Search Results (506)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of bromoform (CHBr₃) dose on in vitro rumen fermentation and on CHBr₃ and dibromomethane (CH₂Br₂) concentrations in solution and the gas cap. In vitro treatments consisted of CHBr₃ (DOSE: 0, 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10,000 µg of CHBr₃), with five replicates per DOSE at each time-point (TIME: 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). The 10,000 µg CHBr₃ DOSE inhibited fermentation completely and was removed from the dataset. The acetate:propionate ratio, nitrogen, and methane (CH₄) produced per gram of DMD decreased as DOSE increased (p = 0.01). As the DOSE increased, CH₄ decreased, and H₂ increased in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01). The CHBr₃ concentration dropped below the detection limit within 3 h of incubation. Dibromomethane concentrations for DOSE 1000 and 100 µg of CHBr₃ increased in solution and gas cap beginning at 0.25 h and 1 h post incubation and plateaued by hour 3 and 5, respectively (p < 0.01). The addition of CHBr₃ alters the molar proportion of volatile fatty acids, decreases CH₄, and increases H₂ production, and it is dehalogenated to CH₂Br₂ within 3 h of incubation in an in vitro system. Full article

Background: Translational regulation constitutes a critical layer of gene expression control in plants, yet the contribution of endogenous 5′ untranslated regions (5′ UTRs) to translational efficiency remains incompletely defined. While viral and synthetic leader sequences have been widely used to enhance protein production, comparatively few native plant 5′ UTRs have been systematically characterised. The objective of this study was to identify and functionally evaluate endogenous plant 5′ UTR elements that promote translation through post-transcriptional mechanisms. Methods: A 79-nucleotide fragment (CYSTM α) derived from the 5′ UTR of Arabidopsis thaliana CYSTM1 (AT1G05340) was cloned upstream of reporter genes and assessed using dual-luciferase assays in transient expression systems (Nicotiana benthamiana and A. thaliana) and in stable transgenic Arabidopsis lines. Translational activity was further evaluated in monocot wheat germ extract and in Escherichia coli. Transcript abundance was quantified by qRT-PCR. Publicly available ribosome profiling and m⁶A datasets were analysed to assess translational efficiency and RNA modification status. Results: In N. benthamiana and A. thaliana, CYSTM α increases reporter protein production 3–7 fold relative to the control and 30–130% above the benchmark Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) Ω leader, without altering mRNA abundance. The CYSTM α sequence also enhances luciferase translation in monocot wheat germ extract and elevates translation 5-fold in E. coli. CYSTM α contains three motifs that may promote translation, namely three CAA repeats that are associated with translation initiation, an AMAYAA motif that is associated with eIF3 binding, and two N6-adenosine DRACH sites that are associated with cap-independent translation. Additionally, ribosome profiling revealed high translational efficiency (TE = 3.25) of native CYSTM1. Conclusions: CYSTM α represents a compact endogenous 5′ UTR element that enhances translation across multiple experimental systems. These findings expand the repertoire of plant-derived translational enhancers and provide insight into sequence features associated with efficient mRNA translation in plants. Full article

Twenty strains of Schizophyllum commune from the BIOTEC culture collection were selected for this study. S. commune is characterized by white to gray fan-shaped caps with lobed margins and distinctive split gills. Phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU rDNA and ITS rDNA sequences data using maximum parsimony placed the fungi in a strongly supported clade with S. commune. All strains were primarily screened for exopolysaccharide (EPS) and biomass production using potato dextrose broth (PDB) and peptone yeast glucose medium (PYGM) in 250 mL flasks shaken at 200 rpm for 7 days. The results revealed three strains with high EPS production, each exceeding 2.3 g/L, namely MMCR00487, MMCR00474 and MMCR00256. These strains were selected for media optimization using a Plackett–Burman design. Among them, MMCR00256 exhibited the highest EPS yield of 8.34 ± 1.47 g/L, followed by MMCR00487 and MMCR00474. Therefore, the strain MMCR00256 was further optimized by central composite design. The results revealed that the optimized medium for MMCR00256 increased the production of EPS to 10.39 ± 1.69 g/L, with a biomass yield of 26.28 ± 1.63 g/L (395 mg/g). The 5 L bioreactor optimization tested two inoculum types (mycelial and pellet) and two media (CCD and estimated) using strain MMCR00256. The mycelial inoculum grown in the estimated medium produced the highest EPS yield of 8.37 ± 0.26 g/L after 3 days, with 13.56 ± 2.94 g/L biomass. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that S. commune MMCR00256, when cultivated using the estimated medium and mycelial inoculum, can achieve enhanced exopolysaccharide production with improved efficiency, highlighting its significant potential for the development of efficient and scalable schizophyllan production processes at the industrial scale. Furthermore, this study provides essential insights into the cultivation and optimization of schizophyllan in S. commune. Full article

This study evaluated how the addition of 5 wt% bioactive glass and 15 wt% short glass fibers to EQUIA Forte HT affects the microhardness, micromorphology, and elemental composition of demineralized dentin. Class I cavities in 28 human third molars were demineralized with 37% phosphoric acid and restored with: (1) Filtek Universal composite, (2) EQUIA Forte HT, (3) EQUIA Forte HT + 5wt% BAG, or (4) EQUIA Forte HT + 15wt% short glass fibers. After 4 weeks of storage in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 °C, the teeth were cut in half, obtaining two samples from each tooth (n = 14). Vickers microhardness (HV0.1) was measured on demineralized dentin 50–100 μm apical to the restoration interface. Representative specimens (n = 2) were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Unmodified EQUIA Forte HT showed the highest mean dentin microhardness recovery (25.06 ± 1.42 HV0.1), followed by composite (17.31 ± 0.66 HV0.1), BAG-modified (23.74 ± 1.37 HV0.1) and fiber-reinforced (22.15 ± 1.06 HV0.1) groups (p < 0.001, all pairwise comparisons p ≤ 0.039). Glass hybrids showed prominent Ca/P peaks; modified groups had elevated Si (BAG) and Al (fibers). SEM revealed smoother surfaces with fewer cracks in modified materials. Unmodified EQUIA Forte HT produced the highest short-term microhardness recovery, while BAG and fiber additions altered surface morphology and elemental composition but slightly reduced early hardness. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the combined effects of resistance exercise and whey protein supplementation on plasma irisin levels in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) under a 30% calorie-restricted weight loss diet. Methods: Thirty adult patients with MASLD were randomized into the following three groups for a 4-week intervention: calorie restriction group (CR) (n = 8), CR with resistance exercise group (EX) (n = 11), and CR with resistance exercise and whey protein group (EX + P) (n = 11; 0.7 g/kg per day). All participants received boxed meals providing 70% of their total energy expenditure. The participants in the resistance exercise groups performed full-body resistance exercises 5 days/week (50–75% one-repetition maximum). Plasma irisin level, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and body composition were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Plasma irisin levels significantly increased in the EX (+2.24 ng/mL, p = 0.016) and EX + P (+4.86 ng/mL, p = 0.004) groups but not in the CR group. Muscle mass increased significantly only in the EX + P group. The CAP decreased in all groups. The change in irisin level was negatively correlated with the change in CAP (r = −0.459, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Resistance exercise under calorie-restricted conditions effectively increased plasma irisin levels in patients with MASLD, whereas caloric restriction alone did not. Furthermore, a stronger increasing trend in the plasma irisin levels was observed with whey protein supplementation. An increase in irisin levels was significantly associated with hepatic fat reduction, suggesting that irisin may serve as a biomarker reflecting improvements in hepatic steatosis following lifestyle intervention. Full article

Host receptors can detect traces of non-self-pathogenic RNAs within a sea of cellular mRNA molecules. In host cells, mRNA cap methylation occurs in the nucleus, generating Cap1 and Cap2 structures (m⁷GpppNm and m⁷GpppNmNm, respectively). By contrast, alphavirus genomes carry a Cap0 structure (m⁷GpppN), which lacks 2′-O-methylation. This difference in the structure of the host and viral caps serves as a molecular signature that enables discrimination between self and non-self RNAs. Several host immune sensors, such as RIG-I and IFIT1, recognize the alphavirus Cap0 structure and trigger an antiviral response to restrict viral replication. It has been proposed that IFIT1 sequesters aberrant RNAs, preventing their translation by host ribosomes and blocking viral protein synthesis. However, alphaviruses have evolved molecular strategies to circumvent IFIT1-mediated restriction and facilitate infection in mammalian cells. One such strategy involves the folding of a 5′ RNA structure that hides the cap from host immune sensors. This highlights the dynamic interplay between viral evasion tactics and host immune defenses. This review will discuss how specific modifications at the 5′ end of alphavirus RNA modulate host defenses and how a deeper understanding of the virus–host interaction may inform the development of novel vaccine strategies. Full article

Heavy and overloaded freight traffic strongly affects pavement performance, yet short-term weigh-in-motion (WIM) measurements are not easily converted into design-oriented traffic inputs. Using the Nairobi Southern Bypass in Kenya as a case study, this study develops axle load spectrum (ALS) and equivalent single axle load (ESAL) indicators from more than 1.5 million axle group records collected between June and December 2025 and proposes an XGBoost-based conditional axle load spectrum (CA-ALS) framework. The data revealed strongly right-skewed load distributions, with a limited number of heavily loaded axle groups dominating pavement damage. Compared with the static ALS by axle group type baseline, the CA-ALS reduced log loss from 2.7563 to 2.6709 in conditional spectrum prediction. In the December 2025 tandem axle benchmark, the CA-ALS increased the ESAL-based verification input by 6.0% at b = 4 and 11.1% at b = 5 relative to the stronger static reference. A legal-load-capped counterfactual analysis further showed that, for all heavy vehicles, observed overloading increased ESAL by 161.0% at b = 4 and 239.4% at b = 5. These results indicate that the CA-ALS provides condition-sensitive traffic inputs for design traffic verification, scenario-based pavement checks, and overload-sensitive evaluation based on short-term WIM observations. Full article

We present an investigation of the thermal damage threshold of passivated Bi₂Se₃ films upon laser illumination, with a focus on their employment in terahertz (THz) spectroscopic applications. Passivation was achieved by depositing a thin 3 nm Al capping layer which, exposed to the ambient, forms a natural oxide. In THz transient emission experiments, the samples were exposed to a train of 100 fs wide laser pulses with 800 nm wavelength at 78 MHz repetition rate and peak power density up to 295 mW/µm². For the sake of comparison, the films were also exposed to continuous wave laser light with a wavelength of 532 nm in the average optical power density range from 5 × 10⁻² mW/µm² to 50 mW/µm². In both cases, changes in film appearance, detected by optical microscopy, or even film removal in a small area close to the center of the illuminated spot could be induced. Raman spectroscopy provided evidence that the crystalline phase of Bi₂Se₃ films is present in areas that have been exposed but not damaged. Conversely, in the film region illuminated with the highest peak power density no Raman signal was detected in the range under investigation which we ascribe to material removal. At the perimeter of this ablated area, we observed a dominant Raman mode at approximately 255 cm⁻¹ that we can attribute to selenium and indicates partial Bi₂Se₃ decomposition. In contrast, we observed Raman spectra corresponding to as-deposited Bi₂Se₃ only a few micrometers away from the laser-damaged area. Hence, the observed THz radiation originates from this illuminated but undamaged region. This detailed knowledge is expected to serve as a guide for designing the emitter’s thermal management and choosing laser parameters for optimal operation. Full article

The energy transition represents a complex, multi-level system subject to profound uncertainty and recurrent shocks. Current policy design approaches predominantly rely on static optimization frameworks (centralized, calculative models that presume stable conditions and predictable technological trajectories). Yet evidence from the 2021–2023 energy crisis in Europe, coupled with structural challenges in market liberalization and renewable integration, demonstrates persistent challenges in policy implementation. Price interventions affect competitive dynamics; subsidies influence technology selection; capacity mechanisms create coordination tensions; and rigid tariff structures create misalignments with evolving grid needs. This paper argues that these recurrent policy tensions stem not from implementation gaps, but from an inadequate theoretical foundation: the treatment of energy systems as optimizable rather than as complex, adaptive systems operating under Knight–Mises uncertainty and Huerta de Soto dynamic efficiency. This work explores an alternative framework grounded in dynamic efficiency, complex–uncertain systems, decentralized incentives, and adaptive governance (international–domestic, public–private, etc.). This review uses the theoretical and methodological framework of the Heterodox Synthesis, an alternative to the Neoclassical Synthesis. There is a reinterpretation of some insights from Knight and Mises (uncertainty), Hayek (distributed knowledge), Huerta de Soto (dynamic efficiency) and contemporary complexity economics into operational criteria applicable to energy policy design: (1) robustness to deep uncertainty; (2) preservation of price signals and risk-bearing mechanisms; (3) alignment of incentives across distributed actors; (4) institutional adaptability; and (5) minimization of ex post policy corrections. Through illustrative application to four critical policy instruments (price caps, renewable subsidies, capacity mechanisms, and network tariff design), it is shown how this framework identifies systematic tensions and consequences that conventional analysis overlooks. The contribution is exploratory in a bootstrap way: theoretical, by integrating classical and contemporary economics into energy governance; methodological, by operationalizing dynamic efficiency into evaluable criteria distinct from existing adaptive governance frameworks; and sectorial, by providing policymakers and regulators with diagnostic tools for assessing design robustness in conditions of deep uncertainty and rapid transition. According to this review, improved energy policy design under uncertainty is not achieved through more sophisticated optimization (in a calculative way), but through institutional architectures that preserve creative and adaptive learning, maintain distributed decision-making capacity, and remain functional when assumptions prove incorrect or not well-known. Full article

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized via two complementary routes, an inorganic surfactant-mediated method and a plant-extract-assisted biosynthesis, to elucidate how synthesis pathways influence nanoparticle physicochemical properties. In the inorganic route, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-stabilized AuNPs were prepared using CTAB dissolution temperatures of 70–90 °C. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) bands at 554–556 nm, while dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated a decrease in hydrodynamic diameter from 110 to 97 nm with increasing dissolution temperature. Zeta potentials above +40 mV indicated strong electrostatic stabilization, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed ultrasmall Au cores with a narrow size distribution (2.4–3.0 nm) and a face-centered cubic crystal structure. In the biosynthetic route, AuNPs were obtained using aqueous Erythroxylum coca leaf extracts (1–4% w/v). The extracts exhibited a concentration-dependent red shift (~380 to ~420 nm), and biosynthesized AuNPs displayed LSPR bands in the 550–580 nm range. DLS yielded hydrodynamic diameters of 270–390 nm, with pronounced aggregation (3341 nm) at the lowest extract concentration. Under optimized conditions (HC5, n = 5), reproducible plasmonic and colloidal properties were obtained (maximum absorbance, localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength (λ_max) = 569.6 ± 1.7 nm; hydrodynamic diameter (D_H) = 237.6 ± 24.3 nm; absolute zeta potential (|ζ|)= 32.2 ± 2.6 mV). TEM analysis indicated predominantly quasi-spherical particles with a broader, log-normal size distribution, consistent with extract-mediated growth under heterogeneous organic capping environments. Full article

Rod-end spherical bearings are widely used in heavy machinery, wind power, and transportation. Their bolted connections directly determine structural safety but are prone to pull-out failure under maximum articulation angle and heavy load. This study employs finite element (FE) simulation to elucidate the failure mechanism and, combined with Timoshenko beam theory, systematically analyses the effects of end cap parameters (size, height, modulus) on bolt head lateral force and bending moment. Results show that two-piece end caps induce abnormal contact and severe stress concentration under combined lateral and axial loads. A spigot design with optimised bolt number and contact geometry is proposed, reducing the additional bending moment from $1.882\times {10}^4$ N·mm to $2.193\times {10}^3$ N·mm and lateral load from $8.236\times {10}^5$ N to $7.092\times {10}^4$ N (over 88% reduction), bringing stress within a safe range. Although the numerical analysis was not directly verified experimentally, the experimental confirmation of the design’s functionality supports the optimisation. This study clarifies the pull-out mechanism and provides insight for anti-pull-out connections under high lateral forces. Full article

Background & Aims: The accurate, noninvasive assessment of hepatic steatosis is essential in living liver donor evaluation, where disease prevalence is low, and donor safety is paramount. This study evaluated commonly used noninvasive diagnostic tools for detecting hepatic steatosis in a real-world donor screening setting. Methods: We analyzed 108 living liver donor candidates (18–53 years) with complete MRI, CT, transient elastography (FibroScan^®), and biochemical data obtained during routine donor evaluation. Hepatic steatosis was defined as an MRI-proton density fat fraction (PDFF) ≥5%, which served as the noninvasive reference standard. Diagnostic performance metrics, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, and correlations with serum fibrosis indices (FIB-4 and APRI) were assessed. Results: MRI-PDFF identified hepatic steatosis in 21 donors (19.4%). Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), measured by transient elastography, demonstrated high sensitivity (90.5%) and negative predictive value (97.1%), supporting its role as a rule-out screening tool. CT showed excellent specificity (97.7%) but lower sensitivity (61.9%), consistent with a confirmatory role when MRI is unavailable. Serum fibrosis indices were generally low and did not correlate strongly with imaging-based steatosis. Conclusions: In the low-prevalence setting of living liver donor evaluation, CAP-based transient elastography provides effective noninvasive screening for hepatic steatosis, while MRI-PDFF serves as a confirmatory reference when indicated. These findings support a stepwise, clinically practical diagnostic approach that prioritizes donor safety and workflow efficiency. Full article

Dual-emission photoluminescence (PL) nanoprobes provide improved analytical performance to develop a reliable and sensitive sensing platform for quantifying chloramphenicol in pharmaceutical samples, thereby ensuring therapeutic efficacy and patient safety. In this work, a dual-emission PL sensing platform combining carbon dots (CDs) and AgInS₂ quantum dots (QDs) capped with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was developed for the quantitative determination of chloramphenicol, resorting to chemometric methods for data analysis. CDs, CdTe QDs, and AgInS₂ QDs were synthesized and individually evaluated considering their photostability, PL response and kinetics of their interaction with the antibiotic. After this, two dual-emission probes, CDs/MPA-CdTe and CDs/MPA-AgInS₂, were prepared and assessed based on the complementarity of their individual emission features. The obtained kinetic PL dataset was processed using unfolded partial least squares (U-PLS) in order to explore the multidimensional information of the dual-emission systems and to evaluate the performance of both sensing platforms. CDs/MPA-AgInS₂ probe was demonstrated to be the most efficient sensing platform due to its better compromise between sensitivity and photostability, as well as its cadmium-free composition, allowing the implementation of a more environmentally friendly analytical methodology. The optimization of the U-PLS models involved the assessment of the kinetic acquisition time and different spectral regions. The results showed that reliable, sensitive and efficient quantification could be achieved within the first 5 min of interaction and using the full emission spectrum of the sensing probe. Additionally, different interaction mechanisms were observed for each nanomaterial in the combined probe, being static for the CDs/chloramphenicol interaction and dynamic for MPA-AgInS₂/chloramphenicol interaction, which supports the synergetic behavior of the combined probe. The proposed methodology was effectively applied to commercial pharmaceutical formulations, yielding accurate results with good figures of merit. Therefore, this approach can be used as a relevant alternative to existing methodologies for a rapid, robust, and environmentally friendly method for chloramphenicol quantification. Full article

Background: The long-term stability of mRNA-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), essential for mRNA vaccines and gene therapies, relies on managing physicochemical properties to preserve their integrity and effectiveness through optimized formulation components. This study systematically evaluated LNP formulations with varied compositions, e.g., Dlin-MC3-DMA and ALC-0315 as ionizable lipids, and DMG-PEG2k or ALC-0159 as polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids, stored at −80 °C, −20 °C, 5 °C, and 25 °C in Tris buffer (pH 7.4) for 12 months. Methods: Sixteen quality attributes were analyzed, including particle size, mRNA encapsulation, lipid oxidation, and transfection efficiency over different formulations and storage temperatures to mechanistically evaluate the long-term stabilities. Results: Formulations stored at −80 °C and −20 °C retained acceptable stability, while storage at 5 °C caused aggregation, reduced in vivo expression, and mRNA degradation. Storage at 25 °C led to complete loss of transfection within six months. Mechanistic studies identified oxidative and hydrolytic lipid degradation (e.g., DSPC) in ALC-0315 formulations and MC3 N-oxidation with subvisible particulates in MC3-containing LNPs as primary failure modes. Increasing Tris buffer concentration accelerated 5′-cap hydrolysis, emphasizing the importance of a low-ionic-strength buffer for LNP formulations. Conclusions: Findings re-emphasize the necessity of deep-cold storage (≤−20 °C) and optimized formulation components to preserve mRNA–LNP integrity, offering insights for designing next-generation LNPs with improved shelf-life. Full article

Circular RNA (circRNA) has emerged as a promising vector for drug delivery because, unlike linear mRNA, it does not require costly chemical modifications and offers greater stability and sustained expression in cells. Lacking the canonical 5′ cap structure, circRNA relies primarily on internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) to initiate translation, but IRES-mediated initiation is less efficient than cap-dependent translation. To overcome this limitation, we devised a dual-IRES strategy that introduces a second IRES to drive translation of the coding sequence (CDS). By testing several IRES elements known for high translational activity, this study shows that IRESs derived from the EMCV (Encephalomyocarditis virus) family can enhance expression when placed at the 3′ of the CDS, in coordination with the 5′ EMCV-derived IRES. The optimal dual-IRES combinations identified in this study display compatibility with two different coding sequences, offering a useful strategy to enhance circRNA translation. Full article