Search Results (1,392)

Sunscreens are essential for photoprotection, but conventional inorganic UV filters raise concerns regarding marine toxicity. This study investigated hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from skipjack, tongol, and salmon bone waste as a potential synergistic booster for Tinosorb^® S (TS). HAp powders were prepared via alkaline treatment and calcination at 900 °C. XRD and XRF results confirmed highly crystalline HAp as the dominant phase. While 10% HAp alone provided negligible UV protection, a pronounced synergistic effect was observed in 1:1 hybrid formulations (5% HAp:5% TS), significantly enhancing Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and Ultraviolet A Protection Factor (UVAPF). Notably, particle-size refinement of salmon-derived HAp (SM–HAp) yielded an SPF of approximately 35, comparable to a commercial HAp counterpart. This improvement was suggested to be associated with enhanced dispersion, film uniformity, and particle–matrix interactions, which might contribute to achieving PA++++ protection. All formulations complied with microbiological and heavy metal safety standards. These results indicated that fish bone-derived HAp could potentially serve as a viable and sustainable functional additive derived from marine biowaste for the development of high-performance hybrid sunscreens, promoting biomaterial valorization in the cosmetic industry. Full article

In recent years, phosphorus (P) nanoparticles have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional fertilizers. This study evaluated zeolite-fixed hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAP) for greenhouse tomato cultivation, comparing their efficiency with phosphate rock (positive P input) and quartz sand (negative P Carrier). Material characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and zeta potential analysis revealed that zeolite was identified predominantly as clinoptilolite, phosphate rock as phosphate-bearing aluminosilicates, and quartz sand as crystalline quartz; in all cases, the materials exhibited negatively charged surfaces. Hybrid fertilizers were formed through electrostatic interactions between zeolite and nHAP, confirming the successful development of a zeolite-based carrier for nanohydroxyapatite delivery. Application of 0.01 g·L⁻¹ nHAP increased the effective quantum yield of Photosystem II by 0.64 compared to the control at midday. Fruit firmness showed no significant differences among treatments. The highest sugar and soluble solids content was observed with 0.1 g·L⁻¹ nHAP (6.84 °Brix), whereas the 1 g·L⁻¹ treatment enhanced pigment concentrations, reaching 5.9 mg·g⁻¹/g chlorophyll a, 2.92 mg·g⁻¹ chlorophyll b, and 2.82 mg·g⁻¹ carotenoids. The 0.01 g·L⁻¹ dose of nHAP maintained quality characteristics and marginally increased yield; however, yield decreased at higher nHAP concentrations, opening new research opportunities to optimize this nanofertilizer. Full article

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a high-performance thermoplastic with potential applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical components, owing to its exceptional specific strength, thermal stability, and biocompatibility. However, its moderate hardness and limited wear resistance in dry sliding severely constrain its use in highly loaded tribological contacts. In this study, PEEK-based reinforced hybrid composites were produced utilizing a powder metallurgy technique, with reinforcement fractions of 10 wt.% graphite (Gr), boron (B), hydroxyapatite (HAp), and zirconium (Zr). The processing sequence included homogeneous wet-mixing, uniaxial cold compaction at pressures of 10–30 MPa, and sintering at 250–300 °C. The composition and microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Mechanical and tribological performances were assessed by Vickers microhardness, uniaxial compression and dry sliding wear tests. The best-performing Gr-B hybrid composite increased hardness by 240% and compressive strength by 175% compared with unreinforced PEEK. Tribologically, boron-containing PEEK demonstrated up to a 34.7% reduction in the coefficient of friction and approximately a 90% drop in wear-induced mass loss compared with unreinforced PEEK. The resulting Gr-B-reinforced PEEK hybrids are excellent choices for demanding load-bearing and tribological components like aerospace bushings, automotive sliding elements, spinal cages, and orthopedic fixation devices in biomedical applications because of their balanced combination of high hardness, superior wear resistance, and high compressive strength. Full article

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a significant vegetable crop, and its fruits tend to accumulate cadmium (Cd). The background value of soil Cd in the main pepper-producing area (southwest China) is relatively high, which results in a high risk of Cd contamination in pepper and its products in this area. Therefore, the cultivation of pepper varieties with low Cd accumulation is vital for ensuring food safety and the development of the pepper industry. A prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified the heavy-metal-transporting ATPase gene (CaHMA1) as a crucial gene that facilitates Cd accumulation in pepper fruits. Herein, three semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR (STARP) molecular markers (STARP1, STARP2, and STARP3) were designed according to three single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci (Chr02_154361710, Chr02_154362005, and Chr02_154367255) identified in the intronic region of CaHMA1. Subsequently, these STARP molecular markers were validated using 70 pepper core germplasms with known genotypes. The results indicated that the STARP markers exhibited an identity of over 95% with the corresponding SNP markers. By utilizing the aforementioned STARP markers, the pepper population was divided into two haplotypes (Hap) (Hap1 and Hap2). Under Cd stress, the average Cd content in the fruits of Hap2 pepper was 27.01% lower than that of Hap1. Collectively, these three STARP markers can rapidly and accurately identify the Cd accumulation capacity of pepper varieties with different haplotypes. Furthermore, 24 SNPs were additionally screened from 150 core SNPs according to the criteria of minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.40, polymorphism information content (PIC) > 0.35, observed heterozygosity (OH) < 0.6, and uniform distribution across 12 chromosomes. These 24 SNPs were combined with the 3 SNPs from the STARP marker developed in the intron region of CaHMA1, and a pepper DNA fingerprinting map was successfully constructed. This DNA fingerprinting map achieved a 100% identification efficiency for 216 pepper germplasm accessions and was able to distinguish the Cd accumulation capacities among different pepper germplasm accessions. In conclusion, this study provides reliable STARP markers for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding of pepper varieties with low Cd accumulation. Moreover, the constructed DNA fingerprinting map possesses dual functions, identifying varieties and evaluating Cd accumulation traits that have high practical value in pepper breeding. Full article

The development of microcapsules for the controlled release of active substances offers an innovative strategy in restorative dentistry, expanding the possibilities beyond traditional methods. In this study, microcapsules loaded with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and different concentrations of hydroxyapatite (HAP)—0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, referred to as M0, M5, M10, M15, and M20—were synthesized through in situ polymerization within an oil-in-water emulsion. Their morphology, size, and nanostructure were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of characteristic chemical bonds, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantified residual TEGDMA monomer. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) further confirmed the presence and the distribution of the liquid healing agent inside the microcapsules. The analyses indicated that microcapsules incorporating 20% hydroxyapatite exhibited superior structural organization and improved shell integrity, highlighting their potential in the remineralization processes. Overall, these results support the potential of HAP–TEGDMA microcapsules for incorporation into dental composites to facilitate microcrack repair and promote dental tissue regeneration. Full article

Isopentenyltransferase (IPT) is the rate-limiting enzyme in cytokinin biosynthesis and plays a critical role in plant acclimation to abiotic stress. To explore soybean IPT genes, we performed genome-wide identification, bioinformatics analysis, and molecular experimental validation to systematically characterize the features and functions of the soybean IPT (GmIPT) gene family. We identified 15 GmIPT genes in the soybean genome, which are unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes; their evolutionary expansion is primarily driven by whole-genome duplication events. Phylogenetic analysis of soybean IPT proteins with those from Arabidopsis, rice and maize clustered them into four groups, exhibiting lineage-specific functional specialization. GmIPT genes exhibit significant variations in conserved motifs, gene structure, and cis-acting elements; their promoter regions are enriched in light-responsive, abiotic stress-responsive, and hormone-responsive elements, indicating their involvement in complex transcriptional regulatory networks. Tissue expression profiling revealed that GmIPT7 and GmIPT10 are highly expressed in various tissues, whereas GmIPT14 shows specific expression in flowers and the shoot apical meristem. Transcriptomic analysis and qRT-PCR validation demonstrated that GmIPT7, GmIPT10 and GmIPT15 respond differentially to drought, salt and low-temperature stress, with GmIPT15 exhibiting a transient upregulation at 3 h (p < 0.01) followed by a gradual decline to levels close to the pre-treatment control at 6–12 h under low-temperature stress. We further performed haplotype analysis of GmIPT15 and identified a putative elite haplotype (hap1) associated with cold tolerance based on low-temperature germination index assessment. This study provides useful insights for the future functional characterization of plant IPT genes and offers potential genetic resources and molecular markers that may support molecular-assisted breeding for soybean abiotic stress tolerance. Full article

In the present manuscript, the influence of reaction time on the hexagonal-to-monoclinic phase transition in hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanofibers synthesized via a low-temperature modified hydrothermal method at 100 °C is investigated. The resulting nanofibers were highly crystalline and stoichiometric, with a Ca/P ratio of approximately 1.67. Comprehensive structural and functional characterization, combining X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and resonance-tracking piezoresponse force microscopy (RT-PFM), was employed to elucidate the role of the non-centrosymmetric monoclinic P2₁/b phase in governing HAp’s structural and piezoelectric properties. The analyses indicated a time-dependent phase evolution from hexagonal (P6₃/m) to monoclinic (P2₁/b), with exclusive formation of the hexagonal phase at 6 h and a clearly dominant monoclinic fraction (73.56%) after 24 h. Nanofibers synthesized for 48 h comprised approximately 98% monoclinic HAp and exhibited elongated morphologies with an average length of 354.82 nm and diameter of 45 nm. RT-PFM measurements confirmed a pronounced piezoelectric response associated with the monoclinic phase, yielding an effective piezoelectric coefficient (d_eff) of 19.85 pm/V. In vitro MTT assays demonstrated that the high monoclinic content did not compromise biocompatibility, as cell viability and cytotoxicity met the requirements of ISO 10993 and ASTM F895 standards. These findings offer new insights into how monoclinic ordering governs the piezoelectric behavior of HAp and suggest a promising strategy for enhancing its performance in biomedical applications. Full article

Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a destructive forest disease leading to rapid mortality. Although Chongqing is a major epidemic region in China, the population genetic structure of B. xylophilus and the ecological interactions among nematode occurrence, blue stain formation, and microbial community dynamics remain insufficiently clear. This study systematically surveyed nematode incidence and performed morphological and molecular identification, revealing strong correlations between nematode presence, blue stain, and insect infestation (p < 0.0001). Within Monochamus alternatus, nematodes were mainly distributed in the abdomen and thorax (p < 0.0001). High-throughput sequencing showed significantly higher fungal (e.g., Leptographium) and bacterial (e.g., Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia) diversity in diseased than healthy pinewood, indicating pronounced microbial shifts during disease progression. mtCOI-based genetic analyses of 162 nematodes from 11 populations revealed five haplotypes, with Hap1 shared across all populations. AMOVA indicated that over 80% of genetic variation occurred within populations, and neutrality and mismatch analyses suggested recent expansion in some populations (Beibei, Jiangbei, Rongchang). These findings clarify nematode epidemiology, microbial shifts, and genetic characteristics in Chongqing, providing a scientific basis for precise sampling, rapid detection, and integrated management of PWD, and suggest that microbial community changes may contribute to rapid pine decline. Full article

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is one of the most important sugar crops and potential energy crops in China. The utilization of its heterosis is crucial for breaking through the bottlenecks in yield and quality, while the fertility identification of binary male-sterile lines is the core link to ensure the purity of hybrid seeds. Due to its indeterminate inflorescence, artificial emasculation of sugar beet is not feasible, which significantly increases the difficulty in hybrid seed production. To rapidly and accurately identify the fertility composition of monogerm binary male-sterile lines of sugar beet, ensure the maternal line purity in sugar beet hybrid seed production, and improve breeding efficiency, this study conducted fertility identification using molecular marker technology with 7 monogerm binary male-sterile line germplasm resources (297 plants) provided by three research institutions in different regions of China. Genomic DNA was extracted from young sugar beet leaves by the CTAB method. The cytoplasmic fertility types were identified using the TR1 primer, and the fertility gene composition at the nuclear Rf1 locus was verified by the s17 molecular marker combined with Hap II and Hind III double digestion. The results showed that in the cytoplasmic fertility identification, the proportion of S-type cytoplasm in Lines 2 to 7 reached 100%, indicating stable sterility without maintainer line contamination; Line 1 had 93.33% S-type cytoplasm, mixed with 6.67% N-type cytoplasm. For the nuclear Rf1 locus identification, 93.27% (277 plants) of the tested materials yielded the target 1800 bp band by PCR amplification, which were preliminarily identified as homozygous recessive type. Among them, Lines 1 to 3 all showed a single 1800 bp band pattern, indicating homozygous and consistent nuclear fertility genotypes; 20 plants (6.73%) in Lines 4 to 7 exhibited a composite 1800/1300 bp band pattern, suggesting the presence of restorer allele contamination in some lines. Genotype analysis based on 35 enzyme-digested verification samples revealed that the 4/4 genotype had the highest proportion. This study realized the rapid and accurate identification of cytoplasmic and nuclear fertility in monogerm binary male-sterile lines of sugar beet through molecular marker technology, clarified the fertility purity status of 7 germplasm resources, and verified the application value of this technology in the fertility identification of sugar beet binary male-sterile lines. These results provide a scientific basis and technical support for controlling maternal line purity and improving breeding efficiency in sugar beet hybrid seed production. Full article

The black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) is an ecologically and economically important freshwater fish native to China and neighbouring regions, but its wild stocks have declined sharply in recent decades. We analysed mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) sequences from 100 individuals collected in 2008–2009 from four Yangtze River, two Pearl River and one Red River populations to assess genetic diversity and structure as a pre-ban baseline for maternal lineages. Sixteen polymorphic sites defined 17 haplotypes, with a single dominant haplotype (Hap2) shared across all populations. Haplotype diversity was high but nucleotide diversity low, and neutrality tests together with mismatch-distribution analyses were consistent with a recent Late Pleistocene demographic expansion. Pairwise FST values ranged from negligible differentiation among middle–lower Yangtze populations to pronounced differentiation between the upstream Yangtze population (SS) and middle–lower populations and between the Yangtze and the combined Pearl–Red basins, whereas Pearl and Red River populations showed no significant divergence and high mitochondrial homogeneity, consistent with substantial historical connectivity. Overall, the Cyt b data indicate low mitochondrial diversity and shallow but significant inter-basin structuring, providing preliminary mtDNA-based evidence that Yangtze and Pearl–Red populations represent candidate conservation and management units, and highlighting the need for nuclear genomic markers and contemporary sampling to refine drainage-scale units and evaluate recent management effects. Full article

Background: Bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals based on bisphosphonates enable targeted therapy of skeletal metastases. They are suitable carriers for therapeutic radionuclides such as terbium-161 (¹⁶¹Tb), a β⁻ emitter that additionally releases short-range conversion and Auger electrons, which may enhance radiation dose delivery to small lesions. This study explored the potential of the well-established DOTA conjugated bisphosphonate BPAMD (4-{[(bis(phosphonomethyl))carbamoyl]methyl}-7,10-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10 tetraazacyclododec-1-yl)acetic acid) radiolabeled with ¹⁶¹Tb as a bone-targeted radiopharmaceutical, focusing on the theranostic and radiophysical advantages conferred by the radionuclide. Methods: BPAMD was radiolabeled with ¹⁶¹Tb and ¹⁷⁷Lu under mild conditions (pH 4.5, 95 °C, 30 min); subsequently, the radiochemical purity was assessed by radio-TLC. Physicochemical properties (charge, lipophilicity, protein binding), in vitro stability (saline and human serum, 48 h), and hydroxyapatite (HAP) binding were evaluated for [¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-BPAMD. Biodistribution was investigated in healthy Wistar rats (n = 3 per time point) at 2 h, 24 h, and 7 days post-injection. Computational density functional theory (DFT) analyses were performed to explore the coordination chemistry of Tb³⁺ and Lu³⁺ with BPAMD. Results: Both complexes achieved a radiochemical yield of greater than 98%. [¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-BPAMD exhibited negative charge, high hydrophilicity (logP = −3.92 ± 0.13), low protein binding (19.07 ± 1.01%), excellent radiochemical stability under simulated physiological conditions (>97% at 48 h), and strong hydroxyapatite affinity (>98% with ≥10 mg HAP). Biodistribution showed high, stable bone uptake (8.06% ID/g at 2 h; 6.70% ID/g at 24 h; 5.31% ID/g at 7 d) with rapid blood clearance (<0.001% ID/g at 24 h) and low non-target retention. To contextualize its performance, [¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-BPAMD was compared with [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-BPAMD, which demonstrated similarly strong skeletal retention (8.74% ID/g at 2 h; 8.08% ID/g at 24 h; 5.25% ID/g at 7 d) but comparatively higher non-target organ uptake. DFT calculations indicate that both Tb³⁺ and Lu³⁺ favor octa-coordinated BPAMD complexes. Conclusions: [¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-BPAMD exhibits excellent radiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties, with enhanced biodistribution selectivity over [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-BPAMD. Combined with the radiobiological advantages of ¹⁶¹Tb, it represents a promising theranostic candidate for targeted therapy of bone metastases. Full article

This study investigates whether detector materials with an effective atomic number (Z_eff), density, and light output higher than cesium iodide (CsI) could provide images of better quality in dual-energy cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) breast examinations. Seven different detector material configurations were applied in a simulated micro-CBCT system using GATE v.9.2.1 (GEANT4 application for tomographic emission). Four breast phantoms, containing microcalcifications of Type I and Type II, were imaged. Planar images and tomographic data were analyzed. Microcalcification CNRs (contrast-to-noise ratios) were calculated for each configuration. CZT (cadmium zinc telluride) and GAGG (gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet) materials show a 3–17% increase in relative HAp (hydroxyapatite)-CNR values towards CsI. Full article

Gibberellins (GAs) play a crucial regulatory role in the growth and development of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Through bioinformatics analyses, we identified a total of 39 GA2ox genes (encoding gibberellin 2-oxidases) in the cotton genome, designated GhGA2ox1 to GhGA2ox39. Based on phylogenetic analysis, these genes were classified into five groups. We further examined their gene structures, conserved motifs, and chromosomal distributions, revealing that members within the same group shared similar structural and motif organizations. Collinearity and cis-element analyses provided important insights into the evolutionary history and regulatory potential of the GA2ox gene family in cotton. Notably, using nucleotide diversity (π) and population differentiation (F_ST) analyses across the entire family, we screened and identified nine candidate genes that underwent strong artificial selection during cotton domestication and improvement. Further haplotype-phenotype association analysis identified GH_D09G0919 (GhGA2ox31) as a key regulator of Plant Height (PH). To validate their regulatory roles, we analyzed the genotype distribution in accessions with extreme phenotypes. The results revealed divergent selection histories for these two loci: the favorable allele of GH_D01G0720 (GhGA2ox23) was already fixed in the tested population, whereas GH_D09G0919 maintained significant natural variation. Specifically, the Hap2 allele of GH_D09G0919 was significantly enriched in the shortest accessions compared to the tallest ones. Importantly, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed that the Hap2 allele drives significantly higher gene expression in leaves, suggesting that enhanced GA catabolism underlies the compact phenotype. Additionally, transcriptomic profiling revealed the tissue-specific expression patterns of candidate genes, implying their functional roles in development. Furthermore, functional validation using the Arabidopsis mutant of the homologous gene (AtGA2ox8) confirmed its conserved role in regulating plant height, as the mutant exhibited a distinct short-stature phenotype. These results uncover valuable genetic resources for molecular breeding to shape compact cotton architecture. Collectively, this study aims to analyze the evolutionary patterns of the cotton GA2ox gene family and to identify key genes that regulate plant height under artificial selection, providing theoretical support for molecular breeding of compact plant types. Full article

In the long-duration stratospheric operation of High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPSs), strict management of the limited solar energy balance is a decisive factor determining mission success. However, existing planar approximation models ignore self-shading and incidence angle losses associated with curved surfaces. In this study, we propose a novel framework that catalogs the airframe geometry as a 4-tensor, achieving both physical rigor and computational speed. This method is a thousand times faster than ray tracing methods, and successfully reproduces the minute output fluctuations observed in actual flight data. Notably, in the winter solstice analysis, when the energy balance is most severe, the planar model overestimates power generation by approximately 25% during level flight and by approximately 12% even during turning maneuvers. Quantifying this discrepancy in environments with minimal energy margins is essential for mitigating the risk of airframe loss and formulating feasible operational plans. Full article

Enterobiasis, caused by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis, remains a widespread public health issue, yet data regarding its genetic structure in Southeast Europe are scarce. This study presents the first molecular and phylogenetic characterization of E. vermicularis isolates from Bulgaria. Between 2022 and 2025, perianal tape test samples were collected from 128 individuals (92.2% of whom were children) with enterobiasis from 17 regions of the country. Molecular identification was performed via nested PCR targeting a 324 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, followed by Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using Maximum Likelihood (IQ-TREE), and population genetic indices were calculated using DnaSP v6. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 128 Bulgarian isolates belong to genotype B, clustering closely with sequences from other European and Asian countries. Genetic diversity analysis showed remarkably low variation, with a haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.1507 ± 0.0416 and a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.00082 ± 0.00015. Among the 11 identified haplotypes, a single dominant haplotype (Hap_1) accounted for 92.2% of all samples and was distributed across all sampled geographic regions. Tajima’s D was significantly negative (−2.314, < 0.05), suggesting a recent population expansion or purifying selection. The dominance of genotype B and the extremely low genetic diversity suggest a recent introduction or clonal expansion of E. vermicularis in Bulgaria. These findings provide essential baseline data for monitoring transmission dynamics and implementing effective control strategies in the Balkan region. Full article