Search Results (182)

Background/Objectives: The main cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is of cardiovascular origin. Entropy-based analysis of physiological signals reflects system irregularity, complexity, and adaptive capacity. Amplitude-aware permutation entropy (AAPE) is a signal analysis method suitable for assessing complex cardiovascular dynamics, and growing evidence suggests that measures of physiological signal variability and complexity may have prognostic value. This study aimed to evaluate whether AAPE can predict mortality in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), with and without diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess whether AAPE analysis of cardiovascular signals following the administration of a glucose bolus directly into the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis (HD)—a method originally used to treat intradialytic hypotension and to study the kinetics of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide in patients with and without type 2 diabetes—can predict mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD), both with and without diabetes. Methods: After seven years of follow-up, mortality outcomes were analyzed in relation to AAPE-derived parameters. Results: Higher mortality was associated with smaller differences in AAPE of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DIA) before and after intravenous glucose administration (p = 0.009 and p = 0.016, respectively). Higher tonicity was associated with higher survival (p = 0.01). Additionally, greater reductions in AAPE of systolic arterial pressure (SYS) and larger differences in AAPE of ejection time (EJT) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were associated with increased mortality. Conclusions: These findings suggest that entropy analysis reflects cardiovascular adaptability and may serve as a prognostic biomarker in HD patients. Full article

Fine migration is widely recognized as a primary cause of production decline in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs. Migrated fines may accumulate within pore throats and obstruct flow channels, or they may be transported into the wellbore with the produced fluids, leading to operational issues such as wellbore plugging, pump sticking, and equipment abrasion. Despite extensive studies on fine migration, the role of particle wettability has received limited attention. In this study, the mineralogical composition of formation particles was first characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and quantitative clay analysis. Surface modification experiments were then conducted to investigate the effect of hexadecylamine (HDA) on particle wettability and to determine the optimal reaction conditions. Surface characterization techniques were employed to elucidate the modification mechanism. Subsequently, sand-packed tube displacement experiments were performed to evaluate the influence of wettability alteration on fine migration behavior. The underlying mechanisms were further interpreted through interfacial thermodynamic analysis. Two potential field application schemes are proposed to facilitate practical implementation in oilfield operations. The results indicate that the water contact angle of formation particles increased from 0° to 150° when treated with 0.8 wt% HDA for 24 h. Surface characterization confirms that HDA molecules were physically adsorbed onto the particle surfaces. Displacement experiments demonstrate that the permeability reduction rate decreases significantly with increasing particle hydrophobicity. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that the work of adhesion on the modified particle surface was reduced by 93.3%, thereby weakening fluid–particle interfacial coupling and suppressing fine mobilization. This study provides a wettability-based approach for mitigating permeability damage caused by fine migration in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rapid, equipment-free molecular detection of bacterial pathogens at the point of care (POC) remains a critical challenge. Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of severe infections, necessitating simple and sensitive diagnostic tools. Methods: We developed an integrated assay combining helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) and rolling circle amplification (RCA) in a sequential ‘one-pot’ format. Asymmetric HDA generates short, single-stranded amplicons from S. aureus DNA, enabling specific padlock probe ligation and subsequent exponential RCA. For equipment-free visual detection, biotin-labeled nucleotides are incorporated during RCA, and products are captured on a silica membrane and detected using a streptavidin-HRP conjugate with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine substrate, producing an unambiguous blue color. Results: The assay detected as few as 10¹ genome copies of S. aureus per reaction. Evaluation against a panel of nine non-target respiratory pathogens and human genomic DNA demonstrated 100% specificity, with no cross-reactivity. The entire procedure is performed isothermally at 65 °C in a single tube with a total assay time of approximately 90 min. Conclusions: This ‘one-pot’ HDA-RCA colorimetric assay combines high sensitivity and specificity for S. aureus in a user-friendly, almost equipment-free format. Its simplicity and robust visual readout make it a promising tool for POC diagnostics in resource-limited settings, enabling rapid clinical decisions without specialized instrumentation. Full article

Excessive acidity restricts the utilization of citrus pulp, a major by-product of the dried tangerine peel industry. To overcome this bottleneck, a functional microbial consortium (BsHpMrF) comprising Bacillus subtilis L4, Hanseniaspora pseudoguilliermondii B4, and Monascus ruber CGMCC 10910 was constructed for efficient biological deacidification. The consortium exhibited a synergistic effect, achieving an 88.23% reduction in total acidity and converting the acidic pulp into a neutral, bio-stabilized substrate. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that this efficiency was driven by the concurrent activation of the TCA cycle and glyoxylate shunt for organic acid mineralization, coupled with membrane lipid remodeling (increased unsaturation) to enhance acid tolerance. Notably, the fermentation process functioned as a “metabolic factory”, significantly enriching the matrix with bioactive lipids (e.g., 10-HDA, nervonic acid) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 414.28 mg/L). Application assays demonstrated that the fermentation products acted as a potent biostimulant for soybean sprouts, significantly promoting lateral roots and eliciting the accumulation of antioxidant phenolics and flavonoids. This study provides a sustainable “waste-to-treasure” strategy, valorizing acidic citrus pulp into a functional biostimulant for high-quality edible sprout production, thereby achieving a sustainable “waste-to-food” circular loop. Full article

The global challenge of feeding a growing population while minimizing environmental impacts necessitates novel food production systems. Plant cellular agriculture offers a sustainable alternative for producing food ingredients; however, its commercial viability is hindered by the high costs and regulatory hurdles associated with conventional reagent-grade culture media. In this study, we developed a novel, cost-effective, and food-grade basal culture medium, FG-N6CI, for rice cellular agriculture. By replacing reagent-grade basal-medium components of the N6CI medium with food-grade alternatives, specifically by substituting chemical reagents with yeast extract, kelp powder, manganese yeast, and a boron supplement, we formulated a food-grade basal nutrient composition while retaining reagent-grade phytohormones. Rice (Oryza sativa L. ‘Taichung 65’) callus cultured on FG-N6CI medium exhibited significantly higher fresh weight (7.1 g) than the conventional N6CI medium (5.8 g) after 35 days (p < 0.05). Gene expression analysis showed no significant differences between the expression of OsHDA710 and OsTIR1, suggesting that FG-N6CI supports normal cellular proliferation and signaling similar to the standard medium. Economically, the cost of FG-N6CI medium was reduced by approximately 72% compared with that of the commercial reagent-grade mixture (219 JPY/L vs. 795 JPY/L). These results demonstrate that FG-N6CI is an economically competitive basal medium for scaling-up plant cellular agriculture. Full article

Pt-based catalysts remain the most effective materials for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); however, platinum scarcity and high cost severely limit the large-scale deployment of the technology. Improving catalytic activity and durability through precise control of nanoparticle morphology is therefore crucial for reducing costs and enhancing sustainability, enabling PEMFC widespread adoption. In this context, carbon-supported Pt-based nanoparticles with a 30 wt.% Pt loading were synthesized by an organometallic chemistry approach using hexadecylamine (HDA) as a stabilizer, allowing fine control over nanoparticle morphology. Two distinct synthesis pathways (one-pot and two-step procedures) were used to prepare platinum catalysts supported on KetjenBlack EC-300J (KB), and their influence on the electrocatalytic activity of the obtained nanomaterials was studied. Furthermore, the effect of HDA stabilization on catalyst performance was investigated. Directly synthesized Pt/KB catalysts exhibited similar ORR mass activity, regardless of whether or not HDA was present. Pt/KB prepared by the two-step procedure showed a significantly lower performance. Additionally, despite a larger loss of electrochemical surface area during an accelerated stress test compared to a commercial Pt/C reference, Pt^HDA/KB and Pt/KB catalysts maintained stable mass activity and limited specific activity degradation, highlighting the beneficial effect of nanoparticle stabilization in the presence of HDA on prolonged electrocatalyst cycling. Full article

Phytopathogenic Ascomycetes Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) causes wheat powdery mildew disease and impacts global wheat production. Decoding the molecular wheat-Bgt interaction could facilitate the wheat disease resistance breeding. In this study, we elucidated that wheat histone deacetylase 19 (TaHDA19) regulates susceptibility to Bgt pathogen by suppressing biosynthesis of cuticular wax and salicylic acid (SA). Knockdown of wheat TaHDA19 gene expression led to in enhanced cuticular wax and SA accumulation, potentiated Bgt conidia germination and appressoria formation, attenuated formation of Bgt haustoria and microcolonies. Histone deacetylase TaHDA19 is enriched at the TaECR and TaSARD1 promoter regions to facilitate histone deacetylation, and thus suppressing TaECR and TaSARD1 transcription. In addition, we identified cuticular wax and SA regulated by TaHDA19 as chemical cues determining wheat pre- and postsusceptibility to Bgt pathogen. These findings collectively support that the wheat histone deacetylase TaHDA19 epigenetically suppresses cuticular wax and SA biosynthesis, thereby dampening chemical cues essential for the wheat powdery mildew susceptibility. Full article

AISI 1045 steel often undergoes premature failure under combined corrosive-wear conditions due to its insufficient surface durability. To address this, a hot-dip aluminum (HDA) coating was deposited on the steel substrate. The microstructure, corrosion behavior, and tribological properties of the coating were systematically characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical techniques, and tribometry. The results reveal that the coating exhibits a continuous triple-layer structure, consisting of the steel substrate, an intermediate Fe-Al intermetallic compound layer, and an outer aluminum-rich layer. In a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, the coating formed a protective Al₂O₃ film, demonstrating clear passivation behavior. It significantly enhanced the substrate’s performance, achieving an approximately 90% reduction in wear rate and a substantial increase in charge transfer resistance. The coated sample showed a lower friction coefficient (0.24) compared to the bare substrate (0.34). Herein, this work demonstrates that a straightforward and industrially viable hot-dip aluminizing process can effectively improve the corrosion and wear resistance of medium-carbon steel. The findings provide a practical surface-hardening strategy for such steels operating in aggressive environments. Full article

Royal jelly, a high-value natural product rich in bioactive compounds, is highly susceptible to quality deterioration during storage and processing. However, current quality standards rely predominantly on basic physicochemical parameters and measuring the content of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which fail to capture the comprehensive and dynamic nature of its freshness. This significant knowledge gap hinders the accurate assessment, prediction, and control of royal jelly quality throughout its supply chain. To address this limitation, this review systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying the deterioration of royal jelly freshness, including key pathways such as protein denaturation, Maillard reactions, enzymatic inactivation, and lipid oxidation, and analyzes the combined effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on its quality stability. It highlights the potential applications of novel biochemical markers—including major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), Maillard reaction products, enzymatic activity indicators, and energy metabolites—while comparing the advantages and limitations of traditional chromatographic techniques with modern rapid sensing and spectroscopic analysis methods. Regarding preservation, a critical yet inadequately summarized area, this review systematically evaluates the applicability and limitations of various approaches, including low-temperature storage, drying treatments, non-thermal sterilization, microencapsulation, and modified atmosphere packaging. Future directions for integrated quality control are outlined, providing a theoretical basis for holistic quality management of royal jelly. Full article

Honeybees require diverse nutrients for larval growth, adult development, and colony health. Pollen quality significantly impacts reproduction, productivity, and growth. Bioactive substances from honeybee glands enhance colony health, with recent studies showing that optimal citric acid intake extends lifespan, boosts pollen consumption, accelerates mandibular gland development, and improves royal jelly quality. This review examines organic acid feeding’s effects on gland development and overall health, offering insights for beekeeping and supplementary food development to support sustainable apiculture. Research gaps in organic acid supplementation, gland development, and health benefits are identified. The impact of varying organic acid concentrations on 10-HDA biosynthesis in mandibular glands and key regulatory proteins influencing 10-HDA expression is summarized. Findings highlight the benefits of organic acid supplements for worker bee gland development and health, guiding future research and practical applications in beekeeping. Full article

In this study, six club raspberry varieties were examined for their aromatic profiles and sensory qualities, and statistical approaches were used to determine how aroma components affect consumer impressions. Analysis of the aroma’s chemical composition was performed utilizing headspace SPME and GC-MS. MS-DIAL -v5.5.250627 software was used to identify components from commercial libraries, after 10 repetitions for each variety, followed by manual verification. A sensory evaluation of fresh fruits, with 55 volunteers, was statistically analyzed and linked to chemical composition using multivariate analysis and the OPLS-HDA classification method, which was employed for the first time. Tula Magic was scored the highest in the sensory evaluation compared to Adelita, Himbo Top, Glen Dee, San Rafael, and Cascade Harvest. 2-Heptanol (fresh, lemongrass-like, herbal, floral, fruity, green), heptanal (fresh, aldehydic, fatty, green, herbal), and 2-methyl-6-hepten-1-ol (oily-green, herbaceous-citrusy) separated Tula Magic from the other varieties assessed. The same components were recognized in OPLS as positive contributors to the flavor score, while terpenoids like trans-β-ionone, α-ionone, and α,β-dihydro-β-ionone, as well as 2-heptanone, scored slightly lower. This suggests that a fine balance between the individual components is key to the overall aroma sensation. Full article

The efficiency of wetlands in removing nutrients from streams and rivers can be accurately evaluated using diatom-inferred total phosphorus (DI-TP), as DI-TP integrates the effects of various environmental factors. However, studies assessing the efficiency of an extensive set of wetlands at multiple scales and under different levels of human disturbance activities (HDA) in removing DI-TP from streams and rivers are sparse. A national-scale dataset from the U.S. EPA’s 2008–2009 National Rivers and Streams Assessment survey provides a unique opportunity to answer this question. Our results showed that, compared to watershed-scale wetlands, local-scale wetlands performed better at removing DI-TP from streams and rivers. Additionally, wetlands performed better at removing DI-TP under lower levels of HDA, suggesting that high levels of HDA could alter the structure and function of wetlands enough to affect their ability to remove nutrients. Interaction analysis revealed there was a significant positive relationship between HDA and local-scale wetlands. We conclude that DI-TP is a valuable metric for evaluating the effectiveness of wetlands at removing nutrients from streams and rivers. To support freshwater management, both the spatial scale of wetlands and the level of HDA on wetlands, along with their cross-scale interactions, should be considered. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide and a leading cause of cervical cancer, accounting for over 300,000 deaths annually, primarily due to high-risk genotypes HPV-16 and HPV-18. Conventional molecular diagnostic methods, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), require expensive instrumentation and well-equipped laboratories, which limits their applicability in low-resource or decentralized settings. To address this challenge, the aim of this study was to develop a prototype point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platform based on helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) integrated into a microfluidic device for the specific detection of HPV-16 and HPV-18. The proposed POC platform comprises a disposable poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfluidic device, a portable warming mat for isothermal amplification at 65 °C, and a compact electrophoresis chamber for fluorescence-based visualization using SYBR Safe dye, with an approximate total cost of $320 USD. Platform validation was performed on 33 samples, demonstrating amplification of target sequences in less than 60 min with only 20 µL of reaction volume, a limit of detection (LOD) of 15 copies (cp) per reaction, a sensitivity of 95.52%, and a specificity of 100%. This portable and scalable platform constitutes a cost-effective and reliable tool for the detection of HPV, supporting global health initiatives, including those driven by the World Health Organization (WHO), aimed at eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat, as it can be implemented in decentralized or resource-limited settings. Full article

Influenza A viruses that cause pandemics, as well as other harmful pathogens (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 variants), are known as the ‘silent bioterrorists’ of the 21st century. Due to high mutability, anti-influenza chemotherapeutic treatment is a vital defense strategy to combat both seasonal and pandemic influenza strains, especially when vaccines fail. Consequently, the development of novel therapies to combat this serious threat is of great concern. Hence, in this study, 3-(2-thienyl) acrylic acid (TA) was converted into amides of anti-influenza drugs (aminoadamantanes and oseltamivir) through TBTU-mediated coupling. The crystal structures of the thienyl-based amide hybrids (TA-Am (1), TA-Rim (2), TA-Os-OEt (3), and TA-OsC (4)) were also investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the antiviral activities of the hybrids against influenza virus A/Fort Monmouth/1/1947 (H1N1), clinically isolated influenza strain A/Wuhan/359/1995 (H3N2), and oseltamivir-resistant A/Jinnan/15/2009 (H1N1) were evaluated in vitro. Amongst the tested thienyl-based amides, bisamide 8 (Boc-Os-Hda-TA) exhibited the most potent activity against influenza virus A (A/Wuhan/359/1995) with an IC₅₀ value of 18.52 μg/mL and a selectivity index (SI) = 13.0. Full article

In Brassica napus, hypocotyl elongation under shade conditions poses a significant challenge in intensive agricultural systems, particularly in rice-rapeseed rotation regimes where straw mulching reduces light quality. However, the genetic basis of light-mediated hypocotyl growth responses in B. napus remains poorly understood. In this study, hypocotyl lengths were measured in a panel of 267 diverse rapeseed accessions under five light conditions including white, red, far-red, blue light, and complete darkness. Substantial phenotypic variation was observed among accessions and treatments, with red light exhibiting the weakest inhibitory effect on elongation, and white light showing the strongest suppression. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (−log₁₀ (p) > 4.5) identified numerous significant SNPs associated with light response, highlighting candidate genes such as KAN1, ILL2, VQ18, HDA15, and HAT3 involved in photomorphogenesis and hormonal signaling pathways. These findings elucidate the polygenic control of light responsiveness in B. napus and provide molecular targets for breeding shade-tolerant varieties to enhance crop resilience under dense planting and straw mulching systems. Full article