Saved Queries

by Andrea Macchia, Benedetta Paolino, Camilla Zaratti, Fernanda Prestileo, Federica Sacco, Mauro Francesco La Russa and Silvestro Antonio Ruffolo

Heritage 2025, 8(12), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120544 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

The environmental sustainability of cleaning materials used in heritage conservation remains poorly quantified despite growing attention to the replacement of hazardous petroleum-based solvents with bio-based alternatives. This study applies a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCIA) to compare conventional solvents with innovative bio-based formulations, including Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs), Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES), and aqueous or organogel systems used for cleaning painted surfaces. Following ISO 14040/14044 standards and using the Ecoinvent v3.8 database with the EF 3.1 impact method, three functional units were adopted to reflect material and system-level scales. Results demonstrate that water-rich systems, such as agar gels and emulsified organogels, yield significantly lower climate and toxicity impacts (up to 85–90% reduction) compared with petroleum-based benchmarks, while FAME and DES exhibit outcomes highly dependent on allocation rules and baseline datasets. When including application materials, cotton wipes dominate total environmental burdens, emphasizing that system design outweighs solvent substitution in improving sustainability. The study provides reproducible data and methodological insights for integrating LCIA into conservation decision-making, contributing to the transition toward evidence-based and environmentally responsible heritage practices. Full article

12 pages, 350 KB

Open AccessArticle

Neonatal Screening for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in Guangzhou: 7 Years of Experience

by Xuefang Jia, Ting Xie, Xiang Jiang, Fang Tang, Minyi Tan, Qianyu Chen, Sichi Liu, Yonglan Huang and Li Tao

Int. J. Neonatal Screen. 2025, 11(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijns11040116 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of neonatal congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) screening in Guangzhou, China. A total of 818,417 newborns were screened for CAH by measuring 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentrations. Cut-off values were stratified based on gestational age (GA) and the timing of sample collection. Neonates with initial positive results (17-OHP ≥ cut-off value) were recalled for a second dried blood spot sample to reassess 17-OHP levels. Confirmatory testing involved biochemical analyses, Sanger sequencing, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification of the CYP21A2 gene. From 2018 to 2024, a total of 40 patients with classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency were identified, including 28 cases (70%) of the salt-wasting form and 12 cases (30%) of the simple virilizing form. The overall incidence of CAH was 1 in 20,653 (95% confidence interval: 1:34,928, 1:14,661). No statistically significant differences in prevalence were observed between sexes or between preterm and full-term infants (p > 0.05). 17-OHP concentrations are influenced by GA and the timing of sample collection. The screening efficiency for CAH could be improved by adopting a multitiered cut-off value system adjusted for GA and collection time. Full article

11 pages, 807 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Transvaginal and Transperineal Ultrasonographic Uterocervical Angle Measurements in Low-Risk Pregnancies at 24–34 Weeks’ Gestation

by Emrah Dagdeviren and Yucel Kaya

Diagnostics 2025, 15(24), 3232; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15243232 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background: The uterocervical angle (UCA) is a promising ultrasound parameter for predicting preterm birth. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) is the gold standard for cervical assessment; however, some patients may decline the procedure due to discomfort or embarrassment. Although transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) offers an alternative associated with less discomfort, comparative data on UCA measurements between these two methods are limited. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the consistency and agreement between UCA measurements obtained using TVUS and TPUS in pregnant women between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, UCA and CL measurements of 189 pregnant women between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation were performed using TVUS and TPUS by a single specialist. Of these, 25 women (13.2%) were excluded due to inadequate TPUS image quality. A total of 164 women were included in the statistical analysis. Pearson correlation analysis, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and Bland–Altman analysis were performed. Results: UCA measurements showed a high positive correlation between TVUS and TPUS (r = 0.833, p < 0.001). The ICC was 0.827 (95% CI: 0.77–0.87), indicating good consistency, and the CCC was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76–0.86). The Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated a median difference of 3° between UCA measurements obtained via TVUS and TPUS. The non-parametric limits of agreement, represented by the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles, ranged from −20.9° to 34.8°. Conclusions: TPUS shows insufficient agreement to be used interchangeably with TVUS for UCA measurement. Although the level of consistency is high, inadequate image quality in a subset of cases and the uncertainty regarding the clinical utility of TPUS-derived measurements for predicting preterm birth limit its current clinical applicability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)

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14 pages, 1826 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Hibernation Ecology of the Endangered Amphibian, Pelophylax chosenicus Using PIT Tagging Method

by Kwanik Kwon, Changdeuk Park, Jeongwoo Yoo, Nakyung Yoo, Keun-Sik Kim and Juduk Yoon

Animals 2025, 15(24), 3638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15243638 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

The Gold-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax chosenicus (Okada, 1931)), classified as an endangered species in South Korea, has experienced significant population declines due to habitat loss, primarily driven by agricultural expansion and urbanization. This study aimed to assess the hibernation ecology of P. chosenicus using PIT tagging technology, focusing on its hibernation behavior, environmental conditions, and implications for conservation and restoration. Over a three-year period (2021–2024), PIT tags were implanted in 408 frogs, enabling continuous monitoring of hibernation sites and individual characteristics. The results revealed that hibernation depths ranged from 1 to 23 cm, with deeper burrowing observed during colder months, indicating a temperature-dependent survival strategy. The soil temperature at hibernation sites remained consistently higher than ambient air temperature, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to avoid freezing conditions. Additionally, frogs exhibited a strong preference for hibernation sites near water bodies, where soil moisture levels were high, highlighting the importance of preserving suitable microhabitats for successful overwintering. These findings provide valuable insights into the hibernation ecology of P. chosenicus and are critical for guiding effective habitat restoration initiatives. Future research should investigate physiological adaptations to varying hibernation environments and the potential impacts of climate change may impact the survival of this endangered species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Herpetology)

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16 pages, 1258 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stagnation in U.S. Recycling Rates: Evaluating the Impact of Bottle Bills and Public Investments into Recycling Education

by Chanho B. Oh and Younsung Kim

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411335 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

The U.S. municipal solid waste recycling rate has remained near 32% for two decades, placing the country 30th globally. In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a national goal of achieving a 50% recycling rate by 2030, yet concrete strategies for reaching this target remain limited. Persistent challenges—such as low public participation and inadequate dissemination of effective practices—highlight the potential importance of recycling education. This study has two aims. First, we assess federal investment in recycling education through the EPA’s Environmental Education Grants Program (1992–2023) using a large language model (LLM)-assisted text-mining approach to identify recycling-focused projects. Second, we examine the factors that shape state-level recycling rates, including policy, demographic, infrastructure, and education variables. Our results show that states with bottle bills—deposit–refund laws for beverage containers—and states with higher levels of educational attainment exhibit significantly higher recycling rates. By contrast, federal investments in recycling education, as measured through the grants program, were not statistically associated with state-level recycling performance. This study introduces a novel analytic approach for evaluating how policy and educational factors contribute to state-level recycling outcomes and to national recycling performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Waste and Recycling)

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33 pages, 1984 KB

Open AccessArticle

DSGTA: A Dynamic and Stochastic Game-Theoretic Allocation Model for Scalable and Efficient Resource Management in Multi-Tenant Cloud Environments

by Said El Kafhali and Oumaima Ghandour

Future Internet 2025, 17(12), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17120583 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Efficient resource allocation is a central challenge in multi-tenant cloud, fog, and edge environments, where heterogeneous tenants compete for shared resources under dynamic and uncertain workloads. Static or purely heuristic methods often fail to capture strategic tenant behavior, whereas many existing game-theoretic approaches overlook stochastic demand variability, fairness, or scalability. This paper proposes a Dynamic and Stochastic Game-Theoretic Allocation (DSGTA) model that jointly models non-cooperative tenant interactions, repeated strategy adaptation, and random workload fluctuations. The framework combines a Nash-like dynamic equilibrium, achieved via a lightweight best-response update rule, with an approximate Shapley-value-based fairness mechanism that remains tractable for large tenant populations. The model is evaluated on synthetic scenarios, with a trace-driven setup built from the Google 2019 Cluster dataset, and a scalability study is conducted with up to

K = 500

heterogeneous tenants. Using a consistent set of core metrics (tenant utility, resource cost, fairness index, and SLA satisfaction rate), DSGTA is compared against a static game-theoretic allocation (SGTA) and a dynamic pricing-based allocation (DPBA). The results, supported by statistical significance tests, show that DSGTA achieves higher utility, lower average cost, improved fairness and competitive utilization across diverse strategy profiles and stochastic conditions, thereby demonstrating its practical relevance for scalable, fair, and economically efficient resource allocation in realistic multi-tenant cloud environments. Full article

18 pages, 341 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reform Without Transformation: The EU’s Diminishing Leverage in the Western Balkans

by Andrej Semenov

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(12), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14120722 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

This article explains why the European Union has not replicated Central and Eastern Europe’s (CEE) transformation in the Western Balkans (WB6). Drawing on the original External Incentives Model (EIM) conditions, the article argues that a different political climate in the WB6 requires attention to additional contextual conditions within the EIM framework to show how the weakened linkage between compliance and rewards emerges. Geopolitical enlargement and the presence of rival powers, a stability-over-democracy approach, bilateral vetoes, and the EU’s ongoing “permacrisis” negatively impact determinacy and EU credibility, while also increasing adoption costs. At the WB6 level, reforms become partial and reversible/at-risk, and even in cases of real progress (Montenegro and Albania), institutions remain fragile. The current arrangement serves both Brussels and local elites, providing short-term stability and keeping the WB6 on the EU path at the price of tolerating domestic capture and reforms without transformation. Yet, this arrangement carries a long-term risk of eroding the EU’s transformative power, as public dissatisfaction with local elites is not met with EU support, and rival powers exploit identity ties and elite channels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section International Politics and Relations)

17 pages, 4245 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Biophilic Therapeutic Framework for Ageing Well in Care Settings

by Carolyn Thomas, Yangang Xing, Andrew Knight and David J. Brown

Buildings 2025, 15(24), 4558; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15244558 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Access to nature is fundamental to human health and wellbeing, yet opportunities for direct and frequent engagement with natural environments are often restricted for individuals in the 80+ age category, particularly those in care settings or living in remote locations. There is therefore an urgent need to enhance nature connections in care settings and provide personalised, restorative experiences that reflect individuals preferred natural features. This prefeasibility pilot study developed a framework to inform the design of therapeutic care settings, grounded in the principles of biophilic neuroarchitecture and designed to support ageing well. Conducted over six months in two care environments, the study applied the biophilic pattern of Complexity and Order to simulate Natural Analogues within immersive virtual settings. Mixed methods combining wearable sensor data and self-reported wellbeing measures were used to assess psychophysiological, emotional, and cognitive responses among participants aged 80 and above. Findings revealed that VR content aligned with individual nature preferences elicited higher levels of engagement, relaxation, and positive affect. This study demonstrates the potential for implementing biophilic design applications to develop therapeutic care settings which promote wellbeing and healthy ageing, particularly where access to real nature is infrequent or limited. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmonizing Nature and Mind: Biophilic and Neuroarchitecture Synergies for Intelligent Buildings Enhancing Human Well-Being)

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23 pages, 9243 KB

Open AccessArticle

Asymmetric Spatial–Frequency Fusion Network for Infrared and Visible Object Detection

by Jing Liu, Jing Gao, Xiaoyong Liu, Junjie Tao, Jun Ma, Chaoping Guo, Peijun Shi and Pan Li

Symmetry 2025, 17(12), 2174; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17122174 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Infrared and visible image fusion-based object detection is critical for robust environmental perception under adverse conditions, yet existing methods still suffer from insufficient modeling of modality discrepancies and limited adaptivity in their fusion mechanisms. This work proposes an asymmetric spatial–frequency fusion network, AsyFusionNet. The network adopts an asymmetric dual-branch backbone that extends the RGB branch to P5 while truncating the infrared branch at P4, thereby better aligning with the physical characteristics of the two modalities, enhancing feature complementarity, and enabling fine-grained modeling of modality differences. On top of this backbone, a local–global attention fusion (LGAF) module is introduced to model local and global attention in parallel and reorganize them through lightweight convolutions, achieving joint spatial–channel selective enhancement. Modality-specific feature enhancement is further realized via a hierarchical attention module (HAM) in the RGB branch, which employs dynamic kernel selection to emphasize multi-level texture details, and a fourier spatial spectral modulation (FS2M) module in the infrared branch, which more effectively captures global thermal radiation patterns. Extensive experiments on the

M^{3}

FD and VEDAI datasets demonstrate that AsyFusionNet attains

86.3 %

and

54.1 %

{mAP}_{50}

, respectively, surpassing the baseline by

8.8

and

6.4

points (approximately

11.4 %

and

13.4 %

relative gains) while maintaining real-time inference speed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computer)

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15 pages, 2270 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Potential Role of the Glycogen-Targeting Phosphatase Regulatory Subunit in Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Asthma

by Marisol Alvarez-González, Elizabeth Eslava-De Jesús and Blanca Bazan-Perkins

Biomedicines 2025, 13(12), 3111; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123111 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Objective: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a hallmark feature of asthma; however, its precise molecular mechanisms remain incompletely defined. In this study, we investigated protein expression in airway smooth muscle that may contribute to AHR, using an experimental model of ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. Methods: Guinea pigs were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Airway responsiveness to histamine was assessed, and proteomic analysis of the tracheal tissue was conducted using electrophoresis followed by MALDI/TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. Specific protein bands corresponding to the myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) were analyzed, and regulatory subunit of glycogen-targeted phosphatase 1 (RG1) was further evaluated through immunohistochemistry. Results: MYPT1, previously associated with AHR, was not detected in the proteomic analysis. Interestingly, an RG1 peptide was identified. Immunohistochemistry showed a differential expression pattern was observed for the RG1 and Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), both of which were significantly upregulated in airway smooth muscle and positively correlated with the degree of AHR. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between RG1 and ROCK2 expression levels. MYPT1 and its phosphorylated forms (Thr⁶⁹⁶ and Thr⁸⁵⁰), along with ROCK1 immunostaining, did not differ from controls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that RG1, along with ROCK2, may play an important role in airway hyperresponsiveness characteristic of asthma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Immunology and Immunotherapy)

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18 pages, 1552 KB

Open AccessArticle

Humic Substances from Different Sources Modulate Salicylic Acid-Mediated Defense in Plants Infected by Powdery Mildew

by Rakiely M. Silva, Vicente Mussi-Dias, Fábio L. Olivares, Lázaro E. P. Peres and Luciano P. Canellas

Plants 2025, 14(24), 3854; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243854 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Modern agriculture relies heavily on chemical inputs to sustain productivity, yet their intensive use poses environmental and health risks. Sustainable strategies based on biostimulants have emerged as promising alternatives to reduce agrochemical dependence. Among these compounds, humic substances (HS) stand out for their ability to modulate plant growth and activate defense responses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of HS from different sources—vermicompost (Vc) and peat (Pt)—on the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense pathway in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) infected with Oidium sp. The HS were characterized by solid-state ¹³C CPMAS NMR to determine the relative distribution of carbon functional groups and structural domains, including alkyl, O-alkyl, aromatic, and carbonyl carbon fractions, as well as hydrophobicity-related indices. Enzymatic activities of lipoxygenase, peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and beta 1,3-glucanase were determined spectrophotometrically, and RT-qPCR quantified gene transcription levels involved in SA signaling and defense (MED25, MED16, MED14, NPR1, ICS, PAL, LOX1.1, MYC2, JAZ, jar1, CAT, POX, SOD, APX, ERF, PR-1, PR-2, PR-4 e PR-5). Both HS significantly reduced disease severity and activated key SA-related defense genes, including the regulatory gene NPR1 and the effector genes PR1, PR2 and PR5, with Pt providing greater protection. Notably, HS amplified defense-related gene expression and enzymatic activities specifically under infection, showing a stronger induction than in non-infected plants. These results demonstrate that structural differences among HS drive distinct and enhanced defense responses under pathogen challenge, highlighting their potential as sustainable tools for improving plant immunity in agricultural systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)

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26 pages, 393 KB

Open AccessReview

Essential and Toxic Elements in Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiological Roles and the Emerging Contribution of Hair Mineral Analysis

by Zofia Gramala, Oliwia Kalus, Joanna Maćkowiak, Katarzyna Zalewska, Michał Karpiński, Antoni Staniewski, Zofia Szymańska, Maciej Zieliński, Malwina Grobelna, Paweł Zawadzki, Ryszard Staniszewski, Aleksandra Krasińska-Płachta, Paulina Mertowska, Mansur Rahnama-Hezavah, Ewelina Grywalska and Tomasz Urbanowicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 12145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412145 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Hair mineral analysis (HMA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive method for assessing long-term exposure to trace elements and metals, potentially complementing traditional biochemical and clinical markers of cardiovascular risk. This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationships between hair elemental profiles and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an emphasis on toxic metals (As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni, Al) and essential micronutrients (Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, Cr, Li). The reviewed studies consistently show that patients with CVD exhibit elevated levels of toxic elements and reduced concentrations of protective ones, reflecting oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction as mechanistic links. Methodologically, the review highlights inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with collision/reaction cell technology and microwave digestion as gold-standard analytical approaches, while underscoring the urgent need for harmonized protocols, validated washing procedures, and certified reference materials. The interpretation of HMA requires consideration of temporal dynamics, external contamination, and regional variability. Although current evidence supports the research utility of HMA, its clinical integration remains limited by the absence of reference ranges and prospective validation. HMA may hold future value in environmental risk stratification and primary prevention in exposed populations, but further standardization and large-scale longitudinal studies are necessary to define its diagnostic and prognostic relevance in cardiovascular medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Trace Elements in Nutrition and Health, 2nd Edition)

28 pages, 38029 KB

Open AccessArticle

Aquaculture Industry Composition, Distribution, and Development in China

by Zixuan Ma, Hao Xu, Richard Newton, Anyango Benter, Dingxi Safari Fang, Chun Wang, David Little and Wenbo Zhang

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11331; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411331 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector globally. As its largest producer, China plays a pivotal role in ensuring aquatic food supply and supporting the blue economy. Despite its massive scale, a systematic understanding of the geographic distribution, structural composition, and drivers of China’s aquaculture value chain remains limited. We comprehensively characterized the sector’s composition, spatiotemporal evolution, and structural dynamics. We compiled and analyzed over 2.85 million enterprise registration records from the TianYanCha database, applying rigorous industry classification, spatial mapping, correlation analysis, and bottleneck assessment with natural and socioeconomic variables. Results show that policy reforms, notably the 2013 Company Law amendment and 2016 aquaculture certification measures, drove sharp increases in enterprise registrations, particularly in retail and farming. Enterprises are highly clustered in the Yangtze River Basin, Pearl River Delta, and southeastern coast, with inland expansion along major river systems. Strong interdependencies exist among sectors, while wholesale remains numerically scarce, forming a structural bottleneck. Standardization levels are low. Foreign investment, though under 5%, concentrated in processing and distribution, contributed to advanced technologies in the 1990s–2000s. These findings highlight rapid formalization, regional clustering, and structural imbalances, suggesting that enhancing formalization and addressing intermediary bottlenecks could improve sector resilience and efficiency. Full article

23 pages, 5395 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Role of Glycolysis in Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule-Promoted Angiogenesis in Endothelial Cells: A Study Based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Validation

by Fan Lin, Zhifeng Yao, Jiaming Yu, Xiaoqi Chen, Xinlei Chen, Yuxia Li, Juanli Fu, Ye Cheng, Junting Li, Chang Fang, Yizheng Wang, He Wang and Jing Cai

Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(12), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18121902 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) represents a major global cause of mortality and disability. A primary therapeutic strategy involves promoting angiogenesis in ischemic limbs. The Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule (XFZYC) is widely used in China for treating PAD and demonstrates therapeutic potential; however, the mechanism underlying its pro-angiogenic effect remains unclear. Methods: The components of XFZYC were identified via TCMSP and HERB databases, with network pharmacology and molecular docking predicting its potential targets and pathways. For in vitro validation, drug-containing serum and blank control serum were prepared. Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1) cells were treated with 1.25%, 2.5%, or 5% serum to determine the optimal concentration using tube formation assays and Western blot (WB) analysis of HIF-1α, HK2, and PFKFB3. The efficacy of XFZYC was further assessed through CCK-8, scratch wound healing, cell adhesion, and tube formation assays. Glycolytic metabolite levels and enzyme activities were measured by colorimetric assays and WB. Results: Network pharmacology screening identified 167 active components in XFZYC and 2967 potential targets. GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses suggested that XFZYC likely promotes the glycolytic pathway via the HIF-1 signaling pathway, specifically mediated by HK2 and PFKFB3. In vitro experiments confirmed that XFZYC enhanced HMEC-1 cell viability, migration, adhesion, and tube formation. Concurrently, it augmented the glycolytic capacity of HMEC-1 cells, manifested by increased glucose consumption, lactate production, enhanced activity of key glycolytic enzymes (HK, PFK, and PK), and upregulated protein expression of PFKFB3. Treatment with 3PO, a glycolytic inhibitor, significantly suppressed these drug-induced effects. Conclusions: XFZYC promotes angiogenesis in endothelial cells by modulating the glycolytic pathway, an effect primarily mediated through the upregulation of PFKFB3 expression. This study offers a preliminary exploration of the underlying mechanisms by which XFZYC may act in the treatment of PAD, thereby providing a new scientific perspective for further understanding its therapeutic effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Targets in the Cardiovascular Treatment Landscape)

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30 pages, 1239 KB

Open AccessReview

State of the Art of Fracture Assessment Method on High-Strength Oil and Gas Pipeline Girth Weld

by Xiaoben Liu, Dong Zhang, Jiaqing Zhang, Qingshan Feng, Zhongjia An and Hong Zhang

Processes 2025, 13(12), 4071; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13124071 (registering DOI) - 17 Dec 2025

Abstract

High-strength oil and gas pipeline girth welds exhibit significant material and geometric discontinuities with high susceptibility to defects, making them a critical weak link in oil and gas pipelines. Researching the fracture assessment technology pipeline’s girth welds is essential for enhancing the pipeline’s inherent safety and protection levels. Key issues and research progress related to fracture assessment technology are systematically addressed from the perspectives of pipeline fracture behavior and fracture assessment methods in this paper. The core focus of fracture behavior research is determining the crack driving force at the girth weld and the material’s fracture toughness. Fracture assessment methods include failure assessment diagrams and limited tensile strain capacity models. The development of single-parameter and multi-parameter fracture mechanics theories in establishing the relationship between in-plane and out-of-plane constraints and material fracture toughness is reviewed. Four commonly used methods for calculating crack driving forces in pipelines are presented. Moreover, the usage scenarios of various failure assessment diagrams in pipeline fracture assessment are analyzed. A comparison of the parameter ranges and applicability of commonly used international tensile strain capacity models is also provided. The paper highlights existing issues in current research on the fracture assessment of high-strength pipelines and outlines directions for further study. Lastly, this paper aims to provide theoretical and technical support for improving the inherent safety level of high-strength pipeline girth welds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Inspection and Repair of Oil and Gas Pipeline)

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