Search Results (185)

Organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) are widely used in agriculture and are associated with metabolic dysregulation and cognitive impairment. Emerging evidence links OPP exposure to insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, a condition known to negatively impact brain function. Prior investigations in our laboratory identified significant dysregulation of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites associated with the endocannabinoid system in both diabetic patients and those with chronic OPP exposure, with a marked reduction in serum AA levels in the OPP-exposed cohort. This study investigates the impact of OPP exposure and pre-diabetes on the hippocampal proteome and whether AA supplementation can mitigate the resulting neuronal proteomic alterations. Using a controlled rat model, high-resolution LC-MS/MS-based proteomics identified differentially expressed proteins across experimental groups. Both OPP exposure and pre-diabetes were associated with increased cognitive impairment and were associated with overlapping disruptions in pathways related to insulin resistance, mitochondrial function, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal development. AA supplementation mitigated cognitive decline and stabilized synaptic and metabolic proteins; however, residual pathway dysregulation highlights the complexity of these stressors. Our results reveal novel molecular intersections between environmental and metabolic drivers of cognitive impairment, establishing a rationale for further research into inexpensive, protective dietary interventions. Full article

The agrifood industry generates substantial amounts of waste to meet the increasing global food demand, raising environmental concerns. Valorization of these residues through the recovery of high-added-value compounds and renewable energy production, such as biogas via Anaerobic Digestion (AD), offers a sustainable solution. In this study, the potential of Olive Pomace (OP), Brewers’ Spent Grain (BSG), and Cereal Wheat Bran (BR) as substrates for AD was investigated. Lignin was removed from these biomasses using an Ionic Liquid (IL) composed of triethylamine and sulphuric acid ([Et₃N][HSO₄]), and the delignified residues, called Olive Pomace Pulp (OPP), Brewers’ Spent Grain Pulp (BSGP), and Cereal Wheat Bran Pulp (BRP), were evaluated for their biogas and biomethane production potential through the volumetric method, coupled with an alkaline trap for biogas upgrading. An analysis was performed, considering biogas and biomethane yields, AD duration, and energy requirements. Raw biomasses provided different biomethane concentrations, with OP reaching 53.73%, BSG 76.59%, and BR 77.36%. After IL treatment, the methane content was 55.6% for OPP, 60.0% for BSGP, and 54.6% for BRP. Owing to their similar composition, BSG and BR displayed comparable biomethane production profiles. The analysis highlighted BSG and BR as the most efficient substrates for AD following lignin removal. Overall, this approach demonstrates the potential of agro-industrial waste valorization to produce bioenergy and support the transition toward a circular economy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Skeletal muscle adaptation to metabolic stress involves a coordinated regulation of inflammatory, bioenergetic, and anabolic signalling pathways. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of whey protein isolate (WPI; commercial name: Volapure) as a modulator of cellular responses to stress in an in vitro model of exercise-mimetic stress over time. Methods: Murine C2C12-differentiated cells were exposed to an Exercise–Mimetic Mix (ExM) to reproduce key biochemical features of muscle stress. Cells were treated with WPI (1 mg/mL) using Pre-exposure (Pre-ExM) and Post-exposure (Post-ExM) protocols at 8 and 24 h. Multiple endpoints were assessed, including cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cytokine release (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17), intracellular signalling pathways (p38 MAPK, ERK, AMPK, mTOR), bioenergetic markers (ATP, glycogen, lactate), protein synthesis (OPP incorporation), and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ fluxes. Results: ExM exposure induced a stress phenotype characterised by increased oxidative and inflammatory markers, impaired bioenergetic status, and reduced anabolic signalling. WPI was associated with modulation of these responses, reducing ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, restoring ATP and glycogen levels, and changes in ERK and mTOR-related signalling. The Post-ExM protocol showed greater modulation compared to the Pre-ExM approach, particularly at 24 h. WPI was also associated with the normalisation of ExM-altered Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ fluxes. These findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal. Conclusions: WPI was associated with modulation of key pathways involved in cellular adaptation to metabolic stress, supporting recovery of bioenergetic balance and anabolic signalling in C2C12 cells. These findings suggest a potential role for WPI in influencing cellular responses to metabolic stress, supporting recovery of bioenergetic balance and anabolic signalling in C2C12-differentiated-cells. However, further studies are required to confirm the translational relevance of these observations. Full article

With the expanding application of digital technologies in urban renewal, more effective ways of incorporating dispersed public experience and needs into the renewal process still require further exploration. To address this issue, this research innovatively proposes an AI-assisted renewal method for historic districts driven by urban memory, constructing a continuous methodological chain from the identification of public evaluations to problem translation, to scheme generation and feedback validation. This research integrates the concept of interessement devices from Actor-Network Theory (ANT) with generative AI technologies for case application and validation. Taking Hanzheng Street as a case study, this research extracts the public’s urban memory of the historic district from online comments and identifies renewal demands. These demands were further associated with urban image elements to clarify their spatial carriers and support the subsequent generation of scene-based renewal schemes. On this basis, AI-generated images are further used to present renewed scenarios, and public evaluations of the renewal effects are collected. The results show that urban memory of Hanzheng Street can be summarized into five themes, which were further translated into five obligatory passage points (OPPs), one core issue, and corresponding renewal demands for scene units. The renewal schemes generated through this method achieved a relatively high level of public recognition overall, with mean evaluation scores ranging from 4.10 to 4.27, an overall satisfaction mean of 4.19, and a Top-2 proportion of 82.8%. By incorporating public experience into the formation of renewal schemes, this research provides a people-oriented and effective pathway for participation and feedback in the renewal of historic districts, while also offering methodological reference for the renewal of similar historic districts. Full article

Routing in Opportunistic Networks (OppNets) is continuously challenged by intermittent connectivity and severe resource constraints. To address these limitations, this paper proposes CASTRO, a novel routing architecture, alongside its reinforcement learning extension, QL-CASTRO. The primary novelty lies in the mathematical modeling of disconnection intervals (OFF-mode) to extract precise social indicators—Strength, Trend, and Regularity—providing a robust alternative to traditional encounter-frequency metrics. To overcome the latency penalties inherent to conservative social routing, QL-CASTRO integrates a tabular Q-Learning paradigm. This acts as a dynamic acceleration mechanism, fusing social metrics with autonomous delivery delay estimates and strict message retirement policies. Performance was rigorously evaluated using the ONE simulator across dense pedestrian (Helsinki) and sparse vehicular (Manaus) environments. The results demonstrate that both protocols achieve high delivery rates near 90%. Crucially, QL-CASTRO significantly reduces average delivery latency compared to the baseline CASTRO protocol while maintaining moderate overhead and low energy consumption. Ultimately, this hybrid approach offers a scalable, resource-efficient routing solution for dynamic IoT environments where system longevity and information integrity are paramount. Full article

Pasteurella multocida serotype A (P. multocida) is frequently associated with severe respiratory disease in swine (Sus scrofa), highlighting the need for effective preventive strategies. To identify protective antigens suitable for a subunit vaccine targeting porcine P. multocida infection, six recombinant proteins (rAspA, rLolA, rOmpP6, rOppA, rRps6, rSmpA) were expressed in a prokaryotic system, and their efficacy was evaluated in a Mus musculus (Kunming) mouse model. All proteins were purified using His-tag affinity chromatography, and SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed expression with bands at the expected molecular weights (61, 26, 21, 63, 19, and 17 kDa). Each protein, formulated with ISA 201 adjuvant, was administered to mice in two immunizations. Indirect ELISA of sera collected at multiple time points demonstrated that all vaccines induced high antigen-specific IgG levels. rOppA, rLolA, rOmpP6, and rRps6 were expressed in soluble form, whereas rAspA and rSmpA formed inclusion bodies. In a lethal challenge model, rLolA and rRps6 conferred the highest protection (60% each), followed by rAspA and rOmpP6 (30%), rOppA (20%), and rSmpA (10%). Under the conditions tested, the highest protection observed was 60%, and none of the six antigens achieved complete protection against homologous A7 challenge in mice. This first head-to-head comparison under identical conditions provides a reference framework for future antigen screening studies. Full article

Artisanal raw milk cheeses harbour complex microbial communities that drive cheese making and shape sensory quality. Previous work on Idiazabal cheese identified rennet as a major microbial source, although all reservoirs contributed to varying degrees. However, their impact in terms of enzyme-encoding genes related to technological quality of cheese remained unexplored. Building on that, this study draws on metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from cheeses and dairy environments to comprehensively identify enzyme-encoding genes involved in key biochemical processes. In cheese MAGs (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei), protease-encoding genes were dominated by ATP-dependent metalloproteases (M41), carbohydrate-active enzyme-encoding genes (CAZymes) by glycoside hydrolases (GH) and glycosyltransferases (GT), while esterase, lipase, and related-enzyme-encoding genes were restricted to sparse ‘GDXG’, type-B and esterase D families. Dairy environments emerged as major reservoirs of enzyme-encoding genes, with notable differences among sample types (p ≤ 0.001). The richest sources of protease-encoding genes were grass (610 genes), linked primarily to Pantoea agglomerans, and rennet (318), mainly related to Basfia sp. and Moraxella sp., dominated by metalloproteases (M23, M38) and serine proteases (S15). The largest reservoirs of CAZyme-encoding genes were food contact surfaces (1550), associated mainly with Salinisphaera sp. and Dietzia sp., and rennet (1505), related to, e.g., Bacteroides pyogenes, Alloprevotella sp., and Lentilactobacillus buchneri. Food contact surfaces were also the richest source of esterase, lipase and related-enzyme-encoding genes (1209), mainly linked to Dietzia sp., Corynebacterium sp., and Brevibacterium aurantiacum. Similarly, aroma-related enzyme-encoding genes (e.g., oppA, pepA, GH13, esterase D) were consistently detected in environmental matrices. These results provide novel insights into dairy microbiomes as functional reservoirs of aroma precursors, revealing their relevance for artisanal PDO cheese production and future biotechnological applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined age-related differences in ocular and cardiovascular responses to graded motor–cognitive task complexity in young and older adults. Methods: Forty-three healthy adults participated, including 21 young adults (27.1 ± 7.7 years) and 22 older adults (63.1 ± 7.8 years). Participants completed three tasks of progressively increasing motor–cognitive complexity. Intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), blood pressure, and heart rate were measured at baseline, after each task block, and at a post-task recovery assessment. Results: Significant condition effects were found for IOP (p = 0.012, η²p = 0.08), OPP (p < 0.001, η²p = 0.76), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001, η²p = 0.51), and relative heart rate (p < 0.001, η²p = 0.40). Condition × group interactions were significant for IOP (p = 0.004, η²p = 0.09), OPP (p = 0.002, η²p = 0.10), and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.003, η²p = 0.11). Post hoc analyses showed that young adults exhibited a decrease in IOP from the first task block to recovery (p = 0.011, d = 0.35), whereas older adults showed a return toward baseline values. Relative heart rate was consistently higher in older adults across the protocol (p < 0.001, η²p = 0.29). Conclusions: Increasing motor–cognitive task complexity elicited progressive ocular and cardiovascular responses. The findings suggest that aging may influence the pattern of physiological adaptation to graded motor–cognitive load, particularly during early recovery. Concurrent assessment of ocular and cardiovascular measures may help characterize these response patterns. Full article

Stretching of the upper trapezius muscle reduces stiffness and choroidal blood flow velocity, but its effect on skin blood flow remains unclear. We evaluated the changes in upper trapezius skin circulation hemodynamics before/after self-stretching using skin laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG). Twenty-two healthy young adults (median age [Q1–Q3]: 21.0 [20.0–21.0] years) were enrolled. Trapezius stiffness was assessed using ultrasound strain elastography, and skin and choroidal blood were measured with skin and ocular LSFG, respectively, using mean blur rate (MBR) as an index of blood flow velocity. Intraocular pressure (IOP); systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean blood pressure (MBP); heart rate (HR); ocular perfusion pressure (OPP); salivary α-amylase (sAA) activity; and subjective eyestrain/shoulder stiffness symptoms (visual analog scale, VAS) were evaluated at baseline and after stretching. SBP, DBP, MBP, OPP, sAA activity, VAS scores for eyestrain and shoulder stiffness, trapezius stiffness, and skin and choroidal MBR decreased significantly after self-stretching, whereas IOP and HR remained unchanged. Trapezius muscle self-stretching reduces muscle stiffness and induces relaxation in healthy adults, accompanied by reduced sympathetic activity and decreased systemic, choroidal, and local skin circulation. These findings suggest that skin LSFG may serve as a useful, non-invasive tool for evaluating shoulder stiffness. Full article

This study evaluated changes in upper trapezius muscle stiffness and choroidal blood flow velocity before and after ultrasonic therapy of the trapezius muscle. Participants included 27 healthy young adults in their 20 s (median age [Q1–Q3]: 21.0 [19.3–21.0]) without subjective shoulder pain. All participants received a single-session ultrasound intervention, and no control group was included. Intraocular pressure (IOP), systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, mean BP, heart rate (HR), ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), and salivary α-amylase (sAA) activity, a marker of autonomic nerve function, were assessed at baseline and after therapy. Stiffness of the upper trapezius muscle was evaluated using shear wave elastography, and choroidal hemodynamics were assessed by measuring the mean blur ratio (MBR), a relative index of macular blood flow velocity, using laser speckle flowgraphy. IOP, systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP, HR, OPP, sAA activity, and MBR reduced significantly after therapy. The shear elastic modulus of the trapezius muscle also decreased significantly. However, no significant correlations were observed among the parameters. Among healthy adults in their 20 s without shoulder pain, trapezius muscle ultrasound therapy may enhance parasympathetic activity, contributing to decreases in systemic and choroidal circulatory parameters. These findings indicate that ultrasound therapy for shoulder stiffness may influence local musculoskeletal characteristics, systemic and ocular circulation, and autonomic pathways. Full article

Long-term cold exposure reduces livestock welfare and productivity in Inner Mongolia. This study assessed cold stress effects on 60 two-month-old female Dorper × Mongolia lambs allocated to four sheltering conditions (n = 15): indoor pens with enclosed housing (IP), outdoor pens (OP), house with playground pens (OPP), and polytunnel pens (PP). Compared with IP, OP exhibited significantly lower temperature, humidity, CO₂ concentration, NH₃ concentration, and WCI, and significantly higher wind speed and solar radiant heat (p < 0.001). Humidity, CO₂ concentration, and NH₃ concentration in PP was lower than in IP, but higher than in OP (p < 0.001); temperature, wind speed, and WCI did not differ significantly between PP and IP. ADG was significantly lower in OP and OPP than in IP (p < 0.001), whereas PP did not differ from IP. F:G was higher in OP than in IP and PP (p = 0.040). Feeding duration had significant effects on ACTH, leptin, T₃, T₄, TP, urea, TG, NEFA, LDL, and HDL concentrations. Rearing environment significantly affected GLU, ALB, LDH, and TG. Feeding duration × sheltering conditions interaction significantly influenced ACTH, TP, ALB, urea, LDH, TG, LDL, and HDL. OP induced cold stress and dysfunction, while IP and PP produced milder responses. PP raised indoor temperatures substantially, and is thus optimal for winter lamb production. Full article

Organophosphorus pesticide residues (OPPs) pose significant threats to ecological systems and human health, and conventional detection techniques are cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly. Herein, a facile electrochemical biosensor has been constructed based on a methyl green/chitosan (MG/Chi) composite membrane-modified electrode for the selective detection of OPPs, using isazofos (Isa) as the model analyte. Experimental results demonstrated that Isa significantly decreases the redox peak current of the modified electrode in buffer solution, and a good linear relationship was observed between the change in peak current and Isa concentration within a specific range. This biosensor exhibits excellent anti-interference capability and high sensitivity, with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.60 μM. Furthermore, it was successfully applied for the quantitative determination of OPPs in real food and environmental samples, which confirms its reliable practical applicability and potential for on-site monitoring. Full article

In 2021, Quanzhou, China, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Using the Motivation–Opportunity–Ability (MOA) theoretical framework, this study examines how motivation, opportunity, and ability factors influence community participation (CP) in conserving and developing tourist attractions. Quanzhou’s World Heritage Site (WHS) was chosen as the case study, while Social Media Involvement (SMI) was selected as a moderator for this analysis. Through PLS-SEM, a total of 405 valid responses were examined and evaluated. The findings show that based on the MOA framework, Motivation Positive Perceptions (MPP), Opportunity (OPP), Awareness (AAW), and Knowledge (AKN) have significant positive effects on CP, whereas Motivation Negative Perceptions (MNP) exert a significant negative effect on CP and Motivation Interest (MINT) does not achieve statistical significance. Additionally, all motivation, opportunity, and ability factors have significant positive moderating relationships with CP through SMI. Hence, this study confirms that the MOA framework is applicable to the context of Chinese World Heritage Sites; it extends the current understanding of how social media can play a role in the governance of cultural heritage (CH). Thus, this study provides both a theoretical basis and practical considerations for CP in the sustainable conservation and tourism development of WHSs. Full article

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy due to ALDH7A1 deficiency (PDE-ALDH7A1) is a rare but treatable epileptic encephalopathy caused by disruption of lysine catabolism and secondary depletion of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP). Although seizures are often controlled with pyridoxine supplementation, many patients continue to experience neurodevelopmental impairment, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and improved therapeutic strategies. Central to both diagnosis and pathophysiology is the accumulation of lysine-derived metabolites, most notably α-aminoadipate semialdehyde (α-AASA), its cyclic Schiff base Δ¹-piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C), and pipecolic acid. These metabolites have become the biochemical hallmarks of PDE-ALDH7A1, linking ALDH7A1 pathogenic variants to PLP inactivation and neuronal dysfunction. However, their chemical instability and analytical requirements pose challenges for universal diagnostics and newborn screening. This review summarizes current understanding of lysine catabolism in health and disease, critically evaluates the diagnostic utility and limitations of classical biomarkers, and discusses emerging insights into their pathophysiological roles. We further highlight recent discoveries of novel, chemically stable biomarkers, including 6-oxopiperidine-2-carboxylic acid (6-oxo-PIP), 2-oxopropylpiperidine-2-carboxylic acid (2-OPP), and 6-hydroxy-2-aminocaproic acid (HACA), identified through advanced metabolomics approaches. These metabolites show promise for newborn screening and provide new mechanistic links between metabolic stress, seizure susceptibility, and ongoing neurological morbidity despite pyridoxine treatment. Collectively, advances in biomarker discovery are reshaping diagnostic strategies for PDE-ALDH7A1 and offering new perspectives on disease mechanisms, paving the way for earlier detection and the development of more effective, mechanism-based therapies. Full article

This study compared the effectiveness of alkaline protease, neutral protease, trypsin, and papain in hydrolyzing oyster proteins and evaluated the antioxidant activities of the resulting hydrolysates. Alkaline protease achieved the highest degree of hydrolysis (30.96%) and the highest proportion of peptides ≤1 kDa (64.23%). Papain showed the lowest hydrolysis degree (18.29%). After separation by Sephadex G-15 gel filtration chromatography, the resulting low-molecular-weight peptide fractions (≤1 kDa) from each hydrolysate exhibited higher in vitro antioxidant activity than the higher-molecular-weight fractions (>1 kDa). Notably, trypsin and papain-derived low-molecular-weight fractions (OPP-T2 and OPP-P2) demonstrated stronger DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of linoleic acid autoxidation than those from alkaline and neutral proteases. Cell experiments revealed that all low-molecular-weight fractions effectively alleviated H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in LO2 cells. OPP-T2 and OPP-P2 exhibited significantly stronger protection of cell membrane integrity and enhancement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than OPP-A2 and OPP-N2 (p < 0.05). OPP-T2 also showed the most pronounced increase in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that protease selection critically influences hydrolysis efficiency and antioxidant activity, with molecular weight being a key determinant of peptide antioxidant capacity. This work provides a reference for the development and application of oyster peptides. Full article