Search Results (432)

In this study, which focuses on animal symbolism in Alevi–Bektashi menakıpnames (hagiographies), the objective was to investigate animal symbolism, which is not unfamiliar but not fully understood. In this context, the study examined Abdal Musa Velayetnamesi, Menakıbu’l Kudsiyye, Demir Baba Velayetname, Hacı Bektaş Veli Velayetname, Hacım Sultan Menakıpname, Koyun Baba Velayetname, Otman Baba Velayetname, Saltıkname, Seyyid Ali Sultan Velayetname, Şuaceddin Veli Velayetname, and Veli Baba Menakıpname. This study, which aims to reveal the animals featured in Alevi–Bektashi menakıpnames and the symbolic perceptions attributed to them, uses phenomenology (the study of phenomena) from qualitative research designs. Within the scope of the research, data was collected through secondary sources, and elements considered meaningful and thought to contain animal symbolism were identified and presented in the findings section through direct and indirect transfers. The analysis revealed that the following animals are used as symbolic animals in the aforementioned menakıpnames and menkıbes: horse, deer, sheep, ram, lion, wolf, dog, pig, crane, pigeon, rooster, snake/dragon, salamander, crocodile, fish, and ox. Although animals such as wolves and sheep have taken on different functions and symbolic meanings under the influence of Islamic tradition, all other animals have retained their symbolic meanings in Turkish mythology in Alevi–Bektashi legends. Full article

In type 1 diabetes (T1D) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, dendritic cells (DCs) exhibit a Stat5b mutation that impairs regulatory T cell (Tregs) numbers and suppressive function. To correct this defect, we generated transgenic NOD mice expressing constitutively active Stat5b (NOD.Stat5b-CA) in DCs, which conferred protection from diabetes that was associated with an expanded Treg population and a marked reduction in CD8⁺ T cell frequencies in secondary lymphoid organs. However, the phenotypic characteristics and underlying mechanisms to eliminate CD8⁺ T cells in NOD.Stat5b-CA mice are unknown. In this study, we found that the frequency of Tregs was significantly higher in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs of NOD.Stat5b-CA mice compared with NOD mice. Tregs in the peripheral lymphoid organs exhibited increased expression of activation markers CD69 and OX40, alongside reduced CD62L. We also found that CD8⁺ T cell frequencies were reduced in the peripheral organs but not in the thymus of NOD.Stat5b-CA mice, while CD4⁺ T cell frequencies remained unchanged across all organs. Furthermore, NOD.Stat5b-CA mice exhibited a reduced frequency of central Tregs (CD62L^high CD44^low) and increased frequency of effector Tregs (CD62L^low CD44^high) under steady-state conditions compared to NOD mice. Notably, Tregs from NOD.Stat5b-CA mice displayed enhanced cytotoxic activity, evidenced by increased expression of perforin, granzyme B, and Fas ligand, potentially mediating CD8⁺ T cell frequency reduction. Collectively, these findings highlight a novel role for Stat5b-CA.DC-educated Tregs in modulating immune responses by eliminating peripheral pathogenic CD8⁺ T cells via cytotoxic pathways, thereby contributing to immune regulation in NOD.Stat5b-CA mice. Full article

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is an immunogenic malignancy with variable immune infiltration and inconsistent responses to checkpoint blockade. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) influence tumor progression and therapeutic outcome, yet their phenotypic and functional diversity across disease contexts remains incompletely understood. This review systematically characterizes the TIL landscape in human cSCC. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed and Embase were searched up to May 2025 and restricted to studies evaluating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in human cSCC, using the modified Newcatle–Ottawa score to assess risk of bias. Data were synthesized qualitatively given methodological heterogeneity. 48 studies met inclusion criteria. cSCCs exhibited dense CD3⁺ infiltrates composed of cytotoxic (CD8⁺GzmB⁺, Ki-67⁺, CD69⁺) and regulatory (FOXP3⁺, CCR4⁺) subsets. Higher CD8⁺ activity correlated with smaller tumors and longer disease-free survival, whereas FOXP3⁺ enrichment and TGF-β2 signaling promoted immune evasion. Immunosuppressed patients demonstrated diminished CD8⁺ density and clonality. Immune modulation with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, imiquimod, HPV vaccination, or OX40 stimulation enhanced effector function. The cSCC immune microenvironment reflects a balance between cytotoxic and suppressive factors. Harmonizing multimodal immune profiling and integrating spatial context with systemic immune status may advance both prognostic stratification and therapeutic design. Full article

Tolerance to metals develops independently across plant species and even among populations of the same species under strong environmental pressure. This study compares the morphology and leaf anatomy of Dianthus carthusianorum L. originating from a Zn–Pb waste dump (metallicolous ecotype, M) and from unpolluted areas (non-metallicolous ecotype, NM), exposed to toxic concentrations of Cd, Pb, or Zn under chronic (field) and acute (hydroponic) metal stress. The aim was to identify leaf anatomical adaptations that support growth of the M ecotype in metal-polluted environments and to assess structural changes induced by acute exposure in both ecotypes. In both ecotypes, metal exposure caused alterations of mesophyll cells and the formation of abundant calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals. Two oxalate forms were determined: insoluble (CaOx crystals) and soluble oxalates, with the former predominating. Following metal treatment, the M ecotype accumulated nearly twice as much of both forms as the NM ecotype, indicating a key role of oxalates in metal detoxification via precipitation of excess metal ions as metabolically inactive CaOx. Interestingly, elevated CaOx levels were also observed in M ecotype leaves grown under control (no metal application) conditions, suggesting a genetically fixed adaptation to metal-rich environments. Full article

This study explores the application of a cobalt–manganese oxide catalyst supported on coal gangue (CoMnOx@CG) for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade phenol in coal chemical wastewater (CCW). The synthesized CoMnOx@CG catalyst demonstrated remarkable catalytic activity, achieving above 90% phenol removal within 10 min at pH 9 and 11. More importantly, the catalyst exhibited excellent stability and reusability, maintaining over 85% phenol removal efficiency after four consecutive cycles and cobalt leaching below 100 μg/L. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses revealed that singlet oxygen (¹O₂), sulfate radicals (SO₄·⁻), and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) contributed to the degradation process. When treating actual CCW, the system significantly reduced both phenol and fluorescent dissolved organic matter, demonstrating its effectiveness for complex wastewater matrices. CoMnOx@CG provides a sustainable and practical solution for alkaline refractory wastewater remediation. Full article

In this study, NiCo₂O₄ spinel catalysts were synthesized via the coprecipitation method. These catalysts were modified using 1 mol/L HCl, H₂SO₄, and HNO₃, and their CO oxidation performance and sulfur tolerance were systematically investigated. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, BET, H₂-TPD, CO-TPD, O₂-TPD, in situ DRIFTS, and XPS. The results indicate that the sulfur resistance of NiCo₂O_x catalysts was improved to varying degrees after different acid treatments. Notably, the HCl-treated NiCo₂O_x catalysts exhibited significantly increased chemisorbed oxygen content, more active sites, and superior low-temperature catalytic oxidation performance and sulfur resistance, achieving a CO conversion rate of 96.67% at 90 °C. However, when exposed to 350 mg/m³ SO₂ (10 times the industrial emission standard) for 260 min, the CO catalytic performance of all acid-treated catalysts decreased to varying degrees or even completely deteriorated. Only the HCl-treated NiCo₂O_x catalyst demonstrated the best performance. Full article

TiO_xN_y coatings are known for their good biocompatibility and corrosion resistance and have been previously explored for biomedical applications, including cardiovascular stents. In this work, emphasis is placed on a systematic investigation of the effect of substrate bias voltage on the structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of TiO_xN_y films deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering. TiO_xN_y coatings were deposited on 316L stainless steel substrates using a pure titanium target (99.99%) in an Ar–N₂–O₂ gas mixture at various substrate bias voltages (0 to −150 V). The influence of substrate bias on the deposition rate, structure, and mechanical properties of the films was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the sequential phase evolution from cubic TiN to oxynitride TiON and further to TiO₂ (anatase/rutile) with increasing negative substrate bias, indicating that ion bombardment energy plays a decisive role in determining the crystallinity and phase composition of the coatings. The coating deposited at −50 V exhibited the highest hardness (~430 HV) and good adhesion strength (critical load 20–25 N). Contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophilic behavior of the coatings, which is favorable for biomedical applications. Full article

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) is a highly invasive weed in agricultural systems, primarily dispersed by seeds. Its germination is regulated by temperature, which varies among populations. We investigated the germination responses to temperature in two S. nigrum populations (XJ1600 and XJ1633) and identified eight putative candidate genes: GA20ox1, GA3ox1, GA2ox1, NCED9, CYP707A2, SPT, PIF1, and ABI5. These genes are involved in the phytohormone signaling pathway. Under low-temperature conditions, SPT likely perceives cold signals, promoting germination by up-regulating GA20ox1 and CYP707A2 while suppressing GA2ox1, thus potentially increasing bioactive GAs and reducing ABA levels. Under high-temperature conditions, PIFs likely perceive the heat signal. Through regulation mediated by the known negative regulator SOMNUS (SOM), NCED9 and GA2ox1 were up-regulated, while GA3ox1 was down-regulated, which could collectively modulate seed germination by altering ABA and GA levels. This study clarifies how temperature regulates S. nigrum seed germination through integrated hormonal and genetic mechanisms. This understanding directly supports the development of predictive models for weed emergence and informs the design of sustainable control strategies. Full article

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a versatile microbial cell factory, but efficient recovery of intracellular macromolecules remains a major challenge. In this study, we engineered environmentally controllable lysis systems to enable programmable product release. A glucose-responsive module, combining the cg3195 promoter with phage-derived holin–endolysin genes (clg51-50), triggered lysis when extracellular glucose dropped below 0.19–0.36 g/L. A separate temperature-inducible system employing the cI857-CJ1OX2 module activated lysis at 42 °C. These modules were further integrated into a dual-input AND-gate circuit, enhancing regulatory precision and suppressing premature lysis, with additional operator copies allowing temporal tuning of induction. Functional validation using fluorescence, cell density measurements, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed robust, tunable responses under defined environmental cues. Collectively, these programmable lysis systems demonstrate that stimulus-responsive genetic circuits can be rationally designed to control cell disruption, providing a promising approach to streamline downstream processing and reduce extraction costs in industrial fermentation of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Full article

Ten previously undescribed pyrrolidine alkaloids, namely penicipyrrolidines O–X (1–10), were isolated from the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium sp. DM27, along with five known compounds (11–15). Their structures were determined by comprehensive analysis of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations were established based on biosynthetic considerations and TDDFT-ECD calculations. All isolates were evaluated for their glucose uptake capacity. Notably, penicipyrrolidine P (2) significantly enhanced cellular glucose uptake in L6 myotubes by 3.83-fold, demonstrating activity comparable to that of metformin, whereas penicipyrrolidines Q and R (3 and 4) showed relatively weaker effects. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a crucial enzyme in numerous pathological processes and a significant biomarker in clinical diagnostics. Conventional ALP detection methods are hampered by reliance on complex sample pretreatment, sophisticated instrumentation, time-consuming procedures, and high costs. This study aimed to develop a simple, rapid, and cost-effective colorimetric sensing method for ALP detection with enhanced resistance to matrix interference in biological samples. Methods: We designed a colorimetric assay based on bimetallic gold–platinum nanocatalysts (AuPt NPs) exhibiting peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity. The detection principle involves a dual-reaction cascade: (1) Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) catalyzes the conversion of trisodium L-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AA₂P) into ascorbic acid (AA), and (2) the generated AA reduces oxidized 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (oxTMB) produced by the catalytic activity of AuPt NPs. This method was evaluated for its detection performance in diluted human serum without complex sample pretreatment. Results: AuPt NPs exhibited resistance to biological matrix interference, enabling sensitive detection of ALP. The assay showed a linear ALP detection range of 0–90 mU·mL⁻¹ (R² = 0.994) and a limit of detection of 3.91 mU·mL⁻¹. In spiked human serum, recoveries were 95.45–111.97%, with negligible interference from ions and biomolecules. Conclusions: We developed a simple, rapid, and reliable colorimetric sensor for ALP detection based on AuPt NPs. It overcomes limitations of conventional methods, holding great potential for clinical diagnostics and point-of-care applications. Full article

The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of food products is a key parameter for assessing food quality and safety. In this work, iron-doped carbon dots (Fe-CDs) were successfully prepared using waste coffee grounds as a precursor with a satisfactory fluorescence quantum yield of 9.6%. The Fe-CDs exhibited exceptional peroxidase-like activity, which can oxidize colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to form blue oxTMB. Concurrently, oxTMB induced an inner filter effect, quenching the fluorescence of Fe-CDs. After being added to antioxidants such as glutathione, ascorbic acid, and L-cysteine, the generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) are consumed, thereby preventing the oxidation of TMB. The color of the mixed solution changed from dark to light blue, accompanied by the fluorescence recovery of Fe-CDs. Nevertheless, these three antioxidants possessed remarkable differences in ROS elimination capability, which resulted in different signal responses in absorption and fluorescence, and were successfully used for constructing the colorimetric/fluorescent dual-channel sensor array. Furthermore, the sensor array signals were processed using principal component analysis to achieve simultaneous detection of glutathione, ascorbic acid, and L-cysteine, and were able to effectively discriminate between mixtures and individual antioxidants. The constructed sensor array was successfully applied for the TAC detection in various foods (including vegetables, fruit, and beverages) and for the precise differentiation of antioxidants in milk samples. Overall, the prepared sensor array exhibited outstanding potential in detecting food quality. Full article

Since forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a hallmark of regulatory T (Treg) cells, the expansion of FOXP3⁺ adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) cells is believed to contribute to immune suppression and the pathogenesis of ATL. However, the mechanisms underlying the expansion of FOXP3⁺ ATL cells remain unclear. OX40, a co-stimulatory molecule, is expressed in ATL cells, and OX40 signaling has been shown to promote the differentiation and proliferation of Treg cells in mouse models. To investigate the mechanisms driving the expansion of FOXP3⁺ ATL cells, we examined the expression of OX40 and its ligand, OX40L. Our findings revealed that OX40 expression was elevated in patients with ATL and with a high frequency of FOXP3⁺ ATL cells. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with acute ATL cultured for 18 h demonstrated that FOXP3⁻ and FOXP3⁺ cells predominantly expressed OX40L and OX40, respectively. Furthermore, small interfering RNA-mediated FOXP3 knockdown in HTLV-1-infected cell lines increased OX40L expression. These results suggest that interactions between FOXP3⁻ OX40L⁺ cells and FOXP3⁺ OX40⁺ cells may promote the proliferation of FOXP3⁺ ATL cells. Full article

Industrial air pollution, particularly acidic gases such as hydrogen chloride (HCl), poses serious environmental and health hazards. Here, hopcalite catalysts were introduced into activated carbon fibers via the impregnation process to enhance HCl capture. The Cu/Mn molar ratio was fixed at 1:1 while the Cu precursor loading was varied with the weight of Cu (Cu 0.04–0.1). Structural and surface modifications were examined using scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses. Progressive CuMnOx deposition increased Cu and Mn contents up to 4 at.% and 3.7 at.%, respectively, but decreased the specific surface area from 1565.1 to 1342.7 m²/g owing to pore blocking. Fixed-bed breakthrough tests (50 ppm HCl, 1000 mL/min) showed that moderate catalyst addition (Cu 0.04) yielded the highest total removal (83.6%) and adsorption capacity (12,354.6 mg/g), benefiting from combined physical and catalytic chemisorption. Higher loadings (Cu 0.06–0.1) further reduced microporosity and led to lower removal efficiencies. These results demonstrate that an optimal CuMnOx level effectively promotes chemical adsorption without compromising the intrinsic microporous network of ACFs. Full article

Pinus massoniana, a critically important afforestation species in subtropical China, shows severe adventitious rooting recalcitrance linked to endogenous gibberellin (GA) dysregulation. Our study reveals a GA₄-mediated regulatory network that coordinates hormonal crosstalk, redox homeostasis, and cell wall remodeling. Treatment with the GA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PBZ, 100 mg·L⁻¹) shortened rooting time by 32.5% and increased rooting success by 79.5%. We found that PBZ redirected GA flux by upregulating GA₃-oxidase (GA₃OX), leading to GA₄ accumulation. However, elevated GA₄ levels impaired root development by triggering suberization through ferulic acid (FA)-mediated redox imbalance. Application of GA₄ (100 mg·L⁻¹) reduced caffeoyl alcohol content by 54.4% but increased FA and caffeic acid levels 2.4–3.9-fold, shifting lignin precursors toward suberin biosynthesis. FA modulated H₂O₂ flux in a dose-dependent manner: 200 mg·L⁻¹ optimized redox homeostasis (93.7% lower H₂O₂ influx), whereas 1000 mg·L⁻¹ suppressed mitosis. The combination of PBZ (100 mg·L⁻¹) and FA (200 mg·L⁻¹) synergistically enhanced rooting success by 34.4% and achieved 95.8% field survival after two years (vs. 68.5% in controls), challenging the traditional view that lignification alone limits rooting in woody plants. This work provides the first evidence that the GA₄-FA axis controls adventitious root formation in conifers via a Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent switch between suberin and lignin metabolism, offering new strategies to overcome rooting barriers. The PBZ + FA protocol enables scalable clonal propagation of recalcitrant conifers, with potential applications in molecular breeding and forest restoration. Full article