Search Results (246)

Three common agricultural beneficial microbes, Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas fluorescens, are widely used in the growth cycle of crops, and increase the yield of agricultural products through disease prevention and sterilization. As a biodegradable biological macromolecular material, polylactic acid (PLA) is also widely used in agricultural production as a biodegradable film. The addition of agricultural microbes will affect the degradation rate of polylactic acid and thus its agricultural use. Under specific conditions (Tri15), the degradation rate of PLA film exceeds 30%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that the degradation of the PLA happened after 360 days of exposure to these three specific microbe environments, which makes the surface of PLA films crack. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis reveals that in the presence of these microbes, the molecular weight of PLA is reduced. The analysis of 16S rDNA sequences demonstrates that the introduction of these microbes alters the soil microbial community, resulting in an enhanced abundance of Betaproteomicrobes, promoting the degradation of PLA. These results indicate that the three microbes species significantly promote the degradation of PLA, and the effects of microbes vary for the different concentrations. This study establishes practical guidelines for the deployment of PLA in real-world farmland environments. Full article

In the medical industry, strong disinfectants are used to limit bacterial proliferation on the surface of polymer-based materials; however, they may leave hazardous residues. To prevent potential harm to human health, safer disinfection substitutes are continuously searched. This study evaluates the effect of a natural biocidal modifier, geraniol (GR), on the properties of flax-reinforced biocomposites. Biocomposites containing 80 wt% polylactide (PLA) and 20 wt% flax fibres were prepared, and fibres were modified with 1%, 5%, 10%, or 20% GR. The materials were examined using tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and antibacterial activity tests. The incorporation of flax fibres increased the storage modulus from 2730 MPa (PLA) to 3447 MPa, while GR-modified fibres further enhanced stiffness up to 3769 MPa for the 20% GR sample. Strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was achieved in biocomposites containing ≥10% GR, with R = 5 and R ≥ 6, respectively. Surface hydrophobicity also improved progressively, and a water contact angle of 92° was obtained at 20% GR. These results demonstrate that geraniol-modified flax fibres effectively impart antibacterial activity and hydrophobicity to PLA biocomposites, indicating their potential for use in sustainable packaging applications and materials for the medical sector. Full article

This research explores the optimization of mechanical properties and predictive modeling of polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNPs) using data-driven machine learning (ML) models. PLA-BNNP composites were fabricated through injection molding, with a focus on how key processing parameters influence their mechanical performance. A Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was applied to assess the effects of BNNP composition (0.02 wt.% and 0.04 wt.%), injection temperature (135–155 °C), injection speed (50–70 mm/s), and pressure (30–50 bar) on properties such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and hardness. The results indicated that a 0.04 wt.% BNNP loading improved tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and hardness by 18.6%, 32.7%, and 20.5%, respectively, compared to pure PLA. Taguchi analysis highlighted that higher BNNP concentrations, along with optimal injection temperatures, improved all mechanical properties, although excessive temperatures compromised tensile strength and modulus, while enhancing hardness. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that injection temperature was the dominant factor for tensile strength (68.88%) and Young’s modulus (86.39%), while BNNP composition played a more significant role in influencing hardness (78.83%). Predictive models were built using machine learning (ML) models such as Random Forest Regression (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Among the ML models, XGBoost demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy, achieving R² values above 98% for tensile strength, 92–93% for Young’s modulus, and 96% for hardness, with low error metrics i.e., Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). These findings underscore the potential of using BNNP reinforcement and machine learning-driven property prediction to enhance PLA nanocomposites’ mechanical performance, making them viable for applications in lightweight packaging, biomedical implants, consumer electronics, and automotive components, offering sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Full article

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an immune complex-mediated glomerular disease defined by sub-epithelial deposits that trigger complement activation and podocyte injury. Its pathogenesis reflects loss of immune tolerance and may present as a kidney-limited autoimmune process or in association with underlying conditions (e.g., malignancy, infection, drugs, or systemic autoimmunity). Current diagnostic work-up integrates circulating antibodies—most commonly anti–phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1)—and kidney biopsy, which remains essential in PLA2R1-negative or atypical presentations and for antigen confirmation when serology is negative. In PLA2R1-negative MN, an expanding list of antigens is being recognized, potentially refining phenotyping and risk assessment; however, dedicated studies remain limited, and the clinical weight of many newly described antigens likely requires further validation before supporting an antigen-based classification. Uneven access to advanced diagnostics particularly affects PLA2R1-negative cases, underscoring the need for centralized testing and the development of reliable non-invasive biomarkers. Treatment has advanced with rituximab and other targeted therapies, but resistant and relapsing cases remain challenging, and the evidence base for PLA2R1-negative forms is comparatively limited. This review summarizes recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances, focusing on PLA2R1-negative MN. Full article

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that biological sex shapes glioma biology and therapeutic response. Methods: We performed a sex-stratified analysis of CGGA (Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas) RNA sequencing data comparing low-grade glioma (LGG) with high-grade glioma (HGG) and glioblastoma (GBM). Using the 3PodR framework, we integrated differential expression analysis with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), EnrichR, leading-edge analysis, and iLINCS drug repurposing. Results: These comparisons provide a proxy for biological processes underlying malignant transformation. In LGG vs. HGG, 973 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in females and 1236 in males, with 15.5% and 33.5% unique to each sex, respectively. In LGG vs. GBM, 2011 DEGs were identified in females and 2537 in males, with 12.6% and 30.7% being unique. Gene-level contrasts included GLI1 upregulation in males and downregulation in females, GCGR upregulation in males, MYOD1 upregulation in females, and HIST1H2BH downregulation in males. Additional top DEGs included PRLHR, DGKK, DNMBP-AS1, HOXA9, CTB-1I21.1, RP11-47I22.1, HPSE2, SAA1, DLK1, H19, PLA2G2A, and PI3. In both sexes, LGG–HGG and LGG–GBM grade comparisons converged on neuronal and synaptic programs, with enrichment of glutamatergic receptor genes and postsynaptic modules, including GRIN2B, GRIN2A, GRIN2C, GRIN1, and CHRNA7. In contrast, collateral pathways diverged by sex: females showed downregulation of mitotic and chromosome-segregation programs, whereas males showed reduction of extracellular matrix and immune-interaction pathways. Perturbagen analysis nominated signature-reversing compounds across sexes, including histone deacetylase inhibitors, Aurora kinase inhibitors, microtubule-targeting agents such as vindesine, and multi-kinase inhibitors targeting VEGFR, PDGFR, FLT3, PI3K, and MTOR. Conclusions: Glioma grade comparisons reveal a shared neuronal–synaptic program accompanied by sex-specific transcriptional remodeling. These findings support sex-aware therapeutic strategies that pair modulation of neuron–glioma coupling with chromatin- or receptor tyrosine kinase/angiogenic-targeted agents, and they nominate biomarkers such as GLI1, MYOD1, GCGR, PRLHR, and HIST1H2BH for near-term validation. Full article

Objectives: The objective is assessing whether the placebo effect can influence the time course of recovery following a football match. Methods: Using a randomized crossover design, eighteen youth male players (age: 15.3 ± 0.5 years, stature: 178.7 ± 6.4 cm, body mass: 65.3 ± 7.6 kg, playing experience: 8.6 ± 1.5 years) completed two friendly matches, followed by placebo (PLA; sham vagus nerve stimulation) or passive rest (CON). To assess the impact of PLA, countermovement jump height (CMJ), 10 and 20 m sprint times, heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), static and dynamic muscle soreness, and perceived fatigue were measured at pre-match, post-match, post-recovery, and 24 h post-match. Results: Our findings indicate that match play induced substantial fatigue, with significant deteriorations [p ≤ 0.002, small-to-large effect sizes (ES)] in CMJ, 10 and 20 m sprint performance, Ln-rMSSD, muscle soreness, and perceived fatigue at post-match and post-recovery compared to pre-match (except Ln-rMSSD between pre-match and post-recovery: p = 0.151, small ES). Although no significant between-intervention differences were found for any variable at any time point (p > 0.05), effect size analysis showed moderately lower perceived fatigue (r = 0.40) and dynamic soreness (r = 0.32) in PLA compared to CON at post-recovery. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while placebo stimulation did not affect performance or heart rate variability, it may support perceptual recovery. This holds relevance for both research and practice, as including placebo conditions can help isolate psychological effects from true treatment responses, while promoting positive expectations may enhance the perceived effectiveness of recovery strategies. Full article

This study characterized the microbiota by sequencing the V3-V4 regions of prokaryotic 16S rRNA to investigate the bacterial diversity of fermented fish-entrail sauce (tai-pla or pung-pla) from five provinces in Thailand. Tai-pla samples made from seven different species of fish, three freshwater and four marine, were purchased. Three subsamples from each were analyzed. The samples had salt concentrations ranging from 3 to 13% and pH values ranging from 4.26 to 6.19. The top 35 genera of bacterial taxa by relative abundance were considered in more detail. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), primarily in the order Lactobacillales (Levilactobacillus, Companilactobacillus, Lactococcus, Latilactobacillus, Weissella, Pediococcus, and Ligilactobacillus), were abundant in several groups of samples, as were halophilic bacteria, including Halanaerobium, Chromohalobacter, and Virgibacillus. Other beneficial bacterial species were frequently detected, including Tetragenococcus halophilus and Tetragenococcus muriaticus. Principal Coordinate Analysis visualization of beta diversity showed distinct bacterial community structures across tai-pla samples prepared with different fish species. Differences between samples may be due to the use of different raw materials, salt concentrations, recipes, processes and fermentation periods. This study provides baseline information on microbial communities and diversity in tai-pla, offering better insights into the production outcomes of traditional products. Further optimization of the fermentation process, such as using beneficial bacterial taxa in starter cultures, may enhance the system of food fermentation, food quality, and flavor control, supporting regulation useful for industrial applications. Full article

While biodegradable plastics alleviate plastic pollution, their degradation-derived biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) pose new ecological risks, necessitating efficient quantification methods. This study explores a label-free approach by leveraging the intrinsic fluorescence of common biodegradable polyesters (PLA, PHB, PBS, PBAT, PCL). We find that biodegradable microplastics exhibit two types of characteristic fluorescence emission: one originating from molecular functional groups and the other originating from the chromophore formed by the aggregation of conjugated groups. Using PBAT as a model, we confirm that fluorescence intensity depends on the BMPs’ size and shape. Under 380 nm excitation, concentration-dependent signals are observed at 436 nm (indirectly from PBAT-enhanced water Raman scattering) and 465 nm (directly from PBAT intrinsic fluorescence), leading to successful linear models between BMPs’ mass concentration and fluorescence intensity over 100–500 mg/L, with correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.877 and 0.963, respectively. Compared with the fluorescence labeling method, the intrinsic fluorescence approach achieves comparable R² while exhibiting lower signal intensity (~10³). Nevertheless, its operational simplicity offers a distinct advantage for the rapid quantification of pre-isolated and purified microplastics. Full article

In vitro cultured biomass of Rindera graeca, a rare endemic plant, is an efficient renewable source of bioactive naphthoquinones, e.g., rinderol, a potential bioactive inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells. Bioengineering strategies, as biomass immobilization on functionalized biomaterial-based scaffolds, elicitation by chitosan, and in situ extraction of metabolites, are tested for intensifying naphthoquinones production in R. graeca hairy roots. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of hybrid poly(lactic)–chitosan scaffolds on biomass proliferation and rinderol production in R. graeca hairy roots. Effects of chitosan origin (fungal or squid), molecular mass (350–1800 kDa), and concentration (up to 45%) in the developed hybrid scaffolds have been quantitatively identified, and the results were compared to the reference culture system containing an unmodified PLA-based construct. Applying PLA–chitosan scaffold containing 33% of fungal chitosan resulted in 635 times higher rinderol production (3660 µg g_DW⁻¹) than the application of reference scaffolds. Among the tested parameters, the chitosan concentration in the hybrid scaffolds revealed significant importance in rinderol production. To sum up, the developed hybrid PLA-chitosan scaffold may be recognized as a functional key element supporting the production of naphthoquinones in cultures of R. graeca biomass. Full article

This study investigates the optimization and prediction of mechanical properties in 3D-printed PLA composites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The effects of GNP content (0, 2, and 5 wt.%), nozzle temperature (190–210 °C), print speed (20–60 mm/s), and layer thickness (0.15–0.35 mm) on tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and hardness were analyzed using a central composite design, at three print orientations (0°, 45°, and 90°). Compared to pure PLA, the incorporation of 5 wt.% GNP led to a 67% improvement in tensile strength, a 205% increase in Young’s modulus, and a 44% enhancement in hardness. Advanced machine learning models, such as XGBoost and Gaussian Process Regression, were employed for prediction, with R² values exceeding 0.99 and MAPE below 4%. The models were validated using K-Fold Cross-Validation (K = 5), ensuring reliable and robust predictions while preventing overfitting. SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that GNP composition and layer thickness were the most influential factors, with SHAP values ranging between ±0.75. The Gaussian Process model outperformed both Linear Regression and XGBoost, achieving the highest R² of 0.9900 ± 0.0021, the lowest MSE (0.6593 ± 0.1054), RMSE (0.812 ± 0.323), MAE (0.6755 ± 0.1123), MAPE (3.157% ± 0.320), and RRMSE (3.409% ± 0.513), highlighting its superior predictive accuracy and stability. This integrated methodology, combining experimental optimization, ANOVA, and interpretable machine learning, presents a promising and potentially robust strategy for optimizing the mechanical performance of GNP-reinforced PLA composites, emphasizing their potential for high-performance engineering applications. Full article

Analysis of the impact of aging processes induced by environmental conditions, particularly aggressive ones, on the properties of polymeric materials and products made from them has been the subject of intensive research for many years. Developing materials characterized by high resistance to the specific external factors in which these materials are used is a key issue in the context of developing a sustainable economy aimed at minimizing waste and extending the service life of polymeric components. The main objective of this research was to assess and quantify the degradation mechanisms of polymeric materials manufactured using additive Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology when exposed to aggressive marine environments. To achieve this, the study analyzed the influence of seawater corrosion conditions on the changes in mechanical and rheological properties of two polymeric materials: recycled polylactide (rPLA) and a wood–polymer composite (WPC) based on PLA reinforced with wood flour (MD). The results revealed that rPLA exhibited an approximately 16% decrease in average molecular weight after 9 months of seawater exposure, accompanied by a 37% reduction in tensile strength and a 24% decrease in elastic modulus. In the case of the WPC, the molecular weight decreased by about 20%, while tensile strength and elastic modulus dropped by 30% and 51%, respectively. The findings provide quantitative evidence of the susceptibility of additively manufactured biodegradable polymers to marine-induced degradation, highlighting the necessity of further optimization for maritime and coastal applications. Full article

Additive manufacturing via fused deposition modeling (FDM) offers a versatile method for fabricating complex polymer parts; however, enhancing their mechanical properties remains a significant challenge, particularly for biopolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA). PLA is widely used in 3D printing due to its biodegradability and ease of processing, but its relatively low mechanical strength and impact resistance limit its broader applications. This study explores the reinforcement of PLA with boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNPs) to improve its mechanical properties. This study also aims to optimize key FDM process parameters, such as reinforcement content, nozzle temperature, printing speed, layer thickness, and sample orientation, using a Taguchi L27 design. Results show that the addition of 0.04 wt.% BNNP significantly improves the mechanical properties of PLA, enhancing tensile strength by 44.2%, Young’s modulus by 45.5%, and impact strength by over 500% compared to pure PLA. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) reveals that printing speed and nozzle temperature are the primary factors affecting tensile strength and Young’s modulus, while impact strength is primarily influenced by nozzle temperature and reinforcement content. Machine learning models, such as CatBoost and Gaussian process regression, predict mechanical properties with high accuracy (R² > 0.98), providing valuable insights for tailoring PLA/BNNP composites and optimizing FDM process parameters. This integrated approach presents a promising path for developing high-performance, sustainable nanocomposites for advanced additive manufacturing applications. Full article

Recurrence of the original glomerular disease (GN) poses a significant threat to kidney transplant function and longevity. The probability and severity of this recurrence vary, with C3 glomerulopathy and certain forms of FSGS exhibiting particularly high rates. Kidney transplant GN recurrence risk hinges on the characteristics of the initial GN, recipient/donor genetics, recipient age, donor type, end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) progression rate, and proteinuria levels. Standard immunosuppression has limited efficacy in preventing primary disease recurrence; however, agent selection and induction therapy can influence the risk for specific GNs. Diagnosing recurrent GN involves a comprehensive approach, including clinical evaluation, laboratory tests (such as proteinuria, hematuria, and specific biomarkers like anti-PLA2R for membranous nephropathy or complement for C3G), and, critically, an allograft biopsy analyzed with light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. Treatment strategies are evolving towards targeted therapies, such as rituximab for antibody-mediated GN and complement inhibitors for C3G, moving away from broad immunosuppression. This narrative literature review provides practical monitoring algorithms for post-transplant settings, synthesizing information on the incidence, predictors, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic options for various glomerular disease subtypes. The methodology involved searching MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from 1996 to 2025, prioritizing systematic reviews, cohort studies, registries, and interventional reports. Eligibility criteria included adult transplant recipients and English-language reports on recurrent glomerular disease outcomes, excluding most single-patient case reports. Limitations include potential selection bias, omission of relevant studies, and the absence of a formal risk-of-bias assessment or meta-analysis. The evidence base is heterogeneous, with inconsistent outcome reporting and scarce randomized controlled trials. Future efforts should focus on developing predictive biomarkers, standardizing diagnostic and response criteria, conducting multicenter prospective cohorts and pragmatic trials, and creating shared registries with harmonized data. Full article

FOXL2 (forkhead box protein L2) is a transcription factor, its function and regulatory mechanism have been mainly studied in mammals; related research on marine invertebrates is still insufficient. It was found that oogenesis was affected, and even a small number of cells resembling spermatogonial morphology appeared in C. farreri ovaries after the FOXL2 was knocked down through RNA interference (RNAi) technology in our laboratory previously. Based on previous research, this paper conducted transcriptome sequencing and differential expression analysis on the ovarian tissues between the experimental group (post-RNAi) and the control group (pre-RNAi) of C. farreri, and used recombinant C. farreri FOXL2 protein for antibody production in Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP seq) experiments to comprehensively analyze the pathways and key genes regulated by FOXL2 during oogenesis. The results showed that in the RNAi experimental group, 389 genes were upregulated, and 1615 genes were downregulated. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the differential genes related to gender or gonadal development are relatively concentrated in physiological processes such as steroid hormone synthesis, spermatogenesis, gonadal development, and ovarian function maintenance, as well as the FoxO and estrogen signaling pathways. Combining transcriptome and ChIP-seq data, it was found that there were some genes related to sex gonadal development among genes which were directly regulated by FOXL2, such as Wnt4, SIRT1, HSD17B8, GABABR1, KRAS, NOTCH1, HSD11B1, cPLA2, ADCY9, IP3R1, PLCB4, and Wnt1. This study lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of the FOXL2′s specific regulatory mechanism during oogenesis in scallops as a transcription factor. Full article

With primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), the genetic background is not precisely known. Certain HLA-DQ serotypes however like HLA-DQ 2.5, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) gene pose a risk for the development of pMN. As antigen presentation is linked to a 3-dimensional conformation of the HLA-DQA/DQB dimer, we thought that the specific HLA-DQ haplotype combinations might also be risk factors in the evolution of MN. The HLA-DQ haplotype combinations and the PLA2R1 gene risk variant (rs4664308) genotypes were examined in 67 patients with MN (52 primary, 15 secondary [sMN]) and 77 controls. Based on the presence or absence of PLA2R1 risk alleles, we used a scoring system to assess the risk and to identify protective HLA-DQ haplotype combinations. The HLA-DQ 2.5 serotype was significantly enriched in both pMN and sMN patients compared to the controls. The pMN group had a significantly higher frequency of the PLA2R1 risk allele compared to the sMN group and the controls. HLA-DQ 2.5 appeared to carry the highest risk for the development of pMN, while HLA-DQ 7.5 and 6.2 seemed to be protective. Our results indicate that the HLA-DQ 2.5 probably carries the highest risk in both pMN and sMN, suggesting that this serotype has less specificity for antigens, and it induces an autoimmune response. Here, PLA2R1 played a role in the development of pMN but not in sMN. Full article