteristics of plant roots in this region remain limited. In this study, we collected fine-root and soil samples from five common alpine shrub species—Salix gilashanica, Potentilla fruticosa, Caragana jubata, Caragana tangutica, and Berberis diaphana—to investigate the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric characteristics of their fine roots and examine the potential nutrient control strategies based on the soil properties. Our analysis revealed that the mean C (541.38 g kg⁻¹) and P (1.10 g kg⁻¹) contents in the shrub fine roots exceeded the average levels of the plant roots in China. However, the mean N content (8.61 g kg⁻¹) was lower than the global average. Notably, the mean C:N ratio (71.3) in these fine roots was significantly higher than the global average, whereas both the mean C:P ratio (527.61) and N:P ratio (8.11) were considerably lower. The N:P ratios in the fine roots of the five shrub species were below 14, indicating nitrogen limitation for growth in the degraded alpine shrub communities. Our findings indicate that soil available phosphorus (33.2%) and pH (20.5%) are the primary factors influencing the eco-stoichiometric characteristics of shrub fine roots in the Qilian Mountains. These findings provide valuable data and theoretical support for a better understanding of the role of shrub roots in nutrient cycling within alpine ecosystems. Full article

Curcumin is utilized extensively as Chinese medicine in Asia due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and inflammatory activities. However, its use has the challenges of low oral bioavailability and high heat sensitivity. The aim of this research was to produce flexible nano-liposomes containing curcumin using an innovative approach of ethanol injection and Tween 80 to enhance the stability and preservation of curcumin. The mean particle size, encapsulation efficiency, thermal degradation, storage stability, and curcumin release in flexible nano-liposomes were also investigated. We found that the mean particle size of curcumin-loaded flexible nano-liposome decreased from 278 nm to 27.6 nm. At the same time, the Tween 80 concentration increased from 0 to 0.15 wt%, which corresponded with the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphology analyses, and particle size decreased with an enhancement in Tween 80 concentration. Further, pure curcumin was quickly released within one hour at 37 °C, and first-order kinetics matched with its release curve. However, curcumin encapsulated in flexible nano-liposomes showed a slow release of 71.24% within 12 h, and a slower release pattern matched with the Higuchi model over 24 h, ultimately reaching 84.63% release. Hence, flexible nano-liposomes of curcumin made by a combination of ethanol injection and Tween 80 addition prevented the thermal degradation of curcumin, and enhanced its storage stability and preservation for future drug delivery applications. Full article