Search Results (8,535)

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) poses global health challenges, and causes hematological alterations such as macrocytosis and oxidative stress. Disruption of protein structures by alcohol and/or its metabolites may exacerbate AUDs; proteomics can elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms. This study examined the proteins differentially expressed in the cytosol and membrane fractions of erythrocytes obtained from 30 male patients with AUD, comparing them to samples from 15 age- and BMI-matched social drinkers (SDs) and 15 non-drinkers (control). The analysis aimed to identify the molecular differences related to alcohol consumption. The AUD patient subgrouping was based on mean corpuscular volume (MCV), with 16 individuals classified as having a normal MCV and 14 having a high MCV. Proteins were separated via two-dimensional(2D)-gel electrophoresis, digested with trypsin, and identified via Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). Additionally, levels of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + HAE), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (%CDT), disialotransferrin (%DST), and sialic acid (SA) were analyzed. The results showed increased MDA + HAE and decreased total thiols in AUD patients, with GSSG elevated and the GSH/GSSG ratio reduced in the AUD MCV-high subgroup. Serum %CDT, %DST, and SA were significantly higher in AUD. Compared to the control profiles, the AUD group exhibited differential protein expression. Few proteins, such as bisphosphoglycerate mutase, were downregulated in AUD versus control and SD, as well as in the MCV-high AUD subgroup. Conversely, endoplasmin and gelsolin were upregulated in AUD relative to control. Cytoskeletal proteins, including spectrin-alpha chain, actin cytoplasmic 2, were overexpressed in the AUD group and MCV-high AUD subgroup. Several proteins, such as 14-3-3 isoforms, alpha-synuclein, translation initiation factors, heat shock proteins, and others, were upregulated in the MCV-high AUD subgroup. Under-expressed proteins in this subgroup include band 3 anion transport protein, bisphosphoglycerate mutase, tropomyosin alpha-3 chain, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, and WD repeat-containing protein 1. Our findings highlight the specific changes in protein expression associated with oxidative stress, cytoskeletal alterations, and metabolic dysregulation, specifically in AUD patients with an elevated MCV. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions and identifying biomarkers of alcohol-induced cellular damage. The complex interplay between oxidative stress, membrane composition, and cellular function illustrates how chronic alcohol exposure affects cellular physiology. Full article

The study employed a green, template-free ball milling method to construct a series of Ni-Al mixed oxide catalysts modulated by different nickel precursors (nitrate, acetate, carbonate, sulfate, and chlorate). Through multiscale characterization techniques (XRD, TEM, XPS, H₂-TPR, etc.) and catalytic performance evaluations, we systematically elucidated the regulatory mechanism of precursor types on the structure-performance relationship. The NiAlO_x-CO₃²⁻ catalyst derived from nickel carbonate exhibited a unique structure, an optimal Ni/Al ratio, and well-tuned active oxygen species, thereby demonstrating exceptional catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) at 475 °C with 53.2% ethane conversion, 72.6% ethylene selectivity, and maintained stability over 40 h of continuous operation. Beyond developing high-performance ODHE catalysts, this work establishes a “precursor chemistry–material structure–catalytic performance” relationship model, offering new insights for the rational design of efficient catalysts for light alkane conversion. Full article

Background/Objectives: Army Liposome Formulation with QS21 (ALFQ) is a vaccine adjuvant formulation consisting of liposomes that contain saturated zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids, 55 mol% cholesterol, and small molar amounts of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and QS21 saponin as adjuvants. A unique aspect of ALFQ is that after addition of QS21 to nanoliposomes (<100 nm), the liposomes self-assemble through fusion to form giant (≥1000 nm) unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The purpose of this study was to introduce and investigate new intermediate structures in the fusion process that we term tethered incomplete microspheres (TIMs), which were discovered by us incidentally as structures that were visible by phase contrast microscopy. Methods: Differential centrifugation; phase contrast microscopy; confocal microscopy of vesicles or TIMs which contain fluorescent chromophores linked to phospholipids or cholesterol; ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis of lipid components of liposomes and TIMs; and dynamic light scattering were all used for the characterization of TIMS. Results and Conclusions: (A) Sizes of TIMs range from overall aggregated structural sizes of ~1 µm to mega sizes of ≥200 µm. (B) Stable TIM structures occur when a fusion process is stopped by depletion of a fusogenic lipid during an evolving fusing of a lipid bilayer membrane. (C) TIMs consist of long-term stable (>2 years), but also metastable, tightly aggregated tear-drop or spherical incomplete GUVs tethered to visible masses of underlying vesicles that are not individually visible. (D) The TIMs and GUVs all contain phospholipid and cholesterol (when present) as bulk lipids. (E) Lyophilized liposomes lacking QS21 saponin, but which still contain MPLA (ALF55lyo), also self-assemble to form GUVs and TIMs. (F) Cholesterol is a required component in nanoliposomes for generation of GUVs and TIMs by addition of QS21. (G) Cholesterol is not required for production of GUVs and TIMs in ALFlyo, but cholesterol greatly reduces and narrows the polydisperse vesicle distribution. Full article

A pyrochlore-type crystal structure photocatalytic nanomaterial, Ho₂FeSbO₇, was successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Additionally, a fluorite-structured Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 was prepared via rare earth Yb doping. Finally, a novel Ho₂FeSbO₇/Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 heterojunction photocatalyst (HBHP) was fabricated using a solvothermal method. The crystal structure, surface morphology, and physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using XRD, a micro-Raman spectrometer, FT-IR, XPS, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), TEM, and SEM. The results showed that Ho₂FeSbO₇ possessed a pyrochlore-type cubic crystal structure (space group Fd-3m, No. 227), while Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 featured a fluorite-type cubic structure (space group Fm-3m, No. 225). The results of the degradation experiment indicated that when HBHP, Ho₂FeSbO₇, or Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 was employed as a photocatalytic nanomaterial, following 140 minutes of visible light irradiation, the removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CIP) reached 99.82%, 86.15%, or 73.86%, respectively. This finding strongly evidenced the remarkable superiority of HBHP in terms of photocatalytic performance. Compared to the individual catalyst Ho₂FeSbO₇, Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5, or N-doped TiO₂, the removal efficiency of CIP by HBHP was 1.16 times, 1.36 times, or 2.52 times higher than that by Ho₂FeSbO₇, Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5, or N-doped TiO₂, respectively. The radical trapping experiments indicated that in the CIP degradation process, the hydroxyl radical owned the strongest oxidation ability, followed by the superoxide anion and the photoinduced hole. These studies are of great significance for the degradation of antibiotics and environmental protection. Full article

To address the issues of poor thermal stability, inadequate salt tolerance, and environmental risks in conventional gel systems for the development of high-temperature, high-salinity heterogeneous reservoirs, a triple-synergy gel system comprising anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), polyethyleneimine (PEI), and phenolic resin (SMP) was developed in this study. The optimal synthesis parameters—APAM of 180 mg/L, PEI:SMP = 3:1, salinity of 150,000 ppm, and temperature of 110 °C—were determined via response surface methodology, and a time–viscosity model was established. Compared with existing binary systems, the proposed gel exhibited a mass retention rate of 93.48% at 110 °C, a uniform porous structure (pore size of 2–8 μm), and structural stability under high salinity (150,000 ppm). Nuclear magnetic resonance displacement tests showed that the utilization efficiency of crude oil in 0.1–1 μm micropores increased to 21.32%. Parallel dual-core flooding experiments further confirmed the selective plugging capability in heterogeneous systems with a permeability contrast of 10:1: The high-permeability layer (500 mD) achieved a plugging rate of 98.7%, while the recovery factor of the low-permeability layer increased by 13.6%. This gel system provides a green and efficient profile control solution for deep, high-temperature, high-salinity reservoirs. Full article

In the context of chlorate’s application as a cathodic reagent of power sources, the mechanism of its electroreduction has been studied in electrochemical cells under diffusion-limited current conditions with operando spectrophotometric analysis. Prior to electrolysis, the electrolyte is represented as an aqueous mixed NaClO₃ + H₂SO₄ solution (both components being non-electroactive within the potential range under study), without addition of any external electroactive catalyst. In the course of potentiostatic electrolysis, both the cathodic current and the ClO₂ concentration demonstrate a temporal evolution clearly pointing to an autocatalytic mechanism of the process (regions of quasi-exponential growth and of rapid diminution, separated by a narrow maximum). It has been substantiated that its kinetic mechanism includes only one electrochemical step (chlorine dioxide reduction), coupled with two chemical steps inside the solution phase: comproportionation of chlorate anion and chlorous acid, as well as chlorous acid disproportionation via two parallel routes. The corresponding set of kinetic equations for the concentrations of Cl-containing solute components (ClO₃⁻, ClO₂, HClO₂, and Cl⁻) has been solved numerically in a dimensionless form. Optimal values of the kinetic parameters have been determined via a fitting procedure with the use of non-stationary experimental data for the ClO₂ concentration and for the current, taking into account the available information from the literature on the parameters of the chlorous acid disproportionation process. Predictions of the proposed kinetic mechanism agree quantitatively with these experimental data for both quantities within the whole time range, including the three characteristic regions: rapid increase, vicinity of the maximum, and rapid decrease. Full article

Collagenases are enzymes with broad biotechnological applications in medicine. This study describes the production and characterization of a collagenase from Aspergillus serratalhadensis URM 7866, isolated from the Caatinga biome. Solid-state fermentations were conducted using wheat bran under varying conditions of pH (6, 7, 8), moisture content (50%, 60%, 70%), and substrate concentration (2.5 g, 5 g, 10 g). The optimal condition—10 g of wheat bran at pH 8 and 70% moisture—yielded the highest collagenolytic activity (177.96 U/mL) and a specific activity of 50.55 U/mg. The enzyme was purified via multiple chromatography, with pre-purification and final purification factors of 18.09 and 20.21, respectively, reaching a specific activity of 1021.86 U/mg. The enzyme showed optimal activity at 50 °C and pH 8, with stability from 20 to 40 °C and pH 7–9. PMSF caused >80% inhibition; EDTA caused ~34% inhibition. Activity increased with Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ and was inhibited by Zn²⁺. The enzyme retained full activity in anionic and non-ionic surfactants (1–10%). FTIR confirmed characteristic amide bands, and kinetic analysis revealed a Km of 1.72 mg/mL and Vmax of 6.89 mg/mL/min. These findings support its potential for alkaline and surfactant-rich industrial processes. Full article

This review provides an overview of the most significant developments in gout pathophysiology research published in 2024. Thirteen studies were selected based on originality, scientific rigor, and potential clinical impact and grouped into four major categories: inflammation and pain mechanisms (LRRC8 anion channels, CXCL5-CXCR2 axis, CD38 and NAD⁺ metabolism, PLK1 and NLRP3 inflammasome localization, and IFN1 suppression), biomarkers and proteomics (scRNA-seq reveals monocyte and T-cell flare signatures, and Olink serum profiling reveals a proinflammatory signature in hyperuricemia and also identifies TNFSF14 as a novel flare biomarker, while a multi-omics integrative study implicates TRIM46 as a key causal gene), gut virome, and novel therapies (vagus nerve stimulation, biomimetic nanosystem, and restoration of Urate Oxidase (Uox) function). The studies selected focused primarily on work on subjects other than on hyperuricemia. The findings collectively expand our understanding of gout’s complex pathophysiology and highlight potential strategies for diagnosis, management, and innovative treatments. Full article

Phase change absorbents are deemed a promising alternative for CO₂ capture due to their excellent CO₂ absorption performance, good stability, and low renewable energy consumption. To address the issues of insufficient loading capacity, low regeneration efficiency, and high energy consumption during regeneration in current chemical absorbents, a novel phase change absorbent was developed. As an amino acid ionic liquid phase change absorbent with tetraethylenepentamine as the cation, imidazole as the anion, and n-propanol as the phase separation agent, this absorbent offers a potential solution. The highest absorption capacity of the [TEPAH][Im]/NPA/H₂O system at the optimal n-propanol-H₂O ratio (1:1) reaches 1.34 mol·mol⁻¹, and the viscosity of the CO₂-rich phase amounts to a mere 3.58 mPa·s. Additionally, the desorption efficiency reached 91.1% at 363.15 K, while the loading capacity in the fifth cycle remained over 1.16 mol·mol⁻¹. As n-propanol is present in the [TEPAH][Im]/NPA/H₂O system, the rich phase makes up roughly 30% of the total volume. The energy consumption for regeneration of the [TEPAH][Im]/NPA/H₂O phase change absorption system is 2.20 GJ·t⁻¹ CO₂. Under identical regeneration conditions, the system can reduce the regeneration energy consumption by 41.6%. Full article

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate pesticide, is known to induce pulmonary toxicity through oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Astaxanthin (ASX), a xanthophyll carotenoid derived primarily from marine microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis), possesses strong antioxidant properties and has demonstrated cellular protective effects in numerous oxidative stress studies. However, its efficacy against CPF-induced lung cell damage remains uncharacterized. This study revealed the protective role of ASX, as a pretreatment and co-treatment, against CPF-induced cytotoxicity in human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells by assessing cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (IROS), total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular calcium ions (Ca²⁺), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis/inflammation-associated gene expression. CPF treatment significantly decreased cell viability and TAC, while elevating IROS, TOS, MMP, intracellular Ca²⁺, and LDH release. CPF also increased MDA levels and suppressed GPx and SOD activities. DNA fragmentation and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed upregulation of pro-apoptotic and inflammatory markers such as BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), caspase-3 (CASP3), tumor protein p53 (TP53), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 (VDAC1) and suppression of anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and antioxidant defense genes nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). ASX treatment, particularly when administered as a pretreatment, significantly reversed CPF-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses by restoring SOD, GPx, and TAC levels, reducing IROS, TOS, MDA, and LDH release, and downregulating apoptotic and inflammatory gene expressions. ASX pretreatment notably decreased MMP and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, indicating protection against mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation. ASX upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression and restored the BCL2/BAX balance, suggesting inhibition of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, ASX significantly attenuated CPF-induced anti-angiogenic effects in the in ovo Hen’s Egg Test Chorioallantoic Membrane (HET-CAM) assay. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that ASX exerts a broad spectrum of protective effects against CPF-induced cytotoxicity in lung cells, mainly through the stabilization of mitochondrial redox status and modulation of apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene pathways, highlighting ASX as a promising candidate for further therapeutic development. Furthermore, the pronounced efficacy observed in the pretreatment regimen suggests that ASX can be evaluated as a potential nutritional preventive strategy in high-risk populations with occupational or environmental CPF exposure. Full article

A theoretical study was performed using Density Functional Theory (DFT) to investigate the impact of π-conjugated aliphatic chain growth on the chemical and electronic properties of hybrid antimony pentachloride salts with pyridine- and imidazolium-based cations. Ten molecular systems were optimized to determine their ground-state geometry. Using conceptual DFT, parameters such as chemical hardness, electrophilicity index, electroaccepting power, and electrodonating power were studied. The energy gap was obtained for all ten molecular systems, ranging from −4.038 to −3.706 eV as the chain length increased, favoring intramolecular charge transfer in long-chain systems. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis showed charge redistribution between anion and cation as the π-conjugated aliphatic chain grows. At the same time, non-covalent interaction (NCI) studies revealed key attractions and repulsive interactions, such as H···Cl and Cl···π, which are modulated by chain length. These results demonstrate that the structural modification of the cation allows for the fine-tuning of the electronic properties of ionic liquids (ILs). Increasing the conjugated aliphatic chain length was observed to reduce the chemical hardness and electrophilicity index, as well as affecting the Egap of the molecular systems. This work demonstrates that there is an optimal size for the inorganic ion, allowing it to form an optimal IL compound. Full article

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is an innovative non-thermal sterilization and preservation method that has recently emerged as a safe, effective, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative for biomedical applications. Curcumin (Cur), a commonly used food additive, possesses photosensitizing properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of curcumin-mediated photodynamic treatment (Cur-PDT) on the preservation of fresh wolfberries. Our experimental data revealed that a Cur-PDT treatment using a cur concentration of 500 μmol/L for 30 min, with 20 W irradiation, achieved the best preservation effect on fresh wolfberries. This intervention significantly slowed the decline in post-harvest hardness and delayed the progression of decay. It also reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion (•O₂⁻). Notably, at day 3, the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in Cur-PDT-treated wolfberries were 1.12 and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those in the control group. These elevated enzyme activities promoted the biosynthesis and recycling of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), leading to their substantial accumulation under oxidative stress conditions. By modulating the antioxidant defense system, Cur-PDT has the potential to extend the shelf-life of post-harvest wolfberries and enhance their overall quality attributes, thereby maintaining physiological homeostasis during storage. Full article

Electrocatalytic water splitting has been demonstrated to be a highly efficient and promising technology for green hydrogen production. However, the inefficiency and instability of the cathode hinder its wide application in water electrolysis. Herein, we report a rapid Joule heating method for synthesizing the Ru-Mo oxide catalyst. Comprehensive characterization results confirmed that the as-prepared catalyst featured an internal porous structure with low crystallinity, which weakened the strength of Ru-H bonds through structural and electronic modulation. The enhanced HER performance was attributed to the incorporation of Mo⁴⁺ species, which strengthened Ru-O-Mo interactions. As tested, the optimized catalyst exhibited ultralow overpotentials (25.08 mV and 120.52 mV @ 10 and 100 mA cm⁻², respectively) and excellent stability (100 h @ 100 mA cm⁻²) in a 1 M KOH solution. Meanwhile, the as-prepared catalyst was equipped in an anion exchange membrane (AEM) alkaline water electrolyzer, which could deliver 185 mA cm⁻² at only 2.16 V with 100% Faradaic efficiency. This study provides a feasible strategy for constructing highly efficient low-crystallinity electrocatalysts. Full article

Cellular senescence can occur with similar phenotypes in normal cells, during aging, and in tumor cells, spontaneously or after cytostasis. The fall or increase in proliferative activity are key aspects of the respective conditions, in which the levels of reactive oxygen species can vary, affecting the cellular redox homeostasis. This work aimed to study the relationships between senescence and transformation by comparing cells with different proliferative activities and phenotypes attributable to transformation (NIHs cultures) or senescence (NIHv cultures), before and after incubation with hydrogen peroxide. Both cultures were derived from the NIH/3T3 cell line, which was used here as a reference (NIHb), after the serum starvation. Our experimental model can be representative of the heterogeneity of cell subpopulations, with different degrees of transformation and senescence, found in some tumors. The characterization of the functional properties of NIHb, NIHs, and NIHv cells was performed by a morphocytometric analysis of the cell cycle progression, mitochondrial and lysosomal content/activity, and superoxide anion production. The efficiency of the lysosomal compartment was also assessed by estimating the autophagic activity and measuring lipofuscin autofluorescence. Comparisons of nuclear and cytoplasmic parameters before and after the incubation with hydrogen peroxide revealed differences in the expression and modulation of cellular senescence patterns. The treatment effects were very limited in the NIHb culture; the senescence condition was essentially maintained in the NIHv cells, while the most relevant changes were found in the NIHs cells. In the latter, the acquisition of the senescent phenotype, also demonstrated by the positivity of SA-β-galactosidase, was correlated with a decrease in proliferative activity and a change in the content/activity of the mitochondria and lysosomes, which showed similarities with the basal senescence conditions of NIHv cells. In NIHs cells, increased autophagy events and lipofuscin accumulation also indicate the establishment of cytoplasmic dynamics typical of senescence. The variable responses to hydrogen peroxide, besides depending on the different basal cytokinetic activity of the cultures examined, appeared to be related to the specific cell redox state resulting from the balance between endogenous ROS and those produced after treatment. Especially in NIHs cells, the slowing down of the cell cycle was linked to dynamic interconnections between the mitochondrial and lysosomal compartments. This would indicate that transformed cells, such as NIHs, may express morpho-functional aspects and markers typical of cellular senescence, as a consequence of the modulation of their redox state. Full article

Rotor equipment material samples with varying degrees of degradation during long-term operation are characterized by lower (up to 17%) corrosion and hydrogen resistance compared to the initial state. The scheme of redistribution of carbides in structural components in the initial state and after long-term operation is presented. The schemes of the turning rotor shaft are visualized, while taking the microstructure features into account. During long-term service, the properties of steels are affected by changes in the parameters of structural components caused by the action of a hydrogen-containing environment. Based on the experimental data, the regression equation and approximation probability R² value describing the change in the electrochemical parameters of 38KhN3MFA rotor steel samples after 200, 225, 250, and 350 thousand hours of operation were obtained. During machining, an increase in hydrogen content was recorded in the chips, especially from degraded areas of the rotor shaft (up to 7.94 ppm), while in undegraded zones, it ranged from 2.1 to 4.4 ppm. A higher hydrogen concentration was correlated with increased surface roughness. The use of LCLs improved surface quality by 1.5 times compared to LCL_p. Dispersion caused by degradation contributed to hydrogen accumulation and changed the nature of material destruction. After repair, the rotors demonstrated stable operation for over 25 thousand hours, with no reappearance of critical defects observed during scheduled inspections. Full article