Search Results (20,951)

Tetracycline (TC) is a widely used antibiotic that is frequently detected in rivers, lakes and wastewater. Because TC is poorly removed by conventional biological treatment, its residues can harm aquatic organisms and promote the spread of antibiotic resistance; efficient and low-cost technologies for removing TC from water are therefore needed. In this study, copper smelting slag (CSS), an abundant industrial solid waste, was converted into a catalyst composed of Fe₃O₄ particles loaded on mesoporous silica (denoted Fe₃O₄@MS) via an alkali fusion–hydrothermal method. The catalyst was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS), forming the Fe₃O₄@MS/PMS treatment system for the degradation of TC in aqueous solution. The effects of the main operating parameters (catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, initial pH and reaction temperature) on TC degradation were systematically evaluated. Under the optimized conditions (catalyst 0.5 g/L, PMS 1.0 mmol/L, initial pH 6.5, 25 °C), the Fe₃O₄@MS/PMS system removed 98.70% of 50 mg/L TC within 60 min. Radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis revealed that TC was degraded through both radical pathways (hydroxyl •OH, sulfate SO₄^•− and superoxide O₂^•− radicals) and a non-radical pathway involving singlet oxygen (¹O₂), with •OH being the dominant reactive species. Nine degradation intermediates were identified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), based on which three degradation pathways were proposed. Toxicity estimation indicated that ring-opening and deamination reactions are the key steps for detoxification. In addition, a life cycle assessment (LCA) across five selected impact categories identified the main environmental burdens associated with catalyst production. Overall, this work demonstrates that CSS-derived Fe₃O₄@MS is an efficient, low-cost and sustainable catalyst for PMS-based antibiotic removal from water, offering a circular-economy approach that couples solid-waste valorization with clean water production. Full article

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most prevalent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), is an aggressive and fairly heterogeneous group with diverse clinical, pathological, and molecular features. Despite the success of first-line immunochemotherapy, relapsed or treatment-resistant forms remain a clinical challenge. Consequently, minimally invasive markers are needed to predict refractoriness. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as highly stable, promising biomarkers. MiRNAs such as miR-21, miR-155, miR-222-3p, and the miR-17~92 cluster act as oncogenes that promote tumor survival, while others, such as miR-34, miR-181a, miR-144, miR-101, miR-10a, and miR-320, act as tumor suppressors. Despite multiple recent publications that have correlated dysregulated miRNAs with diagnostic and prognostic importance, the clinical translation has not been fully addressed. Overall, this review provides an updated perspective on the potential of miRNAs in DLBCL and outlines key challenges and future directions for their integration into precision oncology, as miRNAs can remodel the clinical management of DLBCL by enabling earlier diagnosis, improved prognostication, and personalized treatment approaches. Full article

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (ECO₂) is a key climatic factor influencing the resilience of plant–microbial symbiotic systems against heavy metal contamination. Robinia pseudoacacia–rhizobia symbiosis shows great potential for cadmium (Cd) remediation. However, the mechanism by which ECO₂ regulates Cd phytostabilization in symbiosis remains unclear. This study conducted a 90-day experiment in growth chambers to investigate the effects of ECO₂ on the growth, Cd accumulation and chemical forms, as well as nutrient uptake and antioxidant system in Robinia pseudoacacia–rhizobia symbiosis. Results indicated that ECO₂ significantly increased plant biomass and photosynthetic efficiency while significantly raising Cd content in roots (34.5%, p < 0.001) and decreasing it in shoots (31.4%, p < 0.001). This resulted in a significant reduction in Cd translocation factor (TF). Meanwhile, ECO₂ markedly increased Cd accumulation in roots (81.2%, p < 0.001) and reduced the bioavailability of Cd in the symbiosis. Moreover, ECO₂ promoted the content of nutrients and stimulated the antioxidant system. The random forest model indicated that root weight, Cd and Mn contents are the core factors for ECO₂-driven Cd phytostabilization. This study demonstrates that ECO₂ enhanced Cd phytostabilization by optimizing the resistance of symbiosis to Cd, offering a novel perspective for predicting plant–microbe joint restoration of heavy metal pollution under global climate change scenarios. Full article

Fe^II-doped zinc ferrite nanocrystals (Fe^II_xZn_1-xFe^III₂O₄) were prepared via a sol–gel approach in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer and assessed for their capability to eliminate crystal violet (CV) dye from water-based solutions. The structural and surface characteristics of the prepared materials were examined by XRD, HRTEM, FESEM, ATR–FTIR, XPS, UV–visible spectrophotometer and BET analyses. XRD patterns confirmed the formation of a cubic spinel ferrite structure (Fd-3m), indicating successful incorporation of Fe^II into the ZnFe₂O₄ lattice. ATR–FTIR spectra showed characteristic metal–oxygen vibrations at the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. XPS analysis confirmed the coexistence of Fe^II and Fe^III species, which may promote interfacial charge transfer and redox reactions. HRTEM and FESEM images showed particle agglomeration and grain growth after calcination at 700 °C. Fe^II_0.2Zn_0.8Fe^III₂O₄ exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance, achieving 97.2% degradation of CV under optimized conditions. The effects of contact time, catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, and pH were systematically studied. The maximum removal efficiency was obtained at pH 10 using 0.075 g catalyst for 20 mg L⁻¹ CV solution within 40 min. Freundlich isotherm models exhibited the strongest correlation (R² = 0.918), pointing to multilayer adsorption occurring across a non-uniform nanoparticle surface. The Dubinin–Radushkevich analysis returned an adsorption energy of 3.01 kJ mol⁻¹, implying that physical forces predominantly control the adsorption mechanism. Kinetic investigations revealed a two-stage CV uptake pathway: fast initial binding at exterior surface sites, succeeded by a slower migration of dye molecules into the internal pores of the adsorbent. Full article

The aim of this work was to synthesize previously unknown thieno[2,3-b]pyridines bearing a β-ketoamide moiety, to study their structure, and to evaluate their agrochemical potential as 2,4-D herbicide safeners. A series of 3-(3-aminothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-yl)-3-oxo-N-phenylpropanamides were prepared via S-alkylation of readily available 2-thioxonicotinonitriles or 3-cyanopyridine-2-thiolates with γ-bromoacetoacetanilide, followed by base-promoted Thorpe–Ziegler cyclization. The structure of 4-[(3-cyano-4,6-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)thio]-3-oxo-N-phenylbutanamide was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP-D3BJ/6-311+G(2d,p)) revealed that the ketone form is significantly more stable than the enol tautomer with a calculated equilibrium constant in DMSO of 1.52 × 10⁻⁵, which is consistent with the absence of enol form signals in the NMR spectra. The calculated IR frequencies, after scaling, showed excellent agreement with experimental data. Additionally, we found that 4-[(3-cyano-4,6-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)thio]-3-oxo-N-phenylbutanamide undergoes intramolecular cyclization upon heating in AcOH or DMF, to give 4-hydroxy-7,9-dimethylthieno [2,3-b:4,5-b′]dipyridin-2(1H)-one via aniline elimination, thus providing an alternative route to tricyclic thieno [2,3-b;4,5-b]dipyridine ensembles. Agrochemical screening demonstrated that some compounds exhibit pronounced antidote activity against the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in sunflower seedlings, with root and hypocotyl protection reaching 119–156% in laboratory tests. Field trials for the three most active compounds confirmed their efficacy, providing crop yield increases of 46–57% relative to the herbicide-only control. These results indicate that the newly synthesized thienopyridine β-ketoamides represent a promising class of 2,4-D herbicide safeners. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sleep duration and physical activity are key behavioral components in the development of healthy lifestyles during adolescence. In Peru, a considerable proportion of school students do not meet recommended levels of physical activity and may also experience insufficient sleep, which could negatively affect their eating habits. This study aimed to analyze the association between sleep duration, physical activity level, and healthy eating habits among Peruvian secondary school students. Methods: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 275 secondary school students aged 12 to 17 years. Sleep duration, physical activity, and eating habits were assessed using validated questionnaires. Associations were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test and multivariable binary logistic regression. Results: Students who slept 7 h had higher odds of having healthy eating habits compared with those who slept 6 h or less (aOR = 2.525; 95% CI: 1.181–5.536; p = 0.018). In addition, students with low levels of physical activity showed lower odds of having healthy eating habits compared with those with high levels of physical activity (aOR = 0.097; 95% CI: 0.005–0.564; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Sleep duration and physical activity were associated with healthy eating habits among Peruvian secondary school students. These findings support the importance of promoting integrated school-based strategies that jointly address sleep, physical activity, and nutrition during adolescence. Full article

As the unique edible nut species in China, Chinese hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) is vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances that reduce vegetation residue inputs and soil organic matter accumulation. To investigate the effects of net-harvesting-associated understory management on the soil carbon pool management index (CPMI), soil samples were collected from C. cathayensis plantations subjected to net harvesting for 2, 3, 6, and 7 years, with traditional beating as the control. Long-term net harvesting significantly increased particulate and dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and labile organic carbon (p < 0.05). It also altered soil enzyme activities, microbial community composition, and microbial co-occurrence network complexity. Soil physical and chemical properties and carbon pools were key drivers of enzyme activities and microbial complexity. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that understory vegetation positively influenced the CPMI (total effect = 0.57), while soil biological processes also contributed to CPMI variation. Overall, net harvesting reduced anthropogenic disturbance, enhanced litter-derived carbon inputs, and promoted soil biological functions, thereby improving the CPMI. These findings provide insights into sustainable soil management and carbon sequestration in C. cathayensis plantations. Full article

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to identify bioactive small RNAs derived from Maytenus hookeri Loes. and evaluate their anti-tumor potential against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The 50 most abundant small RNAs were synthesized and screened in NCI-H460 cells using the MTS assay. Among them, MDM-sRNA-39 significantly inhibited cell viability and was selected for further evaluation of its anti-tumor activity. It reduced the percentage of cells that traversed the Transwell membrane and promoted apoptosis in NCI-H460 cells. Bioinformatics prediction suggested KRAS as a potential target of MDM-sRNA-39, and KRAS was among the targets experimentally validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays, RT-qPCR, and Western blot, showing that MDM-sRNA-39 suppresses KRAS expression at both mRNA and protein levels. In vivo, MDM-sRNA-39 was orally administered as a bencaosome in a Kras^LSL-G12D/p53^LoxP/LoxP autochthonous lung cancer mouse model. Tumor burden was reduced and cleaved caspase-3 staining was increased in the mouse model. Collectively, these findings identify MDM-sRNA-39, a synthetic small RNA based on a sequence identified from Maytenus hookeri Loes., as a candidate with anti-tumor activity, supporting the potential strategy for developing RNA-based therapeutics from traditional Chinese medicine. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of a role-reversal simulation-based educational intervention on midwifery students’ emotional availability and responsiveness in intrapartum care and explored their experiences of the simulation through qualitative inquiry. Methods: A mixed-methods quasi-experimental one-group pretest–post-test design was used. Forty-nine midwifery students participated in a simulation in which they alternately assumed the roles of a labouring woman and a midwife. Qualitative data were obtained through reflective forms and focus group interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Results: Post-intervention emotional availability and responsiveness scores significantly increased compared with pre-intervention scores (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.25). Qualitative findings suggested that students perceived greater empathic awareness, a deeper understanding of women’s labour experiences, and increased awareness of respectful and woman-centred care. Participants also described role-reversal simulation and reflective learning as valuable experiences that promoted emotional engagement and greater awareness of their professional roles. Conclusions: Role-reversal simulation may be a useful educational strategy for strengthening emotional availability and responsiveness in intrapartum care among midwifery students. The qualitative findings further suggest that this learning experience may support empathy-related awareness and reflective learning. Full article

Objective: Simulated microgravity (SMG) alters fluid dynamics and may influence microbial aggregation. However, its effects on oral bacteria remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of SMG on the growth and aggregation of representative oral bacteria. Methods: Four facultative oral bacteria representing distinct ecological and adhesive properties—Staphylococcus aureus(opportunistic pathogen), Streptococcus mutans (glucan-producing cariogenic bacterium), Streptococcus salivarius (commensal fructan-producing bacterium), and Streptococcus sanguinis (early colonizer)—together with the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis were cultured under SMG (10⁻³G) or normal gravity (NG). Streptococci were grown with or without sucrose to evaluate the role of extracellular polysaccharides. Growth was assessed by optical density, and aggregation was quantified by image analysis. Results: SMG induced aggregation in a species-dependent manner. S. mutans and S. salivarius formed spherical aggregates under SMG, whereas little or no aggregate formation was observed in S. aureus, S. sanguinis, or P. gingivalis. Aggregation of S. mutans was markedly reduced without sucrose, indicating dependence on glucan-mediated adhesion. S. salivarius also showed reduced aggregation under sucrose-free conditions, although limited aggregation persisted. Growth kinetics were virtually unaffected by SMG. Conclusions: SMG promotes aggregation of selected oral bacteria through species-specific mechanisms. These findings suggest that microgravity may alter the architecture of oral microbial communities by enhancing particular intercellular adhesion pathways. Full article

Breast cancer relapse in bone is a significant clinical problem that is experienced in ~70–80% of patients with late-stage breast cancer. This condition commonly occurs 5–10+ years following surgical removal of the primary tumour. The long latency seen prior to relapse in bone is a result of tumour cell dormancy. Once disseminated to the bone, tumour cell interaction with the bone metastatic niche (endosteal niche and endovascular cells) maintains cells in a dormant state until changes to the local environment activate the niche to support outgrowth. Amassing evidence suggests that cytokines are key regulators of the bone metastatic niche, controlling bone homing and metastatic outgrowth. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TGFβ and RANKL, play crucial roles in attracting tumour cells to bone. Furthermore, these cytokines act in conjunction with IFN, VEGF, TGF, PTHrP, FGF, OPG and various chemokines to regulate expansion of the niche, facilitating tumour cell escape from dormancy and promoting the “vicious cycle of bone metastasis”. Here, we review the current literature to provide an up-to-date understanding of how interactions between cytokine signalling cascades regulate the bone metastatic niches to promote homing, dormancy or metastatic outgrowth of breast cancers. Because breast cancers are predominantly osteolytic, this review focuses on dormancy and metastatic outgrowth associated with lytic disease in addition to current advances in novel therapeutics aimed at preventing this condition through targeting dormant cells. Full article

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a major therapeutic challenge due to pronounced molecular heterogeneity, transcriptional plasticity, and frequent treatment resistance. MicroRNA (miRNA)-based strategies have emerged as potential approaches for modulating dysregulated gene expression networks in TNBC; however, the contribution of understudied miRNA families to TNBC-associated regulatory programs remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the tumor-suppressive role of miR-548f-3p in TNBC and to identify candidate downstream effectors, with particular focus on ANP32E. An integrative analysis combining public transcriptomic datasets, clinical expression profiling, computational target prediction, network-based prioritization, pathway analysis, and single-cell transcriptomic assessment identified miR-548f-3p as consistently downregulated in TNBC. Among candidate downstream targets, ANP32E, a chromatin-associated regulator involved in H2A.Z histone variant dynamics, was identified as a potential effector exhibiting increased expression in TNBC and enrichment within malignant epithelial cell populations. An inverse association between miR-548f-3p and ANP32E expression was observed in patient-derived samples. In breast cancer cell models, miR-548f-3p mimic restoration increased apoptosis, promoted G₀/G₁ accumulation, and reduced migration- and invasion-associated readouts, although measurable effects were also observed in non-tumorigenic MCF-10A cells. These phenotypic changes were accompanied by reduced ANP32E expression at the protein level, indicating that ANP32E expression is responsive to miR-548f-3p restoration. This study supports miR-548f-3p as a candidate tumor-suppressive miRNA in TNBC. The reduction in ANP32E protein expression following miR-548f-3p restoration, together with computational, single-cell, and clinical expression evidence, supports ANP32E as an expression-responsive candidate downstream effector of miR-548f-3p. Further reporter-based and rescue experiments are required to confirm direct 3′UTR-mediated targeting and to define the mechanistic contribution of ANP32E within the broader miR-548f-3p regulatory network. Full article

Background/Objectives: Movement- and arts-based experiences are frequently promoted as developmentally appropriate contexts for supporting cognition in early childhood, but effects may differ across executive-function domains, pedagogical formats and study contexts. Methods: This PRISMA 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261363924). PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, PSICODOC, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception through April 2026. One immediate-post effect per Study ID and core domain was retained. Random-effects models used restricted maximum likelihood with Hartung–Knapp adjustment. Study-level risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 or ROBINS-I, missing-evidence risk with ROB-ME and certainty with GRADE. Intervention content, pedagogical format and embedded cognitive demands were also coded descriptively. Results: The review included 130 reports representing 125 unique studies. Fifteen Study IDs contributed 29 core effects: 10 for inhibition (n = 675), 10 for working memory (n = 697) and nine for cognitive flexibility (n = 642). Twelve core programmes were primarily structured, and three used guided-play/structured-hybrid formats; no free/unstructured-play intervention entered the meta-analysis. Mean effects favoured the intervention for inhibition (Hedges’ g = 0.52, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.90), working memory (g = 0.42, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.75) and cognitive flexibility (g = 0.60, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.98). Heterogeneity was substantial, and all 95% prediction intervals crossed the null. Estimates remained favourable after excluding Serious risk-of-bias judgments. Age-exclusion and ICC-sensitivity analyses retained positive effects; a worst-case exclusion of unadjusted class- or cluster-assigned studies reduced precision for inhibition and working memory. SMD-specific modified-precision regressions did not indicate small-study associations for inhibition (p = 0.529) or working memory (p = 0.619); cognitive flexibility was not formally tested because k = 9. ROB-ME indicated some concerns, and GRADE certainty was low for all three domains. Conclusions: Favourable average effects should not be attributed to movement or arts participation per se. Pedagogical structure and embedded cognitive demands may influence outcomes, but substantial inconsistency, unit-of-analysis uncertainty and low certainty preclude identification of a superior model. Funding: There was no external funding. Full article

Background/Objectives: Glia-mediated inflammation contributes to a wide range of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including epilepsy. Pregabalin (PGB) and cannabidiol (CBD) are CNS-acting drugs prescribed for various neuropsychiatric conditions, especially seizures. This study investigated the effects of PGB and CBD on glial properties in an astrocyte–microglia co-culture model of inflammation. Methods: Physiological (M5, containing 5–10% microglia) and pathological inflammatory astrocyte–microglia co-cultures (M30, containing 30–40% microglia) were collected from the postnatal brain hemispheres of Wistar rats (P0-P2) according to an established protocol and treated with different concentrations of PGB (3, 10, 30 and 60 µg/mL) for 24 h or CBD (50, 500 and 1000 ng/mL) for 1 h or 24 h. Metabolic activity was assessed by the MTT assay. Microglial phenotypes and astroglial connexin (Cx)43 expression were detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: In M5 co-cultures, short-term incubation (1 h) with high concentrations (1000 ng/mL) of CBD significantly reduced glial viability (p < 0.05), while no significant changes were observed in M30 co-cultures. After 24 h of incubation, M5 cultures exhibited a significant increase in metabolic activity at 50 ng/mL (p < 0.0001) and 500 ng/mL (p < 0.05), and a reduction at 1000 ng/mL (p < 0.05), suggesting impaired viability at high concentrations under physiological conditions. The distribution of microglial phenotypes in physiological M5 co-cultures incubated with CBD remained unchanged. In M30 co-cultures, CBD incubation for 1 and 24 h significantly reduced microglial activation and promoted a shift from reactive, phagocytic to homeostatic, ramified microglial phenotype (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.0001). In contrast, PGB did not affect glial cell viability, microglial phenotypes or Cx43 expression in physiological and inflammatory co-cultures, indicating that the mechanisms of action of PGB probably do not include modulation of glial cells in vitro. Conclusions: The inhibition of microglial reactivity by CBD suggests potential positive effects on the neuroinflammatory component involved in the pathogenesis of CNS disorders such as epilepsy. Full article

Titanium alloys are widely used in clinical settings due to their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, the biologically inert surface of titanium alloys limits interfacial bioactivity and bone integration, which may compromise long-term implant stability. Therefore, this study innovatively proposes a synergistic “composition design and process adaptation” strategy. Specifically, borosilicate bioactive glasses (BSBGs) with a high B₂O₃ content (36 mol%), co-doped with strontium (Sr) and magnesium (Mg), were designed and systematically compared with Sr/Mg-doped silicate bioactive glasses (SBGs). Both glasses were subsequently deposited onto Ti6Al4V substrates using atmospheric plasma spraying. The results showed that the BSBG coating exhibited an initial boron release concentration of up to 116 mg/L but exhibited excellent cytocompatibility, which is likely related to the synergistic regulation of Sr, Mg, and B ions. Moreover, the BSBG coating induced Ca-P compound mineralization within 24 h, significantly faster than the SBG coating, which required a minimum of 3 days, confirming superior biomineralization kinetics. Both coatings achieved a bonding strength of 30 MPa, meeting clinical requirements. In vivo experiments confirmed that the BSBG coating significantly promoted new bone regeneration and implant osseointegration. This work not only delivers experimental validation supporting the implementation of high-boron-content bioactive glass coatings but also provides a practical method for designing rapidly degradable and highly bioactive coatings to facilitate improved osseointegration. Full article