Search Results (184)

Soil passivation conditioners effectively reduce cadmium (Cd) bioavailability and limit its accumulation in rice, though their efficacy and stability vary considerably among different types. A three-year paddy field study in southern China evaluated a calcium–silicon–magnesium composite (CSM) applied at 1500 and 3000 kg/ha (CSM1 and CSM2), with a no-CSM control (CK), on Cd behavior, soil properties, and functional groups. Results demonstrated a clear dose–response relationship, with CSM reducing brown rice Cd by 35−74% across sites (2021−2023). High-dose treatments achieved grain safety standards (0.183 mg/kg, p < 0.05). Soil pH increased annually by 0.2−0.37 units, while DTPA-extractable Cd decreased by 2.6−27% over three years. CSM application significantly transformed Cd speciation, reducing exchangeable Cd by 3% while increasing the iron–manganese oxide-bound fraction by 5%. Soil base saturation increased from 42.6% to 73.2% (HS) and 71% to 97.3% (XY). FTIR analysis revealed enhanced silicate polymerization, increased hydroxyl group abundance, and Si-O-Mg/Fe vibrations indicating a significant increase in Cd complexation in treated soil. The CSM passivator immobilizes Cd by elevating soil pH to promote its transformation into stable Fe-Mn-bound forms, enhancing hydroxyl and siloxane complexation with Cd, and synergizing with silicon–calcium ionic antagonism, collectively reducing Cd bioavailability while improving soil fertility through base saturation regulation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plasma fibronectin (pFN) supports lung metastasis by promoting tumor cell invasion and survival in the context of blood clotting. Here, we set out to test if myeloid cells reiterate the clot-invasive mechanisms that have been established for tumor cells. Methods: We analyzed lung tissue sections from transgenic pFN-deficient mice for the co-localization of intravenously injected B16F1 tumor cells and the surrounding fibrin with myeloid cells, granulocytes, and macrophages. We also tested the role of pFN for macrophage differentiation and invasion in a three-dimensional fibrin matrix. Results: B16F1 melanoma cells, entrapped in the lungs of pFN-competent C57BL/6-Fn(fl/fl)Mx-Cre⁻ mice, were surrounded by a fibrin matrix, CD11b-positive myeloid cells, and Gr-1-positive granulocytes within 1 h of intravenous injection, while homing F4/80-positive macrophages to lung-born tumor cells occurred within 16 h. Compared to pFN-competent C57BL/6-Fn(fl/fl)Mx-Cre⁻ mice, the co-localization of CD11b⁺, Gr-1⁺, and F4/80⁺ cells with B16F1 cells was significantly reduced in the lungs of pFN-deficient C57BL/6-Fn(fl/fl)Mx-Cre⁻ mice. Mechanistically, we found that fibrin–fibronectin complexes promoted macrophage adhesion, differentiation, and invasion in clotted plasma. The pro-invasive function of fibrin–fibronectin depended on the upregulation of integrin β3 and Tie2 expression in macrophages and was reversed after knocking-down integrin β3 and Tie2 with siRNA. Conclusions: Our results suggest that blood clotting plays an important role in the recruitment of macrophages to circulating tumor cells and that the underlying mechanism of macrophage recruitment involves fibrin–fibronectin complexes, integrin β3, and Tie2. Full article

Cereal-based complementary foods are widely consumed by children, yet limited data exist on their elemental composition and potential health risks. This study quantified As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mg, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Si, V, and Zn in eight commercial cereal-based products collected in Campo Grande, Brazil, using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and chromium were consistently below the detection limit. Phosphorus and potassium were the predominant elements across brands, followed by Fe, Mg, and Zn, with significant inter-brand variability (Kruskal–Wallis, p < 0.05). Lead was detected in Brands 1–5 (0.11–0.41 mg/kg), but it was below the limit of detection (LOD = 0.003 mg/L) in the other samples. Estimated daily intake (DI) values at 30 g/day and 90 g/day showed that Fe, Zn, Mn, and Se frequently met or exceeded dietary reference intakes for children aged 1–3 years, while Cu, Ni, and P remained below tolerable levels. Comparison with tolerable upper intake levels and ATSDR minimal risk levels indicated that higher consumption (90 g/day) could result in excess intake of Mn, Zn, and Se, with Pb contributing to cumulative hazard indices above the safety threshold (HI > 1). These findings emphasize the dual role of cereal-based foods as important nutrient sources and potential contributors to excessive trace element exposure in young children. Full article

Despite lower birth weight, Meishan piglets exhibit a notably higher pre-weaning survival rate compared to Western commercial breeds. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low birth weight (LBW) on intestinal barrier function in Meishan neonates. Six pairs of neonatal piglets (one normal birth weight, NBW: 0.85 ± 0.06 kg; one LBW: 0.65 ± 0.02 kg) from the same sow were euthanized at birth prior to suckling. Morphological parameters, goblet cell density, antioxidant enzyme activities, cytokine gene expression, and tight junction protein levels in the small intestine (SI) were assessed. Results showed that LBW piglets had a significantly higher SI length-to-body weight ratio (p < 0.05), along with reduced villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01). Notably, microvillus structure remained intact despite the presence of mitochondrial swelling. LBW piglets also exhibited decreased goblet cell numbers, lower antioxidant capacity, dysregulated expression of cytokines (CD8, IFNγ, IL4, IL2), and reduced levels of mucin 2, ZO-1, and occludin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although LBW Meishan piglets showed impairments in multiple aspects of intestinal barrier function, the structural integrity of the microvillus was preserved, which may contribute to their higher survival rate and represents a key adaptive advantage over commercial pig breeds. Full article

Wearable and skin-mounted electronics demand encapsulation designs that simultaneously provide strong barrier performance, mechanical reliability, and transferability under ultrathin conditions. In this study, a residual stress-balanced transferable encapsulation platform was developed by integrating a urethane-based copolymer superstrate [p(IEM-co-HEMA)] with inorganic thin films. The polymer, deposited via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), offered over 90% optical transmittance, low RMS roughness (1–3 nm), and excellent solvent resistance, providing a stable base for inorganic barrier integration. An ALD Al₂O₃/ZnO nano-stratified barrier initially delivered effective moisture blocking, but tensile stress accumulation imposed a critical thickness of 30 nm, where the WVTR plateaued at ~2.5 × 10⁻⁴ g/m²/day. To overcome this limitation, a 40 nm e-beam SiO₂ capping layer was added, introducing compressive stress via atomic peening and stabilizing Al₂O₃ interfaces through Si–O–Al bonding. This stress-balanced design doubled the critical thickness to 60 nm and reduced the WVTR to 3.75 × 10⁻⁵ g/m²/day, representing an order-of-magnitude improvement. OLEDs fabricated on this ultrathin platform preserved J–V–L characteristics and efficiency (~4.5–5.0 cd/A) after water-assisted transfer and on-skin deformation, while maintaining LT80 lifetimes of 140–190 h at 400 cd/m² and stable emission for over 20 days in ambient storage. These results demonstrate that the stress-balanced encapsulation platform provides a practical route to meet the durability and reliability requirements of next-generation wearable optoelectronic devices. Full article

Although multimodal therapeutic management has significantly improved outcome in prostate cancer (PCa) patients, treatment options for castrate-resistant disease remain challenging. Plant-derived mistletoe extracts have supported cancer patients and are, therefore, widely used as complementary medicine. However, mechanisms behind possible mistletoe benefits to PCa patients remain to be explored. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of mistletoe extracts from four different host trees (Tiliae, Populi, Salicis, and Crataegi) on the growth and proliferation of PCa cell lines in vitro. PC3, DU145, and LNCaP cells were used to evaluate tumor cell growth (MTT assay) and proliferation (BrdU incorporation assay). Clonogenicity, apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell-cycle-regulating proteins (cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclins) were investigated, as was CD44 standard and splice variant expression and integrin α and β receptors. SiRNA knockdown studies were employed to investigate the functional relevance of integrins. All mistletoe extracts significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and cell proliferation and clonogenicity were suppressed. Populi and Salicis induced cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and increased apoptosis. Both extracts down-regulated CDK1 and cyclin A and altered CD44 expression. Integrins α5 in all cell lines and α6 in DU145 and LNCaP were particularly diminished. Knocking down α5 and α6 induced cell growth inhibition in DU145. Mistletoe extracts block the growth and proliferation of PCa cells in vitro and therefore qualify for use in future animal studies to evaluate mistletoe as an adjunct to standard PCa treatment. Full article

Beyond sensing bitter-tasting compounds, bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) have been demonstrated to play a functional role in proton secretion as a key mechanism of gastric acid secretion (GAS) and the cellular uptake of the zinc metal ion. Given its chemical similarity and comparable effects in GAS, we focused this work on cadmium and hypothesized that gastric TAS2Rs are involved in (i) cadmium-induced inhibition of proton secretion and (ii) in its cellular uptake. To test this hypothesis, immortalized human parietal HGT-1 cells were exposed to 62.5–1000 µM CdCl₂ for 30 min to elucidate TAS2R-mediated proton secretory activity (PSA) using a fluorescence-based pH cell assay and to quantitate cellular cadmium uptake by ICP-MS. HGT-1 cells exposed to CdCl₂ exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in PSA, accompanied by a corresponding increase in intracellular cadmium concentrations. Following a TAS2R RT-qPCR screening, the functional roles of TAS2R8 and TAS2R10 were clarified using a siRNA knockdown approach, demonstrating that TAS2R8 promotes and TAS2R10 mediates protection against excessive cellular cadmium accumulation. An additional cDNA microarray screening revealed, via gene ontology analysis, a distinct gene association of TAS2R8 and TAS2R10 with several metal ion transporters. These results provide the first evidence for a specific role of individual TAS2Rs beyond taste perception, particularly in metal ion homeostasis and gastric physiology. Full article

Atherosclerosis as a multifactorial disease remains the first cause of death worldwide. Current oral lipid-lowering drugs (especially statins) reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels in the blood, but their clinical efficacy seems to be partially attributed to pleiotropic effects on different pathophysiologic factors of atherosclerosis extending beyond lipid-lowering properties such as anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and antioxidative features. Novel drugs that interfere with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) axis of LDL-C receptors (LDLRs) degradation, from the group of monoclonal antibodies (e.g., alirocumab, evolocumab) or small interfering RNA (siRNA), e.g., inclisiran, are effective in reducing LDLC as well. However, data depicting their antithrombotic and antiplatelet activity are scarce, whereas prothrombotic properties of PCSK9 are widely described. Thus, we performed a study to assess the effects of inclisiran on subclinical prothrombotic [fibrinogen, coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)] and platelet activation markers (platelet factor-4 (PF-4), soluble p-selectin (sCD62P)). Ten patients at high cardiovascular risk with concomitant heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH)—study group 1, and fourteen patients at very high cardiovascular risk without concomitant HeFH—study group 2, were recruited for the study. Lipid profile, subclinical prothrombotic and platelet activation markers were assessed at the beginning and after 3 months of therapy with inclisiran. During therapy, statistically significant reductions in both study groups were seen in total cholesterol levels (study group 1: from 287.6 ± 94.2 to 215.2 ± 89.1 (mg/dL), p = 0.022; study group 2: from 211.7 ± 52.7 to 147.6 ± 55.4 (mg/dL), p < 0.001) and LDL-c (study group 1: from 180.8 ± 73.3 to 114.7 ± 71.5 (mg/dL), p = 0.031; study group 2: from 129.6 ± 46.8 to 63.4 ± 43.6 (mg/dL), p < 0.001). Lipid profile changes were associated with significant decrease in the concentration of FVIII in both groups (study group 1: from 33.3 ± 22 to 22 ± 14.5 (ng/mL), p = 0.006; study group 2: from 37 ±16.9 to 29.3 ±16.4 (ng/mL), p = 0.002) and fibrinogen, but only in study group 2 (from 51.4 (33.2–72.7) to 42.6 (31.3–57.2) (µg/mL), p = 0.035). Among platelet activation markers, a significant decrease in PF-4 in study group 2 was noted (from 286 (272–295.5) to 272 (268–281.5) (ng/mL), p = 0.047). However, there were no statistically significant changes in PAI-1 and sCD62P throughout the study. In our study, inclisiran appeared to be an effective lipid-lowering drug in patients at high cardiovascular risk. Moreover, it was shown that beyond lipid-lowering properties, the drug may also partially affect thrombogenesis and platelet activation. Full article

This paper comprehensively reports experimental proof of parity violation in the ground and photoexcited states of three mirror-symmetric Si–Si bond polymers in homogeneous solutions of achiral molecules under non-stirring conditions by analyzing 370 chiroptical datasets relating to multiple second-order helix–helix transitions in the circular dichroism (CD) of poly(di-i-butylsilane) (iBS), poly(di-i-pentylsilane) (iPS), and poly(di-i-hexylsilane) (iHS) in achiral alkanols and p-dioxane-h₈/-d₈. Particularly large (–)-CD of g_abs = −3.1 × 10⁻² at 290 nm was found for iBS in i-pentanol at 25 °C. Notably, iPS in n-propanol at −5 °C generated (–)-CD with g_abs = −0.48 × 10⁻² at 300 nm, but (+)-circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with g_lum = +0.84 × 10⁻² at 326 nm. In contrast, iHS in n-octanol at 0 °C showed only very weak (–)-CD of g_abs ~−0.03 × 10⁻² at 310 nm. The H/D isotopes of p-dioxane-h₈/-d₈ weakly affected the helix–helix transition characteristics of iBS. (–)-Sign vibrational CD signals assigned to the handed symmetric and asymmetric bending modes of the CH₃ and CH₂ groups of the solvents and other achiral molecules were observed. We assumed (i) three ¹H nuclear-spin-1/2 induced handed motions of CH₃ rotors at i-alkyl side chains and achiral alkanols, and (ii) helical main-chain Si atoms (δ⁺) coordinated by handed lone pairs at oxygen (δ⁻) in gauche-containing n- and i-alkanols induced by the CH₃ rotors. A possible origin of biomolecular handedness is proposed based on the first observation of far-UV CD and UV spectra of zwitterionic glycine bearing H₃N⁺ rotor in neutral H₂O. Full article

Immunotherapy, particularly approaches that combine tumor-specific vaccines with immune checkpoint modulation, represents a promising strategy for overcoming tumor immune evasion. While most mRNA-based cancer vaccines focus solely on antigen delivery, there is a need for platforms that simultaneously enhance antigen presentation and modulate the tumor microenvironment to increase therapeutic efficacy. This study presents a novel dual-nanolipid exosome (NLE) platform that simultaneously delivers MUC1 mRNA and CTLA-4-targeted siRNA in a single system. These endogenous lipid-based nanoparticles are structurally designed to mimic exosomes and are modified with mannose to enable selective targeting to dendritic cells (DCs) via mannose receptors. The platform was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo in terms of mRNA encapsulation efficiency, nanoparticle stability, and uptake by DCs. The co-delivery platform significantly enhanced antitumor immune responses compared to monotherapies. Flow cytometry revealed a notable increase in tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells (p < 0.01), and ELISPOT assays showed elevated IFN-γ production upon MUC1-specific stimulation. In vivo CTL assays demonstrated enhanced MUC1-specific cytotoxicity. Combined therapy resulted in immune response enhancement compared to vaccine or CTLA-4 siRNA alone. The NLE platform exhibited favorable biodistribution and low systemic toxicity. By combining targeted delivery of dendritic cells, immune checkpoint gene silencing, and efficient antigen expression in a biomimetic nanoparticle system, this study represents a significant advance over current immunotherapy strategies. The NLE platform shows strong potential as a modular and safe approach for RNA-based cancer immunotherapy. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, and key pathways such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy are believed to significantly contribute to the mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Calpain activation plays a critical role in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, as demonstrated by its impact on microglial activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and neuronal survival. In this study, we investigated the effects of calpain inhibition using calpeptin (CP) and calpain-2-specific inhibitors in cellular and murine models of neuroinflammation and PD. In BV2 microglial cells, LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1, IP-10) were significantly reduced by CP treatment with a concomitant decrease in ROS generation. Similarly, in VSC-4.1 motoneuron cells, calpain inhibition attenuated IFN-γ-induced ROS production and improved cell viability, demonstrating its neuroprotective effects. Moreover, in a murine MPTP model of PD, calpain inhibition reduced astrogliosis, ROCK2 expression, and levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-7, and IL12p70) and chemokines (MCP-1 and IP-10) in the dorsal striatum and plasma. The specific role of calpain-2 in immune modulation was further highlighted in human microglia, SV-40 cells. With respect to immune modulation in these cells, siRNA-mediated knockdown of calpain-2, but not calpain-1, significantly reduced antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells. Thus, calpain-2 is likely involved in regulating antigen presentation and activation of inflammatory CD4+ T cells. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of calpain-2 inhibition in mitigating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, particularly in PD, by targeting microglial activation, ROS production, and neuronal survival pathways. Full article

The high pH and heavy metal leaching of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag limit its application in agriculture. Slag carbonation can aid in decreasing slag alkalinity and inhibit heavy metal release; the environmental safety of utilizing carbonated AOD slag (CAS) as a fertilizer remains a topic of significant debate, however. In this work, pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) was planted in CAS-fertilized soil to investigate the accumulation and migration behavior of heavy metals in the soil–plant system and perform an associated risk assessment. Our results demonstrated that CAS addition increases Ca, Si, and Cr concentrations but decreases Mg and Fe concentrations in soil leachates. Low rates (0.25–1%) of CAS fertilization facilitate the growth of pakchoi, resulting in the absence of soil contamination and posing no threat to human health. At the optimal slag addition rate of 0.25%, the pakchoi leaf biomass, stem biomass, leaf area, and seedling height increased by 34.2%, 17.2%, 26.3%, and 8.7%, respectively. The accumulation of heavy metals results in diverging characteristics in pakchoi. Cr primarily accumulates in the roots; in comparison, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Hg preferentially accumulate in the leaves. The migration rate of the investigated heavy metals from the soil to pakchoi follows the order of Cr > Cd > Hg > Ni > Pb; in comparison, that from the roots to the leaves follows the order Cd > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb. Appropriate utilization of CAS as a mineral fertilizer can aid in improving pakchoi yield, achieving sustainable economic benefits, and preventing environmental pollution. Full article

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR), an acidic by-product from manganese production, presents dual challenges of environmental pollution and resource waste. This study developed a silicon–manganese organic compound fertilizer (SMOCF) via the aerobic fermentation of EMR supplemented with bagasse, molasses, and activated sludge. The physicochemical analysis revealed that the EMR’s composition was dominated by silicon (7.1% active Si), calcium, sulfur, and trace elements. Critical parameters during composting—including water-soluble Mn (1.48%), organic matter (8.05%), pH (7.4), moisture (20.28%), and germination index (GI = 87.78%)—met organic fertilizer standards, with the GI exceeding the phytotoxicity threshold (80%). The final SMOCF exhibited favorable agronomic properties: neutral pH, earthy texture, and essential macronutrients (1.36% K, 1.11% N, 0.48% P). Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb) in the SMOCF predominantly existed in stable residual forms, with total concentrations complying with China’s organic fertilizer regulations (GB/T 32951-2016). The ecological risk assessment confirmed a minimal mobilization potential (risk assessment code < 5%), ensuring environmental safety. This work demonstrates a circular economy strategy to repurpose hazardous EMRs into agriculturally viable fertilizers, achieving simultaneous pollution mitigation and resource recovery. The optimized SMOCF meets quality benchmarks for organic fertilizers while addressing heavy metal concerns, providing a scalable solution for industrial EMR valorization. Further studies should validate the field performance and long-term ecological impacts to facilitate practical implementation. Full article

Stormwater pollution from residual chlorine after outdoor disinfection with sodium hypochlorite is an increasing environmental challenge due to its potential negative impact on aquatic ecosystems. Even at low concentrations, residual chlorine can disrupt the stability of water ecosystems. In this regard, stormwater treatment requires innovative and green solutions such as green infrastructure (rain gardens) using the plant phytoremediation technique to reduce the amount of residual chlorine. This study explores the interactions between residual chlorine retained by plants in a rain garden and different microelements. Selected plants were analyzed via spectroscopy, and possible interactions with elements such as chlorine (Cl), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), nickel (Ni), silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) were determined using Python-based analysis. Chlorine presented significant positive correlations with cadmium (0.39–0.53) and potassium (0.51–0.55), while negative correlations were found between silicon and chlorine (−0.48–−0.54) and chlorine and iron (−0.45–−0.51). The correlations between chlorine and microelements suggest both common uptake mechanisms and mutual interactions. These results provide a better understanding of the behavior of chlorine in rain gardens and its interactions with other materials, which is especially valuable for designing green infrastructure. This research can help to develop sustainable solutions that reduce environmental pollution and strengthen urban adaptation to climate change. Full article

In the purpose of enhancing solar cell efficiency and sustainability, zinc selenide (ZnSe) and silicon (Si) play indispensable roles, offering a compelling combination of stability and transparency while also highlighting their abundant availability. This study utilizes the SCAPS_1D tool to explore diverse heterojunction setups, aiming to solve the nuanced correlation between key parameters and photovoltaic performance, therefore contributing significantly to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. Exploring the performance analysis of heterojunction solar cell configurations employing ZnSe and Si elements, various configurations including SnO₂/ZnSe/p_Si/p⁺_Si, SnO₂/CdS/p_Si/p⁺_Si, TiO₂/ZnSe/p_Si/p⁺_Si, and TiO₂/CdS/p_Si/p⁺_Si are investigated, delving into parameters such as back surface field thickness (BSF), doping concentration, operating temperature, absorber layer properties, electron transport layer properties, interface defects, series and shunt resistance. Among these configurations, the SnO₂/ZnSe/p_Si/p⁺_Si configuration with a doping concentration of 10¹⁹ cm⁻³ and a BSF thickness of 2 μm, illustrates a remarkable conversion efficiency of 22.82%, a short circuit current density (J_sc) of 40.33 mA/cm², an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.73 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 77.05%. Its environmentally friendly attributes position it as a promising contender for advanced photovoltaic applications. This work emphasizes the critical role of parameter optimization in propelling solar cell technologies toward heightened efficiency and sustainability. Full article